Jess FischerExplorer

* The road to this trailhead/lake is closed during the winter.  Kintla Lake is one of the lesser explored lakes in Glacier National Park. Located on the west side of the park, it is accessible via an unpaved road from the Polebridge Ranger Station. From the Ranger Station, take a LEFT and continue along the road for 14.3 miles. You will pass over multiple rivers and through two prairies. Make ...

Starting from the parking area, follow the wide and well beaten road/trail along the lake and to the base of the glacier. You can go down to the base of the lake and hike up to the base of the glacier. Exercise caution in the area- the glacier can break off at any moment and rocks also fall from above the trail. You can also pay to do an ice hiking tour at the little restaurant near the parking...

From the parking area, follow the trail from the back of the parking area. Very quickly you will hike up to a trail register. The trail is mostly flat with a few inclines and is very well beaten. There are also yellow plastic trail markers to keep you on track. After 1.4 miles you'll reach the junction of the Lost Pond Loop Trail. From this point you can either go straight and hike down to the ...

Park at the Looking Glass Rock Overlook. After enjoying the view of Looking Glass Rock, gear up and head to the right side of the parking area (right side if your back is to the overlook). On the opposite side of the road you'll see a mile marker and a little trail to the left of the marker. Follow this trail for a mile and you'll arrive at Skinny Dip Falls! You can keep hiking up and around th...

From the parking area you are free to roam the area. We started by walking down the stairs from the left of the parking lot. We walked down to the beach and went to the right towards the cliffs, hiked up under the base of the cliffs and around to the left to get on top of the cliffs. The area is very open and easy to access. Be sure to pick up a handful of sand while you're there. Not only is t...

Starting at the Upper Crabtree Falls Parking area, continue up the "road" on Shoe Creek Trail for half a mile until you come to the intersection of the Appalachian Trail. That will be the steepest part of the hike. Look for two rocks on either side of the trail with white blazes on them. Take a left up the trail and you'll see a kiosk. Keep hiking for about a mile until you see a huge rock boul...

Starting at the Massie Gap Parking Area follow the paved road down towards the woods. You will see a gravel dirt path off the side of the road to your right that heads back towards the woods. A couple steps down the trail you will see a metal pole with "Cabin Creek Trail" written on it. Follow the beaten path back into the woods and go straight across the horse trail and through a wooden fence....

Follow the directions to the parking area and from the parking area you are free to roam. There are little paths everywhere down to the beach where you can walk down the shoreline into the different coves. Please be careful during high tide and make sure you are always in an area that is easy to get out of. You can also walk around the tops of the cliffs.  There are picnic benches to eat lunch ...

This little known waterfall is located close to the more popular waterfall, Doyles River Falls. Staring at the Jones Run parking area turn left downhill following the blue blazed Jones Run trail. After 1.7 miles you will reach the main waterfall. You can either stay here and enjoy the waterfall or hike 0.1 miles further to a smaller set of falls below the main falls. Another set of cascades are...

Starting from the Chief Mountain Parking Area, take the trail to the left of the bathrooms at the end of the parking lot (left of the bathrooms if you are facing the bathrooms and the main road is to your right). You will quickly hike to a wooden kiosk. Read this kiosk for any pertinent information about the area such as trail warnings or wildlife warnings (you should be informed when you pick ...

Park at the Visitor Center; don't stress when you get to the parking lot and can't see it, it's up the hill. From the parking lot hike across the road and find the staircase. Follow this up to the Visitor Center. If you're standing in front of the Visitor Center, the trailhead will be to the left and is marked by a post that says "Twin Pinnacles." Follow this trail and you'll quickly summit the...

There are two sections that you can fish on the Robinson River. The first section is about 15 minutes away from the trailhead of White Oak Canyon. The river is on the right side of the road and you can see where it has bee stocked from the white diamonds on the trees on the side of the road. This section starts at the coordinates 38.464917, -78.313576. Follow these coordinates north until you r...

