Where redwoods meet the Pacific Ocean, hike to a waterfall that empties onto a sandy beach cove.
Under the canopy of Monterey cypress trees, those twisting, wind-shaped evergreens will lead you to turquoise coastal waters pounding against the rocks. In ancient storied lands of the desert, walk among thousands of palm trees in a true oasis where streams flow through craggy, rocky canyons.
In a gorgeous valley filled with wildflowers and framed by 5,000-foot-high mountains, hike along a river preserve in a region that ancestral Chumash people believed holds mystical powers. Walk under live oak trees that shade painterly landscapes awash in spring lupine, casting a soft lavender hue across the rolling grasslands.
On the surface, hiking and walking may seem like super similar exercises because the body mechanics are basically the same. But what happens inside of you during these two distinct activities — in your muscles, joints, and heart — is worlds apart, and that’s why many people like it, Kareri Lake trek or the Kareri Dal is among one of the most incredible lake hikes in Himachal Pradesh. M for those who love hiking.
While walking on flat terrain requires little effort — it’s one foot in front of the other — walking on uneven terrain is a dynamic workout that increases your heart rate and metabolic rate, causing calories to burn faster.
And because you’re shifting your weight, balancing your body, and walking at awkward (and sometimes extreme) angles, hiking causes you to engage and strengthen muscles you wouldn’t use otherwise. As a result, you’ll notice a lot of hikers (and Coloradans) have strong hamstrings, quads, glutes, and calves.
And while hiking isn’t without its risks, it can be less taxing on your joints and tendons than some other workouts, like road running. Most trails are softer on the body than asphalt or concrete, specifically on the ankles, knees, and hips. So hiking can also be a more sustainable way to stay in shape.
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