In the middle of Petrified Forest National Park is a small viewpoint. It’s not remarkable except that it sits on the clifftop above boulders literally covered in petroglyphs and rock art. These aren’t just the normal squiggles or stick figures;…
History at Harmony Borax Works
The Harmony Borax Works is one of the classic stops in Death Valley National Park. I like them because they offer both great history and a good view of the surrounding area. The 20 Mule Team, made famous by the…
Finding Butch Cassidy’s Cabin at Robber’s Roost
When one of your less adventurous group members says, “There’s this off-trail adventure in the middle of nowhere with a really cool cabin built by Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch Gang; we’ve got to go see if we can…
Visiting False Kiva (after the Closure)
In Island in the Sky, one can find an unofficial trail that everyone seems to know about: False Kiva. I’m not sure if it’s never become official because of the sensitivity of the area or because of some other reason,…
Rock Art at the Puerco Pueblo
Petrified Forest is known for the Painted Desert and its petrified wood. However, beyond those worthy features are a few other things to see. Puerco Pueblo is the remains of an ancient civilization that once lived in the area, and…
An Old Mining Road & the Climbers Trail to Emmons Glacier Vistas!
Very frequently, when I leave the traditional trails behind on a whim, it would have been better for me to stay on the traditional trail. Not always, of course – I’ve found some very fun and interesting stuff along the…
French Spring above the Maze District
French Spring is one of the minimal number of attractions to see along NP-633 (the road between Hans Flat and the top of the Flint Trail) in the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park.* It’s one of the more difficult…
Official off-trail Views from the Blue Forest Route
After the Wilderness Route, the Blue Forest Route was my favorite hike in Petrified Forest National Park during my visit last fall. The good news? It’s much shorter and much, much easier to follow than the Wilderness Route. So as…
Photos from Rochester’s Lilac Festival
It’s almost time for the annual Lilac Festival in Rochester, New York! The 2024 dates are May 10-May 19, and at least at this point, it seems like the forecasters have been about right for the lilac blooms. If you…
Golden Stairs Trail to the Fins Trail to Lou’s Spring
A few days ago, I wrote about hiking down the Golden Stairs Trail and (almost) into the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park. After we had descended to the Dollhouse Road, we decided that we 1) hadn’t had enough adventure…