hikespeak

Blue Lake, also know as Lake Tikitapu, is a lovely mountain lake just southeast of Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand. Blue Lake Track offers a circuit around the lake, passing through native bush to pleasant beaches and scenic viewpoints. The loop is 5.9 kilometers long and extends nicely to 6.15 kilometer (3.8 miles) round trip by grabbing a couple extra views. There is... Read more.

Get ready for a short, colorful walk at Rainbow Mountain Scenic Reserve outside of Rotorua on the North Island of New Zealand. The mountain, which the Māori call Maungakakaramea (mountain of colored earth), has steep red and white cliffs above a crater filled with turquoise water. Crater Lake Walk reaches a lookout above Crater Lake for a 1-kilometer (0.6-mile) walk. The walk begins... Read more.

With scenery that is more verdant than the volcanic landscapes at the center of Tongariro National Park, Lake Rotopounamu Track provides a peaceful walk to a small, forest-cradled lake with inviting beaches. Lake Rotopounamu, which is also know as Greenstone Lake, covers one square kilometer. Lake Rotopounamu Loop Track circles the lake for a hike that's 6.4 kilometers (4 miles) round trip... Read more.

For a short, pleasant stroll, what could be better than a level, lakefront loop through evergreens? Set out for Lake Siskiyou, a reservoir southeast of Mount Shasta. From the edge of the lake's calm blue waters are clear views of massive Mount Shasta and the surrounding mountains. If you're feeling ambitious, you can hike all of Lake Siskiyou Trail on an over 7-mile loop around the lake. ... Read more.

When the water is still, Lake Rotokura acts like a mirror to Mount Ruapehu, delivering a great postcard view. A relatively easy 2-kilometer (1.25-mile) walk crosses through Lake Rotokura Ecological Reserve, located east of the town of Ohakune, just outside the boundaries of Tongariro National Park. This is a peaceful short walk, leading to a setting that's quite beautiful in clear... Read more.

The New York State Park website describes Clark Reservation as 'a geologic wonder of the last ice age and a botanist's paradise.' It's all that and just 5 miles from Syracuse! The star of the park is Glacier Lake, a glacial plunge pool lake surrounded by dramatic limestone cliffs. Over a dozen trails explore this 365-acre park, allowing visitors to put together several different hikes. ... Read more.

Tranquil Labrador Pond lies at the heart of New York State's Labrador Hollow Unique Area on the border of Onondaga County and Cortland County. Fine views of Labrador Pond can be found on Labrador Hollow Boardwalk, a half-mile long wheelchair-friendly walkway through the wetlands bordering Labrador Pond. The quick walk reaches a viewpoint on the shore of the hill-cradled pond and is a great... Read more.

No doubt LA is a busy city, but you can still find calm within the chaos at Franklin Canyon Park. This 605-acre park is tucked into a canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains in Beverly Hills and has a number of trails that allow Angelinos to escape for a couple hours of exercise in nature. North of Hastain Trail (where you can get more of a workout), you will find Upper Franklin Canyon... Read more.

Green Lakes State Park was created in 1925 to preserve two aquamarine-colored glacially-carved lakes in Central New York. There are trails circling both of these jewels, Green Lake and Round Lake, which you can combine for a peaceful and easy 3.25-mile hike. The trail is almost entirely level, providing a casual 90-minute walk through the verdant forest that frames the lakes. Green Lake... Read more.

Hollywood Reservoir (Lake Hollywood) is circled by a paved service road that walkers, joggers, and bikers can use to get lakeside exercise with Hollywood views. The reservoir is located in the hills west of Griffith Park below Cahuenga Peak and Mount Lee (whose summit is world famous for the large white letters that spell HOLLYWOOD). Numerous views of the Hollywood Sign appear on the... Read more.