Mountains have always held a certain pull, as places of power, mystery, and meaning. Across cultures and continents, they’ve inspired myths, rituals, and stories passed down through generations. If you’re an adventurous hiker looking for more than just a physical challenge, these six trails offer the chance to follow in the footsteps of warrior queens, forest spirits, pilgrims, and poets.

Queen Maeve's Cairn, Knocknarea Mountain, Ireland

Elevation: 327m (1,073ft)
Length: 6km loop trail
Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Rising above Sligo's Atlantic coastline, Knocknarea is crowned with a towering cairn that dominates the landscape. According to Irish mythology, this 5,000-year-old stack of hand-placed stones marks the final resting place of Queen Maeve of Connacht — a fierce warrior said to be buried upright in full battle armor, facing her enemies.

The Queen Maeve Trail winds gently through woodland before opening onto heathland and panoramic views across Sligo Bay. Local tradition says to bring a small stone to add to the cairn — a small act that connects each hiker to centuries of Irish folklore.

Brocken Mountain, Harz Witches' Trail, Germany

Elevation: 1,141m (3,747ft)
Length: 94km point-to-point trail (total)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate (depending on the section)

Deep in the misty forests of Central Germany, the Brocken has been associated with tales of witchcraft and supernatural phenomena for centuries. This mountain features prominently in German folklore and literature, most famously in Goethe's ‘Faust’ as the setting for Walpurgisnacht, when witches supposedly gather each year on April 30.

The Harzer-Hexen-Stieg (Harz Witches' Trail) crosses the Harz Mountains with the Brocken as its crowning point — hike up from the town of Bad Harzburg along the Devil’s Path to pass rock formations with foreboding names like the Devil's Pulpit and Witches' Altar.

During your ascent, keep an eye out for the Brocken Specter — an optical phenomenon where a hiker’s shadow is cast upon fog below, with rainbow-like rings surrounding it. No wonder the legends stuck.

Sri Pada, Sri Lanka

Elevation: 2,243 meters (7,359 feet)
Length: 9km out-and-back trail
Difficulty: Moderate

Also known as Adam’s Peak, Sri Pada holds a rare distinction — it’s considered sacred by four major religions. Buddhists believe the depression at its summit is Buddha's footprint; Hindus attribute it to Shiva; Muslims to Adam; and Christians to St Thomas. This shared reverence has made the mountain a pilgrimage site for thousands of years.

Most climbers begin their ascent in darkness to reach the summit for sunrise. The traditional route from Dalhousie involves climbing nearly 5,500 steps, illuminated by lights and dotted with tea shops. During pilgrimage season (Dec–May), you’ll join a vibrant procession of devotees ringing bells and chanting.

The reward at the summit is the mountain's legendary triangular shadow, which stretches across the landscape at dawn — a sight that has inspired spiritual awe for centuries.

Mt Shasta, California, USA

Elevation: 4,322 meters (14,179 feet)
Length: 16km out-and-back trail (Avalanche Gulch route)
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging

Towering over Northern California, Mt Shasta is one of seven global mountains believed by Hindus and Buddhists to represent Earth’s chakras (energy centers), in this case the grounding root chakra. For Indigenous Klamath peoples, this dormant volcano is a place to connect with spirits and deities through rituals and ceremonies.

Some mythologists have explored Mt Shasta in search of Telos — a fabled city said to be inhabited by advanced beings from the lost continent of Lemuria, which, according to Theosophists, sank beneath the Indian Ocean long ago. While modern science has debunked this myth, stories of strange lights and unexplained experiences still swirl around the mountain.

For hikers set solely on the summit, the Avalanche Gulch route offers the most straightforward path — though it’s no easy climb.

Volcán Lanín (Argentina/Chile)

Elevation: 3,776m (12,388ft)
Length: 21km
Difficulty: Challenging

Straddling the Argentina–Chile border, the near-perfect cone of Volcán Lanín rises above forests and lakes in the northern Patagonian Andes. For Indigenous Mapuche peoples, it’s the domain of powerful ngen (nature spirits) who control the region's weather and volcanic activity. The name “Lanín” comes from the Mapuche word for “dead rock”, referring to its long-dormant status.

The climb to its summit is non-technical but extremely demanding, requiring excellent physical condition and proper acclimatization. Most hikers begin from the Argentine side at Lago Tromen, spending a night at a refuge before making the final push to the summit.

You’ll get sweeping views from the top, but Lanín is more than just a summit — it’s an active spiritual site for Mapuche peoples, whose ceremonies honor and seek permission from the ngen for events such as seasonal harvests. Climbers must respect these continuing traditions by refraining from taking pictures (without explicit permission) and spectating from a distance.

Cerro Autana (Venezuela)

Elevation: 1,400m (4,59ft)
Length: Subject to planning
Difficulty: Very challenging

Rising dramatically from the Venezuelan rainforest, Cerro Autana is known as the Tree of Life by Indigenous Piaroa peoples. This tepui (table mountain), with its distinctive shape and natural tunnel passing through its summit, is said to be the stump of a great tree that once provided food crops to all of humanity before being felled by ancestral deities.

Getting here isn’t easy. Reaching the base involves a challenging expedition through remote jungle terrain, with local guides from Piaroa communities leading the way. The final push to the summit — where some of the world’s highest natural tunnels await — is a formidable ascent that requires technical climbing. 

Only a handful of explorers have conquered this striking landmark — for most travelers, it remains a place of fantasy, forever shrouded in myth.