Jason HatfieldExplorer

Angels Landing has long been one of my favorite national parks hikes.  The hike is thrilling, extremely photogenic, and appeals to those who enjoy exchanging leg power for views. The hike to the top isn't long, 2.7 miles, but you'll definitely feel the 1500 feet of gain! The trail features a mostly paved surface (to protect from erosion and high use), steep switch backs, a cool canyon, rock scr...

The Havasupai Reservation is a remote area just outside Grand Canyon National Park, full of blue-green water and dramatic waterfalls.  Despite being an extremely isolated location, camping in the canyon is overwhelmingly popular and reservations are required. On popular weekends you will be sharing the campgrounds with hundreds of others but shoulder seasons can bring some respite.  The trail ...

Hiking the narrows in Zion National Park is one of my favorite hikes and something I return for almost every year, I can still remember my first visit as a kid. There's no other place like it in the National Park system and the stunning beauty of its towering walls and vibrant river make it a top destination for visitors to the park.  Depending on the water level most of this hike is partially...

Only 2.5 hours from Reykjavík in good weather, Kirkjufell is a popular spot for Iceland photography. Situated on the northern half of Snæfellsnes peninsula, the falls and mountain work as a sunrise, sunset, or northern lights location. Due to its popularity a large gravel parking area has been developed near the falls as well as established trails. You'll likely encounter other tourists and pho...

Deer Creek Canyon Park offers up to 13 miles of wind-sheltered trails perfect for enjoying after a fresh snow. The Plymouth Mountain Trail offers steep climbs and big views while Homesteader Trail offers the best forest scenery in the Denver area. The recommended route is Plymouth Creek Trail to Homesteader Trail and back. The climb up the canyon from the TH can be steep and icy so more aggress...

Red Rocks is a bustling park in the summer when its famous amphitheater is filled with concerts. In winter though, the park dies down and becomes even more quiet when snow is falling. Grab your camera and head to the park during a winter storm to truly enjoy the beautiful red sandstone formations capped with contrasting powder. Parking is available throughout the area with the Trading Post bein...

Rabbit Ears Pass outside of Steamboat Springs is packed with winter nordic trails. Most trails are marked and accommodate cross-country skiing or snowshoeing; to be courteous to other users keep snowshoes and dogs off ski tracks. Depending on how much recent snow there has been, the trails can be packed snow or completely fresh.The most popular trail is the West Summit Loop 1A, located 13 mil...

The hike to Ptarmigan Lake has plenty of elevation gain for mountain lovers and views for miles from the Continental Divide. If you want to reach this spot for sunrise you'll need a very early start in the morning, but that also means you won't have to use the shuttle system to Bear Lake. The last half mile of the hike is off-trail so make sure to watch your step and practice Leave No Trace Pri...

Getting to Ash Cave is extremely easy with a short quarter-mile hike from the parking area; there's also a rim trail above the cave that adds 90 feet of elevation and some extra distance. The cave is great for relaxing in the shade during a hot day, enjoying a spring picnic, or grabbing some images during the morning/evening. There's a waterfall from the rim of the cave that typically has good ...

Bowman lake is the 3rd largest lake in Glacier National Park and one of the most remote areas accessible by car. The drive out on a dirt road is slow and bumpy but the reward is an area without crowds and lots of adventure potential. The first-come-first-served campground offers 48 sites near the lake's edge and the perfect basecamp for sunrise/sunset photography on the lake. From the campgr...

There are a couple routes to Section Hut on Boreas Pass, but the best adds trekking through the forest on Baker's Tank trail. Starting at 10,350' at the TH, look for a trail in the woods that starts climbing relatively quickly. Follow this for about 2.5 miles to the junction with the road and Baker's Tank, a historic water tank for the old rail line. From here you slog up the road for 3.5 mi...

Abraham Lake is one of the Canadian Rockies most incredible winter photography locations. The 32 km long reservoir is full of numerous opportunities for exploring and photographing frozen ice, flowing rivers, and the surrounding dramatic peaks. Due to it's general North/South alignment, it's also the perfect spot for photographing the northern lights during auroral activity of Kp 4 or higher.  ...

