Of all the hikes I did in the Cabinet Mountains last summer, Berray Mountain was my favorite. It might have been the far-reaching views to green mountains fading into the blue of summer haze. It might have been the fun…
Swiftcurrent Lookout – So Long a Hike, So Worth It!
I’m pretty much convinced that the Swiftcurrent Pass Trail to Swiftcurrent Peak is one of the most, if not the most, spectacular hike in Glacier National Park. (And yes, it might very well beat out the Highline Trail – at…
Terrifying Trails of the Western US
Hiking any trail can have its frightful aspects – walking away from civilization and the comfort of your car and into the unknown wilds of who-knows-where (not to mention scary stuff like spiders, snakes, bears, wolves, and sheer drop-offs). But…
Alternate Views of Famous American Wilderness Areas
Ever wondered what the Grand Canyon looks like from a small distance away? The Tetons from the less-visited western side? Canyonlands from the other side of the canyon? The Statue of Liberty from New York Harbor? So many famous places…
Hidden Lake Lookout: A Most Fabulous View!
Hidden Lake Lookout! What a trail that promised much and delivered more! The name evokes pictures in my mind of a half-frozen lake, rocky crags still studded with snow, and wildflowers galore along the trail. Its 9.3 mile length also…
A New Grand Canyon View: Grandview Lookout Tower
Last spring, I was preparing to hike the Grandview Trail in Grand Canyon. During my internet searching, I ran across a Grand Canyon sight I’d never known about before: the Grandview Lookout Tower. Could possibly be, I wondered, a real,…
Clay Butte Lookout
Think snowcapped peaks. Think wildflower filled meadows. Think views across valleys with buttes rising majestically throughout it. Think about a destination that you can drive to. Wait, did I say drive to? Yes! The Clay Butte Lookout along the Beartooth…
Mississippi Watchtower
While visiting the Headwaters of the Mississippi River, a park ranger told us about another of the park’s features: a 100-foot observation tower, located in the middle of Itasca State Park. Having an hour or two to spare, we decided…
Eastern Washington Lookout on Columbia Mountain
On a recent trip to Washington State, my group found ourselves in the middle of Colville National Forest, way too far from our intended hiking destination to drive there and then take the hike on the same day. Just as…
Good Views and a Fire Lookout, Too at Numa Lookout
Glacier National Park has always been synonymous in my mind with rain. From my experience, “Partly Cloudy” means “Pouring Rain All Day”. However, on our last trip to the park, Glacier redeemed itself: although it did rain two of the…