A demanding alpine classic. The trail climbs through boulder fields to the stunning Wing Lake, nestled in a cirque beneath the jagged summit of Black Peak. A swim in the glacially cold lake was the reward, one of the most remote and spectacular hikes in the North Cascades.

A forested lakeside trail hugging the eastern shore of Baker Lake with constant views of snow-capped Mount Baker. Old-growth Douglas fir and cedar line the path, a more relaxed day after the Black Peak push.

One of the finest hikes in the North Cascades. Cascade Pass is spectacular on its own, but continuing up the Sahale Arm, a narrow spine of alpine meadow rising above the glacier, delivers views of peaks, snowfields, and the Cascade River valley that genuinely stop you in your tracks.

An exposed ridgeline walk on the flanks of Mount Baker with jaw-dropping views of the Coleman Glacier and the summit cone. The trail crosses alpine meadows dotted with wildflowers before narrowing above the snowfields, one of the most dramatic hikes in the Baker region.

A gentler day. Swift Creek winds through old-growth forest to the natural Baker Hot Spring, a welcome soak for tired legs. Capped with a swim in the cold, clear waters of Baker Lake beneath the watching peak of Mount Baker.

The hardest day of the first leg. Vesper Peak is a steep, relentless climb through boulder fields and talus to a rocky summit with 360-degree views of the Monte Cristo range. Not for the faint-hearted, and absolutely worth every step.

A flat, meditative walk along the Dungeness Spit, the longest natural sand spit in the United States, curling 5.5 miles into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The reward: the historic New Dungeness Lighthouse, active since 1857, with views across to the Canadian Gulf Islands.

A spectacular point-to-point ridge traverse high above the Elwha Valley, connecting two of Olympic National Park's most dramatic high-country viewpoints. Exposed alpine terrain with sweeping views of the Olympic peaks and the Strait of Juan de Fuca shimmering far below.

The Hoh Rainforest is one of the great natural wonders of North America: ancient Sitka spruce and big-leaf maple draped in thick curtains of moss, the air heavy with green. A long, immersive walk deep into the heart of the most temperate rainforest in the contiguous United States.

Mount Storm King is short but brutally steep, the final push involves ropes anchored to the rock. The payoff is a bird's-eye view of the impossibly blue Lake Crescent below. We descended and jumped straight in, one of the coldest and most beautiful swims of the trip.

The final hike, a fitting send-off. The Sunrise Ridge to Klahane Ridge traverse offers some of the finest panoramic views in Olympic National Park: Mount Olympus, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Vancouver Island, and on a clear day, the Cascades to the east.

A classic Corsican coastal loop dropping down to the remote fishing village of Girolata, only accessible by sea or on foot. Crystal blue waters await at the bottom.

Hike the Calvi–Lighthouse of Revellata trail with sweeping views of the Gulf of Calvi. Afternoon: explore the historic Genoese citadel then wind down on the golden sweep of Plage de Calvi.

Head inland to the serene village of Lama for the ascent of Monte Astu. Panoramic views of the Balagne region reward the climb.

The big one. Monte Cinto is the highest peak in Corsica at 2,706 m. Starting from Haut Asco, this is an epic alpine challenge with jaw-dropping ridge views.

A taste of the legendary GR20, Europe's toughest long-distance trail. This loop samples the southern section's dramatic granite terrain. End with dinner at the #1 rated seafood restaurant in Corsica.

One of the absolute best hikes in all of Corsica. Waterfalls, ancient forest, and a summit above 2,000 m, this one demands an early start.

The jagged granite needles of Bavella are among the most photogenic landscapes in the Mediterranean. The loop trail weaves through pines past sheer rock towers with views that stop you in your tracks.

Cable car up from Bohinj, then an exposed ridge walk with the lake in view most of the way. A good first hike to gauge everyone's legs before the harder days ahead.

The big loop, seven glacial lakes via the Komna plateau, mountain hut lunch stop, and the best full-day trail in the park.

Steep and direct from the valley floor to a quiet 1,844 m summit, full Julian Alps panorama, usually with nobody else up there.

