5 Of The Absolute Best Hikes To Explore This Summer
The summer season has finally arrived so what better way to celebrate the sunshine and endless days than with an incredible warm weather hike! It’s a great outdoor adventure to take on by yourself or with friends and family to truly experience the beauty of nature.
Figuring out what hikes to take during the summer is very much dependent on location. Summertime in the desert can be a blistering experience for the ill prepared, just like winter hiking in the mountains has the potential to end in disaster.
This list is compiled of hikes that account for the summer heat and offers places that will lead to a pleasant experience. However, it’s still the responsibility of each hiker to keep themselves safe and prepare accordingly for the conditions they may face out on the trail.
If you’re wondering about what essential items to take along on your hiking trip, check out our article outlining the 9 Hiking Essential to carry. It also includes a free PDF checklist for you to print out and keep handy!
1. Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
If you’re itching to explore the desert during the summertime, Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado is a worthwhile experience to enjoy. Containing the tallest sand dunes in North America, the park is a great place for hikers to traverse sandy peaks and valleys while being surrounded by the Sangre de Christo Range of the Rocky Mountains.
During the summer months, visitors must cross the wide and shallow Medano Creek on foot to access the dunes. From there, you can hike through the parks 30 square miles of sandy slopes with some reaching over 700 feet high. This is a great hiking spot for beginners as you can go at your own pace and easily turn around if needed.
In addition to hiking, Great Sand Dunes National Park also hosts a variety of other activities including camping, nighttime stargazing, sand boarding and sand sledding.
“With its 25 active glaciers and pristine glacial lakes, Glacier National Park is a great location to pay a visit during the summertime months.”
2. Glacier National Park, Montana
Nothing says cool more than an icy glacier! With its 25 active glaciers and pristine glacial lakes, Glacier National Park is a great location to pay a visit during the summertime months. While the glaciers may not actual cool down the air temperature in the park, there’s something special about seeing snow in June or July will make this trip worth undertaking.
The park contains many areas to hike with over 700 miles of trails to explore. For the adventurous hiker, the strenuous 12.6 mile trail to Cracker Lake offers spectacular views of the pristine, blue water glacial lake and surrounding mountains. This hike can either be done in one day or stretched into a two day excursion with an overnight camp.
If you’re looking for some easier hikes to do, the 1.9 mile Rocky Point Trail, the 2-mile Hidden Meadow Trail and the 4.5 mile Trail of Cedars / Avalanche Lake offer a great experience for beginners while still allowing you to enjoy the park.
3. Appalachian Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
One of the most famous trails in America, the Appalachian Trail stretches over 2,000 miles from Georgia to Maine. 71 of these miles run through Great Smoky Mountains National Park and make for some exciting and exceptional summer hiking.
If you’re looking to undertake a challenge, you can hike the entire Smoky Mountains section of the trail in just about 7 days. Or, hikers can pick and choose which sections they’d like to tackle depending on their stamina and experience level.
The park is a great place for hikers of all skill levels as you can do as little or as much of the trail as you want. It’s also a great place for overnighters as you can camp or stay in one of the many hiking huts along the trail.
“This trail offers you the incredible chance to wade through the narrowest section of the Zion canyon’s Virgin River while being surrounded by thousand foot tall gorge walls on either side.”
4. The Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah
For a unique and unforgettable adventure, The Narrows hike located in Zion National Park is truly an experience everyone should try! This trail offers you the incredible chance to wade through the narrowest section of the Zion canyon’s Virgin River while being surrounded by thousand foot tall gorge walls on either side. It’s an experience like no other and perfect for summertime.
Hikers are advised to bring along waterproof gear as there is no way to avoid getting wet on this trail. There are two hikes to choose from, the Bottom-Up Hike From the Temple of Sinawava and the 16-Mile Through-Hike From Chamberlain’s Ranch. The latter requires a wilderness permit undertake.
It’s important to remember that flash flooding can make the trail dangerous or even deadly. Before attempting the Narrows, always check weather forecasts and flash flood potential to ensure your hike is a safe one.
5. Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California
If you’re looking for a strenuous but rewarding summer hike, Half Dome in Yosemite National Park is the adventure of a lifetime. This 14-16 mile hike that gains 4,800 feet in elevation offers stunning vistas of Vernal and Nevada Falls, Liberty Cap and panoramic views of Yosemite Valley and the High Sierra.
For most hikers, it takes between 10 to 12 hours to complete a round trip to Half Dome and back. Many begin before sunrise to ensure they have enough time to return before sundown. This hike is definitely not for beginners or anyone who is out of shape or unprepared.
The trails most famous feature is the cables that run along the last 400 feet to the summit allowing hikers to climb to the top without needing rock climbing equipment. You will however, need a permit in order to do the cable climb.
Conclusion
With these great trails to explore, your summer hiking experience will be one to remember! Don’t forget to check out our hiking essentials guide that includes a free checklist to download and print out for your next adventure.
