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…
17 Arches Across the West (you probably haven’t heard of)
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…
Climbing the Ladders to Alcove House
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…
Best Day Hikes in Death Valley National Park
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…
Awesome Formations at Chimney Bluffs State Park
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…
Incredible Rock Formations in the Valley of Dreams
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…
Visiting the Valley of Dreams East
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…
Sneak Peak: Southwestern Variety at its Finest
I just got back from another hiking-adventure trip across the western US! It was different than any before, even as we visited old and new sites across Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and even Utah and Wyoming. There were high…
The 6 Best Day Hikes in Arches National Park
Arches National Park is one concentrated lot of sandstone – filled with arches, rock formations, and incredible views. Unlike many national parks, where you might drive an hour just to get between one hike and the next, Arches is small…
A Misty Morning Stroll on Arcadia Beach
Arcadia Beach, along US-101 south of Cannon Beach, isn’t worth a long stop. There just isn’t that much there. But it does have some interesting features, so if you happen to be passing by, consider 10 or 15 minutes to…