Pt. 8 – Sacred Summits and Legendary Lines: Iconic Treks from East to West
As we break into the Top 30, the hikes become more iconic, more ambitious, and more deeply rooted in both natural wonder and cultural significance. This section of the Top 100 Hikes in the World celebrates trails that have become bucket list experiences for adventurers around the globe.
You’ll summit granite giants in Yosemite, follow ancient pilgrimage routes across Spain, and trace the footsteps of monks, nomads, and mountaineers through the Himalayas, Alps, and beyond. These are journeys that blend challenge with meaning—whether you’re teetering on the chains of Angels Landing, watching the sunrise from Mt. Fuji, or trekking toward the cliffside wonder of Bhutan’s Tiger’s Nest.
From the wildflower-strewn valleys of New Zealand’s Routeburn Track to Sweden’s remote Kungsleden Trail, these ten hikes highlight the diversity of the world’s most treasured footpaths. Some push you to your physical limits. Others pull you into centuries-old traditions and spiritual reflection.
This is Part 8 of our countdown, featuring hikes #30 to #21—a lineup that truly captures what it means to hike not just across landscapes, but through history, myth, and personal transformation.
Follow along on Instagram @TrailheadTraveler for immersive visuals from each trail—and maybe a little inspiration for your next great escape.
Let’s hit the trail.
Part 1: Top 100 Hikes in the World: #100 – #91
Part 2: Top 100 Hikes in the World: #90 – #81
Part 3: Top 100 Hikes in the World: #80 – #71
Part 4: Top 100 Hikes in the World: #70 – #61
Part 5: Top 100 Hikes in the World: #60 – #51
Part 6: Top 100 Hikes in the World: #50 – #41
Part 7: Top 100 Hikes in the World: #40 – #31
Part 9: Top 100 Hikes in the World: #20 – #11
Part 10: Top 100 Hikes in the World: #10 – #1
💡 Why This Series Stands Out
This isn’t just another list of popular trails—it’s a handpicked journey through the most inspiring, challenging, and meaningful hikes on Earth. The Top 100 Hikes in the World isn’t about stats or fame alone; it’s about experiences that leave a mark.
From sacred pilgrimages to alpine epics, coastal rambles to backcountry adventures, every hike featured blends natural beauty, cultural depth, and a strong sense of place and purpose. These are the trails that move you—sometimes literally, always emotionally.
🧭 How We Ranked the World’s Best Hikes
Our rankings are based on a mix of research, global input, and boots-on-the-ground experience. Each trail had to shine across four key pillars:
- 🌄 Scenic Brilliance – Think jagged peaks, vibrant wildflowers, turquoise lakes, and raw wilderness.
- 🔥 Adventure Factor – Elevation gain, remoteness, and terrain that makes your heart race (in the best way).
- 🏛️ Cultural & Historical Significance – Trails that echo with legend, tradition, or spiritual meaning.
- 🧳 Accessibility – These aren’t easy walks—but with good prep, they’re attainable, not just aspirational.
The result? A countdown made for those who don’t just want a walk in the woods—they want an unforgettable trek across landscapes that speak to the soul.
🌍 What to Expect in the #30–#21 Countdown
We’re entering rarefied air here—this set of ten hikes is home to some of the most iconic, photographed, and revered routes on Earth.
Here’s what’s coming up:
- 🗻 Famous Summits – Make the bucket-list push to Half Dome’s cables or Mt. Fuji’s crater rim.
- 📿 Sacred Destinations – Follow spiritual footpaths to Bhutan’s Tiger’s Nest or across northern Spain on the Camino.
- 🧗♂️ Edge-of-the-Map Treks – Test your limits on Morocco’s Three Peaks Challenge or Utah’s chain-assisted cliffs.
- 🌿 Alpine Classics – Traverse emerald basins and jagged ridgelines on the Enchantments or New Zealand’s Routeburn.
- 🌎 Wild & Remote Journeys – Explore the solitude of Sweden’s Kungsleden or the cross-border wonders of the Transcaucasian Trail.
