Category: alpine

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Hiking the Hahnenkamm, Kitzbühel, Austria

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

You’ve head of Hahnenkamm above Kitzbühel as it hosts one of the top downhill ski races every January.

The Hahnenkammrennen is the classic downhill course, the Streif (streak, or stripe), which many regard as the most demanding on the World Cup circuit.

One section has a slope of 85 degrees!

Like many hikes in the Alp, you can catch a cable car in the summer. Hike near the top of the mountain, and either ride down — or WALK down, as I did.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I generally followed Hahnenkamm – Seidlalm – Ganslernalm on AllTrails. But diverged a number of times if any other trail heading downhill looked more interesting.

The Seidlalm reservoirs were a highlight, slightly off that route.

With good weather I did find it an easy day. Starting at the top of the mountain (2000m) and finishing in Kitzbühel (762m), it IS a lot of downhill. 😀

IF headed for Austria, do some research into tourist passes.

For example, many hostels and hotels can give you a FREE tourist card.

Out of Kitzbühel, that means free train and bus travel.

Free transportation over this area.

With that card, next check for deals on lift tickets. Over 3 days. Over 5 days. Etc.

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John Muir Trail Flyover

The John Muir Trail in California is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.

Walk for 2-3 weeks without crossing a road.

Brilliant!

This is the best hike in the USA and includes many of the best sections of the longer Pacific Crest Trail.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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TOP 10 hikes ➙ Sunshine to Assiniboine, Alberta, Canada

Sunshine Meadows to Mt Assiniboine is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.

Click PLAY or watch a 1 minute introduction on YouTube.

Sunshine to Assiniboine

Our favourite hike in the Canadian Rockies. 

Banff to Sunshine Meadows Ski Resort by bus or tram. Then head for the Matterhorn of the Rockies.

AT A GLANCE

banff_map
  • recommended route 6 days, 5 nights. Shorter options are possible and popular.
  • 56km (34.8mi) plus side trip day hikes
  • July to mid-September
  • moderate difficulty
  • accessed only on foot or by helicopter
  • heavenly alpine meadows
  • It can snow any day of the year. Or it can be 30°C (86°F).

Read more on our Sunshine to Assiniboine information page.

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Hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc Independently

Summer is PACKED.

Therefore it’s recommended to go shoulder season, either Spring or Autumn.

Want to trek the Tour du Mont Blanc but don’t have the money to book accomodations along the way or to pay for a guided tour?

Want to hike the TMB this summer and but everything is already booked?

Last summer I hiked the TMB on a last minute whim, with no planning, and no budget. And I still had the time of my life on this bucket-lis hike. So I’ve distilled what I learned into this video to help you make it happen tomorrow.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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TOP 10 Hiking Towns ➙ Cortina, Italy

You can see weird and wild limestone spires right from town. Convenient, efficient public transport makes for easy access to trails for hikers of all levels of ability.

One of our top 10 hiking towns in the world.

Cortina d’Ampezzo (German: Hayden) is a town and commune in the southern (Dolomitic) Alps …

The city center is located at an altitude of 1,224 m …

Cortina is situated more or less to the center of the Ampezzana valley, encircled nearly completely on four sides by the high Dolomites. …

Population (2008) was 6150.

Shop at La Cooperativa di Cortina for gear and trekking food.

More interesting photos tagged Cortina.

La Baita

Our favourite hike hikes in the Dolomites, to mention just a few, are:

• Bocca di Brenta to Molvena
• Over the Nuvolau
• Sciliar through the Catinaccio
• Tre Cime di Lavaredo Circuit

Check our Dolomites information page.

besthike editor Rick McCharles – Tre Cime

Best months for hiking are mid-June to early October.

Start on our Dolomites information page.

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5 Great DAY HIKES in Morocco

Markus Rosehill picked 5 different kinds of hiking environments in Morocco.

00:00 Intro

00:35 Best Coastal Hike

05:12 Best Summit Hike

13:31 Best Oasis Hike

20:14 Best Sahara Hike

24:43 Best Gorge Hike

Note. The video incorrectly mentions that Mt. Toubkal 4,167 m (13,671 ft) requires a guide. Not so. You can easily do it independently though it’s longer than an easy day hike. And altitude sickness is a big risk.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Tent Ridge Horseshoe, Alberta Rockies

Ridge walks are very popular on the (dryer) Alberta side of the Rockies.

One of the best is Tent Ridge Horseshoe.

Summer only as there is avalanche risk in winter.

  •  10.1 km loop
  • Elevation gain 810 m

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

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The DRAKENSBERG, South Africa

I’ve hiked the Drakensberg (Dragon Mountains) escarpment of South Africa only once. Fantastic.

For example, my Giant’s Cup Trail (2 days).

Logistics are easier than you might think.

I travelled solo with Bazbus. Stayed in their recommended hostels.

Not once did I ever feel unsafe traveling there.

Harmen Hoek was there, hiking solo for 8-days in March 2022.

World Wide Hearts traveled and hiked extensively in the Drakensberg. Here’s their advice.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

related – Our favourite hike in southern Africa is not here — but rather on the coast:

Otter Trail