Looking for a very desert-ish trail? The Marufo Vega Trail, located in the far southeast of Big Bend National Park, is the remnants of an old sheepherders’ trail. However, it also offers nice views and, when combined with the Strawhouse…
Fun on The Chimneys Trail, Big Bend
The Chimneys. They’re just rocks sticking out of the ground – nothing grand in the southern area of Big Bend National Park. Yet it’s quite an interesting destination. For one thing, there are petroglyphs on one of the Chimneys. I’m…
Santa Elena Canyon: Get Your Rock into Mexico
I don’t know why, but my group has a fascination with throwing rocks across rivers into foreign countries. It’s not animosity. Perhaps it’s because they like the challenge of trying to throw that far, or perhaps it’s like a piece…
Druid Arch
I’ve never seen an arch quite like Druid Arch. It’s free standing, has two large openings, and is somewhat reminiscent of Delicate Arch in shape. It’s really cool, and if it was only a mile from a trailhead, I’d highly…
Palo Duro Lighthouse
I have to admit that most of my Texas adventures have been south of the state’s panhandle. However, one park that I’ve enjoyed more than once was Palo Duro Canyon State Park, located only 30 miles from Amarillo near I-27. …
Maidenhair Falls in a Desert Canyon
Have you ever dreamed of walking through a desert canyon, discovering a stream, and then palm groves, and finally ending at a lovely waterfall? Well, maybe not that exactly, but have you ever dreamed of a hike somewhat similar to…
Garden of Rock Formations – Devil’s Garden
I love hiking. It’s great to get out and stretch your legs, and it’s so rewarding to see a beautiful vista or interesting sight at the end of the trail. However, there are times when it’s nice not to hike,…
Graveyard of Fallen Arches
In Southern Utah there is a fin—or a butte—or a mesa—whatever you want to call it—that sticks up almost out of nowhere just north of the Lake Powell Dam. We visited the fin while searching for Skylight Arch, which I…
Highest Peak in Big Bend: Emory Peak
One of Big Bend’s claims to fame is that it is the only national park in the US that has an entire mountain range inside of the park. The Chisos Mountains stick up out of nowhere, ascend to a height…
Big Bend Balancing Rock Arch: Grapevine Hills Trail
In Big Bend National Park is a valley that seems full of rocks. Unlike the Chisos Basin, this part of the park is defiantly desert, but with rocks and boulders strewn everywhere, up the hillsides, in the valley, and my…