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Christian MurilloExplorer

My love for natural landscape photography is what first got me outside. Now, I can hardly stay indoors. My sense of adventure has led me to travel all over the US (mostly in the SE), and also drove me to complete a +42,000 mile trip around the world.

Hiking up Misery Ridge is a great little climb, with some steep sections and switchbacks that make for an awesome workout. The views from the top are nothing short of epic. It is really cool to see the iconic climbs on Monkey Face as well. The full loop takes you along some charming scenery beside the river.

I love how the bivouac camping area is set up, and at only $8 per night, this is very reasonable for a state park. You are so close to some great views and all of the trails. Going in the winter is a great way to avoid some of the crowds.

This hike is one of the best in central Oregon, providing unrivaled views of the entire state park, as well as views of the Cascades on a clear day. The distance of this hike is great, and the elevation gain makes for a decent workout. If you want a bit more of a challenge, hike up to the Eagles Nest for a birds eye view of Smith Rock.

This is a really beautiful trail that follows along the river its entire length. I would not call it extremely picturesque, but it still is really peaceful to hear the water rushing below you.

Wesser Bald is absolutely one of my favorite spots in the Carolinas. The 360-degree panoramic views are simply unbeatable. The only reason I docked this hike a star is because the actual hike is not all that scenic. Although it is short, the forest in this area is nice, but lacks views along the way or any unique features and the terrain is filled with roots. The view makes it all extremely worth it though

Table Rock Mountain is one of the most unique on the entire east coast. Its steep cliff faces look like they belong more in the Rockys than in the Appalachians. The hike is pretty short and easy, but definitely packs a ton of awesome views in. The 360-degree panoramic views at the top are nothing short of incredible. Expect it to be cold at the summit!

There are not as many campsites on the mountain here as you might think and expect to find them occupied very early on the weekends. Many of the campsites do not have immediate views, but are a stones throw away from epic vistas. Be sure to get a permit for the weekends!

Some of the most photogenic views of Linville Gorge are right here at Hawksbill Mountain. Every direction you look there is an epic vista. Jagged and exposed rock formations make for a really rugged appearance and a fantastic adventure!

Camping at the Chimneys is one of my favorite spots in the Carolinas. You can set up camp in the main camping area only about 200 yards from the parking lot, which would afford you many of the luxuries of car camping. I agree with the other review that this is definitely a bit more well known than the write-up may have made it out to be, but it is certainly has more space than the campsites on Table Rock Mountain or Hawksbill Mountian. You are also really close to great sunset and sunrise views.

Banks Lake is such a cool and unique spot. It is a HUGE lake and it is completely filled with beautiful Cypress trees rising from its black waters. Spanish Moss blows in the wind and it is one of the most peaceful scenes you will find anywhere in south Georgia. You can rent a canoe at the boat ramp or bring your own! Great for the whole family

Driving from the Eastern Smokies back down to Atlanta along the Blue Ridge Parkway at the peak of fall was easily the most scenic and fun drive I have ever done. Between the gentle curves in the mountainside roads and the numerous lookout shoulders, I just could not get enough. A 3.5 hour drive easily turned into a 6 hour drive because we just kept stopping at every lookout. At one point I even said to myself, "OK, I am going to drive 20 minutes without stopping, so I can actually make some progress on this drive." Not more than two minutes later, I found myself pulled over at another lookout point, dumbfounded how each view seemed better than the last. This drive is just one of those pure joys in life, unless you get motion sickness...

This trail is short and easy and has some really beautiful waterfalls. It is super accessible from Portland or Hood River as well. There are lots of waterfalls in the area, but this was one of the few waterfalls that stayed open after the most recent fires.

One of the best, if not the best day hike in the entire Bolivian Cordillera. This hike is easily accessible from La Paz, where you will leave pretty early and get back around dinner time. The hike itself passes several waterfalls, brightly colored lagoons, and all of the beautiful peaks in the Condoriri range. I did this hike with my parents and although they did not make it all the way to the top, they did have a fantastic time. With that said, I would consider this an intermediate hike if the hike was at sea level. The 16,000+ feet of elevation and 2,000+ feet of elevation gain make this pretty tough for most people, even if you are properly acclimatized.

