10 Best Oregon Hiking Sites for Day Hikers
Oregon offers many sites for both the veteran hikers and the day hikers.
It is also a great haven for family hiking where you can bring your children and younger members of the family without having to worry about the dangers that might await you in other more rugged terrains.
There is so much with Oregon hiking that it is fairly difficult to begin mentioning a great spot.
So we have narrowed down your search into the best day hiking spots in Oregon. Here are brief descriptions of what you might see in each site:
Arch Cape
It is a good introduction to old-growth forests with its display of cedar and fir layers.
Recently, the Arch Cape tunnel was closed which gave the school children attending a school in Cape Falcon no choice but to walk the trail.
This gives us the basic idea that the trail of Arch Cape is a moderate one which presents even little children a fair walk.
Bagby Hot Springs
Hot tubs out of slabs of logs are welcome treats even for veteran hikers especially during midwinter. It is also great during early spring and late fall.
There are several hot and cold springs that adults and children will both like.
Clothing depends on the choice of the visitors and people not accustomed to public nudity are advised to choose other spots.
Benson Lake
Apart from the steady climb which is marked by wildflowers and huckleberries, Benson lake also offers a great toe-dipping spot through informal trails that could be glimpsed from the left of the trail.
Big Obsidian Flow
If you are intrigued by the latest lava flow of the Oregon, Big Obsidian Flow is the best trail for you.
It is situated in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument that highlights the flow of the area’s volcanic history.
Several interpretative signs explain how Native Americans explored the area and gathered obsidian for tools and jewelry.
Cannon Beach
This hiking trail begins from the Cannon Beach town and continually heads southward to the sandy beach and the Haystack Rock which is a designated seabird nesting spot.
Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area
If you want another excellent look at the Haystack Rock, you can try the trail that takes you towards Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area in Pacific City.
Aside from the lookout to Haystack, you can also enjoy tide pools, the Nestucca Bay and the surf.
Cape Lookout State Park
This trail is situated in the midst of Sitka spruces, which are hailed to be the tallest conifers found in North America.
If you hike in Cape Lookout during December up to April, you might witness gray whales during their semiannual migrations.
Cape Perpetua Trails
There are about ten trails in Cape Perpetua, choose among them and enjoy an array of rocky tide pools, coastal forests, geysers, and other ocean spectacles.
Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area
This site is famous for its wonderful sea caves, off shore rocks and whipping waves.
Drift Creek Falls
A descent of 340 feet, the hiking trail showcases a fun trail towards the cascade of the falls.
Along the hike, you can enjoy magnificent assortments of coastal forest species and stunning suspension bridge that leads downward the Drift Creek Falls.
A day hike is not necessarily a strenuous hike towards a mountain summit, it merely means hiking for moderate hikers and beginners.
In here, we have given you several spots where you can introduce day hiking to younger members of your family and to those who are too old for arduous trails.
A Few Reminders on Canada Hiking
Canada has long stories of trails and hikers, from natives who first explored the terrains to those that were discovered and developed for urbanization and commerce.
With its vast land area, Canada has a fruitful offer of hiking trails for all sorts of hikers.
Recently, Canada has prepared itself with more hiking trails through its coast-to-coast trails for recreation purposes, known as the National Hiking Trail and Trans Canada Trail.
Canada has an array of under developed and already existing trails varying in distances.
With so much prepared for you, it is but appropriate that you are prepared for them too.
You may find that this area has a lot in common with other areas popular for hiking but you would also discover lots of differences that are both wonderful and mystifying.
To help you get prepared for Canada hiking, we have a few reminders here for you that you could follow as guidelines:
See to it that your back pack is complete with all gears and items you would need during the hike. Unnecessary items must be left behind.
As a rule of thumb the following should be found in your bag before you leave the camp:
• First aid kit which includes an insect repellant, sunscreen lotion and toilet paper
• Food and drink enough for the entire trail and camp. Estimate your supply according to the length and distance you would be hiking.
