Hochkeil — The Hidden Panorama

Standing as a natural balcony opposite the demandingly vertical walls of the Hochkönig (2,941m), the Hochkeil is an approachable peak that offers one of the best effort-to-view ratios in the Salzburger Land. Starting from the Arthurhaus alpine inn, the trail winds through lush high-alpine meadows and scattered pine trees to a broad, flat summit across from the 'Mandlwände'. Because the area is often overshadowed by the more famous Königssee or Zell am See, the Hochkeil remains remarkably quiet and popular with locals.

The Skyline Trail in Mount Rainier National Park is the quintessential Pacific Northwest alpine experience. Starting from the historic Paradise Visitor Center, this stunning loop takes hikers high above the tree line directly onto the southern flanks of the massive, heavily glaciated Mount Rainier volcano (14,411 ft). The trail weaves through impossibly lush subalpine meadows that, in mid-summer, explode with knee-high wildflowers in every color. As you climb higher, the meadows give way to rugged, rocky moonscapes and permanent snowfields. The apex of the hike, Panorama Point (6,800 ft), lives up to its name, offering sweeping, unobstructed views of the Cascade Range, including Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens, and even Mount Hood in Oregon on a clear day.