Golden Staff Hikes

The hikes listed on this page have received the prestigious Golden Staff Award.  They represent my favorite hikes in this blog regardless of geography.  Click on the link to view the blog entry for that hike.

2024:

Manassas National Battlefield: First Manassas Trail near Manassas, VA
            5.2 miles, 5/10 difficulty, features first major Civil War battlefield in Virginia

            1.5 miles, 7/10 difficulty, features the tallest sand dune at Indiana Dunes

            3 miles, 5/10 difficulty, features hiking atop Lake Michigan sand dunes

Spring Mill State Park: Trail #4 near Mitchell, IN
            2.2 miles, 7/10 difficulty, features pioneer village and 2 caves

            4.4 miles, 5/10 difficulty, features large cacti and abandoned silver mine

            2.5 miles, 4/10 difficulty, features views of San Diego across the bay

2023:

            4.3 miles, 8/10 difficulty, features dunes and beach on Lake Michigan

Hickory Run State Park: Shades of Death Trail near White Haven, PA
            2.2 miles, 8/10 difficulty, features several old dams on Sand Springs Creek

Taconic State Park: Old Copake Iron Works to Bash Bish Falls near Copake, NY
            2.6 miles, 4/10 difficulty, features historic iron works and tallest waterfall in Massachusetts

            1.6 miles, 9/10 difficulty, features 600 steps to 2 major waterfalls in Cloudland Canyon

            1.4 miles, 5/10 difficulty, features a major waterfall and cliffs

            6.6 miles, 4/10 difficulty, features many springs and small waterfalls

Cumberland Island National Seashore: Sea Camp/Dungeness/Beach Loop near St. Marys, GA
            4.4 miles, 5/10 difficulty, features beach and historic plantation ruins

Little Talbot Island State Park: Dune Ridge Trail near Amelia Island, FL
            3.6 miles, 3/10 difficulty, features sand dunes and beach

2022:

Hocking Hills State Park: Old Man's Cave near Logan, OH
            1.1 miles, 7/10 difficulty, features 2 waterfalls in sheer-walled gorge

Pokagon State Park: Trails #3 and #6 near Angola, IN
            3 miles, 4/10 difficulty, features kame and kettle topography

Blue Ridge Parkway: Craggy Pinnacle Trail near Asheville, NC
            1 mile, 4/10 difficulty, features 360-degree views from Craggy Pinnacle

            4.3 miles, 3/10 difficulty, features a long boardwalk through riverside wetlands

2021:

            1.9 miles, 7/10 difficulty, features views from old fire watch tower

            8.1 miles, 8/10 difficulty, features 10 large waterfalls

Yaquina Head Outstanding Scenic Area near Newport, OR
            2.4 miles, 5/10 difficulty, features Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Taum Sauk Mountain State Park: Mina Sauk Falls Trail near Ironton, MO
            3 miles, 9/10 difficulty, features Missouri's highpoint and Mina Sauk Falls

Buffalo National River: River View/Rock Wall Loop at Tyler Bend Visitor Center near Marshall, AR
            4.2 miles, 6/10 difficulty, features blufftop Buffalo River views

Ozark National Forest: Glory Hole Trail near Deer, AR
            1.9 miles, 7/10 difficulty, features unique Glory Hole Falls

            2.7 miles, 4/10 difficulty, features marsh views and historic home site

2020:

            2.1 miles, 5/10 difficulty, features Black Canyon views

            2.6 miles, 4/10 difficulty, features Bear Lake and Alberta Falls

            2.8 miles, 5/10 difficulty, features red rock spires

            3.6 miles, 8/10 difficulty, features views of and from Seneca Rocks

2019:

            8.9 miles, 5/10 difficulty, features aquatic bird viewing

            1.1 miles, 3/10 difficulty, features 4 major waterfalls and virgin forest

            7 miles, 7/10 difficulty, features historic iron furnace and Cheat River gorge views

            2.6 miles, 4/10 difficulty, features Mount Katahdin across Daicey Pond

            3.5 miles, 4/10 difficulty, features mountains surrounding Jordan Pond

Quoddy Head State Park near Lubec, ME
            5 miles, 8/10 difficulty, features Quoddy Head lighthouse and cliffs

            2.1 miles, 9/10 difficulty, features rock outcrops above Mississippi River

2018:

            3.3 miles, 3/10 difficulty, features swamp boardwalk and Chesser Homestead

            3 miles, 8/10 difficulty, features Fall Creek Falls and Cane Creek Falls

            4.8 miles, 6/10 difficulty, features Avalanche Lake

            6.8 miles, 9/10 difficulty, features Bertha Falls and Bertha Lake

            2.9 miles, 9/10 difficulty, features the 2 highest peaks in the Appalachian Mountains

            3 miles, 10/10 difficulty, features views from Sharp Top

            4 miles, 5/10 difficulty, features Raven Cliff Falls

            5.5 miles, 9/10 difficulty, features Peavine Falls

2017:

            4.9 miles, 8/10 difficulty, features Twin Arches and Charit Creek Lodge

            4 miles, 9/10 difficulty, features Lake of the Clouds views
            4.5 miles, 4/10 difficulty, features seemingly endless cliffs

