Mark Nelson

Already starting off at elevation (about 9,560 feet above sea level), you first travel through a large stand of aspen trees during the beginning third of the trail.Depending on the season, the aspen can provide pleasant cover in summer, miraculous colors in fall and eerie creaking as the wind flows through their naked branches in spring and winter. You'll rarely come across many (if any) other ...

Right off Arizona Highway 260 at Porter Mountain Rd., you'll find this easy out-and-back hike that will wind you past Scott Reservoir to an ancient lava tube cave. To access the trailhead, take Porter Mountain Rd. for one mile off Highway 260, the parking area is easily visible about 0.1 mi past the roundabout near the middle school. The trail, which is relatively flat, but does provide some ...

It's always (for me anyway) a good sign when the parking area at a trailhead is devoid of any other vehicles. Such was the case at the Sherman Creek Trailhead in the Clearwater National Forest in west-central Idaho. This trail begins just north of US-12, where Sherman Creek starts emptying into the Lochsa River. (This will come in handy at the end of the hike for a quick, refreshing dip). While...