What do you do when you’re suddenly stuck in a strange town because your vehicle has broken down? Whenever possible, I try to make lemonade out of our lemon – or as I said when we were stranded for three…
Fairyland Trail Loop: A Long, Lovely Bryce Hike
I love Bryce Canyon National Park. Somehow, I just can’t resist creamsicle-colored hoodoos sticking straight up toward the deep blue sky, especially when I’m hiking among the spires. However, the park isn’t that large, and the areas with the hoodoos…
5 Best Hikes in Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park always has fond memories for me. From swimming in a palm tree oases to exploring a desert slot canyon, there is a variety of hiking opportunities and natural attractions to see. In this post, I’ll talk…
Sea Stacks, Sea Arches, & Wilderness on Ruby Beach
Olympic National Park really is a study in contrasts: from snowcapped mountains to rain forests to ocean beaches. This makes it a really fun place to visit because there are so many varied activities in the park. My personal favorite…
Day-hiking Coyote Gulch: Waterfalls, Arches, and Solitude
Near Hole-in-the-Rock Road in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument there is a wash that turns into a canyon, and through this canyon runs a small, perennial stream. The canyon (which goes under the name of Coyote Gulch) also hides several…
10 Ways to Improve Your Sunset at Delicate Arch Experience
I’ve hiked the Delicate Arch Trail more times than I care to count, but I still love it. There’s something about standing across the valley from the arch looming upwards, tall and grand, that brings an awe at the beauty…
Dry Fork Slots, pt. 1: Peek-a-Boo Slot
On a recent trip to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (May 2013), I hiked again one of the first hikes that drew me to the region: The slot canyons of the Dry Fork of the Coyote Gulch (Dry Fork Slots). Walking…
Fun on The Chimneys Trail, Big Bend
The Chimneys. They’re just rocks sticking out of the ground – nothing grand in the southern area of Big Bend National Park. Yet it’s quite an interesting destination. For one thing, there are petroglyphs on one of the Chimneys. I’m…
Druid Arch
I’ve never seen an arch quite like Druid Arch. It’s free standing, has two large openings, and is somewhat reminiscent of Delicate Arch in shape. It’s really cool, and if it was only a mile from a trailhead, I’d highly…
Break up a trip across Kansas at Monument Rocks!
Although it’s small, I’ve never seen anyplace quite like Monument Rocks National Natural Landmark. Also known as the “Chalk Pyramids” Monument Rocks features a group of spires that seem to stick straight up out of the ground. These spires range…