The AT from Carver's Gap to HWY 19 is about 14.5 miles, but with side adventures, it could be roughly 20 miles. The trail crosses the road and continues up about a 400 ft. elevation gain to the first of the balds. This section of the AT is beautiful at near 6000 ft. above sea level and you will get a great view of Roan Mountain. You can take some pictures at Round Bald and up to Jane Bald, givi...

Starting from the Dripping Rock Parking area at MP 10 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, head north on the white blazed Appalachian Trail (trail leading into woods from parking lot- don't cross the road). In about 20 steps the trail splits- go right. In another 20 steps or so the trail splits again but this time it's harder to catch. You'll see a make-shift campground, this is where you'll need to stop...

Djupalonssandur Beach is located within Snæfellsnes National Park. The beach is covered in black pebbles (lava) with enormous monoliths sticking out all over the beach. Behind the beach is Snæfellsjökull, a 700,000-year-old stratovolcano with a glacier covering its summit and it's active! To explore the beach, park in the parking area and follow the trail from the front of the parking lot down ...

Starting at the Graves Mill Parking area, head up the yellow blazed trail that is marked by a big cement marker. The trail will follow closely beside the gorgeous Rapidan River. Hike for half a mile until you come to the intersection of the Staunton River Trail. Turn left (do not cross the river) and follow the trail for a little over two and a half miles to the intersection of the Jones Mounta...

In order to go when the Rhododendron are blooming you'll need to aim for the first three weeks of June.  Starting from the Massies Gap parking area in the Grayson Highlands State Park, follow the trail through the field and towards the base of a large hill. You will see a fence that runs along the base of the hill with a gate right in the center. Go through this gate and follow the winding tra...

The coordinates for the parking area are 36.198288, -81.970137. You'll see a parking area that's dirt/gravel on the right side of the road. At the far end of the parking lot is a sign that says Elk River Falls with an arrow pointing up the hill. From this point its about a .2 mile long walk to the waterfall! Be careful as you make your way down the rocks to the waterfall. This adventure is grea...

Starting at the parking area, cross the dirt road to start hiking up from the Top Spur Trailhead. In 0.4 miles you will reach the Pacific Crest Trail intersection, take a right onto the Pacific Crest Trail. In a couple hundred feet you will reach a larger intersection of a bunch of different trails and there will be a wooden kiosk with information about the area. At this point take the trail to...

Strangely enough I had seen this little barn in a ton of pictures before going to the Westfjords. I just thought it was a spot that all famous photographers knew about because I couldn't find anything on it when I tried to research it. Of course we drove right past it on our way up to Bíldudalur. To get to the barn, follow route 63 towards Bíldudalur. It will be on your right hand side. You won...

This little campground is nestled in Rock Island State Park. There are two campgrounds, this one is specifically tents only. Each campsite is pull in and provides you with enough room to set up two tents. In addition each campsite has a four sided picnic bench, fire pit, trash can, charcoal grill, electrical hookup, and well water. At the front entrance of the camp there is a bath house with sh...

On your way to the trailhead don't forget to pull off the road at the scenic outlook to take in the vast expanse of Lake Moomaw (you won't miss it!).Start off your adventure by parking at the end of Twin Ridge Drive (37.976545, -79.985582). From this point, hike down the little paved driveway into the campground area. The trailhead for the hike will be behind the second campground. From here yo...

Fall Creek Falls State Park is home to multiple waterfalls. The main attraction and biggest waterfall, Fall Creek Falls, is often tourists' main destination, but I encourage you to visit the base of Rockhouse Falls and Cane Creek Falls to enjoy some quiet solitude and get away from the usual weekend crowds. This hike is not for small children, pets, or any individual who cannot lift or hold the...

Starting from the Carver Gap Parking area (do not leave belongings visible in your vehicle) head North on the Appalachian Trail (cross the road and head up the hill past the kiosk). Stay on the Appalachian Trail for 5.5 miles climbing across open balds and treking through forests and wildflower patches. You will come to an intersection where you'll notice a lot of little signs; this is Yellow M...