Josiah RoeExplorer

Arroyo Verde Park is a small parked tucked in the hills above Ventura, California, and has a network of trails running up and down the hills surrounding the valley in the center of the park. The entrance to the park is at the intersection of Foothill Road Day Road, east of downtown Ventura. There is parking inside the park but also just outside of the park on Foothill Road with a clearly marked...

Hurrah Pass is a 19.5 mile out and back trail/road that leads from the Colorado River Canyon through Kane Creek Canyon and up to Hurrah Pass at 4,780'. While technically considered a 4x4 trail once you begin your ascent out of Kane Creek Canyon, this can be done with a high clearance 2wd vehicle (and a little skill) if conditions permit i.e. not after a strong rain.l The views of Kane Creek Can...

The Rincon Trail between Ventura and Santa Barbara is part of the wonderful Pacific Coast Bike Route, and features two-wave paved cycling lanes with beautiful views up and down the central coast. There are numerous places to stop along the way for food and relaxing, including the great seaside town of Carpenteria.  

Overlooking the Applegate & Overland Emigrant Trail Split, Black Rock Point is a large, dark rocky outcropping from which the Black Rock Desert derives its name. The views are perhaps the best in the entire Black Rock Desert - High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area. The hike to the summit itself is straightforward; it is getting to the trailhead itself that can be trick...

Warm Springs, Nevada at the crossroads of Route 6 and 375 aka "The Extraterrestrial Highway" is a long-abandoned ghost town that was once a stopover for stagecoaches and travelers crossing the massive basin and range province. Two buildings and a hot-spring fed pool are all that remain. The source of the water is far too hot for bathing but it flows downhill into a large, algae-free pool partia...

One of the most popular dive sites on Roatan, the West End Wall, located in the heart of the Meso-American reef system and the Roatan Marine Park, is an ideal site for viewing the vast abundance of marine wildlife in the reef due to its unique role as a primary feeding ground for much of the wildlife in the area. Sea turtles, barracuda, massive crabs and lobster, moray eels, and endless other o...

The waters around Roatan and the Meso-American Reef are some of the healthiest fisheries in the Caribbean, full of big game fish, snapper, permit, and large schools of yellowfin, blackfin, and ahi tuna. Trolling, drift, and outrigger fishing are all excellent options along the West End particularly as you reach the western end of the island and a strong upwelling from the current makes for exce...

Like many of the best experiences on Roatan the elusive Keyhole Rope Swing is a bit of a local "secret" with rumors abounding as to who built it, who paid for it (it is known that Karl covered half), who maintains it, when is the best time to go and of course: just where is it, exactly? Located on the windward side of the island between West End and West Bay, the Keyhole Rope swing is a wooden ...

The Bandon State Natural area is a wide, mostly undeveloped section of the South Coast that is perfect for beachcombing, exploration, and fat tire biking with fun driftwood for tricks and jumps along with large flat shallow areas extending far out into the ocean.  Sure you will get wet and always be aware of sneaker waves and ocean conditions, but where else can you bike around feeling like you...

The Steelhead run on the Rogue River is famous the world over and for good reason. Like anywhere, local guides are the gatekeepers to the right spot and should be contacted accordingly.  Steelhead run December through March and Chinook April through Fall, with Coho making an appearance in the latter half of that timeframe. The Mermaid Riffle sits at a gorgeous curve in the Rogue just downstream...

The Gateway Natural Area, part of the City of Fort Collins public lands system, is a wonderful (and close to the city) place to begin exploring the many outdoor assets and activities found in the greater Fort Collins area. The Black Powder Trail is a relatively easy, well-marked 1.5 mile out and back and leads to an absolutely fantastic view over the Poudre River Canyon. It is excellent for bot...

The Firehole River is one of the most unique trout-fishing rivers in the world, behaving in a manner unlike any other river in the Rockies due to the unique geothermal features found all along the length of the river. It is not known as a big-fish river but they are plentiful, with sizes averaging 8" to 12" and Brown and Rainbow Trout in good numbers, and Brook Trout in the headwaters. Cutthroa...

