Christin HealeyExplorer

Be careful when heading up this 4.5 mile trail since there can be snow coverage into the summer. When you start the trail, you'll get a little tree coverage as you start climbing up. Unfortunately, the shade starts to dissipate after about a mile, where you'll cross over Sibley Creek and enter the basin. As you climb, the view gets better - take time to check out the valley below and Mt. Baker....

Makua, aka Tunnels, is known for its incredible mountain scenery. This beach also offers great snorkeling, where people will usually see turtles. Public parking, bathrooms and showers are available at Haena Beach Park located west of Tunnels. Be sure to head to the beach early, parking on the town's streets can be a little challenging.

This is a gorgeous beach with so much going on. It's a quick walk from the parking lot (about .8 miles), or you can do the entire Botanical Beach Loop which is 3.5km. Go at low tide for amazing tidal pools and exploring caves if the tide is at its lowest. You can beach hop and climb up to some amazing viewpoints, just be sure to be back before the tide comes back in! This beach is never cro...

The trailhead begins directly behind the Num-Ti-Jah Lodge on km 37 of the Icefields Highway. The trail is well marked and winds along the shore of Bow Lake for the first 1.2km of the hike. Eventually you will lead up to a narrow gorge and onto the crest of a glacial moraine. There are only a few spots where the trail is not as obvious, but just make sure to follow the cairns and you will be fi...

This particular hike is great as there are multiple camping sites, both established and backcountry, and views for miles around almost every bend. Still not convinced? This high-altitude plateau has characteristics typically found in Canadian landscapes. so you can travel north without leaving your backyard below the Mason-Dixon Line -- high five y'all! From the parking area on FR75 (go to th...

This cozy little overlook is very simple to get to. If you are coming from I 64, after taking exit 99 towards Shenandoah National Park, turn right onto the Blue Ridge Parkway when the exit comes to a "T-stop". From there, it's 10 miles down the Parkway on your right. You will see a clearly marked sign for Ravens Roost Overlook. There is plenty of parking, a few picnic benches, and lots of spot...

Just 25 minutes outside of Charlottesville, this is a great spot to take the family for the day and get some sunshine. If you are into mountain biking, you're in the right place. There are 13 miles of mountain bike trails that circle the lake. At the end of your ride, there are 2 beaches to stretch out on or go for a dip.There are a lot of other things to do like having a picnic, fishing, boat...

From Chautauqua Park in Boulder, follow Baseline Road west (if you are driving up the mountain, you are golden). Drive 3.4 miles up Flagstaff Road and look for the sign for Realization Point on your right. It’s a little tricky to see from the road, so keep an eye on your odometer. The trail starts just past the picnic tables that you can see from the parking area. The trail is well marked the...

This canyon is one of those places in Iceland that you don't find in any of the brochures, and don't see many photos of, but that's one of the reasons it's all that much more magical when you get there. There is a little grassy walking trail along the side of the canyon, with dramatic views to the floor that would make even the most experienced climbers dizzy. The canyon is 100m tall and 2km ...

This campground is all kinds of amazing, and if you get one of the sites in the A loop, you will have lakefront property (just be warned, if I see you there, I'll have to crash with you ;-). Price Lake is a gorgeous lake right off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and perfect for canoeing or kayaking. You can reserve a certain number of campsites online, and then the rest of them are f...

Skyline Drive is a winding highway that cuts straight through Shenandoah National Park. Being that we are in the south, you will find that the road is closed for the majority of the winter, and usually at the very mention of snow. The first few years of living here it was incredibly frustrating, then I realized that walking the road is one of the most scenic, peaceful hikes around. It's total...

From the Mount Pleasant Parking Area, take the blue blazed Pompey Mountain Trail that is just beyond the horse gate. As it's a loop, you can start at either entrance, but I prefer heading left to get the longer leg of the hike before the summit (always better to have an easy journey down in the am). At mile 2.5, you will intersect with the Henry Lanum Memorial Trail and there is a sign for the ...

