It’s not gorgeous, it’s not all that tall, and it’s not all that easy. So why climb Telescope Peak in Death Valley National Park? One reason is bragging rights: It’s quite something to say you’ve been to both the lowest…
Overlook Death Valley & China Lake from Rogers Peak & Bennett Peak
If you happen to visit Death Valley in the spring, fall, or summer, you’ll probably want to get out of the valley as quickly as possible to escape the heat. The problem is that one of the few ways to…
Rustic Trail North from Glass Beach – Beautiful!
If you want a rustic, realistic coastal trail experience near Fort Bragg (or want a more natural, realistic walk from Glass Beach), I highly recommend the near-social trail that extends north from Glass Beach along the bluff tops to the…
The “Hard” Trail from Glass Beach
Two sections of trail currently strike off from Glass Beach in the town of Fort Bragg, California. After you’ve seen the glass on the beach, you might as well take the “Hard Trail” south along the top of the headlands…
Visiting Sea Glass at Glass Beach
A couple years ago, I saw a picture of beautiful sea glass with the ocean behind. The caption explained that this was Glass Beach, in Fort Bragg, California. I was disappointed to find Fort Bragg so far south, my intent…
Misty Morning at Fort Clatsop
The Lewis & Clark National Historical Park is a wide-spread park (or really, collection of park units) near Astoria, the far north of Oregon, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. As far as we can deduce, this is…
Mono Pass: Totally Beautiful!
There are two Mono Passes in California, and they happen to be only about 40 miles apart. I’m sure the one on the eastern edge of Yosemite National Park is very nice, but I’m also sure it can’t compare with…
Spatter Cone Fascination at the Fleener Chimneys
Where to go if you want a picnic supper in Lava Beds National Monument? While there are a few picnic areas in the park (namely, near the visitor center), there are a few tables in a more natural setting near…
Hiking Artist Point via the Old Carriage Road
I hiked Artist Point about 7 years ago. The view was spectacular, like nothing else in the world, and so worth doing. However, I couldn’t say the same for the trail. The path up from the Tunnel View parking area…
10 Best Day Hikes On & Around Mt. Hood
Mt. Hood may be an icon of northern Oregon, and its Timberline Trail may be epic with backpackers, but it also offers some great day hiking. The scenery can be a bit varied, too – waterfalls, lakes, meadows, rock scrambles,…