Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
Location: Arizona, South of Sedona, near Pine
State park with a large natural bridge and various trails, including one which allows you to walk under the bridge.
Soldier Pass-Brins Mesa Loop
Location: Arizona, North of Sedona
Extremely popular trail (less frequently done as a loop) that includes a side trail to a pair of natural arches, one of which has a small cave inside.
Devil’s Bridge Trail
Location: Arizona, North of Sedona
Extremely popular trail to a natural bridge that you can walk across. A lesser-used trail leads to a great photo op at the base of the bridge.
Waterfall Trail on Fossil Creek
Location: Arizona, South of Sedona, near Camp Verde
Extremely popular short hike to a waterfall and idyllic swimming hole. Permits required in summer and very crowded.
Montezuma Castle National Monument
Location: Arizona, South of Sedona, near Camp Verde
National Monument featuring a well-preserved impressive cliff dwelling of the Sinagua tribe.
Miette Hot Springs
Location: Canada, Alberta, Jasper National Park, Eastern area
Popular hot spring with pools of varying temperatures.
Maligne Canyon
Location: Canada, Alberta, Jasper National Park, Jasper area
Popular hike along the edge of the impressively deep and narrow Maligne Canyon.
Spirit Island Cruise
Location: Canada, Alberta, Jasper National Park, Jasper area
Scenic boat trip down Maligne Lake to Spirit Island.
Maligne Lake Fishing
Location: Canada, Alberta, Jasper National Park, Jasper area
Beautiful lake with numerous short hikes and great fishing and canoeing.
Whistlers Summit Trail
Location: Canada, Alberta, Jasper National Park, Jasper area
Easy hike (if you take the Sky Tram most of the way) to the summit of Whistlers Mountain and panoramic mountain views.
Mt. Edith Cavell Trail (to Angel Glacier)
Location: Canada, Alberta, Jasper National Park, Jasper area
Short, easy hike to views of the Angel Glacier amidst beautiful mountain scenery.
Valley of Five Lakes
Location: Canada, Alberta, Jasper National Park, Jasper area
Excellent (but crowded) short hike featuring five lakes with beautiful blue-green colored water.
Athabasca Falls
Location: Canada, Alberta, Jasper National Park, South of Jasper
Quick stop with views of a thundering waterfall and the surrounding landscape.
Sunwapta Falls
Location: Canada, Alberta, Jasper National Park, South of Jasper
Popular stop to see a waterfall-carved canyon, with a short hike to see more falls downstream.
Toe of the Athabasca Glacier
Location: Canada, Alberta, Jasper National Park, Southern area
Short hike to views of the toe of the Athabasca Glacier.
Tangle Creek Falls
Location: Canada, Alberta, Jasper National Park, Southern area
Short stop just off the road with an impressive waterfall.
Weeping Wall
Location: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, Northern area
Cool rock wall with dozens of tiny waterfalls.
Peyto Lake Viewpoint
Location: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, North of Lake Louise
Extremely popular quick hike to a great view of bright blue Peyto Lake.
Mistaya Canyon
Location: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, Northern area
Short hike to an impressive, narrow canyon with beautiful mountain views.
Lake Agnes Tea House
Location: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, Lake Louise area
Popular hike to a tea house by a beautiful alpine lake.
Plain of Six Glaciers
Location: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, Lake Louise area
Fabulous (but crowded) hike to views of multiple glaciers amidst excellent alpine scenery with a tea house near the top.
Cave and Basin National Historic Site
Location: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff area
Natural thermal mineral spring which gave rise to Banff National Park, the first Canadian National Park.
Banff Horseback Riding
Location: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff area
Horseback riding along the Bow River in Banff National Park
Banff Hoodoos
Location: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff area
Short stroll to viewpoints overlooking interesting rock formations.
Gibsons Beach Walk
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Cape Foulwind
Great low tide beach with nice rock formations like arches and sea caves.
