Category: scrambles

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Hike the Malerweg (Painter’s Way) in Germany

I met a young German hiker who had just completed the (approximately) 116 km adventure on the eastern border of Germany near Dresden.

He really enjoyed it.

It’s not well known outside Germany. Within Deutschland, some consider it the most beautiful hike in the nation.

Highlights include:

Schrammsteine

The official guide spits the trail to 8 stages / days. This is a very easy-going pace which allows for lots of options for side trips or drinking delicious German beer (or both for the ones who dare). I found 4-5 days just enough for a fully-loaded hiker who wants to enjoy hiking, not rush too much but also not sit in pubs for too long either.

Get in

It’s fairly easy to get to the trail or to any of its sections. There are many train connections from Dresden or Prague and public buses or trams operate within the area itself in some sections.

Eating & drinking

Resupplying food is not easy. The trail goes through very touristic places with many pubs and cafes but there aren’t any groceries. … The only food stores we found were a tiny bio bakery in Schmilka (very pricey – but great – pastries and bread) and a small grocery shop in Kroppen …. It’s not hard to make a bus trip to a nearby town to visit a supermarket ….

Navigation

Navigation is easy. Even though the trail is well marked with painted Ms, there were still some crossroads where we weren’t sure which way to go. Not having GPS or printed maps, we used only the mobile app Mapy.cz – it’s free and it has a tourist offline map of Germany with great resolution and precise, visible trails. …

Hiking is Good
Bastei Bridge

Details on the hike.

Click PLAY or watch Lennart Schoors‘ hike on YouTube.

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Hiking Schrammsteine, Germany

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

I’ll bet you’ve never heard of the Schrammsteine rock formation close to Dresden.

Located in Saxon Switzerland National Park on the eastern German border.

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.

Though it’s a long, strung-out, jagged rock formation, most hikers head up to this view point at a height of 417.2 m.

To get there, I followed signs saying “Schrammsteinaussicht” (Schrammstein view) until close to the top when they switched to “Wildschützensteg“.

There are many ways up, however. I doubt you could easily get lost.

Be psyched for many ladders and some scrambling. No exposure, however. Typically you are wedged into the rock.

I came to this National Park for the much more famous, nearby Bastei Bridge hike. But I’d say Schrammsteine is equally good.

And I had the view point to myself while nearby Bastei is thronged with tourists.

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Hiking Segla & Hesten, Arctic Norway

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

Click PLAY or watch get a glimpse on YouTube.

I climbed famed Segla in 2022.

In 2023, returned and climbed Hesten. Set up my tent.

 5.3-km out-and-back.

Wait on the weather. You want the summit of Segla to be visible.

The best views of Segla are from Hesten.

Hikers on Heston looking over to Segla

There are a couple of trails up and down Heston. Some require scrambling.

Best months are June through September.

Ximonic (Simo Räsänen) 

The views are spectacular. This is definitely one of the very best hikes in Norway.

Looks good?

First you need to get to Senja Island in remote Arctic Norway. 😀

More photos.

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Scrambling Nordkollen, Sommarøy, Norway

Nordkollen is a short detour off the main highway.

Well worth it in my opinion. A charming spot. There’s an excellent free campsite on Sommarøy, as well.

The hike is only 1.6-km out-and-back. About an hour. BUT it’s steep and interesting due to the rope & chain assistance.

In good weather, you are not likely to use the ropes much. But in wind, rain, snow, or ice it would be useful.

Of course there are great vistas once at the top in good weather.

As always, footing is more challenging on the steep sections going down.

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#4 Hiking Town – 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.

Check our Dolomites information page.

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Scrambling Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas

I’d say Red Rock Canyon is the best hiking and scrambling destination in the world this close to a major city. Las Vegas.

Over the years I’ve done all of the established hikes.

BUT more recently I drive or cycle to nearby Calico Basin. Free entry. Free parking.

THEN take the Calico Hills Overlook Scramble to Red Rock Canyon. It’s obvious and easy from the parking lot.

Once in the red rock, I wander and scramble wherever I like.

Click PLAY or watch an example from April 2023 on YouTube.

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Kraft Mountain & Calico Hills Loop, Las Vegas

Some call it the ‘best free hike out of Las Vegas‘. I’d agree.

No need to pay entry to Red Rock Canyon, this adventure is right next door ➙ out of Calico Basin. Free entry. Free parking.

On a cool day in April, I did the the 6.9 km (4.2 mi) Kraft Mountain & Calico Hills Loop. With side trips and additional scrambles, it was longer for me.

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.

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#3 best hiking region in the world is the …

Rockies

Spectacular vistas, frequent wildlife encounters, the best wild flowers we’ve ever seen. Hot springs, quaint mountain towns, perhaps the best long distance hikes on the planet.

There are options to scramble ridges and peaks virtually everywhere.

“You can’t lose in the Rockies.”

… so says frequent contributor Rob Glaser who hiked here all his life.

Trails are safe and well managed. The infrastructure excellent. (In fact, it’s hard to imagine there are two regions in the world we rate better.)

The weather and conditions are variable to say the least, but in many parts of the Rockies Aug-Sept are the best months. A very short window! On the other hand, if you ski or board, you’ll never lack for adventure in the Rocky Mountains.

More information on our Rockies information page.

Our favourite trip in the Canadian Rockies is Sunshine to Assiniboine, our #5 hike in the world.

Anemones and Assiniboine, Alberta, Canada

Our Assiniboine Information page.

Just a short drive away is our favourite trail in the USA Rockies, Glacier North Circle, our #6 hike in the world. One of the best places in the world to see wildlife.

Our North Circle Information page.

Leave a comment if you have your own favourite hike in the Rockies.

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Climbing Segla (Sail) Mountain on Senja Island, Norway

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

The main reason we make the long trip to Senja Island is to climb high and enjoy otherworldly views.

Click PLAY or see Segla mountain and others on the island on YouTube.

Senja is even further north than famed Lofoten archipelago , but is equally spectacular in places.

The jumping off point is remote Fjordgård, not easy to reach by bicycle.

I camped for free along the ocean. A very windy night.

The east side of Segla starts rising gently, whereas the steep cliffs on the west side drop directly into the fjord. The EASY route is still challenging near the top. You’ll be using your hands.

BUT first it’s recommended to do the Hesten hike, rewarding you with the most impressive looks at the peak. 3.7 km return. Hesten is 556m.

Next climb Segla itself, if you have the energy.

Around 4km return. Perhaps 2 hours up, 1 hour down — IF you move steadily. Weather is the main factor. It can switch from sun to rain storm in just a few minutes.

Click PLAY or watch my video highlights MUSIC video 😀 on YouTube.

related – detailed trip report by Worldering Around – Segla, Senja Island – Best View Of The Iconic Mountain From Hesten Hike

June to September are the best months.