Ups and Downs of 2020: The Year of My 52 Hike Challenge
Before any of us knew what 2020 had in store, I set a goal to accomplish the 52 Hike Challenge. I came across this challenge somewhere on the web and thought it was a great way to make sure I exercised at least once a week (compared to 2019, that would be an achievement) and gave me an excuse to take a hike often and explore 52 new trails.
Well, 2020 came and the coronavirus hit and I realized how inspired my goal was! Instead of sitting at home all the time, I stepped out my door for one of the few socially-distanced activities: hiking.
Many people do the 52 Hike Challenge, but there are no set rules to accomplishing it. Basically, all it means is taking a hike 52 times in one year. The number 52, of course, comes from how many weeks there are in a year, but that doesn’t mean you have to hike each week. In fact, I didn’t hike at all during January or November because of bad weather. However, there were a few weeks in the summer where I hiked up to ten times because I was visiting a national park or exploring my own city’s trails.
For me, accomplishing the 52 Hike Challenge meant hiking 52 different trails. I allowed myself to hike a few trails I have done in the past, but I didn’t count the same trail twice. I also gave myself some leeway by counting a trail even if I didn’t complete it. I made sure that each hike only counted if I was in nature—I didn’t include walking paths in neighborhoods or cities. If you want to accomplish the 52 Hike Challenge, set your own rules and go at the pace best for you!
My Hiking Trip Packing List
Hiking essentials:
Other useful hiking gear:
Hiking poles (not needed on easy hikes, but very useful for steep or rocky hiking trails)
Sturdy hiking footwear (boots provide good ankle support, but I usually hike in my Salomon shoes or Jambu sandals)
Dry bags (good to have if the forecast has rain or snow and you want to protect your belongings)
Water purifier (essential on longer hikes/backpacking trips, but not usually needed for short day hikes if you packed enough water)
Binoculars (nice to have when hiking somewhere with views or lots of wildlife)
Camera (I took my Sony a6000 camera on most of the 52 hiking trails and carried it in a dry bag to keep it safe)
My Top 8 Hiking Trails of the Year
I couldn’t narrow down my favorite hikes to just five, so here are my top eight and what makes them stand out from the 52 I hiked. Scroll to their number below for a more complete description of my experience on them.
Abel Tasman Coast Track in Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand (#3)
Why it tops the list: incredible ocean views; very secluded from civilization; adventurous trail in the middle of a forest of ferns
Queen’s Garden/Navajo Loop in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah (#19)
Why it tops the list: scenery unlike anywhere else on earth; sights to see the entire time; challenging and rewarding to complete
Cathedral Cove in Coromandel, New Zealand (#10)
Why it tops the list: breathtaking views the entire hike; leads to an amazing beach; fun place to meet people from all over the world
The Narrows in Zion National Park, Utah (#18)
Why it tops the list: unique experience of hiking in a river; surrounded by red cliffs on each side; adventurous trail
Hidden Falls/Inspiration Point in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming (#23)
Why it tops the list: hiking in iconic mountains; gorgeous views at the top; variety, including a waterfall and rocky sections
Moro Rock in Sequoia National Park, California (#34)
Why it tops the list: unique hike on a giant boulder; stunning views of Sierra Nevada Mountains; feel on top of the world
Trout Lake in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming (#31)
Why it tops the list: secluded area of Yellowstone; lots of wildlife; beautiful and peaceful lake at the end
Viaduct Park & Tinker Creek Gorge Overlook in Bedford Reservation, Ohio (#48)
Why it tops the list: serene and undisturbed scenery; beautiful views of gorge and waterfall; striking fall colors
52 Hiking Trails of 2020
Despite the challenges of 2020, being able to do the 52 Hike Challenge was an amazing experience and one I would recommend to anyone who wants to spend more time in nature and get more exercise in. Some trails were difficult and others were super easy, but each one rewarded me with a feeling of success and beautiful scenery. Below I list all the trails I hiked—from New Zealand to Zion National Park to Yosemite National Park to Cleveland, Ohio and beyond—and my favorite part of each.
