Hike this unique trail where you have the opportunity to walk on a 240-foot long cable suspension bridge! From the bridge, you will be able to see marvelous views of Drift Creek Falls below you! Located in Siuslaw National Forest in Lincoln City, this hike is a MUST! The beginning of the hike is almost nearly all downhill and all uphill in return. The scenery is mainly all trees, but don't let that discourage you from hiking this awesome trail through a beautiful 50-year old regrowth forest. The trail is wide and well-maintained. You will cross a couple of small bridges over some streams before you reach the suspension bridge. The trail continues on to the bottom of the falls after you've crossed it. There's a safe area for kids to wade and play in the creek as well. It's important to be careful on this hike, especially during rainy weather. The trail and the bridges can become quite slippery.

This hike is great for all ages and will provide something interesting for both young and old!

NOTE: You have to pay a $5 fee to get into the park.

This rough hiking trail will be well worth your effort and time. Although the trail is unmarked, there is a rope to steady yourself on the steep parts of the hike and guide you through the forest. Don't rely on your GPS to get you to the waterfall because you likely won't have cell reception. The waterfall is located on private land but is currently available to visitors who take the "trail". Finding the trailhead may be a bit problematic and will take a bit of off-roading to find, so again, don't completely rely on your GPS to find it for you. If you see a white sign on a tree or some arrows carved into a tree, you're going the right way.

This is a very steep hiking trail and becomes very slick, especially in the colder and rainier months. Some areas are very rocky and will require you to climb over big rocks and a few fallen trees. The trail ends at a basalt bowl with the breathtaking Abiqua Falls plunging into it. This is a hidden gem that is similar to the fall formations at Silver Falls State Park. Many people love taking pictures of this beautiful area. Facing the 92-foot waterfall, you will feel as if you are enclosed in a deep, mossy canyon. Also, if it's warm enough, people wade into the chilly water and get closer to the falls. Depending on the time of year, the water can be deep enough to swim in.

It is not recommended to bring small children or dogs on this hike because the climb back up is very steep and is difficult enough for the average person to just pull themselves up the ascent by the ropes.

Due to the difficulty of this hike, the fantastic destination at the end will surely feel very rewarding!

Located in Mount Rainier National Park, Skyscraper Mountain measures at about 7,078 feet and towers over the valleys and streams below. The entire hike offers magnificent mountain views and only gets better as you go! The trail has a few ups and downs along the way but has a steady incline at about 3.4 miles. The ascent to the summit is the most difficult part of this hike and may require some scrambling. At 3.6 miles you get to the pass which is a popular place to rest and take in the unobstructed views of the Cascade Range. The summit itself is rocky, exposed, and fairly small. Looking southwest you will see incredible sights of Mount Rainier and to the west, you will enjoy amazing vistas of Moraine Peak and Mystic Lake!

You can turn around and scramble back down the mountain the way you came, or you can switch it up if you'd like and take a different trail back down to the base of Skyscraper Mountain.

This is a gorgeous day hike that anyone in the Mount Rainier area should experience.

NOTE: The network of trails around the Sunrise trail can be quite confusing, but you will also find peace and solace in this area no matter what trail you take.

Cape Kiwanda is a state natural area in Pacific City, Oregon. This is a fantastic place to spend an entire afternoon! You will see magnificent views of the basalt monolith officially called, Chief Kiawanda Rock. It is commonly misnamed as the "other haystack rock" and is 90-feet higher than Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach. The basalt stack got its name from a leader for the Nestucca Indian tribe. You will also see some impressive dunes and remarkable sandstone. At low tide, you can explore the sandstone at the base of the cliffs and search for fossils. The sandstone still remains due to the protection that Chief Kiawanda rock provides against the immense waves of the ocean. The Cape Kiwanda hike begins at the Pacific Avenue trailhead which is about a mile down from the cape itself. Walking along the beach you will enjoy views of the incredible monolith and the beautiful scene of the cape ahead of you. You will probably see surfers in wetsuits and some occasional kayakers. Pacific City is one of the most popular places to surf on the Oregon Coast because of its consistency.

