Josiah RoeExplorer

The Bowl of Fire, tucked away in the Muddy Mountains Wilderness, is made up of the same dramatic conglomerate as that of the Valley of Fire, only almost no-one stops to visit as they blitz by on Northshore Road in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. To get there take the Northshore Road 16 miles from the turnoff from Lakeshore Road just inside the west entrance to the Recreation Area. You ...

Located along the Applegate Trail, Black Rock Hot Spring was the first watering hole for emigrants as they crossed the vast playa of the Black Rock Desert. Getting there today is no easy task, particularly after it rains when the playa is totally impassable. The only "road" on official maps (whether Google or USGS topos) is an unmaintained dirt/mud trail that leads directly south from the north...

Cathedral Canyon is located just south of Page, Arizona and west of Coppermine Road and is entirely on Navajo Land, so access is possible only by permission from a local or with a permit from one of the licensed tour companies, of which Chief Tsosi is currently the only one permitted to give permits. The Canyon itself is accessible by numerous 4WD and high-clearance 2WD roads off Coppermine Roa...

Sky Trail in Point Reyes National Seashore is a dramatic, mostly single-track trail that runs along the main spine of the Inverness Ridge and across highest mountains in Point Reyes, looming above the Olema Valley and Highway 1 which mark the San Andreas Fault rift zone and the dividing line between the Pacific and North American plates. The trail takes you through several ecological zones incl...

Lone Mesa Campground off Utah Highway 313, 8 miles from Highway 191, and 20 miles from Moab serves as an excellent basecamp for accessing the fantastic Navajo Rocks mountain bike trail system, Dead Horse State Park, and Canyonlands National Park. In fact, the Big Mesa trail goes right through the campground along with several other small hiking trails. The views of Big Mesa from the park are br...

Alvord Hot Springs at the base of Steens Mountain deep in the heart of the eastern Oregon Wilderness is a hidden gem, known mostly to climbing enthusiasts and the ambitious adventurer willing to drive the nearly 4 hours from Boise, Bend, or 2.5 hours from the nearest town of any size, Winnemucca in Nevada. The final hour and change, regardless of direction, requires traversing the sporadically ...

Granite Dome is the signature peak in the Emigrant Wilderness, with fantastic views north to the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness, east to the Hoover Wilderness (Sawtooth Ridge), and south to Yosemite including, on a clear day, Cathedral Peak and the Cathedral Range.There are several routes up Granite Dome, all of which eventually lead offtrail and require minor wayfinding, as it's easy to reach a dea...

Waterholes Canyon is a gorgeous slot canyon located just south of Page, Arizona that empties into Glen Canyon. The Upper Part of the Canyon is an easy, largely non-technical section that is easily accessed from Highway 89 and a clear parking turnoff on the left side of the road if you're heading South, just past Horseshoe Bend and just before the bridge over the canyon. The Upper Canyon is on N...

Granite Lake is a pristine alpine lake near Lake Tahoe just off the Highway 89 above Emerald Bay. To get there park at the Bayview Campground Trailhead, which can be pretty crowded in peak season so get there early. The trail begins with an split: right takes you into the Desolation Wilderness (and Granite Lake) and left goes to Cascade Falls. Go right and before do be sure to grab a day pass ...

Zephyr Cove on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe is a fantastic starting point for a host of water sports and activities and given the protected nature of the cove, a great place to do stand up paddle board. Depending on the time of year and the water level on the northern end of the beach there are several rock islands which can be explored. To get to Zephyr Cove take Highway 50 north for 7 mile...

This adventure is on Private Property. Please do not access this adventure without permission from the property owner.  Gorgeous views up and down the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, from Greyrock Mountain to Boulder, all while overlooking the Cache la Poudre River some 600 foot below. The Bellvue Dome, known locally as "Goat Hill", was created by the same geological forces that made th...

Caleta Almeja is why explorers and adventurers go to Baja. And then go back again and again. The little bay is absolutely teaming with sea life and the setting is absolutely breathtaking. Getting there is the hardest part. It is *at least* a two day drive from the US-Mexico border and about 2 hours north of Loreto, the nearest town with an airport of any size. Available maps are inaccurate at b...