1. Mount Iron Trail
I spent half of February and March in New Zealand, making Mount Iron my first hike of the year. I walked to the trailhead, which is close to Wanaka’s town center. The trail itself is short, but also steep, sunny, and dusty! Making it to the top is well worth it for the 360 degree views of the two giant lakes, towns and gorgeous valley below.
2. Hokitika Gorge
This nature trail near Hokitika in West Coast, New Zealand is known for being really beautiful with crystal clear aquamarine water. I planned two nights in Hokitika so I could visit it one of the days there. Day one was sunny and perfect, as shown in the first picture above, but there was a massive rainstorm the day of the trip that made the gorge a murky grey color. I got soaked on the short trail and it was a big disappointment, so hopefully one day I’ll be able to experience it properly!
3. Abel Tasman Coast Track
This coastal trail, which spans over 30 miles, is a fairly easy hike and my favorite hike during my 52 Hike Challenge. I took a boat to Anchorage Bay and then hiked along the shore back to the town I started in. The hardest part of the trail is climbing back to the main path from the beach. The main trail has lots of twists and turns and so much scenery to enjoy. Every once in a while I’d come around a bend and be blown away at the blue water below.
4. Wellington Botanical Gardens
Botanical garden paths aren’t hikes, strictly speaking, but they are nature and visiting them involves a lot of walking, so I counted it for my 52 Hike Challenge. I loved seeing native New Zealand plants, including their “Christmas tree”, the red pohutukawa. I rode a trolley to the top of the hill, walked down to the rose garden, and then made my way back up the steep hill.
5. Kaitoke Regional Park Loop Track
This trail is near the filming location of Rivendell in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I was a bit disappointed with the area, which takes a lot of imagination to see it how it is in the movie, so I opted to hike a short trail in the same park to justify driving all the way out there. It turned out to be a great place to find New Zealand’s national tree, the silver fern, and started on a fun swinging bridge over a large river.
6. Mount Victoria Trails
My purpose for visiting Mount Victoria was twofold: see views of Wellington from high up and hunt down a location from Lord of the Rings. I accomplished both and had a great time hiking through a beautiful New Zealand forest. This hike is easily accessible, right in the heart of the city. I drove all the way to the top where Mount Victoria Lookout is and then hiked along connecting trails from there.
7. Tawhai Falls (Gollum’s Pool)
Another Lord of the Rings site, this trail is a short pathway that leads down to a waterfall. It was a beautiful little hiking trail and the falls were a great place to rest and eat lunch. There are even views of a volcano at the beginning of the trail. A word to the wise: even though it’s a short trail, wear good shoes anyway—the hike back up from the falls is steep!
8. Ruapehu Ridge
Mountain hiking is my favorite form of hiking, but this trail was pretty difficult! I booked tickets with Whakapapa Ski Resort to reach the top of the mountain using the Sky Whaka Gondola. I expected to be greeted by views of the neighboring volcano, Mt. Ngauruhoe (Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings), at the top, but discovered that I still had to climb a steep, sandy path. I struggled a lot along the trail (trekking poles would have helped tremendously), but getting to the top and seeing the iconic volcano was worth it all!
9. Whale Bay
Tutukaka is not a major hotspot for tourists in New Zealand, but for me it was a can’t-miss location: it’s home to some of the most renowned scuba diving in the world! While in this small town, I took advantage of the gorgeous water and visited Whale Bay. The trail to the beach was unremarkable, but the beach itself was very pretty and not crowded at all.
10. Cathedral Cove
The Coromandel is an area in North Island, New Zealand, known for its dozens of gorgeous beach towns. Cathedral Cove is one of the most popular beaches there and was even featured in The Chronicles of Narnia. The hike to Cathedral Cove was long, since I had to park across town and then walk through the town to just get to the trailhead. However, once I was on the trail, everything was green and many spots had views of white cliffs falling into the ocean. Reaching the cove was an amazing reward!
