John Sides

Finally got the chance to do this hike, and it lived up to expectations! After climbing up through the forest, the trail eventually hugs the wall of the gorge and leaves you quite exposed with a 2000 ft drop to one side (this is where it gets the nickname "Vertigo trail"). In the very narrow and exposed sections, there is a cable to hold onto in most places, and the trail widens at a few turns which gives enough space for passing hikers. This trail used to be possible as a through hike, but damage from a landslide a few years back has kept part of the trail closed past the Zhuilu outpost (3.1k). If you're planning to go to Taroko, this is definitely a hike worth checking out!

Rocky Top is one of the best views in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and is only accessible via backcountry trails, which means you lose the crowds that you'd find at Clingman's Dome or Newfound Gap. The Spence Field AT shelter is just over a mile and a half away, and would make a great place to camp overnight to allow you to enjoy Rocky Top at sunset or sunrise.

A Tetons trip isn't complete without a hike to Lake Solitude. You can do this as a long day hike, or camp nearby and make it an overnight trip. There are great backcountry sites in the North Fork Cascade camping zone, just down from Lake Solitude. Go in the early morning, late afternoon, or on a weekday to avoid the crowds. It's a popular hike for a good reason!

The Teton Crest Trail ranks among the top backpacking destinations in the country, and is without a doubt the best way to experience Grand Teton National Park. We took 4.5 days to cover 40 miles, starting from Granite Canyon trailhead. Be prepared for an intense amount of elevation gain, as this trail crosses over several significant passes, ascending and descending many different canyons. We went in early August to avoid steep snowfield crossings on Paintbrush Divide and only crossed one short (and not very steep) permanent snowfield. We didn’t see any bears, though hikers just ahead of us saw a black bear cross the trail in front of them on our first day. Deer walked through our campsites every night, and we saw lots of marmots, pika, ground squirrels, and chipmunks all along the trail. Highlights from our trip included stopping at Marion Lake, camping on Death Canyon shelf, lunch at Sunset Lake, wildflower covered fields, climbing over Hurricane Pass and seeing Schoolroom Glacier, views of Grand Teton from North Fork Cascade Canyon, resting at Lake Solitude, the hard push up Paintbrush Divide and the incredibly rewarding top-of-the-world views, and Holly Lake.

If you've only got a couple days to backpack in Grand Teton National Park, this is your hike. Paintbrush and Cascade Canyons are both incredibly scenic, and the view from Paintbrush Divide is almost unbeatable. This loop is spectacular going either direction. Plan for mid July through August if you're hoping to avoid steep snowfields on the Paintbrush side of the divide, but be aware that this is peak season. Plenty of campsites in either canyon give you lots of options to make this an overnight trip.

The last time we did this hike, we started just after sunset and hiked with headlamps. For the final scramble, it was bright enough for us to turn off our headlamps and very carefully climb to the top in the moonlight. Great experience, but not recommended for beginners, as it is quite steep and you've got to be really careful with your footing. I would only recommend a night hike to experienced hikers, and in dry/warm conditions. In the winter this trail can be very icy.

This is a great swimming hole, definitely worth the quick hike if you're at Little River Canyon! In good weather, can get a bit crowded. If you're the kind of person who prefers solitude, and you're up for scrambling over boulders, hike another 30 min or so down river to find a few smaller, but more secluded swimming holes.

Paddling the Cahaba is a must for Birmingham outdoor enthusiasts. My favorite section to run starts at the Grants Mill put-in (under the bridge where Grants Mill Rd crosses the Cahaba), and finishes at the Old Overton take-out, near the Liberty Park exit off Interstate 459. To run this section, you'll need two vehicles so you've got a shuttle. Takes about 2-3 hours. Be sure to check the Alabama river flow page, here: http://flowpage.alabamawhitewater.com/