Great Weekend Hiking Trips

Want to find a way to sneak away for the weekend and take in the majesty of nature? Do a weekend hiking trip! Here are some great places across the country that are worth your time and money.

Washington’s Snoqualmie Falls: Located 30 miles east of Seattle are these majestic falls that are 270 feet in height. You can take a 6 mile hike to Snow Lake, which follows granite slabs beneath 6,000 foot peaks or head to Rachel Lake which is an 8-mile hike. “You can see some 50 feet down into the lake, passing five waterfalls on the way,” says guide, Cole Barrett. The guided hike costs $75 and includes lunch. Best place to stay is the Salish Lodge. It is perched over the falls and provides the most amazing views. Check out salishlodge.com.

Montana’s Lolo Trail: The Lolo trail is an infamous high-mountain ridge line trail. Lewis & Clark considered this area to be the hardest part of their entire journey! You can plan to hike by yourself or you can join one of the Lewis and Clark Trail Adventures where you will take an 8-mile hike up from Wendover Ridge (3,500-foot elevation gain) to your campsite as well as a hike up Sherman Peak. Prices range…a 3-day excursion will cost around $650. Check out trailadventures.com.

Maine’s Grafton Loop: This is a 39 mile loop in the Appalachians. During your 4 day hike, you will hit five major peaks, including the 4,000-foot Old Speck, as well as a stretch of the Appalachian Trail. At Puzzle Mountain, you will take in an unspoiled view of the Mahoosics. On the final day, you will walk through a rare tree-free alpine zone, which is called “the jewel of the route,” by AMC trails manager Andrew Norkin.

Illinois Kickapoo State Recreation Area: Area covering about 3,000 acres of land in east-central Illinois. Hiking amid the forrests of oak, hickory, walnut, maple and beech and walking past crystal clear ponds is part of the majesty. Hikers have their own ten mile stretch of of trails which include adjoining loops that follow the Middle Fork Vermilion River and lead to some of the park’s 22 ponds.

New Mexico’s El Morro National Monument is an amazing thing to see. This natural monument rises above a permanent pool in the sere high desert of central New Mexico. Since 1605, travelers passing through have left an inscription in the sandstone a record of their travels. There are more than 2,000 signatures and aphorisms carved into the rock. When you are done reading, take the two mile hike to a 875 room Puebloan ruin or explore the Zuni Indian pueblo to the west (full of artists) or check out the lava badlands of El Malpais National Monument to the east. Camping sites are only $5. Check out nps.gov/elmo.

California’s Redwood National Park: Highly recommend checking out the Redwood Adventures, which run 2 and 4 night hiking trips into the majestic Redwood Forests. From the website: “Hike the famous Fern Canyon, look for migrating whales and see the abundant wildlife found in Redwood National Park. All guided eco-tour adventures are completely customized to meet the interest and abilities of our clients. The amount of hiking involved is completely up to the clients.” The guided tour plus a furnished cabin runs about $1,000 for two nights. After each adventure you will be indulged with a dinner that is brought to the door of your cabin and a chance to soak in a redwood hot tub while you watch Roosevelt elk in the surrounding Elk Meadow. Check out redwoodadventures.com.

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