La Boca Arch (and its neighbor, Harold Arch) is often overlooked because it’s a long distance down a dirt road well outside of the typical parks near Moab, Utah. But if you happen to be in the area (say, to…
Glade Creek Trail to Kate’s Falls
A short distance off of I-64 in New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia is an old rails-to-trails. It’s not especially well known or well-traveled, but it is a pretty little ride beside Glade Creek. I started at the…
Finally Finding Skylight Arch!
High above US-89 north of Page, Arizona (but before Big Water), a hole in the cliff can be seen up on a butte on the west side of the road. This is Skylight Arch. While it’s difficult to view from…
Driving the Waterhole Flat Road into the Maze
One of the most scenic dirt roads in Utah that I’ve had the pleasure of driving is the Waterhole Flat Road into the Maze District of Canyonlands (maps call it NP-633, the Flint Trail, and Canyonlands National Park Road among…
Climbing up Observation Rock
One of the most beautiful (and adventurous!) hikes we took in the Maze District in Canyonlands was the scramble up Observation Rock. No trail leads to the summit; there’s not even a cairned route to its base. But the views…
Steep but Beautiful Hike to Silver Lake
The trail to Silver Lake is quite a bit more than meets the eye. It’s only a little over 6 miles RT, but the elevation gain means the trail is much steeper than you might think. It was harder than…
A Wheelchair Accessible Guide to Death Valley National Park
Death Valley is known for its rugged landscape, extreme heat, and desert beauty. What it’s not known for is its accessibility. I’ve read that there is only one fully wheelchair accessible trail in the park (and, at the time of…
Upper Salt Creek Views from the Big Pocket Overlooks
If you’re looking for an easy hike with a long, scenic drive on a dirt road to get there, the Big Pocket Overlooks to Cathedral Point is a good option. Located near the trailhead for Upper Salt Creek just outside…
Sheepeater Cliff, the Chute, and Exploring!
I decided to hike Sheepeater Cliff because it sounded different. So many hikes in Yellowstone are to geothermal features, with a few mountains and waterfalls thrown into the mix. Sheepeater Cliff seemed like it might be a break from the…
Greenwater Valley Road – Rough but Pretty
The Greenwater Valley Road is somewhere between quite busy and totally overlooked. It’s popular in that it’s near the main attractions of Death Valley National Park – Dante’s View, Zabriskie Point, Furnace Creek, Badwater, etc. However, since it goes to…