Christian MurilloExplorer

Capitol Reef National Park is filled with excellent hikes, and the hike to the Golden Throne should not be left out of the conversation.  This hike is 2WD accessible, has moderate distance, and decent elevation gain, making it a great hike and exercise for everyone.  The trail begins from the Capitol Gorge Trailhead and Parking Area.  There is not a ton of parking here, so if you go on the week...

Paddling along the St. Johns River is the perfect relaxing escape that lets you see the real Florida.  Bring your Kayak, Canoe, or SUP to explore one of the few rivers worldwide that flows North. Just 45 minutes from Downtown Orlando, this adventure is great for someone who either wants to see the real Florida or simply wants to get away from the crowds of the city and its theme parks. The curr...

As Tumbling Rock Cave is a private property owned and controlled by SCCI, a permit is required to access the cave.  Permits can only be applied for online here, and once granted, SCCI will provide the exact location of the cave.  Caving is not only an inherently dangerous activity due to difficult navigation, lack of light, and hypothermic conditions, but caves are also extremely sensitive envi...

The Takesi trail is a 40km section of the Inca trail that covers some of the most diverse landscapes in the region, and has significant pre-columbian history that will keep you engaged the entire time.  Although the trek is not too difficult, there is a fairly significant climb in the beginning of the hike and over 2,500m of descent down to “Los Yungas” (the jungles), after the 4,700m pass at “...

Just a short drive from La Paz, Chacaltaya makes for a perfect short day hike if you are visiting Bolivia’s high altitude capital.  At 17,700’, Chacaltaya was once the highest elevation ski run in the world, with a rudimentary lodge and rope lift at the top of the mountain.  Unfortunately, due to climate change there is no glacier left to ski on since 2005, and the lodge and ski lift have been ...

Hiking Sitton's Gulch is a great option for those who want to get a little more distance than what the 2.1 mile Waterfalls trail has to offer.  This bit of extra distance will separate you from a lot of the weekend crowd and will expose you to two more waterfalls, in addition to Cherokee and Hemlock Falls. The trailhead is the same as the Waterfall trail trailhead, at the end of Cloudland Canyo...

The Appalachian Trail is arguably the most famous thru-hike in the world.  Along its 2,181-mile journey, there are many beautiful mountain views, and Preachers Rock is definitely one of them.  A large granite slab near the summit of Big Cedar Mountain reveals mountain views that are truly the epitome of what North Georgia is all about. Just 1.5 hours North of Atlanta, the Woody Gap trailhe...

Just 35km South of Margaret River lies one of Western Australia's best natural gems, Hamelin Bay.  The best part about this beach is that calm and shallow waters of the bay here are home to many beautiful sting rays.  Although you will not find this beach in most tourist pamphlets, that does not mean that it is not worth seeing.  Several different species of sting rays come to feed on fish scra...

Jacks River Falls is one of Georgia's most impressive waterfalls.  Containing several cascades that combine to an 80 foot waterfall, this destination provides spectacular views and refreshing pools to take a dip in.  You can approach the falls from either Jacks River Falls trail or the Beech Bottom trail, but in this article I will outline only the Beech Bottom trail.The Beech Bottom trail star...

Nestled at the foot of Blood Mountain is one of Georgia's most scenic State Parks.  With over 90 campsites and 35 charming cottages, 17 miles of hiking trails, a beautiful alpine lake, and a charming waterfall, Vogel State Park highlights all of the best things that North Georgia has to offer.  The 90 campsites are split between RV/camper sites and walk-in tent sites.  Some can be used for eith...

Fort Mountain rises prominently from the plateau to the West, serving as the start of the Blue Ridge Mountain range in Georgia. The Gahuti Backcountry Trail circumnavigates the mountain, with several overlooks with views in all directions.  At 8.1 miles, this hike is moderately difficult, but can be done by most in a half-day.   The Gahuti Trailhead is at the parking lot for the Cool Springs Ov...

Red Top Mountain State Park finds itself just 30 minutes up I-75 from the urban sprawl of Atlanta, and it is surprising how quickly you can forget exactly how close you are to the city with just one night of camping here.  The State Park has a range of activities to offer, so there is bound to be something that will make for a great camping experience for your friends and family.  With over 90 ...

