Elyse ClarkExplorer

Starting from the Mammoth Cave Visitor's Center, take the "Historic Entrance" trail that descends down the hill between the Visitor's Center and the Mammoth Cave Hotel. After 0.2 miles you will reach the historic entrance of Mammoth Cave on your right side. You cannot go in the cave without a guided tour, but you can walk down and look at the entrance.  The trail splits into two trails at the h...

This 6 mile drive is a great way to spend a scenic day in the Smokies. The road is open to cars only (no trucks or RVs) and runs one-way. There are no visitors centers after you head out, so be sure to bring everything you need along. The drive begins at the historic Ogle farmstead, which is also the location of the Rainbow Falls Trailhead (5.4 miles). Further along you will find the Trillium ...

From Egilsstaðir, take the Ring Road (Highway 1) towards Fellabær.  Turn left onto Road 931 directly after the bridge crossing of Lake Lagarfljot.  Drive 35 km until you see the parking area on the right side of the road after an intersection on your left.  At the parking area is a bathroom, and the trail starts at the fence in the back of the lot.  The trail is steep and ascends some stairs.  ...

Park at the Mount Marshall parking area at ~MP 15.6 on the Skyline Drive.  From the back of the parking lot, take the white-blazed Appalachian Trail north for a short 0.4 miles to a large rock outcrop with views south.  After finished exploring this outcrop, continue on the AT for another 0.1 miles to reach a second rocky outcrop with views to the northwest. This would be a perfect spot to watc...

Though only 0.75 mi (1.2 km) to the summit, this hike gains over 1100 feet (340m) on the ascent to the top of Sugarloaf Hill of the Knockmealdown Mountains. Park at the Bay Lough parking area on R668 near the "Vee". Cross the road and ascend the hill by staying on the apparent path to the right of the county wall (stone wall).The path is very rocky and steep the whole way up the hill, and requ...

With minimal elevation gain, this 3.2 mile hike can be done in a short amount of time. From the parking lot, take the trail to the right of the bathroom. There will be two trail intersections at 0.4 miles and 0.7 miles, both of which are well marked. Stay straight at both intersections to remain on the Long Point Trail. Near the end of the trail, you will descend fairly steeply through some thi...

To get to the trailhead parking lot: take Mineral Springs Road towards the community of Dune Acres. Just before you get to the guard shack for the community, turn onto the gravel road to the right - there will be signs indicating Cowles Bog Trail parking. Once parked, walk back towards the Dune Acres guard shack, then cross the road to begin the hike.  You will walk by a marsh for about 0.2 mi...

The trailhead for this hike is located near Lake Mývatn .  Take Road 863 towards Krafla power plant. After you pass under the power station's piping system, the parking area is up the hill and on your left.  If you reach the parking area for Viti Crater, you've gone too far.  The trail starts in the back of the parking area and heads towards the large brown-colored mountain in front of you.  Th...

There is a walking tour of the cemetery that you can follow that will bring you by champion trees (the largest tree of that species in the state of Ohio), around 15 scenic lakes, as well as across some bridges.  The unique mausoleums and obelisks are a sight in their own and will surround you on your walk. A map of the points of interest within the cemetery can be found here: http://www.springg...

This hike begins in the parking lot for Cascade Falls. Keep left at the first and second intersections to stay on the Upper Trail. At the third intersection, stay straight (don't turn right) to stay on the Conservancy Trail.Follow the Conservancy Trail for 0.4 miles, and continue on it when it branches off to the left at a well-marked intersection. The yellow-blazed hike is fairly steep, but gr...

From the visitor's center parking lot, take the path towards the lighthouse.  This unique 24m (~80 ft) tall lighthouse was built in 1917, then rebuilt in 1946.  The grounds surrounding the lighthouse consist of lava formations.  Depending on where you stand, you have views out to the Atlantic Ocean or back towards the Snæfellsjökull volcano.  Also along the short path to the lighthouse is a sma...

Starting from the Flat Fork Ridge Recreation Area parking lot near the dam in Caesar Creek State Park, take the trail to the right of the parking lot if you're looking towards the lake. You will hike through the woods for a short period, then emerge onto the emergency spillway from the dam which impounds the lake.  At the emergency spillway you can look for fossils (https://www.theoutbound.com/...

