Christin HealeyExplorer

Be careful when heading up this 4.5 mile trail since there can be snow coverage into the summer. When you start the trail, you'll get a little tree coverage as you start climbing up. Unfortunately, the shade starts to dissipate after about a mile, where you'll cross over Sibley Creek and enter the basin. As you climb, the view gets better - take time to check out the valley below and Mt. Baker....

Makua, aka Tunnels, is known for its incredible mountain scenery. This beach also offers great snorkeling, where people will usually see turtles. Public parking, bathrooms and showers are available at Haena Beach Park located west of Tunnels. Be sure to head to the beach early, parking on the town's streets can be a little challenging.

This is a gorgeous beach with so much going on. It's a quick walk from the parking lot (about .8 miles), or you can do the entire Botanical Beach Loop which is 3.5km. Go at low tide for amazing tidal pools and exploring caves if the tide is at its lowest. You can beach hop and climb up to some amazing viewpoints, just be sure to be back before the tide comes back in! This beach is never cro...

The trailhead begins directly behind the Num-Ti-Jah Lodge on km 37 of the Icefields Highway. The trail is well marked and winds along the shore of Bow Lake for the first 1.2km of the hike. Eventually you will lead up to a narrow gorge and onto the crest of a glacial moraine. There are only a few spots where the trail is not as obvious, but just make sure to follow the cairns and you will be fi...

When you drive in to El Chalten, you will see the visitor's center directly on your left. Park here, and there are signs to the lookout from the parking lot. It's an easy 1.2 mile round trip hike, but the views of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre are magnificent. Give yourself about 30-40 minutes though to get up before the sunrise as there is a little bit of a climb.

Between mile 42 and 43 of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park is the trailhead for WhiteOak Canyon. Begin at the trailhead from the parking lot and cross the Limberlost Trail in .3 miles. Continue on and you will cross your first footbridge shortly. After another mile you will cross the second footbridge and turn left to get to the lookout for the falls. This is well marked. In a few hu...

There are lots of options for heli rides in Kauai, ranging from plush interiors with AC and noise canceling headphones, to deeply discounted, crowded rides, but my personal recommendation is to find a company that offers a doors off option (there are two options as of winter 2015/16). Not only will this let you get much better photos from above, but there is something pretty exhilarating about...

Begin at the Bear Lake Trailhead, located at the end of Bear Lake Road, 9 miles from the entrance on Highway 36. Follow the signs to Dream Lake, passing Nymph Lake about halfway through. At 1.1 miles you will reach Dream Lake. The views of 12,713-foot Hallett Peak and 12,324-foot Flattop Mountain from the east shore of this subalpine lake are incredible, and the perfect backdrop for this aptly ...

This campground is all kinds of amazing, and if you get one of the sites in the A loop, you will have lakefront property (just be warned, if I see you there, I'll have to crash with you ;-). Price Lake is a gorgeous lake right off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and perfect for canoeing or kayaking. You can reserve a certain number of campsites online, and then the rest of them are f...

This hike is truly awesome, but get ready to climb! You can park at the Hotel Las Torres, then you will see the trailhead right past the hotel, clearly marked. The hike is 11.2miles round trip with 3,000 ft of elevation gain, much of it at the end over rocks.About halfway through the hike, you will arrive at Refugio Chileno, where if you are lucky and they are open, you can grab a coffee, beer,...

Of all the lakes in the Banff area, this was one of my favorites to get out on the water. Don't expect the bright blue glacial waters of some of the other lakes in the Canadian Rockies, but the water is pristine and it was one of the few places I went where it felt like it was all locals hanging out.If you are coming from the town of Banff, take the Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive until you reach...

From El Calafate, the town of El Chalten is about 2 1/2 - 3 hours away. The entire drive is incredibly scenic as you will have views of Lake Argentina Viedma to start with, and as you get closer to the town, Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre get closer with each passing kilometer. There is also one place to stop with food and restrooms along the way - don't miss La Leona and their incredible empanadas f...

