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.
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.
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.
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.
Mistaya Canyon
Location: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, Northern area
Short hike to an impressive, narrow canyon with beautiful mountain views.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Castle Hill
Location: New Zealand, Canterbury, Castle Hill Basin area
Fascinating area with interesting rock formations with numerous climbing sites; filming location for Narnia.
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.
Convict Lake
Location: Northern California, Eastern Sierras, Mammoth Lakes Area
Easy loop hike around a popular lake with blue waters, scenic mountains, trout fishing, and nice fall foliage.
Transept Trail
Location: Arizona, Grand Canyon, North Rim
Easy hike through pleasant forest at the edge of the canyon, with occasional magnificent views.
Bright Angel Point Trail
Location: Arizona, Grand Canyon, North Rim
Short and easy hike to the classic North Rim viewpoint near the lodge.
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
Location: New Mexico, Santa Fe Area
Neat park showcasing tent-shaped hoodoos and other interesting geology.
Horseshoe Bend
Location: Arizona, Lake Powell Area, Page
Short hike to a view of the iconic section of the Colorado River where its path creates a horseshoe-shaped bend around a pillar of rock.
Toadstool Hoodoos
Location: Utah, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Southern
Easy hike to some cool hoodoos.
Skull Rock
Location: California, Southern, Joshua Tree
Loop trail through a maze of cool rock formations, including the notable Skull Rock; several climbing areas are nearby.
Hidden Valley
Location: California, Southern, Joshua Tree
Easy loop hike around a beautiful natural enclosure with great climbing options.
Rútshellir
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Fascinating old cave which was expanded and used for storing hay and as a smithy
Skaftafellsjökull
Location: Iceland, Southern, Vatnajökull National Park, Skaftafell
Easily accessed glacier in Skaftafell, requiring a short,easy hike to reach the base
Gígjökull
Location: Iceland, Southern Iceland, Thórsmörk
Outlet glacier of Eyjafjallajökull whose surrounding landscape was radically transformed in the 2010 eruption.
Darwin Falls
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Panamint Springs Area)
Easy hike to a lush green canyon with a waterfall in the middle of the desert
Leadfield Ghost Town
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Beatty Junction area)
Small, picturesque ghost town off a backcountry road with the intact remnants of a couple of buildings
Harmony Borax Works
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Furnace Creek area)
Ruins of the successful borax plant near Furnace Creek where 20-mule teams were used to haul the borax across the desert to the railroad
Zabriskie Point
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Furnace Creek area)
Viewpoint showcasing beautifully eroded Badlands in multiple directions
Mesquite Flat Dunes
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Stovepipe Wells area)
Large and easily accessed dune field offering various opportunities for exploration
Artist’s Palette
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (South of Furnace Creek)
Scenic drive featuring beautifully colored hills and views of banded cliffs.
Badwater Basin
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (South of Furnace Creek)
Iconic salt flats at the lowest elevation in North America
Keane Wonder Mill
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Beatty Junction area)
Easy to access ruins of the mill and tramway for the very successful Keane Wonder Mine.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
Location: California, San Diego, La Jolla/Del Mar area
State Natural Reserve covering 2,000 acres and protecting the critically endangered Torrey Pine; scenery includes sweeping coastal views, rugged canyons, and jagged cliffs.
