{"id":1427,"date":"2015-11-04T01:21:52","date_gmt":"2015-11-04T09:21:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/?p=1427"},"modified":"2015-10-24T21:47:33","modified_gmt":"2015-10-25T04:47:33","slug":"the-best-hiking-trails","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/featured\/the-best-hiking-trails\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Hiking Trails"},"content":{"rendered":"

People are always producing lists of the 10-best, 10-worst or 10-whatever you can imagine about outdoor recreation. \u00a0Let’s take a look at a few\u00a0of the 10-best (or toughest) trail lists that have been making the rounds. \u00a0Be sure to click on the photos to see larger versions.<\/p>\n

Top 10 of 15 Most Grueling Hiking Trails in America According to\u00a0Diply<\/a><\/h1>\n
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  1. Kalalau Trail \u2013 Hawaii:\u00a0<\/strong>Eleven miles up, down\u00a0and between the cliffs along the ocean of Kauai. \u00a0It features falling rocks and is so narrow in places above sheer cliffs that you may need to crawl. \u00a0If you make it to the ocean beaches alive, beware the deadly currents.<\/li>\n
  2. Maroon Bells South Ridge \u2013 Colorado:\u00a0<\/strong>Loose rocks on knife-edge ridges. \u00a0Lose your footing and . . .<\/li>\n
  3. \n
  4. Rover\u2019s Run Trail \u2013 Anchorage, Alaska:<\/strong> Grizzly bears \u2013\u00a0a lot of them!<\/li>\n
  5. Cactus to Clouds Trail \u2013 Mt. San Jacinto from Palm Springs, California:<\/strong> At\u00a010,300 feet (3,100\u00a0m), it has the greatest elevation gain\u00a0of any trail in the United States and it makes the climb in 18 miles.<\/li>\n
  6. Devil\u2019s Path \u2013 Catskills; New York:<\/strong> It’s a hiking trail,\u00a0in\u00a0a mountain range of the same name, but you will still need to climb\u00a0almost vertical\u00a0cliffs and through rocky chutes to bag the five summits on the trail.<\/li>\n
  7. King Ravine Trail \u2013 New Hampshire:<\/strong> Make your way though a cave then climb 1,100 feet in a half mile over slippery moss-covered rocks. \u00a0Total climb is 4,400 feet in 4.5 miles.<\/li>\n
  8. The Three Apostles \u2013 Colorado:<\/strong> \u00a0Disappearing trails, loose rock, ice (even in the summer) and some complicated maneuvers if you\u00a0want to bag all three peaks.<\/li>\n
  9. Hoh-High Divide Traverse \u2013 Washington:<\/strong> It a 45 mile trek that goes up 4,400 feet \u2013 down 2,700 feet \u2013 up 2,700 feet \u2013 down 1,900 feet \u2013 up 2,300 feet\u2013 down 4,800 feet and the last 9.5 miles are flat – whew!<\/li>\n
  10. Slickrock Creek Trail \u2013 Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness,\u00a0North Carolina:<\/strong> Dense rhododendron, 4,200 foot climb and, of course, slick\u00a0rocks.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Top 10 of 12 Toughest Trails According to Backpacker<\/a><\/em><\/h1>\n
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    1. Devil\u2019s Path \u2013 Catskills; New York: <\/strong>see above<\/li>\n
    2. Slickrock Creek Trail \u2013 Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness,\u00a0North Carolina: <\/strong>see above<\/li>\n
    3. King Ravine Trail \u2013 New Hampshire: <\/strong>see above<\/li>\n
    4. \n
    5. The Three Apostles \u2013 Colorado: <\/strong>see above<\/li>\n
    6. Captain Peak Trail \u2013 New Mexico:<\/strong>\u00a0A 3,800 for climb in 5.7 miles, lots of switchbacks, loose rock and a general lack of water.<\/li>\n
    7. Grandview Trail \u2013 Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona:<\/strong> \u00a0Hiking any of the trails into the Grand Canyon, and back out, are tough. \u00a0This one is 4,800 feet in 13 miles on a narrow trail carved into the canyon’s vertical walls with\u00a0few\u00a0chances to refill your water bottle.<\/li>\n
    8. \n
    9. Hoh-High Divide Traverse \u2013 Washington: <\/strong>see above<\/li>\n
    10. Ruckel Ridge Trail \u2013 Columbia River Gorge, Oregon:<\/strong>\u00a0Hike upward 3,700 feet in 3.8 miles on\u00a0the sheer cliffs of the gorge. \u00a0Switchback through rockfall and carefully climb up, then down, several large rock sections.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Top 10 of 20 Best Day Hikes in the National Parks According to National Geographic<\/a><\/em><\/h1>\n
