Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="bcb171faa2b9b450aeeae27f1402602a0b3a808a9144de71e45839a54269" Subject: Seven Fantastic Hikes and Walks All Over the World From: Brent and Michael are Going Places To: Hidden Recipient Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2025 12:47:36 +0000 X-Hiring: We are hiring, reach out at header-hacker@emailshot.io X-EmailShot-Signature: qMH1A6gMqie35kJxfiCYBF8XPcxzRvG6j-MIx5LyApJHNZQupYZqcBRS5I-m1mK5_PPVmlqxs10xMcfUGGgpzQ== --bcb171faa2b9b450aeeae27f1402602a0b3a808a9144de71e45839a54269 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable View this post on the web at https://www.brentandmichaelaregoingplaces.com/= p/seven-fantastic-hikes-and-walks-all Some people are foodies, and some are beach bums.=20 Brent and I are hikers. Sometimes we=E2=80=99re=C2=A0also=C2=A0foodies and beach bums =E2=80=94 and= sometimes bikers too. But our favorite thing in the world is simply walking. Whenever we arrive a= t a new destination, we immediately check out all the best nearby walks and= hikes.=20 (Incidentally, what=E2=80=99s the difference between a =E2=80=9Cwalk=E2=80= =9D and a =E2=80=9Chike=E2=80=9D? For our purposes, a walk is on a paved pa= th.) Here are seven of our favorite hikes and walks from the past eight years of= nomading all around the world: 1. Arches National Park in Utah, United States There weren=E2=80=99t many upsides to Covid, but when we returned to the U.= S. for six months, it gave us the chance to explore a number of the country= =E2=80=99s national parks =E2=80=94 including some of southern Utah=E2=80= =99s five national parks.=20 Fun fact: These five parks are nicknamed the =E2=80=9CMighty Five.=E2=80=9D= But my absolute favorite was Arches National Park.=20 Why You Should Hike It =E2=9C=85 =E2=9C=85 Duh =E2=80=94 the arches! The park contains over 2,000 natural sa= ndstone =E2=80=9Carches=E2=80=9D that were formed over the past several mil= lion years as wind, water, and ice eroded the rock. Why are all these arche= s here? It=E2=80=99s all about the particular rock =E2=80=94 delicate sands= tone in which the iron minerals have been =E2=80=9Coxidized,=E2=80=9D or ch= emically changed when exposed to oxygen and moisture. The resulting red col= or is genuinely astonishing and is especially beautiful at sunrise and suns= et.=20 =E2=9C=85 Arches isn=E2=80=99t a massive park =E2=80=94 there are just over= twenty miles of actual trails and only fifteen designated trails. But that= means you can do much of the park in just a few days =E2=80=94 and you don= =E2=80=99t have to drive long between the trailheads. (If you have mobility= issues, this is one national park where you can see quite a bit right from= the car.) =E2=9C=85 I=E2=80=99d like to tell you my three favorite trails, but honest= ly, Arches is such a fantastic place that you can=E2=80=99t really go wrong= anywhere. But I especially loved Devil=E2=80=99s Garden Trail because ente= ring it felt like walking into another world. It includes two of the park= =E2=80=99s most iconic arches, Landscape Arch and Double O Arch. What=E2=80=99s Not So Great =E2=9D=8C =E2=9D=8C The desert heat can be extreme in the summer months, and because = the park is so small, it can get very crowded during the peak months of Apr= il, May, September, and October. How to Get There =E2=9C=88=EF=B8=8F=F0=9F=9A=82=F0=9F=9A=97=E2=9B=B4=EF=B8= =8F It=E2=80=99s four hours by car from Salt Lake City, or an hour and a half f= rom Grand Junction, Colorado. This is America, so public transit options ar= e minimal.