BEAUTIFUL HAPPY TRAILS
BEAUTIFUL TRAILS
Today, the first Saturday in June, is National Trails Day in the United States. It’s a perfect day to not only go for a hike, but to do your part to make trails more even more beautiful. This year, the American Hiking Society is featuring some exciting celebrations and activities. You can join them by making a pledge here to remove litter, join a trail work project or clean up a park.
Meandering through 59 national parks and over 10,000 state parks, there are more than 193,500 miles of trail on federal land and over 42,500 miles of trail on state land to explore.
Beyond the obvious benefits of exercise and fresh air, hikers reap the rewards of forest bathing, as time spent walking through nature has been found to improve memory, and increase happiness.
We’ve curated some suggestions for trails in the US, Canada, and Mexico to inspire you. Check them out below.
Trails in an area known as Many Glacier, in Montana’s Glacier National Park, will treat you to views of huge mountains, active glaciers, colorful lakes, and abundant wildlife. Check out the Grinnell Glacier Trail and the Iceberg Lake Trail, in particular.
Angel’s Landing Trail, in Zion National Park, in Utah is considered one of the the most scenic trails in the country. Climb this 4.4 mile trail, cut into solid rock in 1926, all the way to the impressive 1,488 ft (454 m) eponymous rock formation at the top of Angel’s Landing, for a stunning view of Zion Canyon.
If you can’t decide between spending the day at the forest or at the ocean, get the best of both with a glorious coastal hike along the 20-mile beachfront Kalalau Trail, on the island of Kauai, in Hawaii.
The Na Pali Coast is fringed with lush tropical jungle. You might recognize it from its cinematic showcase in Jurassic Park. You will be further rewarded by breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.
Image: by Jeff Wallace. “Trail to the Nublet.” Sunshine Meadows to Mt. Assiniboine. Canadian Rockies. British Columbia, Canada.
Hike the trail from Sunshine to Mt Assiniboine, in the Canadian Rockies. You’ll pass through gorgeous alpine wildflower meadows across the Continental Divide. You’ll be treated to a view of the Sunburst Peak of Mt Assiniboine, known as Canada’s Matterhorn, as it rises up 11,870 ft (3618 m) above sea level.
Take a psychedelic hike along the Paint Mines Trail, 3.6-mile loop through the 750-acre Paint Mines Park, near Calhan, Colorado. Rocky spires, chasms, overhangs, and sculpted walls formed through eons of erosion reveal pastel-colored layers of clay and jasper. The colors, ranging from light yellow to red, come from oxidation of iron deposits. Human life here dates back to about 9,000 years ago.
Hike the trail through Wyoming’s Wind River Range for a view of Cirque of the Towers, a series of dramatic jagged granite spires and peaks and awesome glacial lakes. It can take 2-4 days to complete the loop, starting at the Big Sandy Trailhead.
Image: by Alejandro Perez. “Aventura Tarahumara!” Copper Canyon. Tarahumara Mountains. Mexico.
The Copper Canyon Trail through the Tarahumara Mountains, near Magdalena, Mexico, offers views of beautiful wild flowers and birds as you hike through 6 canyons, each with brightly colored copper and green walls.
You can hike 210 miles along the John Muir Trail, through the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, starting in Yosemite National Park, through Sequoia National Park and ending at King Canyon National Park. You’ll see thousands of lakes, dozens of canyons and spectacular granite cliffs. Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the continental US, caps off your journey. It’s all sheer wow!
The Mount Healy Overlook Trail, in Denali National Park, in Alaska, is a relatively easy hike but with amazing scenery. You’ll trek through thick forest, then gently climb up to sweet alpine tundra to revel in lush mosses, lichens and wildflowers. Continue on for breathtaking views over the valley and the mountain ridges. Then push on further to reach the mountaintop for a fabulous panorama.
The Ink Pots Trail, in Johnston Canyon, offers a delightful hike in Banff National Park. You’ll see spectacular waterfalls and fascinating “ink pots,” a group of 7 deep green clear pools of water.
Charlies Bunion Trail, in the Great Smoky Mountains, offers grand views of the North Carolina Smokies and oodles of magnificent wildflowers during the spring and early summer.
Read more about Beautiful June. And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Wellness, Impact, Nature/Science, Food, Arts/Design, and Travel, Daily Fix posts.
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Image: by Alejandro Perez. “Aventura Tarahumara!” Copper Canyon. Tarahumara Mountains. Mexico.