The Valido Trail trailhead can be found just off West street off the Pacific Coast Highway, just south of Aliso Beach. Park on West Street past the trailhead. The trail proceeds approximate .5 miles till it intersects with the Aliso Peak Trail. Go left .4 miles to the obvious summit and wooden park bench. The canyon immediately to the north is Aliso Canyon, created by Aliso Creek. From here y...

The beloved iSoar (so named by its creator when a local bar owner said it was an "eyesore ruining my sunsets") is a repurposed sailboat anchored to the floor of Half Moon Bay which ropes, swings and platforms for leaping into the ocean.Designed and built by the engineering maestro Karl (of the Roatan Institute of Deapsea Exploration) it has become an iconic part of West End and an essential exp...

Table Mountain sits smack dab in the middle of Red Mountain Open Space, an area known to geologists (and settlers) as "The Big Hole", a singular and unique landform that peaks into the "basement" rocks that underly northern Colorado and Southeastern Wyoming. Soapstone cliffs and bright red Dakota Sandstone are just some of the remarkable features that can be seen along miles of hiking, mountain...

The coast of British Columbia defies description. It is a wonderland of natural treasures both living and geological, and the vast majority of it is only accessible by water or seaplane. The Miller Islet at the entrance to the glacier-carved Jervis Inlet is both a harbor seal and seabird colony and a fantastic way to get a taste of the Sunset Coast. To get there make your way to the hamlet of E...

Peach Canyon is the *the* iconic cycling road in the Paso Robles area, beginning downtown and connecting with many other roads in the mountains west of town making for numerous beautiful loops through vineyards, orchards, and black oak groves. Peachy Canyon Road begins at Olive and 6th Street and heads west into the mountains for 10.5 miles until it ends at Vineyard Drive. From there you can he...

Lookout Peak in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness off Highway 4 provides solitude and wonderful views of the surrounding Sierra Nevada including the Mokelumnee and Emigrant Wildernesses. Even on summer weekends you'll likely have the peak and surrounding area all to yourself.Lookout Peak can be done as a straightforward day hike, often times in conjunction with the nearby Peep Sight, Henry, and Bul...

Cataviña is one of those places that defies description and is a favorite of all who visit Baja beyond the typical tourist haunts of the border towns and Cabo. It is an almost-alien landscape of massive boulders strewn amongst the world's largest cactus, the cardón, interspersed with the giant tentacle-like boojum. Just off the road you can find the ruins of a long-abandoned museum set next to ...

Fisherman's Cove is a protected beach and cove in Laguna Beach at the bottom of Boat Canyon that is tucked away from the hustle, bustle, and crowds that are often found at other nearby beaches. Further, parking is easily (relatively speaking) found along Cliff Drive. The beach itself, especially at low tide, is a perfect put-in for stand up paddle boarding and for longer trips sea kayaking the ...

In 1910 a group of University of Arizona students took local basalt rock and constructed a 160' block "A" on the east face of Sentinel Peak overlooking Tucson, giving the prominent peak its most commonly known name. Now the area is part of the 272 acre Sentinel Peak Park, and features a great network of hiking and running trails, and massive saguaro cacti. Because of its ease of access (you can...

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 for kayaking for both beginners are more advance kayakers. 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 ta...

Greenwater Valley in the southeast corner of Death Valley National Park is a fantastic representation of the many features that the Park has to offer but without the crowds (and traffic) found in the primary campgrounds like those around Stovepipe Wells and Texas Spring. In addition to being quite large and with almost endless campsites, it is still only a 30 minute drive to Badwater and many o...

Green Ridge is a fantastic series of summits in the Front Range that make for excellence training hikes, but is often forgotten as it lies outside of the nearby Bobcat Ridge Natural Area and just inside of Roosevelt National Forest. The summit itself at 7,402' is fantastic, featuring a nearly 900' drop into Jug Canyon to the southwest and expansive views of Rocky Mountain National Park includin...