=20 2. The Skyline Walk in Bath, England Bath, England, is itself an extremely walkable city, which we highly recomm= end. But you can also walk around the entire city =E2=80=94 which is located in = a valley-like depression =E2=80=94 on something called the Bath Skyline Wal= k.=20 Full disclosure: it=E2=80=99s only partially paved, so this is technically = a hike as well. Why You Should Walk and Hike It =E2=9C=85 =E2=9C=85 The views! The six-mile circular route offers panoramic views of = the city, including majestic Bath Abbey. But just as beautiful is the Engli= sh countryside. You=E2=80=99ll see sheep grazing, country cottages, and lov= ely fields. =E2=9C=85 If possible, come in the autumn to take advantage of the spectacu= lar colors.=20 What=E2=80=99s Not So Great =E2=9D=8C =E2=9D=8C The walk can be muddy. Hey, it=E2=80=99s England! Come with the p= roper footwear. Also, it isn=E2=80=99t always that well-marked =E2=80=94 bu= t getting a bit lost now and then may be part of the charm. It=E2=80=99s al= so a great way to meet locals. How to Get There =E2=9C=88=EF=B8=8F=F0=9F=9A=82=F0=9F=9A=97=E2=9B=B4=EF=B8= =8F From the =E2=80=9CBath Spa=E2=80=9D train station, walk approximately one m= ile to the entrance at Bathwick Meadows. For a complete description of the = Bath Skyline Walk and other access points, visit the National Trust [ https= ://substack.com/redirect/84c3f2b8-7c08-4b8c-9f6d-43a79c142666?j=3DeyJ1IjoiM= 2dmeXZtIn0.xu76uFObqArDfP822j-jnN48_jCfgM3m0rbAsF0l24U ].=20 3. Various Sea-Side Walks in Sydney, Australia Sydney, one of the world=E2=80=99s most beautiful cities, is situated on an= d around Port Jackson =E2=80=94 which is better known as Sydney Harbour and= is arguably the largest natural harbor in the world. Our favorite part of the city may have been all the sea-side walks along th= at harbor and the coast. The city has forty =E2=80=9Cofficial=E2=80=9D walk= s for a total of (at least) 315 kilometers of paved walkway. But most of th= e trails connect, so if you=E2=80=99re near water, you can pretty much walk= in either direction =E2=80=94 until you=E2=80=99re outside the city! Why You Should Walk There =E2=9C=85 =E2=9C=85 The endless variety! The city has preserved a remarkable amount o= f its shoreline for public access, and the scenery is changeable and astoun= ding =E2=80=94 from sandy beaches to rocky headlands to lovely coves. One o= f the best legs is Bondi to Coogee. You can also do the =E2=80=9CBloody Lon= g Walk [ https://substack.com/redirect/c47c465d-1c41-4d52-95fe-2b0278ac4787= ?j=3DeyJ1IjoiM2dmeXZtIn0.xu76uFObqArDfP822j-jnN48_jCfgM3m0rbAsF0l24U ],=E2= =80=9D which is an annual event that challenges participants to walk 35 km = along some of Sydney=E2=80=99s most famous coastline in a single day. =E2=9C=85 Better still, most of this is in the city, so you can stop period= ically for a cup of tea or a typical Australian lunch of a meat pie and chi= ps.=20 =F0=9F=92=A1Bonus Tip: Just south of the city is the Royal National Park, w= hich has even more great walking trails.=20 What=E2=80=99s Not So Great =E2=9D=8C =E2=9D=8C Those bloody long walks can also be bloody hot! The Aussie sun is= intense, so pack your sunblock and drink plenty of water. How to Get There =E2=9C=88=EF=B8=8F=F0=9F=9A=82=F0=9F=9A=97=E2=9B=B4=EF=B8= =8F Once you arrive in the city, head to almost any of the beaches in the harbo= r or along the coast, and you=E2=80=99ll find one of the walks.