Just to the west of Estes Park, CO, is a small pull-off and an even smaller sign that reads, “Lily Mountain Trail”. Although it’s easy to miss, especially if you’re not looking for it, it is harder to miss the…
A “Hidden” Desert Meadow: Hidden Valley, Moab
Located just outside of Moab, Utah, it’s surprising that more people don’t know about Hidden Valley. If this scenic desert meadow was inside of one of the national parks in that area—Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, or even Canyon…
An Awesome 13er: Fitzpatrick Peak
At the end of a recent trip to Colorado, we suddenly realized that we’d climbed mountains that were 10,000, 11,000, 12,000, and 14,000 ft high. We decided that we definitely needed to climb a 13er just to complete our record. …
My First 14er – Grays Peak
In late June, I visited Colorado and decided that we had to do a 14er. I realized only later that we’d never been above 13,000 before in our lives (except in airplanes, and that doesn’t count), and if I’d known,…
Awesome Teton Trail: Cascade Canyon
The Grand Tetons are, in my opinion, some of the most beautiful mountains in the US. Especially in the spring and early summer, when they are still flecked with snow, the mountains look like no other, and are beyond describing. …
I think I saw this view in a movie…! – Wind Caves
Recently, a friend saw a picture of an awesomely desolate (and pretty) desert up on my computer screen. She was wondering where it was taken, and we told her that it was a Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California. Her…
Stunning Views of Washington’s Famed Mt. Baker: The Ptarmigan Ridge Trail
Imagine magnificent views of Mt. Baker, beautiful vistas of Mt. Shuksan, and amazing flowers and snow (yes, I said snow) to set it all off. You can see all of this and much more from the Ptarmigan Ridge Trail in…
Maroon Bells & Buckskin Pass: Totally Awesome!
So I’m told, one of the most photographed vistas in the US is of the Maroon Bells Mountains in western Colorado. Especially in early summer, when the mountains still snow-covered, the view of the Maroon Bells on a sunny day…
Unknown, and Rusticly Beautiful: That’s Bisti
Bisti National Wilderness is exactly what the name implies: wilderness. That means that this area doesn’t have the services offered at other parks. In fact, I think that the only service offered is a parking area at the trailhead. There…
Broken Bow Arch Hidden Deep in an Escalante Canyon
In a former post, I mentioned that Corona Arch was a cross between Delicate Arch in Arches National Park and Broken Bow Arch in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Well, here I’ll tell you how to see Broken Bow Arch for…