Best Of: Katy’s All-Time Favorite Hikes

I’ve had a number of friends ask “what are your favorite hikes of all-time?”

Daunting question, I know.

Here’s a short list of my Top 3:

Hoh River Trail

(Washington)

So I know 36 mi isn’t what everyone signs up for BUT this hike was everything I could have imagined. You start out in the lush Hoh Rainforest surrounded by mounds of moss in the Olympic NP and arrive at the Blue Glacier, the largest glacier in the continental US. How many others hikes start in a rainforest and end at a glacier?

Muliwai and Waimanu Valley (Island of Hawai’i)

This 15-18 mi hike starts at Waipio Valley and hits the secluded Waimanu Valley. Waipio stands for “Valley of the Kings” and is home to several ancient burial sites. Furthermore, the hike is nicknamed the “Z-Trail” for its relentless switchbacks and begins at the bottom of the steepest road in America at 25% grade. For so many reasons, this trail is a favorite of mine and a reminder to honor the cultural and historical significance this land bears to native Hawaiians.

Jade Lake (Washington)

If there’s one thing you should assume about me, it’s that I’m a sucker for a gatorade-looking alpine lake. Do-able as a day-hike or short backpacking trip, this 21-23 mi hike is underrated next to its sister hike, Tuck and Robin Lakes. The Alpine Lakes Wilderness region is like finding one gem in a stack of gems. And…this is one of them.