Where has beautiful hiking with both sun, clean air and greenary? (universities, activities)

[wheregirl]

Hello,

I am looking for an area that has beautiful hiking trails among tall trees and in a fairly sunny area (not gloomy or rainy) for year around hiking. I love to have the sun but I like to walk under shades in outdoor activities, where can I find such places? And a plce with high quality clean air.

I also like to find a more progressive or intelligent population nearby, do you know any such areas from your travels?

Thanks!

[mdp_az]

High Country of NC (Boone area): mixed forests of pine, hardwood & spruce depending on elevation. Appalachian State University is in Boone.
Flagstaff, AZ: ponderosa, juniper & aspen forests, tons of sunshine! Northern Arizona University is in Flagstaff.
Northern California: Huge redwoods along the coast. Foggy mornings give way to sunny afternoons. Many universities in the area.

[wheregirl]

Thanks! Any areas in NV or Utah?

Originally Posted by mdp_az

High Country of NC (Boone area): mixed forests of pine, hardwood & spruce depending on elevation. Appalachian State University is in Boone.
Flagstaff, AZ: ponderosa, juniper & aspen forests, tons of sunshine! Northern Arizona University is in Flagstaff.
Northern California: Huge redwoods along the coast. Foggy mornings give way to sunny afternoons. Many universities in the area.

[BergenCountyJohnny]

Originally Posted by wheregirl

Thanks! Any areas in NV or Utah?

Mt Charleston in Nevada, just outside Las Vegas.

Zion National Park in Utah.

Sandia mountains in Albuquerque, NM.

The Rocky Mountains in Colorado; even in winter it's often sunny, clear skies, and lots of greenery from the evergreens.

Lake Tahoe, CA.

Anzo-Borrega wilderness in Southern Cal.

[sav858]

SF Bay Area

[treedonkey]

"Where has beautiful hiking with both sun, clean air and greenary?"

That's three things...

The Sierras
The CO Rockies on a Nice Day
The hills around the SF Bay Area between Feb and May
The Appalachian Trail from inside a mosquito net

[wheregirl]

I like the "mosquito net" part! I should make it four things---clean air, mosquito-free, trees that give shades and sun.

What happens to the SF Bay area the rest of the year? Do the fog always go away in the afternoons? Or you don't see the sun for whole days in winter?

Originally Posted by treedonkey

"Where has beautiful hiking with both sun, clean air and greenary?"

That's three things...

The Sierras
The CO Rockies on a Nice Day
The hills around the SF Bay Area between Feb and May
The Appalachian Trail from inside a mosquito net

[wheregirl]

Thanks.

The Mt Charleston outside Vegas has tall trees with shades? Trees with shades in Zion Park?

Originally Posted by BergenCountyJohnny

Mt Charleston in Nevada, just outside Las Vegas.

Zion National Park in Utah.

Sandia mountains in Albuquerque, NM.

The Rocky Mountains in Colorado; even in winter it's often sunny, clear skies, and lots of greenery from the evergreens.

Lake Tahoe, CA.

Anzo-Borrega wilderness in Southern Cal.

[wheregirl]

Thanks! Good suggestions!

In SF bay, the fog goes away in the afternoon in the winter as well, or does it depend on the location?

Originally Posted by mdp_az

High Country of NC (Boone area): mixed forests of pine, hardwood & spruce depending on elevation. Appalachian State University is in Boone.
Flagstaff, AZ: ponderosa, juniper & aspen forests, tons of sunshine! Northern Arizona University is in Flagstaff.
Northern California: Huge redwoods along the coast. Foggy mornings give way to sunny afternoons. Many universities in the area.

[LINative]

Originally Posted by wheregirl

Hello,

I am looking for an area that has beautiful hiking trails among tall trees and in a fairly sunny area (not gloomy or rainy) for year around hiking. I love to have the sun but I like to walk under shades in outdoor activities, where can I find such places? And a plce with high quality clean air.

I also like to find a more progressive or intelligent population nearby, do you know any such areas from your travels?

Thanks!

I think Berkshire County in Western Massachusetts has everything you mentioned --- tall trees, shady areas, some sunny areas, clean air, LOTS of trails and a progressive population. This is Norman Rockwell country and the Boston Symphony Orchestra plays at Tanglewood in the summer.

BerkshireHiking.com covers alot of the scenic trails in the beautiful Berkshire Hills plus nearby areas. Berkshire County is a very progressive environmentalist area and there is quite a number of trails including part of the Appalachian Trail. Both the "Taconic Crest" trail and the "South Taconic" trail have alot of open areas on the tops of the Taconic Range. Nice views of the Hudson Valley, The Berkshires, The Green Mountains and even the Catskills.

Even now another trail is being built (or rebuilt since it is an ancient Indian path) the "Mohawk"* trail which will one day go from the Hudson to the Connecticut river.


* Also called Mahican-Mohawk Trail. This is different from the Mohawk Trail AUTO route (Massachusetts Route 2).