Many people think of White Sands National Monument as a place to spend an hour or less driving the scenic drive and enjoying the peacefulness of the sand – or a place for kids (and kids at heart) to have…
Angel’s Landing: Best Views in Zion National Park
Ok, so I’ll admit it: I’ve never been fond of Zion National Park. Every time I’ve visited since 1997 it seemed there was nothing to do that got you far enough away from Zion Canyon to allow you to appreciate…
Horseshoe Mesa Loop, pt. 4: East Horseshoe Mesa Trail
In the last several posts I’ve been chronicling my trek around Horseshoe Mesa in the Grand Canyon. There’s only one last segment to go: the trail that connects the Tonto Trail to the Grandview Trail near the Last Chance Mine…
Horseshoe Mesa Loop, pt. 3: The Tonto Trail
The Tonto Trail is one of the wonderful features of the Grand Canyon. You can walk for miles enjoying one view after another. And it really is mile after mile – I’ve heard that the Tonto Trail is about twice…
Horseshoe Mesa Loop, pt. 2: Horseshoe Mesa
If you decide to hike the Grandview Trail in Grand Canyon National Park, the only way I can recommend it is if you go another couple miles (3+ km) out onto Horseshoe Mesa. This is where the “grand views” really…
Horseshoe Mesa Loop, pt. 1: Grandview Trail
I love the Grand Canyon! And I love finding new trails into the canyon I’ve never thought about doing before! So, last winter, when my hiking colleagues and I began talking about a dayhike on the Grandview Trail this spring,…
Views at Logan Pass of Hidden Lake
The Going-to-the-Sun Road is probably one of the best known parts of Glacier National Park, and the favorite hike at the top of Logan Pass is almost certainly the Hidden Lake. At only 3 miles (4.8 km) RT, it’s short…
The Castle Trail: Stark Beauty (and a nicely long hike!)
In the main part of Badlands National Park, I only know of one long trail that is maintained: the Castle Trail, which can be stretched to 10.8 miles (17.4 km) RT hike. However, for hikers who don’t want quite such…
Saddle Pass Trail: Beautiful Views of Badlands
Badlands is beautiful from the road – no doubt. But if you really want to see the Badlands, you’ve got to get out and experience it. A great trail to do this on is the 0.7 miles (1.1 km) (RT)…
Tonto Trail: South Kaibab to Bright Angel
I love the Grand Canyon. It’s so awe-inspiring, so much bigger and more beautiful than any picture could portray. Over the years, I’ve hiked down into the canyon several times from both rims – from the first time I visited…