United States

Visiting Chicago I was on a mission to find a great outdoors spot to be in. This definitely fulfilled my goal of finding a beautiful garden to hangout in! There are plenty of different paths and areas to explore just within the city! Location Located in Millennium Park it will be easy to find,...

We completed this loop over the course of 3 days in late June, however for those who pack extraordinarily light and/or travel extraordinarily fast, this loop could be completed in 2 days. There are also a plethora of trail intersections to either extend or shorten your loop to different preferenc...

Great River Bluffs State Park follows a series of impressive bluffs along the Mississippi River just south of Winona. For those of you who think Minnesota is as flat as a pancake (and I'm not saying there aren't places in the state that are), Great River Bluffs will be a surprise. King's and Quee...

Considered the Eighth Wonder of the World when it was built, the Kinzua Viaduct is truly amazing and a must see. The Kinzua Viaduct or Kinzua Bridge was built in 1881 and rebuilt in 1990 where it served as the world's tallest and longest railroad structure for a few years. In 2003 an F1 tornado s...

Elkhorn Slough is located in Moss Landing, which is in the dead center of Monterey Bay, California. Elkhorn Slough is one of California's largest wetlands and part of a National Estuarine Reserve located in central Monterey Bay, California, just a short trip from the Monterey Peninsula and the Sa...

While it is only accessible by boat or plane, Isle Royale National Park is well worth the added travel arrangements. We took the Ranger III Ferry out of Houghton, MI, but there are a few other options depending on where you depart from (www.nps.gov). Upon arrival at Rock Harbor, the first day is ...

Introduction Didn't think there was backpacking to be done in Acadia National Park?  Think again!  Isle au Haut (pronounced "isle ah ho") is a little island off of Stonington, Maine.  Half of the island is a quiet and quaint New England island community and the other half is part of Acadia Natio...

Whether you're looking for a place to pull in and crash or an area to take in the entire Teton range, you shouldn't pass up the opportunity to experience Shadow Mountain. Although Shadow Mountain is in Bridger-Teton National Forest, the foot of the mountain borders Grand Teton National Park. Fore...

The trail leads from the parking area across the Mosquito Creek road and heads uphill north through an open pine forest with manzanita growing on dry slopes. The trail provides access to Alder Creek Falls a hidden gem within Yosemite's Wawona wilderness. I did the trail towards the end of Februar...

Drive the Mountain Loop Highway to Barlow Pass and park at the pass using your Northwest Forest Pass. (In early or late season, be aware of snow conditions at the pass and, more importantly, along the trail up to Gothic Basin.) From Barlow Pass, start hiking south past the trail gate and in the ...

Briggs Wood Park Waterfalls are Located 2.5 miles South of Webster City off Highway 17. It is very peaceful watching the water cascade over the rocks and into the stream below. If you follow the water down stream it will lead you to the Boone River. I arrived at the falls before sunrise because...

This is a fun, short trip.  Could be completed in about 30 minutes and rentals are available if you cannot supply your own kayaks.  The island is small, with adequate cliffs.  It has littered the water around it with fallen boulders and rocks.  Best done at sunset, as the reflection of the sun of...

Leslie Gulch, a canyon on the border of Oregon and Idaho, is full of almost surreal rock formations made up of tuff from volcanic eruptions 15 million years ago.To walk around in these canyons is like being transported into another world. Timber Gulch, one of many hikes located in Leslie Gulch, i...

There are several options to reach the summit of Mount Mansfield. The Toll Road (which, appropriately, has a toll to use it), the Laura Cowles trail, the Sunset Ridge trail, Haselton Trail, the Hellbrook Trail… The most popular trail from the east side of the mountain, however, is the section o...

Sunrise at Oxbow Bend is one of the most popular events in the park, and for good reason. Mt. Moran is particularly stunning in the morning light. For wildlife viewing, Oxbow Bend is one of the best places in the park, but its even better if you can explore it by water. The easiest access to the ...

One of my personal favorites and a hidden gem of California that keeps circling my mind is the Lassen Peak Trail. Don't let the trail map (2.5 miles one way) deceive you and make you think this is a short trail. The elevation gain is is 2000 feet from the parking lot to the end of the peak. The a...