Pt. 4 – Epic Trails, Iconic Summits, and Coastal Wonders Await
The countdown continues! From the remote valleys of Kyrgyzstan to the legendary peaks of Greece, this next section of our Top 100 Hikes in the World is packed with bucket-list adventures, high-alpine drama, and world-class scenery. Whether you’re navigating windswept ridgelines, exploring glacier-carved canyons, or following ancient paths steeped in myth, these hikes represent the very best that the planet has to offer.
As part of our ongoing Instagram campaign (@TrailheadTraveler), this series highlights must-do hiking trails that blend stunning natural beauty, physical challenge, and cultural richness. We’re showcasing the kind of journeys that stay with you long after the final step—treks that deserve a spot on any serious hiker’s radar.
This is Part 4, featuring hikes #70 to #61. From Italy’s spectacular Monte Rosa massif to Australia’s rugged Great Ocean Walk, this list brings together remote wilderness routes, epic summit climbs, and iconic landscapes that demand to be explored. Whether you’re dreaming of high-altitude adventure or planning your next hiking vacation, you’ll find plenty of inspiration right here.
How many of these have you conquered? Drop a comment below and let us know! 🥾🌍
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
What to Expect from This List
How We Chose the Best Hikes in the World
Each trail featured in this series was carefully selected to represent the most awe-inspiring hiking experiences across the globe. Our criteria balance visual appeal, cultural depth, and a true sense of adventure:
✅ Scenic Beauty – Iconic mountain ranges, dramatic coastlines, glacial valleys, and unforgettable summit views.
✅ Adventure Factor – From technical scrambles to multi-day alpine traverses, these hikes offer serious trail cred and thrilling challenges.
✅ Cultural & Historical Significance – Whether following ancient pilgrimage routes or climbing mythic peaks, these hikes are rich in story and meaning.
✅ Accessibility & Popularity – Some trails are remote and wild; others are well-known but absolutely worth the crowds. We chose hikes that adventurous travelers can realistically plan and complete.
A Global Hiking Journey: #70–#61 Edition
In this next group of hikes, you’ll encounter a diverse blend of landscapes and trail types, including:
🏔️ High-Alpine Epics – Like the Spaghetti Tour of Monte Rosa, a hut-to-hut alpine route through Italy’s glaciated borderlands.
🏞️ Dramatic Canyon Crossings – The Paintbrush-Cascade Canyon Loop in Grand Teton National Park offers a thrilling mix of lakes, peaks, and passes.
🌊 Coastal Treks – Australia’s Great Ocean Walk delivers jaw-dropping seaside cliffs, secluded beaches, and wildlife sightings galore.
🗻 Mythical Mountains – Hike to the top of Mount Olympus in Greece, home of the gods and one of Europe’s most legendary summits.
🌍 Remote Cross-Country Adventures – From Kyrgyzstan’s Jukku Valley Trek to South Africa’s Drakensberg Grand Traverse, this section is full of wild, less-traveled gems.
Who is This List For?
🥾 Weekend warriors looking to plan a once-in-a-lifetime hike
⛰️ Hardcore trekkers seeking challenging backcountry routes
🌐 Cultural explorers drawn to trails steeped in history and legend
📸 Nature lovers chasing the world’s most photogenic landscapes
Whether you’re here for the views, the challenge, or the story behind each trail—there’s something unforgettable waiting for you in every step of this countdown.
Ready? Let’s dive into hikes #70 to #61! ⬇️
Top 100 Hikes in the World: #70–#61
🥾 #70. Alta Via dei Monti Lattari (Amalfi Coast, Italy)
📍 Trailhead Location: Various entry points along the Amalfi Coast, commonly from Cava de’ Tirreni or Agerola
🥾 Distance: 45.1 miles (72.6 km)
🧗♂️ Elevation Gain: Substantial over multi-day trek
🥵 Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous (long days, varied terrain)
🌟 Highlight: Jaw-dropping views of the Amalfi Coast, picturesque villages, and Mediterranean landscapes
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: April to June or September to October
Why It Made the List
This multi-day trek traces the spine of the Monti Lattari mountain range along Italy’s Amalfi Coast, offering one of the most scenic long-distance hikes in Europe. The trail connects picturesque towns like Amalfi, Ravello, and Positano while winding through terraced vineyards, pine forests, and ridgeline paths with endless Mediterranean views. Rich in history and local flavor, the route also offers insight into rural Italian life, complete with quiet monasteries, lemon groves, and delicious cuisine at every stop. Its perfect blend of natural beauty and cultural immersion earns it a well-deserved spot on this list.
