Josh PackerExplorer

Lower Grand Canyon Falls is one of the gems of Yellowstone and is the one of the most photographed spots in the park. Red Rock Point on the north side of the Yellowstone River gives amazing views up and down the canyon and is only a short .3 miles from the North Rim Road. What's crazy is how long it took me to finally visit the falls, and I've lived within two hours of Yellowstone for most of ...

The North Menan Butte, or "R" Mountain is a well-known landmark in southeast Idaho for its size and uniqueness. The mountain is known as “R” Mountain by locals because of the large “R” painted on its side for Rexburg, Idaho. "R" Mountain, however, is not actually a mountain but rather an extinct volcano. Hiking up "R" Mountain at anytime provides a spectacular view of the Snake River Valley an...

When two waterfalls have their own scenic byway, you know it is worth the additional stop. Lower Mesa Falls and Upper Mesa Falls are spectacular waterfalls along the Henrys Fork River, deep in the Grand Targhee Forest. The winding scenic byway yields some spectacular views of the Grand Targhee Forest, especially during fall when all the quaking aspens and other trees are changing colors. In win...

The best time to hike Darby Canyon is May through September, since the snow stays late in spring and comes earlier in fall. Hiking up Darby Canyon to the Wind Caves provides spectacular views of the Jedediah Smith Wilderness and is a fun, yet challenging hike. It is a popular day hike, and many families will even take their younger children on the adventure. The trail is about 6 miles round tr...

Flying around the Grand Teton in Grand Teton National Park is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, especially at sunrise or sunset. Viewing the Tetons from ground level at Grand Teton National Park is a spectacular view, but seeing the Tetons from the air is unreal.Finding a Plane and Pilot: There are many private pilots in the area that jump at any opportunity to fly as long as you cover the cost ...

Rock Bridge Memorial State Park is located near Columbia, Missouri and has over 2,000 acres to explore. The park is known for its unique rock formations, including the rock bridge, sinkholes, and an underground stream at the Devil's Icebox cave.To reach the Devil's Icebox cave, start at the Devil's Icebox parking lot and find the trailhead. The hike is only 0.5 miles long, which includes a loop...

Rock Bridge Memorial State Park is located near Columbia, Missouri and has over 2,000 acres to explore. The Shooting Star Bluffs are roughly a 1/2 of a mile into the Gans Creek Wild Area Trail System. There's a fork in the trail, so stay to the left to see the bluffs. You will see an opening in the trees along the trail on the right, where there is a 100-foot drop off. This is where you will fi...

Directions to the lake:To get here, head North on Highway 20 as if you’re heading to St. Anthony. Then, take exit 339 towards Driggs on ID-33 E. Turn right onto 9th N for .5 miles. Then follow ID-33 E for 24.4 miles until you reach the dirt road Hoopes Rd. Drive. Drive on this road for 5.9 miles and then turn right onto Packsaddle Lake Road. Drive on Packsaddle Lake Road for 1.8 miles and then ...

The scenic drive along Alta Ski Hill Road to Grand Targhee Ski Resort provides many amazing views of the Grand Teton, especially during autumn. The Grand Teton is one of the most spectacular mountain peaks in all of the U.S. People travel the world to come see this specific mountain. Most people, when coming to see the Grand Teton, visit Grand Teton National Park near Jackson Hole, Wyoming. How...

About the Bridge: The Perrine Bridge near Twin Falls, Idaho is a famous landmark in the state and crosses the beautiful Snake River Canyon. The bridge is 1,500 feet long and is 386 feet above the Snake River. There are also BASE jumpers that frequent the bridge. BASE jumping is a sport where athletes jump off fixed objects, like bridges, with parachutes. "BASE" is an acronym standing for buildi...

The Snake River Overlook is a well-known stopping point in Grand Teton National Park and for good reason. You get a spectacular view of the Snake River leading up to the Grand Teton. Many people have seen Ansel Adam's famous black and white photo captured here. Visiting the overlook is great at all times of the day, but it is spectacular at both sunrise and sunset. The sun sets behind the Gran...

If you're heading to Grand Teton National Park from Idaho Falls and are looking to take the most scenic route, make sure to take US 26 E through Palisades Reservoir. The fall colors light up the mountain sides for 20 miles as you drive along the windy road. There are multiple pull offs to capture the colorful foliage, so take your time to enjoy the scenery.  The best time to catch the fall colo...

The Palisades Creek Nature Trail is a fun little hike with many photographic opportunities. You can make the hike as short or long as you want, so once you're done taking photos, turn back around and head to your vehicle. The trail does eventually lead to Lower and Upper Palisades Lake, but this adventure only covers hiking along the Palisades Creek. The best places to take photos are within th...

The River Ranch Loop trail is a great snowshoe trail for families or beginners, since it has relatively few small hills. The trail runs for about 2.5 miles. There are also multiple state cabins/houses along the trail, including the Jones House, where you can take a break and warm up inside by the fire with some hot chocolate. There is occasional wildlife along the trail, which may include coyot...

Cave Falls is one of the hidden waterfalls of Yellowstone National Park that really only the natives know about. Although Cave Falls originally derived its name from a cave next to the waterfall, the cave has since collapsed and is no longer accessible. Known for its enormous length of 250 feet, the waterfall stretches across the entire Fall River, which is terrific for fishing. Before arriving...

Trailhead: The trail is just outside of Driggs, Idaho in Alta, Wyoming on the way up to Grand Targhee Ski Resort. The hike is fairly easy, so you can enjoy the scenic views of the forest and creek, especially during the winter when the trees have a thick layer of snow on them. You also cross Teton Creek, which is beautiful at all times of the year. The trail is 2 miles long and dead ends near t...

If you have never been whitewater rafting, you should definitely go for the first time to the Grand Canyon of the Snake River. It's an amazing experience, and you can float the river in about two hours depending on the water levels. Afterwards, you can spend the rest of the day at nearby Jackson Hole for the tourist attractions and then head out to Grand Teton National Park.Whitewater Rafting: ...