I love to hike in new and interesting places, so when we are on a trip, I try to find some places to hike. Some of our hikes have been fairly short, but we’ve also done some much longer hikes, including a week walking the Portuguese Route of the Camino de Santiago. Below are my favorite hikes from our travels.
Colorado
St. Mary’s Glacier
Is there anything more breathtaking than a mountain lake? There is something indescribably beautiful about still clear waters surrounded by mountain peaks. Add in some melting snowpack nearby, I mean wow, what can be more gorgeous than that? St Mary’s Glacier is all of those things and if you can, this is a must-do hike.…
The Incline – Manitou Springs, Colorado
The Incline is a hiking path and extreme fitness challenge located in Manitou Springs with an elevation gain of over 2,000 feet over 2,744 steps in one mile.
Montana
Hiking to Avalanche Lake
The Avalanche Lake Trail is a gorgeous approximately 5 mile long out-and-back hike in Glacier National Park. Hikers are greeted with stunning whitewater, beautiful forests, mountains and an amazing mountain lake.
Mexico
The Hike – Mt Solmar Cabo San Lucas Mexico
Mt Solmar is a challenging but rewarding hike with the best views of the area around Cabo San Lucas.
Spain
Beginning the Camino – Valenca to O Porrino
Our first day on the Portuguese Central Route of the Camino de Santiago was a challenging one. It was a 15 mile hike from Valenca Portugal to O Porrino Spain and it was an eye opener to the challenges that would be coming for the remainder of the Camino.
Day 2 of the Camino – O Porrino to Redondela
The section of the Portuguese Central route of the Camino de Santiago from O Porrino to Redondela winds through rural farms and small villages. One large hill in the center of the hike lead to sweeping views of Redondela and the Ria de Vigo Estuary.
Day 3 Redondela to Pontevedra
The stage of the Portuguese Route of the Camino de Santiago between Redondela and Pontevedra is beautiful. Leaving Redondela the Camino climbs into the hills overlooking the Ria de Vigo estuary before descending into the lovely town of Arcade. The remaining hike between Arcade and Pontevedra takes place mostly along a wooded path. This was…
Day 4 – Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis
The Camino from Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis is a beautiful hike that starts in Pontevedra, continues through the woods then finally arrives in Caldas de Reis after passing through vineyards. For us, it was a day where we struggled with increasing pain as the Camino began to take its toll on us.
Day 5 – Caldas de Reis to Padrón
The stage of the Portuguese Route of the Camino de Santiago is a mostly serene hike among woods and farms. The hike isn’t terribly challenging since it’s not very hilly or long. However, our bodies were starting to break down which made the hike more challenging than it should have been.
Day 6 – Quitting the Camino
This is the final post in a six-part series on our experiences doing the Portuguese Central Route of the Camino de Santiago starting in Valenca, Portugal, and ending in Santiago de Compostela. I didn’t get more than a couple of hours of sleep. The wind slamming the shutters on the windows was a constant reminder…
Germany
Stage Two of the Malerweg Trail
The second stage of the Malerweg trail in Germany’s Saxon Switzerland National Park has breathtaking views of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains and Elbe River Valley. Hikers are also treated to lakes, creeks, forests and villages. The second stage of the Malerweg is absolutely epic.
Beauty and Danger on Malerweg Trail Stage Four
Stage four of the Malerweg Trail, starting in Altendorf and ending at Neumannmühle, showcases stunning views of Saxon Switzerland National Park. Despite encountering trail closures and challenging terrain, the hike offered breathtaking scenery, including sandstone pillars and a waterfall. Rain disrupted plans, but the experience remained rewarding and recommended for adventurous hikers.
Newby to Expert Traveler 