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…
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…
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…
Brandywine Falls via the Stanford Trail & Gorge Trail
If you’ve ever seen photos of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, you’ve probably seen one (or both!) of the two famous waterfalls in the park: Brandywine Falls and Blue Hen Falls. My first and foremost plan when visiting the park for…
Devils Hole, Whirlpool, and Niagara Gorge Railroad Grade
One of my favorite hikes I did around New York State last fall was the Whirlpool Trail Whirlpool State Park (though it might as well be in Niagara Falls State Park given how close it is to the falls –…
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…
Biking the Catharine Valley Trail
One day at the library, I got out a book about hikes and rail trails in western New York State. There were quite a few great trails there (including many I’d hiked or biked before), but one that intrigued me…
The Best Hikes in Glacier National Park
Perhaps one of the most beautiful national parks in the contiguous US, Glacier National Park is also very remote. That means you might have some trouble finding lodging or a campsite, but if you can get that under control, you’re…
Spectacular Views from Lake Josephine and Grinnell Lake
En route to Grinnell Lake, the views along Lake Josephine of mountains, glaciers, and lakes make it well worth the extra miles!
The Best Hike in Webster Park – Moderate Loop
Webster Park, in the northeastern corner of Monroe County, is one of the area’s premier hiking areas. Trails wind through 550 acres of swamps, hardwood forests, peaceful pinewoods, and meadows, offering solitude (though you will see people, especially on a…