Many people will tell you that the very best view of Yosemite Valley is from Tunnel View. Others claim it’s from Glacier Point. Both of these are very nice, although I personally choose Artist Point as the best view of…
Day-Use Volcano: Amboy Crater
The Amboy Crater in southern California is, according to the park service, not a unique feature. It’s simply a cinder cone in the middle of a lava field. And yet, it is rather interesting. For one thing, you get to…
Farm Equipment from the Carrizo Plain
A few weeks ago, I posted about how you could stand on the San Andreas Earthquake Fault Line in Carrizo Plain National Monument. This week, I’d like to tell you about another of the cool features of this unknown national…
Maidenhair Falls in a Desert Canyon
Have you ever dreamed of walking through a desert canyon, discovering a stream, and then palm groves, and finally ending at a lovely waterfall? Well, maybe not that exactly, but have you ever dreamed of a hike somewhat similar to…
Walk through the Giant Sequoias in the Mariposa Grove
So you’ve seen Yosemite Valley and you’re looking for something new. Or else you’re visiting the park during the summer or fall and the famous falls aren’t falling. Whatever the reason, you’re looking for another trail that’s different from other…
Walk Across a Real Earthquake Fault Line at Carrizo Plain!
Carrizo Plain National Monument is fairly new as national monuments go. The park was established in 2001 from land in Southern California that had been a part of the Carrizo Plain Natural Area. When I visited the monument a couple…
Yosemite’s Bridal Veil Falls
This week, I’d like to touch on a hike that isn’t very long. In fact, it’s only half a mile round trip! And, the trail is paved! Still, even though it’s a short walk, it is well worth it to…
Best View in Yosemite: Artist Point
I’ve always though of two things when I hear the word “Yosemite”: lots of crowds, and waterfalls. However, in my two former trips to Yosemite Valley, I’d never gotten it through my head that it’s also very pretty. There are…
The Serengeti in the US: Saratoga Springs
In the far south-east part of Death Valley National Park is a dirt road. That’s no big surprise, as there are lots of dirt roads in this section of the park, but on this particular dirt road is another dirt…
100-Palm Tree Oasis – The Palm Bowl
In a previous post, I told about the Borrego Palm Canyon Nature Trail in Anza Borrego Desert State Park. However, you really haven’t seen a large oasis in the middle of the desert in this park unless you’ve climbed above…