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Kevin AbernethyExplorer

Remember the past, cherish the present, work for tomorrow

This is one of my all time favorite camp sites. There is a small lake on the northwestern side of the pass that is perfect to set up your tent. Be sure to check weather conditions before you go, we had wind gusts over 50 mph and I woke up several times throughout the night because I thought we were going to blow away. If possible I'd recommend starting in the Ansel Adams wilderness and hiking down to Lyell Canyon. The canyon is beautiful regardless, but knowing everything is downhill makes the views even better.

This is a great spot to spend an afternoon at. It's not very crowded and the view is unique for the flat land surrounding the park. I recommend staying after sunset with a new moon to view a crystal clear sky. This area has some of the best night sky views in the state.

I randomly stopped by this state park leaving Arkansas and it was well worth it. This trail is easy to get to and the view from the top is spectacular

This a great camping spot and fairly easy to get to. I'd recommend bringing a hammock over a tent. It gets fairly crowded in the afternoon but most people head down before the sun sets. If you are in the area you don't want to miss this

This is an easy loop hike, I recommend checking it out in the Fall to see a colorful view of the Ozarks

This is a perfect spot to get away from the crowds. Great area for sunrise and sunsets too. There are great spots to chill on south side of the lake

Breathtaking views the entire way, from Mt. Ritter, to Donahue Pass, to Lyell Canyon. You definitely see it all throughout this trail. It almost desensitizes you to the real world.

This lake is so close to Garnet it's a toss up on which one has better views. Numerous spots to choose from to camp and the sunrise and sunset's are nothing short of spectacular.

We camped here for one night and we could have easily stayed longer. Seeing Banner Peak and Mt. Ritter are well worth the trip out there. I highly recommend this spot for anyone in the area.

Great hike to start your trip with, visit in the winter if you want to avoid the massive crowds. This trail gets overlooked because of the more popular spots in Zion but it is definitely worth the time and effort.

Aim to visit this spot in winter or early Spring. The view is one of a kind no matter what but you will be fighting a large crowd during peak months. I was here in December and there were maybe a dozen people taking pictures

One of my favorite spots at Big Bend. Great views and a perfect spot to relax on a beautiful afternoon.

This is one of my favorite campsites. Plenty of spots to choose from during the winter season but it can get very overcrowded during warmer months. Plenty of sites to see all within walking distance

The Wave is well worth the trip to Utah. Start the hike early so you can spend the afternoon in the area. If you are around Kanab, UT for a couple of days I think you have the best luck of drawing a permit on Friday; they will draw 10 permits for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

Well worth the trip. Big Bend is a hidden gem in SW Texas and the night time view is one of the best I've ever seen. Visit in the summer months for an unbelievable view of the Milky Way.

Often overlooked outing in Oklahoma. Great view for a sunset!

Maggie, I did this hike in December of 2015. I went about 2-3 miles in the canyon and I could visually see it would be very difficult to continue on. I also did this on the way down from Observation Point so I was losing daylight. I think this trail is highly underrated so definitely check it out. I strongly encourage you bring a pair of ice cleats (you can purchase them in the visitor center). You will need them for most trails but definitely for the hike into the actual Hidden Canyon, there is no way I would have done this trail without the cleats. You probably did Angel's Landing when you went in September, but I think it is a completely different visual perspective in the Winter. Observation Point is also a must. If you are looking for a leisurely hike I would check out the Sand Beach Trail (great view of the court of patriarchs). I wouldn't do all of the West Rim Trail, but it's nice year round. Best of luck! Let me know how it goes

This is an easy spot to get to, just a 5-10 minute walk from the parking lot. The pictures you see don't justify how great the view is.

Half Dome get's all of the attention but this trail is highly underrated. We reached the summit on a partly cloudy day and it was amazing to see Half Dome and the tunnel floor when the clouds would clear. Don't skip out on Cloud's Rest if you are headed to Yosemite.