Alabama offers day hiking opportunities as beloved as state icon Bear Bryant himself. Okay it’s a close call, but that just means the hiking here is phenomenal with more opportunies and trails available than you could take in during a calendar year, even if you doubled up and tried to squeeze in some extra ones here and there. While it is tough to pick just a few of the many great day hikes available as the best, what follows is an overview of the absolute can’t miss day hike in the great state of Alabama. The Pinhoti Trail in Cheaha State Park tops the list hands down according to most...

Connecticut offers day hikes for everyone. Whether you like something along the coast, in the wodds, very easy or something that will test every bit of skill you have you’ll find it in Connecticut. In fact there are more day hikes than you can shake a stick at. While the Appalachian Trail which winds it’s way through these borders is always popular and should be on everyones list of hikes in the state there are so many great hikes picking just a few as the best is no easy task. Keeping that in mind what follows is a brief overview of some of Connecticut’s best day hikes. In Groton,...

When trying to decide what the best type of womens hiking shoe is to buy, there are few things that you must first take into consideration. All hiking shoes are not created equally and you will most definitely get what you pay for. When buying hiking shoes, quality and stability should come first and style and appearance should definitely come last. If you are already a dedicated hiker, you should have a good idea of what to look for in a quality hiking shoe. However, if you are just starting out in hiking, you may be overwhelmed at the wide array of choices you have when buying hiking shoes. Before...

by James Warner Here is a list of must have items sure to make your outdoor experience safer and more enjoyable. These are applicable for dayhikes and backpacking trips. One of the most important things is having a map of the trail you will explore. Get one at the park visitor center or find one online that you can download. This will keep you from getting lost, help you identify new trails to check out and possibly help rescuers locate you if you’re in trouble. A map reading compass will help you find your bearings and keep you from getting lost. Using the map and compass together will keep...

by Steve Thibeault A large variety of people enjoy backpacking outdoors as one of the greater forms of adventure. Some have been at it for years and just love to get away whenever they can. Others are looking for a significant challenge in which to test themselves, whilst on the opposite end of the spectrum some people view it purely as relaxation. Anyone who wants to take up the adventure of backpacking outdoors is normally fairly close to a wilderness area to start off with. Even if you live in a city environment, you normally don’t have to travel far. You are even better off if you live in...

Day hikes are a great way to get exercise, relieve stress, and enjoy nature. You can hike at your own pace, choose your own route, and decide how far you want to go. To have a great time on your hike make sure you have the correct equipment. No matter the route, you need to have a hiking stick. This can be as simple as picking up a branch that is the right size and height or as complex as buying a high end hiking pole. Carrying and using the hiking stick can save you from a turned ankle or a fall. Any path can have a loose rock or a small dip that can cause you to loose your footing. Using a hiking...

Ohio is indeed a hiker’s paradise. There are so many nature filled and exciting trails of varying lengths to choose from, it is near impossible to select the best. I have includes some short one hour trails as well as some longer trails. The shorter trails are ideal if there are other things you need to do during the day and if you are traveling with younger children. The Ohio & Erie Canalway is a wonderful day hike steeped in history and tradition. The state of Ohio, in 1825, started to build the Ohio & Erie Canal following the Washington route. It reflects the settlement patterns of...

You want to hike, but you only have a day. What do you take to make your day more enjoyable? Be sure you have a decent day pack. You may not want to lug along a huge backpack. Keep the big pack for your overnight trips. Your day pack will be just big enough to hold the essentials. Take a cellphone, but realize that all phones may not work in the back country. Also take a GPS or compass. You will want to know where you are in case of an emergency. Then you can find your way back to your trailhead, or your car. Clothing choices depend on when and where you are hiking. The appropriate gear for the...

I love day hiking nearly as much as backpacking. You can have a great day outdoors, and still enjoy all the comforts of home at the end of it. But I’ve encountered far more day hikers who have left essential gear behind than backpackers, and forgetting to bring essential gear can really spoil your day hike. Perhaps it’s because day hikes are perceived as being a less serious outing than backpacking, that makes some day hikers careless. They figure that, because they’re not camping out overnight, they don’t have to put too much thought into what they bring. But that’s...

Massachusetts is full of great day hiking opportunities, with just shy of 600 registered trails how could it not be? Whether you’re on Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod, near Boston, in the mountains, or smack dab in the middle of the state a day hike is awaiting you! With so much variety hiking enthusiasts of all ilks can find a perfect location displaying almost anything the Commonwealth has to offer. While there is no real empirical ranking of these day hikes as tastes vary, what follows is an overview of some of the best day hikes I’ve been on or heard of. Immediately my first...