If you're looking for a longer hike in Congaree National Park than just the Boardwalk Loop, try adding another 2.0 miles to the Boardwalk Loop by hiking the Weston Lake Trail.   From the visitor's center, take the Boardwalk Trail and stay straight at the intersection with the Bluff Trail. The elevated boardwalk will turn into the low boardwalk. After 0.7 miles, the Boardwalk Trail will turn lef...

You can start walking on this well-graded rail trail either from Ansted or down by the New River at the Hawk's Nest Nature Center. If you start from the top you will lose a couple hundred feet in elevation and have to walk back up to your car (it is an easy walk though). Bikes are also allowed on this trail. It is easy to follow this trail, and you will cross two old train bridges, and old mill...

Lake Mývatn translates to "Midge Lake" and if you visit here in the summer there will be swarms and swarms of midges. You might want to wear something to cover your face. From the parking area, which is located just off Road 848 past the turn off for Dimmuborgir if heading away from Reykjahlíð, the trail begins at the gate (make sure you close the gate behind you).  This largely forested path b...

From the Dinis car park just off N-71, follow the flat Muckross Lake Loop trail towards Dinis Cottage. The path skirts around Muckross Lake until you arrive at Dinis Cottage, which is a tea room open during the summer season that has hundreds of rhododendron of different colors blooming in early summer. Just before the cottage, there is a sign marking a trail that goes back to the Old Weir Brid...

Starting at the Torc Waterfall parking lot off of the N71 road, follow the trail to the waterfall, which is only about a 4-5 minute walk from the road. This 70+ waterfall is surrounded by lush green vegetation as it tumbles over a few cascades. Continuing up the stairs to the side of the waterfall, you will walk through the forest until you come to a view of Muckross Lake in the middle of a swi...

This walk is part of the 18km (11 mi) Coastal Path connecting the villages of Doolin and Liscanoor, and enables you to enjoy the coastal cliffs of County Clare without the crowds that the Cliffs of Moher draws or paying the entrance/parking fee for the Cliffs. The section from Doolin to the Cliffs of Moher is 8km (5 mi) for a 16 km round-trip with 125 m (400 ft) elevation gain.Start at the vill...

From the parking lot, the boardwalk trail breaks off of the right side of the lot.  The boardwalk loop should be done in a clockwise direction and there are signs to direct you.  The 1/2 mile boardwalk offers great views of the surrounding bog and mountains.  The boardwalk itself is skirted by ferns, wild cranberry plants, orchids, and even some carnivorous plants.  Although the walk is short, ...

With the George P. Coleman bridge spanning the width of the York River, a fishing pier, and numerous rock jetties, Yorktown Beach is a great location for photographing sunrises or sunsets. There is a nice brick riverwalk path to walk along, or sandy areas to sit.To get the full Coleman Bridge in your photo, head out to the edge of the fishing pier and use a wide angle lens and slow shutter spee...

Since this waterfall is less than 200 feet from the parking lot, visiting this waterfall provides a huge reward for minimal physical effort. From the parking lot, cross the bridge over the stream and follow the trail on the right side of the stream/waterfall.  To have the best view of the falls cross the stream (there are plenty of big rocks to do so).  Early morning is optimal for long exposur...

Park in the boat ramp lot by Hawks Nest Lake. Note that the road to get down to this parking lot is a one lane (two-way traffic) steep gravel road, but it is passable with low-clearance vehicles.  From the parking area take the path towards the Hawks Nest Dam, also labeled the "Fisherman's Trail" on the state park maps. This flat trail skirts the lake's shoreline, and you will have to maneuver...

Just off of Road 574 in Snæfellsjökull National Park, Saxhóll Crater is a short leg-stretcher.  Saxhóll Crater is estimated to have erupted 3,000 years ago, and much of the surrounding landscape is the result of that eruption.  The collapsed core of the crater is fairly deep, and the rim around the crater offers 360 degree views of the surrounding terrain of Snæfellsjökull National Park.  To re...

Most people drive the Ring of Kerry as a day trip from the town of Killarney, and it is best done in a clockwise direction to go the opposite way of tour buses. From Killarney take the N-71 through Killarney National Park, making short stops at the scenic Muckross House, Ross Castle, and Torc Waterfall on your way out of town. Continue on to Kenmare and from here take the N-70 to begin your loo...