Category: coastal

Posted on

BestHike #7 – Otter Trail, South Africa

The Otter Trail on the Garden Route out of Capetown is arguably the most famous in Southern Africa.

Click PLAY or watch a 1 minute introduction on YouTube.

Otter Trail

Lush forests, rugged shorelines, mountain streams and waterfalls and fragrant fynbos make this a unique coast adventure.

Book 12 months in advance to get one of the exclusive permits. .

South Africa Tourism
South Africa Tourism

AT A GLANCE

  • one of our top 10 coastal hikes in the world
  • Storms River Mouth to Nature’s Valley
  • 42km
  • 5 days, 4 nights
  • clean huts, no tenting
  • gorgeous cliff tops, returning to sea level to cross rivers

Read more on our Otter Trail information page.

Posted on

#3 day hike – Besseggen Ridge, Norway

One of our top 10 day hikes in the world.

Why?

A stunning and unique walk in Norway’s most popular National Park – Jotunheimen.

  • Jotunheimen National Park has most of the highest mountains in Norway
  • Besseggen … or Besseggi … in Jotunheimen, is a thrilling ridge walk with alpine lakes on either side:  Gjende and Bessvatnet.
  • recommended from the end of June to mid-September
  • 13.3km (8.25mi) plus one-way ferry
  • 6-9 hours
  • 950m elevation gain
  • highest point, Veslfjellet (1743m)
  • dogs on leash allowed
  • trail runners enjoy it

World → Europe →  Norway → Besseggen Ridge

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

For details click over to our Besseggen Ridge information page.

Posted on

Outdoor Adventure on Vancouver Island

by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

I’d argue that the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region is the best place to live in Canada — for year round outdoor recreation.

My parents live in Parksville. And — when visiting — I can cycle and hike year round.

Protected by Mt. Arrowsmith, the coast gets very little snow. And temperatures rarely drop below freezing.

Of course this is a rain forest. 😀

Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (MABR) is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve located on the east coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.

It was designated in 2000 by UNESCO to protect a large second-growth coast Douglas fir ecosystem in the watersheds of the Little Qualicum and Englishman Rivers from being developed. …

Protected areas located within the biosphere reserve include:[5]

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Posted on

Top 10 Coastal Hikes ➙ Kalalau Trail, Hawaii

Kalalau Trail, on the Na Pali Coast of Kaua‘i is one of our top 10 coastal hikes in the world.

Why?

  • 11mi (18km)
  • hike any month of the year
  • trail sometimes closed due to weather
  • maximum elevation gain 800ft
  • Keʻe Beach to the Kalalau Valley
  • can be done as a long day hike though officially you are only allowed to day hike as far as Hankapiai beach
  • 3 days, 2 nights recommended
  • most people camp at least one night at either Hanakoa Valley (6 mile mark) or Kalalau Beach.
  • in Nā Pali Coast State Park
  • limited number of permits issued for camping

Francis Hehle’s video will give you a good idea of what the trail is like.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

For details, click over to our Kalalau Trail information page.

Posted on

Juan de Fuca Trail, Vancouver Island

The West Coast Trail ALTERNATIVE.

The most famous hiking adventure in Canada is the West Coast Trail out of Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island.

Port Renfrew is also the trailhead for the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail — yet no reservation is required. It’s the best back-up plan if you can’t get a reservation for the WCT.

And it’s open year round, unlike the WCT which closes in winter.

Be prepared for serious mud and rain.

Vancouver Island experts MB Guiding have a Juan de Fuca Marine Trail Guide online.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

IF you plan to hike Juan de Fuca, be sure to read our Juan de Fuca Information page. Especially details on the tides.

This is one of our best hikes in North America.

Posted on

Top 10 Coastal Hikes ➙ Thorsborne Trail, Austalia

Thorsborne is one of our top 10 coastal hikes in the world.

Zoe Falls

Why?

  • between Cairns and Townsville in North Queensland
  • in Hinchinbrook Island National Park
  • part of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
  • 32km (20mi) 
  • 4 days, 3 nights recommended
  • April – October best months
  • reserve permits months in advance. A year in advance if possible. Ask about cancellations if you have no booking.

Click PLAY or watch an Australian Geographic promo on YouTube.

Posted on

Lighthouse Country Regional Trail, Vancouver Island

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

. 😀 … There is no lighthouse on this inland trail.

Lighthouse Country is a tourist designation for a coastal region just north of Qualicum Beach consisting of smaller communities: Dashwood, Qualicum Bay, Dunsmuir, Bowser, and Deep Bay.

It’s named for the offshore lighthouses on Sisters Island and Chrome Island.


Lighthouse Country Regional Trail is an easy — family friendly — 5.6-km loop that takes an average of 1 h 23 min to complete.

The trail was dry and in great shape, even in chilly December.

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.

I did find the Nile Creek logging road less interesting than the portion closer to the ocean. You could walk north from the parking lot, then backtrack whenever you wish to enjoy the most scenic sections twice.

If you do the entire loop, feel free to call it the Lighthouse Loop.

There are other trails to explore aside from the loop, of course.

Though you don’t really need a map, I followed AllTrails.

related – nearby, more challenging, Nile Creek Trail

Posted on

Fisherman’s Trail, Portugal

Alone. Late in the year – November.

One of our BEST VIDEOS.

Fisherman’s Trail is the BEST section of the longer Rota Vicentina route in Portugal.

And the BEST section of Fisherman’s is Porto Covo ➙ Zambujeira do Mar.

In either direction.

Most who hike Fisherman’s also include Zambujeira to Odeceixe. Much of that is great too — but you have at least 5km of road walking.

NOVEMBER turned out to be my best decision. Weather was still good but the coast was nearly empty of tourists.

Trip report.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Posted on

Bermuda Rail Trail

One of our BEST VIDEOS.

An 18 mile (29km) LONG day hike on tropical paradise islands. PLUS many recommended sidetrips along the way.

Forts, lighthouses, and beaches.

Our recommended itinerary starts in Dockyard and continues past the official trail end in St. George’s.

In fact, it’s BEST to do the Rail Trail over 2 or more days.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.