When I first visited Black Canyon of the Gunnison in 2005, it had only been a national park for a few years. In fact, it was so new that some of the rangers still called it a national monument. I’ve…
Exploring to Gavilan Falls
Last summer, after we climbed Wheeler Peak (the highest point in New Mexico), we also wanted to climb Gold Hill. However, everyone was pretty worn out after hiking above 13,000ft., so we decided to take a rest day in between. …
Atoko Point – Bushwack Grand Canyon Viewpoint
After our great success at Honan Point, a trailless trek through the forest of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to fantastic views, we decided to try out another trailless trek on the North Rim, this one ending us…
The Lava Falls Trail has Changed in 13 Years!
It’s long been one of my group member’s dreams to go to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Even in the days when we were young and couldn’t hike very far, we trekked down as far as we could go…
The Best Day Hikes in Chiricahua National Monument
The first time we visited Chiricahua National Monument, we thought we must have entered a rock-formation-wonderland. We were used to the red rocks of Utah (Bryce and Arches have long been favorite national parks), but this was a totally different…
Some of the Best Ancient Civilization Ruins at Pueblo Bonito
Probably one of the more memorable destinations we’ve visited on our travels is Pueblo Bonito in Chaco Culture National Historical Park. From the first time we saw a photo of it on the cover of our American Automobile Association Southwestern…
Hiking the Ken Patrick Trail (East) & Enjoying the Views!
Looking for a fun ramble on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon that actually has some views? Try the Ken Patrick Trail that begins from Point Imperial. The trail is actually a 10 mile shuttle hike between Point Imperial…
Frigid Summer Fun at Zapata Falls
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…
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…
Driving (Part of) the Whitmore Trail
I read about a 2 mile trail – round trip – to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The pictures were epic. The trail didn’t even look that steep. The only thing standing between me and the trail was a…