Easy hikes for 50+ solo female travelers

If you’re a lady who knows how to rock it even by herself, if you love to get up and move around as often as you can, then you’ve come to the right article. Hiking is my passion too, I can’t imagine something more beneficial for the entire body and mind combined. So here’s my list of easy, yet stunning hikes everyone can do.

Big Sur, California

California is among my favorite states, and Big Sur is simply extraordinary. If you haven’t visited yet, this is what you can expect: a rocky coastline with waves hitting the rocks at a steady pace. There are endless miles of shore and sandy beaches to walk, so get the best walking sandals for women because you’ll be in for a treat. Looking at the horizon you can see a huge bowl of water that seems to stretch into infinity, crossed by the playful dance of dolphins and whales.

Even the short, simple trails will bring you immense satisfaction of seeing spectacular views with luxuriant deciduous forests wrinkled by rapid creaks and a view to the ocean. The easiest is the McWay Waterfall Trail, as well as the 2-mile Pfeiffer Falls and Valley View Trails. Besides, this is perfect for women because it’s very safe and you can meet lots of new people at the camping spots.

Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Canada is one of the safest countries on Earth, so it’s no wonder that plenty of single women choose to travel here for fun, adventures or relaxation. The scenery is amazing too, you have both the Ocean and the Canadian Rockies, and Ontario definitely has it all.

Apart from offering the immense benefit of top-notch accommodation with all the facilities in a big city, with pleasant restaurants and other urban entertainment, its parks are perfect for low-difficulty hikes. Just think of the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park with its Sea Lion Rock, a dramatic and incredibly old landform that looks like a gateway to another dimension. But it’s a safe harbor for the jovial sea lions, so that’s even better.

Besides, this is set on Lake Superior, which is the biggest freshwater lake in the world. You’ll have a blast walking on the rocky beach and hike a bit through the lush forest that looks amazing in all seasons. The Thunder Bay Lookout is a vantage point you can’t miss either, you’ll end your journey on an abrupt cliff, looking around for miles.

The Glymur Trail, Iceland

There’s nothing more exhilarating than watching the mesmerizing spectacle of the Northern Lights lighting up the night’s sky. And what better place to do that from that Iceland with its glorious landscape that can’t wait to be explored. This is where you get literally everything there is to see in terms of landforms, from volcanic landscape to alpine meadows, fjords, waterfalls, and glaciers to beaches with black sand and mountains.

The Glymur Trail is among the easiest hikes in Iceland though it offers plenty of scenic views. You’ll see forested hills and canyons with caves that surround meandering paths, and you’ll pass through a turbulent river that flows over an abrupt gorge. This is the most difficult portion of the trail, but the hike itself is very easy if you have the right hiking boots. Or you can always choose the volcanic and barren Landmannalaugar Loop with its reddish rhyolite peaks.

So it’s no wonder this is a great country to travel with such prolific natural beauties. But Iceland is also great for women who travel alone because it’s deemed the safest country, and the capital city is renowned for a high influx of solo travelers.

Condor Lookout, El Chalten, Argentina

Patagonia is the perfect place for wilderness lovers with its secluded, undisrupted paths and trails, though El Chalten is a very popular choice for tons of tourists. So you’ll find accommodation quickly, as well as plenty likeminded solo travelers you can make friends with or share a hike.

Besides, this trekking town is particularly relaxing and women-friendly, offering tons of entertainment opportunities apart from hiking. So you can either learn the secret art of rock climbing if you want to try something new or just stroll around town and enjoy the shops, cafes and quaint local restaurants.

The Condor Lookout hike is in fact 1.5 miles pleasant walk to an enchanting viewpoint, especially if you go there to admire the sunrise. After an easy ascent, you’ll end up in a place where you can see the sharp, abrupt peaks of Mounts Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre over an alpine landscape patched with snow and brush. And when the sunrise lights up these peaks which look like they’ve caught fire, you’ll be guaranteed a jaw-dropping, heart-throbbing surprise.

Maui, Hawaii

There are plenty of reasons to go to Maui particularly if you’re a woman who enjoys her solo trips. You’ll have plenty of interesting activities to keep you busy, whether you want to cozy around on the beach or learn how to surf with the Maui Surfer Girls. There are plenty of microclimates to admire too, which is why it’s perfect for hiking.

And you’ll also enjoy a tropical weather and landscape, with the bonus of the very interesting Hawaiian culture. So you can set off to Mount Haleakala, which is the biggest sleeping volcano in the US, and admire another awe-inspiring sunrise. You’ll be in for a well-marked trail and a landscape that looks like something from Mars. 

Another option is to walk the Kapalua Coastal Trail which passes through four amazing beaches, so you can transform this short hike into a whole-day trip, resting and swimming on each of these beaches. You’ll also see some volcanic landforms along the way, but you’ll mainly walk on wooden paths for which you don’t need a lot of equipment.

That said, traveling alone can be fun, empowering, but can also provide you plenty of opportunities to relax and learn new things. So where will you be setting off to next?

.Author Bio

Rebecca lives in USA, but loves hiking all over the world. Her favorite is Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal. It usually takes 16 days, but she likes to slow down, enjoy mountains, company of other adventurers and take more pictures, so it took her 28 days last time. Another of her passion is the ocean, so all short and long hikes along the ocean shore bring a lot of joy. She also writes for hikingmastery.com.