My Favorite Touristy Hiking Destinations
I have come up with a few of my favorite touristy hiking destinations for those of you looking to do some hiking this spring. I love hiking because in addition to being great exercise, it allows you to actually surround yourself with nature as opposed to just driving past it. Hiking is a great way to get the most out of your visit to a new area; what better way to fully take in an area than hiking?
The views at the top of a hike are usually as good as it gets. I am a little nervous about running into wildlife (too many bear attacks in recent years), however, that hasn’t stopped me from enjoying a nice hike. Here are my top hiking areas (in touristy areas) ranging from urban to national parks.
Runyon Canyon Park – Los Angeles, California
Views: City of Los Angeles, Griffith Observatory
Pros: Gorgeous views of Los Angeles, good workout (a few steep hills), little wildlife, free parking, free yoga
Cons: Crowded on weekends, not shaded (hot and sunny – bring sunglasses and sunblock!)
Address: 2001 N Fuller Ave Los Angeles, CA 90046
Griffith Park – Los Angeles, California
Views: Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles
Pros: Great spot for taking photos of the Hollywood Sign, not as crowded as Runyon Canyon, free parking, little wildlife, difficult hike despite the short distance
Cons: Hike is a bit too short, no shade
Address: 4730 Crystal Springs Dr Los Angeles, CA 90027
White Mountains National Forest – New Hampshire
Views: Beautiful mountains
Pros: Quiet isolated trails, heavily forested with beautiful pine trees, clean, the air just smells fresher
Cons: There is no one else around if you get lost, saw a few bear prints (yikes!), small fee for parking
Address: Greeley Ponds Trailhead (parking lot on Kancamagus Highway NH Rte. 112
Camden Hills State Park – Camden, Maine
Views: Mt. Battie, ocean and mountain
Pros: Plenty of different trails, breathtaking views of Mt. Battie, beautiful trees
Cons: Small parking fee, walking downhill on the rocks can be challenging
Address: 280 Belfast Rd, Camden, ME 04843
Emerald Bay State Park – South Lake Tahoe, California
Views: Lake Tahoe
Pros: Beautiful views, pretty streams, Vikingsholm castle, beaches along the way to stop at
Cons: Pay for parking, parking difficult to find, short trail, lots of black bear activity
Address: Parking located at Hwy 89 at Emerald Bay State Park, South Lake Tahoe, CA
Crystal Cove State Park – Laguna Beach, CA
Views: Coastline, mountains
Pros: Gorgeous desert scenery, peaceful (no large crowds), great escape from the city, intense workout (very steep hills), free parking, fabulous views, you can head over to the beach after your hike
Cons: There have been lion attacks, you need to watch out for snakes, may be too isolated for some
Address: 8471 N Coast Hwy Laguna Beach, CA 92651 (free parking can be found along side streets or in shopping plaza)
Camelback Mountain – Phoenix, Arizona
Views: Phoenix, surrounding mountain landscapes, desert
Pros: Great views of the city, Lots of diverse cactus plants to take your picture next do, great workout!
Cons: You need to watch out for snakes!
Address: 5700 North Echo Canyon Parkway Phoenix, AZ 85018
Top places I want to hike: Arches National Park in Utah, Arcadia National Park in Maine, and Glacier National Park in Montana.
In addition, check out this Discovery list of the 10 best hiking spots in the US.
Update: I have completed many wonderful hikes in the past few years. Here are a few great touristy destinations to plan hiking adventures:
Best hikes in gorgeous Flagstaff
Waterfall hikes in the Smoky Mountains
