The Fossil Forest is a hidden gem of Yellowstone National Park. Located in the Lamar Valley, it’s not marked, nor is it especially official. But I was able to follow a trail all of the way up, so I can’t…
Scrambling Daylight Peak
In my ramblings around the internet looking for cool hikes to add to my ever-growing site about Death Valley National Park, I ran across the fact that I could hike to the top of an unnamed mountain called Daylight Peak…
The Hike to Hanging Rock
One of the delights of visiting my cousin and cousin-in-law over Labor Day was when they took us up to Hanging Rock State Park in western North Carolina. We climbed to the official Hanging Rock, descended to the Upper Cascades…
Stormy Views from Storm Point
Of all the trails and viewpoints I saw (and hiked!) along the shore of Yellowstone Lake, Storm Point was my favorite. It offers sweeping views, a pleasant forest walk, a meadow or two, and even a chance to see wildlife…
20 Lakes Basin Loop from Saddlebag Lake
The 20 Lakes Basin Loop above Saddlebag Lake just outside of Yosemite National Park along the Tioga Road is a stunner at its minimum. The alpine scenery is jaw-dropping from the moment you set foot on the trail and never…
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…
Exploring Paradise Park and Beyond
Paradise Park has been on my bucket list for hiking every time I visit Mt. Hood, and every time, we don’t do it. That’s mostly due to poor weather (why hike to views of the volcano when the volcano is…
Mt. Hood Views from the Zigzag Overlook
If you’re looking for a hike on the side of Mt. Hood that poses only minor challenges and you want a big reward at the end, I highly recommend the trail to the Zigzag Overlook. While views are limited on…
Gloria Falls in Little Cottonwood Canyon
I needed a short hike on a rainy day south of Salt Lake City that didn’t have an entry fee. That’s a lot of specifics for a single hike, but three different waterfalls hit the spot: Gloria Falls, Hidden Falls,…
Day Hiking the Famous McAfee Knob
They say that McAfee Knob is the most-photographed point of the Appalachian Trail. Even thru-hikers stop to get their picture taken on the little point of rock that hangs over the edge of the cliff face – it’s almost a…