Christian MurilloExplorer

Lake Trahlyta in Vogel State Park offers a truly unique combination of natural beauty and opportunity for recreation. The easy one-mile Lake Trahlyta trail circles the emerald colored lake and has a short deviation that leads to a calming, yet impressive waterfall.   The trail starts on the edge of the lake nearest the parking lot and visitor’s center. You can take the trail either direction, ...

The Econ River Wilderness Trail is a largely unnoticed section of preserved land, although it is just 1.5 miles away from University of Central Florida and nestled between residential communities.  This trail might not be the most interesting or dramatic trail in all of Central Florida, but what always intrigued me most was the variety of flora that you see in such a short hike.  This trail has...

The Twin Lakes trail starts winding through a pine forest, with a couple of bridge crossings over crystal clear trout-filled streams.  The marsh-like water is very slow-moving, and even though it is indeed beautiful, it is also a prime location for pesky mosquitoes in the summertime.  Be sure to load up on bug spray for this section.  The trail continues on a gentle climb as you leave a large ...

At the foot of Blackrock Mountain just outside of Highlands, North Carolina, lies one of the most unique and secluded natural playgrounds around.  Granite City is composed of several massive granite boulders, ranging between 10-40 feet tall.  This spot is most popular for bouldering (mostly V0-V2), although it is equally cool for just wandering around the labyrinth of narrow slots between the b...

The Everglades National Park is a superb spot for viewing wading birds and alligators off an easy paved path. There are a number of observation decks along the way, off of the main path. The trail begins at the Visitor Center, following Taylor Slough. The Anhinga Trail is one of the best places to see alligators in this part of the Everglades, so be sure to walk to the end of the paved path an...

The Appalachian Trail does not need a lot of hype beyond its existing legendary status.  However, there are certain parts of it that do stand out as being a little extra special.  Siler Bald is one of those spots.  A large clearing starting from Snowbird Gap and going all the way up to Siler Bald provides some of the best views on the North Carolina section of the AT.  The trail starts from Wa...

About a mile and a half NE from the Laxman Julla Bridge in Rishikesh lies one of the best natural escapes around.  A series of three stunning waterfalls make up the Neer Garh falls.  Although Rishikesh is a city that is driven by a booming tourist economy, you will find that these waterfalls are more of a "off the beaten path" type of spot, where mostly locals go to take a dip in the cool pools...

Sweetwater Creek State Park has a lot to offer in terms of adventure. One of the best things about this park is its proximity to the city of Atlanta. It is incredible how easy it is to feel like you are hours away from the city, even though Sweetwater is only several miles west of the city. It might just be my love for the water, but kayaking the George H. Sparks Reservoir is one of the best wa...

Sweetwater Creek State Park lies just about 20 minutes West of Downtown Atlanta.  An easy drive along I-20 from the large city makes this park a very popular destination, especially on the weekends.  Out of the parks three main trails, the Red Trail is by far my favorite.  Scenic river views and a stop by the ruins of a burnt down civil war era manufacturing mill are the main highlights.  If yo...

What could be better than laying on soft sand, listening to the crashing waves, and gazing at Florida's best sun and stars?  Cape Canaveral National Seashore has 14 primitive campsites located on Mosquito Lagoon.  This park has a 40-mile stretch of undeveloped seashore, which is truly a rare gem in Florida.  The park is located just northeast of Titusville, or an hour and a half ENE of Orlando....

Kitching Creek Loop: Florida's Diverse Ecosystem Trail Adventure Take a day full of adventure to hike the Kitching Creek Loop through Jonathan Dickinson State Park's varied ecosystems—from longleaf pine forests and saw palmetto flats to cypress swamps and oak hammocks. This 6.7-mile loop provides excellent opportunities for bird watching, wildflower viewing, and experiencing authentic South Fl...

Hot air balloon rides are super cool pretty much anywhere, but Cappadocia's lunar landscape provides a once in a lifetime opportunity to see bizarre rock formations from a truly unique angle. If you ever find yourself in Turkey, definitely make it a priority to take a hot air balloon ride in one of the top three hot air ballooning spots in the world.Most of the ballooning companies will pick yo...

