Best hikes, treks, tramps in the world.
One of our BEST VIDEOS.
Perhaps 25 waterfalls and spectacular canyons in series.
I can’t recall better anywhere else in the world.
Trail starts at massive Skógafoss and continues 8km (5 miles). The views just as good on the way back.
I waited about 5 days for a good weather window. Hiked the Waterfall Way twice, up-and-down, over 3 days.
I wanted the trail as empty of people as possible. And to catch the sun low in the sky.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I wish I could live this long. 😀
Video generated by artificial intelligence.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
A long, relaxing voiceless video.
For me, Harmen Hoek is inspiring like Kraig Adams. Both are wonderful hiking movie makers.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
My favourite season for hiking is autumn.
The colours, for sure.
Sunlight low in the sky.
But even more is the melancholy of days getting shorter. The year coming to an end.
Most of the trees in the Vancouver Island rain forest are evergreen. But there are enough deciduous to make for wonderful scenes.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
The Faroe Islands are one of the most scenic places I’ve ever hiked. No place is more than 5km from the sea.
I was there for 12 days summer 2024, arriving by ferry from Denmark en route to Iceland.
Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.
Here’s my advice for Cycling / Hiking the Faroe Islands.
This edit was Inspired by Experience the John Muir Trail in Just 2 Minutes.
This is one of the most original trip videos I’ve seen lately.
It packs a LOT of glimpses of 220 miles of California wilderness into just 2 minutes.
John Muir is our #2 hike in the world.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles
When the construction of Kárahnjúkar Hydro Dam was finished 2009, Stuðlagil (Studlagil) Canyon became fully visible.
The water level in the river Jökla, that runs through the canyon, dropped and amazing basalt columns have since become one of the most popular tourist attractions in eastern Iceland.
Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.
The landowners were still building tourist infrastructure in 2024.
I stayed at the simple campground on the northern side of the river.
A German couple — world travellers — in a camper van, offered me lamb dinner with locally picked mushrooms. And wine! It was my best meal in Iceland. 😀
Once the tourists were gone in the evening, I climbed down a long set of stairs to have the northern viewing platform all to myself.
Next morning, I cycled over to the southern side of the river. It’s the better experience. Go to both sides, if you can.
Stuðlagil (Studlagil) is a canyon in the Eastern Region of Iceland.
It is known for its unusual amount of large columnar basalt rock formations and the turquoise coloured river that runs through it.
The canyon also has an interesting story as it became an unexpected tourist sensation in 2016 after Einar Páll Svavarsson published an article in August of that year on hiticeland.com with spectacular photos.
A year later Einar also wrote an article about Stuðlagil in WOW air magazine in June 2017 and after that the canyon became a popular tourist destination.
It’s an easy detour off the Highway 1 Ring Road. About a 19km/11.8mi sidetrip along road 923. Mostly paved in 2024.
related – All you need to know before visiting Stuðlagil Canyon
official website – studlagil.is
If you post online photos and videos of your hikes, you’ll related to this video.
Frustration.
Kyle is terrific. But — like all of us — things go wrong. Video projects stall.
Life goes on.
Kyle points out that the unused footage in his hard drives is still valuable. We should enjoy the process, not the resulting footage.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. Like and subscribe.
Van Neistad (and his brother Casey) both believe perfectionism is BAD for most of us on YouTube.
Create. Post online, good or bad. And LEARN from the experience.
Over time your content should 😀 … improve.
Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles
I’ve seen most of the famous waterfalls of the world — and cannot recall a better series of falls anywhere.
Skógafoss is massive. Powerful.
The Skógafoss Waterfall hike (also called the Skógá Trail or Waterfall Way) is one of Iceland’s most spectacular easy walks. Perhaps 25 waterfalls and spectacular canyons.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
This trail starts at massive Skógafoss and follows the Skógá River upstream for 8 km (5 miles). If you reach the bridge, I’d say you’ve gone too far. 😀
In fact, hike as far as you want. Turn back when you like.
Elevation Gain: 500 meters
I waited about 5 days for a good weather window — and it was worth it. I even had some sunshine.
I hiked the waterfalls up and down twice over 3 days. Going early morning and late evening to minimize the number of other hikers on the trail.
The trailhead is at Skógar on the Ring Road (highway 1). There is a campground and hotels. Book well in advance.
