I did a lot of driving in 2022 to visit national parks but also managed to find a little time for hiking once I got there. Really, hiking and sightseeing were the reason for all of the driving.
I’m not a backpacker, though it may be something I’ll enjoy someday. For now, I’m a day hiker, and my travels to find new trails keep taking me farther and farther west. While I wish I’d had more time to go on longer hikes, I did have some great hiking experiences, even if many were only a few hours.
#5: Discovery Trail, Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)
This is not a challenging or long trail, but the spectacular views every step of the way along the rim of Crater Lake make it a top trail. I was taking so many pictures I actually told myself to stop! There’s a cliff near the trailhead on the western end of this trail, so I returned a second time to spend more time at this great spot. Despite being a busy area of a busy park, I still managed to find a long period of undisturbed serenity to enjoy the view on a Sunday morning. You can enjoy Crater Lake from the overlooks, but the hike is even better.
#4: Trail to Bumpass Hell, Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)
The reason for this trail is to take visitors to the Bumpass Hell volcanic area. While that is definitely worth the hike, I thought the trail going there was even more stunning! It runs along ridgeline with wide views of the mountains that I began to think of it as “heaven to hell.” It feels like you’re on a much longer hike. The trail to Bumpass Hell is actually part of a much longer system through the park, and if you hike uphill just past the volcanic area you find a great overlook without the crowds. I stopped there for some peace and quiet, along with a snack, before heading back.
#3: Harper’s Corner, Dinosaur National Monument (Colorado)
Like Crater Lake’s Discovery Trail, this hike isn’t very long or challenging, but the views are overwhelming. Much of the trail runs along the top of a ridge with views of the Green River valley on both sides. It ends with a huge overlook with massive views of the Green River to the west and the Green and Yampa Rivers to the east, including the Echo Park area. While it’s only about a two-mile round trip, that’s apparently more than some people are expecting: When I got back from my hike I overheard some complaining from people in their truck that the view wasn’t as good as they were led to believe. There are a lot of great overlooks in our national parks but sometimes you do have to actually get out of your vehicle.
#2: Mist Falls, Kings Canyon National Park (California)
You may not have heard of Kings Canyon because it always plays second fiddle to adjacent Sequoia National Park, but I thought Kings Canyon was even more wondrous. The drive into the park is overwhelming — one of those places with so many overlooks you have to start skipping some because you’ll never get where you’re going. The four-mile hike to Mist Falls starts at the end of the road. It’s part of a longer trail system where many backpackers begin their wilderness adventures. The first mile is a simple walk on a gravel path, but then the trail meets up with the South Fork of the Kings River and the fun begins. The trail follows the river gradually uphill, with plenty of rapids to see and several great overlooks for rest stops. At Mist Falls, there are several places to see the falls and many people were here taking in the view (one guy even went swimming, I wouldn’t recommend that). After a break I continued a little farther up the trail but eventually made myself turn around, knowing that the day wouldn’t last forever. I’ll be back for more!
#1: Skyline Loop, Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
The first challenge of hiking this trail, which is in the park’s popular Paradise area, is just finding a parking spot. There are three huge lots but they all fill quickly, with more parking alongside the road. The overall distance and elevation change depends on where you park, and from my spot in the second lot, it was about an 1,800-foot gain and a seven-mile loop. It’s worth every step. It’s cliché to say that “pictures can’t capture it” but it really is true on this hike.
Heading counter-clockwise, the trail first takes you through verdant alpine meadows and past bubbling brooks before the trees disappear and you’re left with nothing but cliffs, rocks, and views for miles in all directions. I was there on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, so there were traffic jams at tight spots on the trail. That was fine with me since I need to take my time with elevation gains. At the highest point, you can relax with views of several other mountains in the distance. The main destination is Panorama Point, which, I realized after some confusion, is not actually the highest spot on the loop, which I reached first since I was hiking counter-clockwise. (If you’re hiking this trail in a clockwise direction, avoid the crowds at Panorama Point by continuing uphill to the much larger overlook area at the higher elevation.) The western side of the loop offers views of a glacier and more landscapes to take in on the much easier walk downhill.
To tell you the truth, I almost didn’t hike the Skyline Loop because of concerns about the 1,800-foot elevation gain on a trail starting at about 5,500 feet. (That’s not considered to be “at elevation” but the air is noticeably thinner to a person who normally lives at about 650 feet.) I’d gotten COVID on my previous Western trip and didn’t want to risk another medical adventure. But there were plenty of people around in case of emergency, and it turned out many of them were even slower hikers than me! Taking my time, and making plenty of stops for more pictures, made it a successful and thrilling hike.
Here’s to more in 2023!