=20 4. The Ozette Loop in Washington State The Ozette Loop, located on the Pacific Coast of Washington State=E2=80=99s= Olympic Peninsula, is too well known to be called =E2=80=9Ca hidden gem.= =E2=80=9D But because it=E2=80=99s so remote =E2=80=94 about five hours fro= m Seattle, often on winding roads =E2=80=94 it can still be called =E2=80= =9Can incredibly beautiful gem that is very difficult to get to.=E2=80=9D But it is absolutely worth it. Why You Should Hike It=E2=9C=85 =E2=9C=85 This 9-mile loop has three separate parts: three miles in through= lush forests and boggy swamps; three miles along a dramatic, rugged coastl= ine dotted with rocky seastacks; then three miles out again. You can make t= he loop in either direction. (Brent also once hiked many miles south along = this same beach [ https://substack.com/redirect/1d9280bf-ccbc-4fac-bf7b-21d= e0b7e6653?j=3DeyJ1IjoiM2dmeXZtIn0.xu76uFObqArDfP822j-jnN48_jCfgM3m0rbAsF0l2= 4U ].) =E2=9C=85 The forest is fantastic, but the real reason to come here is that= oh-so-dramatic coastline, which is inaccessible by car and feels utterly p= ristine. This beach area was chosen as a hike because the entire length is = passable even at high tide, but you are still walking on the beach =E2=80= =94 and it can be fairly rocky.=20 =E2=9C=85 The area is teeming with wildlife. We=E2=80=99ve seen seals, sea = lions, otters, a black bear, and once we even watched a deer give birth to = a fawn on the beach! What=E2=80=99s Not So Great =E2=9D=8C =E2=9D=8C The area is part of the Olympic Rainforest, so it can be wet and = foggy. This is absolutely part of the beauty, but dress accordingly.=20 How to Get There =E2=9C=88=EF=B8=8F=F0=9F=9A=82=F0=9F=9A=97=E2=9B=B4=EF=B8= =8F From Seattle, it=E2=80=99s about a five-hour drive, one way. Oh, and yeah, = this is America again, so there are no public transit options =E2=80=94 exc= ept for that ferry across Puget Sound. 5. Various Walks Around Lake Como, Italy Unlike many famous destinations, Lake Como is exactly as beautiful as adver= tised. But along with its beauty, it=E2=80=99s known for the many charming = towns and villages that line its shores =E2=80=94 places like Como, Bellagi= o, and Laglio, where George Clooney has his villa. What some folks don=E2=80=99t know is that most of these towns and villages= are connected by a network of often-ancient trails and paved pathways that= make for some absolutely unforgettable hikes and walks. Why You Should Walk and Hike There =E2=9C=85 =E2=9C=85 The views and the history! These days, Lake Como=E2=80=99s towns = are (mostly) connected by roads and sometimes trains, but hundreds of years= ago, these pathways were often the only ways to get between the villages (= other than by boat). It=E2=80=99s almost impossible not to be transported b= ack in time. =E2=9C=85 Here are three of our favorite walks and hikes: Passeggiata dei Poeti, or the Poets Walk, starts in the town of Como and en= ds seven kilometers later in the hilltop village of Brunate =E2=80=94 also = accessible via funicular. The trail is fairly steep, but it=E2=80=99s marke= d with famous quotes from poets to inspire you as you climb. Bonus: From Br= unate, you can keep hiking all the way to the town of Torno back down along= the lake. Via Verde, or the Green Way, is mostly cobblestone and much easier to walk = =E2=80=94 almost five kilometers along Lake Como's western shore, connectin= g the villages of Moltrasio, Carate Urio, and Laglio.