11. Mount Eden
On my last day in New Zealand, I found a hiking trail near me that was the perfect end to my time in the gorgeous country. Mount Eden is an inactive volcanic crater overlooking Auckland. It rained a lot on the trail and I had to hide under a big tree to keep from soaking (I was super unprepared without a rain jacket), but it was neat to see the views at the top, including the famous sky tower and pink path downtown.
12. Dead Horse Point West Rim to Shafer Canyon
Hiking in state parks is often less crowded than national parks, so I am glad I chose to camp at Dead Horse State Park in Utah, near Canyonlands National Park. Near the campsite was a trail that led through desert scenery to vast views of the canyon below. Everywhere I looked was either rusty-red rock or blue sky.
13. Valley of Goblins
Another amazing state park in Utah is Goblin Valley State Park—with hoodoos shaped like goblins covering the valley. I really enjoyed walking around them and discussing the shapes they looked like. This is a great hiking adventure for families because the walking path is really easy and there are lots of hoodoos to interact with.
14. Temple Quarry
My favorite hiking app is AllTrails which has details, reviews, and pictures of thousands of trails throughout the world. That is where I found this beautiful little hike! My favorite part of this trail are the granite boulders that have carvings and markings from early Utah pioneers. The granite there was used to build the iconic Salt Lake Temple in Downtown Salt Lake City’s Temple Square.
15. White Pine Lake Trail
Another AllTrails hike, this Utah mountain hiking trail, nestled among a forest of evergreens, offers gorgeous views of Little Cottonwood Canyon. I hiked with my young nephews, but unfortunately there was still a lot of snow on the trail, so I didn’t make it far. I’d love to go back someday and experience the lake at the top!
16. Living Room Trail
Living in Utah is great because there are so many places to hike near me. This trail, just uphill from University of Utah, has become one of my favorites in the Wasatch Mountain! I hiked it during the springtime, which was perfect because there isn’t much shade and the weather is cooler. At the top of the trail is a “living room” made of rocks shaped like a couch. Sitting on the rock, looking over the Salt Lake Valley, is the perfect reward for this hike.
17. Zion “DIY” Hike near Mount Carmel Tunnel
When I visited Zion National Park this year, Angel’s Landing was closed due to Covid-19 (darn…) so I didn’t do any iconic Angel’s Landing hiking. However, I did discover a neat hiking area with my fellow travelers. I pulled off to the side of the road, shortly after exiting the Mount Carmel Tunnel, and wandered through the desert, along sandstone and under a sandy bridge. It was a great DIY hiking adventure!
18. The Narrows
Zion National Park hiking is some of the best Utah hiking! My favorite trail there is The Narrows, which landed a spot in the top eight for my 52 Hike Challenge. The first section is along the Virgin River, which meanders beautifully through an opening of red cliffs. When the trail ends and the cliffs narrow into a deep slot canyon, the fun begins! Step into the river and get ready to slip and swim your way upriver. I wore sturdy sandals and loved wading through the cool water.
19. Queen’s Garden/Navajo Loop/Rim Trails
Bryce Canyon is known for its valley of red rock spires that are really unlike any other place in the world. This year I set out to go deep into the valley with the spires towering over me. I started my adventure heading down a steep, zig-zagged path until I got to Wall Street (which really did remind me of walking between skyscrapers in New York City). The hiking trail continued to amaze me the entire time—from Queen’s Garden to the red archway! Though climbing back up is challenging, this is definitely one of the most amazing hikes I’ve ever done.
20. Rocky Mouth Falls
This hiking trail does start in a neighborhood, which is against my self-made 52 Hike Challenge rules, but most of it is in the woods, so I counted it. It’s a beautiful hiking path that leads to a small waterfall—it made me jealous of the people who live in the neighborhood and get to take advantage of it whenever they want! The short trail and easy accessibility make it a popular hike for families with young kids.
