About Seth Smigelski

Founder & Primary Author at hikespeak.com

Seth Smigelski has been hiking and camping since he was old enough to sit in the bow of a canoe. That lifelong passion for the outdoors led him to create hikespeak.com as a helpful, experience-based resource for fellow hikers (and those interested in giving hiking a try).

With over 15 years of experience writing about outdoor recreation, Seth is the author of more than 700 trail guides on this website, built on first-hand experience. With few exceptions, he has personally hiked, photographed, and mapped each and every trail on hikespeak.com to ensure the information is accurate and trustworthy.

In addition to his work on Hikespeak, Seth has written for publications like the Huffington Post and Weekend Sherpa. He holds a degree in Film and Photography from Ithaca College, and his original photography can be found in places like National Park displays at the Santa Monica Mountains Visitor Center and in page-turning publications like Los Angeles Magazine.

The Hikespeak Process: A Commitment to First-Hand Experience

Every trail guide on Hikespeak is built on a foundation of direct, verifiable experience.

• Original, Authentic Photography: All photos are original and taken on the trail by Seth. He is an enthusiastic outdoor photographer, so you will never find stock photos or AI-generated images on this website.
• First-Hand GPS Tracking: To guarantee accuracy, Seth personally records a GPS track on every hike. This data is then used to create the user-friendly maps and elevation profiles you see on each write-up, with key landmarks and junctions clearly marked.
• Keeping Trails Current: Seth regularly re-hikes trails to keep guides up-to-date and values feedback from the Hikespeak community about trail closures or modifications to ensure the information remains reliable. Because trails can also change by the season, Seth may also share the best time of year to visit a campground or hiking trail (like when the waterfall will be at its fullest).

Read more about Hikespeak’s commitment to trustworthy original content and responsible publishing principles.

As Seen In

Seth’s articles on Hikespeak and his photography have been referenced and featured by publications and organizations across the country, including:

Get Started!

In order to help you get outdoors and find a hike near you (or someplace you want to go), Seth created the hike finder, a searchable, filterable resource for finding your perfect next hike.