My son and I hiked Havasupai Falls a few years ago, and it was an absolutely amazing experience.

We've also hiked/snowshoed in Banff and Jasper in both the summer and winter (although, not as extensively as I would have liked).

We did quite a bit of hiking in Sedona last spring break, and I love that area.

I've got the itch to plan something for this year.

I like multi-day trips (3-5 days) where you spend the whole day hiking one area, moving on to other hikes in the general area on each day.

Doesn't have to be limited to traditional hiking, either. I enjoy snowshoeing, kayaking, ATVs, etc. - the point is to spend the whole day outside. And for his type of trip, I don't mind being remote/off the grid. I also like the idea of timing a trip to enjoy a specific season (for example, if a place has beautiful fall foliage).

I'm interested in hearing about other outdoor/hiking trips that are this same caliber. They don't have to be super difficult, just spectacular scenery that will drop your jaw and take your breath away.

No specific criteria, other than I'm too old to camp anymore (we slept in tents for Havasupai Falls), so inns/Airbnbs are a must. I'm also open to guided group trips (we used Wildland Trekking for the Havasupai trip, and I wouldn't hesitate to use them again). Individual trips are great, too, if they don't require a lot of special gear (that's where I would tend to do a guided trip) .

Domestically, my short list has Bryce/Zion National Parks and Yosemite (maybe a winter snowshoeing trip late this year?), but I'd love to hear about other locations/itineraries.

Internationally, Macau Picchu, Iceland, and Norway look interesting. I've also looked at (but never done) hiking/biking trips that cover the Normandy beaches of France.

What other suggestions does the board have?

A hut trip might be outside your accommodation preference but this is a cool trip-
https://sanjuanhuts.com/

Following.

Here are some of my favorite hikes in the US:

Zion: Narrows and Angel's landing. You can add some guided canyoneering to that and make a really nice trip. Plenty of other hikes in that area, including Bryce Canyon.

Canyonlands: Chessler Park. You're also not too far from Moab where you have the other section of Canyonlands and also Arches National Park (Fiery Furnace). We also went canyoneering in some of the Irish Slot Canyons in the Hanksville area.

Mt Rainier: sunrise trail over Labor Day. One of the prettiest hikes I've ever done. Lots of wildflowers. Start early, as it can get busy.

If you want international there is Kilimanjaro which is just a high altitude hike. I loved Tour du Mount Blanc and Napoleon's Grande March which starts in Grasse, up to the Alps then across France to Paris.

Acadia NP in the fall

Maroon bells four pass loop. Most do it in 3 nights/4 days.

But this would definitely require camping

Have you been to Yosemite? I've never done multi day trips like you are suggesting but I think there would be some incredible opportunities - the day hikes are awesome.

Kalepa Ridge Trail on Kauai is insane (and dangerous).

Agreed. I love that trail.

High Tatras

awesome. thanks for sharing. i actually wanted to do that hike when i visited but unfortunately, they had us evacuate the park due to wildfires. i only got to do the boat ride across the lake before we had to evacuate.

Also in the PNW near Leavenworth.

Colchuck Lake

Yo, that place is absolute fire when the larches are going off! Like, if you can't pull the Enchantments, Leavenworth for-the-win.

Husky Boy Jr. said:

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Have you been to Yosemite? I've never done multi day trips like you are suggesting but I think there would be some incredible opportunities - the day hikes are awesome.

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I actually meant to type Yosemite (not Yellowstone) in my OP. I've now edited it. But I was looking at trips on the Wildland Trekking website, and a snowshoe hike in Yosemite was the one I was most interested in. The trips for early this year are all full, and the next open trip isn't until late 2024, over New Years.

There are some beautiful pictures and great suggestions in this thread...I definitely have some research to do as I plan my travel for this year! I appreciate all of the contributions!

We did this one in October. You sleep in tea houses instead of tents. I thought it was fabulous adventure. Our itinerary was 15 days from Kathmandu to Gokyo Lakes and back. That short runway in Lukla with a cliff at the end makes for an exciting take off.



[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A0-QMYupgM][/url]
There are some places you can get wifi, but you are pretty much off the grid. That mess in Gaza had been going on for almost two weeks before we heard about it.

The people in Nepal are super nice. Do you like rice?

Glacier NP

I've done a decent amount of hiking in the US, Canada, Europe, and NZ. Of all the hiking I've done, the most memorable is probably the Kalalau Trail along the Na Pali coast of Kauai.

Is this a one day hike? Where did you stay when visiting this area? Thanks.

Took the better part of the day.
I stayed in Chania & took a bus that drops you off at the trailhead.
At the end of the trail you take a ferry to another town & then a bus back to the station in Chania.

Nm

I was scheduled to do this, but Covid killed the trip and I haven't been able to get back yet

This is in Jasper, Canada - north of Banff.

https://www.canadianskylineadventures.com/skyline-trail


Also closer in Big Bend, TX, we did this for 1 night. Canoe the river, stop for camping overnight, canoe back… but they have longer options too.

https://bigbendfarflung.com/river-trips-big-bend-national-park/


As far as epic day hikes, you have to consider:

- Yosemite and Half Dome - Best Ever - 12 hours RT
- Zion and Angels Landing
- Big Bend and Emory Peak

I hope you get to do Havasupai. I'm almost tempted to do it again, it was that good. Wildland Trekking is a great option, since they take care of all the permits.

