HUNTING

Backpack Coyote

10 America’s Most Spectacular Day Hikes

A current phenomenon in hiking is the availability of trails really close to urban centers. Lots of cities have a big push to bring hiking and other recreational opportunities closer to where people live. For many city-dwellers, a stroll through a nearby park will do just fine.

But for those who have discovered the well-earned pleasures of climbing mountains, crossing rivers, traversing canyons, hopping boulders and dodging bears, en route to a particularly spectacular view or awe-inspiring natural wonder, hiking counts as a sacred pastime [Tips for hiking].

And the journey is every bit as important as the destination. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, more than 29 million Americans day-hiked in 2006; that’s nearly 11 percent of population.

The following trips will satisfy any hiker who appreciates the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of a challenging trail.

Mt. Katahdin, Baxter State Park, Maine

Baxter State Park, a wilderness and forest area of 209,501 acres has 10 campgrounds, located throughout the Park and available for camping from May 15-October 15.

There are 46 mountain peaks and ridges, 18 of which exceed an elevation of 3,000 feet, the highest being Baxter Peak at 5,267 feet.

The views are nothing short of spectacular. Hike in September and October to gaze at brilliant fall foliage.

Coyote Gulch, Escalante Sub district, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area offers unparalleled opportunities for water-based and backcountry recreation in & around Lake Powell. Glen Canyon stretches for hundreds of miles from Page, AZ up to the Moab area near Canyonlands National Park.

Hike 8.4 miles into an ecological orgy where the reservoir once ruled and now slot canyons open with new energy.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Naples, Florida

A 2.25-mile raised boardwalk takes visitors through several distinct habitats found within the 11,000-acre Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, including the largest remaining virgin bald cypress forest in North America.

There is tons of wildlife here to see so enjoy!

Grayson Highlands State Park, Virginia

With elevations up to 5,089 feet, Grayson Highlands is the loftiest state park in Virginia. From the Pinnacles, Grayson Highlands’ highest point, you’ll find breathtaking views of surrounding mountains, including Mount Rogers (5,729 feet), the tallest peak in Virginia.

The park has nine hiking trails averaging a mile in length. These trails lead to panoramic vistas, scenic waterfalls and a 200 year old pioneer cabin. The park also offers access to the Appalachian Trail and trails in the surrounding Jefferson National Forest.

Lost Coast, King Range National Conservation Area, Northern California

A spectacular meeting of land and sea is certainly the dominant feature of the King Range National Conservation Area.

The King Range contains over 70 miles of hiking trails spanning from the beach to the highest peaks. Most of the upland trails are strenuous due to the steep rugged nature of the area.

From scrambling along wet beach rocks while fighting pelting wind and rain, to climbing, descending, then re-climbing a cumulative 8,000 feet, the daunting 25-mile north Lost Coast Trail will motivate any hiker.

Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness, White River National Forest, Colorado

The 181,000 acres of Maroon Bells comprise Colorado’s fourth-largest wilderness area and include more than 100 miles of trails and six peaks over 14,000 feet.

These mountain peaks, two of the most photographed in North America. Valleys in the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness offer an exhilarating mix of aspen groves, flower-speckled meadows, and dark forests of spruce and fir.

Mount St. Helens, Washington

There are many trails in Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument; leading hikers into a variety of diverse landscapes. Crater views, new lakes, ancient lava flows, blown down trees, mud flows and old-growth forest can all be discovered here.

Trails vary in difficulty from short, accessible interpretive loops to longer, steep narrow trails that challenge even experienced hikers. Have fun exploring places like Lava Canyon, the Plains of Abraham, Spirit Lake, Ape Caves, Johnson Ridge, and the Loowit Trail which goes all the way around Mt. St. Helens on 34 miles of backpacking trails.

Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park, Kauai, Hawaii

The Na Pali Coast is a very special place. The pali, or cliffs, provide a rugged grandeur of deep, narrow valleys ending abruptly at the sea. Waterfalls and swift ?owing streams continue to cut these narrow valleys while the sea carves cliffs at their mouths.

It has 45 miles of trails that can take hikers deep into the park’s rain forests or take them out to the precipitous ridgelines above Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali Coast.

Wrangell St Elias National Park, Kennecott District, Alaska

Yearning to go even deeper into the wild? Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is the largest in the United States – by far. One frequently quoted statistic is that it’s 6 times the size of Yellowstone National Park.