Pororari River Beach Outlet
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Punakaiki
Beach walk to the outlet of the Pororari River – great spot for reflections and watching the sunset.
Maruia Falls
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Murchison area
Quick stop at an impressive, wide waterfall.
Wairau Lagoon and Waverley Shipwreck
Location: New Zealand, Marlborough, Blenheim area
Flat walk through a large lagoon to the wreck site of the TSS Waverley.
Rob Roy Glacier Valley Track
Location: New Zealand, Otago, Mt. Aspiring National Park
Extremely popular hike to a waterfall-filled amphitheater with great views of Rob Roy Glacier.
⊗ Mt. Aspiring Packrafting ♦
Location: New Zealand, Otago, Mt. Aspiring National Park
Hike to the Aspiring hut and then packraft back to your car via the beautiful West Matukituki River – an awesome way to experience this excellent national park!
Bendigo Ghost Town
Location: New Zealand, Otago, Cromwell area
Great reserve based around an extremely successful mining area with ruins of the boom towns, mining relics, and shafts.
Lake Alta and the Remarkables ♦
Location: New Zealand, Otago, Queenstown area
Two lesser-known short hikes (Lake Alta and Shadow Basin Lookout) to awesome alpine views.
Routeburn Track
Location: New Zealand, Otago, Mt. Aspiring National Park
One of New Zealand’s most famous Great Walks, the Routeburn Track features waterfalls, swingbridges, and glorious alpine views.
⊗ Rees Valley Packrafting ♦
Location: New Zealand, Otago, North Lake Wakatipu
Beautiful valley with nice packrafting options of varying degrees of difficulty.
Arthur’s Pass
Location: New Zealand, Canterbury, Arthur’s Pass area
Popular route for crossing between the east and west coasts of New Zealand’s South Island with beautiful views and various short stops.
Woolshed Creek Hut Loop ♦
Location: New Zealand, Canterbury, Mt. Somers area
Lake Tekapo Peninsula Walkway
Location: New Zealand, Canterbury, Western Lake Tekapo
Local gem with great views of Lake Tekapo and a cool beach with white cliffs.
Stave Spring Trail to Observation Point
Location: Utah, Zion National Park, East Side
Alternate route to the iconic Observation Point lookout – this route is longer, but much less crowded and has even better views along the way.
Cottonwood Creek Falls
Location: California, San Diego area, Cleveland National Forest
Short hike to a pretty series of cascades in a hidden valley.
Horsethief Canyon
Location: California, San Diego area, Cleveland National Forest
Short, family friendly hike to a great seasonal swimming hole.
Solomon’s Castle
Location: Florida, Tampa Bay Area, East of Sarasota
Fascinating collection of art made from recycled objects in an aluminum castle built by the artist.
Colorado River Hot Springs Packrafting
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas, Black Canyon Area
Excellent canyon with nice scenery, fun rappels, and an optional packraft exit.
Goldstrike Canyon
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas, Black Canyon Area
Attractive but busy non-technical canyon with nice hot springs and access to the Colorado River. Easiest to access from the water via boat or packraft.
Historic Railroad Trail
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas, Black Canyon Area
Easy (and dog friendly) hike through historic tunnels along a portion of the old Hoover Dam Railroad.
Hoover Dam
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas, Black Canyon Area
The famous and historic dam – an easy stop offering impressive up-close views of the iconic structure.
Nelson Ghost Town
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas, Eldorado Mountains
Neat area with remnants from its mining past, lots of antiques, and old cars; offers tours of the famous Techatticup Gold Mine.
St. Thomas Ghost Town
Location: Nevada, North of Las Vegas, North Lake Mead
Remnants of a once-flourishing town abandoned and flooded by the creation of Lake Mead re-emerge during period of drought.
⊗ Keyhole Canyon
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas, Eldorado Mountains
Excellent short canyon featuring neat sculpted rock and nice petroglyphs at the exit.
⊗ Secret Canyon
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas, Black Canyon Area
Easy, short technical canyon providing access to nearby hot springs; short packraft required for the exit.