21. Ensign Peak
This is one of the most popular hikes in Salt Lake City for three reasons: it’s easily accessible from a neighborhood parking lot, it provides great views of the Salt Lake Valley, and it has historical significance as the place where the first Utah settlers stood to map out Salt Lake City. I thought the hike was rather uneventful (and hot!) until the peak, where the views were really great.
22. Schwabacher Landing
When researching places to visit in Grand Teton National Park, I knew I had to add this to my list because of the views it provides of the Tetons. Unfortunately, during my trip, the Tetons were halfway covered by clouds the entire time, but that didn’t make this place any less impressive. Everything there was super green and the river was completely still and perfect for reflecting the evergreens that lined the shore.
23. Hidden Falls/Inspiration Point
Mountain hiking in the Grand Tetons is incredible! I can’t wait to return and go even deeper into the pointy mountains. This trail was muddy when I visited, but that was a price I was happy to pay! The first part of the trail leads to an impressive roaring waterfall and then climbs up rocky cliffs to several incredible lookout points. Gazing out into the lake below was one of the most beautiful sights I’ve seen.
24. Leigh Lake Trail
This hiking trail is one of the easiest hikes in Grand Teton National Park, but there were barely any other hikers on it when I went. It runs along String Lake to Leigh Lake and has more of the gorgeous, still water, perfect for reflections, that are a staple of the Tetons. Reaching the Leigh Lake overlook is nearly effortless and yet so beautiful.
25. Grand Canyon of Yellowstone North & South Rims
The North and South Rims of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone are not connected, so I drove to get from one to the other. I hiked this area in parts, getting out of the car and walking along the canyon at each viewpoint. Each offer amazing views of the riverbed deep in the yellow canyon and many even include closer views of furious rivers and waterfalls. The best part though? I saw my first bear in the wilderness there!
26. Mud Volcano Area
This area of Yellowstone is not the most famous geyser section, but it is worth checking out. Tucked along the edge of Hayden Valley (a great spot to find bison), my favorite part about it was the Dragon’s Mouth Spring, which looked like a fire-breathing dragon. There are several other attractions along the path, but I found that other geyser areas were much more impressive.
27. West Thumb Area
Yellowstone Lake is massive and the most visited area is probably West Thumb—not for swimming, but for seeing geysers in and near the lake! My favorite things to see along this trail were Big Cone Geyser, which sits just above the waterline, and Thumb Geyser, with clear blue water that reminded me of the blue otter pops.
28. Upper Geyser Basin & Biscuit Basin
These geyser basins are not connected, but they were both really short and easy and I did them right after each other, so I counted them as one trail for my 52 Hike Challenge. Upper Geyser Basin is home of the famous “Old Faithful” geyser that shoots up water consistently. I also saw Castle Geyser and Grand Geyser erupt when I was there. Nearby, Biscuit Basin has Sapphire Pool, Black Opal Pool, and other neat hot water attractions.
29. Fairy Falls Trail to Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook
This is one of the best hiking trails in Yellowstone for the views it provides. It would have made my “top 8 trails” list, but the trail that leads to the views is pretty boring and very crowded. However, once getting to the top, the sight is stunning: Grand Prismatic Spring in all her colorful glory! It’s a rainbow of steaming hot water just waiting to be photographed.
30. Norris Geyser Basin
A lot of the geyser basins start to blur together after a while, but the most memorable aspect of this one is the part of the trail that overlooks a valley of geysers. There was colorful steam and pools everywhere, from vibrant blues to deep reds. It smelled, but I would say it was worth it! What attracted me to the area was Steamboat Geyser, one of the largest geysers in the park, but it did not erupt when I was there.
