Some of the greatest joys in life are the simplest things:
- Reading! I’m in the middle of reading The Firm now for about the 100th time. I could spend 8 hours a day with books, magazines and newspapers.
- The beach: What is better than watching the waves roll in? I’d be happy on a beach anywhere.
- The smile of a baby: Just kidding. I hate it when people say stuff like this.
- Exploring on foot: A great hike is yet another joy and this is what I’ll be talking about today.
I love long walks. Putting your feet to the pavement and hitting the open sidewalk or rocky trail is one of my favorite things. I open my mind, camera lens, shut my mouth and observe.
A good walk hits the reset switch of the brain. If something is bothering me or I need to work a problem out, by the end of a walk, I’ve usually found a solution. I also come up with some of my best ideas on a walk. I wasn’t surprised when a Stanford study revealed that a good walk boosts creativity.
Frugalwoods
Have you checked out Frugalwoods yet? If not, you should. Mr. and Mrs. FW are relatively new on the scene and are already writing some really great stuff. They also have a greyhound* and their blog features some highly amusing pictures of her dressed in various garb.
Anyway, it turns out that the Frugalwoods also really enjoy hiking. So today, the Frugalwoods and I both present our favorite hikes. Please flip over to their site to read about some of their favorites.
My Favorite Hikes
Mist Trail (Yosemite National Park, California)
Yosemite National Park is one of the greatest places on Earth. 
I have never seen a place more beautiful. Standing in the valley and looking up at the towering granite walls is amazing. You won’t be able to wipe the smile from your face!
Yosemite is best experienced in the spring or early summer when the snowmelt powers immense waterfalls. Yosemite Falls, the highest in North America, is awesome at full force.
One of the best ways to experience Yosemite is on the Mist Trail. The hike starts at the floor at the valley and at first, follows a raging river. You’ll also pass by a couple massive water falls, so prepare to get soaked! After you get to the top of Nevada Falls, you’ll walk past the back of Half Dome, a view not many have seen. The hike ends with a climb to the top of Half Dome itself. You’ll cling to cables as you make your way to the top of the granite slab. It’s slightly terrifying, but loads of fun.
Note: The hike is 16 miles round trip with 5000 feet of elevation gain, so be in shape and start early. Also note that the final Half Dome portion of the hike now requires a permit. Get it early! Also, make a reservation in the park 1 year in advance; it books up fast.
Mt. Whitney (California)
Coming in at 14,505 feet, Mt. Whitney is the highest peak in the continental United States. The great thing is that you can walk all the way up to the top. It’s a 22 mile round trip that gains 6,100 feet in altitude, so make sure you’re ready. We left at 4am, summited at noon and got back down at 6pm (would have been 4pm, but my knees were protesting mightily).
The hike starts out in forest. You’ll be doing this part of the hike in the dark. Be sure to rest for a couple minutes and watch the sun rise over the desert.
Later on, you’ll get above the tree-line and the trail turns rocky. People dread the switchbacks, but I didn’t think they were so bad. After you complete them, you’re on the home stretch. Get to the summit and admire the view for a while.
Kalalau Trail, Na Pali Coast** (Kauai, Hawaii)
Kauai is a spectacular island. It isn’t as populated as some of the other islands in the Hawaiian chain and it’s abundant rainfall makes it super lush and green. It was also where parts of Jurassic Park were filmed, but don’t worry, the dinosaurs have since been removed from the island.
While I love my state of Colorado, hiking the jagged peaks can sometimes be trying. Often, I get pelted by hail (looking at you Longs). Other times, I have to turn around because of lightning or dangerous snow fields. Hiking in Kauai is the opposite of all of that.
The Kalalau Trail is one of the most beautiful hikes as far as I’m concerned. It hugs the Na Pali Coast on the northwest edge of Kauai and is simply spectacular. Who in the world wouldn’t like hiking through a beautiful rainforest with waterfalls right next to the ocean? And wait, don’t order now, there’s more! If you’re hiking the trail at the right time, you’ll see whales. This one is a must do.
My own ‘hood (Northern Colorado)
After I’m done with work and the kids are out of school, our family has a walking tradition. We head out of the house and go where our feet take us. Sometimes, the walk ends abruptly when we start chatting with the neighbors and don’t get more than 100′ from our home. Other days, we’ll end up playing in the river or walking a couple miles, exploring new parts of the town.
I learn all kinds of things on a walk. Sometimes, I fire up the Zillow app on my phone so I can learn a bit more about real estate values. Other times, I learn some pretty neat things chatting with neighbors. Our street is nondescript and the homes are modestly priced (176K (ours) – 425K (Dead Harold’s)), but I know that there are at least 3 millionaire households on our little avenue of just 29 homes. More on that in a future post.
