Top hiking destinations and famous trails
Top hiking destinations and famous trails
Famous trails for your next hiking trip
Hiking at its best is one of the most direct ways to engage with a landscape. The pace forces a relationship with terrain, weather and distance that faster forms of travel rarely allow, and the physical effort involved tends to make the experience of arriving somewhere feel genuinely earned. The most memorable trails are those where the journey itself is as compelling as the destination at the end of it.
The trails and destinations here range from iconic long distance routes with established infrastructure to remote multi-day wilderness crossings that require serious preparation and self-sufficiency. Some are accessible to anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. Others demand technical experience, specialist equipment and careful planning around weather windows and permit requirements.
Preparation, timing and honest assessment of fitness and experience level are the foundations of a good hiking trip. The most common mistakes are underestimating elevation gain, arriving outside the optimal weather window and carrying either too much or too little. The destinations here cover a wide range of difficulty and terrain, with enough variety to suit first-time multi-day hikers and those with serious trail experience alike.
Lists by region
Worldwide (168)
Africa (23)
Asia (34)
Europe (57)
North America (43)
Oceania (11)
South America (14)
Island in Japan
Yakushima
Ancient cedars, mossy forest and waterfalls
Moss-covered forest trails lead to Jomon Sugi, a cedar tree estimated to be thousands of years old. The path winds past twisted roots and boulders draped in green. Hikers cross wooden walkways over streams on the way to the tree. The round trip can take up to ten hours depending on the route chosen.
National Park in Japan
Chūbu-Sangaku National Park
Northern Alps peaks, snow walls and onsen
The Kurobe Gorge area holds trails that climb toward Tateyama's volcanic peaks. A famous snow corridor along the Tateyama route can reach walls over 60 feet high in spring. Hikers pass alpine ponds and steaming vents at higher elevations. The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route combines cable cars, buses and trails through the range.
Town in Germany
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Alpine town below Germany's highest peak
Trails from this German town lead into Partnach Gorge, carved by glacial meltwater. Wooden walkways and tunnels let hikers walk beside the churning river below. This town also serves as the main trailhead for climbing routes up the Zugspitze. Cable cars offer a shortcut for those skipping the steepest sections.
Island in Japan
Shikoku
Pilgrimage trail, gorges and hot springs
An 88-temple pilgrimage trail circles the entire island, covering roughly 1,200 kilometers. Pilgrims, known as henro, often wear white and carry a walking stick. Walkers can complete short sections or the full route, which traditionally takes about six weeks. Temples along the way stamp a pilgrim's book as proof of each visit.
National Park in Japan
Kamikochi
Clear river valley beneath the Hotaka Range
A red suspension bridge called Kappabashi marks the start of trails into the valley. The Azusa River runs clear and turquoise beneath the peaks of the Hotaka range. Walkers follow flat riverside paths with views of snow-capped ridgelines above. Cars are banned here, so the valley stays quiet even in peak season.
Country
Bhutan
Himalayan monasteries, dzongs and trekking trails
A steep trail climbs to Tiger's Nest monastery, perched on a cliff above a forested valley. Hikers gain roughly 900 meters over several hours to reach the sacred site. The multi-week Snowman Trek crosses some of the highest passes attempted by trekkers anywhere. Prayer flags mark high points along both routes throughout the kingdom.
City in Japan
Fujiyoshida
Fuji's sacred trailhead with the pagoda view
A steep stairway climbs to the Chureito Pagoda, framed against Mount Fuji in one of Japan's most photographed views. Roughly 400 steps lead up through a forest of cherry trees. Visitors time the climb for cherry blossom season or clear autumn mornings. The pagoda itself was built in 1963 as a peace memorial.
National Park in Japan
Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park
Fuji, Hakone, Izu and volcanic islands
Trails through Hakone climb past volcanic vents and steaming sulfur springs. Hikers can walk the Owakudani area's boardwalks over active geothermal ground. Lake Ashi's shoreline trail offers views toward Mount Fuji on clear days. Cable cars connect several trailheads across this mountainous stretch of the park.
Region in Germany
Saxon Switzerland
Sandstone towers and Elbe valley hikes
A network of sandstone trails winds through this park south of Dresden. Many lead to the Bastei, a narrow bridge connecting rock towers above the Elbe River. Walkers cross the bridge for views down into forested gorges below. Some paths require squeezing through narrow rock passages carved by centuries of erosion.
Mountain in Japan
Mount Fuji
Japan's highest peak and sacred volcano
The Yoshida Trail is the most used of four routes to Fuji's 3,776-meter summit. Climbers often start at night to reach the top in time for sunrise. Mountain huts along the way offer rest stops and basic meals. The official climbing season runs only from early July through early September.
Town in Japan
Fujikawaguchiko
Lake town with Mount Fuji views and onsen
A ropeway near Lake Kawaguchi lifts hikers partway up Mount Kachi Kachi. From the top, views stretch back over the water toward Mount Fuji. A short trail continues from the upper station to a higher viewpoint. Walkers can loop back down through forest instead of riding the ropeway.
City in Japan
Fuji
Mountain views, paper mills and fresh shirasu
Climbers ascend this Japanese peak overnight to reach the summit for sunrise. Ten mountain stations mark the route, with huts offering rest partway up. The official climbing season runs only through July and August each year. Volcanic ash and loose rock make the upper slopes slow, tiring terrain.
Lake in Japan
Lake Kawaguchi
Mirror-like lake with the best Fuji views
Trails around this Japanese lake offer some of the clearest reflected views of Mount Fuji. Hikers can walk the shoreline path or climb nearby hills for elevated views. Cherry blossoms line sections of the trail each spring near the water. The lake sits at the base of Fuji's popular Yoshida climbing route.
Peak in Germany
Zugspitze
Alpine views from the country's highest summit
Trails climbing this German peak gain nearly 6,000 feet from the valley floor near Garmisch. Sections of via ferrata, fixed cable routes, help hikers navigate the steepest rock. Hikers can also ride a cable car partway to shorten the climb. Views from the summit stretch across four countries on clear days.
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Best hiking destinations in Africa
Africa's hiking ranges from the glaciated summit zone of equatorial high peaks and the vast plateau trails of the south to rainforest routes in the centre and dramatic coastal…
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Best hiking destinations in Asia
Asia offers some of the most varied and rewarding hiking terrain on earth, ranging from high altitude Himalayan trails and volcanic crater routes to ancient pilgrimage paths,…
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Best hiking destinations in Europe
Europe has one of the most developed long distance hiking cultures in the world, with a network of waymarked trails covering everything from high alpine routes and coastal paths to…
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Best hiking destinations in North America
North America's hiking offer is defined by scale and wilderness, with trails passing through landscapes that dwarf anything found in more densely populated regions. From arctic…
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Best hiking destinations in Oceania
Oceania's hiking spans an enormous geographic range, from the ancient eroded ranges of Australia's interior and the dense rainforests of its tropical north to the dramatic alpine…
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Best hiking destinations in South America
South America's hiking is shaped by extreme contrasts in altitude, climate and terrain. The Andes form the spine of the continent, offering everything from high-altitude desert…
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