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…
Explore Willow Springs Canyon
Willow Springs Canyon is a mostly-unknown scramble of a hike near the western border of Arches National Park. You’ll need 4×4 to get to the trailhead, but with high clearance, you can get close enough to the trailhead to walk…
Scrambling up Lake Hill (aka the Chocolate Drops)
In my perusals of unofficial routes in Death Valley, I ran across three hikes that seemed fascinating (to me, anyway!) in Panamint Valley: Panamint Dunes (which is actually an official route, though its trail is pretty much invisible in many…
The Best Hikes in Canyonlands National Park
At this point, Canyonlands ranks as one of my favorite national parks to visit in Utah. I love the variety of long-ranging canyon views, rock formations, arches, slot canyons, mountain views, and exploration opportunities. There are also hikes for every…
Lake Tahoe from the Basalt Overlook
To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure if the trail I took from Skyland to the Basalt Overlook (just off the Tahoe Rim Trail) is all that official. But I found it on AllTrails, so that counts for something, right? …
Spectacular Yellowstone Views from Avalanche Peak
Avalanche Peak had been on my “must do next time I’m in Yellowstone” list for about 10 years. (No joke… and yes, I visited Yellowstone during that time.) The more I saw friends’ photos of it, the more I knew…
An Old Mining Road & the Climbers Trail to Emmons Glacier Vistas!
Very frequently, when I leave the traditional trails behind on a whim, it would have been better for me to stay on the traditional trail. Not always, of course – I’ve found some very fun and interesting stuff along the…
Exploring Resurrection Canyon
In the way of explorable canyons, Resurrection Canyon near Big Water in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is a stand-out. It’s not a slot – it’s rarely less than 20ft. wide – but it boasts a wild assortment of rock…
Delicate Wraith Falls in Yellowstone
Wraith Falls in the northern part of Yellowstone National Park is a mostly-overlooked little gem. It’s not a very long hike, nor is the waterfall the most impressive in the park, but it is pretty and fairly un-hiked as trails…