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.
Maligne Canyon
Location: Canada, Alberta, Jasper National Park, Jasper area
Popular hike along the edge of the impressively deep and narrow Maligne Canyon.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Upper Catstair Canyon
Location: Utah, Kanab area
Short non-technical canyon hike with interesting stacked cars and some pretty sculpted rock sections.
Toadstool Hoodoos
Location: Utah, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Southern
Easy hike to some cool hoodoos.
Three Sisters Falls
Location: California, San Diego area, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
Well-known hike to a series of three waterfalls that create nice swimming holes.
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.
Desert Queen Mine
Location: California, Southern, Joshua Tree
Explore the remains of a successful gold mine including mine shafts, various pieces of mining equipment, and some building ruins.
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
Svartifoss
Location: Iceland, Southern, Vatnajökull National Park, Skaftafell
Beautiful and unique waterfall framed by black columnar basalt cliffs
Skaftafellsjökull
Location: Iceland, Southern, Vatnajökull National Park, Skaftafell
Easily accessed glacier in Skaftafell, requiring a short,easy hike to reach the base
Merkurker
Location: Iceland, Southern Iceland, Thórsmörk
Travel upriver through a narrow, enclosed fissure and explore fun caves and rock formations in this lesser known gem.
Gígjökull
Location: Iceland, Southern Iceland, Thórsmörk
Outlet glacier of Eyjafjallajökull whose surrounding landscape was radically transformed in the 2010 eruption.
Reykjanes Nature Preserve
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Large, infrequently visited nature preserve offering numerous opportunities for hikes and sightseeing
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.
Potato Chip Rock
Location: California, San Diego, Poway
Hike to an iconic San Diego natural landmark for a classic photo op.
Kuang Si Waterfalls ♦
Location: Laos, North Central, near Luang Prabang
An incredibly beautiful multi-tiered series of falls with perfect pools of turquoise water, ideal for swimming. Pause on your way in (or out) to see the Asian Black Bears at the Bear Rescue Center!
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
Annie’s Canyon
Location: California, San Diego area, Solana Beach
Fun little coastal sandstone canyon on the banks of a scenic lagoon
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
Grotto Canyon ♦
Location: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park
Fun non-technical winter canyon hike that also offers ice climbing options and features hoodoos and a cave.
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
The Grotto
Location: California, Los Angeles area, Santa Monica Mountains
Quick hike to an interesting talus cave with a small waterfall
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
Gljúfrabúi
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thórsmörk
Less visited waterfall tucked away in the back of a short, narrow canyon
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
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
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
Pololu Valley/Beach
Location: Hawaii, Big Island, North Shore
Beautiful valley with a rocky black sand beach
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