Trimming the world’s best hikes down to 10 is incredibly difficult, just ask the folks at Gadling.com. Conceding that it’s almost impossible to account for everyone’s style or favorite type of hike, I think they did a pretty nice job of cobbling together a diverse list of must-hikes across the globe.

Follow this link to learn more about the list-maker’s thought process, as well as to learn a little more about each trek.

In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek at the 10 lucky winners:

• Mt. Whitney, California
• Salkantay Trek, Peru
• Timberline Trail, Oregon
• Everest Base Camp, Nepal
• Appalachian Trail, North Carolina
• Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
• Zion Narrows, Utah
• Haute Route, France/Switzerland
• John Muir Trail, California
• Cinque Terre, Italy

Pennsylvania offers something challenging and beautiful for every type of hiker or backpacker. Here are my top 3 fall hikes in PA.

1. Rickett’s Glen State Park

flickr: skylove...busy

Aside from the typical beauty of changing foliage and abundant wildlife in this state park 25 miles west of Wilkes-Barre, PA, you’ll be awe-struck by over 25 waterfalls ranging from just a few feet to the 94-foot tall Ganoga Falls. The most popular fall hike is the Glens Natural Area Hike, a 7.4 mile loop that goes uphill roughly 1,250 feet before leveling off and descending equally back to the trailhead. Tip: Rapidly becoming one of PA’s top fall hikes means it can get pretty crowded, especially on weekends. Try a Tuesday or Wednesday if you want to experience the trail without too much human distraction.  Click here for more information on hiking Rickett’s Glen.

2. Loyalsock Trail, World’s End State Park

flickr: Nicholas_T

Located on and around the Loyalsock Creek near Forksville, PA, this stunning state park offers many short trails for day hikes, as well as a decent chunk of the 59-mile Loyalsock Trail. Whether in the steep creek valley surrounded by changing leaves along the rapids, or atop the ridge lines that converge to give you a view of the reminiscent of the “end of the world”, you’re sure to find a challenging and beautiful trail, making this a top fall hike for many in the Northeast. Tip: Try the 9.1 mile Loyalsock Trail to Alpine Falls loop for a real calf-burner with rewarding vistas at nearly every turn.

3. The Pinnacle, Appalachian Trail

flickr: kabrower

Pennsylvania’s portion of the Appalachian Trail has a well-earned reputation for being a boring, rocky, joint-busting stretch of trail with limited views of the surrounding land. There are some real gems, though, and The Pinnacle overlook near Hamburg, PA is perhaps the best vista on the Appalachian Trail in PA, and a top fall hike in the region. The Furnace Creek trail offers a 8.5 mile loop with stops at Pulpit Rock and The Pinnacle overlook, with it’s 270-degree view of the PA countryside in all it’s autumn glory.

Technorati Tags: top fall hikes, top hikes in pa, ricketts glen, loyalsock trail, worlds end state park, pinnacle appalachian trail

Save the Trails

The nation has spoken and the following projects will receive $5,000 each as part of American Hiking Society’s Save the Trails program:

I can be  a bit of a speed hiker, but I might just take my time on this trail.  Even Bear Grylls would probably only make it halfway before saying, “F*ck it, I’m basejumping my way to the bottom.”