=20 Sentiero del Viandante, or the Wayfarer=E2=80=99s Trail, stretches 45 kilom= eters along the northern part of the lake, but don=E2=80=99t let the length= discourage you =E2=80=94 it can be done in legs. We did the Varenna Walk t= o Castello di Vezio section, and the first half was some of the most beauti= ful scenery we=E2=80=99d ever seen.=20 =F0=9F=92=A1Bonus Tip: In Varenna, don=E2=80=99t miss Orrido di Bellano, a = spectacular =E2=80=94 and spectacularly narrow! =E2=80=94 canyon that you e= xplore on suspended walkways. What=E2=80=99s Not So Great =E2=9D=8C =E2=9D=8C Lake Como can be expensive and is growing increasingly crowded in= its summer high season. How to Get There =E2=9C=88=EF=B8=8F=F0=9F=9A=82=F0=9F=9A=97=E2=9B=B4=EF=B8= =8F Como is easily reached by frequent trains from Milan, and all of these hike= s are accessible via ferry runs on the lake. 6. Sawtooth Mountain Hikes in Skagway, Alaska Skagway, in the upper part of Southeast Alaska, was once the gateway to the= Klondike Gold Rush, which is the setting for Jack London=E2=80=99s most fa= mous novels.=20 Fun fact: By the time the news of this particular gold rush reached America= =E2=80=99s newspapers in the =E2=80=9CLower 48,=E2=80=9D most of the gold h= ad already been claimed. Of the 100,000 prospectors estimated to have trave= led here, only a few hundred got rich.=20 But there is still =E2=80=9Cgold=E2=80=9D in them thar hills =E2=80=94 in t= he form of some spectacular hikes that are easily accessible from literally= right outside the small town of Skagway. Why You Should Hike There =E2=9C=85 =E2=9C=85 Well, the incredible beauty of the Sawtooth Mountains, which rise= almost straight up from Chilikoot Inlet. But the best part of these hikes = is that they=E2=80=99re incredibly accessible from any Alaskan cruise that = stops in Skagway. Skip the White Pass & Yukon Route (tourist) Railway, whic= h is fine but insanely overpriced at an astounding $245 USD per person, and= do one of these hikes instead! =E2=9C=85 Look, some of these hikes are really steep. That=E2=80=99s the wh= ole point! And the steeper the hike, the better the resulting view =E2=80= =94 duh. But the Yakutania Point Trail is fairly moderate, and it gives goo= d harbor views. In order of difficulty, you can also do the Lower Dewey Lak= e Trail and the more challenging Lower and Upper Reid Falls hike. If you=E2= =80=99re on a cruise, only a handful of passengers will ever want to hike, = and virtually all of those will go no farther than the Lower Dewey Lake Tra= il.=20 What=E2=80=99s Not So Great =E2=9D=8C =E2=9D=8C This is bear country! We even saw scat. But at least they=E2=80= =99re black bears, not the far more dangerous brown bears. How to Get There =E2=9C=88=EF=B8=8F=F0=9F=9A=82=F0=9F=9A=97=E2=9B=B4=EF=B8= =8F From the cruise ship dock, head toward town =E2=80=94 and turn right.=20 7. Jungle and Canyon Hikes in Northern Thailand Thailand is rightfully famous for its gorgeous beaches and delicious food.= =20 But guess what? We found some amazing hikes there as well =E2=80=94 in the = mountains, no less. In fact, the Thai Highlands of northern Thailand are co= nsidered the foothills of the Himalayas.=20 Why You Should Visit =E2=9C=85 =E2=9C=85 The jungle beauty, of course =E2=80=94 especially the =E2=80=9Ccl= oud forests,=E2=80=9D which are jungles so high up that they=E2=80=99re vir= tually always bathed in mist and fog. But the experience will also make a s= oothing contrast to the sunny beach destinations farther south or the busy = bustle of Bangkok.