I wouldn’t call Willow Canyon the most spectacular hike in Death Valley. It’s nice, and in many places, it would be awesome and amazing. But Death Valley has so much to offer – even from the same parking area –…
Rocky Knob Overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway
I’ve heard about the Blue Ridge Parkway most of my life, but I didn’t have a chance to really enjoy it until last summer when my aunt and uncle took several of us up to “The Parkway” for the afternoon. …
How to Camp in Death Valley – for Free!
There isn’t half enough camping in Death Valley National Park for all of the visitors. That’s frequent in the national parks. But unlike most national parks, which seem to just throw up their hands and say, “figure it out for…
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…
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…
Death Valley Road Trip Hiking Itineraries!
Death Valley is a spectacular area to spend a few days in the desert! The park is big enough to hide hidden gems and limit crowds, but it also has popular destinations that are very worth visiting. I’ve visited Death…
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…
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…
Hiking up to the Big Bell Extension Mine
Quite a few weeks ago, I posted about visiting the Keane Wonder Spring and John Cyty’s Mill. Well, that’s a great hike. But for a truly spectacular hike, you can continue up the steep old mining trail behind the mill…