United States

Getting There From Evanston, take the Mirror Lake Highway 150 about 42 miles to the Ruth Lake trailhead and follow the easy hike up from the highway; just look for the signs directing you to Ruth Lake. The Trail/The Climbs Once on the trail, keep an eye out to your left and soon you'll see the cl...

Ever wanted to pick a spot on the map and just GO for the weekend? That's exactly how we discovered Heart Lake. Our only recommendation is don't do it in October, when it might snow. A lot.As there's not much to do other than hike around up there, we combined the day with a morning mountain bike ...

This 4 mile loop ascends only a slight amount in elevation, making for a pleasant loop in which opportunities for appreciation of the nature around you and broad vista photography are in plentiful supply. A great hike for those who may still be building their fitness, as so many trails in Boulder...

Located along the Hamilton Mountain Trail, the Hardy and Rodney falls out and back hike is a good alternative for those looking for a shorter hike compared to the 7.6-mile hike to the top of Hamilton Mountain. From the Hamilton Mountain Trailhead, you will follow the trail through thick trees fo...

Located deep in the Angeles National Forest above Azusa, this short but at times challenging hike rewards you with a beautiful fifty-foot waterfall. The base of the waterfall is only a foot at its deepest, so I wouldn't rush to bring a bathing suit with you. Protected by the heavy forestry around...

A simple hike from the trailhead will take you through the woods and to the viewing deck of Miners Falls. There are well marked signs to the trailhead from the main road, which is extremely helpful with the lack of cell phone service in the area. The hike is 1.2 miles round trip and requires no ...

Access to this trailhead is a few miles south of the Islands in the Sky Visitor Center in Canyonlands National Park. An easy drive from Moab or Interstate 70. Remember to get permits and check in with the rangers if camping. If just doing a day hike then no permits are needed. REMINDER: There is ...

The Bowl of Fire, tucked away in the Muddy Mountains Wilderness, is made up of the same dramatic conglomerate as that of the Valley of Fire, only almost no-one stops to visit as they blitz by on Northshore Road in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. To get there take the Northshore Road 16 m...

Coming from the campground, you'll want to backtrack back towards Navajo and Fifty Foot falls, crossing the bridge that you came over coming into the campground. Continue on the trail until you see a picnic table with a small canopy with a big piece of tarp/burlap hanging from the front. Go past ...

Just a quick 26-mile drive from Bend you'll find Sparks Lake, where shallow water, amazing lakeside camping grounds, and the possibility of catching a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis make for some of the best weekend camping in Oregon.Pay for a site or park along the road before you come to the "C...

Starting at the Lava Canyon Trailhead, you will walk on a paved trail down a few switchbacks until you reach the river, where you can go right or left. Either way takes you to the suspension bridge, but I recommend going right if you are following this guide. It will make more sense in a moment.A...

Barney Lake makes for an incredible day hike or trail run, but is also very accessible for camping. Start at the trailhead near the Mono Village Resort at Twin Lakes and follow the Robinson Creek Trail. If you plan on hiking during the winter, the resort will be closed and you will have to park ...

The wildflowers are normally at their peak from mid to end of July or the beginning of August. Depending on the amount of snow that year and how wet of a spring we had it could vary a little bit.  But anytime during the mid summer you will encounter amazing Indian Paintbrush, Lupine, and other co...

This trail is a staff favorite at Big Sur. This family-friendly waterfall trail provides only a moderate challenge for young children and older family members. There are two starting points for this hike depending on where you stashed the car. If you’re parked near the gift shop, the head up the ...

The Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area is located south of Manistee along an extremely isolated shoreline. Most hikers prefer to camp two nights along the shores of Lake Michigan, but some choose to call the dunes home for weeks at a time. This is an area of backwoods camping, where sites can be est...

This short hike cannot be reached from the main area of Bryce Canyon, but with a 15 minute drive from the main entrance you can access this less crowded portion of the park. Check out a park map for the directions. This is very family-friendly, and is actually more of a "walk" than a "hike."It is...