When I visit Lava Beds National Monument, it’s so that I can spend a day of exploring caves. These are not the spectacular, stalactite/stalagmite and cave formation type of caves – they’re lava tubes, left over from when molten lava…
Devils Hole, Whirlpool, and Niagara Gorge Railroad Grade
One of my favorite hikes I did around New York State last fall was the Whirlpool Trail Whirlpool State Park (though it might as well be in Niagara Falls State Park given how close it is to the falls –…
Sinks Canyon – Better in August
I’ve discovered something: Sinks Canyon – where the river literally disappears underground and reappears, two hours and about a quarter mile later – is much more interesting in August than in June. ‘Way back in June 2003, we…
10 Places to Go Exploring in the Western US
Trails are nice, trails are great. I like trails (especially trails that lead to and through spectacular views!) But there comes a time when the inner anti-establishment in us all decides it would like a bit of freedom – and…
Waterfalls and Fossils: Upper Darby Canyon
I was looking for hikes on the western side of the Tetons. That side is the non-tourist side; there aren’t many roads, let alone day hikeable trails, and there’s even less information on what’s out there. So my research wasn’t…
Walk through Train Tunnels: Manitou Railroad Grade
Do you like history? How about train tunnels? Or is a hike through the mountains more your thing? Along the mostly-unknown Manitou Railroad Grade near Colorado Springs, CO you can experience all these things, as well as much more. The…
The Splendor of Garnet Canyon
Garnet Canyon in Grand Teton National Park is spectacular. I mean, really, really spectacular. Other hikes (such as Table Mountain) are beautiful, but they don’t have the jaw-dropping splendor of Garnet Canyon. As you’re hiking along, you keep looking up,…
The Coolness of Lava Caves at Craters of the Moon
One of the best volcanic parks in the country has got to be Craters of the Moon National Monument in central Idaho. Fields of all kinds of hardened lava stretch in all directions, with just enough craters to give the…
Walk Through Lava Caves at Lava Beds
For a class I took, the students were told that they’d just met a space alien who told us that we had to show it around the western US. Which attractions would you take the alien to? I’ll admit that…
Experience Volcanic Remains Up Close at Newberry
There is one terrific thing about Newberry National Volcanic Monument: the volcanic features here are really cool, and you can actually experience them without signs saying, “Say out! Stay off! Unsafe! Fragile!” Some of the areas are like experiencing another…