Every trail in this section is more than a physical challenge—it’s a portal to another world.
🥾 Who This List Is For
Whether you’re chasing peaks, meaning, or the simple joy of being outside, this series was made with intentional adventurers in mind.
- 🌍 World travelers building a dream itinerary around epic hikes
- 💪 Experienced trekkers craving a challenge beyond the beaten path
- 📸 Nature lovers in search of sweeping views and cinematic moments
- 🕊️ Cultural explorers who value the journey as much as the destination
No matter your reason for lacing up, these hikes offer more than scenery—they offer stories. And chances are, you’ll come back from each one with a few of your own.
Ready? Let’s dive into hikes #30 to #21! ⬇️
Top 100 Hikes in the World: #30–#21
🥾 #30. Half Dome (Yosemite National Park, California, USA)
📍 Trailhead Location: Happy Isles, Yosemite National Park, California
🥾 Distance: 25.7 km (16 miles) round trip
🧗♂️ Elevation Gain: ~1,440 m (4,800 ft)
🥵 Difficulty: Strenuous (steep switchbacks, cable-assisted summit)
🌟 Highlight: Iconic granite dome climb with panoramic Yosemite Valley views
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: Late May through early October (permit required)
Why It Made the List
There are few hikes as instantly recognizable—or as thrilling—as Yosemite’s Half Dome. Rising nearly a mile above the valley floor, the final cable ascent tests both your nerve and your stamina. Along the way, hikers pass through serene pine forests, the mist of Vernal and Nevada Falls, and stunning subalpine landscapes. The 360-degree summit view is your hard-earned reward, spanning granite domes, alpine lakes, and the endless Sierra. It’s not just a hike—it’s a rite of passage for any American hiker.
🥾 #29. Morocco’s Three Peaks Challenge (Morocco)
📍 Trailhead Location: Imlil, High Atlas Mountains
🥾 Distance: ~55–60 km (34–37 miles)
🧗♂️ Elevation Gain: ~4,200 m (13,800 ft)
🥵 Difficulty: Very challenging (high altitude, multi-day, steep terrain)
🌟 Highlight: Summiting North Africa’s three tallest peaks—Toubkal, Ras, and Timesguida
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: May–October
Why It Made the List
The Three Peaks Challenge is a mountaineering adventure through the rugged heart of Morocco’s High Atlas. Over the course of several days, trekkers summit Jebel Toubkal (4,167 m), Ras (4,083 m), and Timesguida (4,089 m)—the three highest mountains in North Africa. The route winds through Berber villages, rocky valleys, and alpine ridges, offering rich cultural encounters along with physical tests. Nights are spent under starry skies, with sweeping views of the Sahara to the south. It’s a remote, rewarding, and relatively uncrowded alternative to more well-known high-altitude hikes.
🥾 #28. Mt. Fuji Yoshida Trail (Japan)
📍 Trailhead Location: 5th Station, Yamanashi Prefecture
🥾 Distance: 14 km (8.7 miles) round trip
🧗♂️ Elevation Gain: ~1,400 m (4,600 ft)
🥵 Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous (high altitude, volcanic terrain)
🌟 Highlight: Watching the sunrise (Goraiko) from Japan’s highest point
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: Early July to early September (official climbing season)
Why It Made the List
Climbing Mt. Fuji is equal parts pilgrimage and adventure—a spiritual journey to the top of Japan. The Yoshida Trail, the most popular route, offers a direct but demanding path to the 3,776 m summit. Trekkers typically begin the ascent at night to catch the legendary sunrise from the peak, often above a sea of clouds. While the landscape is stark and volcanic, it’s a one-of-a-kind symbolic climb with deep cultural resonance. From summit shrines to distant city lights, it’s a hike that bridges tradition and awe.