=20 =E2=9C=85 We especially loved Doi Inthanon =E2=80=94 Thailand=E2=80=99s tal= lest mountain at 2565 meters (or 8,415 feet), which is located in Doi Intha= non National Park. Most of the trails require hiring a local guide, which w= e were very happy to do. He showed us waterfalls, vast swaths of terraced r= ice fields, and his own small Thai village. =E2=9C=85 In the far north of Thailand, we also hiked the Pai Canyon near t= he town of Pai. The canyon was created by erosion in the soft red sandstone= , but it=E2=80=99s not the canyon per se that makes this area famous; it=E2= =80=99s the parts that didn=E2=80=99t erode away, creating a series of upra= ised narrow trails that you hike if you dare.=20 What=E2=80=99s Not So Great =E2=9D=8C =E2=9D=8C Honestly, not much. Just don=E2=80=99t do those Pai Canyon trails= when it rains.=20 How to Get There =E2=9C=88=EF=B8=8F=F0=9F=9A=82=F0=9F=9A=97=E2=9B=B4=EF=B8= =8F These destinations are all easily accessible from Chiang Mai as part of the= Mae Hong Son Loop; it also includes Highway 1095, a famously scenic road w= ith an incredible 762 hairpin curves. Rent a car if you dare, but we recomm= end hiring a driver [ https://substack.com/redirect/11758c90-9403-4b3f-a0af= -a92a80ffab31?j=3DeyJ1IjoiM2dmeXZtIn0.xu76uFObqArDfP822j-jnN48_jCfgM3m0rbAs= F0l24U ]. See also=E2=80=A6 That Time I Learned We're All on Different Paths (Even When We're on the Sa= me Path) [ https://substack.com/redirect/1d9280bf-ccbc-4fac-bf7b-21de0b7e66= 53?j=3DeyJ1IjoiM2dmeXZtIn0.xu76uFObqArDfP822j-jnN48_jCfgM3m0rbAsF0l24U ] That Time We Were in a Cabin in Alaska Surrounded by Grizzly Bears [ https:= //substack.com/redirect/ee3da621-cd06-4e12-8533-7013f50b538d?j=3DeyJ1IjoiM2= dmeXZtIn0.xu76uFObqArDfP822j-jnN48_jCfgM3m0rbAsF0l24U ] Michael Jensen is a novelist and editor. For a newsletter with more of my p= hotos, visit me at www.MichaelJensen.com [ https://substack.com/redirect/40= 370b2e-8d5f-44e9-b563-2e16a7987227?j=3DeyJ1IjoiM2dmeXZtIn0.xu76uFObqArDfP82= 2j-jnN48_jCfgM3m0rbAsF0l24U ]. [ https://substack.com/redirect/1c872681-4f1= e-4445-9b67-41884dd1e155?j=3DeyJ1IjoiM2dmeXZtIn0.xu76uFObqArDfP822j-jnN48_j= CfgM3m0rbAsF0l24U ] Brent Hartinger is a screenwriter and author. Check out my new newsletter a= bout my books and movies at BrentHartinger.com [ https://substack.com/redir= ect/1c872681-4f1e-4445-9b67-41884dd1e155?j=3DeyJ1IjoiM2dmeXZtIn0.xu76uFObqA= rDfP822j-jnN48_jCfgM3m0rbAsF0l24U ]. Unsubscribe https://substack.com/redirect/2/eyJlIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYnJlbnR= hbmRtaWNoYWVsYXJlZ29pbmdwbGFjZXMuY29tL2FjdGlvbi9kaXNhYmxlX2VtYWlsP3Rva2VuPW= V5SjFjMlZ5WDJsa0lqb3lNRGt3TVRjME1qWXNJbkJ2YzNSZmFXUWlPakUxT1RRek5qQXlOU3dpY= VdGMElqb3hOelExTURZMk9EYzBMQ0psZUhBaU9qRTNOelkyTURJNE56UXNJbWx6Y3lJNkluQjFZ= aTB6TkRFeU9EVWlMQ0p6ZFdJaU9pSmthWE5oWW14bFgyVnRZV2xzSW4wLmtIS0hEQU51VUZNYWp= OTmQ4c3g2dHJwTmV3NUJoZUJ0dEtPZEFrRWhLam8iLCJwIjoxNTk0MzYwMjUsInMiOjM0MTI4NS= wiZiI6dHJ1ZSwidSI6MjA5MDE3NDI2LCJpYXQiOjE3NDUwNjY4NzQsImV4cCI6MTc0NzY1ODg3N= CwiaXNzIjoicHViLTAiLCJzdWIiOiJsaW5rLXJlZGlyZWN0In0.HkFj0JNSMJtfU6Y8g06hCHar= n8mHjso2xZfowX6IYGI? --bcb171faa2b9b450aeeae27f1402602a0b3a808a9144de71e45839a54269 Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Seven Fantastic Hikes and Walks A= ll Over the World
Rugged coasts, strange canyo= ns, and lush rainforests and jungles — with lots of pictures!
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Seven Fantastic Hikes and = Walks All Over the World

