My Top 40 Hikes (A blog post in progress)

I love hiking, and I have been blessed to take lots of great hikes!  These have been day hikes, which I prefer to backpacking.  Some of the best hikes I have been on have spoiled me for some of the lesser hikes.  For instance, I have learned that my favorite hikes involve both majestic mountains, water, and sweeping views - preferably all the way, not just at the end.  So though hiking in the Smoky Mountains in my backyard is fun, those hikes are not top on my list.

I've thought a lot about what makes a good hike.  To me the ultimate hike would have mountains, water (bonus if a waterfall), sweeping views, good weather (only sort of out of my control as I try to plan my visits when the weather has a strong probability of  being excellent), good company (I have never hiked alone), and a restaurant along the way (hey, a girl can dream).  And while I have a sense of accomplishment with a long and hard hike, I really appreciate a hike that gives similar views with way less effort.  

My top 40 hikes reflect my particular adventures on these trails.  Different weather or different company might give you a totally different experience. These hikes include mountains, lakes, ocean, waterfalls, canyons, desert, cool rock formations, villages, castles and even a movie set!   

So here is my list as of January 2026 (and except for #1, it is MY list, not Terry's).  Many of the hikes have their own blog posts and are linked. 

1.  Stairway to Heaven (Oahu, HI).  Terry and I have agreed that this will remain #1, as it was the first epic hike we took together.  And it is now illegal and comes with a huge fine to any who attempt it.  To be fair, it was also illegal when we took it, but a boy scout at a grocery store in Kailua recommended it and told us how to do it. I admit it being illegal did add to the thrill!  This hike goes up a rickety staircase to a radio tower used in WW2 and has almost continuous views of mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

2.  Four Mile/Panorama/Mist Trail (Yosemite,CA)  Also our longest hike at approximately 15 miles.  Truly epic scenery. 

3.  Angel's Landing (Zion, UT)  Probably the best bang for the buck as it's a relatively short hike and totally legal, so it perhaps could have been #1

4.  Precipice/Beehive Trails (Acadia, ME) Two trails that are very similar, and you can do both in one day.  If you have to choose, take Precipice, but it is not open all year. 

5.  Cat Bells/Maiden Moor/High Spy (Lake District, UK) Such a special memory of this hike taken with my daughter!  I want to go back. 

6.  Hooker Valley Track (Mt. Cook, NZ)  So many great hikes in NZ.  But many of them were quite a challenge.  This one I could do over and over. 

7.  Roy's Peak (Wanaka, NZ)  - a hike with a continuous view!

8.  Rob Roy Glacier (Wanaka, NZ)  - my only glacier hike on the list

9.  Ben Lomond (Queenstown, NZ) - another continuous view hike

10.  Chapel Basin (Pictured Rocks, MI) on Lake Superior

11.  Monterosso/Vernazza/Corniglia (Cinque Terra,Italy) - a very unique hiking experience from village to village.  Wonderful food in each village, and very picturesque. 

12.  Skyline Trail (Mt. Ranier, WA) - lots of wildflowers!

13.  Mostnica Gorge/Voje Waterfall (Triglavski National Park, Slovenia) - not just good food for a hike, this was the best food we had on our entire trip 

14.  The Narrows (Zion, UT) - So fun to hike in a river!

15.  Avalanche Peak (Yellowstone, WY)- This is the first alpine hike I ever took, and it was one that I took with my Dad.  A Very special memory.  

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