This is a great opportunity to see two historic cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park within a relatively short period of time. Schedule your day around getting tickets to Long House, then taking a bit of a side trek to the Step House when you have the time. The tour begins at the Weatherhill Mesa information kiosk, and is a two hour ranger-guided excursion. You will learn all about the h...

Begin at the Bear Lake Trailhead, located at the end of Bear Lake Road, 9 miles from the entrance on Highway 36. Follow the signs to Dream Lake, passing Nymph Lake about halfway through. At 1.1 miles you will reach Dream Lake. The views of 12,713-foot Hallett Peak and 12,324-foot Flattop Mountain from the east shore of this subalpine lake are incredible, and the perfect backdrop for this aptly ...

This two mile round-trip trail leaves from the information kiosk near Long House and Step House, and leads through and area severely burned by the 2000 Pony Fire.  There's no shade on this trail, so if you are doing it during the hotter months, be sure to bring a lot of water and sun protection. The trail is very straightforward out and back, well marked and easy to follow. From the information...

This hike is truly awesome, but get ready to climb! You can park at the Hotel Las Torres, then you will see the trailhead right past the hotel, clearly marked. The hike is 11.2miles round trip with 3,000 ft of elevation gain, much of it at the end over rocks.About halfway through the hike, you will arrive at Refugio Chileno, where if you are lucky and they are open, you can grab a coffee, beer,...

This campsite is great as you can be as adventurous or relaxed as you would like. You can choose to bring your own tent, or they offer rentals, as well as fully set-up domes. There is a restaurant on site, as well as a small camp store, and wifi available for purchase. The views from the campsite of Lago Pehoe and the Paine Massif in the distance are unbelievable, and it's a wonderful spot to s...

The trailhead is accessed at the Takakkaw Falls parking lot, and then you walk to the Whiskey Jack Hostel where the trail officially begins (you can not park here unless you are a guest). The well marked trail then begins its very steep ascent through the forest where you will catch glimpses of the 284 m high Takakkaw Falls along the way. Once you reach the treelike, you will have a clear vie...

From El Calafate, the town of El Chalten is about 2 1/2 - 3 hours away. The entire drive is incredibly scenic as you will have views of Lake Argentina Viedma to start with, and as you get closer to the town, Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre get closer with each passing kilometer. There is also one place to stop with food and restrooms along the way - don't miss La Leona and their incredible empanadas f...

Intro McAfee Knob is one of the most photographed and picturesque locations along the Appalachian Trail. Once you reach McAfee Knob, you'll have almost 270 degree views of the the Roanoke Valley to the East, Catawba Valley and North Mountain to the West, and Tinker Cliffs to the North. Due to the stunning view and location along the Appalachian Trail, this has become a very popular hike. Plea...

The Park Point Trail is the highest point in Mesa Verde National Park, and being close to the four corners, you can see for hundreds of miles in every direction on a clear day. It's a very short walk from the car, and there are several nice lookouts along the way, but be sure to walk all the way to the top for the most spectacular lookout of them all.  Go for sunrise and sunset for the gorgeous...

Along the hike, there are four "official" swimming holes to jump in, but you can make your own at any time. Go in the springtime for a great waterfall at the end the feeds into a swimming hole, and in the fall for a wonderland of foliage. The official name of this hike is Moorman's River, but anyone local simply calls it "Sugar Hollow".You will pass Sugar Hollow Reservoir on the left, and dead...

Of all the lakes in the Banff area, this was one of my favorites to get out on the water. Don't expect the bright blue glacial waters of some of the other lakes in the Canadian Rockies, but the water is pristine and it was one of the few places I went where it felt like it was all locals hanging out.If you are coming from the town of Banff, take the Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive until you reach...

The trail leads along the ridge of Jones Mountain to the gorgeous views at Bear Church Rock, and it's the perfect hike for those seeking solitude - didn't see another soul the entire time on a holiday weekend.From the parking lot, head out left on the AT northbound. In .4 miles you will come to a trail junction and turn right on Laurel Prong Trail. At 1.4 miles you will reach another trail junc...