About the Author – Diane Greer

Diane and Bill, her husband and hiking partner

Hiker, backpacker, guidebook author, and early pioneer of hiking and adventure travel on the web.

I’m a lifelong hiker, backpacker, outdoor writer, and trail guide expert with more than 30 years of exploring the top hiking destinations in the United States, Canada, Switzerland, France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, Nepal, China, Southeast Asia and beyond.

I founded HikingWalking.com to share expert-curated hiking guides, detailed maps, and thousands of photos from the world’s best hiking destinations — all based on firsthand, on-the-ground experience, not crowdsourced ratings or AI-generated summaries.

A Lifetime of Experience on the Trail

Over the past three decades, I’ve:

  • Hiked and backpacked thousands of miles across the US
  • Explored classic routes in the Swiss, French and Italian Alps and lesser-known gems in Europe
  • Completed treks in Nepal, China, New Zealand, Australia Southeast Asia and beyond.
  • Developed a deep familiarity with alpine travel, high-mountain passes, canyon country, and remote wilderness navigation
  • Photographed hundreds of trails and built detailed maps with elevation profiles to help hikers plan better adventures

This extensive field experience allows me to create accurate, opinionated, detail-rich trail descriptions that help hikers choose the right routes for their ability, season, and goals.

Author of Popular Hiking Guidebooks

I’ve written several popular hiking guides, including:

These books reflect the same philosophy as this site: clear, accurate, opinionated route descriptions based on firsthand experience — not aggregated crowdsourced ratings.

Early Internet Pioneer — Founder of GORP.com (1995)

In January 1995, before most people had heard of the web, I founded GORP.com, one of the first major online hiking and adventure travel resources.

GORP helped introduce millions of people to outdoor recreation online, long before modern travel platforms existed. Building that early site taught me how important trust, curation, and experience are in outdoor information — values that continue to guide my work today.

Why I Created HikingWalking.com

HikingWalking.com is my personal, opinionated guide to the best hikes in the U.S. and around the world. Every trail featured here is one I’ve personally selected, hiked, photographed, and documented.

The site offers:

  • Curated, expert-vetted trail guides based on 30+ years of real hiking experience
  • Accurate trail descriptions with mileage, trail conditions, driving directions and scenic highlights.
  • Detailed topo maps and elevation profiles
  • Hundreds of high-quality photos linked via GPS to the maps
  • Insight into the best basecamp towns for each hiking region
  • Regional overviews with recommended basecamp towns to help you choose where to go and when

Every hike on this site has been personally selected, evaluated, photographed, and documented. There is no crowdsourcing and no AI-generated content — just authentic, experience-backed hiking knowledge.

My goal is simple: To help hikers discover unforgettable places — and to give them the reliable, experience-driven information they need to explore confidently.

My Philosophy

I believe great hikes are about more than mileage and elevation gain. They’re about:

  • Choosing the right trail to match your ability and interest
  • Understanding terrain, elevation, weather and seasonality
  • Taking time to absorb the landscape and enjoy the views
  • Appreciating cultural and natural history
  • Planning trips around great basecamp towns that enhance the experience
  • Prioritizing safety, preparation, and real-world trail knowledge

Every trail guide on this site reflects these values.

Trail and Road Conditions

Trail and road conditions can change rapidly due to avalanches, rockslides, heavy rain, snow or ice storms, blowdowns, and other natural events. Some trailheads require high-clearance or 4WD vehicles; traction and clearance are especially important on steep, rocky, rutted roads, when crossing creeks, or when driving in mud.

Always check current trail and road conditions with the local visitor center, Forest Service office, or outdoor retailers before heading out. If you encounter unsafe conditions, turn back. Walking an extra mile or two to the trailhead is always a better option than damaging your vehicle.

About the Ratings

Every trail in this guide is selected because it offers a rewarding hiking experience. The star ratings help you compare hikes within the same region. A three-star trail is still a worthwhile choice — the rating only highlights that hikers with limited time may want to tackle the higher-rated routes first.

Let’s Explore Together

Thank you for visiting. I hope the guides here help you discover new favorite trails — whether you're planning a classic route in the Alps, a hidden gem in the Rockies, or a slow-travel hiking vacation built around an amazing basecamp town.

If you have feedback or questions about the site, feel free to reach out.

Happy hiking, and see you on the trail.

Diane Greer