• Pocket knife, flashlight, water-proof matches or lighter, candles, a whistle, duct tape
• Enough clothes for the entire tour and extra clothing appropriate for both sudden rise and drop of temperature
• A compass, a map of the trail and a GPS device
Refrain from going off the trail. Switching to a new trail might help increase erosion while detouring on a muddy trail would likely destroy the surrounding vegetation.
In Canada particularly, it is best to stay above the tree line unless you want to find yourself struggling on fragile wildflower, alpine moss and lichen.
Certain places in Canada have high forest fire index.
In case you are in such places or anywhere near it, please refrain from building fire without using special camp fire containers.
If you have brought a dog with you, please be careful that he is watched so that he wont chase off wildlife.
Always travel in three or more. This will ensure that there are enough people to act on different circumstances.
Say in case of accident, the injured person could be attended to while someone goes for help.
To minimize trail erosion, it is advisable not to hike on early spring when the trails are wet.
Never drink untreated water, always boil the water you get from streams and lakes.
Some hiking trails in Canada are within private properties. Many owners allow hikers so long as it is clear that they are not allowed to stray over their land.
Be sure that nothing is left behind, including your garbage and other materials you have brought with you.
Refrain from feeding the wildlife, interfering in their natural food chain might disturb the balance of nature.
These are just some of the reminders you should always keep in mind.
They serve both the purpose of allowing you to enjoy your Canada hiking while keeping you away from certain dangers and unwanted incidences.
A Great Grand Canyon Hiking Trip Starts with Planning
When you and your friends decide to have a Grand Canyon Hiking trip, the experience must be fitting to the name.
The following are important things you need to know about Grand Canyon and Grand Canyon hiking:
How to go there?
Most travelers who want to go to the Grand Canyon either land on the Sky Harbor International in Phoenix (PHX) or the McCarran International in Las Vegas (LAS).
From there, travelers have 2 choices: either to take a half-day drive or utilize a commuter flights from Phoenix to Page, Arizona (PGA) or Flagstaff, Arizona (FLG).
Obviously, if you decide to take the commuter flights, you can spend more time on your actual hiking than on the road but if you want to spend more time on the road, here are the estimated travel times to the South Rim from these major cities:
Albuquerque, New Mexico: 7 hours, Denver, Colorado: 13 hours, Las Vegas, Nevada: 5 hours, Los Angeles, California: 8 hours, Phoenix, Arizona: 4.5 hours, and Salt Lake City, Utah: 8 hours.
Where to go?
You have 3 choices if you decide to visit the Grand Canyon: the Grand Canyon South Rim, Grand Canyon West, and Grand Canyon North Rim.
The Grand Canyon South rim is ideal if you are traveling with children.
The Grand Canyon West is great if you want to avoid high altitude or want to experience the bottom of the Canyon.
But, since you are going for a hike, you should go to the Grand Canyon North Rim.
When to visit?
Climate is the major consideration you have to look into when you are planning for a Grand Canyon hike.
The South Rim, which is open the whole year, is busiest during summer where the weather is warm and the land is dry.
Winter sends cooler breeze and possible snow, which turns out to be the quietest time of the year.
Late spring to early fall is the best time to visit the South Rim if you want a lesser crowd and a good weather.
A hike on the Grand Canyon North Rim can be done from mid-May to mid-October.
Where to stay?
There are different hotels on 3 different areas near the Canyon if you just want to spend the day hiking and the night, indoor.
The South Rim has: Williams, Page/Lake Powell, Flagstaff, and Tusayan.
The nearest lodging houses in the North Rim are Page/Lake Powell, Kanab, Utah, and Jacob Lake.
Book early
Grand Canyon lodging receives a lot of reservations during peak travel season so do not wait until the phone lines are busy and your call cannot go through.
Book 6 months in advance,
Know the weather
Grand Canyon has a relatively dry weather compared to other states. So better make the necessary preparation on what to bring and what to wear on the hike.
Don’t forget your sunglasses, sunscreen, and your hat.
