Fjaðrárgljúfur ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Stunning sheer-walled non-technical canyon lined with moss and clear water, perfect for hiking up-canyon in the watercourse
Thórsmörk
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thórsmörk
Nice nature reserve composed of a valley and mountain range set amidst glaciers and volcanoes
Vatnajökull
Location: Iceland, Southern, Vatnajökull National Park, Skaftafell
Nice glacier offering hiking and ice climbing options
Fimmvörðuháls ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern Iceland, Thórsmörk
Fantastic hike through stunning glacier and volcanic sculpted hills and mountains
Stakkholtsgjá ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thórsmörk
Nice non-technical canyon that gets an intrepid top pick rating because of the great side canyon leading to an impressive hidden waterfall in a sculpted, high-walled chamber
Thingvellir
Location: Iceland, Southwest Iceland, Golden Circle
Interesting National Park with a storied history and set between tectonic plates creating a picturesque landscape above ground and the famous Silfra Fissure, which can be explored via either snorkeling or diving
Glymur ♦
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Northern Capital Region
Beautiful hike to an impressively tall waterfall tucked in an imposing sheer-walled canyon
Slickrock Falls Trail
Location: North Carolina, Brevard Area, Pisgah National Forest
Trail to the south face of Looking Glass Rock that passes its namesake waterfall at the start of the trail
Glen Falls ♦
Location: North Carolina, Highlands area
Three for one! Relatively short and easy hike to three waterfalls, with nice scenery along the way
Cassidy Arch Hike
Location: Utah, Capitol Reef National Park
Nice hike with expansive views to a huge natural arch that you can walk across
Egypt Bench to the Escalante River
Location: Utah, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Journey through red slick rock and sand before descending a canyon to an excellent camping area on the Escalante River
Observation Point ♦
Location: Utah, Zion National Park
Hike to one of the most iconic views in Zion National Park – worth the elevation gain for these views!
Subway (Bottom Up) ♦
Location: Utah, Zion National Park
Great non-technical way to visit the most scenic portion of Zion’s iconic “Subway” canyon
Angel’s Landing
Location: Utah, Zion National Park
Classic Zion hike with some nice elevation gain and a little exposure to get to breathtaking panoramic views
Hidden Canyon
Location: Utah, Zion National Park
Attractive, easy (non-technical) canyon with nice rock features including an arch
Emerald Pools Trail
Location: Utah, Zion National Park
Easy trail past two waterfalls to a set of pools with pretty vegetation
Taylor Creek Trail
Location: Utah, Zion National Park, Kolob Canyons Area
Pleasant trail with very little elevation gain, ending at the “Double Arch Alcove”
Calico Hills
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon
Notable red rock hills with pretty striations; home to over 200 sport climbing routes
The Wave
Location: Arizona, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
Iconic sandstone formation of sculpted, beautifully colored slickrock
Coyote Buttes North ♦
Location: Arizona, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
Fabulous area with outstanding rock formations, multiple natural arches, dinosaur tracks, and more!
Crane Beach
Location: Massachusetts, Ipswich
Pretty beach with several miles of trails and boardwalks
Echo Lake State Park
Location: New Hampshire, Conway
State park with some short hiking options and a well-known area for very nice climbing
Mount Washington
Location: New Hampshire, White Mountains
Classic hike to the summit of Mt. Washington, famous for its unpredictable and remarkably bad weather
Frankenstein Trestle ♦
Location: New Hampshire, Bartlett area, Crawford Notch State Park
Hike to the scenic Frankenstein Trestle, which bridges a sheer cliff face along the Conway Scenic Railroad; particularly great during the autumn with fall colors
Arethusa Falls
Location: New Hampshire, Bartlett area, Crawford Notch State Park
Nice hike to a pretty waterfall; can be combined as a loop hike with nearby Frankenstein Trestle
Kalaw
Location: Myanmar, Western Shan State
Former British hill station with a nice hike through pretty scenery to a hill tribe village
Moanalua Valley to Haiku Stairs ♦
Location: Hawaii, Oahu, Southeast
Excellent ridge hike with Jurassic Park-esque views leading to the top of the famous Haiku Stairs (where they can be legally viewed without trespassing) and World War II era top secret military radio station
Olomana Ridge
Location: Hawaii, Oahu, Southeast
Legendary hike along a nice-edge ridge
Emesine Cave
Location: Hawaii, Big Island, Hilo area
Unmarked, rarely visited pristine lava tube
Flowing Lava! ♦
Location: Hawaii, Big Island, Volcanoes National Park Area
If lava is visible and accessible, it’s the experience of a lifetime to go and see it up close. Kilauea (presumably) won’t erupt forever, so go if you can!