Rugged coasts, strange canyons, and lush rainforests and= jungles — with lots of pictures!

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Michael Je= nsen and B= rent Hartinger
 
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Some people are foodies, and some are beach bums.

Brent a= nd I are hikers.

Sometimes we’re also foodies and beach bums — and sometimes bikers = too.

But our favorite thing in the world is si= mply walking. Whenever we arrive at a new destination= , we immediately check out all the best nearby walks and hikes.

=

(Incidentally, what’s the difference between a “wa= lk” and a “hike”? For our purposes, a walk is on a paved = path.)

Here are seven of our favorite hikes and walks from = the past eight years of nomading all around the world:

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1. Arches National Park in Utah, United States

There weren’t many upsides to Covid, but when we retu= rned to the U.S. for six months, it gave us the chance to explore a number = of the country’s national parks — including some of southern Ut= ah’s five national parks.

Fun fact: These five parks are nicknamed the “Mighty Five.”= ; But my absolute favorite was Arches National Park.

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Why You Should Hik= e It ✅

✅ Duh — the arches! The park contains over 2,000 natural sandstone R= 20;arches” that were formed over the past several million years as wi= nd, water, and ice eroded the rock. Why are all these arches her= e? It’s all about the particular rock — delicate san= dstone in which the iron minerals have been “oxidized,” or chem= ically changed when exposed to oxygen and moisture. The resulting red color= is genuinely astonishing and is especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset= =2E

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✅ Arches isn’t a massi= ve park — there are just over twenty miles of actual trails and only = fifteen designated trails. But that means you can do much of the park in ju= st a few days — and you don’t have to drive long between the tr= ailheads. (If you have mobility issues, this is one national park where you= can see quite a bit right from the car.)

✅ I&= #8217;d like to tell you my three favorite trails, but honestly, Arches is = such a fantastic place that you can’t really go wrong anywhere. But I= especially loved Devil’s Garden Trail because entering it felt like = walking into another world. It includes two of the park’s most iconic= arches, Landscape Arch and Double O Arch.

3D""Earth or Mars?

What’s Not So Great ❌<= /h4>


❌ The desert heat can be= extreme in the summer months, and because the park is so small, it can get= very crowded during the peak months of April, May, September, and October.=

How to Get There ✈️🚂= ;🚗⛴️


It’s four= hours by car from Salt Lake City, or an hour and a half from Grand Junctio= n, Colorado. This is America, so public transit options are minimal.

2. The Skyline Walk in Bath, England

Bath, = England, is itself an extremely walkable city, which we highly recommend.

But you can also walk around the= entire city — which is located in a valley-like depression — o= n something called the Bath Skyline Walk.

Full disc= losure: it’s only partially paved, so this is technically a hike as w= ell.

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A peek at Bath from the trail above it.
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Why You Should Walk and Hike It = 989;


✅ The views= ! The six-mile circular route offers panoramic views of the city, including= majestic Bath Abbey. But just as beautiful is the English countryside. You= ’ll see sheep grazing, country cottages, and lovely fields.

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✅ If possible, come in the autumn to ta= ke advantage of the spectacular colors.

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WhatR= 17;s Not So Great ❌


❌ <= /strong>The walk can be muddy. Hey, it’s England! Come with the= proper footwear. Also, it isn’t always that well-marked — but = getting a bit lost now and then may be part of the charm. It’s also a= great way to meet locals.

How to Get There ✈️🚂🚗⛴️


From the “Bath Spa” train station, walk approximatel= y one mile to the entrance at Bathwick Meadows. For a complete description = of the Bath Skyline Walk and other access points, visit the National Trust.

Sydney, one of the world’s most beautiful cities, is situated= on and around Port Jackson — which is better known as Sydney Harbour= and is arguably the largest natural harbor in the world.

O= ur favorite part of the city may have been all the sea-side walks along tha= t harbor and the coast. The city has forty “official” walks for= a total of (at least) 315 kilometers of paved walkway. But most of the tra= ils connect, so if you’re near water, you can pretty much walk in eit= her direction — until you’re outside the city!

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This is= the kind of thing you’ll see on the coastal walks.

Why You Should Walk There ✅

✅ The endless variety! The city has = preserved a remarkable amount of its shoreline for public access, and the s= cenery is changeable and astounding — from sandy beaches to rocky hea= dlands to lovely coves. One of the best legs is Bondi to Coogee. You can al= so do the “Bloody Long Walk,” which is an annual event that challen= ges participants to walk 35 km along some of Sydney’s most famous coa= stline in a single day.

=
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Bondi Beach o= n the way to Coogee.

= ✅ Better still, most of this is in the city, so you can stop periodically for a cup of tea or a typical Aus= tralian lunch of a meat pie and chips.

💡Bon= us Tip: Just south of the city is the Royal National Park, which has even m= ore great walking trails.

What’s Not So Great ❌


❌ Those bloody l= ong walks can also be bloody hot! The Aussie sun is intense, so pack your s= unblock and drink plenty of water.

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Once you arrive in the ci= ty, head to almost any of the beaches in the harbor or along the coast, and= you’ll find one of the walks.

