Did you know that you can walk for several miles along the shore of Lake Ontario north of Fair Haven State Park? It’s not exactly easy walking (lake stones are rough footing), but it’s doable. You’ll also get to see…
Trona Pinnacles: Spires Galore!
West of Death Valley National Park and east of the town of Ridgecrest, the Trona Pinnacles National Landmark is a very unique place to visit. The signs on-site said that the pinnacles are made of tufa (calcium carbonate), the leftovers…
1 Day, 3 Day, and 5 Day Hiking Itineraries in Arches National Park
Arches National Park may have the most fantastic scenery concentrated into the smallest space of any national park in the United States. The park is less than 120 square miles, and almost every hike in the park is along one…
Lathrop Trail: Rim to White Rim Road
There are several premier trails that take hikers from the mesa of Island in the Sky to the White Rim Road. I’m sure they’re all very nice, but out of them all I chose to hike the Lathrop Trail… and…
The Alabama Hills’ Mobius Arch Loop
On our last trip to California, we mostly stuck to famous parks. But one of our few excursions outside of national parks was to the Alabama Hills to hike the Mobius Arch Loop. I’d read about it online, and it…
Views of Eastern Canyonlands from the Lathrop Canyon Overlook
Island in the Sky has some amazing trails. Murphy Point, Grand View, White Rim Overlook, Mesa Arch, and others offer fantastic views without a whole lot of vertical-gain effort. Others – like the Gooseberry Trail, Wilhite Trail, or Murphy Hogback…
Adventuring up 20 Mule Team Canyon
A few weeks ago, I talked about exploring around 20 Mule Team Scenic Drive in Death Valley National Park. Well, partially by accident, and partially intentionally, I also ended up exploring 20 Mule Team Canyon, also located along the scenic…
10 Hikes in New Mexico Kids Love! (And Adults Love, too!)
Hiking as a family can be a most rewarding experience – not only do you get to get the kids out of the house, but you’re making memories that last a lifetime. The following are some of the favorites of…
Visit Kansas’ “Chalk Pyramids” at Monument Rocks!
It’s not well known, it’s not well-signed, and it’s down a dirt road in rural Kansas. Still, Monument Rocks National Natural Landmark is well worth the visit if you’re travel down I-70 through western Kansas. The “Chalk Pyramids”, as they’re…
The Crazy King of Wings!
Deep in the badlands of northwestern New Mexico, there is a rock formation known as the “King of Wings”. It’s pretty remarkable, and it definitely defies gravity. On one end is a kind of hoodoo or pedestal. On the other…