Liechtensteinklamm — The Helix Chasm

One of the longest, deepest, and most impressive gorges in the Alps. The Liechtensteinklamm is famous for its narrow walls that are so close they almost block out the sky. Following a massive rockfall in 2017, the gorge was upgraded with the 'Helix'—a spectacular spiral staircase made of corten steel that descends 30 meters into the depths of the chasm. The path leads over bridges and through tunnels to a massive 50-meter waterfall at the end of the walkable section.

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.