4. The Ozette Loop in Wash= ington State

The Ozette Loop, located on the Paci= fic Coast of Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula, is too well known = to be called “a hidden gem.” But because it’s so remote &= #8212; about five hours from Seattle, often on winding roads — it can= still be called “an incredibly beautiful gem that is very difficult = to get to.”

But it is absolutely worth it.

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Located in a r= ainforest, much of the Ozette Loop is on a boardwalk.

Why You Should Hike It✅

once hiked many miles sou= th along this same beach.)

✅= The forest is fantastic, but the real reason to come here i= s that oh-so-dramatic coastline, which is inaccessible by car and feels utt= erly pristine. This beach area was chosen as a hike because the entire leng= th is passable even at high tide, but you are still walking on the beach — and it can be fairly rocky.

✅ The area is teeming with wildlife. We’ve seen seals, sea lions, otters, a black bear, = and once we even watched a deer give birth to a fawn on the beach!

<= /tbody>
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Just some of the wildlife you might se= e on this hike.

What’s Not = So Great ❌

❌ The area is part of the Olympic Rainforest, so it can be wet and foggy. Th= is is absolutely part of the beauty, but dress accordingly.

= How to Get There ✈️🚂🚗⛴= 5039;


From Seattle, it’s about a fi= ve-hour drive, one way. Oh, and yeah, this is America again, so there are n= o public transit options — except for that ferry across Puget Sound.<= /span>

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This map assumes you don’t have to wait for the ferry, which= you will.

5. Various Walks Around Lake = Como, Italy

Unlike many famous destinations, Lake= Como is exactly as beautiful as advertised. But along with its beauty, it&= #8217;s known for the many charming towns and villages that line its shores= — places like Como, Bellagio, and Laglio, where George Clooney has h= is villa.

What some folks don’t know is that most of = these towns and villages are connected by a network of often-ancient trails= and paved pathways that make for some absolutely unforgettable hikes and w= alks.

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Why You Should= Walk and Hike There ✅

✅ The views and the history! These days, Lak= e Como’s towns are (mostly) connected by roads and sometimes trains, = but hundreds of years ago, these pathways were often the only ways to get b= etween the villages (other than by boat). It’s almost impossible not = to be transported back in time.

✅ Here are three of our favorite walks and hikes:

  • Passeggiata dei Poeti, or the Poets Walk, starts in the town of Como and ends seven kilometers later in the h= illtop village of Brunate — also accessible via funicular. The trail = is fairly steep, but it’s marked with famous quotes from poets to ins= pire you as you climb. Bonus: From Brunate, you can keep hiking all the way= to the town of Torno back down along the lake.

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    • Via Verde, or the Gr= een Way, is mostly cobblestone and much easier to walk ̵= 2; almost five kilometers along Lake Como's western shore, connecting the v= illages of Moltrasio, Carate Urio, and Laglio.

  • Sentiero del Viandan= te, or the Wayfarer’s Trail, stretches 45 kilometers a= long the northern part of the lake, but don’t let the length discoura= ge you — it can be done in legs. We did the Varenna Walk to Castello = di Vezio section, and the first half was some of the most beautiful scenery= we’d ever seen.


    💡Bonus Tip: In Varenna, don= ’t miss Orrido di Bellano, a spectacular — and spectacularly na= rrow! — canyon that you explore on suspended walkways.

Sentiero del Viandante, left,= and Orrido di Bellano

What’s Not So Great ❌

<= p style=3D"margin: 0 0 20px 0;color: rgb(54,55,55);line-height: 26px;font-s= ize: 16px;">❌ Lake Como can be expensive and = is growing increasingly crowded in its summer high season.

How to Get There ✈️🚂🚗⛴= ️

Como is easily reached by frequent trains = from Milan, and all of these hikes are accessible via ferry runs on the lak= e.

<= strong>6. Sawtooth Mountain Hikes in Skagway,= Alaska

Skagway, in the upper part of Southeast A= laska, was once the gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush, which is the setting= for Jack London’s most famous novels.

Fun fact: By = the time the news of this particular gold rush reached America’s news= papers in the “Lower 48,” most of the gold had already been cla= imed. Of the 100,000 prospectors estimated to have traveled here, only a fe= w hundred got rich.