🥾 #27. Enchantments Traverse (Washington, USA)
📍 Trailhead Location: Stuart Lake Trailhead to Snow Lakes Trailhead, Washington
🥾 Distance: 30 km (18.6 miles) point-to-point
🧗♂️ Elevation Gain: ~2,100 m (7,000 ft)
🥵 Difficulty: Strenuous (permits required, exposed alpine terrain)
🌟 Highlight: Stunning alpine lakes, larch forests, and granite spires
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: July through October
Why It Made the List
Washington’s Enchantments live up to their name with otherworldly alpine beauty at every turn. The traverse leads hikers through a dreamscape of sapphire lakes, golden larches, and towering peaks. While many complete the route as a brutal day hike, the true magic lies in camping under the stars (permit lottery permitting). The Core Zone is especially breathtaking in fall, when the larches blaze gold against white granite and blue sky. It’s a high-effort, high-reward route that defines the wild heart of the Pacific Northwest.
🥾 #26. Routeburn Track (New Zealand)
📍 Trailhead Location: Routeburn Shelter (near Glenorchy) to The Divide (Fiordland)
🥾 Distance: 32 km (20 miles) one-way
🧗♂️ Elevation Gain: ~1,400 m (4,600 ft)
🥵 Difficulty: Moderate (well-maintained, multi-day)
🌟 Highlight: Alpine crossings with views over Fiordland’s dramatic valleys
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: Late October to April
Why It Made the List
The Routeburn is a short but spectacular Great Walk linking Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks. In just a few days, hikers experience lush rainforest, crystal-clear rivers, and panoramic alpine ridgelines. Key summit points like Harris Saddle reveal the jaw-dropping immensity of New Zealand’s South Island. The trail is well-serviced with huts and facilities but still manages to feel remote and pristine. It’s a must-do for any hiker heading to Aotearoa.
🥾 #25. Kungsleden Trail (Sweden)
📍 Trailhead Location: Abisko to Hemavan (or shorter section between Abisko and Nikkaluokta)
🥾 Distance: Up to 440 km (273 miles)
🧗♂️ Elevation Gain: Variable; ~2,000–4,000 m depending on section
🥵 Difficulty: Moderate to challenging (length and remoteness)
🌟 Highlight: Expansive Arctic tundra and Sweden’s highest peak, Kebnekaise
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: Mid-July through early September
Why It Made the List
Kungsleden, or “The King’s Trail,” is Scandinavia’s premier long-distance trek. Spanning the wilds of Swedish Lapland, the trail passes through remote valleys, birch forests, and above the Arctic Circle. Along the way, hikers may spot reindeer, cross glacial streams, and overnight in a network of Swedish mountain huts. Sections can be done individually or as a thru-hike, making it accessible to both casual and hardcore trekkers. For those seeking solitude, scale, and serenity, this trail is royalty.
🥾 #24. Angels Landing (Zion National Park, Utah, USA)
📍 Trailhead Location: Grotto Trailhead, Zion National Park, Utah
🥾 Distance: 8.7 km (5.4 miles) round trip
🧗♂️ Elevation Gain: ~453 m (1,488 ft)
🥵 Difficulty: Strenuous (steep switchbacks and exposed ridge with chains)
🌟 Highlight: Knife-edge trail with jaw-dropping views of Zion Canyon
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: Spring or fall; permit required
Why It Made the List
Few hikes pack as much drama per mile as Angels Landing. After a punishing series of switchbacks known as Walter’s Wiggles, hikers reach the infamous rock spine—a vertigo-inducing ridge with 1,000-foot drops on either side. Holding onto chains bolted into the rock, you scramble to one of the most iconic vistas in the American Southwest. It’s not for the faint of heart, but the views and adrenaline make it one of the most unforgettable day hikes in the world.
