United States

The route to Capitol Lake is fairly straightforward, but not without its minor hardships. The route begins at the end of Capitol Creek Road, 9 miles from the small "town" of Snowmass (NOT Snowmass Village - that's the high-class ski resort). The last few miles of this road provide the first min...

From I93 take exit 35 onto rt 3. Follow that until you get to a four way intersection. Take a right onto rt 302 and follow that until you see an AMC information building on the right. Drive past the parking lot about 500 feet and park on the left right after the lake. From there take the Webste...

The Angora Ridge Fire lookout sits above the serene Fallen Leaf Lake with incredible views of Mt. Tallac and Desolation Wilderness. You can hike, bike or drive to the lookout. This is a great spot to photograph the sunset, as the sky will reflect off both Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe. Bring a ...

While making your way to the parking area, you'll keep right for the most part. You'll also need a high clearance vehicle or the patience to drive very slowly. The dirt road to the trailhead is full of dips, holes, rocks, and essentially could be a close relative of off roading. If you do not hav...

Tower Arch is located in the remote Klondike Bluffs area in Arches National Park. If you're looking at the park map, you can see the unimproved Salt Valley Road that leads south then west from the main road towards Klondike Bluffs. The road is rough in a few places, but can easily be traversed in...

Drive to the top of Mills Ave in Claremont. There is a main parking area to the left and overflow parking a block south on the right. It costs $3 to park for 4hrs. As the name implies, the Wilderness Loop is a loop that connects to other trails in the Claremont Hills Wilderness. You can choose t...

Newport Pier is located just south of Huntington Beach at the center of the Balboa Peninsula. Balboa Pier, the more crowded pier of Newport Beach, is nearby to the south. Thanks to the awesome weather of Southern California, there’s no reason this beach can’t be enjoyed all year long, which means...

Proceed to Sweden Creek Falls Natural Area near Kingston, Arkansas. Find somewhere to park near the gate along the dirt road. The trailhead is located beside the gate. Follow the old jeep path and continue past the old abandoned house on the right. Once the path ends, look for the blue trail m...

This park is known for its sand dunes, which rise above the blue waters of Lake Michigan. In addition to the well-known dunes, the park features many forested areas with towering pines that makes for absolutely beautiful and fantastical scenery. There are 7 trails ranging from 0.25 miles up to 2....

Tucked away in the trees along Olympic Hot Springs Road, the Elwha River slows to a crawl and forms a perfect natural swimming hole. It is a great place to cool off, picnic, and enjoy the beautiful forest surrounding the Elwha River.   The river's water is crystal clear and a vivid blue-green co...

Drive 12 miles west of Taos, New Mexico on US Hwy 64, and you'll drive directly onto the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge that spans 1,280 feet. There's a rest area to the west of the bridge with a parking lot, sitting area, and if you're lucky like we were, a converted sky blue bus selling homemade desse...

This is an abandoned trail that heads south along Rainy Creek, off of the downstream section of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Trail, and up to Rainy Lake. The lake is popular among fisherman, since it is home to lots of trout, but be warned -- route-finding skills are a must on this trip. I do my be...

Great Falls Park, located in McLean, Virginia, is a stunning natural area where the Potomac River cascades over a series of steep, jagged rocks, creating the dramatic Great Falls. This 800-acre park offers visitors a blend of natural beauty and rich history, making it a popular destination for ou...

This hike can be done during any season, but for the creek to be running and for more comfortable temperatures, it is best to go on a cool winter or spring day. Starting at the preserve parking lot, take the Stevens Creek nature trail, allowing you to witness spectacular views of a large, forest...

This campsite is definitely out there. You'll take a dirt road into what seems to be a thick forest. Tell your GPS to put you on Woody Mountain Road in Flagstaff, AZ. Once you are on this road set your speedometer and follow this road for about 23 miles. Do not make any turns off of this road, th...

Chimney Rock is a 1.8-mile out-and-back, single-track trail. The trailhead gets crowded (even on weekdays) with amateur and professional photographers, as well as nature lovers clutching field guides. Hikers seeking a quiet nature experience may wish to look elsewhere. The display is impressive, ...