Torres del Paine Turquoise Glacial Lake, Patagonia, Chile

Of tarn and tower

On a nice summer day, the rewards for completing this difficult 11-mile hike are as clear as the blue sky. The steeple-like towers of the Cordillera Paine seem to rise straight up from this tiny, jade-tinted tarn, composing quite the tableau to take in while you rest those legs. Of course, it's still a long trek back, so you'll want to watch those gathering clouds: Weather changes fast here in Patagonia, and even the best views in Torres del Paine National Park can be fleeting.