Amazing hikes must all check off a few boxes to earn that label. A sweeping vista or two is essential, some unique flora and fauna is almost par for the course, and mesmerizing geological features like waterfalls or ice fields certainly don’t hurt. Add in a bit of isolation and you have a recipe for success. But whether it’s ancient temples, one-of-a-kind mountain peaks, a strong sense of history, or just truly epic landscapes, each bucket-list hike in this roundup has that extra something special it takes to stand above the rest. I’ve been a professional travel writer for most of my adulthood, and these are the all-time best places that have impressed me over the years.

Read more at Outside Online.