Best hikes, treks, tramps in the world.
Looks like 2015 will see the most traffic ever to this site.
The goal, however, is not to generate the most page views. But rather to maintain a list of the best hikes in the world. This is a resource for hikers planning future adventures.
Check two other best hike lists:
Breathtaking is the only word that can remotely describe the beauty of Hunlen Falls in remote Tweedsmuir Provincial Park in the West Chilcotin area of British Columbia.
But almost no one has ever heard of Hunlen Falls – and nor do they realize that these waterfalls are Canada’s third highest – plunging 1,316 feet (401 meters). In fact they are the highest waterfalls in Canada IF you measure as a continuous unbroken drop. …
The best way to see Hunlen Falls is via floatplane. It’s a twenty minute flight from Nimpo Lake. If you have time, you can land on Turner Lake and take the one kilometer trail to the lookout.
Alternatively you can hike to Hunlen Falls. …
… 16.4 kilometers one way with a vertical raise of 800 meters (2625 feet). It’s a great trail if you like counting switchbacks. There are 78 of them.
Plan to take 6-9 hours one way …Canada’s 3rd Highest Waterfall – Breathtaking Hunlen Falls in BC
related – trip report – three day trip to Hunlen Falls and Turner Lake
Boston Dynamics ATLAS robot walking over debris and in a forest. Commentary by Professor Marc Raibert, co-founder of Boston Dynamics Inc.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I, for one, welcome our new Robot hiking overlords. 🙂
Our new information page is up. And complete.
World → North America → Rockies → Colorado Trail
This is a MAJOR long distance adventure like the Pacific Crest Trail. You need do a lot of advance planning. If 500 miles is too much we recommend 3 highlight sections:
486mi (782km) from Denver to DurangoLooking for inspiration? 🙂 Click PLAY John Bryant Baker 2012 on YouTube.
See more on our Colorado Trail information page.
The WCT is our favourite hike in the world. 🙂
The 75-kilometre West Coast Trail is getting repairs to bridges, ladders and other sections, as part of $33.6 million in funding announced for Parks Canada.
The money is the largest federal infrastructure investment in Parks Canada since its formation 104 years ago, said Vancouver Island North MP John Duncan. …
I did a lousy job packing for 2 weeks in the Colorado Rockies. In fact, I accidentally left behind at home my beloved MSR Reactor stove. 😦
I made a stop at REI to purchase a second Reactor – but they were out of stock. The best alternative available was the MiniMo.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
The MiniMo upends what we thought we knew about “personal cook systems,” the integrated stove/pot design that Jetboil pioneered in 2004. Like its predecessors, the MiniMo has lightning-fast boil times (it averaged 2 minutes and 21 seconds for 20 ounces at room temp in our controlled test) and efficient fuel consumption (expect about 9 liters of boiled water for a 3.5-ounce fuel canister). But, unlike all its predecessors, it can actually simmer …
I disliked my original Jetboil finding it dangerous. If something boiled over (as it often does) it was difficult to remove pot from flame. And your hand was scalded if you tried to turn off the flame.
But I have to admit, the MiniMo is a huge improvement. Almost as good as the Reactor.
It’s compact with many nifty features.
Outside’s Gear Guy reviewed it – What’s the Best Lightweight Backpacking Stove?
I wonder how long the auto-igniter will continue to work. Piezo ignition has problems above 8,000 feet.
It’s not easy to use a lighter on the MiniMo.
And it truly is lousy in the wind.
But as of now I’ll pack the MiniMo in preference to my old Reactor. Let’s see how long that lasts. 🙂
related – Adventure Tested: Jetboil MiniMo Backpacking Stove
trip report by site editor Rick McCharles
day 1 | day 2 | day 3 | day 4 | info page
seasonal Spring – Kennebec trailhead – Durango
The morning was overcast and gloomy for the first time on the hike. 
I’d hoped the pain in my leg would have “recovered” by morning.
It had not. 😦
My closest escape route was Kennebec trailhead, 8 miles onward.
Would there be any vehicles there? Could I catch a ride back to Durango, skipping the last 20.5 miles?
But when I hit the Highline Trail section I couldn’t stop grinning. 
It came clear to me why these are some of the highlight miles of the entire Colorado Trail. The Indian Trail Ridge section of the Highline is fantastic.
Photos cannot capture the wide and unique vista. But I’ll post some anyway. 🙂
The wildflowers are reputedly better here in July than anywhere else on the Colorado Trail. 
I was thinking to use this as my OK Cupid profile pic. 🙂 Ladies? 
Bad news. I was moving much more slowly than usual … and the big, bad thunder clouds started piling up atop the highest point on the trail.
Marmots can hide in the rocks if the thunder and lightning starts. But I’d be very exposed.
