Trails are nice, trails are great. I like trails (especially trails that lead to and through spectacular views!) But there comes a time when the inner anti-establishment in us all decides it would like a bit of freedom – and…
15 of the Best Day Hikes in Southern Utah
If I had to pick one desert state to say was my favorite, Utah would almost certainly win. I love the rock formations, the arches, the canyons, the scrubby desert; it’s all lovely in a very rustic sort of way. …
12 Epic Hikes in the Western US, Pt. 2
This is a guest post from one of my group members. She’s young, fun-loving, and is apt to tell you that she spent her first 3 birthdays hiking the wildernesses of the US, so she’d be just as happy to…
Devil’s Garden Trail – Epic Arches Experience
Last week, a group member and I were talking about “epic hikes” we’ve taken over the years. He mentioned Devil’s Garden in Arches, and we were both shocked when I realized I’d never posted about it. Really, if you’re into…
Alternate Views of Famous American Wilderness Areas
Ever wondered what the Grand Canyon looks like from a small distance away? The Tetons from the less-visited western side? Canyonlands from the other side of the canyon? The Statue of Liberty from New York Harbor? So many famous places…
12 Trails that Require Hands & Knees, River Crossings, and Other Adventures
Getting to the most rewarding views can be hard. In fact, it can be very difficult. Sometimes we just have to leave the comforts of a defined trail behind to cross the waist-deep rivers, scramble up scree and talus on…
10 Best (and worst) Day Hikes in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
I think I can safely say that Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is one of my favorite parks ever. There’s such a diversity of scenery (i.e., of different kinds of rock formations, badlands, etc.) and most parts aren’t extremely well-visited, so…
Looking Back at Family Hike Reviewing History
This week, I was going through some old files on my computer and ran across a document with some of my siblings’ compositions we’d written for school in the early 2000s. This document contained several reviews of parks we’d recently…
Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint: A New Angle on an Old Arch
One day, I was reading a touristy book. These usually aren’t down my line of things to do on a trip, but occasionally a good trail is mentioned. In this particular book, there was a photo of Delicate Arch from…
Pioneer Park: A Place to Explore Utah
What do you do when you’re suddenly stuck in a strange town because your vehicle has broken down? Whenever possible, I try to make lemonade out of our lemon – or as I said when we were stranded for three…