Hiking is one of the most popular pastimes for holidaying. Previous to a couple of decades ago, skiing and golfing where the only ‘sporting’ holidays now hiking is a great choice as well. National parks around the world welcome travelers from all over the globe. In this guide, we will explore some of the best national parks around the world.
Yosemite National Park – California
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One of the most popular national parks in the world is Yosemite. With a 17-mile round trip taking roughly 10-12 hours the half dome is a ‘common’ trip in Yosemite because it has just about everything you would like to see. There are also plenty of other exciting hikes around Yosemite for beginners and advanced hikers alike.
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Nantahala National Forest – North Carolina
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Again in America, the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina is a fantastic hiking destination for all different types of travelers. This park has an endless amount of hiking trails most probably due to the array of mountains some of which are over 5,000 feet in height. However, the main feature of this national park has to be the stunning waterfalls that are scattered all around.
Mount Rainier National Park – Washington
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If hiking up and down active volcano’s sounds like your thing, then you need to go to Mount Rainier National Park. Surrounded by 35 miles of snow and ice this is a hiking destination that is only for advanced hikers, but when you get to the peak, it is well worth it. The mixture of sights, including an array of wildflowers glaciers and waterfalls has quickly made this national park not only one of the best in America but one of the best in the world.
Rocky Mountain National Park – Colorado
The Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado is one of the highest peaks in the United States. With an 8,000 feet height (at its peak), this parks ‘draw’ is its wonderful heights and sights. However, another benefit of this national park is that up high in the mountains you can fish. This makes this holiday ideal for the amateur hiker and keen fisher.
Dartmoor National Park – Dartmoor
In the South West of the United Kingdom, you will find one of the most visited national parks in the nation. Covering over 365 square miles this is the largest wildlife area in the UK. Dartmoor has an abundance of hiking and cycling routes for all experiences. Dartmoor has an array of competitions run by the local council for all visitors to the area. Make sure you visit the official website before you come here, to see if you could win anything special for doing nothing at all.
Kaeng Krachan National Park – Thailand – Thailand has an array of national parks, in fact, there are over 100 national parks in the country. However, the largest national park in Thailand is Kaeng Krachan. With the highest elevation at just 1200 feet, this national park is ideal for beginners and is suitable for those taking a casual holiday to the region rather than those specifically looking for a hiking holiday. This park is great for those animal watchers. Over 55 species of animals and 400 bird species have been counted in the area.
Wood Buffalo National Park – Canada
has some astounding national parks, and the Wood Buffalo National Park is the largest of them all. At over 17000 square miles this park has an array of mountains with various elevations. In fact, they range from just 600 feet to over 3000, meaning that this park is ideal for those looking for something easy or for those wanting something a bit more advanced. As mentioned in the name, the park was established to protect the Wood Bison (wild buffalo). It is estimated that there are currently over 5000 free roaming buffalo in this national park.
Lamington National Park – Queensland
With over 600 national parks, Australia has by far the most national parks in the world. Queensland has a vast amount of these national parks and there may not be a better one for hiking than Lamington. Lamington is full of rainforests, trees, waterfalls and even mountainous views, which rank among the best in the world. Added to the national heritage list in 2007 this is clearly one of the most valued national parks in Australia. The park contains more than 500 astonishing waterfalls scattered around all over the park, including, Elabana Falls, which is about as picturesque as they come.
The world is full of national parks for you to explore. With over 1840 parks, these eight parks just scratch the surface when it comes to the best. Make sure you visit each one of these parks well prepared, as under preparation will waste your time and stop you from seeing everything that you want to see.