North Georgia is packed with awesome mountain trails, but few boast the beauty and magnitude of the Appalachian Trail. The hike from Blood Mountain to Cowrock Mountain is one of the more scenic sections of the AT in Georgia, in terms of mountain views.  Do this hike as a full day hike, or spread it out into a two day backpacking trip to catch some awesome sunset and sunrise views.  The hike st...

Just North of Carters Lake lies one of its tributaries, Tails Creek.  The Tumbling Waters Trail follows along a scenic stretch of this creek as it cascades its way towards the lake.  This trail is moderately trafficked and considered a local favorite. The Tumbling Waters trailhead also contains a boat ramp for recreational use.  A daily fee of $3 is required to use these facilities and the mone...

Matheson Hammock is a beautiful park in the heart of one of the oldest sections of Miami, just off of Old Culter Road.  This is far off the tourist map which is mostly confined to South Beach. However, it is just 20 minutes from the beach and 10 minutes from Downtown.  The park is enjoyed by many locals during the day, due to the mossy oaks in its interior, intimate mangroves, and breezy palms ...

Just outside of the small town of Pemberton in Western Australia are three towering Karri trees that you can climb to to their highest branches.  The Karri tree is the third tallest species in the world, just behind the famous Sequoias and Douglas Firs.  With the help of bolted pegs that spiral around the massive tree trunks, you can slowly make your way up to panoramic viewing platforms above ...

The paddle to Minnie's Lake from Stephen C. Foster State Park covers some of the most beautiful territory in all of the Okefenokee swamp.  Not only will you immerse yourself in beautifully flooded cypress forests, but you will also see plenty of wildlife along the way.  Bring your Canoe, Kayak, or SUP on this 7.6 mile round-trip paddle to experience the true beauty of the swamp. Note: You can r...

Vogel State Park is one of the many beautifully preserved wilderness parks of Northern Georgia. With a stunning alpine lake and 17 miles of trails, you cannot go wrong. The Bear Hair Trail is the perfect mid-distance option that will reward you with both great views of the lake from a high vantage point and a great exercise through the beautiful forest.   Starting just a stones throw away from...

The Deering Estate is a magnificent and historic property with a home built in 1900.  To see the house and check out its immediate property, you will need to pay to enter the gates.  However, just 50 yards south of the entry to the Estate is a small service road that leads down to the "People's Dock" on Biscayne Bay.   After you park in the main Deering parking area, you will walk down this se...

All of the pictures were taken during the epic collaboration between The Outbound Collective and The North Face in the Basecamp Orlando event. Just an hour north of Orlando lies the expansive, diverse, and beautiful Ocala National Forest.  The Ocala National Forest boasts some of the bests hikes in the state, and while this short hike might not blow your mind, it fully immerses you in the deep ...

When most people think of Bali, they think about its countless resorts, relaxing spas, or epic waves.  Although all of these things have something great to offer, there is nothing quite like trekking in pure darkness to see one of the most incredible sunrises unravel in front of your eyes.  Be warned, you will not be the only one with the Mt. Batur summit vantage point of an Indonesian sunset o...

Alexander Springs Recreation Area is an incredible natural area that provides something for any adventure seeker to love.  The main attraction here is the beautiful headspring, which is one of the 27 first magnitude springs here in Florida.  This spring in particular maintains a cool 72 degrees fahrenheit year round and is the only spring in the Ocala national forest where Scuba Diving is permi...

The East Palisades trail is one of the only real hiking trails within Atlanta's perimeter.  Although it boasts surprising beauty and great trails, relatively few people in the city are aware this trail even exists.  As part of the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area, this section of forest is very well preserved and boasts some of the best views along the Chattahoochee river.   Even though ...

Stripmine Falls is not the biggest waterfall in the area, but it is both beautiful and accessible with just a short and easy out-and-back (or loop) hike.  The additional attraction of cool swimming pools along Chickamauga creek make this an ideal destination for a day full of relaxation and adventure.  The trailhead is located just 25 minutes north of Chattanooga, nearest to the township of Sod...