Best Hiking Trails

Finding the best hiking trails is as fundamental to the sport of hiking as properly fitted boots and an accurate map.

You don't want to waste your time on junky trail: poorly maintained, requiring a PhD in bushwhacking, or downright dangerous.

You need sources for easily finding the best hiking trails, right?

Well, let's get started!

Here in the U.S. we have fairly easy access to well maintained routes into the wild places. Government money was used in the past to build and maintain trails in some locations.

In other places, it's the volunteers and private organizations who keep hikers happy on the best hiking trails.

Sometimes, it's a combination of both!

It would be nice to see even more time and money funneled into this activity, but at least we have intact systems to enjoy.

Foot-only trails may exist in an historical context: routes to fire towers, border patrolling, abandoned mining operations, mountain climbing launching points, fisherman's paths.

Or perhaps there's a larger historical context: humans used these best hiking trails to move seasonally, generation after generation.

And did you know that some hiking routes are super secret, just boot worn faint paths into hidden gems of lakes or peaks in the back country? Consider yourself lucky if you can weasel one of these best hiking trails out of a seasoned hiker!

For beginning hikers, trails need to be easy to access, well marked, maintained after seasonal storms so blow downs and hazards are removed, and with modest elevation gain and length. Great places to try out a new sport!

Hikers of moderate skill levels can tolerate more gains and losses in elevation, longer distances, with some map reading thrown in just to keep things on track.

High level hikers use popular trail systems as access points to off-the-chart destinations for scrambling, wildlife viewing, photography, exploration, or solitude seeking.

But every hiker, regardless of skill level, has deep affection for the happy memories built up during hiking rambles. And hopefully every hiker makes time to give back by volunteering for trail maintenance.

There's no way to give regional advice on this page about how to find suitable hiking opportunities. As just one hiker, I have personal experience with most of the trails in the Cascades (Washington State), a bit of experience in the Rogers Pass area in British Columbia, and a smattering of experience in various assorted places across the United States (upper Michigan, Joshua Tree in California, Gila Wilderness in New Mexico). If only I could boast deep knowledge of every region in the country!

But here's where I become useful to my hiking virtual trail buddies.

Over the years, I've built up an extensive collection of websites focused on most corners of North America, and some for other continents.

So if you're interested in exploring potential hiking exploration opportunities in your area, or in a planned vacation destination, please let me know. I'd be happy to share the wealth.

For instance, what about a classic leg stretcher in North America, hiking the Appalachian Trail?

Interested in something a little off the beaten path? Consider Minnesota hiking trails along Lake Superior. Check out information on the Superior Hiking Trail here.

Here's a page of resources I've put together on North American hiking trails in general.

And here's a resource for more information on finding best hiking trails.

Enjoy the learning process of sorting out which agency is responsible for what - it's an eye opener!

Wanna chime in on your favorite hiking trails? Or share your enthusiasm for a recent "find"? Here's your chance!

You know the best trails in your area, so please share your knowledge & how YOU define "best".

And if you've been on a recent multi-day hiking adventure and would like to share your enthusiasm for the outdoors, it would be an honor to read your words.

It's easy! Just go here.

Best hiking trails: so many, so little time. Return HOME for more hiking topics.