Chris MongeauExplorer

The Basin is just one stop on the Pemigewasset Recreational Trail that follows along I-93 through Franconia Notch. The parking lot for the Basin is easily accessible from either north or south on I-93, and it has it's own exit sign which can't be missed.Park in the lot and follow the signs towards the Basin. While the main attraction here is obviously the Basin itself, hiking through these wood...

Seeing the sunrise on top of Cadillac Mountain is an absolute must when in Acadia National Park. Not only is it awesome to catch the first sunrise in the U.S., but the views from Cadillac Mountain are unparalleled. At 1,532 feet, Cadillac Mountain is the highest point along the North Atlantic seaboard, and because of it's close proximity to the ocean, it feels even higher than inland mountain t...

Blackwoods Campground is one of two campgrounds located within Acadia National Park. Since the park does not permit backcountry camping, options to stay outdoors in the actual park are limited to this campground and the Seawall Campground further south on Mt. Desert Island. There are places to camp outside of the park, but Blackwoods is the best for easy access to all of the major points in Aca...

The White Sands National Monument is one of the most surreal locations in the southwest. Located just north of Las Cruces, NM, White Sands is about a 45 minute drive from the city of Las Cruces. To access the park from any location, you'll take Route 70, and from Las Cruces it's one straight shot to the entrance.The gypsum, white sand of the Tularosa Basin is unlike anything else in the world, ...

The best place to park when doing this hike in the winter is at the Lafayette Campground. The campground and parking lot are typically empty in the cold winter months, aside from occasional cross-country skiers on the Pemigewasset bike path. The Lafayette campground parking lot is directly accessible by I-93 north and south. To start the hike, walk through the campground and follow the signs th...

If you've ever felt the urge to go to Iceland and explore one of the planet's most geographically fascinating locations, you've most likely seen photos similar to mine: dilapidated wreckage of an old airplane on a black sand beach. The United States Navy Douglas Super DC-3 in Sólheimasandur was forced to make an emergency landing on November 24, 1973, and since the crash, it has remained in it'...

Lago Sofia is a small lake just about 20 minutes north of Puerto Natales off Route 9 on Y-280. The lake is surrounded by mountains and a horse farm fills the valley where you're able to camp. If you're heading into Torres Del Paine from Puerto Natales, this spot is awesome for camping at if you got a late start or want to do something relaxing in the area before heading into the park to trek.Dr...

Located on the Ottauquechee River, Quechee State Park offers camping options right beside one of Vermont's most famous gorges—Quechee Gorge. The steel bridge that passes over the 165 ft. gorge is just one of many spectacular views in this area. Quechee State Park is on Route 4 and easily accessible from I-89 coming from north or south. For information on reservations and rates, visit the park'...

The Bar Harbor shore path is a simple walking trail that runs along the eastern shore of Mt. Desert Island. There's little to no elevation change since it's on the water's edge, but the views of this picturesque harbor are always worthwhile.  Despite being a mellow walk, this is something you really have to do with each visit to Bar Harbor. If you've never visited before, there are signs along...

Driving the Kancamagus Highway is something you can do as a way to cross the White Mountain National Forest quickly from I-93 in the east to Conway, or it can be an entire day's activity. In the fall, it's almost impossible not to stop at every turn-off on the scenic highway as it winds through the mountains beneath a covering of vibrant foliage. If you're starting from I-93, you'll access the ...

The White Mountains offer some of the most prime foliage sightseeing (aka 'leaf peeping') in New England. Tourists flock to the Franconia Notch State Park area and surrounding parts of the White Mountains every October, but camping is generally less common. October can be a cold month in New Hampshire, with an average low of about 36 degrees Fahrenheit, but if you have the right gear, the foggy...

The Flume Gorge in Franconia State Park is beautiful year round and every season has it's unique benefits. During the summer, the Flume is a highly frequented tourist destination and is usually crowded with groups of kids and families. Technically, the Gorge is closed during the winter and there are no shuttle buses from the entrance to where the trail begins, but it's a perfect opportunity for...

