Category: alpine

The Finest Walk in the World.

That’s the tag line inevitably associated with the Milford Track on the South Island of New Zealand. It’s almost always wrongly attributed to Kiwi Poet Blanche Baughan. Her original title — A Notable Walk — was changed by an editor when printed in the London Spectator, 1908.

Serious hikers often make the Milford pilgrimage so they can legitimately rank it below more favourite treks.

In reality, Milford is a wonderful hike. Lakes, crystalline rivers, huge waterfalls, kooky birdlife, rainforest, and, of course, arriving at fantastic Milford Sound.

Details on besthike.com

The best day hike in the world, we reckon.

Especially if you have never hiked around active volcanos. It’s fascinating.

You can warm yourself at steaming vents, scree down volcanic scoria, marvel at aquamarine water filled explosion holes, tramp craters & puzzle at bizarre volcanic formations.

Wait for good weather before setting out. Wind & low cloud sometimes make this hike a miserable slog in the fog.

Details on besthike.com

The shortest hike deemed worthy to be listed on besthike.com is Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park, one of the best hiking destinations in the world.

When I climbed to the Landing I felt it should be restricted to experienced mountaineers! And angels.

This is one vertical and hairy ascent. It’s almost as steep as Half Dome in Yosemite in places. But what a view from the top.

Details: Angel’s Landing on BestHike.com

This hike has all the attributes of one of the best hikes in the world. It’s a circuit. It takes you to the base camp of the highest local peaks. Wildlife is not only visible, you may get chased by a mountain goat!

And you access and exit the trip by train.

The 4-day circuit around the Needle Mountains.

photos – Mike Donato & Chris Kaffer

One of the most accessible great hikes in the world, you can get to the trailhead on a shuttle bus departing Aspen every 20 minutes.

This is a great treat in a region where most trailheads are not accessible by public transport.

The 4-day circuit around the famous Maroon Bells (mountaineering peaks) is a classic. Most of the walking is above 11,000ft (3343m) so the views are magnificent.

The Cirque of the Towers represents a real “must see” on the lifetime list of most serious backpackers … TwoHikers.org

I seriously must get back to Wyoming to hike this 2-day, 20.4mi (32.8km) loop via one of the most impressive cirques anywhere! it’s surprising how some of the biggest glaciers, the best peaks, are not in the central Rockies but way over in Wyoming.

August and September are the best months.

Alpine Club of Canada – Abbot Pass Hut

At 9,598 feet, it is the second highest permanent structure in Canada. Built in 1922, how is it that I still haven’t been there. It’s just up the hill from Lake O’Hara.

Might be the extreme scree gully / avalanche shoot approach.

More Alpine Club of Canada huts.

Next week I will announce the besthike.com South America page. A resource for any hiker wanting to get started organizing a trek. I focused on South America first as it is the best neglected continent by hikers. Information on hikes in the Andes is more critical than in the Alps, by comparison.

Best hikes & treks in South America.

My favourite photo on South American hikes was professionally published by Radek Tezaur. This is the Dientes Circuit in Patagonia, perhaps the world’s most southern major hike.

I was twice so far frustrated trying to hike Bolivia, the poorest and most problematic of South American countries.

But I vow one day to do the long Transcordillera trek through the Royal Mountains. And return to the great salt flats.