5 Exceptional Bucket List Trails You Must Hike
A life full of amazing hiking adventures is a good life by any standard. It’s how we enjoy the world and experience life to the fullest.
While there are many hikes to see and explore, this list of 5 hikes are the absolute best and most worthwhile to check out. Don’t wait until its to late to make these hikes happen, get out there and start crossing them off your bucket list now!
Also, don’t forgot to bring along your hiking essentials to ensure a safe and fun hike.
1. Rim-to-Rim Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
For a truly memorable way to see the iconic Grand Canyon, the Rim-to-Rim hike is by far the best option. While millions of tourist visit the canyon every year, much fewer will venture below the rim.
At 21-miles, this trail will test your limits and is recommended only for experienced hikers. While people of all ages have tackled the Rim-to-Rim, everyone who attempts it should be very physically fit and well-prepared for any challenges that may arise.
Starting from the North Rim on the North Kaibab Trail, hikers descend 14.3 miles and 6,000 feet to the bottom of the canyon. You'll pass through eleven layers of ancient rock and two billion years of Earth’s geological history.
At the bottom of the trail, hikers will experience the sights and sounds of the mighty Colorado River while being surrounded by thousands of incredible rock formations. From the bottom of the canyon, you’ll climb back up 4,500 feet and 9.6-miles to end your journey on the South Rim.
The hike will involved at least one overnight stay at either the Bright Angel Campground or the more exclusive Phantom Ranch lodge. At the Phantom Ranch, hikers are treated to warm food, cold beverages, and a soft bed, however, this must all be booked in advance.
2. John Muir Trail, California
For anyone who wants to explore the beauty of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, the John Muir Trail is the best way to do so. Passing through Yosemite National Park and Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park, this trail truly shows the best of what the American west coast has to offer.
Stretching for 211-miles, the majority of this long-distance trail passes through designated wilderness which protects exceptionally undisturbed natural areas. You’ll be immersed in untouched alpine and high mountain scenery while hiking at 8,000 feet or more above sea level.
The trail was created over a period of 46 years spanning from the inception of the Sierra Club in 1892, the beginning of its construction in 1915, and completion of the final section in 1938. Its name honors environmentalist and founding member of the Sierra Club John Muir who was an important advocate for the trails construction before his death in 1914.
July through September is the best time to hike this trail as most of the snow has melted and new snow hasn’t yet fallen. For those wanting to hike during the winter months, they will face snowpacks, icy slopes, and swollen rivers due to snowmelt.
It takes about 3 weeks to hike the entire trail with most hikers hiking north to south from the Yosemite Valley to Mt. Whitney. Prospective hikers will need to obtain a permit from the national park or forest where they begin their hike.
3. The Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah
As one of Zion National Park’s most famous hikes, this trail is definitely a must for any hiker to accomplish during their lifetime. Walking through the gorge’s Virgin River surrounded by thousand foot high walls on either side is an experience like no where else on Earth.
What makes the Narrow’s unique is that with no dry trail, hikers must get their feet wet. You’ll wade through a river which can range from ankle high to waist deep and in some small sections, you may even have to swim.
The best time to hike this trail is summer and early fall as the water temperature is at its warmest and the water level is at its lowest. During the spring, the trail can be temporarily closed when snowmelt makes the river too high.
There are two ways to hike the Narrow’s, either as a 16-mile through-hike from Chamberlains Ranch to the Temple of Sinawava or as a shorter bottom-up hike from the Temple of Sinawava. Those who choose to do the through-hike can make it either a one day hike or a two-day backpack trip.
The Narrow’s hike is very strenuous with water that can often be murky and bowling ball size rocks covering the bottom. Hikers should also be vigilant of potential flash flooding and avoid hiking the trail when there’s a threat of thunderstorms.
4. Half Dome Cable Route, Yosemite National Park, California
As one of Yosemite’s most spectacular natural monuments, Half Dome’s foreboding granite crest rises more than 4,000 feet above the valley floor. With a singular sheer cliff face surrounded by three rounded and smooth sides, its image is an iconic element of the Yosemite Valley.
To truly experience this awe-inspiring landscape, you can hike the famous cable route which takes you up a steep series of cables bolted to the side of Half Dome. It allows hikers to ascend the last 400 feet to the top without needing rock climbing equipment.
Despite its perceived danger, there have been relatively few fatalities since its creation in 1919 and only by those acting irresponsibly on the hike. You do need to be in good shape to handle the climb and have the proper equipment which includes good hiking shoes and gloves.
The entire Half Dome hike is a 14- to 16-mile round trip that can be done either in one long day or split over two days with a night spent camping in Little Yosemite Valley. Between Columbus Day and Memorial Day, the cables are usually down for the season so you must plan your hike for the warmer months of the year.
It’s also important to remember that you’ll need to pick up a permit to attempt the Cable Route ascent. Hikers without permits are not allowed beyond the base of the sub-dome or the bottom of the cables.
5. Hoh River Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington
Explore North America’s largest rainforest located on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. The Hoh River Trail explores the Olympic Wilderness, a temperate moss-covered forest just 30-miles from the Pacific Ocean.
A landscape formed thousands of years ago by powerful glaciers, the Hoh Rainforest is a beautiful example of a temperate rainforest dominated by coniferous trees such as Coastal Douglas fir and Western hemlock. During an average year, the area receives up to 150 inches of rain.
For those who want to explore the Hoh River Trail, this well-maintained, easy to moderate pathway will take hikers from the Hoh River, through the rainforest, and end in Glacier Meadows. Most hikers need at least 2 days to complete this 36-mile hike but often times will take 3 to 4.
Be sure to plan ahead as certain sections of the trail may be closed and weather conditions can change in the colder months. The best time to hike this trail is from late June through early September.
Conclusion
Life is short so take advantage of the time you have to explore the most beautiful places the U.S. has to offer. Start by getting out there and crossing these trails off your bucket list!