Of the nine or so beaches where you can camp and/or find lodging along the eastern shore of Bahía de Concepcíon in Baja, El Requeson is arguably the most beautiful. It has no facilities, no cell service, and no amenities other than the occasional local vendor who may (or may not) come by in the morning to offer water or empanadas for sale. To get there, if you are heading south along Highway 1 ...

Munds Mt. is the highpoint due east of the town of Sedona, but due to its forested summit and trailhead accessibility limited to 4WD vehicles, it gets far less interest than hikes like Cathedral Rock, Wilson Mountain, or Fay Canyon yet has fantastic views of the town of Sedona and the surrounding cliffs and canyons. The most direct route is from the popular 4WD touring route, Schnebly Hill Roa...

The "El Aguila", meaning "The Eagle" in Spanish, is one of the three primary shipwreck dives off the coast of Roatan and the most accessible, being only a couple hundred yards off the coast at a depth of 110' feet in the heart of the Meso-American reef system. Purchased and sunk by Anthony's Key Resort though accessible and usably by anyone, the El Aguila is 230' long and was broken into three ...

Punta Baja is an old fishing camp and (mostly) summertime surf spot at the end of a dirt road about 40 minutes drive south west of El Rosario. Amenities and cel service are almost non-existent. There is a tiny market and restaurant that is rarely if ever open. You can sometimes buy fresh fish, abalone, and lobster from the fisherman. It is totally free. In other words, it is Baja perfection. To...

Bald Hill is the first serious peak/summit that can be reached via the Oat Hill Mine Trail as it breaks from the more popular loop and heads into the heart of Robert Louis Stevenson State Park. To get there you can either begin at the less frequently used trailhead at Picket and Rosedale Roads heading 1.6 miles uphill till it intersects with the identically named Oat Hill Mine trail going righ...

One could a lifetime exploring, and attempting to describe, the beauty of the Channel Islands National Park and Santa Rosa Island in particular: its wildly diverse terrain, endemic flora and fauna, and also the only of the Islands to allow backcountry beach camping. While the opportunities for discovery are endless, heartier souls looking for a view of the rugged southeast coast *and* seal lion...

Sinks Canyon State Park 6 miles south of Lander, Wyoming is a treasure of hiking, trail running, and rock climbing. Rightly considered the gateway to the southern Winds, Sinks is a great way to get a taste of some of the most beautiful mountain scenery to be found in the United States and the Popo Agie Nature Trail is a great way to begin. To get there take Sinks Canyon Road / 131 southwest ou...

The jetty's of Oceanside Harbor serve to protect and stabilize the mouth of the San Luis Rey River meaning the sand and subsequent breaks remain fairly consistent and sand bars last for quite some time. After heavy rains large sand bars will form making for decent waves. It is also a great place for beach running (so bring your swimrun shoes). The best swells are mixed: big S-SW with a smaller ...

All throughout the Marin Headlands are WWII-era bunkers, batteries and ruins, including a complex on the hillside above the Point Bonita Lighthouse that provide amazing views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate, and the north coast. Drive out to the parking lot for the Point Bonita Lighthouse in the Marin Headlands and take the trail to the lighthouse about 80 feet and then scramble up the hill ...

Smithsonian Butte Backcountry Byway is gorgeous 9.5 mile road that runs between Rockville near the entrance to Zion National Park and Apple Valley UT, and affords excellent places to camp & boondock *as long* as it is 0.5 miles from the road itself (and there are numerous turn offs). To get there take Utah Highway 9 and a left (if you're coming from the east) or a right (if you're coming f...

The numerous kelp forests, sea caves, and coves of the Channel Island National Park, coupled with its unbelievable sealife makes for some of the best diving in the world.  East Fish Camp off Anacapa Island is an excellent introduction to diving on the Channel Islands, with an average depth of 35' and a great array of wildlife and underwater nooks and crannies to explore. Like any coldwater, Cal...

The main trail begins at the Cache La Poudre river on the Poudre Canyon Highway about 30 minutes from Fort Collins. After about .75 miles the trail splits. To go left on Greyrock Meadows trail adds 2 miles to your trip and provides excellent views of Greyrock Mountain and Meadows from the south, eventually connecting back with Greyrock Mountain trail. Going right on Greyrock Mountain Trail take...