Searching for hikes to take near Ricketts Glen State Park last fall, I ran across a trail report for Coyote Rocks. But instead of just doing the out and back up to the views over the valleys and hills of…
An Off-Trail Adventure to Winter Camp Arch
Winter Camp Arch is located just outside of Arches National Park, but to get to it, you’ll have to drive the dirt roads into the Yellowcat Flat area northeast of Moab, Utah. A low-clearance vehicle might be able to make…
Exploring Sandstone Falls in New River Gorge
Sandstone Falls is one of the premier attractions in New River Gorge National Park. However, it’s not near most of the rest of the main attractions in the park: I drove a good hour (it felt like more) from the…
The Best Hikes for Kids in Death Valley National Park!
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. …
NP-633: Hans Flat to the Flint Trail
The dirt road between the Hans Flat Ranger Station and the top of the Flint Trail is unique in the Maze District in that it’s on top of the Orange Cliffs. Most of the area commonly called the Maze District…
Paddling Lake Ontario: Sandbar Park to Webster Park
You might remember that last year I wrote about kayaking Irondequoit Creek from Ellison Park to Irondequoit Bay, and then about kayaking Irondequoit Bay from La Salle Landing (the mouth of Irondequoit Creek) to the mouth of Irondequoit Bay. Our…
Viewpoints in Island in the Sky
There are quite a number of viewpoints in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park. Most are right along the road (or nearly so!) and take you to sweeping vistas of the canyons below. In this post,…
Scrambling Up through Wilson Arch
Who hasn’t seen Wilson Arch while driving US-191 south of Moab? You go through a slickrock canyon and then, bam! There’s the arch high up on the cliffs right beside the highway. To be honest, I’ve driven by it any…
Ledges Trail: One of the Best in Cuyahoga Valley!
If there’s one trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park that you shouldn’t miss, it’s the Ledges Trail. Besides being a nice hike in its own merit, it showcases what some would call “bluffage” – huge rocks and cliff faces, often…
Mesa Arch Just After Sunrise
I’ve been to Mesa Arch a few times, and each one carries a special memory with it. On our first visit, we helped a couple of rangers perfectly place a sign at a trail junction. I’m still wondering why a…