Irving Nature Park, Saint John

OutsideApr 30

Forget National Parks, Geoparks Are the Most Underrated Hiking Spots on Earth

While national parks often separate people from the land, UNESCO Global Geoparks celebrate the relationship between human culture and the earth’s rarest geological phenomena. Here's why these 229 sites are one of the best-kept secrets in travel.

600-acre peninsula with Bay of Fundy coastline

25 things in this story

Stonehammer geoparkSightancient geology, prehistoric discoveries
Irving Nature ParkPark600-acre peninsula with Bay of Fundy coastline
Seal TrailTrail2-mile loop along fossil-laced shoreline
Heron TrailTrail1.6-mile trail linking to Seely Point Lookout
Seely Point LookoutSightsweeping views of Saints Rest Marsh
Split Rock TrailTrail5.4-mile route through exposed geology
In Step AdventuresPlaceguided hikes in Stonehammer geopark
Inside Out Nature CenterPlacefamily-friendly guided hikes in Stonehammer geopark
Five Fathom Hole TrailTrail
Black Beach TrailTrail
Elsewhere
Toya-Usu UNESCO Global GeoparkSightHokkaido, Japanstretch of volcanic terrain with caldera lakes
Shikotsu-Toya National ParkSightHokkaido, Japanfiery centerpiece within Toya-Usu geopark
Mt. UsuSightHokkaido, Japanactive stratovolcano with four eruptions in past century
Rie EgawaPlaceHokkaido, Japanguided hikes with Sotoasobu Guides
Sotoasobu GuidesPlaceHokkaido, Japanoffers guided hikes with Volcano Meister Rie Egawa
Mt. Usu Climbing RouteTrailHokkaido, Japanshort, steep 1.8-mile climb to volcano crater rim
Mt. Usu RopewaySightHokkaido, Japanwindow-walled gondola open year-round
Mt. Usu Outer Rim TrailViewpointHokkaido, Japan3-mile loop to Lake Toya Observation Deck
Lake Toya Observation DeckSightHokkaido, Japanepic view from Mt. Usu Outer Rim Trail
Nakajima Island LoopTrailHokkaido, Japan5-mile loop through native spruce and oak
Akebono ParkParkHokkaido, Japancampsite on the edge of Lake Toya
Arutori-misaki Camp SitePlaceHokkaido, Japancampsite near the base of Mt. Usu
Okishi Seaside CampsitePlaceHokkaido, Japancampsite on the shoreline of Uchiura Bay
Upopoy National Ainu Museum and ParkMuseumShiraoi, Japanlearn about Japan's indigenous Ainu people
Hoshino Resorts KAI PorotoHotelShiraoi, Japanweaves Ainu culture into design, luxurious onsen

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Irving Nature Park

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Forget National Parks, Geoparks Are the Most Underrated Hiking Spots on Earth