The number one adventure I wanted to hike when I found myself in Death Valley last fall was the Red Cathedral Canyon Crest. It’s not an official trail, but I personally know people who have hiked it and loved the…
Yellowstone’s Chocolate Pots
The Chocolate Pots are an overlooked attraction between the Artist Paint Pots and Norris in Yellowstone National Park. In some ways, it makes sense that the overlook doesn’t even have a sign (it’s not that exciting!), but if you have…
Exploring the Painted Desert to Onyx Bridge
I’ve always thought of Petrified Forest National Park as a place of overlooks and quick trails – no way to get down into the Painted Desert or other areas of the park for a nice, long hike with interesting or…
Scrambling Caramel Canyon & the Goblin’s Lair
The very first hike I took in Goblin Valley State Park was Caramel Canyon to the Goblin’s Lair, with the Three Sisters and the Goblette’s Lair thrown in for good measure. It seemed like a good idea to check out…
Death Valley’s Hole in the Rock Spring
On our way down into the valley from Daylight Peak last fall, I stopped at the Corkscrew Peak Viewpoint to hike to Hole in the Rock Spring. I wasn’t expecting much – desert springs are more often jungles of brush…
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…
Wildhorse Window & Lower Wildhorse Canyon
There’s no trail to Wildhorse Window in Utah’s San Rafael Swell. But it’s also not that difficult to find. If you follow the social trail/cairns/logic up to the arch, you’ll be treated to an alcove with a large hole in…
In Search of Kirk Arch
Last week, I wrote about hiking Upper Salt Creek Canyon to Kirk Cabin in Canyonlands National Park. I had read of the possibility of scrambling overland to Kirk Arch, across the canyon from the cabin of the same name. It…
Coyote Rocks Loop
Searching for hikes to take near Ricketts Glen State Park last fall, I ran across a trail report for Coyote Rocks. But instead of just doing the out and back up to the views over the valleys and hills of…
Exploring Sandstone Falls in New River Gorge
Sandstone Falls is one of the premier attractions in New River Gorge National Park. However, it’s not near most of the rest of the main attractions in the park: I drove a good hour (it felt like more) from the…