🥾 #23. Tiger’s Nest Monastery Trek (Bhutan)
📍 Trailhead Location: Near Paro, Bhutan
🥾 Distance: ~6.5 km (4 miles) round trip
🧗♂️ Elevation Gain: ~600 m (2,000 ft)
🥵 Difficulty: Moderate (altitude, steep climb)
🌟 Highlight: Monastery perched 3,000 ft above the valley floor
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: March–May or September–November
Why It Made the List
The trek to Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang) is spiritual, steep, and spectacular. Clinging impossibly to a sheer cliffside, the monastery is one of Bhutan’s most sacred sites and a symbol of national identity. The trail switchbacks through pine forests scented with incense, past prayer wheels and fluttering flags. As you ascend, sweeping views of the Paro Valley unfold, building anticipation for the final reveal. It’s a short trek, but its cultural and emotional impact is immense.
🥾 #22. Camino de Santiago (Spain)
📍 Trailhead Location: Various (most popular is Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France)
🥾 Distance: ~800 km (500 miles) on the Camino Francés
🧗♂️ Elevation Gain: ~10,000+ m total over the route
🥵 Difficulty: Moderate (long distance, mental endurance)
🌟 Highlight: Historic pilgrimage through rural Spain to Santiago de Compostela
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: April–October
Why It Made the List
The Camino isn’t just a hike—it’s a pilgrimage, a journey of introspection and discovery. The Camino Francés route winds through quaint villages, rolling countryside, and centuries-old towns, all marked by the yellow shell and a deep sense of community. Pilgrims walk for different reasons—spiritual, physical, or personal—but all are moved by the trail’s rhythm and camaraderie. Whether walked in full or in stages, the Camino’s legacy is one of simplicity, kindness, and transformation.
🥾 #21. Transcaucasian Trail (Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan)
📍 Trailhead Location: Multiple sections; Dilijan NP (Armenia) and Svaneti (Georgia) are popular
🥾 Distance: Ongoing trail; current sections range 85–150 km
🧗♂️ Elevation Gain: Variable; 2,000–4,000+ m depending on section
🥵 Difficulty: Moderate to challenging (remote, route-finding in parts)
🌟 Highlight: Cross-cultural journey through the wild Caucasus
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: June–September
Why It Made the List
The Transcaucasian Trail is a work in progress, but already one of the world’s most ambitious and intriguing long-distance hiking networks. The completed sections offer breathtaking journeys through lush forests, alpine meadows, and ancient mountain villages. With roots in Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, the trail is a living bridge across cultures, languages, and landscapes. Remote and uncrowded, it offers a raw trekking experience—where wayfinding is part of the adventure. It’s a hike for those drawn to untamed paths and cultural immersion.
🧭 What’s Coming Up Next?
That wraps up hikes #30 to #21 in our countdown of the Top 100 Hikes in the World! From the knife-edge cliffs of Angels Landing to the golden larches of Washington’s Enchantments and the cliff-hugging serenity of Bhutan’s Tiger’s Nest, this section delivered spiritual depth, high-alpine drama, and global variety in every step.
But the real heavyweights are just ahead.
Next up: hikes #20 to #11—a truly elite tier of trails that have earned their place on every serious hiker’s bucket list. You’ll follow the wild backcountry of Newfoundland’s Long Range Traverse, tackle the full sweep of the Appalachian Trail, and cross entire countries on legendary thru-hikes like the Jordan Trail and Pacific Crest Trail.
This segment blends raw wilderness with technical challenge, sacred landscapes, and some of the most breathtaking scenery on the planet. Whether you’re scaling the icy flanks of Cerro Torre, walking in the footsteps of Inca messengers on the Salkantay Trek, or braving the altitude extremes of Bhutan’s Snowman Trek, these trails are about pushing limits and earning awe.
📍 Follow @TrailheadTraveler on Instagram for exclusive reels, planning tips, and visual sneak peeks into each destination.
Have you tackled any of these hikes—or planning to? Drop a 🥾 or 🌄 in the comments and let us know which trail calls to you most. Your story might be featured next!
Stay tuned—#20 to #11 is coming soon, and it’s nothing short of legendary. 🌍🔥🗺️
Featured Image: Enchantment Basin, Photo by Jeffrey Pang
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