Kunisaki Peninsula Minemichi Long Trail (国東半島峯道ロングトレイル)

A lesser-known long-distance pilgrimage route in Kyushu. The Kunisaki Peninsula Minemichi Long Trail traverses the dramatic, volcanic ridges of northern Kyushu between the cities of Bungotakada and Kunisaki. It follows the thousand-year-old mountain ascetic paths (Mine-iri) used by monks of the Rokugo Manzan culture. The trail connects historical temples and sheer cliff-side Buddha carvings (Magaibutsu). While the max altitude is only 721m (Mt. Futago), the route involves repetitive steep gains on uneven, root-choked terrain. Some sections are poorly marked, requiring careful navigation.

The Nahuel Huapi Traverse is a multi-day hut-to-hut route that circumnavigates the mountain ranges adjacent to San Carlos de Bariloche. The trail follows a high-alpine path, connecting four distinct mountain refugios via ridgelines, loose scree slopes, and granite passes. The terrain is characterized by a mix of Andean forest and exposed high-altitude terrain, where route-finding and stability on loose rock are primary requirements. The system of stone huts (refugios) provides a logistical framework for the journey, though hikers must be prepared for sustained physical output in an exposed mountain environment.