Skyline Drive is a winding highway that cuts straight through Shenandoah National Park. Being that we are in the south, you will find that the road is closed for the majority of the winter, and usually at the very mention of snow. The first few years of living here it was incredibly frustrating, then I realized that walking the road is one of the most scenic, peaceful hikes around. It's total...

Intro McAfee Knob is one of the most photographed and picturesque locations along the Appalachian Trail. Once you reach McAfee Knob, you'll have almost 270 degree views of the the Roanoke Valley to the East, Catawba Valley and North Mountain to the West, and Tinker Cliffs to the North. Due to the stunning view and location along the Appalachian Trail, this has become a very popular hike. Plea...

The trail to the summit of Hawksbill begins on an unpaved road for the Pigsah National Forest. In about a half a mile the trail turns left just before reaching the Jonas Ridge Trail. This turn is an clearly marked turn with a sign for "Hawksbill Summit". The trail then becomes steeper and rockier for another 1/4 of a mile, then you will arrive at the ridge where the trail splits. Either way ...

The hike is part of the George Washington National Forest, and can easily be combined with nearby Crabtree Falls (300ft cascading waterfall with a hike to the top). The entire trip is 5.7 miles, and there are nice campsites at the base of the summit (no water source) if you want to add on this pretty overlook to a nearby longer hike. This is definitely a hike for locals, so it's never too crow...

From the parking area at Reids Gap, start off on the white-blazed A.T heading south as the trail begins on the left side of a clearing. You will begin climbing Meadow Mountain shortly and in .8 miles arrive at the top of the ridge, where you will continue on downhill for another .8 miles until you reach the first intersection with the Mau-Har Trail. The Maupin Field Shelter is just down to yo...

This campsite is great as you can be as adventurous or relaxed as you would like. You can choose to bring your own tent, or they offer rentals, as well as fully set-up domes. There is a restaurant on site, as well as a small camp store, and wifi available for purchase. The views from the campsite of Lago Pehoe and the Paine Massif in the distance are unbelievable, and it's a wonderful spot to s...

The trailhead is accessed at the Takakkaw Falls parking lot, and then you walk to the Whiskey Jack Hostel where the trail officially begins (you can not park here unless you are a guest). The well marked trail then begins its very steep ascent through the forest where you will catch glimpses of the 284 m high Takakkaw Falls along the way. Once you reach the treelike, you will have a clear vie...

First, you need kayaks to get on the river. I bring my Oru Kayak with me everywhere, but we did have to rent one additional, and there are rentals everywhere - a quick Google search will get you tons of options. You can launch your boat from directly across the Wailua River Marina where you see the small cement ramp, plenty of parking and bathrooms (if you are renting a kayak, they will point y...

This particular hike is great as there are multiple camping sites, both established and backcountry, and views for miles around almost every bend. Still not convinced? This high-altitude plateau has characteristics typically found in Canadian landscapes. so you can travel north without leaving your backyard below the Mason-Dixon Line -- high five y'all! From the parking area on FR75 (go to th...

The parking lot for the trail is right before mile 40 on Skyline drive in Shenandoah National Park. The entire out and back is only .9 miles, so it's the perfect hike to take in a sunset after a long day, take a break from driving, or just pick a hike that is family and dog friendly as Stoney Man, a little further away, does not allow dogs and may be challenging for children. From the parking...

Park at Bear Lake, and follow the signs north of the lake to Odessa Lake. However, do NOT go all the way to Odessa Lake; after about 3 miles, when Notchtop is in full view, the trail begins to descend to Odessa Lake. Find an unmarked spur trail to the left which leads to shallow Lake Helene, then scramble through slabs and krummholtz west of the lake to treeline and some small tarns. The cliff ...

This is one of my favorite hikes in Shenandoah National Park for its views, easy access to the trail, and the option to combine it with a much further hike on the AT. There is also a really fun little rock scramble at the top that scares a lot of people away, but makes for a more secluded summit, especially during the week. There are 360 views of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the top, and it's...