Earth Trekkers posted an excellent trip report.
Skógafoss is also the start / finish of the challenging Fimmvörðuháls trail which ends at Thórsmörk. In good weather you can do the entire 22 kilometres (14 mi), 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) of climbing in a long day. It crosses a glacier between two recently active volcanoes — which you can also climb.
Of course Thórsmörk is the start / finish of the most famous hike in Iceland, the Laugavegur. If you have 4-6 days, the BEST hike is Landmannalaugar to Skógar. It includes the The Skógafoss Waterfall Way, connecting Fimmvörðuháls and Laugavegur.
I did the Laugevagur Trail as a YOYO in 2023.
related:
I haven’t much changed my gear for overnight hiking over the past few years.
If it works, don’t fix it.
Biggest change is my photo / video equipment: phone, drone, and action camera.
I’m no ultralight hiker. 😀 For me the drone and two powerbanks are worth carrying.
My BestHike YouTube channel is high priority on these trips.
Below is a list I’d guesstimate to be 90% accurate for most trips. Of course I’d add food for the number of days needed.
| SLEEP |
| MSR Hubba NX tent |
| MSR Hubba NX fly |
| 5 stakes & MSR aluminum poles |
| FLEXTAILGEAR Portable Tiny Pump 2X. |
| Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XLite™ NXT MAX |
| NeoAir® UberLite® short (pillow & Bup mattress) & patch kit |
| Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt |
| extra large waterproof garbage bag |
| SHOES |
| Sketchers Men’s Go Walk Outdoor-Athletic Slip-On Trail Hiking Shoes WIDE |
| New Balance 1260s 4E 9.5 w additional insoles |
| CLOTHING |
| Therm-a-Rest pump sack = bag for clothing |
| Plastic bag for dirty clothes |
| Medium length wool hiking socks x2 |
| Janji Transit Tech Pant |
| Columbia OutDry rain jacket |
| Lifaloft Insulator hooded Jacket with stuff sack |
| Baleef Running shorts x2 |
| red Nike quick dry t-shirt |
| wool t-shirt x2 |
| 1 x ballcap black |
| black summer weight BUFF x2 |
| PERSONAL |
| toiletries waterproof bag (green) |
| fingernal clippers |
| ASA |
| Tums |
| Vitamins (gummies) |
| first aid kit with bandaids |
| sun screen |
| tiny Swiss Army knife |
| Hand Sanitizer – 1 oz bottle |
| Prescriptions – Blood Pressure |
| bright orange flagging tape |
| toilet paper TP |
| plastic toothpicks |
| toothbrush |
| toothpaste |
| FOOD |
| Spoon |
| tiny scrubber |
| fuel (1 medium) |
| Ursack XL black |
| 2 long lighters |
| water bottles (2 x litre soft drink empty) |
| water purification tablets (Acquatabs) |
| lemon pepper, Chili flakes, soup spicey stock |
| fire starter blocks |
| JetBoil ZIP stove |
| PACKS / BAGS |
| Hyperlight 3400 Windrider |
| Matador day pack |
| documents – guidebook pages, paper map |
| ELECTRONICS |
| DJI Mini 4 Drone and accessories |
| 2 PHONES |
| 1 USB C, 1 USB A cable |
| EarPods and cable |
| red waterproof electronics bag |
| library audio books |
| Apple Watch w cable |
| Threaded to GoPro adapter for tripod |
| GoPro to threaded tripod mount adapter |
| Ace Pro Action Camera & extra battery |
| Fotopro uFO 2 tripod (.5 pound) |
| plastic phone tripod adaptor |
| Nitecore NU25 headlamp and cable |
| Anker Power Bank PowerCore Essential 20000 (342gm) |
| Ugreen 145W Power Bank (2024) |
| Hip Pack – with Quad lock attachment for phone |
| Wallet |
| Cash |
| credit card and bank card |
| 2 x Sunglass clip-on, flip-up |
| APPS |
| Maps.me app |
| Google maps offline app |
| Guthook App (I have subscription) |
| AllTrails PRO (I have a subscription) |
| Peakfinder |
| Otter (voice notes) |
| Libby (library books) |
| Merlin (bird ID) |
| ReLive (mapping) |
| Weather |
| Photos |
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