Once you get to the base of the dune, there are two routes you can go. The lower route, and the way up the Great Dune. If you decide to hike up the Great Dune first, you can make a loop hike out of it because you can circle around the Sitka spruce trees and make your way to the lower dune by a trail through the trees once you're at the top. The lower dune goes out to the edge of the cape and provides gorgeous views of the opposite side of Cape Kiwanda. To your right, you'll be able to see Nestucca Bay. There are fences and signs that discourage visitors from getting too close to the edge of the cape due to soft cliff edges crumbling or falling off. This can happen at any time, so it's important to be careful.

You can take the trail down the lower dune to the base of Cape Kiwanda, or you can turn back and run or slide down the Great Dune. It's a very popular sandboarding or "sand sledding" spot.

Climbing up the Great Dune is somewhat of a workout. You will definitely feel the burn in your legs halfway to the top. This climb can be done with children. but they may require some assistance due to the strenuous hiking. You won't make much progress just using your feet to walk up, so it's a bit faster and easier if you use your hands and crawl up the dune. It's difficult, but definitely worth it once you reach the top!

NOTE: One of the downsides of the Cape Kiwanda area and Pacific City is that it is typically very busy and crowded.

Whiskeytown Falls trail is located within Whiskeytown State Park just about 15 miles outside of Redding. The state park has a lot of activities to do, but it is also home to one of the "best waterfalls in Northern California". It's at the west end of the lake about 9-miles from the visitor's center. 

The hike is about 1.7 miles each way and is uphill for a majority of the hike so this hike will take a bit longer than you might anticipate. 

NOTE: Make sure to bring enough water with you as this hike can be fairly strenuous, especially on a hot day.

Fern Canyon is one of the best 1-mile hikes that you can do in California! This unforgettable location was featured in Steven Spielberg's film, Jurassic Park: The Lost World. 

Fern Canyon is located in Prairie Creek Redwoods. It's not incredibly easy to find, but the remote 8-mile drive will be worth seeing this fern laden paradise. Two stream crossings will need to be done by car, but one of these streams can be about 6 inches deep. If you don't think your car can make it, you'll just have to park and walk an extra mile.

Since this drive is pretty much in the middle of nowhere, you may see a lot of wildlife. You will most likely see a lot of elk on this drive so it's important to drive slowly on the dirt road. Also be aware of potholes along the road.

The drive is the most difficult part of this trip, so the hike is going to be a piece of cake in comparison. There is a parking lot with a vault toilet and a sign giving information about the area. The level trail begins at the top of the parking lot and leads you through a small, moss-covered forest before you reach the canyon. Be prepared to get wet during your hike because you will have to cross more streams. Don't try to find a way around the water and just have fun with it. Since the trail is relatively flat, this hike is a perfect, fun adventure for those with small children. There are a few wooden foot bridges here and there to cross some of the streams, but it is probable you will get your feet wet at some point.

Once you reach the canyon, you will have 50-foot canyon walls towering over you. These walls have lush, green plants cascading down the sides and there are fallen redwood trees, green with moss. You will possibly have to climb over or under a few logs. Along the canyon walls, there are some little waterfalls and streams that trickle down through the foliage. You will feel as if you are walking through a rainforest in Fern Canyon. No wonder a scene from the Jurassic Park movie was filmed here!

Going through the canyon itself is only about a half a mile, but the trail continues on and flattens out again into a forest. You can hike the whole loop trail or you can go back the way you came if you want to experience the canyon again (who wouldn't?).

Make sure you add this magical place to your list of places to see!

NOTE: Leave early in the morning to avoid the crowds. Bring water shoes or sandals.

Brins Mesa Trail is located in the Coconino National Forest just at the edge of the town of Sedona. This trail will provide picturesque views of the gorgeous, geological landscape. Brins Mesa Trail is as convenient as it is beautiful! You will walk among amazing red rock towers and formations, as well as witness the beauty of an Arizona desert. 

This trail is unique in the way that it doesn't keep you secluded in a canyon or keep you strictly to the edge of a slope like many of the other trails in the area. Brins Mesa will lead you to an open area of the desert where you can enjoy unobstructed views of the incredible red rock and sandstone!

