11 Eye-Popping Scenic Hikes

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GR20, France

The 15-day, 111-mile hike starts in the northern city of Calenzana and slices through the heart of Corsican mountains to the southwest.

(Photo: Paul Miles/Getty Images)

The Inca Trail, Peru

The Inca Trail is nothing short of a marathon, as the 26-mile hike goes high up into Peru, where it overlooks the lost Incan city of Machu Pichu from a distance.

(Photo: Guy Marks/Getty Images)

Cinque Terre, Italy

The hike through Italy’s Cinque Terre region is gorgeous and might only take you four or five hours—but only if you don’t stop too long to admire the sights. Make sure to bring some money for gelato!

(Photo: John Elk III/Getty Images)

Baltoro Glacier & K2, Pakistan

Even at top speed, this hike will take 20 days. The Baltoro glacier, which crosses through Pakistan’s K2 mountain, is the second highest peak in the world at 28,251 feet.

(Photo: Ahmad Abdul-Karim/Getty Images)

Tiger Leaping Gorge, China

The Tiger Leaping Gorge Trail is 14 miles long and follows the Yangtze River as it weaves through the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the Haba Snow mountain.

(Photo: Dave Carr/Getty Images)

Zion Narrows, Utah

Hikers must wade through the freezing cold water of the Virgin River Narrows at Zion National Park in Utah.

(Photo: Mark Ralston/Getty Images)

West Coast Trail, British Columbia

The 47-mile hiking trail along the coast of Vancouver Island was originally installed to help rescue shipwrecked sailors.

(Photo: Josh McCulloch/Getty Images)

Tour De Mont Blanc, France

The Tour de Mont Blanc trail circles around the Alps' highest peak for a 106-mile journey that traverses France, Switzerland, and Italy.

(Photo: Jacques Pierre/Getty Images)

Tongaririo Northern Circut, New Zealand

The 31-mile trek on the Northern Island circumnavigates the 7,500-foot peak of Mount Ngauruh. To take advantage of the weather, the hike is best done in New Zeleand's summer months—December to March.

(Photo: Vladmir Piskunov/Getty Images)

Pays Dogon, Mali

The World Heritage site at Pays Dogon provides a trek through the undeveloped African countryside, where you can also see abandoned ancient villages carved into mountainsides.

(Photo: Martinjn Munneke/Creative Commons via Flickr)

Routeburn Track, New Zealand

Lord of the Rings fans taking this 20-mile trek, which spans the southernmost part of New Zeleand's southern island, may note some similarities with Isengard.

(Photo:Foorious/Creative Commons via Flickr)

Feeling like getting some exercise and enjoying the outdoors? Take a hike!

We've compiled a list of the most scenic hikes on the planet, including the narrow footpaths in Italy's Cinque Terre and the submerged trail in Zions Narrow, Utah.

Enjoy.

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Andrew Freeman is a California native with a degree in history from UCLA. He’s covered a wide range of topics for TakePart, but is particularly interested in politics and policy. Email Andrew |@natureofdabeast | TakePart.com