Author: Rick Mc

Career gymnastics coach who loves the outdoors, and the internet.
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NEW – Northern Colorado Trail

The Northern Colorado Trail stretches 292 miles from Estes Park to Glenwood Springs.

Loveland-based thru-hiker Kevin “Sunshine” Silvernale had just completed his hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2016 when he started thinking about developing a backpacking route that wove its way across northern Colorado.

He started plotting route points in 2022 after tackling the Colorado Trail. Then last year, he finally decided to walk from Estes Park to Glenwood Springs to put his planned path to the test.

The result is the Northern Colorado Trail, a 292-mile route that travels through iconic destinations like Rocky Mountain National Park, the Rawah Wilderness, and the Flattops Wilderness Area.

Backpacker

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Colorado Trail in 6 Minutes

This video is a short montage that summarizes the highlights of the Colorado Trail, which allows you to have a good idea of ​​what you will see, hoping that it gives you the taste to hike it in section or in full! …

Challenge yourself with exhilarating hikes, heart-pumping mountain biking sessions, or test your endurance by backpacking along the trail’s magnificent 500-mile length.

•Time Needed to complete the whole CT: 29 days

•Highest Elevation: 13,334 ft. – Coney Summit

•Lowest Elevation: 5,520 ft. – Waterton Canyon

•Elevation Gain (approx.): 89,000 ft.

– Ratatrail

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

related – Clever Hiker – A Complete Guide to Hiking the Colorado Trail

If you want more, check our Colorado Trail information page.


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Hiking Vancouver Island Mountain Biking Trails

by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

Having done all the local hiking trails many times, this winter I’ve been mostly exploring mountain bike trails — but on foot.

Pretty much everywhere in the Pacific Northwest has dozens of use trails made by cyclists, mostly unofficial.

This video shows the kinds of challenging and entertaining terrain you might encounter.

Some trails are unsafe. Be careful.

In this video I’m hiking close to Parksville. The trails beneath Little Mountain cliffs.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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RAIN on the Milford Track, New Zealand

Michael Lanza, family, and friends hiked the “Finest Walk In The World” in 2025.

They went hut-to-hut, the guided option. The easiest way to get a permit on that famous walk.

Lanza posted a terrific trip report and put together an up-to-date eBook on how to organize this adventure for yourself.

LEARNING TO—LOVE?—THE RAIN ON NEW ZEALAND’S MILFORD TRACK

Check our Milford Information page for more.

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Best Ultralight Backpacks of 2025

As chosen by Clever Hiker.

Best Ultralight Pack Overall: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40 ($369)

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Most Versatile Ultralight Pack: Atom Packs The Pulse EP50 ($274)

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Best Frameless Pack: Nashville Pack Cutaway ($326)

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Most Comfortable Ultralight Pack: Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 ($315)

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Best Load Hauler: ULA Circuit ($300)

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Best Minimalist Pack: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55 ($379)

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Lightest Large Capacity Pack: Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60 ($399)

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Well-Priced & Comfortable Ultralight Pack: Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 ($275)

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Frameless Pack with Good Organization: Pa’Lante V2 ($240)

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Best Budget Buy: Durston Kakwa 55 ($199)

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Best Crossover Pack: REI Flash Air 50 ($299)

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In 2025, I’ll be switching from the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 3400 (as I’ve pretty much worn it out) to the Hyperlite Unbound 55. In my day hike testing, the Unbound is even better.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Timberline Trail – around Mt Hood

Clever Hiker updated details in 2024:

Timberline Trail Backpacking Guide

  • Distance: 38.3-mile loop
  • Time Needed: 3-4 days
  • Highest Elevation: 7,350 ft. Timberline High Point 
  • Lowest Elevation: 3,300 ft. Near Ramona Falls 
  • Elevation Gain (approx.): 9,000 ft.
  • Best Time to Hike: July-September
  • Permits: Yes (May 15th to October 15th)
  • Difficulty: Challenging

Permits

Permits are required for overnight trips on the Timberline Trail from May 15th to October 15th, but they are free and can be found at trailheads around Mt. Hood. Simply fill one out before you hit the trail. Some trailheads do require a Northwest Forest Pass for parking.

Jon posted a detailed trip report on their August 2019 circuit of Oregon’s highest peak. It’s close to Portland.

This report is all you need to organize that adventure for yourself. 

Plenty of climbs and descents. Quite a few creeks crossings. Not what we’d call an easy week.

They started and ended at Timberline Lodge. And hiked clockwise.

The report includes excellent photos so you really get a feel for what to expect.

Mount Hood (photo credit: Dan Nevill, CC 2.0)
Ramona Falls (photo credit: Dan Nevill, CC 2.0)

Check it out:

TIMBERLINE TRAIL – MOUNT HOOD WILDERNESS, OR (40 MILE LOOP)

Timberline is one of our best hikes in North America.
 
Similar adventures in the Pacific N.W. include the Wonderland Trail around Mt Ranier and / or a partial circuit around nearby Mt Adams.

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#9 Hiking Town – Zermatt, Switzerland

This resort is off-putting to some. Ignore the posturing Eurotrash, conspicuous in brightly coloured expensive outdoor apparel, unsoiled. 😀

Instead, turn your gaze up to the Matterhorn, “iconic emblem of the Swiss Alps and the Alps”. This valley is one of the great natural wonders of the world.

Zermatt … is in the German-speaking section of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It has a population of about 5,800 inhabitants.

The village is situated at the end of Mattertal at an altitude of 1,620 m (5,315 ft), at the feet of Switzerland’s highest peaks. …

Zermatt is famed as a mountaineering and ski resort of the Swiss Alps. …

To prevent air pollution which could obscure the town’s view of the Matterhorn, the entire town is a combustion-engine car-free zone. Almost all vehicles in Zermatt are battery driven and almost completely silent. Electric vehicles are allowed for local commerce. …

More interesting photos tagged Zermatt, Switzerland.

Our favourite hike hikes out of Zermatt:

• Chamonix to Zermatt – Walkers’ Haute Route TOP 10 <guidebook> <trip>
• Tour of the Matterhorn
• Tour of Monte Rosa

Weisshorn 4506m from the Europa Hut at sunrise

Actually, there are trails everywhere in the Alps. It’s awesome.

View from Weisshorn

More best hikes in the Alps.

Best time to hike is late June to early October.

Click PLAY or watch a 1 minute preview on YouTube. 

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Ugreen’s 145W, 25,000mAh Power Bank

Increasingly on the trail, I need reliable power.

My latest purchase is Ugreen’s 145W 25,000mAh portable power bank.

… 3 ports: a USB-C port for charging the unit at a maximum power of 65W — capable of being fully recharged in 2 hours using a 65W AC charger — and for outputting up to 100W, another USB-C port that supports outputs up to 45W, and a USB-A port that allows for outputs up to 18W. 

… a small LED panel designed for a singular purpose — to display the battery capacity …

  • Battery capacity: 25000mAh
  • Total output: 145W
  • Charge protocols:
    USB-C1
    USB-C2
    USB-A
  • Bi-directional charging: Yes
  • Dimensions: 16 x 8.08 x 2.67 cm
  • Weight: 505 g (1.11 pounds) !

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

There are other better, heavier, and more expensive options.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.