Winter won't last forever, and with the return of fine weather you'll surely be itching to head out and walk for a few days — or more. If you're looking for spring trek ideas, here are some nearby destinations where you'll find sunshine, mild temperatures and, above all, breathtaking scenery to walk through!
Spring treks: try the Rif massif in Morocco
In northern Morocco, near the Mediterranean, the Rif mountain range contains Morocco's lowest mountains — ideal in spring but also walkable in the heart of winter. You'll find vast green oak forests and slopes covered in wild flowers. A few-day trek through the Talassemtane national park is a perfect way to discover a multitude of Berber villages under a gentle sun and pleasant Mediterranean air. The scenery is magnificent and there are plenty of route options, ranging from 4-day walks to 10-day treks.
Spring treks: walking in Tenerife in the Canary Islands
Head south to guarantee sunshine before everyone else! The Canary Islands offer a dream setting combining sea and mountain with an exceptional climate. With the Teide volcano at 3,718 metres above sea level, you get a sense of the elevation gains on offer on this island. There are many possible walking routes on Tenerife, taking you through landscapes of multicoloured lava flows, lush forests of laurels and pines, and deep canyons. Don't miss the stunning Anaga massif — a gem to explore in spring with a flora found nowhere else on Earth. And you're never far from the Atlantic shoreline, which brings fresh, pure air and unique viewpoints.
Spring treks: crossing the Bardenas desert
This lunar landscape of steppe and erosion-sculpted rock at Bardenas Reales lies between Navarre and Aragon, just south of the French border. You'll find fairy chimneys, tabletop hills, and numerous ruiniform ravines.
This strange and unique European landscape will evoke the American West and amplify the sense of adventure on your hiking trip. The Bardenas offer a wealth of hiking and trekking options, whether for a day, a weekend or a full week. A superb, easily accessible escape right on the doorstep of France, within a natural park classified as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The region also has extensive accommodation infrastructure and local organisations to guide you along the way.
Spring treks: the Verdon Gorge
The Verdon is arguably the most beautiful canyon in Europe! It also offers a wealth of cliff-edge trails where beauty and vertigo compete for your attention. Walk the White-Martel trail, the Bastidon, the Racolas belvedere, the Escalés… there is in fact a huge number of routes to tackle, each with its own appeal. As the region gets quite busy in summer, spring is a far more peaceful time to visit and you'll find plenty of charming gîtes to stay in. At the end of your hiking trip, don't miss Lac de Sainte-Croix — an exceptional colour and remarkably pure water! A few slightly vertiginous sections of these trails demand real care.
Spring treks: exploring the Cathar Country
Still in France, and favouring the south to guarantee good weather, you can head to a wonderful region with an abundance of walking trails: the Cathar Country.
You can follow the "Citadelles du Vertige" trail: Quéribus, Peyrepertuse, Puilaurens, Puivert and Montségur — a journey from castle to castle, uncovering the history of the Cathars and a beautiful corner of France. The region is very popular with walkers as it offers highly varied and easily accessible trails. It is also a relatively undiscovered spot, so you can appreciate its beauty in complete peace and quiet.
A spring trek is always a great idea. It lets you rediscover the pleasure of long days on the trail and makes for excellent preparation for longer summer trips. And it's the best way to shake off the winter gloom. So don't miss the chance to breathe in that fresh air surrounded by nature coming back to life, with beautiful mild and sunny days ahead — and head out onto the trails with the right clothing for spring hiking!