⊗ Ringpin Canyon
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas, Black Canyon Area
Short beginner-friendly technical canyon with a nice packraft exit.
Truman Track
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Punakaiki area
Great low tide beach with a sculpted rock and a small waterfall.
Maori Sea Cave
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Punakaiki area
Massive sea cave with multiple openings; histrically used as a shelter for Maori travelers.
Inland Pack Track to the Ballroom Overhang
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Punakaiki area
Less used track with multiple fun river crossings to a large rock overhang.
Fox River Cave (Closed Currently)
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Punakaiki area
Really nice cave used for tourism since the early 1900’s. Closed indefinitely due to unsafe conditions.
Punakaiki Cavern
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Punakaiki
Family friendly little cave just off the main road with a great glowworm display at night.
Brunner Mine Site
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Greymouth area
Historic area built around the site of the Brunner Mine Disaster of 1865.
Coal Creek Falls
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Greymouth area
Short hike through a pretty forest to a nice wide waterfall.
Motukiekie Beach Walk
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Murchison area
Great low tide beach near picturesque sea stacks with sea caves, arches, a secret entrance and more!
Tunnel Terrace Walk
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Hokitika area
Awesome little loop through neat historic mining tunnels.
Hokitika Glowworm Dell
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Hokitika
Easily accessible little dell with a great glowworm display at night.
Cesspool of the Arahura
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Lake Kaniere area
Less-frequented hike to a river with beautiful clear turquoise blue water and an excellent swingbridge.
Hokitika Gorge
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Lake Kaniere area
Popular short walk to a gorge with beautiful milky blue water.
Crazy Paving Stone Cave
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Karamea
Easily accessible cave with interesting naturally occurring geometric “paving stones”.
Box Canyon Cave
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Karamea
Nice, easily accessible cave with an upper level and side passages to explore.
Mirror Tarn
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Karamea
Short stroll to a pond that reflects the surrounding trees and vegetation.
Moria Gate Arch
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Karamea
Family-friendly hike to an awesome arch that you can climb under.
Oparara Arch
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Karamea
Short hike to an impressive arch/tunnel along a tannin-stained stream.
Chasm Creek Walkway
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Mokihinui area
Short family friendly walk to a nice tunnel and a cool old bridge – added bonus of a train wreck just off the trail in the water.
SS Lawrence Shipwreck
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Mokihinui area
Short walk along the beach to the ruins of an 1880’s shipwreck.
Charming Creek Walkway
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Mokihinui area
Great hike with mining relics, tunnels, a swing bridge, a waterfall, and more!
Glenorchy Lagoon Walkway
Location: New Zealand, Otago, North Lake Wakatipu
Nice family friendly hike around/through a scenic lagoon that has blackberries in the late summer.
Mt. Judah Track Scheelite Mine
Location: New Zealand, Otago, North Lake Wakatipu
Great short hike to a pair of mine sites with beautiful views; trek can also be extended to a day-use hut or an overnight hut.
Kinloch
Location: New Zealand, Otago, North Lake Wakatipu
Remote location with a historic inn and a variety of outdoor activity options – great for escaping hoards of tourists!
⊗ Wilson Creek Canyon ♦
Location: New Zealand, Otago, Haast Pass area
Awesome swiftwater canyon with beautiful rappels, great jumps and slides, and pure New Zealand splendor!
⊗ Robinson Creek Canyon
Location: New Zealand, Otago, Haast Pass area
Nice short swiftwater canyon filled with beautiful waterfalls, great jumps, and some really lovely rappels.
⊗ Cross Creek Canyon
Location: New Zealand, Otago, Haast Pass area
If you like jumping (and sliding and beautiful scenery), you’ll love this canyon!
Franz Josef Glacier Hot Pools
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Franz Josef area
Relaxing and reasonably priced hot pools near the famed Franz Josef Glacier.