31. Trout Lake Trail
My last hiking trail in Yellowstone was to a secluded small lake in the northeast part of the park. This area was really different from the rest of my Yellowstone experience because there were few people there and it didn’t revolve around geysers or hot pools. Instead, I found wildlife! The drive to the trail passed bison, elk, and a coyote. In the lake, I saw red trout swimming upstream and a cute muskrat collecting grass and swimming across the lake to its home.
32. Donut Falls
Donut Falls is a trail I grew up exploring—most people from Utah can probably say the same thing. Experiencing it for my 52 Hike Challenge (the first time as an adult) was a lot of fun! I hiked with my little nephews, getting to see them experience the waterfall for their first time. It’s a classic Utah hiking adventure that remains popular for a reason.
33. Alpine Lakes/Bristlecone Pines Trail
Great Basin is one of the least visited national parks in the United States for its remote location. After spending much of my life living within a few hours of it, I finally visited during 2020! I was impressed with the scenery in this unassuming spot in central Nevada—especially along the hiking trails. I passed three pretty alpine lakes and saw some of the oldest living organisms on the planet, the bristlecone pines.
34. Moro Rock Trail
There are so many amazing hiking trails in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks—I loved all the ones I hiked! My first trail was Moro Rock, which led up a giant boulder to 360 degree views of the rest of the park and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The air below was smoggy because of pollution all the way from Los Angeles and other coastal cities, but the scenery was astounding nonetheless, giving it a spot in the top eight for my 52 Hike Challenge!
35. Big Trees Trail
Sequoia National Park has become one of my favorite national parks due to the incredible trees there. Big Trees Trail is the best place to see a lot of the giant sequoias in one area. Usually big trees are more spread out because they use up a lot of water, but these were all in the same grove. I felt so small standing next to the red giants.
36. Sherman Tree Trail
This hike to the world’s largest sequoia tree in the world was tougher than I expected it to be—there is a steep descent, but that means you start the trail looking down on the magnificent tree. Standing at the bottom of the tree and looking up is a beautiful experience that I highly recommend. A giant branch about 30 feet above me was the size of a regular tree!
37. Grant Tree Trail
Grant Tree has become known as America’s Christmas Tree. Hiking to this tree was a lot of fun—there was a fallen giant sequoia that I walked through, a small cabin, and several plaques explaining the history of the area. It was also an awe-worthy location filled with huge red trees, including the towering Grant Tree.
38. Panoramic Point Trail
This trail is exactly how it sounds: it leads to a panoramic view of King’s Canyon National Park, with several lakes visible below. The drive to the trail winds and has sharp curves, but the walking path is fairly short and easy. There were also signs of a previous forest fire—some blackened, fallen trees and baby evergreens.
39. Big Stump Trail
My last hiking trail in this area led around many big stumps, including one I could walk on top of. The trees were chopped down and used in a traveling exhibit to prove to Easterners that trees in California really are giant. The giant sequoias look huge when they are still standing, but the size of their stumps and being able to see how many steps you can take across them adds a clearer perspective.
40. Lower Yosemite Falls
Because the Mist Trail in Yosemite was closed when I visited, I opted to hike a different short waterfall trail—Lower Yosemite Falls! Hiking in Yosemite is a must and this is an easy trail that leads to a gorgeous waterfall. I saw a sleek black and red snake (nonvenomous) while I was on the trail, too, which made it even more exciting.
41. Mirror Lake Trail
Instead of signing up to do the Half Dome hike in Yosemite, I hiked to Mirror Lake, which provides gorgeous views of Half Dome reflecting in the lake. This trail was near the road most of the time, which took away from the adventure of hiking, but the lake was beautiful and a great place to play in water.
42. Brandywine Falls
I moved to Ohio halfway through 2020 and one of the first things I did when I got there was search for the best hiking trails near me. I found out that Brandywine Falls was one of the best waterfall hikes near me, so I chose that as my first Ohio hiking experience. The trail itself was pretty basic and easy, but the waterfall did not disappoint!
