United States

The Vista Knoll Loop is a .9 mile hike, accessible year round. Dogs are not allowed on this trail. The trail offers great views of Lake Travis, with good wildlife viewing opportunities. 

Located just 10 miles from downtown Tampa right off I-4, this short trail runs through a 31-acre botanical garden.  The park has a variety of exotic plans, ferns, flowers and plants as well as a 0.3 mile boardwalk through cypress, maple and oak trees.  Run by Hillsborough County, there's a $2 fee...

This is a short but rewarding outing: The hike to Monkey Rock is around 2.6 miles round-trip with about 460 feet of elevation gain. It’s located just above the northeast shore of Lake Tahoe near Incline Village, Nevada, and is famous for the granite formation shaped like a monkey (hence the ...

Get to First Landing State Park early. Whether it's a weekday in the summer or a Saturday in the winter, the park will be full of families, bikers, trail runners, dog walkers, and all manner of city folk (from DC, Baltimore, and Richmond) trying to meet their outdoor quota during a vacation or se...

Schunnemunk Mountain State Park is one of my favorite parks.  It offers many trails and possibilities for different loops.  The attraction of Schunnemunk Mountain is the long double ridges running parallel to each other and amazing views in all directions. This hike starts at the Taylor Road par...

This view never gets old and it is super easy to access. It's also only like half a mile down and then half a mile back up, so if you do watch the sunset, the walk back is easy. The trail is out by Glassy Mountain Church in Pickens, SC and it's accessible year round. The hike is very simple, and ...

I did two loop trails (Rim Trail and Bench Trail). Mileage reflects combination of both trails plus the distance hiking between the two near sunset point. Cost to camp in a hike-in site is ~$13/night. You can't reserve a hike-in spot in advance, but they are very under utilized.  I'm pretty sure ...

Boise has plenty of trails to choose from when it comes to short accessible hikes. If you're looking for panoramic views of the treasure valley then this is a great place to start.  Table Rock Quarry has 4 different trails to choose from ranging all skill levels and distances. There are a mix of ...

The '76 Trail is only 3/4 of a mile long but elevates 1,000 feet, making this hike difficult for many. Plan to take a couple breaks but admire the gorgeous surroundings! The hike is not a leisurely one but the views at the top are well worth the effort.

The Three Falls Hike is a 7.35 mile out and back hike located in the Barton Creek Greenbelt in Austin, Texas. The hike is heavily trafficked. The trail takes you past three waterfalls, which during the summer time serve as extremely popular swimming holes. Please note that the flow of the waterf...

I do not want to encourage those who are not capable mentally or physically to go on this hike, that is how accidents happen. Confidence is a must. This route is loose, long, chossy and complicated. The exposure and shear milage covered make for a heck of a day! That being said, I suggest you do ...

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this mile loop trail leads you along a bluff line to the ruins of a historic village of Woodland and Mississippian Native Americans.   Mississippian Natives established a village here between 1000 and 500 years ago. The older Woodland Indians bu...

Clustered in arguably Nevada's highest mountain group, Baker Peak is the state 4th highest peak, right behind the neighboring Jeff Davis and Wheeler Peaks. Because Baker is slightly overshadowed by its neighbors, it sees very little traffic. Baker Peak is rugged, wild, and requires a long approac...

This is a ~36 mile loop that goes up Clingman's Dome (the tallest point in Tennessee). Pretty challenging, not for the novice backpacker. Park at Deep Creek campground in Bryson City, NC. We did it as a 3-day, 2-night camping at sites 53 and 61. As it is a loop it could easily be done in reverse....

Start your hike from the Reedy Creek Parking Area. Hike through the woods down to the Reedy Creek. At this point, cross the bridge and hike along the river to the ruins of an old mill and some nice rock formations. Continue up the hill to the River Creek Multi-use trail and then back down the hil...

Escape into wild Florida on the River Rapids Nature Trail just minutes from downtown Tampa at Hillsborough River State Park. After a delayed flight had me spending an unexpected night in the Tampa area, I was pleasantly surprised to roll into Hillsborough River's campground without a reservation...