Deep Hole
Location: Florida, Tampa Bay Area, Sarasota Area
Limited access hike in Myakka State Park to a sinkhole filled with gators
San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve
Location: California, San Diego, Solana Beach
Large wetland preserve – home to over 1,000 species of plants and animals and contains over 7 miles of trails
Riverside Walk
Location: Utah, Zion National Park
Family friendly trail that provides access to The Narrows and features views of the Virgin River and pretty hanging gardens
Johnston Canyon
Location: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff area
Classic hike through a beautiful non-technical canyon in any season; in winter the waterfalls freeze and offer ice climbing opportunities
Love Valley
Location: California, San Diego, Palomar Mountain
Easy hike through pretty rolling hills with seasonal ponds and picturesque old barn
Lake Poway
Location: California, San Diego, Poway
Scenic multi-use trail around a lake with wildflowers in the spring
Walker Canyon
Location: California, Los Angeles area, Lake Elsinore
Attractive canyon that’s absolutely covered with California poppies in the spring
Tahquitz Canyon
Location: California, South Central Desert, East of Los Angeles
Quick hike through a canyon previously inhabited by the Agua Caliente band of the Cahuilla Indians to a nice (largely seasonal) waterfall
Borrego Palm Canyon
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Popular hike along a watercourse to a palm grove; also features great wildflowers and a nice waterfall in the spring
Hooker Falls
Location: North Carolina, Brevard Area, Dupont State Forest
Wide waterfall in a peaceful setting; easy access via a short trail that can be extended to view Triple Falls
Triple Falls
Location: North Carolina, Brevard Area, Dupont State Forest
Lovely three-tiered waterfall in scenic woodlands; a short detour on the brief hike provides a view of Hooker Falls
Glen Falls ♦
Location: North Carolina, Highlands area
Three for one! Relatively short and easy hike to three waterfalls, with nice scenery along the way
Whitewater Falls
Location: North Carolina, Highlands area
The highest waterfall east of the Rockies, it’s so large you can only see the upper half from this location, but at 411 feet, it’s still very impressive.
Hickman Bridge
Location: Utah, Capitol Reef National Park
Short hike to an impressive natural bridge that you can walk under
Canyon Overlook Trail
Location: Utah, Zion National Park
Short and easy trail that’s a nice introduction to Zion with pretty views
Pa’rus Trail
Location: Utah, Zion National Park
Wide, paved nature trail providing excellent views of The Watchman
Weeping Rock Trail
Location: Utah, Zion National Park
Very short trail to an alcove with a nice hanging garden
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”
White Domes Loop
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas area, Valley of Fire State Park
Nice short hike through varied desert scenery with various highlights
The Fire Wave ♦
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas area, Valley of Fire State Park
Short hike with nice scenery to a fascinating slick rock sandstone formation with colorful striations
Gibbet Hill
Location: Massachusetts, Groton
Picturesque ruins of small castle built in 1906
Diana’s Baths
Location: New Hampshire, Bartlett
Nice series of cascades and pools which are great for swimming in warm weather
Kalaw
Location: Myanmar, Western Shan State
Former British hill station with a nice hike through pretty scenery to a hill tribe village
Tuolomne Meadows – Soda Springs
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Tuolomne Meadows
Easy stroll through Tuolomne Meadows to a small cabin at a natural soda spring
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
Bridalveil Falls
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley
Short and easy hike to a year-round waterfall in Yosemite Valley
Lower Yosemite Falls
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley
Easy stroll providing views of both Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls
Mono Lake
Location: California, Eastern Sierras, Lee Vining Area
Lake with fascinating mineral towers (called tufa) exposed due to decreasing lake levels
Limekiln Trails
Location: California, Central Big Sur
Nice hike through forests to historic limekiln ruins and a waterfall
McWay Waterfall Trail
Location: California, Big Sur, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Iconic view of the idyllic beach, waterfall, and bay with turquoise water
Partington Cove Trail
Location: California, Northern Big Sur
Tunnel and nice walkways lead to a picturesque hidden cove
Pfeiffer Falls and Valley View Trail
Location: California, Big Sur, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Easy hike featuring a valley viewpoint and waterfall
Lake Wilkie
Location: New Zealand, South Island, The Catlins
Easy scenic walk featuring a boardwalk, plant life, and lake views.
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
“The Slot”
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Very short non-technical slot canyon with easy access
Distance: 0.8 miles round trip, 100 feet of elevation gain
Wind Caves
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Short hike to cool sandstone formations with pockets, tunnels, and shallow caves.
Distance: 1.25 miles round trip, 250 feet of elevation gain