The hike isn't very steep or very long but it can be intensely hot in the summer. Although if you can endure the heat, the views will be completely worth it!

*NOTE: Make sure to bring a lot of water with you for any hike in a hot climate. Also be sure to check for heat warnings before you go!

The Tamolitch Pool, also known as the Blue Pool, is the one and only pool of its kind in Oregon. The name "Tamolitch", meaning 'bucket', was given to this gorgeous basin by the Northwest Indians.  This pool is created by the Mckenzie River which seeps through underground lava fields for two miles before emerging to the surface. As the river water seeps up from the porous lava, it gives the water in the pool a unique turquoise color and amazing clarity! This mesmerizing, clear blue water attracts many hikers, mountain bikers, and photographers. Despite the water that gushes out of the pool and returns to the Mckenzie River, the pool is so still and calm that it gives the illusion of a glass surface. This pool has become a popular place for photographers of all skill levels. It has gotten more recognition because of exposure on social media from visitors. The Tamolitch and McKenzie River trail are heavily used and have gained more and more visitors over the last few years.

It is not against the rules to jump into Tamolitch Pool. However, extreme caution is advised. Due to the clarity of the pool, those who jump in cannot make an accurate estimate of where the shallow areas are. The steep cliffs that surround the basin range from 10 - 60 feet. The water stays a chilly 30-some degrees all year round. Please jump from the cliffs at your own discretion. 

The McKenzie River Trail is 26 miles if you hike the entire trail. To get to the "Blue Pool" is about 2 miles from the Tamolitch trail head. This hike is very scenic with great views of the McKenzie River with many photo opportunities along the way. The hike to Tamolitch is relatively easy with a well-maintained trail. The first part of the hike will be fairly flat but gets very rocky and a bit more steep the further you go. You will be able to see stunning views of the river from above as you hike.

Once you get to the pool, you can stand at the top of the cliffs and look down into the blue basin, or you can clamber down the steep lava rocks to the edge of the pool. On the other side of the pool, there is a way to get to the water's edge that isn't  as steep.

NOTE: Although people do jump into the pool, it can be very risky. Many people have been injured and a few have even died by jumping in.

To the pool: about 2 miles

In need of a nearby hiking fix? Spencer Butte is the perfect place to get away from the city of Eugene and into the forest. Spencer Butte is a prominent landmark in Lane County, Oregon. It is considered Eugene's "backyard hike" because of how close and central it is. Walking through tall douglas firs and the maple trees, you will feel far from civilization - at least until you reach the summit. From the summit, you can see the city of Eugene below. This is a great location to watch the sunrise or sunset.

There are many different trails to take at Spencer Butte but most of them interconnect. Most of these are loop trails. The trails range from easy to moderate and are considered family friendly. Many locals use these trails for morning hikes or trail running.

When the weather is nice Spencer Butte can get pretty crowded, but it is also a nice hike in rainy weather. Just be careful because it can get fairly muddy.

NOTE: Watch out for poison oak and rattlesnakes.

Round trip: about 2 hours - it depends on which trailhead you start at, but expect about an hour to the top of the summit and an hour down.

Elevation gain: about 721 feet

Wizard Island is one of the most interesting features of Crater Lake itself! It's considered one of the most magnificent volcanic cinder cones in the world. Take a boat tour to the island and experience its grandeur while hiking the Wizard Island Summit Trail! At the top, you will find the crater named Witches Cauldron.

Created by a violent eruption of Mount Mazama about 7,700 years ago, Wizard Island is located at the west end of Crater Lake. Although there are other cinder cones in the lake, Wizard Island is the only one to reach above the surface. The island rises about 755-feet above the lake.

The only way to get to the island is to hike down the Cleetwood Cove trail to the dock for boat tours. It's a 45-minute boat ride to Wizard Island where the trail to the summit begins. The beginning of the trail is very rocky with lava rock, but after about 10 minutes, the trail smooths out. The hike is about 2.5 miles total, which takes you around the 400-foot wide crater at the top.

Round trip: 4.5 miles

Elevation gain: about 765-feet

NOTE: There is a fee for the boat tour.