Hiking trails bucket list

Posted byAlive and TrekkingPosted inHikingTags:, , , , , ,

Ten years ago I dipped my toes into the world of multiple day trekking for the first time. I was on holiday in Sweden and we hiked 36 km of the Vasaloppsleden in the province of Dalarna, only carrying our day packs. Over six years ago, I did my first multiple day trekking with backpack: the Routeburn Track in New Zealand. It was amazing. I was sore yet felt wonderful and wanted to do it again! In 2013 and 2017 I attempted to hike the Fjällräven Classic, but failed to finish both times.

I may not be the most experienced in multiple day treks, nor am I an expert at trekking in the back country. That doesn’t stop me from wanting to get out there and hike! I’m going to build it up and be smart about my hiking. And since I like working towards a goal, here is my ‘hiking trails bucket list’ at the moment and in random order.

New Zealand

Australia

Sweden

Do you hike? What hiking trails are on your bucket list? What hiking trails would you recommend to a fellow hiker enthusiast?

Published by Alive and Trekking

Dreamer. Adventurer. Traveller. Idealist. Nature. New Zealand, Nordic countries and the Arctic.

41 thoughts on “Hiking trails bucket list”

  1. I also have a bucket list for next year but only one big hike. The Larapinta, 18 days hiking, I’m excited but ummm l don’t think it’s nervous, l think it’s more like wtf am l doing… lol

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    1. That is so cool! I’ve seen pictures from that trail and it looks amazing! But wow, 18 days is no small thing! I can imagine the ‘wtf am I doing’ but man, it’s pretty awesome! 🙂

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        1. Sure! Basically I had knee issues. First time, my knees got really swollen and stiff. It was horrible and I was in a lot of pain. Second time my knee problem wasn’t as bad but I was still on ‘vitamin I’ throughout the day and I was worried I’d wreck my body.
          It’s a very rocky terrain. The trail is old and heavily used, so also in need of maintenance. I think the terrain was just too rough for me.

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            1. If you do the actual Fjällräven Classic, then yes, there is a limit of I think 2000 people. But the trail is part of the Kungsleden, a well known long distance trail in Sweden, that can be done any time by anyone. So the question is: do you go for an organised experience or are you going by yourself 😉

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  3. I think I have only been hiking one time. lol At least as an adult (as far as I can recall). My family and I had gone to Garner State Park (located in Texas) for a day of swimming. Well, before we went on this trip I had mentioned to my husband that I wanted to do something more than just spend the day at the river. I told him we should try taking a hike (with our 3 young children). At the gift shop we got a trail recommendation from the lady behind the counter who said that a hike up to Crystal Cave was pretty easy and not steep. BOY WAS SHE WRONG. Before going on the hike my husband loaded snacks and water bottles into his backpack, but that was about the only way we were prepared for that trip. I think it took us a good 2-3 hours round trip. Absolutely beautiful at the top. The cave was creepy and full of daddy long leg spiders. We had my niece with us who isn’t used to much physical activity so my husband had to carry her a lot going up. I kept having to stop every few minutes to rest. None of us had the proper foot wear (or clothing for that matter). But, we made it to the top, where we were rewarded with an awesome view of Old Smokey, and back down safely. Both ways were steep but more so on the way down, plus there were a lot of loose rocks. I slipped at least once, and one of the kids (probably our daughter) slipped and scrapped up her knee. I’ll have to post a blog about it and share some pics. 🙂 I’ll try to remember to tag you in it if I get around to it.

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    1. Wow, what a story! Lol, locals can be helpful, but sometimes when they’re used to the terrain and you’re not, it can be a bit tricky! Especially with a hike like that! So glad you had plenty of water and that the view from the top was rewarding! Would love to read your blogpost if you decide to post it! 🙂

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      1. Indeed. And, if I remember right, the hike was only a mile. Felt like WAY more.

        I started a blog post about it shortly after going, but never finished it. It’s sitting in my blog folder waiting to be completed. 🙂

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  5. Good for you and never stop exploring! If you get a chance to travel across the BIG water, check out Glacier National Park and then cross the border into Canada where Banff, Yoho, Jasper and Kootenay Provincial Parks have countless trails that I’m looking forward to exploring. Reach out to me if you ever find yourself in North America 🙂

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    1. Thanks heaps! Definitely won’t stop exploring! 🙂 Ooooh, that all sounds amazing! I’ve been to Banff and around the Icefields Parkway and it’s simply stunning out there! Have to keep your tips in mind! 😀

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      1. Our trip to Banff and the other Provincial parks will be covered in my upcoming blog. (thetravelingmaiden.com) We hiked to the teahouse which was up in the mountains, beyond Lake Louise. Quite a story there! Thank you for your reply! Happy trails 😀

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  6. I’m from the U.S. and my new goal is to hike in every single state, which may be hard since some states are so flat haha. If you ever have the chance check out Sedona Arizona if you haven’t been there before!

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    1. That is an awesome goal! How exciting to go on such an adventure. I know all about flat countries, haha! Haven’t travelled through the US (yet), but I’ll have to keep Sedona Arizona in mind. Thanks for the tip!
      Happy hiking!

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    1. An amazing trail for sure! I follow several people on YouTube who’ve done that one. But I’m personally not looking at such long hikes. If you go and do the PCT and blog about it, I’m keen on reading about your adventures! 🙂

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  9. I always had a craving for adventure and nature activities. During my childhood back in India, we lived in a high mountain areas. So we always saw waterfalls, hills on a daily basis. But I didn’t realize how much liked hiking until I came to the US. I did my first hike last summer. Ever since then I have done so many hikes. All of them so far have been 6-7 miles round trip. My legs feel so sore but deep inside I feel so happy and fulfilled. My other siblings are more of a beach person. They ask me why I love hiking so much. I can’t give them a define explanation. More than reaching the top and seeing that beautiful view, I enjoy climbing up to the tops. Reading your post makes me want to climb a mountain right now. lol. 🙂

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    1. Thank you for your lovely comment! There’s something about going out there in nature, isn’t there? Biggest reward ever is to feel happy and fulfilled, so go you! 🙂 I know, it’s hard to explain the love of hiking to those who see the world differently. And that’s fine. As long as we know why we hike, right? 😉

      Happy hiking!

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  14. We did the West Coast Trail – more than 20 years ago – and lots of smaller trails in the Alps and Norway and around home. We’ve got 4 kids now, so it is a bit more complicated, but we still love hiking! We did a 1-night-hike on the norwegian fjell when our youngest was 1 year old 😊 and a 2-night-tour in Sweden when he was three.

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