Earth Day 2020: 6 Great Hikes Around the World

Earth Day 2020: 6 Great Hikes Around the World

Happy Earth Day AND National Park Week! As nature lovers, we are big fans of these holidays. If you’ve been following us on Instagram, you know we’ve been sharing six of the best hikes around the world over the past week to celebrate (and if you’re not following us on Instagram, what’re you doing? Follow us now!).

We got great feedback on the trails we featured, so we wanted to give you more information on each hike so you can enjoy them too.

Routeburn Track

The Routeburn track in South Island is one of the Great Walks of New Zealand. It is found between the Fiordland National Park and Mount Aspiring National Park. So you know it’s location is great, and not just for views. It is also close to so many other natural attractions, making it easy for your travel plans.

The trail

The total length one way is 32 km. It is usually recommended to split it up in to a two to four day endeavor. You can start at either end so head out from the Routeburn Shelter near Glenorchy (about 68km from Queenstown) or from the Divide Shelter on Milford Road (about 85 km from Te Anau). However, it is also possible to plan a day hike from either point, just start early so you can see as much as possible.

Where to stay along the trail

For the nights, you will find four huts and two campsites as well as two private lodges along the way. Check the dates below to know if you’ll need to make a booking ahead of time (depends on the season).

When to go?

The best season to visit is between the end of October and the end of April, aka the Great Walks season. However, because it is the most popular time, you will need to make bookings for your accommodations, so plan ahead! Also, the prices are higher in the peak season.

I’d also recommend checking on the official sites because weather in the off season might have damaged the track.

Cabo de Gata

Cabo de Gata is one of Spain’s best kept secrets. Located in the province of Almeria, it offers miles and miles of untouched coastline and 17 virgin beaches (yup, you read that correctly). Near Europe’s only real hot-desert climate, this off the beaten track experience in Spain is generally only known by locals. What’s not to love?

How to get there

The best way to get to Cabo de Gata is to bike or drive along AL-3201. If you don’t have a bike or a car, stay in Almeria and take bus M-212 from the bus station (Estacion Intermodal) to the village of San Jose. You can also stay in San Jose while you explore the park. 

The trail to Playa de Genoves and Playa Monsul

To get to Playa de Genoves and Playa Monsul, start off in San Jose and walk or bike West along the coast. It is about a 4-5 hour loop but you may want to add more time to enjoy the beach. If you choose to bike it, make sure your bike is suitable for rugged, sandy terrains.

When to visit Cabo de Gata

If you want to enjoy hiking, the best time is from October to April. If you want to go swimming, visit in Summer. It’s RED HOT at this time, so hiking will be best early in the morning or later in the day.

Where to stay

  • Staying inside Cabo de Gata: The park is protected from over development so you will only find eight quaint villages offering a taste of authentic Spanish life (read: everything WILL close for siesta). If you want to keep it coastal, try San Jose, which is near tons of trails and two of the parks most pristine beaches. You may also like Carboneras, near Playa de Los Muertos, voted one of Spain’s prettiest beaches. If you want to go inland, try Nijar, the capital of the park.
  • To sleep under the stars you can find camping options here.
  • Staying outside of Cabo de Gata: If you prefer to stay outside of the park, the nearest city is Almeria, but consider staying in Mojacar instead. It’s a charming all-white hill-top town with tons of beach bars and beach-front restaurants.

Website: https://cabogataalmeria.com/en/

Hielo Azul (Blue Ice) Track

The main reason  to visit, of course, are the views. There is expansive untouched nature for days. The springs along the way provide fresh clean water, and, once you reach the top, there’s a piercing blue lake on top of the mountains created by the retreating glacier. 

Now, aside from its undeniable beauty, another reason to enjoy this hike is because you can plan the length of your itinerary according to your availability/goals. That is, there are tons of trails all linked together by a series of shelters, so you can stay two days or you can get lost for more than a week and not have to come down until you’re satisfied (or run out of money).

The trail and where to stay

This one here will most likely not work as a day hike. From the town called El Bolsón, Argentina, it is about four hours just to get to the Blue Ice shelter, and then another three to four hours roundtrip to the glacier. So I’d definitely recommend you plan to spend the night. But really that is part of the fun.

Though they provide the bare minimum in terms of facilities, the shelters are a great spot to meet other travelers. They are relatively small so they still have a homey feeling.

Check out this list for your future plans:

  • Blue Ice shelter
  • Shelter Lago Natacion
  • Cajón del Azul
  • El Rematal
  • Los Laguitos
  • Dedo Gordo

When to go

The best season for hikes from El Bolson is between December and March, the days are warm and the nights chilly. The most popular months are January and February so shelters might be a little busy during these months and prices a little higher.

Bohemian Switzerland National Park

Pravcicka Archway is Europe’s largest sandstone archway. You’ll find it in Bohemian Switzerland National Park, which, despite its name, actually sits on the border between Czech Republic and Germany. With its deep-green forests, large sandstone formations, and deep canyons, Bohemian Switzerland National Park is a great place for hiking in Europe.