Getting to Helton Creek Falls can be a little bit tricky. You can either access the trailhead from 348 (the less popular, more adventurous route), or you can access the trailhead easily off of highway 19.  The reason why access from 348 is a bit tricky is that the road actually has two creek crossings, so make sure your car has very good clearance and ideally 4WD.   Once you get to the trailhea...

Lake Burton is, in my opinion, Georgia's most scenic large lake.  It is completely surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and has some of the clearest water in the state.  Moccasin Creek State Park is a great launching point for all of your paddling adventures, whether you own your own vessel or want to rent one at the park.   If you have your own canoe/kayak/SUP, you can take off from the Mocc...

The Arkaquah Trail is unique as far as North Georgia trails go for any reasons.  Its elevation gain and distance puts it near the top for most challenging day hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  If the 11 miles round-trip sounds a bit daunting, this hike can also be done as a 5.5 mile point-to-point, with one car at Track Rock Gap and another at the Brasstown Bald Visitors Center.  When combine...

The West Metolius River trail is one of the finest river trails in Central Oregon due to its easy terrain, beautiful blue water, volcanic spring fed waterfalls, and forest views.  The hike starts just downstream from the Lower Canyon Creek Campground, where there is a bathroom and some picnic tables.  This part of Deschutes National Forest is open year-round, but may not be accessible after a b...

Stephen C. Foster State Park is a hot spot for Georgia wildlife. The swamps and bodies of water attract alligators, black bears, herons, turtles, and more. The park is ideal for birding or simply enjoying the sounds of nature. Choose from campsites, cottages, lodge, or pioneer camp for a cozy stay. Activities range from hiking to kayaking.Get more information and book your campsite at http://ga...

I would like to preface this adventure by saying that if you prefer to bike Shark Valley, please reference Rob Witt's adventure "Bike through Shark Valley".  Biking is certainly the best way to see the whole trail, and not spend the entire day doing it.  Hiking (really walking) this trail is a slightly different than taking the tram or riding a bicycle for several reasons.  At a slower moving p...

Just about 15km west of Denmark, Australia is one of Western Australia’s coolest beaches.  Elephant Rocks is just about 200 yards east of the popular Greens Pool.  A short walk east from the main parking area will take you down a series of stairs that will lead you to the beach of Elephant Rocks.  The beach here is actually quite small, but more than large enough for the traffic that this beach...

Black Rock Mountain State Park is Georgia's highest elevation State Park.  It is adorned with several waterfalls, sweeping overlooks, blooming Rhododendron's, and plenty of miles of trail.  The James E. Edmond trail is the longest and by far most challenging hike in the park.  Its medium-long distance and steep descents and climbs make it a killer half-day workout, or an awesome backpacking adv...

Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world at 12,507 feet, which is spread across the Bolivian and Peruvian altiplano (high plains).  On the Bolivian side of the lake lies one of the most beautiful places in the entire country, Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun).  The small island is a home to several native communities, and boasts exquisite natural beauty and fascinating history.  ...

Whiteside Mountain is simply breathtaking, there is no way around it.  Views of the mountain from the South expose its sheer granite face, which runs almost its entire length East-to-West.  However, the views of the mountain are just the beginning, as this hike climbs to higher heights than just about all of the surrounding mountains within sight.  Do not get fooled by the impressive prominence...

Although it is not much of a hike at just 0.3 miles, it is accessible to people of all fitness levels.  A climb up a series of stairs leads you to a trail overlooking Mingo creek.  You will then find a 20 foot wide bridge which serves as the viewing platform of the falls.   If you care to adventure further, feel free to hop your way over some timber and boulders to the base of the waterfall.  ...

The hike to the five waterfalls on the Emery Creek trail is one of the most spectacular hikes in Georgia. This trail is moderate in climb, yet secluded in the Cohutta Wilderness and challenging enough to keep crowds away. Two things to note about this trail: it is wet (there are 20 creek crossings), and it can be tricky to navigate if you do not stick to a few simple tips. The first tip for th...