Slovenia's highest peak in a single day. Pre-dawn start, via ferrata section near the top, and the whole range laid out from the summit. The capstone of the Slovenia leg.

Straight out onto Madeira's driest, most volcanic landscape, a narrow peninsula with cliffs dropping into the Atlantic on both sides. Windy and exposed, an easier re-entry hike after the flight.

The island's signature trail, a knife-edge ridge between Madeira's two highest peaks, through hand-cut tunnels with sheer drops on either side. Out-and-back from Areeiro.

Headlamp tunnels through laurel forest along a levada, ending at a waterfall dropping into a volcanic bowl. Extended to Caldeirão do Inferno for the full distance.

A last, gentler loop from the Rabaçal forest reserve linking two of the island's best waterfalls, almost entirely on shaded levada trail. A quiet close to the trip.

The most iconic climb above Queenstown. A steep forested ascent alongside the Skyline gondola leads to a final exposed summit push with jaw-dropping 360° views over Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding ranges. Considered one of the best alpine day hikes in New Zealand. Reward yourself with Fergburger after.

One of New Zealand's nine Great Walks. The route winds through ancient beech forest before opening into dramatic alpine terrain above the tree line. The out-and-back to Lake Harris Saddle delivers some of the finest mountain panoramas on the South Island.

Another of the Great Walks. The Kepler Track climbs from the lakeshore through beech forest to the spectacular Luxmore Hut high above Lake Te Anau, with a good chance of spotting Kiwi birds in the wild along the way. Dinner at Te Anau's iconic Redcliff Bar and Restaurant.

A beautiful loop to wrap up our time in Queenstown, manageable enough to enjoy without wrecked legs before the move day, but scenic enough to feel like a worthy send-off to the South Island's adventure capital.

Many say this is the single best hike in New Zealand. A steep, rugged climb up into the heart of Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, the route ascends through boulder fields to Mueller Hut perched above the glacier with staggering views of the highest peaks in Australasia. Dinner at The Hermitage Alpine Restaurant right by the trailhead.

One of the most popular hikes in all of New Zealand, and for good reason. The relentless switchbacks up Roys Peak deliver increasingly epic views of Lake Wānaka and the Southern Alps. Bring plenty of water. The descent is long. Worth every step.

One of the world's great day hikes and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing traverses active volcanic terrain, steam vents, emerald crater lakes, lava fields, and lunar-red scoria slopes that look like the surface of Mars. A hike unlike anything else on this planet.

A beautiful high-rated trail in Tongariro National Park combining the spectacular Taranaki Falls with the remote Tama Lakes, two crater lakes sitting in the saddle between Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Ruapehu. A perfect final full hiking day.

The serious acclimatization hike. Kearsarge Pass crests at 11,760 feet, high enough to stress-test your altitude response before you push for 14,505. The trail climbs through stunning high-Sierra terrain past Onion Valley to the lakes nestled in the John Muir Wilderness. One of the most beautiful approaches in the Eastern Sierra. Dinner at Merry Go Round Restaurant back in Lone Pine.

A short but steep acclimatization hike to Robinson Lake, a beautiful alpine tarn tucked into a cirque high above the Owens Valley. Keep it relatively easy today. The goal is to stay active at altitude, move the legs, and conserve energy for what's ahead. Sleep and eat well tonight.

King Ravine is a glacial cirque carved into the north face of Mt. Adams, a wild, boulder-choked ravine that demands scrambling, route-finding, and sheer determination. The approach follows Lowe's Path before splitting onto the King Ravine Trail. On the ravine floor, choose your line: the Subway threads through house-sized boulders and ice caves, while the Elevated is the straightforward but still relentless option. Then comes the headwall, 1,300 feet of gain in half a mile. Scramble up to the Airline Trail and push to the summit of Mt. Adams at 5,774 ft, the second-highest peak in New England. Foliage blazing on all sides. Descent via Lowe's Path.