Franz Josef Glacier Ice Climbing ♦
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Franz Josef area
Awesome glacier accessed via helicopter; local guide companies offer nice ice climbing and glacier hiking options.
Cave Stream ♦
Location: New Zealand, Canterbury, Castle Hill Basin area
Awesome subterranean adventure through a 0.36 km cave following a stream with lots of small water features.
Castle Hill
Location: New Zealand, Canterbury, Castle Hill Basin area
Fascinating area with interesting rock formations with numerous climbing sites; filming location for Narnia.
Devil’s Punchbowl Falls
Location: New Zealand, Canterbury, Arthur’s Pass area
The most well-known waterfall in Arthur’s Pass; accessed via a short 1km trail.
Mt. Sunday
Location: New Zealand, Canterbury, Mt. Somers area
Filming location for Edoras in Lord of the Rings; provides 360 degree beautiful panoramic views.
Ball Flats Hike ♦
Location: New Zealand, Canterbury, Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park
Great lesser known hike to awesome views of the Tasman Glacier.
Tasman Glacier View Track
Location: New Zealand, Canterbury, Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park
The most popular track in Mt. Cook, leading to a viewpoint of the Tasman Glacier terminal lagoon.
China Garden Spring
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Panamint Springs Area)
Desert oasis with some mining-era ruins that’s home to a surprising population of koi.
Oasis Spring
Location: California, San Diego area, Cleveland National Forest
Quick hike to a largely forgotten spring and pump house.
Garnet Peak
Location: California, San Diego area, Cleveland National Forest
Short hike to a peak with a beautiful 360 degree panorama of desert and mountain scenery.
Indian Creek-PCT Loop
Location: California, San Diego area, Cleveland National Forest
Nice loop hike utilizing multiple trails in the Mount Laguna area for a wide cross section of scenery and views.
Keane Wonder Springs and Cyty’s Mill
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Beatty Junction area)
Follow the pipeline from the Keane Wonder Mill to find the Keane Wonder Springs and ruins of Johnnie Cyty’s mill.
Rhyolite Ghost Town
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Beatty Junction area)
Short-lived boom town from the Death Valley mining era, with remnants of extensive infrastructure and a nearby open-air art museum.
⊗ Darwin Falls Canyon
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Beatty Junction area)
Technical canyon descent through a desert oasis, ending at the destination of a popular waterfall hike.
Cougar Canyon (Bottom Up)
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Canyon in a remote portion of the park with waterfalls and lush vegetation, ending at the iconic Psychedelic Eye graffiti site.
Indian Canyon
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Remote area of Anza Borrego with nice wildflowers and a palm grove.
Mt. Lukens via Stone Canyon
Location: California, Los Angeles area, San Gabriels
Nice, less-frequented hike offering beautiful views and sufficient elevation gain for good conditioning.
⊗ Silver on the Side Canyon
Location: California, Los Angeles area, San Gabriels
Canyoning through a historic area with multiple waterfalls and a few ruins
Tamarack Cross-Country Skiing
Location: Northern California, Eastern Sierras, Mammoth Lakes Area
Great cross country ski area with trails of various lengths and difficulties through scenic mountain terrain.
⊗ Turtle Tears Canyon
Location: Nevada, Stateline Hills
Cram a lot of canyon into a half day – sweeping views on the approach, lots of downclimbs, and 5-6 rappels.
⊗ Desperado Canyon
Location: Nevada, Stateline Hills
Nice example of a desert canyon, with a good approach, interesting rock formations, and some nice sculpted rock walls for downclimbs and rappels.
McGee Pass Trail (Day Hike)
Location: Northern California, Eastern Sierras, Mammoth Lakes Area
Popular day hike through a valley with beautiful mountain views, excellent fall colors in autumn, and nice wildflowers displays in the summer.
Lake Crowley Columns
Location: Northern California, Eastern Sierras, Mammoth Lakes Area
Cliffs filled with fascinating natural rock columns and caves at the edge of a lake.