Elyse ClarkExplorer

Right off interstate I-77, Camp Creek State Park has two waterfalls that you can easily access: Mash Fork Falls and Campbell Falls. These falls can both have very low flows in late summer, so try to plan your visit for times of higher flows (early spring or after a rain). Mash Fork Falls is in the southwest part of the park and there is a parking lot with a viewing platform next to the falls. A...

Maryland Heights is at the convergence of Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia, as well as the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. The Appalachian Trail and C&O Canal Towpath are also easily accessible from the trailhead parking lot. The parking lot holds about 16 cars and is between Locks 33 and 34, or approximately mile 61 of the C & O Canal Towpath. The hike starts on the opposite side of...

In Douthat State Park, park at the Discovery Center/Amphitheater parking lot near the children's fishing area. The Blue Suck Falls trail head will be towards the dam on the left side and is well-marked.Note: A trail map is highly recommended for this trail! It is fairly well-marked with blue blazes, but has 5 separate trail intersections and it may be easy to get turned around if you don't have...

This unique hike on the Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah National Park is 2.4 miles round trip with an 835' elevation gain, and leads you to two viewpoints as well as a cool rock outcrop.Access this hike from the Compton Gap parking area (elevation 2,145') on the Skyline Drive at Mile 10.4. Cross the Skyline Drive and take the white-blazed Appalachian Trail south for a moderate but rocky 0.8 mil...

Starting from the Flat Fork Ridge Recreation Area parking lot near the dam in Caesar Creek State Park, take the trail to the right of the parking lot if you're looking towards the lake. You will hike through the woods for a short period, then emerge onto the emergency spillway from the dam which impounds the lake.  At the emergency spillway you can look for fossils (https://www.theoutbound.com/...

Park at the Mount Marshall parking area at ~MP 15.6 on the Skyline Drive.  From the back of the parking lot, take the white-blazed Appalachian Trail north for a short 0.4 miles to a large rock outcrop with views south.  After finished exploring this outcrop, continue on the AT for another 0.1 miles to reach a second rocky outcrop with views to the northwest. This would be a perfect spot to watc...

This trail in Burren National Park traverses the limestone pavement typical of the Burren and summits Mullaghmore Mountain with a beautiful view of the unique geology of the area. This loop climbs 140 m (460 ft), is 7.5 km (4.7 mi), will take about 3 hours, and is difficult due to the rocky and pitted nature of the landscape.Burren National Park is in northern Co. Clare. To get to the lay-by f...

This 6 mile drive is a great way to spend a scenic day in the Smokies. The road is open to cars only (no trucks or RVs) and runs one-way. There are no visitors centers after you head out, so be sure to bring everything you need along. The drive begins at the historic Ogle farmstead, which is also the location of the Rainbow Falls Trailhead (5.4 miles). Further along you will find the Trillium ...

From the parking lot, the paved handicap-accessible trail switchbacks to a view of the upper falls (20'). The falls are a bit hard to see from the viewpoint, so it's best to continue down the trail.  At the upper falls the trail changes to wooden stairs that descend gradually down. You will cross a wooden bridge over the stream, then there will be a viewing platform for the middle falls off to ...

From the parking area which is adjacent to where the Ferry Baldur loading area is, walk up the hill and shortly after you'll see the brightly-colored lighthouse.  It gets very windy here and there are birds everywhere.  From the lighthouse you can look out over some islands between the Snæfellsnes peninsula and the Westfjords, as well as look back over the town. Once finished, take a stroll ar...

From the visitor's center parking lot, take the path towards the lighthouse.  This unique 24m (~80 ft) tall lighthouse was built in 1917, then rebuilt in 1946.  The grounds surrounding the lighthouse consist of lava formations.  Depending on where you stand, you have views out to the Atlantic Ocean or back towards the Snæfellsjökull volcano.  Also along the short path to the lighthouse is a sma...

Starting from the old store parking area at MP 339.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, follow the trail through a meadow past the campground amphitheater. After crossing the paved road to the campground, the trail will come to a T-intersection. Take the trail to the right for the shortest way to the falls. The trail will descend steeply with a couple of switchbacks and some constructed stone steps. So...

