If you read my last post, you’ll know that we were in the middle of Death Valley, following routes instead of trails and having a marvelous time hiking off the beaten path. We were about to have even more excitement…
Cataract Canyon Overlook in the Maze District
In my wanderings around the internet looking for places my van could access in the Maze District of Canyonlands (no easy feat!), I read about the Colorado River Overlook, also known as the Cataract Canyon Overlook. Technically, it’s a short…
Oregon Coast Trail: Whaleshead Beach to China Beach
Last summer, I happened to be driving north along the coast of California (it’s a lot cooler than driving I-5, that’s for sure!) The day after our little adventure in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park (the Ossagon Trail down to…
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…
Climbing to the Golden Trout Lakes (North Fork)
The day before I hiked up to the famous Kearsarge Pass, I happened to have a few hours to burn. I didn’t feel like sitting around the parking area, and I really, really didn’t feel like hanging out in the…
Colorful Desolation Canyon
If I were to be honest (and I try to be!), I like Desolation Canyon better than Golden Canyon in Death Valley National Park. There’s nothing wrong with Golden Canyon per se; I’ve hiked it several times. But Desolation Canyon…
The Rock Garden in Worlds End State Park
Before I headed out on the Canyon Vista Trail in Worlds End State Park, I noticed a sign across the road from the parking area (Loyalsock Canyon Vista) that pointed toward the Rock Garden. Curious, I walked over to see…
Big Ridge Road to The Neck
The Flint Trail is famous, but as a spur just before descending, the Big Ridge Road takes 4x4ers out to some of the most beautiful almost-road-accessible scenery atop the Orange Cliffs in the Maze District of Canyonlands. (At least in…
Climbing Fern’s Nipple
I finally found my favorite hike in Capitol Reef National Park, but it has a ridiculous name: Fern’s Nipple. So the story goes, Butch Cassidy named it after one of his girlfriends. I prefer the story of an early settler…