My Top 10 Hikes of 2024
In 2024, I hiked around 400 miles, tackling incredible trails in Washington, Canada, and Australia. Frequent readers of my website will probably know many of these well, as I’ve written trip reports on them. However, some trail guides have yet to be written, and these hikes may surprise you.
It didn’t feel like a “top-tier” hiking year, though. With Washington’s short-ish summer window, two weekends filled with family activities occupied July, I got COVID in August, and then two weekends in September were weddings. And boom, there goes summer. Unfortunately, most of the list of backpacking trails did not get checked off.
So, without further adieu, here are my top hikes of 2024.
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My Favorite Hikes of 2024
Hikes that did not make the cut:
- Snow Peak, British Columbia
- Hidden Lake Lookout, Washington < Watch my Youtube Video >
- Misery Ridge, Oregon
- Heliotrope Ridge Trail, Washington
- Copper Ridge Trail, Washington < Watch my Youtube Video >
10. Pinnacle Glacier Tarn, Washington
Sitting on the south side of Mount Rainier, below Pinnacle Peak, is a small tarn (pond) that, when melted out, offers a stunning reflection of Mount Rainier. It’s a short yet steep hike, but the views are worth it!
The hike is primarily off-trail, though there’s a defined path thanks to consistent traffic throughout the summer months.
9. Mt. Amos – Tasmania, Australia
The only hike from Australia to make the cut. Mt. Amos is the fourth highest point in Freycinet National Park, towering above Wineglass Bay and the ocean far below. It’s another short and steep hike, though this one is almost entirely on rock, making it a little tricky at points to keep a good grip.
We watched the sunset from the top and then scampered down in the fading light.
This was one of the highlights of our nearly weeklong trip to Tasmania.
8. Trail of Ten Falls – Oregon, United States
In 2022, I did a truncated version of this trail. It was also raining cats and dogs, so I honestly didn’t have that good of a time. In late May (perfect time to go by the way), we headed down to Oregon, and I knew Jaimie would LOVE this hike. (She did.)
It’s a long hike—around nine miles—but the loop trail features 10 waterfalls. The easy-to-access parts are very popular, but once you get away from those, you’ll feel the solitude as you hike through the beautiful canyon.
7. Little Beehive – Alberta, Canada
Another trail I’d been dying to do, and I finally got to see it on our June trip to the Canadian Rockies. For years, I’d seen posts above Lake Louise but never had the opportunity to get there. It’s pretty mellow, overall, but fantastic views that will make your jaw drop.
Thanks to being there mid-week and early in the season, there were only two other groups up there, and by the time we left, Jaimie and I were the only ones!
6. Cooney Lake – Washington, United States
Since I moved to Washington in 2022, I wanted to see the larches at Cooney Lake. A few life things got in the way between then and 2024. Thankfully, an early October weekend allowed us to explore the area at peak colors, and it was more stunning than I could have imagined.
Now, it’s a heckuva trek. My GPS watch showed around 18 miles to the lake, and when I added in wandering around the lake, I probably did 23 miles overall.
5. Grand Park – Washington, United States
Grand Park was one of the few areas in Mount Rainier National Park I hadn’t visited. This trail gives you an incredible perspective of how big the mountain is without any other hills or mountains in the way.
The sheer size is magnificent, and it was phenomenal to see it with wildflowers. If you’re looking for a far less crowded trail, this is it!
4. Mount Baker Summit – Washington, United States
I summited my first volcano in 2024! I did a three-day trek with Cascades Mountain Ascents, starting from the Park Butte trailhead and ascending the Easton Glacier Route to the summit.
If I’m being honest, it was a pretty boring hike. For the entirety of summit day, we were roped up, which meant I was ~10 feet away from my nearest teammate, couldn’t talk to anyone, and was moving at a pretty slow (yet consistent) pace.
The chance to stand on the summit was awesome, but it was a bit different than I envisioned.
3. High Pass – Washington, United States
This was the best backpacking trip of the year! A buddy and I did a four-day, 30+ mile trip into the heart of the Washington Cascades inside Glacier Peak Wilderness. The trail to and from High Pass is long and monotonous, but once you get above the tree line, the views are gorgeous.
There were no other tents around us, and we only had a couple dozen people pass through over the holiday weekend.
2. Sarrail Ridge – Alberta, Canada
These last two are the cream of the crop.
I’ve had this hike on my list for years. Finally, during my fall trip to Canada, I got to experience it. And holy smokes, it was more incredible than I’d ever imagined. The first part of the trail is in the forest and up to Rawson Lake. By the time we reached the lake, we were in a snow globe and it was incredible.
As the snow subsided, we wrapped around the lake and began the push toward Sarrail Ridge. This was slow as the incline steepened, and the terrain was quite slippery. But finally, we reached the top, and my gosh, the landscape was unbelievable. Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes were visible with the pristine Canadian Rockies jutting out in all directions.
It was truly one of the most impressive views I’ve ever laid eyes on.
1. Lake O’Hara – British Columbia, Canada
My top hike of 2024 was a doozy! Lake O’Hara is the icon of the Canadian Rockies and is highly regulated. It is located at the end of a six-mile dirt road, and fewer than 100 people access it daily via the bus (which requires winning a lottery).
We did not win the lottery. If our group wanted to see it, we’d have to hike the six miles each way on the road. And that doesn’t even include the actual hike itself.
Once we arrived at the lake, our mouths were agape. Larches, towering peaks, glaciers, and glistening water blew our minds. We did an amended Alpine Route, taking us up to Lake Oesa, Opabin Plateau, and back to the lodge to complete the loop.
Overall, it was a 22-mile day, giving us an experience of a lifetime.
Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.
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