Wherever I happen to be in the world
Whether I’m in downtown Chicago or camping in the forest, I always get out and explore on foot. I love biking as well, but you discover so much more on foot. I try to take different routes and challenge my brain to notice new stuff.
I’ll be in lovely Madison (Wisconsin) and Chicago at the end of the month. If you see a pale, skinny guy, just short of 6′ wearing a Warren Buffett cap walking down the sidewalk, please wave…
Remember to check out the Frugalwoods favorite hikes now! Do it, now! What are you still doing here?
*Greyhounds crack me up. With some dogs, their purpose on Earth isn’t obvious. Look at a greyhound and you can immediately tell they were bred to go very, very fast (45 mph!!!). They are the SR-71 of the dog world; perhaps clumsy and awkward at low speed, but poetic at full throttle.
**I didn’t read the Frugalwoods post beforehand, but from informal conversation, I’ll bet you’ll be reading about this hike on their blog as well.
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Thank you again for this idea! Mr. FW and I had such a great time flipping through all of our hike photos (and trying to remember which hike was which…). You’re so right about the Kalalau trail–one of the greatest spots on earth, I’m convinced. Poor Frugal Hound, she’s just not very good at sitting. It’s tragic really.
We’ve never hiked in Yosemite and now I’m itching too! Gorgeous photos you have there! Thank you so much for the kind words too 🙂
Mrs. Frugalwoods recently posted…Epic Treks: 7 Hikes That Left Us Breathless (in a good way)
You have to make it to Yosemite! It can get a bit crowded, but get a couple miles into the trail and the masses are in your rearview mirror.
Like I said over on your blog, we’ll be there again in June. If ya’ll go, we’ll give you a person tour!
You guys are hilarious. Like I mentioned over at Frugalwoods, I’m beach running more often than woods treking due to proximity, but I’m sure there will be a time in my life when that will flip for a few years at least. There’s just something about observing nature first-hand while moving that centers me.
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Mrs. PoP, beach running would be pretty awesome too. You have the awesome luxury of being close to your spot as well, so you can enjoy it every day. Even the nearest good hikes for me are still at least a 30 minute car ride away.
Interestingly enough, these hikes are all on my bucket list…as soon as the kiddo is old enough we’ll start hitting them one by one! I also find that hiking clears my mind, and I love photography! I’ve been tryiing to get back into both, because I am finding that I’m overwhelmed with the business of life, and both photography and hiking clear and calm my mind!
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Yeah, sometimes I wish that I lived closer to nature. With kids though, it isn’t really feasible. I’d rather have them grow up around others.
Don’t let the business of life trample you down too much. Always make some time for yourself. I’m not one to talk since I struggle with this too though.
Hiking is awesome. We don’t get to do much hiking because we live in Dallas, Texas. e moved next to a huge park, so I do have access to some trails. Part of the reason I love the neighborhood!
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Head down to Enchanted Rock! It is great and you can stop in and visit Austin while you’re down there.
These hikes all sound amazing. Wes and I still regret not hiking the Napali Coast when we went to Kauai a few years ago. That is something we definitely want to do in the future.
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Ahhh, you’ll just have to plan another trip.
I remember the Kauai hike it was so much fun, if I remember right its a few miles to get to the beach and then for the people who are mostly crazy you can wind your way through the unmarked jungle, rocks, and water to get to the waterfall. I had 2 spots where I almost lost my teeth, but it was so much fun and tiring of course. Thanks for bringing back the memory of this one.
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Not sure how busy either of us will be but it would be great to say hello and grab a coffee in Chicago, unless that’s weird and uncomfortable then proceed with your day as normal, haha.
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Ha, no that would be great. How about after work though? Maybe pizza/beer instead?
Yeah I get really busy during the end of the quarter but I’m sure we can make it work. Just send me an email of when you plan to be in town and we can go from there. Thanks.
Even Steven recently posted…10% Rule and Real Life Car Stories
Cool. Pizza is on me.
It is totally great! If it were up to me, I’d be in Kauai 1 month every year.
Even here in NYC, walks are amazing. I have done a perimeter walk of Manhattan (over 32 miles) three times and it is awesome!
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Wow, that perimeter walk sounds cool as hell. I have to hit you up for more information…
Love the SR-71 reference!
Will need to make it beyond the West Coast of America to explore some of the hikes you listed. Just got back from vacation and we did a bunch of wonderful hikes around our province. Will add yours to the dream team list of places to hike!
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SR-71 is one of the coolest things mankind ever built.
