Zapata Falls is a very cool hike – well, the end is cool, both interesting and cold. It’s not a long hike, which makes it a haven for families, especially on hot summer days, but the trail up to the…
Autumn at Harriet Hollister Spencer State Park
If you want a scenic scene in the Finger Lakes, I highly recommend the view over Honeoye Lake from Harriet Hollister Spencer State Park. The lake spreads out below in a forested green valley, and views extend all the way…
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…
Climbing Ladders into Caves on Bandelier’s Main Loop
It’s not every day you get to climb a wooden ladder into the home of ancient American Indians. Maybe in Mesa Verde, on an official tour, or another tour with a guide or park ranger standing close by. But on…
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…
Nampaweap Petroglyphs – The Best Rock Art in Arizona!
If you’re looking for one of the most prolific and best-preserved rock art sites I’ve ever seen in the southwestern US, look no further than the Nampaweap Rock Art Site in the Mt. Trumbull Wilderness (part of Grand Canyon-Parashant National…
Autumn in Barnes Gully to Barnes Falls
The Finger Lakes Region of New York State is filled with gullies. These watercourses – some dry except after a rain, others flowing with creeks year round – would have different names across the country: washes, canyons, gorges, and so…
Early Season Hiking on Bald Mountain
If you’re looking for one hike in the Uinta Mountains that will give you bang for buck, I’d highly recommend Bald Mountain. The scenery you drive through to get there is almost worth the visit, but once on the trail,…
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…