North America has some of the best hiking spots on the globe; from the Le Fjord Trail in Quebec to the sandy beaches of the Kalalau Trail in Hawaii, there is something for everyone to savor. The best trails in the U.S and Canada are found in National Parks and wilderness, making them spectacular for hikers looking to connect with nature. The courses in both countries let you set off on a journey of solitude and spiritual remuneration while maintaining nature’s touch, making them the best hikes in the United States and Canada.
The trail is only a 30-minute drive from Vancouver. The pulsating course weaves through alpine tundra, hemlock forests, and along high, airy ridges with views of Islands and navy-colored sound below. At some stages of this course, hikers climb hand over foot, and hop between rocks and endure the thrilling exposure. However, the pristine landscape and views of peaks Harvey and the lions, past descent lakes, and blueberry scrubs make up for the endurance on course. The entire course is 17 miles point to point and should take you between 2-3 days to complete.
The dense vegetation on Kauai’s Napali Coast cliffs appears impenetrable only for a fabled exposed trail to weave through. The course travels along jungle cliffs between Ke’e Beach and Kalalau, a tranquil piece of sand only reachable by foot or boat. The track can get quite slippery and dangerous when it rains, but you can navigate it properly. A beautiful natural orchestra of waterfalls cascading down the valley and winds gliding through tree branches is a serenade reception for those that take the course. The entire course is 22 miles point to point and should take you between 2-3 days to complete.
The trail is a 3-hours drive northeast of Quebec City. The mildly tricky course weaves through birch forests and balsam fir, passing alpine viewpoints with sights over the fjord some 600ft down. The Aboriginal people of Quebec described the Saguenay Fjord as “Pitchitaoitchez,” loosely translated as “that which courses between two mountains.” I find it an absurd description of a course situated in a national park that bears its name. The entire course is 26 miles from point to point and should take you between 2-4 days to complete.
This course offers one of the best hiking in the wilderness experience in the United States. It links to trails Teton National Forest and Grand Teton National Park, which probe into pristine alpine scenery. An orchestrated concert of natural landscape beaming with wildflowers, mountain peaks touching the sky, rural lakes, and multitudes of large wildlife such as wolves, bison, and bears make for a great hiking experience in the wild. In addition, it offers excellent camping spots such as on Marion Lake and the Death Canyon strip. The entire course is 35 miles from point to point and should take you 4-5 days to complete.
Mt. Robson is the maximum point of the Canadian Rockies, and the sight of the Berg Glacier flowing from the summit down to the lake is impressive. However, any lake hike needs to be more than the destination, and the Berg Trail stands out as scenic and outstandingly varied for its entirety. You are bound to pass serene Kinney Lake, climb past numerous waterfalls such as the majestic Emperor Falls, and traverse a beautiful high valley with multiple out streams from Berg Lake. The entire course is 13 miles point to point and should take you one day to complete.
With peaks as high as 9000ft and valleys full of tundra, the Brooks Range has got to be the best place for wilderness hiking. The Brooks is a mountain range running across the Alaskan arctic from Alaska to Yukon to the Chuckchi Sea. With a low treeline, in some parts no trees, open tundra, gravel river braids, and some impenetrable tangles of alders in the lower elevations, the Brooks Range is the king of wilderness. The trip is somewhat only comparable to a cross country of some sort. The entire course is 4,678 miles and will take you months to complete.
Garibaldi Provincial Park is just a short drive north of Vancouver and is home to the most accessible sliver of British Columbia’s Coast Mountains. The trail to Panorama Ridge is a steep and long one with an elevation gain of 5000ft, by far the best hike of the park. The most challenging work on this trail is done early on with the landscape somewhat exertion, but once this sect clears at Taylor Meadows, the scenic views of snowy peaks and wildflower meadows make up for your endurance. The entire course is 17.5 miles and should take you 1-3 days to complete.
The trail connects nine peaks named after presidents of the United States with a vertical climb of 8,500ft, with the most significant chunk in the alpine territory above the treeline. With the lodgings dotting this course, hikers find concierge treatment that offers meals and a bed to lay. The track’s highlight is summiting Mount Washington via the northeast, which is the highest peak, guaranteeing a scenic view of the surrounding states. The entire course point to point is 19.8 miles and should take you 1-4 days to complete.
Have you ever been 14,000ft above ground on a hike? If not, then Keyhole Route to the highest point in Rocky Mountain National Park will have to do. About 15,000 attempts to reach the summit each year, but only half manage the feat because of fatigue, altitude sickness, in some cases, bad weather. The track runs through the alpine tundra, granite boulders, glaciers, and lakes. The entire course is 15 miles out and back and should take you 10-15 hours to complete.
If you want the most satisfactory experience on this track, I recommend you start from the Sunrise entrance on the park’s eastern side. Starting from the valley will make this course feel like an impossible feat because it is steep and not that unique in the first hour of hiking the high point at the Panhandle Gap. However, as you progress, your persistence is rewarded after a succession of panoramas, wildflower meadows, icy-cold lakes, clear view of Rainier as you climb to the Gap. The entire course is 12 miles out and back and should take you 8-12 hours to complete.
