The sore feet are always worth it. The Valley offers some of the most spectacular hiking in North America, and the top trailheads are all within 10 miles of each other.

It rained on and off throughout the day today, which meant the poncho went on and off, but it also meant few people. A bear sighting and lots of waterfall views later, there’s not too much to complain about.

They say hiking or walking is good for the brain because it’s just enough stimulus to keep us interested while also being relaxing and tranquil. After the Valley Loop Trail today, I couldn’t agree more.