If you're looking for a longer hike in Congaree National Park than just the Boardwalk Loop, try adding another 2.0 miles to the Boardwalk Loop by hiking the Weston Lake Trail.   From the visitor's center, take the Boardwalk Trail and stay straight at the intersection with the Bluff Trail. The elevated boardwalk will turn into the low boardwalk. After 0.7 miles, the Boardwalk Trail will turn lef...

Lake Mývatn translates to "Midge Lake" and if you visit here in the summer there will be swarms and swarms of midges. You might want to wear something to cover your face. From the parking area, which is located just off Road 848 past the turn off for Dimmuborgir if heading away from Reykjahlíð, the trail begins at the gate (make sure you close the gate behind you).  This largely forested path b...

Just off of Road 574 in Snæfellsjökull National Park, Saxhóll Crater is a short leg-stretcher.  Saxhóll Crater is estimated to have erupted 3,000 years ago, and much of the surrounding landscape is the result of that eruption.  The collapsed core of the crater is fairly deep, and the rim around the crater offers 360 degree views of the surrounding terrain of Snæfellsjökull National Park.  To re...

With the George P. Coleman bridge spanning the width of the York River, a fishing pier, and numerous rock jetties, Yorktown Beach is a great location for photographing sunrises or sunsets. There is a nice brick riverwalk path to walk along, or sandy areas to sit.To get the full Coleman Bridge in your photo, head out to the edge of the fishing pier and use a wide angle lens and slow shutter spee...

From the parking area just off the Ring Road (Highway 1) near the town of Bifröst, the trail starts to the left.  It is a very short, steep hike up to the top of the crater, but there are stairs and boardwalks to aid the ascent.  At the top, there are wonderful views of the surrounding area and you can walk around the entire rim.  Exploring the crater takes about 15-20 minutes, so you could als...

From the parking lot, take the trail to the left of the bathrooms.  This trail will wind down past a unique rock feature with a hole in it and ends at the black sand beach.  Sprawled out along the beach are remnants of a shipwreck.  The British trawler Epine wrecked here in 1948 and many oxidized pieces of the ship still remain on the beach today.  On the right side of Djúpalónssandur a trail b...

There is a walking tour of the cemetery that you can follow that will bring you by champion trees (the largest tree of that species in the state of Ohio), around 15 scenic lakes, as well as across some bridges.  The unique mausoleums and obelisks are a sight in their own and will surround you on your walk. A map of the points of interest within the cemetery can be found here: http://www.springg...

Hawk's Nest State Park is a true gem in the New River Gorge area. It has a roadside overlook that looks out over a horseshoe bend of the New River with views of the Hawk's Nest Dam and of a railroad bridge across the river. From the parking area, simply walk about 200 feet out to the stone overlook.Although gorgeous at any time of day, this spot is perfectly oriented for sunrises (especially in...

Starting from the Mammoth Cave Visitor's Center, take the "Historic Entrance" trail that descends down the hill between the Visitor's Center and the Mammoth Cave Hotel. After 0.2 miles you will reach the historic entrance of Mammoth Cave on your right side. You cannot go in the cave without a guided tour, but you can walk down and look at the entrance.  The trail splits into two trails at the h...

The top of Apple Orchard Mountain is easily accessible via the Appalachian Trail. Access the trail at the Sunset Field Overlook at MP 78.4 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The concrete path will end shortly and turn into a blue blazed trail. Follow this for 0.25 miles until it intersects the Appalachian Trail. Turn right on the AT, and cross over the forest road. From here it is only a few switchback...

Start at the trailhead located just past the Gray's Arch picnic area. Follow Auxier Ridge Trail #204 (white diamonds). You will pass a trail junction at 0.9 miles, but continue on Auxier Ridge. At the following fork in the trail keep right.Along the trail, you will catch views from the ridge of Raven's Rock, Double Arch, Courthouse Rock, and the surrounding valley. Be careful of the steep cliff...

Brush Creek Falls is a beautiful 25' waterfall that spans across Brush Creek. It is accessed via a short 0.5 mile hike with minimal elevation gain.From the parking area on Brush Creek Falls Road, take the trail to the right of the picnic shelter. This easy and relatively-flat trail through rhododendron winds 0.5 miles to a fenced overlook of the falls.Take in the view of the falls from the fenc...