The first time we visited Chiricahua National Monument, we thought we must have entered a rock-formation-wonderland. We were used to the red rocks of Utah (Bryce and Arches have long been favorite national parks), but this was a totally different…

The first time we visited Chiricahua National Monument, we thought we must have entered a rock-formation-wonderland. We were used to the red rocks of Utah (Bryce and Arches have long been favorite national parks), but this was a totally different…
I think one of my favorite trails in northern New Mexico is at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. The rocks are really neat, and the trail is definitely not your average path through a national park. It can get crowded…
Angel Peak Campground, south of Farmington, New Mexico, is probably one of the nicer free campgrounds I’ve stayed at. It’s in the middle of nowhere – pretty much literally – so I usually stay at it when I’m visiting Nowhere,…
Looking for a fun ramble on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon that actually has some views? Try the Ken Patrick Trail that begins from Point Imperial. The trail is actually a 10 mile shuttle hike between Point Imperial…
There’s something about the gracious span of an arch that takes our breath away. The gravity-defying feat is eye-catching at worst, and enthralling at best. Many people know about famous arches and natural bridges, like Delicate Arch or Landscape Arch…
Probably one of my favorite hikes in Bandelier is Alcove House. One of the great things is that it’s not that much longer to take the Main Loop to the Alcove House Trail, so you get to see the cliff…
Death Valley is a land of extremes – incredibly dry desert, mountains, bristlecone forests, cacti, sand dunes, wildflowers, canyons, old mines, and waterfalls, not to mention rich history, hiking options galore, and the bragging rights of “the lowest place in…
Chimney Bluffs has long been a hidden gem of western New York State. Located right on the shore of Lake Ontario, the park has seen an influx of visitors in recent years to see the incredible badland spires in the…
Last week, I posted about our trek to and through the Valley of Dreams East. As spectacular as it is, even more interesting (to me, at least!) was the Valley of Dreams. It’s only about 1.25 miles down the…
I’ve loved the rock formations in the Bisti area ever since my first visit in 2003. Somehow the ability to explore without trails, to discover rock formations – the first person ever, maybe – with no signs telling you what…