            3.9 miles, 7/10 difficulty, features 4 natural bridges

            5 miles, 6/10 difficulty, features a waterfall inside a cliff

            4.1 miles, 10/10 difficulty, features views from Pinnacle Mountain

            4 miles, 7/10 difficulty, features Lake Keowee views from Raven Rock

2016:

            3.6 miles, 6/10 difficulty, features the highest point in Georgia

            3 miles, 5/10 difficulty, features a cliff-lined hollow

            4.9 miles, 10/10 difficulty, features 2 gigantic waterfalls

            5.8 miles, 8/10 difficulty, features Loves Falls and North Yuba River valley views

            5.1 miles, 5/10 difficulty, features Pacific Ocean views

            7.1 miles, 10/10 difficulty, features views from Table Rock

            5.5 miles, 3/10 difficulty, features cypress and tupelo swamp

2015:

            4.8 miles, 6/10 difficulty, features views from ancient volcanic caldera

            3.7 miles, 3/10 difficulty, features 1600's house foundation and Long Island Sound views

            3.9 miles, 6/10 difficulty, features Wolf Cave, Twin Bridges, and the White River

            6.3 miles, 9/10 difficulty, features views from granite dome, 3 major waterfalls, and a restored homestead

            2.9 miles, 6/10 difficulty, features 3 high watershed waterfalls

            5.1 miles, 5/10 difficulty, features old barns and bird watching

2014:

            8.6 miles, 4/10 difficulty, features a creek of grass

            3.1 miles, 1/10 difficulty, features a Civil War battlefield

            3.2 miles, 9/10 difficulty, features a steep climb to fabulous views

            6.7 miles, 10/10 difficulty, features Stone Mountain views

2013:

            5 miles, 7/10 difficulty, features overlooks of Daniel Creek Gorge

            2 miles, 2/10 difficulty, features the tallest waterfall in New York

            5.1 miles, 6/10 difficulty, features Genesee River gorge and 3 major waterfalls

            6 miles, 6/10 difficulty, features Cheaha Creek and Cheaha Falls

2012:

            4.1 miles, 3/10 difficulty, features sinkholes and swamp

            5 miles, 6/10 difficulty, features 3 significant waterfalls

            6 miles, 6, 10/10 difficulty, features the tallest waterfall in the east

            4.1 miles, 4/10 difficulty, features dunes along Lake Huron

            4.2 miles, 7/10 difficulty, features an old quarry and homestead

            2.9 miles, 6/10 difficulty, features the largest canyon in the east

2011:

            6 miles, 7/10 difficulty, features Rockcastle River overlook

            4.9 miles, 9/10 difficulty, features old fire tower site

            9.1 miles, 9/10 difficulty, features Blue Suck Falls and Tuscarora Overlook

2010:

            2.8 miles, 6/10 difficulty, features waterslides and waterfalls

Judge C.R. Magney State Park near Grand Marais, MN
            2 miles, 7/10 difficulty, features Devil's Kettle Falls

            5 miles, 7/10 difficulty, features Cunningham Falls and 2 overlooks

2009:

            2.5 miles, 9/10 difficulty, features a tall rocky waterfall

Angel Island State Park near San Francisco, CA
            5 miles, 6/10 difficulty, features Golden Gate Bridge view

Jockey Ridge State Park near Nags Head, NC
            1.5 miles, 4/10 difficulty, features tall sand dunes

2008:

            1 miles, 0/10 difficulty, features wildlife viewing

2007:

            7.4 miles, 7/10 difficulty, features former Porter Flats community

2006:

            2.8 miles, 5/10 difficulty, features colorful canyon

            2.5 miles, 6/10 difficulty, features mature forest and scenic river overlook

Grand Canyon National Park: Rim Trail near Grand Canyon Village, AZ
            6.3 miles, 4/10 difficulty, features Grand Canyon views

            2 miles, 4/10 difficulty, features classic Mojave desert

2005:

            6.9 miles, 8/10 difficulty, features an Appalachian Trail hike with views

2004:

            2 miles, 5/10 difficulty, features world's most famous flume

            3 miles, 7/10 difficulty, features highest waterfall in New Hampshire

            4.4 miles, 6/10 difficulty, features the best view in Ohio

            3.2 miles, 7/10 difficulty, features loop to gorge rim

            6 miles, 7/10 difficulty, features Natural Arch

            2.6 miles, 5/10 difficulty, features sheer-walled gorge

2003:

            4 miles, 2/10 difficulty, features large waterfall

            4.2 miles, 6/10 difficulty, features overlooks and Little Mountain Falls

2002:

            5.2 miles, 7/10 difficulty, features sheer-walled canyons

            7 miles, 7/10 difficulty, features 2 waterfalls and 2 scenic views

2001:

            6 miles, 7/10 difficulty, features coal mining history and gorge overlooks

            10.3 miles, 8/10 difficulty, features rock formations and Cedar Falls

2000:

            4.3 miles, 10/10 difficulty, features ancient Hopewell fort

            1 mile, 2/10 difficulty, features Sylvan Lake

1999:

            1.2 miles, 5/10 difficulty, features iron-laden spring

            4 miles, 8/10 difficulty, features Debord Vista and fire tower

1998:

            2.6 miles, 8/10 difficulty, features Natural Bridge and overlooks


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