"A walk in nature, walks the soul back home."
-author Mary Davis
There is perhaps nothing more fulfulling than hiking out in the wilderness. It can be pleasant, thrilling, scenic, grueling, exciting, rejuvenating or all of the above.
A few years ago, I compiled a list of our favorite Top Ten Hikes that we have done in our quest to visit every National Park.
You can read that post here: https://paulnationalparks.blogspot.com/2017/10/top-ten-hikes.html
Since writing that post, Tara and I have done many more hikes, including Devils Garden in Arches National Park and Angels Landing in Zion National Park. Angels Landing is one of the most exciting hikes we have done. I have written about those two hikes as well.
With this blog post, I want to feature 10 more great hikes that we have experienced in our National Parks. This is not a ranking list, so these hikes are in no particular order. Just ones we have enjoyed.
1. Santa Elena Canyon (Big Bend National Park, TX)
This out-and-back trail along the Rio Grande makes for a fun hike with fantastic views. It's an easy trail and it's great for families. You'll hug the canyon wall on the north bank of the river for most of the hike. Mexico lies on the other side of the river. Santa Elena Canyon is a highlight of this Park, so make sure to make your way out here if you visit Big Bend.
2. Stony Man (Shenandoah National Park, VA)
This pleasant and relatively short hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains lies along the Appalachian Trail. It offers spectacular views of the Shenandoah Valley. The mountain gets it name from the craggy outcropping at the summit.
3. Anhinga/Gumbo Limbo Trail (Everglades National Park, FL)
Gumbo Limbo: 0.4 miles
These two trails are right next to each other in the Everglades in south Florida. Anhinga is an elevated boardwalk over the marsh, while Gumbo Limbo trail is on the "high ground" areas, known as hammocks. The major reason to do these hikes?...the wildlife! If you do the hike during the dry season (December - April) you have an excellent chance to see all kinds of birds such as anhinga (a bird with a snake-like neck) and herons, turtles, and most of all, alligators! We were fortunate to see a lot of wildlife while hiking this trail.
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typical scene along the Gumbo Limbo Trail
4. Ledges Trail (Cuyahoga Valley National Park, OH)
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This cool loop trail held a surprise at every turn and was a highlight of our visit to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, just outside of Cleveland, Ohio. You start out in a meadow of a pleasant, wooded field, and then descend a rocky outcropping. The trail then hugs around the edge of this rocky formation, full of moss-covered boulders and accompanied by trees with twisted, gnarled roots and branches. It has the feeling of an enchanted forest or something out of "The Lord of the Rings" 😀
5. Devil's Hall (Guadalupe Mountains National Park, TX)
This desert hike in Guadalupe Mountains National Park offers a bit of a challenge. The first mile is a stroll through the desert landscape, and then you hit a wash and have to navigate your way through the rocky riverbed. It's a bit tedious, but the reward is worth it. You come across an impressive natural "staircase" and then the hallway itself with steep canyon walls.
the natural "staircase"
the rocky wash
Devil's Hall
the natural staircase is a bit scary, but just take it slow. It was easier to ascend than descend. If necessary, just scoot down on your butt (like I did) 😁
6. Stout Grove (Redwood National Park, CA)
This impressive redwood grove along the Smith River is one of the best hikes in this incredible park. It is awe-inspiring to walk amongst these giants. You'll strain your neck trying to see the tops of these impossibly tall trees. 😄 It's almost incomprehensible, and very humbling. George Lucas used the groves near here to serve as the Forest Moon of Endor in "Return of the Jedi."
7. Grand Wash (Capitol Reef National Park, UT)
Capitol Reef National Park is Utah's "best kept secret" and Grand Wash is an incredible hike in this remote park. Grand Wash is a 4.4-mile out-and-back, however, if you have two cars you can park one at either end of the canyon to cut it down to 2.2 miles. You can also add the 1-mile spur to see Cassidy Arch as well.
Wandering your way along this meandering sandy wash between the towering canyon walls is truly a delight.
