#6. Cornel Path to Cookie Road Loop (Lynn, MA)
Terrain = ★★★★☆
Safety = ★★★★★
Scenery = ★★★★★
This trail is a hidden adventure tucked away in the Lynn Woods Reservation, with varying terrain, an iconic tower serving as a landmark, and dense trees providing plenty of cover. You may want to slow your pace in some of the rockier areas that are often accompanied by steep ascents and descents, but these are minimal and you will be rewarded with some nice views of the sizeable ponds that surround the trail.
#7. Gregory Canyon, Range View, and Flagstaff Loop (Boulder, CO)
Terrain = ★★★☆☆
Safety = ★★★☆☆
Scenery = ★★★★★
This trail is not for the faint of heart, and features a brutal 1,200 ft elevation gain in the first 2 miles. I would wager that even seasoned trail runners probably have to walk multiple portions of this climb, and any illusions of gaining momentum are quickly dashed. However, once you make it to the summit and begin the descent, you will finally feel your stride open up, though I would still exercise caution due to the jagged, rocky terrain. After all was said and done, this run was equal parts excruciating and exhilarating, but also one of the most memorable in recent years.
