The Hoh Rain Forest is one of Olympic National Park's most popular destinations. (Photograph by Brett Holman/Tandem Stock)
Hiking is one outdoor activity that just about anyone old enough
to walk can enjoy. Some trails, however, are more challenging than
others.
If you’re new to the world of hiking—or are a seasoned pro hoping to
introduce the younger generation to the joys of walking in the
woods—here are ten great places to start, from Florida to Washington
State.
The Hoh Rain Forest, part of Olympic National Park, includes several accessible nature hikes. To explore this enchanted land, try the Hall of Mosses Trail (0.75 mile) and the Spruce Nature Trail
(1.25 miles). Look for Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and huge western
cedar as you wander through moss-draped maples and conifers in this
temperate forest that receives up to 14 feet of rain each year.
Located just an hour’s drive west of Washington, D.C.,
this is a lovely park in Virginia with views of the Blue Ridge
mountains. Take a short day hike on one of Sky Meadows’s many nature
trails, including a 2.4-mile section of the legendary Appalachian Trail. Settle in with a picnic and enjoy expansive views of the rolling farmland.
A
path wends through Muir Woods National Monument, home to some of the
tallest trees in the world. (Photograph by iceninejon, flickr)
Located just north of the Golden Gate, this park offers a wonderful array of loop hikes
through California’s giant coastal redwoods. While adults savor the
cool shade and well-marked trails, kids search for clues to the Muir Woods Quest. Before long, the spirited hike will have the entire family discussing boles, hollows, and old-growth forests.
This Tennessee park contains the world’s best example of temperate deciduous forest.
Quarter-mile paths, called quiet walkways, stem from the park’s
roadway. Any one of them offers access to silent wonders. Near Sugarlands Visitors Center is the Chimney Tops Trail, a lovely four-mile hike through old-growth forest up to sheer cliffs.
Popular with local and visiting families, this historic trail in Ohio has many points of access. Try the 4.3-mile Boston StoretoStation Road Bridgesection,
which includes the historic Boston Store, several canal locks, and the
Station Road Bridge, constructed in the early 1880s. This park is not
far from the big cities of Akron and Cleveland.
Less than an hour’s drive outside Chicago, near the town of Channahon, is
a lovely hike from Lock #6 past Lock #7 to McKinley Woods. Features
include a restored lock tender’s house, leafy trees, and the Des Plains
River.
Wander into this lovely Colorado nature center, say hello to animals
on the ranch farm tour, and sign up little ones for nature classes,
where they can hike the beautiful Hallam Lake Trail. The whole family will enjoy the popular, paved Rio Grande Trailnearby, which follows the twisting Roaring Fork River. One of the waterfalls hikers encounter on Oregon’s Horsetail Falls Trail (Photograph by nickay311, flickr)
Great hiking trails abound around the Columbia River. Located 45 minutes outside of Portland, Horsetail Falls Trail
is a 2.7-mile loop that’s a wonderful adventure for families with
active kids (as always, exercise caution and keep an eye out for steep
drops). The trail offers unforgettable views of three waterfalls:
Horsetail, Ponytail, and Oneonta.
Located along the Suwannee River and the site of Florida’s largest
white-water rapids, this park offers 28 miles of trails with beautiful
scenic views from the riverside bluffs. A popular trail is the 3.4-mile
paved Woodpecker Trail.
Amble through this beautiful park located in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. This famous actor’s 186-acre ranch offers a moderate 2.2-mile loop starting at the tennis courts and ending with beautiful views of Santa Monica at Inspiration Point. Tour the stables and have a picnic on the polo fields.
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