How to get there

If you have a car, drive to Hrensko where you can also find parking. If you don’t have a car, you can take a train to the town of Schona from Prague or Dresden. From Schona, you’ll take a ferry outside of the station to Hreknso where you can start the trail.

The trail to Pravcicka Archway

The hiking trail to Pravcicka Archway and the Falcon’s Nest starts in Hrensko. The hike to the archway is about 2.5 mi (4 km), a 5 mi (8km) loop.

When to visit Bohemian Switzerland National Park

Each season will offer a different experience. Most tourists visit from April to September to enjoy the weather, Autumn has a spectacular array of colors, and Winter will be less crowded and magically snowy. Have you ever seen or heard of the Chronicles of Narnia? Parts of the movies were filmed here in the winter!

Where to stay

The best place to stay is Hrenkso in Czech Republic. There’s plenty of guesthouses and hotels making it a great base to explore the entire park.

However, if you just want to do a day trip to the archway while you explore the rest of Germany or the Czech Republic, we recommend staying in Dresden or Prague.

 

Website: https://www.ceskesvycarsko.cz/en

Sentinel Peak Hike

You obviously must go for the views: All along this hike you will get incredible panoramas of the Drakensberg Amphitheatre, a 5 km cliff face in the Royal Natal National Park, South Africa. Once you reach the summit you will be on the Mont aux Sources, with endless views of the plateau, and be able to sit atop the second highest waterfall in the world, the Tugela Falls (a whopping 3110 ft).

The trail

This hike is also commonly referred to as the “Chain Ladders Hike” because of a series of chain ladders used to shortcut to the top. Now if these are not your cup of tea, you can still reach the top by following the trail up a gully. This hike can be accomplished in one day, probably taking you about 6-7 hours round trip. It is a full 12km (7.5miles) with quite a bit of a climb so come prepared. The trailhead is located on the Sentinel Peak parking lot, where you will also be responsible for signing the hiker register before you start.

Accomodations

There are plenty of lodges around this area, the two closest called Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge (very close to the Sentinel Peak parking lot) and Thendele Camp on the other side of the park. There are also two camping grounds in the park: Mahai and Rugged Glen. If you have a car though, you can venture a bit farther for more options (including more low-cost options).

When to visit

The best time to visit would be either in Spring (September and October) or at the beginning of Fall (March and April) after the Summer rains so the falls are nice and full. Both Summer (too hot and rainy) and Winter (too cold and snow) don’t have the best weather for hiking, and also Summer is the most popular season so you’d get to avoid the crowds.

Blue Ridge Parkway

One of the most scenic drives in America spans 469 miles from the Smokey Mountains in Cherokee, NC to Virginia . This isn’t quite a hike in the United States, so we’re cheating a little bit, but you could technically hike all 469 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway if you’d like. However, we recommend driving along the way and taking advantage of the overlooks and trails along the parkway.

How to get there

There are quite a few entrances to the parkway depending on where you’re coming from. You can start your journey in Cherokee, NC to visit the Great Smokey Mountains

National Park and continue onto Asheville,  a thriving artistic town with great restaurants. If you want to focus your trip around the Asheville area, enter through these mileposts:

  • Milepost 382.6: US Highway 70 crosses, the Folk Art Center is a short drive north. The best entrance for I-40 heading west.
  • Milepost 384.7: US 74A, the best entrance from I-40 heading east.
  • Milepost 388.8: US 25 crosses, from the Parkway, Biltmore is three miles north.
  • Milepost 393.6: NC 191 crosses, the nearest entrance from I-26. The North Carolina Arboretum is located at this intersection.

Best Season to enjoy the Blue Ridge Parkway

Every season will offer its own bit of magic, with Fall and Summer looking especially lush and vibrant. We don’t recommend taking the drive in Winter because of snow and ice. Many stretches along the parkway may even be closed during this time, so you will want to visit the website before planning your trip.

Where to stay

We recommend staying in one of the cities along the parkway such as Cherokee, Asheville, or Boone. Asheville, NC offers the added benefit of being a thriving artistic town with great restaurants. While Cherokee, NC will give you an opportunity to learn about Cherokee culture and visit the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.

Tips for a great visit

  • GPS Will not work properly on the parkway, so you’ll want to take a good ole fashioned map.
  • The overlooks and trails are so frequent, mark which ones you are most interested in seeing before you start.
  • Make sure you have plenty of gas, food, and space on your phone/camera for photos.
  • Find a spot to watch the sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains. We recommend Craggy Gardens if you stay near Asheville.

Website: https://www.blueridgeparkway.org/

We couldn’t possibly include all of our favorite hikes around the world, so we know we missed some great ones. If your favorite hike isn’t featured, tell us what it is in the comments below.

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