Mountains are majestic in pictures and when seen from the road, but they’re far more marvelous when you actually are among them. This usually means putting on some hiking boats and a backpack. Some mountain ranges are particularly exceptional, though, and the ones in this article are all examples of ranges you should get a feel for at least once if you love mountains.
Canadian Rockies
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The Canadian Rockies are arguably the most beautiful mountains in North America. Steep, rugged, and draped with large glaciers, they amaze and inspire all who behold them. The four national parks here– Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, and Yoho– all have trails that penetrate these mountains and allow access to their hidden wonders.
North Cascades, Washington
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These rugged, heavily glaciated peaks in the Pacific Northwest are actually hard to appreciate from a car since no roads go deeply into them. It’s therefore almost imperative to go hiking here to really experience the majesty of this wilderness.
Sierra Nevada, California
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The mountains John Muir dubbed the “Range of Light” continue to dazzle visitors from all over the world. Virtually countless trails provide access for day hikers, but maybe the best way to see the heart of the range is to hike the long-distance John Muir Trail, a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail with starting/ending points at Half Dome in Yosemite National Park and Mt. Whitney in Sequoia National Park.
Teton Range, Wyoming
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For their steep vertical rise from the valley below, the Tetons are one one of the world’s most iconic and recognizable mountain ranges. The Teton Crest Trail is a great way to spend a few days seeing the best of the range. If you want a one-day journey you’ll never forget, do the loop connecting Cascade and Paintbrush Canyons.
Absaroka Range, Wyoming
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This is the wildest range in the Lower 48 and contains some of its most rugged and remote terrain. There are some excellent day hikes in the range, but long-distance treks deep into the range are more rewarding. It’s advisable to always go in groups of at least three or four since these mountains are thick with grizzly bears.
Wind River Range, Wyoming
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The Winds have most of the highest mountains in Wyoming and its largest and most numerous glaciers. An epic way to see these mountains is to hike the Highline Trail, which can take more than a week. Shorter overnight excursions that are classics include the Glacier Trail, Titcomb Basin, and the Cirque of the Towers.
San Juan Mountains, Colorado
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Volcanic in origin, these mountains in the southwestern portion of the state are among its most rugged and colorful. They’re also filled with old mining ruins to explore. Many day hikes are possible, but if you want something longer, consider hiking part or all of the section of the Continental Divide Trail running through this range.
Presidential Range, New Hampshire
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The Presidential Range is a group of peaks named for several U.S. presidents. They’re the highest peaks in New England, and their summits are high enough to break above timberline, with alpine tundra growing there. The highest of them is Mt. Washington, known for the highest wind speeds in the world and some of the most fickle, dangerous weather as well.
Cordillera Blanca, Peru
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A subrange of the Andes, one of the longest mountain ranges in the world, the Cordillera Blanca translate from Spanish as the “White Range,” a reference to all the snow and ice permanently covering them. The range contains Alpamayo, one of the world’s most beautiful mountains.
Swiss Alps
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Long considered among the world’s most stunning peaks, the Swiss alps never fail to awe those who behold them. In Switzerland and other countries where the Alps are, you can explore the backcountry by hiking from one hut to another, reducing the gear you need to carry on your back.
Dolomites, Italy
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The Dolomites are a subrange of the Alps, specifically part of the Southern Limestone Alps, and they’re among the most spectacular mountains in the world. In addition to offering great hiking, the Dolomites are known for world-class skiing and mountain climbing.
Karakoram, Pakistan
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The Karakoram have some of the highest mountains in the world, including K2, the second-highest and unofficially the most difficult and dangerous mountain in the world to climb. You don’t have to climb K2 to see these mountains close up; a much safer and more casual way is to hike for miles and miles up the Baltoro Glacier, a massive river of ice mostly covered in dirt and debris.
Himalaya, Nepal-China-India
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Part of the same system of mountains that includes the Karakoram, the Himalayas are home to Mt. Everest, the world’s highest mountain. Trekking the Himalayas through Nepal is something on many people’s bucket lists, and if you’re exceptionally lucky, you’ll get to see a rare and elusive snow leopard.
The 30 Most Beautiful Places in the World That Everyone Must See
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There’s no way you could ever come up with a definitive list of the world’s most beautiful places. However, if you ask around, some places come up a lot more frequently than others do.
The following are some of the places that people mention over and over again, not in any particular order.
30 Breathtaking Places You Must See Before You Die
The Two Best Scenic Wonders in Each of the Mountain States
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The Mountain States– Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico– have some of the wildest and most rugged landscapes in the United States. Because they’re so big, it can take a lot of time to visit them, so it helps to be able to plan for some specific destinations.
Following are our choices for the top two must-see outdoor locations in each of these seven states.
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