But there is still “gold” = in them thar hills — in the form of some spectacular hikes that are e= asily accessible from literally right outside the small town of Skagway.

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=

Why You Should Hike There ✅

=

✅ Well, the incredible beauty of the Sawtooth Moun= tains, which rise almost straight up from Chilikoot Inlet. But the best par= t of these hikes is that they’re incredibly accessible from any Alask= an cruise that stops in Skagway. Skip the White Pass & Yukon Route (tou= rist) Railway, which is fine but insanely overpriced = at an astounding $245 USD per person, and do one of these hikes instead!

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✅ Look, some of these hikes are really steep. ThatR= 17;s the whole point! And the steeper the hike, the better the resulting vi= ew — duh. But the Yakutania Point Trail is fairly moderate, and it gi= ves good harbor views. In order of difficulty, you can also do the Lower De= wey Lake Trail and the more challenging Lower and Upper Reid Falls hike. If= you’re on a cruise, only a handful of passengers will ever want to h= ike, and virtually all of those will go no farther than the Lower Dewey Lak= e Trail.

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What’s Not So Great ❌

❌ This is bear countr= y! We even saw scat. But at least they’re black bears, not the far mo= re dangerous brown bears.

How to Get There ✈️🚂🚗⛴️

From the cruise ship dock, head toward town — and turn right.

= 7. Jungle and Canyon Hikes in Northern Thailand

T= hailand is rightfully famous for its gorgeous beaches and delicious food. <= /p>

But guess what? We found some amazing hikes there as well &= #8212; in the mountains, no less. In fact, the Thai Highlands of northern T= hailand are considered the foothills of the Himalayas.

<= a class=3D"image-link" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"https://substack.com/redir= ect/6d42fbd3-03d2-45ba-8f54-0eb74ed2a732?j=3DeyJ1IjoiM2dmeXZtIn0.xu76uFObqA= rDfP822j-jnN48_jCfgM3m0rbAsF0l24U" rel=3D"" style=3D"position: relative;fle= x-direction: column;align-items: center;padding: 0;width: auto;height: auto= ;border: none;text-decoration: none;display: block;margin: 0;">3D""

Why You Should = Visit ✅

✅ The jungle bea= uty, of course — especially the “cloud forests,” which ar= e jungles so high up that they’re virtually always bathed in mist and= fog. But the experience will also make a soothing contrast to the sunny be= ach destinations farther south or the busy bustle of Bangkok.

✅ We especially loved Doi Inthanon — Thailand’s tall= est mountain at 2565 meters (or 8,415 feet), which is located in Doi Inthan= on National Park. Most of the trails require hiring a local guide, which we= were very happy to do. He showed us waterfalls, vast swaths of terraced ri= ce fields, and his own small Thai village.

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✅ In the far north of Thailand, we also hiked the Pai Canyon near = the town of Pai. The canyon was created by erosion in the soft red sandston= e, but it’s not the canyon per se that makes this area famous; itR= 17;s the parts that didn’t erode away, creating= a series of upraised narrow trails that you hike if you dare.

<= div class=3D"captioned-image-container-static" style=3D"font-size: 16px;lin= e-height: 26px;margin: 32px auto;">
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P= hoto by Peter Borter= on Unsplash

What’s Not So Great = ❌


❌ Honestly, not muc= h. Just don’t do those Pai Canyon trails when it rains.

<= strong>How to Get There ✈️🚂🚗 = 972;️

These destinations are all easil= y accessible from Chiang Mai as part of the Mae Hong Son Loop; it also incl= udes Highway 1095, a famously scenic road with an incredible 762 hairpin cu= rves. Rent a car if you dare, but we recommend hiring a driver.

= See also…

That Time I Learned We're All on Different Paths (Even = When We're on the Same Path)

That Time We Were in a Cabin in Alaska Surround= ed by Grizzly Bears

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Message Michael Jensen

Michael Jensen is a novelist and editor. For a newsletter = with more of my photos, visit me at www.MichaelJensen.com.

<= strong>Brent Hartinger is a screenwriter and author. Check o= ut my new newsletter about my books and movies at BrentHartinger.com.

Using the above affiliate links will cost you nothing and help su= pport our newsletter. You can also support us with a one-time donation of a= ny amount here:

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