I hiked the McKittrick Canyon Trail to the Notch on a March morning during spring break, one of the busiest weeks of the year in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. I started early, around 8 am, and had the canyon almost entirely to myself. By the time I turned around and headed back, I passed hundreds […]
The Hall of Horrors is one of the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. It’s short, it’s scenic, and adding on the slot canyon is one of the most thrilling experiences in the park. The Hall of Horrors is a short slot canyon that is located in the giant stacks of boulders in the […]
Guadalupe Peak, at 8,751 feet, is the highest point in Texas, and for hikers who make the goal of standing on the highest point in every state they visit, this one is a must. Tim and I hiked to the summit during Spring Break, arriving at the Pine Springs Trailhead parking lot at 7:30 am […]
The Slot is one of the best hikes to do in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. It’s also one of the most popular, so there are some very important things you need to know before you go. In this guide, we cover the best hiking routes (there is more than one way to do this hike), […]
With its desert scenery, hiking trails, rock climbing routes, hidden oases, scenic drives, and trees that look like they have been plucked from the pages of a Dr. Seuss book, Joshua Tree National Park is a joy to explore. In this guide, learn about the best things to do in Joshua Tree National Park on […]
Hike to one of the largest icefields in North America, spot humpback whales and orcas on a wildlife cruise, kayak in front of glaciers, go ice climbing or glacier hiking, and soar over the fjords in a helicopter…these are all things to do in Kenai Fjords National Park. This is one of the few national […]
Badlands, grasslands, bison, and the Little Missouri River are not the only attractions in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. You can also visit the Petrified Forest to see ancient, mineralized trees, similar to what you will see at Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. Millions of years ago, this part of North Dakota was once a […]
The Bonanza Mine Trail is a tough hike that features panoramic views over the Kennicott and Root Glaciers. It’s not the most thrilling hike at first but once above the tree line the views really open up. The pay-off comes at the end…the chance to see the abandoned Bonanza Mine and sweeping views across Wrangell […]
If you are planning your New River Gorge National Park itinerary, this is a great place to start. There are many different ways to plan the “perfect New River Gorge itinerary,” depending on your interests and how much time you have. The things to do in New River Gorge National Park are scattered along the […]
The Kīlauea Iki Trail is a great experience to add to your Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park to-do list. On this relatively short hike, walk through a rainforest, cross a solidified lava lake, and gaze out at the crater from the rim. You also have the option to add on the Thurston Lava Tube. This hike […]
Hiking the Root Glacier Trail is one of the best things to do in Wrangell – St. Elias National Park and Preserve. This national park is covered with a huge amount of glacial ice and the Root Glacier is the most accessible glacier in the park. Whether or not you have been glacier hiking before, […]
New River Gorge National Park is packed with short hiking trails that lead to cliff-top viewpoints, waterfalls, sandstone walls, and remnants of the area’s coal-mining history. One of the best things about this park is that all the hikes are short and sweet (the longest hike on this list is just 3 miles). Whether you […]
We’ve hiked most of the developed trails in Denali National Park, from the easy stroll around Horseshoe Lake near the entrance to the backcountry trails in Eielson and Kantishna. If we had to pick one trail that delivers the best payoff for the effort in the front country, the Savage Alpine Trail is at the […]
In this guide, discover the best things to do in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, from the best hikes and viewpoints to what to expect along Scenic Loop Drive. Theodore Roosevelt National Park is made up of three separate units: the South Unit, the North Unit, and the Elkhorn Ranch Unit. The […]
The Ekblom Trail and Big Plateau Loop is one of the best hikes to do in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Along this hike, you have numerous chances to spot wildlife, gaze out across the grasslands and colorful badlands, and get up close to the Little Missouri River. When we did this, we saw mule deer, […]
Located in Kokee State Park in Kauai, the Nu’alolo Trail and the Awa’awapuhi Trail are two separate trails that head out along the ridgelines of the Na Pali Coast. From the endpoint of each of these trails, you get spectacular views of the coastline. You can hike each trail separately or combine them into one […]
The McKinley Bar Trail is a great add-on to a Denali Park Road backcountry adventure. Hiking through a beautiful landscape of streams, marshes, and spruce trees makes this hike enjoyable even on a cloudy day. And on a clear day you will also be treated with specular views of Denali and the Alaskan Range. The […]
The Diamond Head Summit Trail in Oahu is one of Hawaii’s most popular hikes. This short, steep trail takes hikers up to a spectacular viewpoint of Waikiki Beach. We have hiked a lot of trails around the world and this was the most crowded, congested trail we have seen yet. If you are looking for […]