This is an exceptionally beautiful cascading waterfall that is well worth the small amount of time it requires to walk to it. You can get to a viewing platform above the falls quite easily, but getting to the bottom of the falls is a bit steeper and more tricky. Well worth the view though

This section of the Foothills trail is nice, but is not anything particularly spectacular. The climbs and descents are pretty mild, which makes covering a lot of ground quite easy. You cannot get very close to either of the waterfalls, which is a bit of a bummer, but they are both very scenic. The trail is also in very good condition.

If you are looking for a really impressive waterfall that is easy to get to and wont take up much of your time, this is it. The short walk is all paved or stairs. The end of the paved section even has a view of the waterfall, making it wheelchair accessible. The waterfall itself is very beautiful and grand, but as stated in some other reviews, you cant get all that close to it. For me, it was still cool to see, but I am not exactly itching to see it again.

This hike is the perfect combination of length, difficulty, and scenery. There is a good little climb at the beginning of the hike which is not very hard, but it does get your blood pumping. The views once you get to the top are really spectacular, making this a great spot to catch a sunset. The back half of the hike is really nice too, traversing some neat boulder fields below massive sandstone cliffs.

I backcountry camped near the Strike Valley overlook by Upper Muley Twist Canyon and this was absolutely spectacular. I found several flat spots to pitch a tent, although there was not much protection from the howling wind. There are several parts of the park that are very open to backcountry camping, which is free and beautiful.

This is a great hike that is in a very remote section of Capitol Reef NP. I did not see anyone else in the 2 days I spent in this part of the park in early March. The views of Stark Valley are really spectacular. The canyon itself is quite scenic, but maybe not the most picturesque part of the park. A great hike to 'get away'.

This is a great short trail with a magnificent sunset view that goes as far as the eye can see. The stone tower and stone wall are both very interesting as well. If you are interested in archaeology, the stone wall is a must-see, as its origins are still a mystery. Bring the family!

This hike quickly became one of my favorites in the SE. The distance is perfect for a half-day hike, but the elevation gain is big enough to really give you a great workout. This hike is definitely not easy, but there are not many super steep sections, so most people would be able to do the hike at their own pace. The waterfalls and creek at the beginning of the hike are very beautiful and often overlooked by the mission to get to the top of the mountain. Mid-hike, the trail passes by several really cool boulder fields. Some of the boulders here are as big as a house, so it is definitely cool to look at while you make your way up the mountain. The views from the top of Governors Rock and the Table Rock Overlooks are simply incredible. From both viewpoints, you have an unobstructed view for miles. This is due to the steep granite faces, which are a real luxury in terms of the views you can get out having so much clear space to have a picnic/snack and enjoy the view. The hike on the way down is fine, but the descent was pretty tough on my knees. Next time I am definitely bringing hiking poles.

This is a great hike that is pretty close to the city, so it can easily be done as a half-day adventure. The trail is short and easy enough to be doable by just about anyone, and there are some really fantastic views. The trailhead is also accessible in the winter, which is nice when so many trails are difficult to get to. I did the hike with my family in the winter and the majority of the trail was completely frozen, making navigating without spikes quite difficult. This is not a difficult trail, but it definitely helps to have the proper equipment! The waterfalls themselves are really pretty, but you cannot get as close as I would have liked.

This hike provides a spectacular way to get the family out in Olympic National Park. The short hike can be done fairly quickly and it is quite easy with minimal elevation gain. The beginning of the hike passes through beautiful lush forest, although the road runs parallel to the trail for about a quarter mile, so you are reminded that you are not so far into the woods every time a car passes by. The river crossing is very scenic, and would be a good place to set up a hammock and lounge for a bit. The waterfall itself is not the most imposing, but it is very aesthetic and charming. A narrow stream cascades to a ledge about a third of the way down the falls, which expands the flow of water down to the stream. There are viewpoints above and below the falls which are equally nice. I did the hike with my family in the winter and it was very nice, but also very icy so trekking poles and spikes would have been best.

The hike to Tioga Falls is not the most scenic hike you will ever find, but it is quiet and charming. There are not too many crowds and the forest surrounding the trail is very nice. The trail is short enough to not pose any serious physical challenge, but also long enough to let your mind wander and let you feel like you are getting some exercise. The waterfall at the end is nice, but if water levels are low, the falls will be more of a trickle of water. Go after a good rainstorm and you will not be disappointed.