Eric SchuetteExplorer

One can reach spirit lake as a day hike, however it is most often visited as part of backpacking trip. Either way the route is the same and it starts at the East Inlet trail. To park you are supposed to pay or show your park/national lands pass. From the East Inlet trailhead you will soon pass Adams Falls, which is a popular detour from the trail or for some the destination. From Adams Falls yo...

To do the entire 26-mile float, put in at the Loma River access, several miles west of Fruita and just a short drive from I-70. From the Loma access there is no other easy access point until 26 miles later, at Westwater in Utah.Once on the water you will be able to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery around you. This is because during most water levels it is a very tame float throughout with ...

Begin by parking at the Lumpy Ridge trailhead, which is a couple miles outside of Estes Park on McGregor Avenue. At the trailhead, there are numerous signs indicating hiking trails, climbing routes, and other information about the area. After parking start hiking on the trail to the right of the bathrooms. The trail continues for approximately ~1.8 miles to Gem Lake. The trail climbs steadily ...

Lilly Lake is known as a very popular, easy hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Lilly Lake itself is very pretty and also has some good fishing and walking opportunities.Rock rises up nearby the northwest area of the lake, and offers some of the most fun rock climbing in the area. There are numerous bolted routes available, which means there is something for every level of climber. Several of...

The Ross Creek Cedar area is a really cool area in Northwest Montana that houses some monstrous Western Red Cedar Trees (some of which have a diameter of over 12 feet and over 500 years old!). The grove is one of the few in the area that still has some really beautiful old-growth forest. Due to its beauty and location this roughly 100-acre grove was spared from the logging that has taken most o...

Skagsanden is one the small and beautiful beaches that seem to be everywhere in the Lofoten area of Norway. Skagsanden is only a few yards from the parking lot, which makes access very easy. Skasgaden is perhaps best known for the intricate patterns in the sand where a small stream flows into the ocean. One could spend hours walking and seeing new patterns/angles the entire time. The rest of th...

From the parking lot walk across the road to the small sign indicating which way the trail begins through the bushes. The beginning of the trail heads through the birch forest and can be boggy in places. In the winter the trail can be hard to follow at times but on average stay to the right and you should be able to follow the path. After 10-15 minutes you will likely start clearing the trees a...

Pawnee Campground has 47 sites for suited for tents, RVs, or trailers with eight that are walk in and tent only. These can fill up quick so get there early if you don't have a reservation, which can be tough to come by but will be well worth it.Brainard Lake has been one of the most popular hiking destinations in the front range for but more recently has become more popular as a camping destina...

This is a beautiful campground that serves as a great basecamp for many different outdoor activities in the Front Range. Whether you are looking for a casual day fishing or trying to knock one of the nearby 14ers off of your bucket list, this is an excellent place to begin. There are also abandoned “ghost towns” and the historic Georgetown nearby for those interested in local history.There are ...

There are several ways to reach finch lake but this will cover the route from the Finch Lake Trailhead in the wild basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park. You can also loop it with other trails in the area or begin at the Allenspark Trailhead, which is technically outside the park and a bit easier of a hike.  The trail to Finch Lake starts off with a climb up the moraine and through an ope...

Haukland Beach is a gorgeous white-sand beach surrounded by mountains outside Leknes in the Lofoten area of Norway. The beach is only a few yards from the parking lot, making public access very easy. After spending a few minutes walking along it's shores, it will be hard to argue that Haukland is not deserving of the title "most beautiful beach in Norway." The word tranquil is also likely to en...

There is a nice-sized parking lot at Joyner Ridge. From the parking lot, the Devil's Tower looms very large! From the parking lot, the trail is obvious and easy to follow. There are occasional overlooks or different vantage points from the trail. The Joyner Ridge trail makes a 1.5-mile loop that is mostly level and easy to follow.  For a longer walk you can combine the Joyner Ridge Trail with ...

Hike one of the most scenic 12ers in Colorado's front range, Shoshoni Peak, with an elevation of 12,967 feet. You can easily combine a summit of Pawnee Peak for wonderful views of multiple alpine cirques. Enjoy wonderful views of the Long Lake Valley, Isabelle Glacier, and Pawnee Pass regions. For the more adventurous there is a class 3 route that ascends its northeast face. THE HIKE Starting ...

Treasure Falls is reached via short 0.4 mile walk from the parking lot on highway 160 about 15 miles outside Pagosa Springs (which is home to the worlds deepest hot springs). There is a paved path and dirt trail that both end up at the falls and if you are inclined, make into a loop for 0.7 miles. There is a bridge that crosses the creek just below the falls or you can continue up a couple hund...

Begin the hike at the Bear Lake trailhead, this will be the same for any season you chose to hike to the lake. From the Bear Lake trailhead follow the Dream Lake trail for ~1.05 miles to just before Dream Lake itself. The trail is very easy to follow up to this point in all seasons. In winter the trail stays very packed down expect for right after a large storm. If you are not hiking early, exp...

Haleakala means "House of the rising sun" and is a wonderful description of the mountain. Haleakala is a large dormant volcano that makes up ~75% of the island of Maui. On the slopes of Halekala are rain forests, pastures, endemic birds, the endangered but beautiful silversword, and a summit that has one of the best sunrises in the world. This spot will have fewer people (although you will not...

Park at the pull out just west of independence pass. From there, begin on the Linkin's Lake Trail. The trail is generally easy to follow (although it can be muddy as it is a wet area) and climbs 900 feet in the 1.8 miles to independence lake. From Independence lake it is about 0.5 miles and 400 feet of incline to the pass. The trail stays to the west of the lake although there is a use trail th...

The peacock pool is a cool little tarn below the outlet to Chasm Lake. Please note that this adventure is best done in the winter/spring when snow is present to prevent erosion in the sensitive area. That is how the description will be written, assuming winter conditions. The approach is the same as to Chasm except for the last ~.5 miles. Begin the hike at the Long's Peak trailhead just outsi...

The Black lake hike begins at the very popular Glacier Gorge trailhead along Bear Lake road in Rocky Mountain National Park. During the summer and weekends, the park shuttle may be the best parking option as the lot is often full by 7am and can be difficult to find a spot throughout the day. From the Glacier Gorge lot head down the trail and follow signs to Mills Lake. There are several junct...

Unstad Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Lofoten area of Norway. Unstad has beautiful golden sand and is surrounded by majestic mountains. Its location and geography allow for the formation of large waves in addition to the beautiful beach itself. Because of the large waves, this is a really popular area for Arctic surfing (yes that's a real thing). For those who are not quite u...