The Clam Beds and Red Basin Loop is the longest of the official off-trail hiking routes in Petrified Forest National Park. It’s also one of the most amazing (the Wilderness Route wins as the best off-trail route IMO, but the…
Panamint Dunes: Remote Sand Dunes in Death Valley
There are a few collections of sand dunes in Death Valley. The most famous are the Mesquite Dunes, located along the main highway near Stovepipe Wells. I’ve also been to the Ibex Dunes in the far south of the park.…
Eye of the Whale Arch + Exploring Whale Canyon
Arches National Park is known for being overrun, but there are ways to get away from the crowds. Visit very early in the morning, or go in late November-February, and while you might not have the popular areas to yourself,…
First Forest Point in Petrified Forest
So I’m trying something new in hopes of streamlining some processes here on the blog. Some of the posts (at least for the time being) will have this new way of showing the mileages, etc. They’ll also probably have fewer…
Cataract Canyon Overlook in the Maze District
In my wanderings around the internet looking for places my van could access in the Maze District of Canyonlands (no easy feat!), I read about the Colorado River Overlook, also known as the Cataract Canyon Overlook. Technically, it’s a short…
Finding Butch Cassidy’s Cabin at Robber’s Roost
When one of your less adventurous group members says, “There’s this off-trail adventure in the middle of nowhere with a really cool cabin built by Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch Gang; we’ve got to go see if we can…
Exploring Goblin Valley: Valleys 1, 2, and 3!
If you spend much time on forums about hiking in Utah, you’re sure to hear about Goblin Valley State Park. It’s doubly true if someone is asking about hiking with kids in Utah. You see, while there are trails (Caramel…
The Rock Garden in Worlds End State Park
Before I headed out on the Canyon Vista Trail in Worlds End State Park, I noticed a sign across the road from the parking area (Loyalsock Canyon Vista) that pointed toward the Rock Garden. Curious, I walked over to see…
Exploring to Ribbon Arch
Ribbon Arch was one of the destinations I didn’t quite get to find in Arches National Park back when I visited on a gorgeous November day in 2020. That was the trip where I finally visited Canyonlands and Arches after…
Adventures on the Fossil Forest Route
The Fossil Forest is a hidden gem of Yellowstone National Park. Located in the Lamar Valley, it’s not marked, nor is it especially official. But I was able to follow a trail all of the way up, so I can’t…