Yosemite is very high on the list. All the pictures of the waterfalls from this past season were amazing (because of all the rain). Just can't quite figure out the logistics (still juggling one kid in school, and hiking isn't his thing).

You're going to be limited a bit with no tent camping, as a lot of the amazing hikes are bigger miles than most of us can do as day hikes.

There are a few national park here stateside that have some sort of lodging/chalets that you hike to. LeConte in Smoky Mountains, Phantom Ranch in Grand Canyon, Granite Park Chalet and Sperry Chalet both in Glacier, High Sierra Camps in Yosemite, even Brooks Lodge in Katmai. Unfortunately, almost all of those are so popular they're lotteries.

For your best congregations of big view day hikes, I would agree with the above recommendation of Glacier, it is just amazing. I would also add Rocky Mountain National Park - many 8-15 mile big view day hikes. From there I would just recommend some regions of Colorado (Ouray/Ridgeway/Telluride, etc.). Oh, and Alaska - you can nearly trip over the number of jaw dropping hikes across the state.

Internationally, there are a lot more options for hostels/rooms along big trails that allow for big milages without tent camping....The W in Patagonia, The West Highland Way in Scotland, Picos de Europa in Spain, certain trails in the Pyranees along the Spain/France borders.

Here are some of the hikes I've done that come to mind that might fit what you're looking for:

Kea'au Middle Ridge (O'ahu)
The Highline Trail (Glacier)
Iceberg Lake (Glacier)
Devil's Garden (Arches)
Fiery Furnace (Arches)
Angel's Landing (Zion)
South Rim/Emory's Peak (Big Bend)
Grand Canyon (down S.Kaibab and up Bright Angel)
West Highland Way (Scotland)
The Precipice (Acadia)
Glacier Gorge - Mills Lake/Jewel Lake/Black Lake/Frozen Lake/Blue Lake (Rocky Mountain NP - can also tack Green Lake onto that)
Loch Vale, Lake of Glass, and Sky Pond (Rocky Mountain NP)
Fern Lake, Odessa Lake, Lake Helene (Rocky Mountain NP)
Blue Lakes (Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, CO)
Black Elk Peak (Custer State Park)

On my bucket list....
Picos de Europa (Spain)
Pyrenees (Spain/France)
The W in Patagonia (Chile)
Half Dome (Yosemite)
Something in the Sawtooths (Idaho)
The Thoroughfare (Yellowstone)
The Enchantments (Washington St)
Hike to Sperry and Granite Park Chalets (Glacier)
Hike to LaConte lodge (Smoky Mountains)
The Narrows (Zion)
Machu Picchu
Arran Coastal Way (Scotland)


Also, related/unrelated, the post on Underrated National Parks has essentially morphed into a bit of an orgy of stunning park photos you want more ideas from there.

https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/2828333/15#discussion

I am not helpful on the names of the hikes especially considering the Icelandic names, but Iceland hiking is incredible. That whole trip is incredible. Go in July or August which are the hottest months topping out around 50-55 degrees every day. And you can do Airbnb. English is a native language and there is essentially one road around the whole island. Damn near impossible to get lost.

Just incredible scenery...almost otherworldly. Just driving the main road is incredible. And you can also trick it up with a glacier hike. Those are guided. We lucked out and went in 2018 when WOW airlines still existed. Paid $400 RT for airfare.

Iceland has been our list to visit, although not necessarily for hiking. I love the idea of going when its hotter than Hades in HOU.

I've spent most of the day putting together a Yosemite trip for mid to late April. I think I've got the details worked out; just wish airfare wasn't so high!

Yosemite is great! Coming in from San Fran?


- After about 2.5 hours and 150 miles outside SFO, stop for dinner at the enchanting Vista Ranch and Cellars
Restaurant live music, wood fired pizza, wine, etc. https://vistaranch.com/

Here is a full day we did

- Drive 1 hr 45 minutes into the park to Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center and the Yosemite High Country hiking area
o 1 hour to Olmsted Point (view of half dome) mile hike awesome!
o 3 minutes to Tenaya Lake - just walk to it and relax... don't walk the 2.5 mile loop around
o 15 minutes to Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center many options to look and hike
o 25 minutes back to May Lake hike 3 miles round trip 3 hours - DON'T MISS!
- Drive an hour back to the Valley
o Stop by Bridalvail Falls short hike nice don't miss since it doesn't take long.
o Drive past El Capitan see climbers going up
o Mountain Room Restaurant 209-372-1403 is a good spot for dinner great outdoor views


For Half Dome, you have to get a pass - www.recreation.gov. 877-444-6777

Leave by 5 am for Half Dome 30 minute drive -park near Curry Village or Happy Isles Trailhead Parking.
- Sunrise is 6:39 am - We started the 17 mile trek at 5:30 am (dark!!) and got back to the car at 6:30 pm
o Take the Mist Trail on the way up (lots of steep steps) and then come back down via the John Muir Trial

Wear hiking boots and bring gloves for half dome
Sunscreen, lip balm, mosquito repellant, camel back for water and definitely bring flashlights