You must go to Yosemite. Paradise. Plus, there are probably more Canadians there than Americans! You’ll feel right at home! This is a sad comment on some of my fellow countrymen…
This is the perfect post for me! CJ and I just got back from hiking in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks last week. We enjoyed challenging ourselves on trails more difficult than we’ve done. Well, the sad fact is that we haven’t done nearly enough trails, but that is history now. We loved hiking Big Bend National Park too (coolest place in TX outside of Austin). It is quite an experience to stand on one side of the Rio Grande and realize how that little trickle separates two countries! It’s breathtaking.
I love how you mentioned your nightly hikes with your girls. Those are surely the most important hikes of all, and they will love you for it!
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Oh man, what a great adventure! Never been to either of those two, but it’s only a matter of time.
I’ve heard Big Bend is awesome, but takes a loooooooooong time to get there.
Funny you mention the hike with the girls. Just got back from a fight-filled one (“She touched me!!!”). They all can’t be winners.
>>My Favorite Hikes
When I first saw this headline, I thought you meant:
My Favorite DIVIDEND Hikes
haha, the joke’s on me
Ha, dividend hikes are pretty awesome too!
Yosemite hike looks so cool! Just read the Frugalwoods hikes post and loved it too! We were in Kauai 2 years ago but hubster’s relatives weren’t interested in doing that hike. Oh how I regret that we didn’t just take a day and go on our own!! We only had one car though. Had some good hikes in Newfoundland and Ottawa though. Cheers.
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Debs, I”ve barely scratched the surface of Canada. Can’t wait to make it up their for a good piece of time. Life is too short and the world is too big!
A few years ago while at Yosemite I hiked what I believe is the Columbia Rock trail above the valley. I remember getting to a lookout point (all smooth granite and not much to hold onto) where a younger group of guys were slowly getting near the edge. One guy was getting closer and closer to the edge, when another one remarked, “you’re freaking me out, man!” It was so funny. It was cool looking down to the valley about 1,000 ft below. Awesome views all around. But it seemed very easy to slip off the smooth granite edge, especially if wet.
The things people do are ridiculous. I remember people sitting on the edge of Half Dome with their legs hanging off. I couldn’t even look at them.
This summer we did the West Maroon Trail hike from Aspen to Crested Butte. Spent the next day walking around beautiful Crested Butte and then hiked back the following day. Wildflowers. Everywhere. One of my favorite places in Colorado.
Also please go up to RMNP this winter and go snowshoeing. It is truly magical.
We are going to Maui for a week and hopefully Kauai for a few days next summer…thanks for the information about the Kauai trail. Sounds like a must do.
Wow, that hike sounds great. I live in Colorado, but have barely scratched the surface of the state. So much to see.
People love Maui, buy Kauai is my favorite. So green. Beautiful.
Here are two of my favorite hikes:
In Colorado, I like doing the short ascent up Chief Mountain (located on Colorado Highway 103 between Bergen Park and Echo Lake). It’s 35 minutes to the top and the views are every bit as good as you see from the top of Mt. Evans or Mt. Bierstadt.
In Maine, I like hiking the Beehive in Acadia National Park. The trail head is located right across the road from the Sand Beach parking lot. You hike straight up a cliff using iron bars that have been pounded into the rock face. The whole up-and-down takes less than an hour (note: you see better views if it’s not foggy).
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Yeah I did that Beehive Hike in Acadia. That is a good one. Acadia is a beautiful place. We did a hike on the quiet side of the island and it was really great too.
Acadia! I’ve been to 39 states, but the Northeast eludes me. Sometime in 2015 or 2016…
Thanks for the tips! I must make it out to Acadia!
Acadia is heaven on earth (I’ve been a visiting since 1965, and yes I’m still able to haul my butt up the Beehive)!
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“The smile of a baby: Just kidding. I hate it when people say stuff like this.” This cracked me up — cuz it’s so true.
I don’t travel much, so I don’t hike on mountains or beaches (I live in Wisconsin), but I have been visiting my local state parks and they have beautiful trails through the woods. Also, we have trails that go from one city to the next in our area and some of these go through the woods and over creeks, etc. I have only recently discovered these but I am enjoying them over the kind of boring walks through my city on sidewalks.
Wisconsin is awesome and vastly underrated. I spend 6 years living just outside of Madison. As you say, the biking was awesome.
Beautiful country too. I love the Northwoods. Also love the rolling hills west of Madison. Mississippi river valley is beautiful too.
This is why I go back to visit at least once a year.
I hear you on the crazy mountain weather. Two weeks ago, we got caught in a snow storm in Yellowstone and then in a rain storm up the Bridal Veil Falls trail in Telluride. It’s always beautiful, but I’d take a little more consistency in the weather any day.
That being said, we are certainly spoiled for great hiking. We could do a different trail every weekend and still not get them all done.
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