8. Bristlecone/Rock Glacier/Alpine Lakes Trail (Great Basin National Park, NV)
5.8 miles
We combined many sights in this remote park in Nevada (Bristlecone Pine Grove, Rock Glacier, and Stella and Teresa Lakes) to do one big loop trail. The Bristlecone Pines are a natural wonder, and the oldest living organisms in the world (they can live up to 4,800 years). Their gnarled trunks are a sight to behold.
The trailhead starts at an elevation of 10,000-ft. The trail has an elevation gain of 1,000-ft, so be prepared for the altitude here and bring plenty of water. After strolling through the Bristlecone Pine grove, head further up the trail to get to the cirque at Wheeler Peak. There you will find Rock Glacier, the only glacier in the state of Nevada. Then head back down and hike along two spectacular alpine lakes, Teresa Lake and Stella Lake.
selfie at the glacier!
fantastic views from the cirque
Wheeler Peak
the glacier in August, Wheeler Peak towers above
Teresa Lake
Stella Lake
9. Savage River Loop/Savage Alpine Trail (Denali National Park, AK)
Alpine Trail: 4.1 miles (one-way)
Denali National Park in Alaska is one of the most incredibly scenic places I have been to. It's almost hard to believe how picturesque it is. We visited in September, so we were lucky to see the explosion of rich, autumnal colors. We combined the Savage River Loop Trail + Alpine Trail. We utilized the shuttle bus so we didn't have to make the Alpine Trail an out-and-back (and good thing we did, because the trail wore us out) and it was very rewarding. A vermilion bed that strecthed on for infinity could be seen along the Savage Alpine Trail. It was incredible.
The Savage River was great to walk along. This 1.7-mile trail is relatively easy. It is possible to see bears along the trail (we didn't), so bring bear spray.
If you wish, you can wrap up the hike after going up and down the river, but I would strongly encourage you to do the Alpine Trail as well. It's very adventurous and rewarding, and the views are absolutely incredible. You'll climb and climb, and then you'll get to a rocky outcropping that overlooks the entire valley. The wind really picked up (thankfully, we were wearing enough protective gear, because it got quite cold). You'll continue to climb up the mountain, and then, after lots of huffing-and-puffing, you'll head back down to the Park Road and hop on a shuttle bus to proceed back to your car or to the Park entrance, etc.
incredible autumn colors
Yes, it was very cold ... 😆
rocky outcropping
Savage River
climbing...
more climbing...
saw this big moose along the trail
10. Bear Gulch/High Peaks Loop (Pinnacles National Park, CA)
6.4 miles
This challenging loop trail was the highlight of our trip to this underrated National Park in central California. At the outset of the hike, you traverse through a talus cave (openings formed between giant boulders piled up on mountain slopes), it is recommended to have a flashlight for this area. There are a few tight squeezes in this portion of the trail, but nothing major.
in the talus cave
probably just a tight squeeze for my big butt ... 😄
You then emerge from the talus cave along a cool staircase, and then you'll arrive at Bear Gulch reservoir.
Bear Gulch Reservoir
After enjoying the lake, you'll start to make the climb up to the High Peaks section. The craggy pinnacles are very striking and scenic. You should be able to see condors along this part of the trail. There are also a lot of turkey vultures. Here's how to tell the difference: adult condors have a dramatic white triangle patch on the leading edge of the underside of their wings. Turkey vultures are brownish-grey on the underside of their wings. A juvenile condor has a black head. We we're so lucky to espy a juvenile condor resting on the trail. As we approached it, two big adult condors flew down and perched by the juvenile. It was incredible. This part of the trail has some iron railings to deal with cliff edges and climbing etc. It makes for an adventurous hike.
if you see that white patch on the leading edge of the underwing...you got a condor
starting the climb up to the High Peaks section
iron railings along certain precarious parts of the trail
juvenile condor
these two beauties swooped down from the sky and perched themselves RIGHT next to us...😮
What are some of your favorite hikes in our National Parks?
