Photo by Cicely Muldoon, National Park Service
Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching, so we polled our Twitter followers and some of our staffers for their favorite “romantic” hikes. We made sure to say that these hikes don’t have to be in some remote national park -- it could be something as simple as a walk in a local park. Here’s what we got:
California - Estero Trail at Point Reyes National Seashore (pictured above)
Sierra magazine staffer Jason Mark:
“For years, my partner and I have been exploring all of the corners of this national seashore just a scant 90 minutes from San Francisco, and the Estero Trail is one of our favorites. It's got a bit of everything: pine and fir forested hillsides, open grassland, and epic Pacific Ocean views. Plenty of spots for a romantic picnic, and if you're lucky you'll spot the tule elk herd that lives there.”
California - Limekiln State Park in Big Sur
Joseph from Twitter:
“It is less trafficked than other nearby spots. and has a lovely hike to a waterfall and some kilns in the forest that are integral to California history.”
California - Griffith Park in Los Angeles
Zachary from Twitter - That's Zachary's photo above!
Sierra Club Colorado staffer Vanessa Cordova:
“They have shaded picnic tables on the way up where you can do a romantic picnic spread, and the view from the top of Royal Arch is breathtaking.”
Delaware - Cape Henlopen State Park
Sierra Club staffer Javier Sierra (who took that great photo above in the park):
“If you keep walking south, it'll take you all the way down to the tip of Delmarva Peninsula!”
Michael from Twitter
Florida - Oleta State Park Trail near Miami
Sierra Club staffer Vanessa Cordova
You can actually get married on the beach at this state park!
Florida - Arch Creek Memorial Park
Jay from Twitter
Illinois - The Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary in Chicago
Sierra Club staffer Rebecca Kling
"It's a beautiful and easy-to-access spot.”
Ohio - The Holden Arboretum, located east of Cleveland
Sierra Club staffer Vanessa Cordova
Louisiana - Swamp tours in the Atchafalaya Natural Heritage Area
Sierra Club staffer Courtney Naquin
“Swamp tours are underrated and super fun. Swamps get no love!”
Sierra Club staffer Kathryn Lee:
According to this website, “Cadillac Mountain is the highest point along the North Atlantic seaboard and the first place to view sunrise in the United States from October 7 through March 6!”
Massachusetts - Great Blue Hill Trail in Milton
Sierra Club staffer Nick Jones:
“This is an easy hike that yields what might be the best view in southeast Massachusetts. You'll gain about 700 feet, but it's spread out over 2.7 miles, so it's not too strenuous. It’s a great spot to catch a sunrise or sunset -- just be sure to pack your headlamp!”
Minnehaha Falls, Minnesota.
Photo courtesy of the National Park Service
Minnesota - Minnehaha Falls in the Mississippi River National River & Recreation Area in Minneapolis
Sierra Club Minnesota staffer Joshua Houdek:
“After enjoying the falls and a stroll along the creek, you can enjoy wine, craft beer, ice cream and seafood at SeaSaltEatery.”
Matt from Twitter:
“Steep but the views are amazing, and it's right in town.”
Petroglyph photo courtesy of BLM
Justin from Twitter
New York - Green-Wood Cemetery in Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Sierra Club staffer Rebecca Stoner
"A cemetery might not seem like the most romantic place to go on Valentine's Day. But Green-Wood is a leafy green sanctuary full of stories of notable New Yorkers like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Leonard Bernstein."
North Carolina - Mount Mitchell Summit & Balsam Nature Trail near Asheville
Sierra Club staffer Melissa Williams
According to the park’s website, “It’s a mile-high hike that’s unlike any other in North Carolina. At 6684 ft, Mount Mitchell stands as the highest peak east of the Mississippi River, and the highest mountain in the Appalachian Mountains. The clear-day views from the summit are just outstanding, offering sweeping panoramic vistas in every direction.”
Oklahoma - Bluff Creek Trail in Oklahoma City
Sierra Club staffer Rebecca Kling
Pennsylvania - Kinzua Sky Walk in the Allegheny National Forest
William from Twitter
Texas - Mount Bonnell in Austin
Sierra Club staffer Molly Brooksbank:
“It's a nice walk with a great view!”
Shenandoah National Park photo by N. Lewis, National Park Service
Virginia - The Dark Hollow Falls & Browns Gap trails in Shenandoah National Park
Tami from Twitter
Washington, DC - The US National Arboretum
Lenka from Twitter:
“It’s definitely one of the most unique city parks!”
Washington State - Dog Mountain in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Timothy from Twitter
Washington State - Oyster Dome in Bellingham
Sierra Club staffer Jeff Shaw:
“In the Chuckanut Mountains, the hike extends to a giant rock dome with panoramic views of tulip fields, islands, and the oyster beds that give the hike its name. At the trailhead is a lone restaurant with giant bay windows overlooking Samish Bay and the Olympic Mountains -- where you can eat the oysters you just saw growing in the ocean.”
Of course there are beautiful hikes long and short all over the US, so we know we've missed a bunch. Feel free to suggest your own in the comments!
And finally -- there are a number of Sierra Club Outings that will take you to romantic places. Check out these opportunities to hike California’s Lost Coast, trek through Nevada’s Ruby Mountains, and backpack through Michigan’s Pictured Rocks.