If you're in New England during September or early October, a drive up north into Vermont is an absolute must for prime fall foliage. I-89 brings you through the state from I-93, and is in itself a beautifully scenic drive. Stowe, Vermont is a small ski resort town located just outside of Mt. Mansfield State Forest. Surrounding the picturesque, New England village, there are incredible brewerie...

The Bar Island Trail is something I was a little hesitant to do at first, mainly because of my tendency to wander and take a lot longer on a trail than I anticipate. This trail is unique in that you can only access it and Bar Island at low tide by foot (crossing the sand bar) or if you have 4 wheel drive, you can drive out to the island.  A warning in advance: the tide comes in extremely fast ...

Warren Falls is a popular local swimming hole just outside of Warren, VT on Route 100. You can access the falls by driving south on Route 100 from Warren (it's 3.5 miles south on the right hand side) or north from Granville on Route 100. The parking lot is clearly marked with a sign and ample parking even for busy days (summer and peak foliage). The path to the falls is only a few hundred feet ...

To hike to the Appalachian Mountain Club's Greenleaf Hut, the best route for a day hike there and back is the Old Bridle Path. This hike is certainly doable in a day if you're interested in just hiking to the Greenleaf Hut. You have a lot of options when hiking this trail. I am going to focus specifically on just hiking the Old Bridle Path to the Greenleaf Hut and continuing on to the summit of...

Rhode Island isn't exactly on everyone's map, I've even met strangers in other parts of the U.S. who have no idea where the tiniest state in the country is. It's usually lumped in with Connecticut and Massachusetts, but for us locals from little Rhody, Rhode Island is it's own world of adventure spots, and Beavertail is one of the best.Beavertail State Park is on the island of Jamestown, which ...

Skaftafell National Park is a portion of Vatnajökull National Park and easily accessible by car by Route 1 (the Ring Road). Sjónarnípa is a viewpoint overlooking the Skaftafell glacier and surrounding mountains. To hike to Sjónarnípa, begin at the Skaftafellsstofa (visitor center) and follow the blue trail leading towards Svartifoss. You can access Sjónarnípa by trails S5 and S6, but to do the ...

The Window Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Big Bend National Park. Whether you're visiting for a day or camping at one of the sites in the park, the Window Trail is a hike worth doing, and can be done in just a couple of hours at a leisurely pace. The Window itself is a V-shaped canyon that overlooks the desert into Mexico and offers stunning panoramic views, especially at sunset. To...

As a kid, I spent many of my summer and winter vacations on Newfound Lake in New Hampshire and can say without a doubt that it is one of the first places to spark my love for the outdoors. If your'e heading up to the White Mountains in the winter time to ski/snowboard, a drive around Newfound Lake in Bristol, NH is well worth the 45 minutes to an hour (depending on how often you stop to take ph...

To begin this hike, drive to Marshfield Station on Base Station Road in Jefferson, NH. There are several large parking lots capable of holding both hiker and Cog Railway traffic even on busy days. Parking in the lots at the Marshfield Station costs $5.00/day, there is a lot for hiker parking at the beginning of the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trailhead but this can sometimes fill up early on a good day. ...

When I planned my road trip through Iceland, I found plenty of information and advice online for the southwestern part of the island, as well as up north in the area around Akureyri and Lake Myvatn, but there isn't a whole lot to be found about the northwestern region. Snæfellsjökull National Park is one of the countless gems in the area, and it's a great beginning point if you plan to explore ...

Portland Head Light is one of Maine's most iconic and picturesque lighthouses that offers stunning views year round. Located just about 15 minutes outside of Portland, Maine, it's the perfect place to go to watch an early winter sunset and enjoy some ocean views. To get to the light house, you will enter at Fort Williams Park and follow the winding road up a short hill towards the parking lot.T...

Douglas State Forest is located off of Rte 16 in south central Massachusetts. To access trails and the lake, head to the parking area on Wallum Lake Park Road. From the parking lot, you can access the Coffeehouse Loop Trail, as well as a few other shorter trails by the lake. The Coffeehouse Loop Trail is a short, 2.2 mile loop that traverses through a varying area of terrain as well as the Aldr...