I shuffled on and managed to drop down to Taylor Lake and the Kennebec trailhead before the rain started.
I was relieved to get off the heights. And into even thicker wild flowers.
The first folks I met – a family originally from Montana – offered me a lift part way down the mountain towards Durango. They were looking to fill their pick-up truck with firewood.
(note – At this point my camera said “batteries exhausted“. I resembled that remark. And put the camera away. My hike OVER. 51 miles total.)
I was pleased to tag along. Prepared to start working the chainsaw when a second vehicle arrived. A couple of ex-military fishermen. They’d needed to hitchhike plenty over their many different fishing trips. The guys dropped me at the Rec Center in Durango so I could shower-up and change my clothes.
A hot shower is one of the few things I miss while hiking. This one was glorious. 🙂
A lady at the Rec Center suggested I use the rest of the facilities. After all, I’d paid full price for the day – $6!
It sounded crazy at the time, but I did end up returning in the evening for a workout in the weight room. And another long, hot shower. 🙂
My stashed green garbage bag was exactly where I’d left it days ago. I repacked for travel, the Colorado hiking finished for 2015. (I was walking with a limp.)
Have you ever tried to fly from one small town to another small town in another nation? On a summer long weekend? With one day notice?
DON’T!
An itinerary like this is near certain to go wrong.
Instead, I played it SAFE and jumped on to the only long distance bus out of Durango. The 7am Roadrunner. The same bus that brought me here.
Farewell Durango.
trip report by site editor Rick McCharles
day 1 | day 2 | day 3 | day 4 | info page
Straight Creek – seasonal Spring
No rain last night. 
I hadn’t needed to put the fly on the tent!
Mixed forest hiking. Often the Colorado Trail here traverses high on the mountain between alpine meadows and scattered trees. 
With more good weather, I’d planned to push hard again and hike perhaps 26mi to Taylor Lake. Otherwise I’d need to stop before the last available water at around 20 miles. 
I met an older couple from Nebraska riding the Continental Divide over a number of years. They’d camped near the first serious bear scat I’d seen in Colorado. 
Water is short on this high, ridge walking section. Trail angels had left this behind (empty) … 
… and somebody up day biking left this. 
At many downhill fallen logs, I took a short rest. 
One of the few complaints I have about this trail is road walking. Old mining and logging roads are everywhere.
There are very few motor vehicles, but I’d be happier if they’d route actual trail to avoid them completely.
Signage is quite good. But it’s possible to get lost for short periods of time. Some hiker had taken the time to post this helpful note. 
The best sections have open views for long periods. 
A lovely day to be walking in the mountains. 
Wildflowers a constant delight. 
These guys are camped here with motor vehicles. 
As feared, the skies darkened above the high, exposed ridge I hoped to cross. There’s not much trouble with bears here. But lightning kills hikers every year. 
When it started to rain about 4pm, I decided to give up my attempt to make it to Taylor Lake.
That decision was probably for the best as shinsplints (?) in one leg started to act up. (An old gymnastics injury from my youth.) I’d been pushing too hard with too heavy a pack, I guess.
This would delay my return to Durango by a day. But no big deal. I’d no plane to catch.
Charcoal I’d found on the trail wasn’t actually all that much help getting my fire going. So I cheated with my camp stove. 🙂
more high resolution photos of day 3
trip report by site editor Rick McCharles
day 1 | day 2 | day 3 | day 4 | info page
Lime Creek – Straight Creek
Good morning. Blue sky. 
Life is great in the Rockies when the weather is clear. 
This marmot seemed to be questioning my good mood. What does he know?
The wildflowers are fantastic in July. 
Vistas wide open. Much of this hike is above the treeline. 
Clear mountain streams burble. 
There’s a little bit of snow left on north facing slopes. But not much. 
These ladies had an ideal campsite under the full moon. They were hiking about 10 miles / day. No rush. 
I was one happy hiker, myself. 
I snacked on raisin min-bagels and extra sharp cheddar cheese. 
Lovin’ it. 
Here’s the weirdest geological anomaly.
On the downside you must share this paradise with car campers.
One group couldn’t be bothered to drive out their trash. 😦
Horseback travellers are cool, though. 
As usual, the skies darkened in the afternoon. 
I wanted to cross Blackhawk Pass before stopping for the day. 
Here it is … I thought at the time. 
Nope. The real Blackhawk Pass (11,985ft) was far, far more challenging. I wasn’t sure I’d actually make it before the weather closed on me.
When I finally crossed and found water, there was no campsite. I went off-trail to the creek and set up my tent on the upslope side of a large tree, one of the few possible places to set up on a steep slope. 
It was fairly flat … after I propped up one corner on rocks. 
more high resolution photos of day 2
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