Chimney Rock
Abiquiu, New Mexico
The most popular of several hiking trails on the grounds of the Ghost Ranch retreat, this AAA GEM® attraction is a bucket-list experience and one of the top things to see in the area. A wide dirt trail starts out at a level pace, winding through a high-desert landscape of saltbush and prickly pear cactus before ascending a ridge to the top of a red rock mesa. A breathtaking panorama takes in the spire-shaped formation that gives the hike its name, jagged multicolored rocks, the flat valley floor far below and distant mountains edging the horizon, all under a huge New Mexico sky. Provided you’re in good enough shape to negotiate a 600-foot elevation gain over 1.5 miles, the view from the top is one you’ll never forget. The temperate rain forests blanketing the Hoh, Queets and Quinault river valleys are perhaps the most primeval of Olympic National Park’s varied wilderness areas. Here time practically stands still; trees live for centuries and grow to enormous sizes, and copious rainfall coupled with the damp, shaded environment nurtures a riot of vegetation. If you love the color green, be sure to walk the Hall of Mosses Trail within the Hoh Rain Forest, a attraction. This popular loop begins near the visitor center. It’s a short, easy hike that’s also a scenic wonderland, and you might spot resident wildlife like yellow banana slugs or the elusive Roosevelt elk. Everything about this attraction is an adventure, beginning with the 5-mile drive (via a bumpy dirt-gravel road) to reach the trailhead. The Canyon Trail, a strenuous 3-mile round trip, accesses a flat-topped mesa from which there’s an astounding 360-degree view of the Rio Grande Valley and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. If you’re not up to a lot of climbing, the Cave Loop trail is an easier hike. Regardless of which hike you do, the austere natural beauty—curious cone-shaped rock formations, narrow, twisting slot canyons, gnarly piñon pines—is reminiscent of a manicured “wilderness” theme park. The fact that it isn’t makes Tent Rocks an amazing destination and one of the rewarding places to hike.Note: Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is temporarily closed to the public, with the exeption of tribal members. Visit the Bureau of Land Management for details: