I often cook in my tent vestibule in the morning.

Coffee in bed. 😀

In Peru, I did see one tent catch fire from a cookstove — but it’s been 100% safe for me.

related – Hiking in the Rain VIDEO

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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 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.

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.

This is a bikepacking VIDEO but some of the tips are appropriate for hikers, as well.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Glacier North Circle is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.

Fantastic.

Ideally you hike both Glacier in Montana and Waterton National Park in Alberta, Canada.

• 7 days, 6 nights recommended
• 65miles (104km) plus side trips
• best months July-Sept

BUT if you only want to day hike, check out the highlights recommended by World Wide Hearts.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

In 2022, I enjoyed hiking Sandbotnen beach to Ryten Summit out of Fredvang.

Definitely one of the best hikes in Norway. Almost every hiker has Ryten on their Lofoten list.

In 2023 I was back — but the weather was overcast.

Staff at the Lydersen Rorbuer hostel suggested the nearby Røren / Ytresandheia hike as a good alternative when Ryten is covered with clouds.

With no real expectations, I headed up. And it was excellent.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Røren / Ytresandheia is not so much a mountain peak, but rather a long flat ridge on the northernmost tip of Moskenesøy. 

With only a small amount of elevation gain and a good trail, this short little hike provides fantastic views over the turquoise waters of Yttersand beach and across to the distant mountains of Flakstadøy.  …

68North – RØREN – YTRESANDHEIA HIKING GUIDE

I had seen this hike on World Wide Hearts.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Though I use AllTrails everywhere I go, my main source for advice in Europe 2023 was Kati and Sabrina ➙ Moon & Honey Travel.

After years of traveling across Asia, New Zealand, and the Balkans, they are now hiking across Europe based out of Vienna.

The problem for me in Europe is that there are TOO MANY great hikes. It’s difficult to find advice this specific.

Start on this page:

20 Best Treks in Europe

A collection of thrilling multi-day hiking trails in Europe for the offbeat adventurer, ranked easiest to most difficult. We starred our top recommendations. We also linked each trek to its trekking guide.

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Easy-Moderate European Treks 

1. Rota Vicentina Fisherman’s Trail, Portugal*
2. Emperor’s Crown, Austria
3. High Tatras Hut-to-Hut Hike, Slovakia
4. Rätikon High Trail Circuit, Austria and Switzerland*
5. Alta Via 1, Italian Dolomites
6. Tour du Mont Blanc, France, Italy and Switzerland

Moderately Difficult European Treks 

7. Liechtenstein Panorama Trail, Liechtenstein
8. Ortler High Mountain Trail, Italy
9. Montafon Hut-to-Hut Circuit, Austria
10. Venediger High Trail, Austria

Difficult European Treks 

11. Karwendel High Trail, Austria*
12. Schladminger Tauern High Trail, Austria*
13. Triglav National Park Trek, Slovenia*
14. Berlin High Trail, Austria*

Challenging European Treks 

15. Kamnik – Savinja Alps Trek, Slovenia*
16. Eagle Walk Lechtal Alps, Austria*

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Short 2 – 3 Day Treks in Europe:

17. Veliko Špičje & Seven Lakes Valley, Slovenia*
18. Mount Triglav, Slovenia
19. Rosengarten Traverse, Italian Dolomites 
20. Tre Cime di Lavaredo Trek, Italian Dolomites

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles.

End of June 2023.

Before considering putting this amazing hike on YOUR bucket list, watch this one minute VIDEO. It’s not for everyone.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I first hiked Harder Ridge in 2018. Quickly concluded that it was my favourite day hike anywhere.

I got the chance to return in 2023. Booked 3 nights in Interlaken, Switzerland — hoping for good weather.

Weather report was good, not great. If rain or lightning looked likely, I would either descend on a side trail or backtrack to the start.

Happily, weather was mixed all day. No rain. No slippery trails. People have died hiking Harder Ridge. There’s not much exposure, but I could see it happening at a few spots. Especially in snow, ice, or mud.

• dangerous
• I took 10 hours on both my days.
• at least 18km on sharply defined ridge
• should absolutely never be attempted when wet
• some scrambling required
• Brienz to Interlaken with motorized assistance getting up to and descending from the ridge

Don’t hike the other direction. Logistics are easier starting in Brienz. And it’s safer as the last 2 hours (when your legs are tired) is on easier trails. 

Every half hour a train runs from Interlaken to Brienz.

Across the street from the train station is the historic steam train from Brienz to Brienzer Rothorn Station. It’s been making this run since 1891.

It takes an hour to get to the top of the ridge 2351m.

Most visitors do a short ridge walk from here. And take the steam train back down to Brienz. Very few attempt the full Harder Ridge. It IS popular with trail runners.

A bit foggy on arrival. Bit of a worry.

This is NOT an official trail. You’ll see warnings.

This first half is unsigned. But you can’t get lost as the trail stays as close to the ridge top as possible.

Early on there is a technical section with stone steps and cable hand assist. It could be tricky when completely covered with snow.

