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Ask anyone that has ever laced up a pair of boots what makes
hiking so worthwhile and they’ll all tell you it’s the view. That’s what makes
every climb, every ache and pain, and every early start worth it a million
times over, especially if that view is a cocktail of rugged coastlines, endless
oceans, a white sand beaches, curious caves and the straight line of a horizon
- and
America has thousands of these in its outdoors coffers.
To remove the guesswork for you, we’ve pulled together a
list of coastal hikes that will make your eyes fizz, your heart pound a few
moments faster and your memory cling onto to these views like they’re set to
vanish. Enjoy.
1. Ocean Path, Maine
If you’re ever in Stephen King territory and want to explore
an easy but breathtaking hike, you need to hot-step it to the
Acadia National Park
and enjoy the waterside path between Sand Beach and Otter Cliffs. Tidal pools,
coves, incredible rock formations, forests - this walk has it all. But the best
bit of the bunch is the Thunder Hole, so pack a picnic and enjoy the growling
noise this spot makes when waves crash into the shore.
2. Cape Perpetua, Oregon
For those wanting a more dramatic set of vistas and
challenges, look no further than the
Siuslaw National Forest,
which boasts a network of trails along rough lava cliffs, over rocky coves and
past collapsed caves, most of which have book-worthy names, like Thor’s Well,
Spouting Horn and Cook’s Chasm. But it’s not just the coastal part that makes
this staggering. It’s the journey inland too, through the dense web of trees
that make this such a magical hike.
3. Myakka River, Florida
When you think of coastal walks in Florida, you probably
imagine white beaches specked with brightly coloured - and barely-there -
bikinis. But head book into the
SpringHill Suites Tampa Westshore Airport and you will have most of Tampa Bay to
explore and, trust us, this place is rich with parks and preserves. Of them
all, though, our favorite has to be the Myakka River State Park, which is an
enormous park found in Florida’s beautiful Sarasota and allows you to take a
step back in time to “the real Florida.”
4. North Coast Route, Washington
What makes this part of Washington such a hit with
accomplished hikers is the wild and wet Olympic National Park Wilderness Coast,
which offers people more than 70 miles of amazingly rugged coastline. Of
course, that much choice can be overwhelming, and doing it all can be too
challenging, which is why we would point you toward the twenty-mile hike from
Ozette to Rialto. Just be warned, this path can be tricky and you’re probably
going to need to use a bunch of ladders and ropes to clamber over some of the
rocks. But like we said, the views are more than worth the effort. From amazing
wildlife to beautiful tide pools, this place has it all.
And there we have it, four coastal hikes that let you
explore the different corners of America.
