10 Beautiful Hiking Routes That Go Easier on the Knees for Retirees

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By Samantha Collins

While everyone ages, once you’ve reached the age of 60, you might begin to notice that your body has more limitations than it used to. However, even with age, that shouldn’t deter boomers from exploring new hiking trails throughout the world. These incredible hiking trails are mild to moderately easy for retirees to endure. Have you been?

1. Hot Springs Mountain

Cloudy Vista at Hot Springs National Park
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Hot Springs Mountain is a scenic hiking trail located in Arkansas and is easy for boomers to complete. Did you know that Hot Springs Mountain has over forty natural hot springs? The only downside to these hot springs is that they are so hot that hikers can’t bathe in them; however, you’ll find many bathhouses along the trail, which are perfect to use after your hike.

2. Landscape Arch

Moab-Utah
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Boomers will find the Landscape Arch trail on the very top of Arches National Park, one of the world’s largest formed arches. The Landscape Arch trail is a trail that is easy for beginner hikers, so even boomers over the age of 60 shouldn’t have a hard time completing this trail if they’re in good health. The track is 2 miles long and has a breathtaking landscape towards the end, making it an ideal spot to capture photos once completed.

3. Jordan Pond Path

Jordan-Pond-Path
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Another hiking trail great for boomer beginners is the Jordan Pond Path, a simple trail that winds in a circle around Jordan Pond. This trail is located at Acadia National Park and requires a fee, so boomers wanting to hike this trail should come with cash before making the hike. Even though this hike has a path, some areas of the trail can become rough, but with the proper hiking gear, you’ll find that this hike is easy to navigate.

4. Glacier Point

Glacier-Point
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Located in Yosemite is Glacier Point, a mile-long trail that doesn’t take more than 30 minutes to complete. This is a mostly flat trail, and even though there is an area with an incline, it’s hardly noticeable. Once you reach the end, you’ll be sucked in by its gorgeous views.

5. Salt Creek Interpretive

Salt-Creek-Interpretive
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Another beginner-friendly hiking trail for boomers is Salt Creek Interpretive, located in Death Valley National Park in California. Following along the stream of Salt Creek, the hike is very easy to complete. The Salt Creek hike is only a half mile long and is best visited during the months of February and April so you can catch a glimpse of the creek’s Pupfish.

6. Lower Yosemite Fall

Lower Yosemite Fall Trail
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The Lower Yosemite hiking trail is 1 mile long and can be completed in 30 minutes, but it’s still a beautiful trail to tackle regardless of its short hike. Lower Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in the United States, and if you’ve ever had the luxury of traveling during the spring or summer, this is peak waterfall season. If traveling during these times, it’s wise to bring a rain jacket, and although the hiking trail is open year-round, you should avoid hiking this trail during the winter due to icy conditions.

7. Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
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Shenandoah National Park is filled with a variety of hiking trails and is one of the best places in the United States to go hiking for boomers. While some hiking trails are challenging, there are other hiking trails that are suited to beginner hikers who want to avoid the struggle. One of the trails most suitable for boomers in Shenandoah National Park is Limberlost Trail, and not only is it suitable for boomers, children can complete this hike since it has many benches for breaks along the way.

8. Wild Pacific Trail

Wild Pacific Trail
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Located in Vancouver is the Wild Pacific Trail, which allows boomers to stretch their legs on a long hiking trip. While hiking this trail, you’ll get to beautiful view of the Vancouver Island coastline. This trail is considered moderately easy and is a must-see when visiting Vancouver Island.

9. Hidden Lake Overlook Trail

Hidden-Lake-Overlook-Trail
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Hidden Lake Overlook trail is a 3-mile round trip trail and is very manageable, even if you’re a boomer who is out of shape. Starting behind the visitor’s center, you’ll hike next to a tundra that has an abundance of wildflowers during the summer, and with its slightly uphill hike, you may get to see goats and long-tailed weasels along the way.

10. Mesa Rock Trail

Hiking on the blue mesa trail
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Rounding off our list is Mesa Rock trail, a 2-mile round trip that will take boomers along a stone staircase. This 200-foot hike to the shop is more challenging than some of our other listed trails, so make sure you bring plenty of water, especially if you plan to complete this hike during the summer.

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