Hiking is a form of walking, undertaken with the specific purpose of exploring and enjoying the scenery, particularly in areas of relatively unspoiled wilderness, and usually on trails. Hikers usually carry small backpacks with essential gear. Overnight hiking is more properly called backpacking. Hiking is one of the fundamental outdoor activities on which many others are based.
What place can be better for hiking than Europe and European mountains, with its fascinating nature, friendly people, and characteristic atmosphere?
Why not choosing the Alps? No matter where you go, you will always find an excellent mountain hut. As another help for hikers the Austrian Tourist Bureau started in 1993 a programme called 'hiking without luggage'. It was launched in the Pitzgau Saalach Valley, and the idea is that you can travel between some of the Alpine villages, while your luggage is transported ahead to your next destination.
Among interesting hiking trails in the Alps, are:
Hiking around Haldensee lake
It's an easy hiking route, suitable for the whole family. You will have a wonderful view on the Haldesee lake. It takes 2 hours, and apart from the magnificent view, you can see the parish church of Gran.
Hiking around Pillersee lake
This easy hike covers the long Pillersee lake in the west of the Loferer Steinberge mountains on a plateau between Waidring and St. Ulrich am Pillersee. The whole trip takes about 3 hours, and during the journey you will see St. Adolari pilgrimage and the Teuflsklamm.
Seefelder Sptize
It is a quite easy route, and it takes 1 h 30 to reach the end.
The Zirbenweg Trail
Hiking starts in the beautiful Swiss pine forests belonging to the largest forests of the eastern Alps. After a 3-hour-walk, reaching the so-called Rote Wand (2 073 m), you will finish that journey, having in your memory the fascinating and picturesque scenery of this part of the Alps.
Hiking via the Steinerkogel to Brandberg
The Steinerkogel is a very steep ascent. This hike takes about 3 h 30. The views are fantastic - you can see the whole area of the Zillertal Alps.
Hiking in France is also an adventure. No country has a more extensive network of hiking trails and as much natural variety as France. Here hikers looking for high mountains can head to the Alps, the Pyrenees, or Corsica.
But these are not all the possible places to hike in Europe.
You can always find something special for you, and admire
this beautiful wild nature in the place of your interest.