Brian FuldaExplorer
Hi! I'm Brian, a photographer based in San Francisco that has an avid love for the outdoors, travel, hiking, redwoods, astronomy, guitar, cameras, and writing.
Horseshoe Bend is an unforgettable place. If you find yourself in the area, don't miss it! I made the mistake of going to Antelope Canyon (in the same town of Page) and didn't even know Horseshoe Bend existed at the time. I went back, and it was well worth it. It's pretty incredible to realize that there's a 1,000 foot drop beneath you down to the winding Colorado River below. For even more interesting vantage points, continue past the popular viewing area to the right to get a view of the true height of the cliffs with tiny people for comparison. NOTE: this is not a 1.5 mile hike like the post says. It's more like a 1/4 mile round trip from the parking lot. Much shorter.
5.0
Let it be known that this hike is NO JOKE. It is only for people who are in relatively good shape and can handle hiking 14 miles round trip. My girlfriend and I did this hike in one day instead of backpacking it over two days. We started at around 5:30AM just before sunrise and got back at 7PM, just after sunset. This is a very long, demanding hike. Quite dangerous too. You must bring adequate supplies (at least 1 gallon of water per person, food, headlamp/flashlight, etc) to do this hike. Many people have died on Half Dome. The reason for this is mostly because storms roll in very quickly here and people try to ascend Half Dome anyway, but when it rains, the granite becomes slippery and people have slipped on the cables and fallen to their deaths. My recommendation to everyone that the original post leaves out: BRING GLOVES. Yes, there is a pile of gloves at the base of the cables. Are they good? Not really. I tried some. I found it way better to bring my own. I went with rubber gardening gloves with extra grip on the fingers and they helped immensely. Please, do yourself a favor and research this hike before attempting it. Do not try to do this hike without hiking boots with good grip. If you go prepared, and you get a permit, and you have good weather, this hike is unparalleled. You will feel like you accomplished something huge in your life once you finished it. Be safe out there, and happy trails!
5.0
Avenue of the Giants is something you must do before you die. It has tens of thousands of old growth redwoods lining each side of the highway, and best of all, they are protected by Humboldt Redwoods State Park. You will see so many redwoods that you'll want to get out and stop every mile to take more photographs. Do it! It's worth it.
5.0
The park rangers here have gotten particularly more stingy in recent years about following the rules to have a bonfire. Do be aware that the rangers will come around at 9pm sharp every night with a shovel to put out your bonfire. Rules you should obey: - Keep your fire in an actual fire pit. If you fail to do this you might get cited. Be sure to get there early (around 5pm) to reserve your spot. They're free and first come first serve. - Have a water pail to put out your fire nearby. Although fire can't spread on sand, the park rangers get annoyed if you don't have anything to put it out with. You can just bring a bucket and fill it with ocean water. - Alcohol is not permitted. A lot of people drink anyway. In my experiences, and I've done a few bonfires, it seems the rangers are very used to it and are pretty lenient about it. - Last but not least, don't piss the rangers off. They will most likely find a way to cite you if you annoy them. When they come around at 9 to put out your fire, obey them and pack up. If you don't, you'll probably get a ticket. There is a Safeway across the street, if you need to fill up on supplies. They also have firewood, but it's definitely cheaper to get it elsewhere or bring your own. All in all, it's always a lot of fun. DRESS WARM!
4.0
This place is so fascinating if only for its distinct geological features. Standing in a canyon of ferns with walls over 40 feet high is surreal. One thing I would highly recommend bringing is knee-high rain boots. Depending on water levels, it is very difficult to proceed through the canyon without getting your feet wet. I wore my high ankle waterproof hiking boots and they weren't enough in most places. During the warmer months, they have footbridges in place, but during the colder months (winter/spring), you have to traverse it yourself. As others have said, wild elk frequent the area often and should not be fed/disturbed. While mostly docile, these animals are huge and can easily hurt you. Please keep your distance. Do be aware that the day use fee is $8.00 (cash only) which can be paid at the entrance gate. I was able to drive through the two small river crossings on the way to the trailhead with my Honda Insight, but it would have definitely helped to have an SUV. As always, be smart, and use your best judgment with the water levels.
5.0
Sadly, as others have noted, the back portion of the ship has been burned down. Some photographer doing a technique called spinning steel wool lit it on fire one night in February 2016 and it caught on fire. The ship was already in disrepair, but this made it significantly worse. However, The bow of the ship is still in good shape. Still worth visiting, but not as good as it used to be.
4.0
I grew up near Bushkill Falls so I went often as a kid, and loved it every time. It's a beautiful place for photography (especially in the fall) and the main falls are 100 feet tall, making it one of the tallest waterfalls in the state. The only reason I give it 4 stars is because this land is privately owned and they charge you a whopping $13.50 to see it. This place should be a state park, and free to all.
4.0
The Road to Hana is not for the faint of heart, as parts of it is one lane and has hairpin turns. However, this is not to say it's a difficult drive. Exercise caution, obey the signs, and you will be fine. This is a very popular road for tourists, and you will see a lot of small shops on the way aiming at reeling some tourists in. Overall, though, it is a very beautiful drive with dozens of waterfalls and hikes. I recommend driving it from Paia all the way to the Kipahulu Visitor Center, which is the start of the Pipiwai Trail to the Seven Sacred Pools and Waimoku Falls. Do not go any farther than this (onto the Piilani Highway) unless you are prepared to drive even scarier one lane roads on the sides of a sea cliff that are very rugged and at some points unpaved.
5.0
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