The Bryce Canyon Traverse is a point-to-point run covering over 30 miles from Rainbow Point at the southern end of the park to Sunrise Point at the North. The majority of the run is on the remote Under-the-Rim Trail where you might pass the occasional backpacker, but won't find a tourist group for miles. To coordinate this run, you'll need to work in a group to stage cars at the start and fini...

Pragser Wildsee, also known as Lago di Braies, lies in a mostly German-speaking area of northern Italy close to the border with Austria. This glacial blue lake is surrounded by towering mountains and thick evergreen forests, which can be experienced on the 2.2-mile loop trail or Alta Via 1 trail. A photogenic boathouse offers canoe rentals to enjoy the lake in the warmer months while winter off...

Fowler-Hilliard hut sits at 11,500 ft on a forested ridge of Resolution Mountain, with easy access to intermediate and expert backcountry skiing right out the door. This newer hut was built in 2010 after the original hut burned down from a lightning strike. The hut comes stocked with padded mattresses, wood stoves & fuel, propane burners, all cookware and utensils, some games/puzzles/books,...

This run is an extreme adventure and requires lots of planning and training. The risk for injury or heat related illness is high, so take precautions and don't run alone. Group sizes of 12-30 require a $175 permit from the NPS. These trails are popular with runners, hikers, and backpackers; please be respectful on the trail. There are a few ways to run R2R2R, with the popular option being d...

Santa Maddalena, also known as St. Magdalena, is a picturesque medieval church sequestered in the northern mountains of Italy. The Odle Mountain Group of the Dolomites tower above the surrounding valley and provide an incredible backdrop for images. To reach the best vantage point to photograph Santa Maddalena, start from the spot marked on the map and follow the small trail a short way up th...

Vance's Cabin is a private hut near Tennessee Pass booked by the 10th mountain division. The hut was completed in 1988 and sleeps 16; 6 beds upstairs in a loft and 10 bunk beds downstairs in a communal bunked area around the wood stove.   It's a compact cabin compared to some of the other huts in the system but there's still enough space. The hut comes stocked with padded mattresses, wood &...

Avalanche Creek is one of Glacier National Park's easiest features to access and also one of its most unique. The old-growth cedar forest is home to towering trees, moss-covered boulders, and a rushing stream of glacial water. A small loop trail winds through the lower forest and leads to a bridge with views of a canyon carved by the creek. The best spot to photograph the canyon is at the be...

Park at the Pandora Mill just east of Telluride and lace up your footwear of choice. At 1.2 miles to the base of the falls with 850 feet of gain, this can make for a great thigh burning hike or run. The trail is a gravel road that eventually passes a gate to further trails up the Bridal Veil Basin.Photographing this falls can be extremely difficult at the base due to the heavy mist and the be...

*The 4-Pass Loop likely won't be doable until July due to the heavy snowpack this year and wet slide danger on the steep pass approaches.Taking on the 4-pass Loop is no easy feat but completely worth the training and effort. The run starts at Maroon Lake and heads up to Crater Lake where the loop splits left or right. Counter-clockwise is the preferred direction as it allows you to tackle the...

McNamara hut sits in the national forest on the slope of Bald Knob, with easy access to intermediate backcountry skiing and more challenging terrain further away. Built in 1982, it's one of the original huts in the 10th Mountain Division system along with Margy's Hut. The hut comes stocked with padded mattresses, wood stoves & fuel, propane burners, all cookware and utensils, some games/p...

This is a well maintained, easy trail best hiked in spring and fall. Conditions make this trail great for families. The park is also popular for bird watching and rock climbing.

Nellie Creek Falls is a beautiful little falls, up County Road 23. The waterfall is surrounded by a forest of aspens leading up the valley. To get to the falls take the northern route of the Alpine Loop from Lake City towards Engineer Pass. In about 5 miles you come to Nellie Creek Road on the right. The waterfall is just under a mile up the road, which you'll need a high-clearance 4WD vehicle ...