2021 Friends & Family Favorite Hikes

“It’s not the mountain that we conquer, but ourselves.” - Sir Edmund Hillary

“Everyone wants to live on the top of the mountain, yet all the happiness and growth occur while you are climbing it.” - Andy Rooney

“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” - John Muir

Favorite Hikes of 2021 -

With 2021 coming to a close, I asked my family and several friends to share with me their favorite hikes of the year along with a sentence or two about it. Their responses are below.

Be sure to check out the interactive map at the bottom of this post with the location of each of the eight hikes, hopefully providing you with a little encouragement to give one a try in 2022.

Roan Mountain State Park - Roan Mountain, TN - Maria

On Memorial Day Weekend, my family traveled to Roan Mountain State Park in eastern Tennessee, staying three nights in a rustic log cabin in the heart of the park. We hiked over twenty-two miles filled with wonderful views and waterfalls, did puzzles, played games, and built fires. It was an amazing weekend together - even without internet or cell service! - Maria

Harper Creek Falls - Collettsville, NC - Ginger

After spending the night in Blowing Rock, NC, Chris and I hiked eight miles on the Harper Creek Falls Trail featuring two large waterfalls and multiple stream crossings. It was a wonderful spring day. - Ginger

Bill Craft Trail @ Richardson-Taylor Preserve - Greensboro, NC - Lori

Not necessarily a hike, but I love the Bill Craft Trail at the Richardson-Taylor Preserve in Greensboro, NC. It is near my house so I can be in nature and find some peace and quiet quickly, even if I don’t have much time. I also love walking on pine needles and since the hike is short, I can convince all three of my boys to go as well. - Lori

Basin Creek Trail to Caudill Cabin - Traphill, North Carolina - Amelia & Brock

Basin Creek Trail to Caudill Cabin is definitely my favorite hike of 2021. I enjoyed the waterfalls and especially the more than thirty creek crossings. - Amelia

Stone Mountain State Park - Pinnacle, NC - Natalie, Alex, & Sophie

Stone Mountain State Park was my favorite. The views were spectacular and the waterfall at the beginning was awesome. The company was great and I especially liked that the historic farm had been updated to include indoor plumbing. - Natalie

I agree with Natalie, and what is indoor plumbing? Ruff. - Sophie

Bonas Defeat - Wolf Mountain, North Carolina - Thea

Bonas Defeat is the most difficult yet most exciting hike I have found in North Carolina. There is a fair amount of bushwhacking, bouldering, river crossing, Rambo crawling, ledge clinging, and the potential to bust up your body if not careful. - Thea

Hungry Mother State Park - Marion, VA - Lisa

Beautiful park and trails. Shady in the summer and great mountain bike trails as well. - Lisa

Cooks Wall Trail in Hanging Rock State Park - Danbury, NC - Chris

The Cooks Wall Trail is a very diverse trail that offers almost everything I look for in a hike - scenic views, rock scrambling, water, exercise, and special interest. - Chris