Did you know that there are trails along the shore of Hemlock Lake in the Finger Lakes Region of New York? The lake itself is popular with canoeists and kayakers because very few motorized boats are allowed on the water…
Death Valley Views from Wildrose Peak!
There are a few great things about climbing Wildrose Peak in Death Valley National Park: 1) You get a great view of Death Valley, 2) You don’t need a 4×4 or high clearance vehicle to get to the trailhead, 3)…
Late Afternoon at the White Rim Overlook
If you can only visit one overlook for close-to-sunset in Island of the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, I’ll give you two choices: 1) Grand View Overlook, and 2) White Rim Overlook. Both offer fantastic views of the eastern…
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 –…
Photographing Sunrise at the Alabama Hills
One of the great things about camping in the Alabama Hills is that you can get up early and see the sunrise from amongst the spires, rocks, and arches. Watching the first rays of sunlight hit Mt. Whitney and then…
Windows Loop & Double Arch!
If there’s a scene in Arches National Park that’s totally classic (other than Delicate Arch!) it’s the view of the North and South Windows. At sunrise, you’ll often find photographers lining up to get iconic shots of both or either…
Erie Canal: Meridian Center (Rochester) to San Souci Park (Brockport)
For Rochester locals, the Erie Canal Path is one of “the” places to go biking, running, and hiking. I even knew some kids who would hitch up their dog to a sled and go for a ride on the canal…
Death Valley Oasis at Darwin Falls!
A perennial waterfall? In Death Valley? You’ve got to be kidding! But really – blazing hot summer, parched autumn, or during the (slightly less arid) winter/spring, Darwin Falls in the far west of Death Valley National Park is a beautiful…
Biking the Catharine Valley Trail
One day at the library, I got out a book about hikes and rail trails in western New York State. There were quite a few great trails there (including many I’d hiked or biked before), but one that intrigued me…
Canyonland Views from Murphy Point
The Murphy Trail in Canyonlands National Park can be a little bit confusing – not because hiking it is all that difficult (it’s a trail and it’s pretty hard to get off of it), but because the name is actually…