Hiking, Nicole Brown says, is as much a part of her as the oxygen she breathes. After all, spending time in nature is just par for the course in the daily life of a kid growing up in rural Oregon. But, upon moving to Southern California as an early 20-something, Brown immediately felt a disconnect from the great outdoors — until she found a like-minded community and built it into the international collective Women Who Hike, a group with a mission to empower on-and-off trail female hikers, which now has amassed nearly 300,000 members.
“We love seeing people discover the outdoors,” she says. Since its inception, Brown says the group has helped innumerable beginners make their way to the trails for their first hikes. Brown found her own escape in Southern California, discovering that Mother Nature remained all around with invigorating hikes like the Los Liones Trail and Rattlesnake Ledge.
She also found solace in taking sunset hikes to catch the last glimpse of daylight and still make it home for dinner. (Though she never hits the trails — at sunset or otherwise — without the 10 essentials of hiking safety, and most importantly, alerting friends and family where she plans to hike.) Hiking, Brown says, has given her “independence and the feeling of being capable. I know that a lot of women go through this too.”
That feeling has increased the more she gets out into the wild. “With every hike you finish, you feel empowered — whether you’re just out hiking for beauty or you really want to get to a point where you’re summiting big peaks. If you’re married with kids or if you’re single, I think having independence as a woman is really important,” she says. “And that feeling of being capable, that feeling you can do anything, is really exciting.”
Ready to marry the beauty of nature with the overwhelming feeling of accomplishment for yourself? Here are 5 of the most beautiful places to head out on a sunset hike across America once you feel ready to take it to the next level.
Ute Canyon Overlook Trail
Colorado National Monument Grand Junction, Colorado
Need a beginner’s path? Look no further than Ute Canyon Overlook Trail. The .16-mile loop is as easy as it comes — so easy that you may not feel like you’ve worked hard enough to earn the breathtaking views. At the end of the loop, hikers will gaze out onto the stunning canyon, illuminated by the setting sun, highlighting its rich reds and various deep browns, all set off by pops of greenery.
East Bluff Trail
Devil's Lake State Park in Baraboo, Wisconsin
For a watery view, head to the East Bluff Trail, a 2.6-mile loop that snakes along a cliff’s edge, providing stellar views throughout the hike. The good news about this trail is that it comes with numerous outlooks along the way, so hikers can either decide they’ve seen enough and head back, or can keep going to see the varied landscapes and changing terrain. As a bonus, dogs are allowed on this hike but must be leashed at all times.
Endless Wall Trail
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in Glen Jean, West Virginia
The New River is among the oldest flowing waterways on the continent. Over the millennia, it’s carved out deep ravines, which all remain surrounded by a 70,000-acre verdant landscape you need to see to believe. The trails here range from a quick quarter mile to a seven-mile stretch. Beginners should stick to the more accessible, shorter loops, while more seasoned hikers can test their skills on the longer tracks. Try the Endless Wall Trail, an easy route with panoramic scenery for prime sunset viewing.
Monument Trail Loop
High Point State Park, Sussex County, New Jersey
Make your way to the highest elevation point in New Jersey via the Monument Trail Loop, a 3 to 4-mile stretch (depending on where you enter and exit) that’s also a part of the Appalachian Trail. The hike will take travelers through lush greenery before exiting out to High Point Monument, a memorial dedicated to Garden State veterans, and the marker for its highest point at 1,803 feet. Take in the sweeping views, then head back down to finish the journey.
Watchman Peak Trail
Crater Lake National Park near Crescent, Oregon
Get stunning views with very little work by heading out on the Watchman Peak Trail. This 1.6-mile out-and-back trail will take you to a breathtaking vista point, looking down onto the lake and surrounding landscape below. What makes this hike so spectacular for sunset moments (beyond the gorgeous views, of course) is that it’s a rather popular spot, meaning you likely won’t be alone on the trail going up or coming down, making it a safe zone for twilight hours.