🥾 #69. Paintbrush Canyon – Cascade Canyon Loop (Grand Teton National Park – Wyoming, USA)
📍 Trailhead Location: String Lake Trailhead, Grand Teton National Park
🥾 Distance: 19.9 miles (32 km) loop
🧗♂️ Elevation Gain: ~4,200 ft (1,280 m)
🥵 Difficulty: Strenuous (long distance, alpine pass)
🌟 Highlight: Alpine lakes, wildflower-filled meadows, and panoramic views of the Tetons
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: July to early September
Why It Made the List
Arguably the most scenic day loop in the Tetons, this challenging hike offers an unforgettable journey through alpine basins, rugged canyons, and wildflower meadows. The loop ascends Paintbrush Canyon, climbs over Paintbrush Divide at nearly 10,700 feet, and descends via Cascade Canyon, passing waterfalls and the serene Lake Solitude along the way. Wildlife sightings are common—keep an eye out for moose and marmots. It’s a full-day effort, but those who take it on are rewarded with some of the finest backcountry scenery in the Lower 48.
🥾 #68. Drakensberg Grand Traverse (uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Mountains – South Africa & Lesotho)
📍 Trailhead Location: Sentinel Car Park (Royal Natal National Park) or Bushman’s Nek
🥾 Distance: 136.7 miles (220 km)
🧗♂️ Elevation Gain: Massive elevation changes throughout
🥵 Difficulty: Extremely strenuous (navigational challenges, exposure, remoteness)
🌟 Highlight: Dramatic escarpments, remote plateaus, and the Tugela Falls—the world’s tallest waterfall
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: April to June or September to November
Why It Made the List
The Drakensberg Grand Traverse is a true expedition—crossing rugged peaks, high plateaus, and remote valleys that feel untouched by time. With no official trail and only a few resupply points, this self-navigated traverse tests both physical and mental stamina. Hikers summit iconic peaks like Mafadi (South Africa’s highest) and Cathedral Peak, pass waterfalls plummeting from cliffs, and interact with local Basotho shepherds. Its wild remoteness, awe-inspiring geography, and cultural significance make it one of the most legendary hikes in Africa.
🥾 #67. Mount Olympus – Mytikas Summit (Mount Olympus National Park – Greece)
📍 Trailhead Location: Prionia or Litochoro
🥾 Distance: 12.4 miles (20 km) round trip
🧗♂️ Elevation Gain: ~6,700 ft (2,040 m)
🥵 Difficulty: Strenuous (steep climb, scrambling near summit)
🌟 Highlight: Mythical summit views from the highest point in Greece
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: June to September
Why It Made the List
Mount Olympus is more than Greece’s highest peak—it’s a place of legend. This strenuous ascent leads hikers from forested lower slopes through alpine meadows and onto exposed ridgelines culminating in the final scramble to Mytikas, the mountain’s true summit at 9,573 feet. The final climb requires hands-on rock scrambling and nerves of steel, but the views from the top are god-worthy. Hiking Olympus connects outdoor adventure with deep mythology, and summiting Mytikas is an unforgettable experience.
🥾 #66. Fairview Mountain Summit (Banff National Park – Alberta, Canada)
📍 Trailhead Location: Lake Louise Parking Area, Banff National Park
🥾 Distance: 6.3 miles (10.2 km) round trip
🧗♂️ Elevation Gain: ~3,400 ft (1,036 m)
🥵 Difficulty: Strenuous (sustained climb)
🌟 Highlight: Sweeping views over Lake Louise and the Bow Valley
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: July to September
Why It Made the List
While many visitors to Banff settle for lakeside views, the summit of Fairview Mountain offers a jaw-dropping panorama of the entire Bow Valley. The trail climbs steadily from Lake Louise through switchbacks and scree to reach a windswept summit with a 360-degree view of glacier-carved peaks, including Mount Temple and the Plain of Six Glaciers. Despite its effort, this half-day hike remains relatively accessible—and the reward is one of the best high-elevation vistas in all of the Canadian Rockies.
🥾 #65. Pemi Loop (White Mountain National Forest – New Hampshire, USA)
📍 Trailhead Location: Lincoln Woods Trailhead, White Mountain National Forest
🥾 Distance: 32 miles (51.5 km) loop
🧗♂️ Elevation Gain: ~9,000 ft (2,743 m)
🥵 Difficulty: Very strenuous (extended climbs, rocky ridges)
🌟 Highlight: Multiple 4,000-ft summits and Franconia Ridge
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: July to September
Why It Made the List
The Pemi Loop is a rite of passage for serious hikers in the Northeastern US. Traversing eight 4,000-footers—including Bondcliff, Franconia Ridge, and Mount Garfield—it offers nonstop views, exposed ridgelines, and alpine solitude. The loop is typically completed over 2-3 days, but ultra-hikers attempt it in a single day. With steep climbs, rugged roots-and-rocks terrain, and dramatic weather swings, it’s a true test of endurance—but the sweeping vistas and backcountry beauty are second to none.
