Death Valley is a very kid-friendly national park. Maybe I think that because I have such fond memories of visiting the park in my tweens and teens, exploring slot canyons, old mining areas, and sand dunes with my little siblings. …
Climbing the Cinder Cone in Lassen
There are certain trails in certain parks that you return to, whenever you happen to be in the area. Such for us is the Cinder Cone in Lassen National Park. Most of the trail isn’t all that difficult (except for…
Beacon Rock: A Maze of Railings & Catwalks!
In the Columbia Gorge is an awesome monolith, considered by some to be the largest in the world next to Gibraltar. Actually, it’s the remains of an old volcanic plug. From most vantage points up and down the Gorge, the…
Day-Use Volcano: Amboy Crater
The Amboy Crater in southern California is, according to the park service, not a unique feature. It’s simply a cinder cone in the middle of a lava field. And yet, it is rather interesting. For one thing, you get to…
‘Round the Rim of Crater Lake
I often write about trails that can be hiked in various parks. However, this week I’d like to take you on a driving tour of Crater Lake—you don’t have to even get out of your vehicle! You’ll enjoy it more…
The Craters in Craters of the Moon: Big Crater Trail
I’ve been to Craters of the Moon National Monument several times, and it’s got to be one of the best volcanic areas in the US. For miles, it seems, there is nothing but cinder cones and lava fields. And the…
The Coolness of Lava Caves at Craters of the Moon
One of the best volcanic parks in the country has got to be Craters of the Moon National Monument in central Idaho. Fields of all kinds of hardened lava stretch in all directions, with just enough craters to give the…
Walk Through Lava Caves at Lava Beds
For a class I took, the students were told that they’d just met a space alien who told us that we had to show it around the western US. Which attractions would you take the alien to? I’ll admit that…
Experience Volcanic Remains Up Close at Newberry
There is one terrific thing about Newberry National Volcanic Monument: the volcanic features here are really cool, and you can actually experience them without signs saying, “Say out! Stay off! Unsafe! Fragile!” Some of the areas are like experiencing another…
Walk into a Volcano at the Lassen Cinder Cone!
Today I’d like to talk about one of my favorite attractions at Lassen Volcanic National Park. Admittedly, it’s not very well known—although I believe a saw a picture of it in a National Geographic Magazine at one point—but we’ve really…
