United States

Start your day at the Buckstaff Bathhouse. I would recommend doing the hike first and the traditional bath experience after, but depending on the day and time of year, the bathhouse may be closed in the afternoon. You can check their hours here . After you buy a ticket and store your belongings, you...

After parking at Shelter Cove and securing a camping permit ($3 per night in the backcountry) follow the bear prints down the coastline for 5 miles, keeping in mind that the tide devours the beach every 12 hours. Parts of the beach become impassable at high tide. Camp overnight at Buck Creek, the id...

Kebler Pass near Crested Butte is a leaf peepers paradise considering that one of the largest groves of aspens in Colorado makes its home here. If you want those postcard views of rugged mountain peaks and vibrant aspens, then I recommend hiking the Dyke Trail to Dark Canyon loop. Put this on your A...

Starting from the Rock Creek Trailhead parking lot, it is an up and down trek to Upper Slate Lake. The trail map states 10 miles each way, but accounting for switchbacks it ends up being closer to 14 long, hard miles. You will be among aspens and pines for the first half as you have a few moderate e...

The Northwest Ridge is the most easily accessible and popular route, and for good reasons. The trailhead is on the side of Hwy 82, otherwise known as Independence Pass, about 14.5 miles from the Hwy 24 junction, or about 10 miles from Twin Lakes to the east. The trailhead is hard to miss, and you ca...

The Cascadilla Creek Gorge is the perfect retreat from Cornell campus or downtown Ithaca into serene natural surroundings. This short trail will take you down 400 feet past multiple waterfalls, through lush, green forest and 400 million year old bedrock. It will be tough to believe you didn't have t...

The hike is accessible in all seasons, but in winter there can be snow and ice so special equipment may be useful, but not required. In mid-January there were patches of ice on the trail but were easily crossed in boots and trainers. You can take the trail and end at Ice house Saddle or continue on ...

This hike is 7.4 miles roundtrip, with 2100 feet of elevation gain. Once you're on the trail, it starts heading uphill to help get your heart rate up on the hike. As you enter the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the trail starts to level out. You'll cross a few streams and hike through a fair amount of veg...

This mountain can be conquered two ways and is a great after-work adventure to watch the sunset, an early morning trail run, or a fun family challenge. The trail is 4 miles and 1,425 feet elevation gain (from the Alta side) or 6 miles and 2,050 feet (from the Brighton side). Both routes converge on ...

Inside Capitol Reed National Park there is a scenic drive. The drive you do have to pay for ($15 bucks a car) but considering the park is free, you may as well! The drive is about 8 miles long, with pull offs for ideal picture taking, the landscape is vast and ever changing with every turn, includin...

To enter the park, you first have to go through a field and past a baseball park. Next, you will see a high slope, you can either enter the trails through here or the stairs at the side. Some of the trails are overgrown and may have ticks or poison ivy so be careful. This place is good for kids and ...

The Deschutes River Trail is a must do mountain bike ride or hike in between Sunriver and Bend, Oregon. The river varies from calm water to waterfalls. The trail follows along the river and goes through pine forests, meadows, and lava flows. Most of the single track is smooth with a few more technic...

What is it with Harford County and its slew of awesome parks? Nestled in the Northeast corner of Maryland, between the Chesapeake Bay and the river it takes its name from, Susquehanna State Park is gorgeous. A couple miles and a world away from I-95, SSP is expansive and lush. There are 15 miles of ...

Step 1: Get Wilderness Permit from the Wilderness Office the day before! Permits are free and required. This trail is a Point-to-Point trail so make sure you have a shuttle situation figured out (or you can always hitch hike). The best option is to get dropped off at Tunnel View so that you don't ha...

Horsetail Falls is a stunning waterfall in Yosemite National Park. And, between mid-late February, Horsetail Falls turns into a natural phenomenon called Firefall. For just a short two weeks the setting sun strikes the small waterfall so perfectly, that the water ignites into a colorful and bright d...

The Spooner Lake Loop is perfect for any ages since there is basically no elevation gain and many benches along the trail to rest. The trail offers many educational signs describing the history, and flora and fauna of the area. This man made lake is perfect for the kids and pup. They will love this ...