Blazing New Trails

If you’re a lover of long hikes, chances are you’ve hiked the local trails again and again. And as wonderful as those familiar locales are, sometimes it’s good to branch out and explore new territory. How do you find new places to hike?

A simple Internet search is a good place to start. You can find new trails in your area, or a little farther away, or somewhere you’re planning on traveling to soon, very easily. Trails.com also offers this handy list of the top 100 trails in North America for the year, based on popularity. Here are a few dream hikes from around the nation to whet your appetite for new trails:

• Chain Lakes Trail, Washington. This is part of the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs along the Cascades all the way from Canada to Mexico. As its name suggests, this trail is full of scenic lakes.
• Uwharrie National Forest Trails, Asheboro, North Carolina. This location offers several trails to choose from, meaning you can find one of just the right difficulty level.
• Havasu Canyon Trail, Seligman, Arizona. Here the clear blue-green water of the Havasu Creek add to the gorgeous scenery of Arizona’s canyonlands.
• Holy Him Falls Trail, Lake Forest, California. For a scenic day hike, try this 3-mile trail with lots of trees and a 35-foot cascade.

Do you have any dream hikes—trails in far-off locations you dream of hiking? How do you blaze new trails?