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      1. Rim Trail, Maricopa Point to Hermits Rest \u2013 Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona:<\/strong> The most magnificent scenery in the world that changes all day long as the sunlight bathes one part then another.<\/li>\n
      2. Upper Yosemite Falls \u2013 Yosemite National Park, California:<\/strong> A\u00a02,700 foot\u00a0climb in 3.5 miles to the top of the tallest waterfall\u00a0in North America\u00a0and the\u00a0fifth tallest in the world.<\/li>\n
      3. \n
      4. Hoh River Trail \u2013 Olympic National Park, Washington: <\/strong>A 6.2 mile round trip introduces you to the\u00a0temperate rainforest.<\/li>\n
      5. Root Glacier Trail \u2013\u00a0Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska: <\/strong>Four miles round trip to get up close to a glacier. \u00a0If you want to explore the glacier further, bring your\u00a0crampons.<\/li>\n
      6. Wild Cave Tour \u2013 Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky:<\/strong> Five miles and six hours underground. \u00a0If your chest or hip measurement exceed 42 inches, you are out of luck.<\/li>\n
      7. Cascade Canyon Trail to Lake Solitude \u2013\u00a0Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming:<\/strong> A\u00a014.4 mile round trip hike with wildflowers, mountain views, a waterfall and, of course, Lake Solitude.<\/li>\n
      8. Halemau’u Trail \u2013\u00a0Haleakal\u0101 National Park, Hawaii: <\/strong>A 7.4 mile round trip with a 1,400 drop to\u00a0the floor of Haleakal\u0101 crater.<\/li>\n
      9. \n
      10. Mount Washburn from Dunraven Pass Picnic Area \u2013\u00a0Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana:<\/strong> A moderate round trip hike of 7.2 miles takes you to the top of Mt. Washburn and some\u00a0spectacular views. \u00a0Along the way enjoy the wildflowers and wildlife.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        10 Most Beautiful Hikes in the U.S. According to Fodor’s Travel<\/a><\/h1>\n
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        1. West Maroon Creek Trail \u2013 Colorado:<\/strong> This 10 mile point-to-point hike takes you over the\u00a012,480-foot Maroon Pass. Enjoy the wildflowers and spectacular views along the way.<\/li>\n
        2. Harding Icefield Trail \u2013 Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska:<\/strong> An eight-mile round trip takes you to a point where you can look out over the Harding Icefield.<\/li>\n
        3. \n
        4. Angels Landing Trail \u2013 Zion National Park, Utah:<\/strong> It’s 4.8 miles, round trip, on a trail with 21 switchbacks carved into the cliff face. \u00a0At the top you get one of the most spectacular 360\u00b0 vistas in the western U.S.<\/li>\n
        5. Kalalau Trail \u2013 Hawaii: <\/strong>See above.<\/li>\n
        6. Mooney Falls \u2013\u00a0Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona:<\/strong> Hike 3 miles from\u00a0village of Supai through tunnels, down iron ladders, and across cliff faces with chains, to provide some safety, to the plunge pool at the bottom of the falls.<\/li>\n
        7. Red River Gorge \u2013\u00a0Kentucky:<\/strong> It’s actually a 500-mile trail system so choose your own adventure.<\/li>\n
        8. \n
        9. John Muir Trail \u2013 California.<\/strong> \u00a0The whole trail is 211 miles long, but many people\u00a0take day hikes from one of the National Parks (Yosemite, Devil’s Postpile, Kings Canyon and Sequoia). \u00a0The trail starts in Yosemite and ends at the \u00a0top of\u00a0Mount Whitney (14,497 feet).<\/li>\n
        10. Greenstone Ridge Trail \u2013 Isle Royale National Park, Michigan:<\/strong> This 40-mile point to point trail follows the spine of the island from one end to the other. \u00a0along the way you have great views of the entire National Park and Lake Superior.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Photo Credits<\/h1>\n