43. Ledges Trail
Thanks to the Cleveland Metroparks System, there are dozens of nature walks near me. Ledges, which is also part of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, is one of the most popular hiking trails in the system. It has many mossy rock ledges that jut out over the trail. It was beautiful and green!
44. Worden’s Ledges Loop
In Ohio, I made it a habit to take a hike on Wednesdays, which turned out to be a great day to avoid crowds. I had this easy trail, with pictures and words carved into stone along it, almost all to myself. It gave me plenty of opportunity to explore the artwork created almost a hundred years ago, including a sphinx, faces, a large heart, and a cross.
45. Mount Pleasant Loop
In full transparency, I did not complete this trail. It wasn’t too long or difficult, but I almost ran into a really huge red-striped spider dangling in the middle of the trail there. I tried to keep going and not let it affect me (after all, this was my second attempt to hike this trail since it poured rain on my first attempt) but the trail got even narrower and the branches lower and I kept seeing spider webs sparkle in the sunlight. I turned around and never looked back.
46. Fort Hill Loop
This trail, located in the same reservation as the one above, is thankfully on the other side of the park, so I decided to risk hiking it, hoping not to see any more spiders. I did see one, but it was on the ground, not dangling in my face—I can handle that! The trail leads up a giant wooden staircase and along a circular path with views of a river far below. I really enjoyed it!
47. Wildflower/Hemlock Loop
Sometimes I don’t feel like conquering a huge hike, so I search for walking trails near me (hey, as long as it’s in nature it counts!). Though this trail was fairly easy, it did take some time to complete. I started my hike through a meadow of wildflowers and then walked a path along a river gorge. I found a fuzzy black caterpillar and a beautiful black squirrel eating a mushroom like an apple!
48. Viaduct Park & Tinker Creek Gorge Overlook
I would consider Viaduct Park to be another of the best waterfall hikes near me. The trail leads to Tinker Creek Falls, which is just stunning during the fall. This hike is in the same reservation as Bridal Veil Falls, so I drove to that trailhead and walked from Bridal Veil Falls to Tinker Creek Gorge Overlook. It was such a lovely hike with colorful fallen leaves covering the ground. Ohio is a phenomenal fall hiking destination!
49. Cherry Lane & Seneca Trails
Another walking trail near me, this area had several walking paths that I meandered down, taking in beautiful sights of falling leaves, small critters, and flowers and trees. I discovered my new favorite tree here—the tulip tree, named for the tulip shape of its leaves. The trails I combined together ended in a cute little herb garden near the parking lot.
50. Squire’s Lane Trail/Scenic Loop
Located in a beautiful park is the small stone Squire’s Castle, a very popular place for photography—it has easily become one of my favorite places to walk near me. I fell in love when I first visited, just for a small summer picnic, and loved it even more when I returned during fall colors and hiked the trail behind the castle.
51. Deep Lock Quarry/Towpath Trail
Towpath Trail is very long, stretching from Akron, Ohio to Lake Erie. I only hiked a short section of it, starting at Deep Lock Quarry, which has remnants of an abandoned lock quarry, near a train track for Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. It was exciting to watch the train come into view over the pretty Cuyahoga River.
52. Neff’s Canyon
I wanted to have at least one hike in the winter (which I try to avoid), so I decided to save my last hike for my visit to Utah for the holidays. I did not get far into Neff’s Canyon because of the slippery snow, but I am glad that was the finale of my 52 Hike Challenge. The area was so beautiful and the trail was wide and looked perfect for sledding down!
Accomplishing the 52 Hike Challenge, especially during a year of so much turmoil, was a great feeling. I fell even more in love with hiking and nature as I discovered many gorgeous areas. Almost all of the trails were peaceful, stunning, and just what I needed for the week. I don’t know how I’ll top my amazing hiking experiences in 2021, but I do plan on keeping hiking a big part of my life. Wherever life takes me, I’m excited to discover the best hiking trails near me!
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