Giant glaciers, abandoned mining sites, icy rivers, waterfalls, spectacular mountain vistas, grizzly bears, 9 of the 16 highest U.S. peaks, and maybe even some auroral displays await.
These hikes range from short nature walks of less than a mile, to strenuous, all-day adventures. Most hikes begin from trail heads on the McCarthy or Nabesna Roads or else from the towns of McCarthy and Kennicott.

Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California

This is one of the most popular, but strenuous day hikes in Yosemite. The first four miles the trail climbs out of Yosemite Valley and up past Vernal and Nevada Falls towards Little Yosemite Valley Campground.

There are a few different routes to choose from and both will provide stunning views of waterfalls and spectacular views from Yosemite’s most famous landmark. Water is fairly plentiful along the trail, with the last source being a spring along the trail, 1.5 miles from Half Dome.

Click here for more on this article: Spectacular Day Hikes

About the Author

Neelima Reddy, author of this article writes for CampingTourist.com. For more information on back packing, camping spots, camping activites, camping equipment, camping gear, rv camping , camping tips, hiking Visit Camping Tourist

Anyone familiar with the wildlife in the Grand Canyon?

I am planning to hike the Grand Canyon and I am not familiar with the wildlife there. I am used to backpacking/camping through the woods of the Midwest. The most harmfull thing in these woods would be a water moccasin or a coyote, which is not too bad. What anamils are in the Grand Canyon? What should I look out for? What animals are a threat? Also, any suggestions on how to animal proof camp would be helpfull also.

If you are backpacking in the canyon, than your biggest danger is going to be mice, squirrels and other rodents (and to a lesser degree ravens and other birds) getting into your gear and food.

At the most popular backcountry camping sites (Bright Angel, Indian Gardens, Cottonwood) they have a couple of metal ammo boxes at each campsite to store food in and poles to hang your packs from. You are required to use these and if you do, than you should not have any problems. Just make sure you put ALL of your food or other smelly items in the ammo boxes or hung from the poles.

At other more remote campsites, you will have to fend for yourself. At the backcountry office, they sell fine metal mesh bags to store food in - they are light weight and rodents can not chew through them. You can also hang your food, but tall trees are not that common in the canyon itself. Again, avoid having food or smelly items in your tent or pack as critters can chew their way through (the damage to the tent/pack usually being a bigger pain than the food loss).

Even with the above warnings, I would say that rodents in the canyon - while something to be careful of - are not as bad as many other places that I have backpacked. by following the above precautions, I have never had rodents get my food or get into my gear.

As far as animals that might attack you directly, you don't really have to be too concerned. The canyon does have a good population of mountain lions, but these are shy and rarely seen. In dozens of backpacking and hiking trips to the canyon, I have only briefly seen one and it was running away from me as fast as possible.

Likewise, there are black bears in the more remote forested regions of the North Rim, but here too they will generally try to stay away from you and they are rarely seen.

I do not believe there has been a single recorded incident of a serious bear or lion attack in the canyon in the last 50 years. If you happen to even see one, you should consider yourself lucky for the experience.

The Grand Canyon is also home to a unique form of pink rattlesnake and I have seen these occasionally (usually lower down in the canyon). But they too, tend to be shy. To be safe, it just good standard practice to not put your hands or feet any place that you can't see (rock ledges, etc).

Scorpions are one thing that you should be aware of in the inner canyons. Several species, including the extra potent bark scorpion, are quite common and easy to find if you look. Just avoid walking around in bare feet at the bottom and shake out your boots in the morning. Most scorpion stings are on par with a bee sting. The bark scorpion is generally not fatal unless you are a baby or very eldery - but you will not be a happy camper for a couple of days.

Aside from the above, they do occasionally have problems with deer, coyotes and mountain big horn sheep around the lodge areas on the rim that get too used to people and get into trash, etc. Such animals could potentially be dangerous if people try to get too close, but I have not heard of any actual injuries or attacks. A few years ago, they actually had a couple of wild turkeys down at Phantom Ranch that would follow people around and try to steal food - a little intimidating at times (those are big birds), but not life threatening (they have since been removed).

As far as animals in general, which are not a threat, but are really cool to see... ravens are quite common around the canyon and fun to watch (they are quite curious and playful), the condors are quite famous and a wonderful experience to see. Big horn sheep are also a joy to come across in the canyon and if you go to the bottom, you might be lucky enough to spot the eagles that nest near Phantom Ranch.

Overall, there is less of a threat from animals in the Grand Canyon than in many National Parks (like Yosemite or Glacier). Your biggest dangers (and the thing that causes the most deaths and problems) is heat exhaustion, dehydration and people pushing themselves too hard physically.

Kelty Tactical Eagle 7850 Backpack (Coyote Brown)