The most difficult and dangerous hiking trail in the White Mountains. Huntington Ravine Trail begins on the Tuckerman Ravine Trail from Pinkham Notch, branching off at 1.3 miles into its own savage world. The ravine headwall features class 2–3 slab climbing, exposed ledges the AMC guide describes as "extremely unnerving," multiple no-fall zones, and a chimney section near the top. Do not attempt in wet conditions. Do not descend this trail. Above the headwall, cross the Alpine Garden to the summit of Mt. Washington at 6,288 ft, highest peak in the Northeast and home to some of the worst weather on Earth. Descend via Lion's Head or Tuckerman Ravine.

A 2.5-hour drive to the trailhead in Grand Staircase-Escalante, then down into the canyon to the Golden Cathedral's arched alcove and reflecting pool. Dinner in Escalante after.

Coffee and breakfast at Kiva Koffeehouse on the way, then the trail to Lower Calf Creek Falls, a waterfall dropping into a pool at the end of the canyon. Early dinner at the food truck in Boulder before it closed at 3.

An hour into Capitol Reef National Park for a long day connecting the Frying Pan and Grand Wash trails: slickrock, a narrow wash, and some of the best formations in the park. Dinner in Torrey.

A 2-hour-15-minute drive out to the Wire Pass trailhead for one of the best slot canyon hikes in the Southwest: narrow, twisting walls, some sections barely shoulder-width.

A short 40-minute drive into Zion for the trail everyone's heard of, steep switchbacks up Walter's Wiggles, then the chained final half-mile along the exposed ridge to the summit.

Started from The Grotto and climbed onto the West Rim Trail, fewer crowds than Angels Landing, with big payoff views back down into Zion Canyon.

Into the Wasatch for a proper alpine summit, up through the Red Pine Lake basin to the narrow, exposed ridge leading to the Pfeifferhorn.

The trip's biggest day, saved for last. A 45-minute drive to the Timpooneke trailhead, then up past waterfalls and alpine basins to Utah County's second-highest peak.

Up from Exit Glacier through cottonwood and alder, then open rock and snowfield, to a viewpoint looking out over the vast, unbroken Harding Icefield, one of the few icefields in the U.S. you can reach on foot in a single day.

A steady climb through spruce and hemlock into alpine tundra, ending at a lake ringed by low peaks, one of the more popular hard hikes near Seward, for good reason.

Seward's famous race mountain, minus the race, brutally steep straight out of town, loose rock and scree near the top, and a summit view over Resurrection Bay that makes the burning legs worth it.

A quieter alpine ridge hike out of the Lost Lake trail system, well off the main tourist track. Exact mileage wasn't logged, worth confirming before this becomes the reference copy.

Rode the free park shuttle out to the Mountain Vista trailhead and hiked the ridge back toward Savage River, tundra, marmots, and the first real look at Denali's front range without a car in sight.

The longest day of the trip, an out-and-back through forest and along ridgelines connecting three lakes south of the park entrance, with the Nenana River canyon below for most of the route.

The last hike of the trip, out of Big Bear. Exact mileage wasn't logged, worth confirming before this becomes the reference copy.

Met in the hotel lobby at 8 AM for the 15-minute drive to the trailhead, then the six-peak loop above Jordan Pond, one of Acadia's classic long days. Dinner after at The Chart Room on Eden Street.

Out to the quieter Schoodic Peninsula side of the park for a hike linking Birch Harbor, the Anvil, and Buck Cove, a good last day away from Bar Harbor's crowds. Dinner at Side Street Café. Exact mileage wasn't logged, worth confirming before this becomes the reference copy.

One of the finest ridge walks in the Northeast, up via Falling Waters Trail past a string of waterfalls, along the exposed Franconia Ridge over Little Haystack, Mt. Lincoln, and Mt. Lafayette, then down the Old Bridle Path. Peak foliage season in the Whites.

The highest peak in the Northeast at 6,288 ft, and famous for having some of the worst weather on the planet. Exact trailhead and route weren't logged, noted here as the standard Tuckerman Ravine approach, worth confirming before this becomes the reference copy.

The westernmost of the Whites' 4,000-footers, with sweeping summit views back across the range. Noted here as the standard Gorge Brook Trail approach, exact route wasn't logged, worth confirming before this becomes the reference copy.