Think of other activities
Hiking is only one of the things you can do in Grand Canyon.
And if you are planning to stay there for several days, better have a line up of the things to do such as 4×4 safari-jeep tours, train tours, Colorado River rafting trips, Grand Canyon air tours, and Grand Canyon mule rides.
If you still have the time, plan to go to places other than the Grand Canyon.
You can also visit Sedona, Hoover Dam, Monument Valley, Zion, Lake Powell, and Bryce Canyon among other places.
A Guideline for Colorado Hiking
Colorado hiking implicates great hiking experiences. There are lots of world-class trails that are stunningly exciting and attractively splendid.
But hiking Colorado, like all other hiking adventures must be treated with complete knowledge of the trail both to be safe from any hazards and to enjoy the tour.
Plan ahead your Colorado hiking
Unlike other hiking areas, Colorado hiking is quite vulnerable to snow conditions.
Unless you are after the snow trails, then you are in the right place for snow adventures otherwise you don’t want to be driving right at the trail head only to find out that the snow has already covered the trail up to the summit.
Now, if you don’t want to be facing this unwanted scenario then you should check out when is the best season to hike Colorado for a regular hike.
Also take into consideration the altitude of your hike. The higher the altitude of the trail, the longer the snow lingers.
The lower the altitude, the easier for the snow to melt.
Now you should plan to hike the lower altitude during the first months of the year and the end months. During mid-summer, plan to take the higher altitudes.
This would also help condition your body to better adapt to the temperature and the pressure of altitudes.
Determine the items you need in your backpack
Of course, hiking requires backpacking especially during longer tours.
In your bag you should find several must-haves such food packages, clothing that are well-adapted to the terrain, first-aid kit, lighting paraphernalia, cooking utensils along with other items that would help you get through a hassle-free Colorado hiking tour.
You must also have with you a good pair of hiking boots depending on the terrain’s level of difficulty, a hiking staff, several pairs of hiking socks and other hiking gears.
Budget your time and work
Your best bets are decent estimates of the Colorado hiking trails.
If you intended to hike for several days straight, it would be better to cover as much distance as possible with the least possible discontentment and the greatest possible enjoyment of the hiking tour.
You could only gauge the tentative days and hours you would be consuming in a specific trail so you can have a better vision of how to approach your tour.
Certain factors affect your budgeting of time such as your supplies, the distance you want to cover, rest periods, your own physical condition, the difficulty of terrain, the elevation and your pace of movement.
Going above the timberline
If you have plans to go beyond the timberline then you should plan your Colorado hiking adventure more.
During summers especially around the mid-afternoons, Colorado hiking may be a bit unpleasant due to summer thunderstorm.
By all means, electric storms must be avoided.
Even if you are not hiking above the timberline, you still must plan your Colorado hiking in a way that you would not get caught with these storms.
However, even with good planning sometimes things still go wrong.
In case you find yourself in the middle of a flat terrain and the thunderstorms roll in, you still could save yourself from potential thunderstruck by sitting or crouching underneath rock crops.
These are only three guidelines for your Colorado hiking yet the impacts they have on your trip are immeasurably advantageous.
In the end, Colorado hiking and other hikes you will have are determined by careful preparation.
So What’s Exciting With Alaska Hiking
Everything!
If you are anywhere near Alaska, you might probably have thought of what excitement you would be facing once you step its land.
It’s like nowhere else, truly a unique spot for hikers. It simply has everything.
If you are a mountain hiker, there are good trails for you. If you love struggling through snow, well what you would expect, it’s Alaska!
Hailed as one of the best states for harboring great hiking spots, Alaska is sure to impress you with its land mass.
It runs 2300 miles from east to west and 1400 miles from north to south. In between, you are sure to find a haven for you.
There are mountain trails for all sorts of hikers, from novices to veterans.
And the state promises you some of the best sceneries America has starting from alpine passes up to more popular Alaskan tundra.
Alaska offers one of the most excellent showcases of wildlife.