Son Doong Expedition ♦
Location: Vietnam, Phong Nha Ke-Bang National Park
Multi-day technical cave expedition through a massive and other-worldly cave
Cathedral Lakes
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Tuolomne Meadows Area
Nice hike through pretty scenery to two lakes, both with views of Cathedral Peak
Mist Trail (to Vernal Fall)
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley
Short hike to the impressive Vernal Fall; spray from the falls creates impressive rainbows in morning sunlight
Sentinel Meadow ♦
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley
Easy hike providing several of the classic postcard Yosemite views
Mirror Lake
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley
Seasonal lake offering reflections of the surrounding cliffs when it’s not being used as a swimming hole; in the off season, it’s a meadow/sandy field with mountain views
Upper Yosemite Falls ♦
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley
Historic trail to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls, providing outstanding views of some of Yosemite’s most iconic landmarks
North Fork of Big Pine Creek ♦
Location: California, Eastern Sierras, West of Big Pine
Great trail through mountain scenery to a series of lakes providing views of the Palisades and Palisade Glacier.
Bishop Pass Trail to Long Lake
Location: California, Eastern Sierras, West of Bishop
Extremely rewarding hike to an expansive lake surrounded by rugged mountains
Limekiln Trails
Location: California, Central Big Sur
Nice hike through forests to historic limekiln ruins and a waterfall
Ewoldsen Trail
Location: California, Big Sur, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Nice trail through redwood forests to rolling hills and sweeping coastal views
Tanbark Trail and Tin House ♦
Location: California, Big Sur, Northern
Great hike through redwood forests with a waterfall and great views, ending at the ruins of an old tin house
Pfeiffer Falls and Valley View Trail
Location: California, Big Sur, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Easy hike featuring a valley viewpoint and waterfall
Volcanoes National Park
Location: Hawaii, Big Island, Volcanoes National Park
National Park based around the highly active Kilauea volcano; features views of the caldera and crater and the dramatic, scarred volcanic landscape via roads and hikes
Kealakekua Bay ♦
Location: Hawaii, Big Island, Kailua-Kona Area
Fantastic spot for snorkeling that generally sees a lower volume of tourists due to more difficult access
Kepler Track Day Walk
Location: New Zealand, Southland, Te Anau area
Short, scenic section of one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, featuring a great swing bridge and lake views
Jack’s Blowhole
Location: New Zealand, South Island, The Catlins
Very pretty, short hike to a surging sea cave
Fox Glacier ♦
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Fox Glacier area
Scenic glacier with blue ice and nice ice climbing opportunities
Northern Katmai National Park
Location: Alaska, Northern Alaskan Peninsula
National park with great scenery, hiking, and fly fishing options
Becharof Lake
Location: Alaska, Northern Alaskan Peninsula
Great spot with multiple nearby fishing locations and nice hiking
Golden Gate Bridge
Location: California, San Francisco
Options for viewing the Golden Gate Bridge, including some iconic viewpoints.
Goat Canyon Trestle ♦
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Off trail hike to the famous and historic Goat Canyon wooden trestle
Distance: 6 miles round trip, 3000 feet of elevation gain
Muir Woods
Location: California, San Francisco Bay Area
Hiking amidst beautiful old growth redwood trees
Distance: 0.5 – 10 miles, 0 – 1240 feet of elevation gain
Calcite Mine & Slot Canyons
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Old calcite mining area with multiple options for non-technical slot canyons
Distance: 4.2 miles round trip, 800 feet of elevation gain