United States

The Burr Trail is a 66 miles mostly-paved road connecting Boulder, Utah / Highway 12 with the Notom-Bullfrog road that passes through some of the most scenic (and largely untouched) painted-rock backcountry in three of our national parks/monuments including Grand Staircase-Escalante, Capitol Reef...

This wonderful alpine lake is a relatively short hike in Desolation Wilderness and is a perfect introduction to off trail exploration. This area lacks the crowds that other lakes in Desolation garner because most maps don't show the trail leading to the lake. Although there is a rough trail, the ...

From the Rattlesnake Trailhead (about a mile northeast of the Sherwood Hills Resort on U.S. 89) to the peak is just under 4.5 miles. The hike is great exercise, as it's relatively steep. The steep angle provides for stunning views along the entire trail, making this one of the most picturesque hi...

This trip requires a wilderness permit. You can get one at the Lodgepole Visitor Center where you can also rent a bear canister or use the bathroom before heading out.Wolverton Trailhead -> Big Bird Lake (~12 miles)The start of the trail is on the left side of the parking lot and towards the m...

From the trailhead at Stonewall Road, the 1.5-mile trail makes for an excellent before or after-work run. But the steep hills and loose ground aren’t for those looking to find an easy nature walk. The incline starts well before the Stonewall-Panoramic trailhead, so you won’t even have time to w...

The Konza Prairie Nature Trail is a special beloved attraction in the area. It is set on 3,487 hectare of native tallgrass prairie. The trail offers a choice of 3 loops: The Nature Trail Loop at 2.8 miles, The Kings Creek Loop at 4.6 miles, and the Godwin Hill Loop at 6.1 miles. All trails start ...

Drive Waimea Canyon Drive until you reach mile marker 17. Continue about half a mile further, park at the turnout on a corner near a telephone pole. The trailhead is directly back from the turnout.You'll first encounter a maze of criss-crossing hunter trails. Stay mostly to the left, following ri...

The North Cascades Highway is one of the most beautiful roads in the country. A popular, but long bike ride is to ride from Marblemount on the West side of the Cascades to Mazama on the east side. But for those who aren't up for an epic ride, there is an out and back option from Mazama on east si...

Even from the Trailhead, the views overlooking the Skagit River valley, all the way out toward Mount Vernon, are outstanding. The trail follows 20 tight switchbacks as it makes it's way 600 feet up to the southern crest of the summit ridge. This is a steep slope and it's possible to look straight...

Porter Fork starts at the aptly named Porter Fork Trailhead about 4 miles up Millcreek Canyon. It’s actually Porter Fork Road for the first 1.5 miles of the trail. This section is a pleasant, paved path winding up through a dozen or so cabins. You’ll gain about 1,000 feet. If you make it past the...

Moab is an outdoor mecca, from rock climbing to mountain biking to 4WD adventures and while not particularly technical (it is only rated Class 2) the 7.8 mile Long Canyon Road just north of Dead Horse State Park is an excellent way to get a taste for the incredible features (and views) that the C...

This 5.8 mile (one-way) trek is a multi-functional trail. The trail can serve as standalone trail allowing hikers to get in either a solid in-and-out day hike or as a leg to a much bigger and epic Trans-Zion Trek. For those interested in the later, the Wildcat Canyon Trail is the leg of the journ...

The name is uninviting, but Hell’s Hole is a scenic, shallow basin in the Mount Evans Wilderness near Idaho Springs. Starting elevation is about 9500 feet. Right after the trailhead, you pass through a few camping sites in the Chicago Creek Picnic Area. About five minutes into the hike is the per...

There are numerous ways to incorporate the Car Wreck trail into a larger loop through the Laguna Coast Wilderness and Aliso Canyon Park, but a common route is to begin at Alta Laguna Park at "Top of the World" in Laguna Beach. Take the West Ridge Trail .5 miles, bearing right onto the marked Car...

The Gateway Trailhead is one access point into the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy in Scottsdale and is my favorite “Gateway” into the treasure trove of great trails and vistas in the McDowell Mountains. The Gateway Trailhead provides great accessibility for a quick hike or trail run at the end of t...

Starting Elevation: 3400 Feet Ending Elevation: 6178 Feet Round Trip Run: 17 Miles Total Elevation Gained for the Day: 4100 FeetIt's best to drive to the trailhead the night before and camp out (I slept in my Jeep to get an early start on the next morning). The parking lots are jammed full on the...