And despite of occasional rain showers, Alaska hiking would still astonish you with its mystically beautiful misty mountains.
Here are some of the most popular Alaska hiking spots for every level of hikers:
Anchorage Hiking and Chugach Mountains
Hikers who also love skiing and mountain biking will find Anchorage a great place to travel. It offers miles of mountain trail both multi-use trails and paved trails.
Among the most popular sites in South-Central Alaska are the Chugach State Park and Chugach National Forest.
If you prefer forest bushwhacking, the best recommendable area near Anchorage is the Kenai Peninsula where trails from snow-clad mountains towards meadows and sub-alpine lakes are excellent.
Seward Hiking
Typically accessed by boat and with the only road-accessible area through Exit Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park offer great trails for hikers and the more adventurous souls of cross country skiers.
There are noted major crevasses found on topographic maps that should be avoided.
In case of troubles and many unforeseen incidences, the most easily accessible headquarter is found outside Seward, a four-hour drive from Anchorage.
Seward also have popular destination for backpack hikers complete with untouched trails and outlets offering services for camping, hiking and fishing gears.
Denali National Park
If you are after wildlife sanctuaries, maybe Denali National Park is the right place for you.
It is popular for cross-country travel, heli hiking, backcountry and flightseeing.
Much like its first discoveries a few years back, Denali National Park offers unexplored terrains.
There are also Denali Park Hiking Trips just outside the entrance of the park for sampling the backcountry.
There are also quite a lot of bears in this part of the country and it is most advisable that you learn the hazards and safety techniques to keep you from being vulnerable to attacks.
Chena State Recreation Area
Choosing Fairbanks or areas anywhere near it would satisfy you with developed trails for extended backpacking and day hiking among geological oddities such as protruding granite towers.
You are also offered with forest country for hikers, paddling areas for canoeists and solid granite treks for mountain climbers.
There are simply a lot that Alaska hiking has got to offer. The vast area has wide varieties of trails for any type of souls.
Rangers are always at hand to help you with the travel and park headquarters are strategically placed to give optimum services to travelers.
The Trails Up California Through Yosemite National Park
When people hear of hiking in California, the first thoughts that come into their minds is the Yosemite Valley.
What exactly is there is Yosemite Valley that entices adventurous souls?
A hiker simply explained that there are some things in the Yosemite that clears the aches in his souls and washes his worries away.
The place is pristine and peaceful that visitors are peculiarly friendly that they struck conversations with complete strangers like they were old friends.
Tension is absolutely out of context and tranquility hangs around like Yosemite Valley is its last haven.
And this is true even with not-so-good and even the worst weather.
Yosemite Valley offers a stunning beauty of waterfalls, rock formations, cliffs and wilderness.
You might stare for hours on rock formations yet see a variety of images even after long gaze.
The Tuolumne River that runs from countless Tuolumne Meadows are downright stunning, making you feel that you are in another world.
Yosemite National Park is home to glacier-carved valley complimented with massive monoliths, superb waterfalls, towering cliffs and rounded domes.
The national park is established by the end of the 1800’s in preservation of the Sierra Nevada.
The elevation ranges from 2000 feet up to 13000 feet that impresses glorious sceneries, from natural granite formations to astounding waterfalls.
There are around 4000 visitors in Yosemite National Park yearly and nearly all of them get to see the wonder of the Half Dome.
A portion of these visitors hike towards the top, some back out midway the hike while very few would dare continue it.
Thus the half dome is dear to stout-hearted hikers.
The North Dome, on the other hand, is one of the most prominent hike trails in California. Many, however, have not heard of it.
Nonetheless there are quite a lot of places from which you could view the amazing North Dome namely the Half Dome which seems to be the closest, the Glacier Point, the Sentinel Dome and of course the Valley Floor.
The North Dome is near Camp Curry above Royal Arches.
There are a number of trails up North Dome, ranging from short trails to long distance trails. All equally having fairly high elevations.
