Today is National Take a Hike Day in the U.S., but there are so many gorgeous hiking spots around the world, it would be a shame not to celebrate them all. In honor of this outdoors-y day, we put together a list of some of the hiking spots most loved by Local Guides over on Google Earth Voyager. Below are a few of our favorites.
Torres del Paine National Park (Magallanes Region, Chile)
See glaciers, mountains, lakes and even llama-like guanacos while hiking at this stunning national park. The popular, multi-day W trek takes hikers past all the park’s major sights.
“What an amazing hike. I would rate this hike as difficult as it took us about eight hours to complete. Bring lots of water and food. Hiking shoes are important as well as sunscreen. Not for beginners but extremely worth the view. We spent about 2-3 hours at the top enjoying the view. Not sure how cold the water is at the top but there is a beautiful glacial fed lake.”— Simon Larkin
The Narrows (Zion National Park, Utah)
As the name suggests, The Narrows is the narrowest part of Zion Canyon in Zion National Park. To admire the thousand-foot rock walls of this gorge, hikers must first wade through the Virgin River.
“One of the most iconic parts of Zion National Park, for most visitors this hike is a must do. This trail offers a unique opportunity to explore a slot canyon while trudging a river. A great jaunt for a hot day as the canyon walls provide quite a bit of shade and keep temperatures low. The scenery is amazing. For a hiker, this should be on the bucket list…”— AJ Ruiz
Kalalau Trail (Kauai County, Hawaii)
This tropical, coastal trail provides 11 miles of lush jungle, waterfalls and ocean views, starting and ending on two amazing beaches. In between are five valleys interspersed with high cliffs, so watch your step.
“Hiking Kalalau trail is a unique and truly special experience (many would add ‘life changing’). The trail runs through the forests, rivers, and cliffs, with stunning views, amazing plants and birds. The trail ends with a gorgeous beach, with tropical trees, waterfalls, cliffs and unbelievable views all around. The trail is challenging but it has been completed by young and old (and you can do it too!)”— Maryna Pilkiw
Explore the whole list of amazing hiking spots on Google Earth Voyager!
Where is your favorite place to go hiking? Tell us in the comments below!
