OutsideApr 30, 2026
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.
25 things in this story
- Upopoy National Ainu Museum and ParkMuseumlearn about Japan's indigenous Ainu people
- Hoshino Resorts KAI PorotoHotelweaves Ainu culture into design, luxurious onsen
- 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 TrailTrailHokkaido, 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 ParkPlaceHokkaido, 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
- Stonehammer geoparkSightSaint John, Canadaancient geology, prehistoric discoveries
- Irving Nature ParkSightSaint John, Canada600-acre peninsula with Bay of Fundy coastline
- Seal TrailTrailSaint John, Canada2-mile loop along fossil-laced shoreline
- Heron TrailTrailSaint John, Canada1.6-mile trail linking to Seely Point Lookout
- Seely Point LookoutSightSaint John, Canadasweeping views of Saints Rest Marsh
- Split Rock TrailTrailSaint John, Canada5.4-mile route through exposed geology
- In Step AdventuresPlaceSaint John, Canadaguided hikes in Stonehammer geopark
- Inside Out Nature CenterPlaceSaint John, Canadafamily-friendly guided hikes in Stonehammer geopark
- Five Fathom Hole TrailTrailSaint John, Canada
- Black Beach TrailTrailSaint John, Canada