Chase Dekker

Over 5 million visitors flock to Yosemite National Park in California's Sierra Nevada Mountain Range every year to take in the geological splendor. While most visitors get to see the park's waterfalls, very few ever get to witness the Firefall. For two weeks between mid-late February, a small waterfall that cascades off the eastern side of El Capitan turns into a colorful explosion as the sun s...

Garrapata State Park is located along California's Highway 1, roughly 5 miles south of Carmel, California. The park is entirely free with multiple pull-outs and serves as one of the first grand views travelers encounter while heading south from the Monterey Peninsula to southern California. Garrapata is where you will find many scenic and iconic vistas of both the San Lucia Mountain range and j...

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is located just a few miles north of the city of Santa Cruz, along Highway 9. The park is home to an array of hiking and biking trails, but the crown jewel of the park is the Redwood Grove Loop Trail, which is only a 1/4 mile in from the park's entrance. Many people will enter the State Park and pay the $10 fee, but a better option is to park right outside the ...

Mt. Rainier rises over 14,410 feet and the views you get from the Paradise area on the South side of the mountain are unparalleled. Paradise is one of the few places in Mt. Rainier National Park that is open to visitors during the winter months for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and many other winter activities. Most visitors to the Paradise area will park at the main parking lot ...

Disclaimer: Please keep a respectful distance from the whales and other sea wildlife for their protection and your own. Note, changing the animal's natural behavior is a violation of federal law.Every year, humpbacks whale migrate north from their winter and breeding grounds down in southern Mexicon and Central America to feed in the cold waters of Monterey Bay, California. Even though the wha...

The Gros Ventre (pronounced gro-vant) lies on the southern boundary of Grand Teton National Park, and is home to a great deal of wildlife. As the seasons change, so do the wildlife that frequent this area, but no matter what time of year you hike along the river, you're bound to see something spectacular.In autumn, the Gros Ventre comes alive, even as it fades into winter. The cottonwood trees ...

This hike starts out at Artist Point, where already you can see jaw-dropping scenery of Mt. Shuksan, Baker, Coleman, and many other peaks of the North Cascades. No matter what time of year you visit, you are bound to get unbelievable views and photos.Artist Point is the furthest destination along Mt. Baker Highway (WA-542), sitting at 5,100 ft above sea level. The approximately 58-mile drive to...

Grand Prismatic Spring is Yellowstone's largest hot spring and is the third largest spring in the world. Stretching over 350 feet, it is a gargantuan pool of steaming hot and colorful water that cannot be missed while visiting the world's first national park. However, due to its size, it is impossible to fully appreciate from the boardwalk along its north side. However, there is a way to get a ...

Elkhorn Slough is located in Moss Landing, which is in the dead center of Monterey Bay, California. Elkhorn Slough is one of California's largest wetlands and part of a National Estuarine Reserve located in central Monterey Bay, California, just a short trip from the Monterey Peninsula and the Santa Cruz area. The wildlife rich reserve winds inland many miles and provides an important feeding a...

Every year, over 5 million visitors make their way through Banff National Park to soak in the surrounding peaks, bountiful wildlife, and turquoise-colored lakes. With this many visitors, it's hard to find yourself alone, especially during the peak seasons of summer and fall. Right next door to Banff National Park, however, is a beautiful little secret: Kananaskis Country.Kananaskis Country lies...

Nestled at the end of a long valley, the village of Zermatt is constantly dwarfed by the tooth-shaped Matterhorn. You can virtually hike anywhere around Zermatt and see the Matterhorn, but there are some places that offer better views than others. One of those places is a small lake called Grindjisee.Grindjisee sits thousands of feet above Zermatt, in an area commonly referred to as Sunnegga. F...

Located in the remote northeast corner of Iceland, the newly built harbor of Hafnarholmi lies just a few miles north of Borgarfjodur Eystri (aka Bakkagerdi). While the harbor is new, the puffin colony is not and it is easier than ever to access the grassy mounds where they like to build their nests. Before we go any further, it is important to note that the Atlantic puffins do not hang around I...

This newly discovered waterfall has become a favorite for photographers – even so, it has yet to receive an official name. The waterfall is located just 300 feet off the Ruckel Creek Trail in the Columbia River Gorge, but it can be quite challenging to access. The rewards are well worth the slippery trail, however. On the trail, you will climb some pretty good grades through beautiful thickets ...