The hike towards the summit of North Dome is pretty rewarding for you will get magnificent view of the half Dome, it seems so near that you’ll have the feeling of touching it.
Sentinel Dome is one of the favorite short hikes in the Yosemite Valley and among the few that are not crowded.
Remember there are 4, 000 Yosemite Valley visitors and these are distributed among the great sites of Yosemite Valley and its famous hiking spots.
The trail upwards gives you the feeling of not moving upward at all since for one, the trail is a pretty easy route and second, the goal is always within sight.
The trail to the Yosemite Falls is among the toughest and challenging route. Because of this, horses are not allowed to be used which gives you no soft grounds.
The trail is extremely laborious and is described best by saying “it’s like climbing stairs, constantly upwards” starting from the lowest part of the trail up to the top.
These are just three of the best sites in the Yosemite National Park and are hailed to be among the best when talking about California hiking.
The good news is, there are a lot more others that may be equally stunning and challenging which gives the heart its leaps and the souls its immaculate stillness.
Where to Go When Hiking in Montana
Montana, the name itself resonates the very thing hikers come after for – mountains!
The name of the place is inviting enough and there are lots to witness and experience within its perimeter. Here are some of the best places for hiking in Montana:
Glacier Country
In 1910, the Glacier National Park was formally established amidst the rivers and the mountain ranges that were formed since prehistoric ages.
There are around 200 lakes and 50 glaciers plus a couple of waterfalls, great alpine meadows and enchanting deep forests.
Within Glacier Country are some of the best spots that hikers, fly-fishers and mountaineers could enjoy.
Hoskins Lake
Best hiked from May to October, Hoskins Lake is best accessible using a short trail towards the mountains.
Children and day hikers would enjoy this short travel which goes only for ten minutes, unless you stay and indulge the sight within you.
There are two lakes, one in the higher elevation and the other is in the lower side of the trail. The lower one is more popular for fishing both among locals and travelers.
Fish Lakes Canyon
Starting from a magnificent place down to a five-chain lakes, Fish Lakes Canyon boasts of the most diverse and picturesque trails in all Montana.
For veteran hikers, Fish Lakes Canyon is only an overnight trip with a few exceptions of those who choose to stay and camp.
However, for most hikers the trail takes an average of 12 hours. But, if you choose to see the first series of lake chains alone, it could only take a mere 8 hours of hike.
Peterson Lake
If you want to hike between mid-June up to September, your best site in Montana is the Peterson Lake.
It offers a great view of the Sweeney Canyon and a few other mountain peaks and a sprinkle of lakes situated in the mountains.
Lion Creek Pass
For more experienced hikers who want strenuous hike, the Lion Creek Pass prepares the best trail.
Great Northern
This was named after the former railroad, however even the name fits exactly the experience that awaits you.
A good off-trail track fit for very experienced hikers who have already acquired the feel of high peaks or wants to see what makes the high peaks attracting to adventurous souls.
Gold West Country
Found between the Glacier country and the Yellowstone National Park, Gold West Country hosts a variety of snow-capped mountains, valley ridges that is made more beautiful by its history.
Trask Lake
If you plan of visiting the Racetrack peak and would also love to experience the serenity and enjoyment of lake fishing, Trask Lake is one of the best places for you.
Grayling Lake
Under the shadow of Sharp Mountain are the three famous lakes.
Great for moderate hikers, Grayling Lake prepares a twelve-mile pristine hike which is best during July until September.
Lake Louise
One of the prime backpacking trips, Lake Louise offers outstanding opportunities for family recreations and magnificent scenery which makes it a National Recreation Trail.
Yellowstone National Park
Established during the late 1800’s, Yellowstone National Park boasts of scenic views both in the spring and summer for its vibrant colors and snow and ice during winter.
It also includes several rivers and alpine lakes plus mud cauldrons and geysers.
Among the most famous hiking spots in Yellowstone National Park are Spanish Peaks and Ramshorn Lake which are also world-famous for fishing trips and gentle backcountry.