I thought I’d be faster my second time. NOPE. It still took me 10 hours though I tried to move quickly with only short stops for photos and video.

At times you’ll wonder if that next climb is even possible. It is. 😀

There were plenty of wildflowers. Plenty of insects end of June.

This is a great hike to carry a drone.

It was hazy. But I still had good views of the big peaks across the lake.

The first time here, I was disappointed not to see any Ibex. This time mama blocked the trail for about 10 minutes. She had two little ones with her so I was cautious in making my way past.

I wouldn’t recommend bringing a dog on this one. There are too many sharp stones.

The final 6km are in the trees and it’s a relief to finally reach that section.

Both times — however — I found I was no faster here than on the naked ridge.

I was still worried about making the last funicular down from Harder Kulm. End of June it left at 9:45pm. I was on the last one.

It is fantastic to be delivered right back to Interlaken after 10 hours on foot.

I celebrated.

We have more information on our Harder Ridge information page.

Explore! posted this list of their top hikes in the world according to:

1. Length (Distance)
2. Elevation
3. Duration
4. Weather
5. Instagrammability

I find it a strange mix of short day hikes, multi-day adventures, and even one technical mountain climb (Huayna Potosi).

#2 is the Scenic Drive, Zion National Park. Zion is beautiful — but a drive is in a vehicle. I’m assuming they mean to day hike from that vehicle.

1. Perito Moreno Glacier Trail, El Calafate, Santa Cruz, Argentina
2. Aoraki/Mount Cook Loop, Canterbury, New Zealand
3. Scenic Drive, Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah, USA
4. Continental Divide Trail From NM 547, Grants, New Mexico, USA
5. Lower Yosemite Falls Trail, Yosemite Valley, California, USA
6. Carnarvon Gorge, Carnarvon Park, Queensland, Australia
7. Colca Canyon:Cabanaconde – Llahuar, Cabanaconde, Arequipa, Peru
8. Wineglass Bay, Tasmania, Australia
9. B’nei Hamoshavim Ascent Loop from ןיע ידג, Ein Gedi, Israel
10. Jaffa Port – St Peter’s Church Loop from יזבש, Tel Aviv, Israel
11. World’s End – Baker’s Falls Loop from Ohiya, Horton Plains National Park & World’s End, Sri Lanka
12. South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point, Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA
13. Okatse Canyon Loop from ზედა გორდი, Banchueti, Georgia
14. Western Wall, Jerusalem ינמראה עבור from Loop, Jerusalem, Israel
15. Catbells Circular, Lake District, Cumbria, UK
16. Piatra Craiului Ridge Walk, Magura, Brasov County, Transylvania, Romania
17. Mirador Loop, Cotapaxi, Mejia, Cotopaxi, Ecuador
18. Path of the Gods, Bomerano, Campania, Italy
19. Balcony Trail, Madeira, Portugal
20. Offa’s Dyke Trail, Chepstow, Monmouthshire to Prestatyn, Denbighshire, UK
21. Kaieteur Falls, Chenapau, Potaro-Siparuni, Guyana
22. Birtvisi Canyon Viewpoint and Ruins Hike, Tbisi, Kvemo Kartli, Georgia
23. El Tepozteco, Tepoztlan, Mexico
24. Grand Canyon Track, Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia
25. Shulamit-Quelle Loop ידג ןיע from, Wadi David, Israel
26. Berber Villages, Atlas Mountains, Asni, Marrakesh-Tensift-El Haouz, Morocco
27. Robberg Peninsula, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
28. Montfort Castle Loop from הפצמ הליה, Upper Galilee, Israel
29. Cecilia Waterfall via Cecilia Forest, Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, South Africa
30. Inca Trail (Mollepata), Aguas Calientes, Peru
31. Huayna Potosi, La Paz, Bolivia
32. Mt Rosea Loop, The Grampians, Halls Gap, Victoria, Australia
33. Dschelada Pavian Loop from Gich, Simien National Park, Ethiopia
34. Annapurna Circuit, Besi Sahar, Nepal
35. Kilimanjaro, Lemosho Route, Arusha, Tanzania

Like most of these meaningless lists, it’s effective in getting me thinking about future hiking trips. I looked up the Birtvisi Canyon Viewpoint and Ruins Hike, for example, but found it’s only 1.8-km long.

It took all of about 15 seconds to create this graphic using Dall-e AI software.

I like the result.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BestHike.com (@besthikevisuals)

I’d say Cam Honan is the world’s most accomplished hiker.

He’s done more of the best trails than anyone else — and hiked them everywhere in the world.

Needless to say, Cam has faced some life and death situations in the wilderness:

• river crossing on the Pacific Northwest Trail
• many challenges on the 24-day traverse of Southwest Tasmania
• avoiding drug traffickers on the Copper Canyon Traverse, Mexico

When things get tough on our (much easier) hikes, Cam’s advice is to stop. Think. And try to process the danger as an objective observer rather than a subjective participant.

Be logical. Not emotional.

Read his full post here:

Subjective Participant or Objective Observer?