Sara SheehyExplorer

The Victoria Mine Trail is a gentle traverse of the Sonoran Desert landscape. Any time of year, but especially in summer, be sure to bring plentiful water and sun protection, as there is no shade or respite on this route.Start at the southern end of Twin Peaks Campground, where there is trailhead parking for a handful of cars. Sign the trail register and start to make your way across the desert...

Craters of the Moon National Monument is 1100 square miles of basalt lava and sagebrush. It looks like another planet: desolate in macro, beautiful in micro. Craters is most popular in the summer, when visitors from nearby Sun Valley arrive to hike on sun-baked lava hot enough to melt their shoes.Winter is a particularly quiet season at Craters, and one of the most fun. Strap on cross country s...

At Wees Bar, a remote area accessible only by bike or foot, explore hundreds of petroglyphs carved into glacial boulders by Native Americans 12,000 years ago. Begin at the Swan Falls Dam parking lot. Bring a fat bike in late summer and fall to glide over the dry, loose dirt that forms as the canyon bakes in the summer sun. Ride across the dam, keeping an eye out for pedestrians. This is a uniqu...

Mine Hill Tour is a self-guided driving tour focused on Mackay's mining history. Stops showcase artifacts of the once-vibrant towns that housed miners and their families.Much of the tour is available to passenger vehicles. Begin by picking up a Mine Hill Tour map from any local merchant in Mackay, and stick to the green route if you aren't driving a high clearance, four wheel drive vehicle.Stre...

Set off from the Bruneau Lake parking lot and circumnavigate the lake in a clockwise direction. The hike traverses small rolling dunes before beginning it's ascent of the big dune. The big dune rises 450 feet and it's loose sand is both entertaining to climb as well as a test of patience.The 360 degree view from the summit of the big dune showcases Bruneau Lake, a cirque formed from sand called...

Biking Crater of the Moon National Monument's seven mile loop road provides an intimate experience through a wild landscape.Park at the Visitor's Center. Grab a map and check out the interactive display explaining how Craters of the Moon was formed in the same tectonic event that birthed Yellowstone. Hop on your bike and pedal into the park. Be sure to check out Inferno Cone, Spatter Cones, and...

The Mesa Nature Trail begins on the dirt road to the Upper Mesa Falls overflow parking lot. The first mile of the trail is wide and smooth. Pause a half mile in to admire the Henry's Fork from the top of a lava field. The trail terminates at a flat bluff overlooking the top of Upper Mesa Falls. To get closer, follow the narrow trail that heads north from the bluff.  The trail, steep and cover...

From Highway 93 in Twin Falls turn east onto Falls Avenue. After two miles turn left onto Champlin Road and continue to the entrance of Shoshone Falls Park. Enjoy a view of the waterfalls from one of the many lookout decks. For a longer adventure, hop on the paved Centennial Trail and walk, run, or bike 1.4 miles to the site of Evel Knievel's unsuccessful 1974 jump across the canyon on a rocke...

Park at the Trail Creek trailhead 2.5 miles north of Sun Valley. Pedal north and cross a wooden bridge over Trail Creek. Climb onto the bench and bike straight across toward the burned trees. Turn left onto signed Corral Creek Trail #325. Nearly all of the 600 feet of climbing is done on the way out. Stop to catch your breath while admiring the views of the Pioneer Mountains. The trail termina...

The Devil's Den Trail, in Devil's Den State Park, is a haven of vivid green along Lee Creek. This is the perfect hike for families, photographers, and those new to the Ozarks. The trail is a modest 1 1/2 miles with little elevation gain. In that compact span it weaves past gravity fed seeps, dripping (sometimes rushing) waterfalls, caves that waft cold air from their depths, and the beautiful ...

Park in the large parking lot at Trinidad Beach. The trailhead is at the south end of the parking lot. The loop trail can be hiked in either direction. The trail is half dirt singletrack, half paved switchbacks, and climbs steadily to the top of Trinidad Head. The view of the ocean and California coast are spectacular along the entire hike. Take care to stay on the trail as poison oak is commo...

Located at 6,100 feet above sea level, Harriman State Park (also called "the Ranch") is renown for it's fly fishing along the Henry's Fork. Whether you bring a fly rod or not, this scenic loop through the park is a delight for hikers of all abilities. Make a stop at park headquarters to pay the entry fee ($5 per car) and grab a trail map. The road continues for another mile before terminating ...

The High Bridge is the highlight of the 31 mile High Bride Rail Trail in central Virginia. The trail, paved with crushed limestone, is nice for biking, walking, and running. Park at the River Street parking area near the town of Farmville. The parking lot is big enough for two dozen cars and charges a $4 use fee. The honor-system use fee box is next to the well maintained bathrooms. Cross the...