🥾 #64. Issyk Kul Lake & Jukku Valley Trek (Tian Shan Mountains – Kyrgyzstan)
📍 Trailhead Location: Jeti-Ögüz or Barskoon, near Issyk Kul Lake
🥾 Distance: 34.2 miles (55 km)
🧗♂️ Elevation Gain: ~7,000+ ft (2,100+ m)
🥵 Difficulty: Strenuous (high elevation, river crossings)
🌟 Highlight: Glacial valleys, yurt camps, and views of Issyk Kul Lake
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: July to September
Why It Made the List
This trek immerses hikers in the remote beauty of Kyrgyzstan’s Tian Shan Mountains. Starting from the shores of Issyk Kul Lake—the second-largest alpine lake in the world—the route winds through Jukku Valley, past turquoise rivers, wildflower meadows, and yurt camps inhabited by local herders. The cultural authenticity, sparse crowds, and untouched mountain scenery make this a standout trek for those looking to explore Central Asia off the beaten path.
🥾 #63. Great Ocean Walk (Australia)
📍 Trailhead Location: Apollo Bay, Victoria
🥾 Distance: 64.6 miles (104 km)
🧗♂️ Elevation Gain: Moderate, with rolling hills and cliffside paths
🥵 Difficulty: Moderate (multi-day, variable terrain)
🌟 Highlight: Coastal cliffs, shipwreck history, and the iconic Twelve Apostles
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: March to May or September to November
Why It Made the List
Tracing Australia’s dramatic southern coastline, the Great Ocean Walk takes hikers from dense eucalyptus forests to wind-swept beaches and limestone sea stacks. The trail parallels the famed Great Ocean Road but immerses hikers in a more rugged, natural environment—complete with crashing waves, koalas in the trees, and historic shipwreck sites. The finale at the iconic Twelve Apostles is one of the most rewarding finishes of any coastal trail.
🥾 #62. Skyline Trail (Mount Rainier National Park – Washington, USA)
📍 Trailhead Location: Paradise, Mount Rainier National Park
🥾 Distance: 5.5 miles (8.8 km) loop
🧗♂️ Elevation Gain: ~1,700 ft (518 m)
🥵 Difficulty: Moderate (well-maintained but steep in parts)
🌟 Highlight: Iconic views of Mount Rainier, waterfalls, and wildflower meadows
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: July to September
Why It Made the List
With views of Mount Rainier so close you can hear the ice cracking, the Skyline Trail is the park’s most iconic loop. It traverses alpine meadows bursting with wildflowers, crosses snowfields, and ascends to Panorama Point with sweeping views of the Tatoosh Range and Cascade volcanoes. The accessibility and drama of this half-day loop make it a favorite for visitors and photographers alike.
🥾 #61. The Spaghetti Tour of Monte Rosa (Alps – Switzerland/Italy)
📍 Trailhead Location: Cervinia or Alagna Valsesia
🥾 Distance: 26.1 miles (42 km) loop
🧗♂️ Elevation Gain: ~10,000 ft (3,050 m)
🥵 Difficulty: Strenuous (high altitude, glacier crossings)
🌟 Highlight: Hut-to-hut traverse around Monte Rosa’s glaciated massif
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: July to early September
Why It Made the List
The Spaghetti Tour is an alpine circuit through the heart of the Monte Rosa massif, the second-highest mountain range in the Alps. Named after the cozy Italian huts where you’ll feast on pasta and polenta each night, this trek involves glacier crossings, rope sections, and dizzying views of 4,000-meter peaks. It’s an exhilarating introduction to high-alpine mountaineering and one of Europe’s best multi-day hut-to-hut adventures.
What’s Coming Up Next?
That wraps up hikes #70 to #61 in our countdown of the Top 100 Hikes in the World! From the dramatic cliffs of the Amalfi Coast to the high-alpine circuits of Monte Rosa and the vast wilderness of the Drakensberg, this section has taken us across some of the planet’s most awe-inspiring terrain.
But the adventure doesn’t stop here.
In the next part of our series, we’ll continue the journey with more unforgettable trails—featuring remote summits, glacier-crossing epics, and world-renowned hiking destinations that deserve a top spot on your bucket list. Whether you love single-day challenges or multi-day treks, there’s something incredible waiting for you in the next batch.
Make sure to follow @TrailheadTraveler on Instagram for behind-the-scenes previews, daily hiking inspo, and tips to help you plan your next great adventure. Have you tackled any of the hikes from this section? Share your story in the comments—we’d love to hear from you!Stay tuned for hikes #60 to #51—coming soon! 🌍🥾🔥
Featured Image: Fairview Mountain, Photo by Jerry Bowley
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