Derek Mathewson

Who doesn’t enjoy a little slot canyon fun?!…Not far from Hanksville, Utah is this 1-mile round trip hike to one of Utah’s less visited slot canyons. Although Blarney Canyon is generally known for its canyoneering route, you can follow either the West or East Fork wash to get to the slots. You’ll only be able to hike up to a certain point, so once you take the short hike to the slot canyons, an...

Three waterfalls in one short hike?!...I'll take it! That's what you'll get if you make the visit to these falls in the Santa Monica mountains in Malibu. The trailhead starts on Kanan Dume road, which is also where the Backbone trail meets. Park in the designated (free) parking area and take the vegetated downhill trail about .2 miles until you get to an unmarked junction. Take the trail to the...

...It's not often that you come across 100 ft waterfalls. This moderate to easy hike to Rose Valley Falls leads you to one of the tallest waterfalls in the Los Padres National Forest. The hike begins at Rose Valley Campground. If you're not staying at a campsite, park outside the entrance of the campground and follow the signs to the trail. The lower tier of the falls from the start of the tra...

...As a frequent traveler, what's always motivated my travels were locations that have either been on my bucket list, or are places that are photogenic and a little off the beaten path. During my recent 3 week road trip through Northern Arizona and Southern Utah, I had the opportunity to visit a spot that had been on my bucket list for quite sometime. It's so far off the beaten path that you ne...

Caves and epic views...need I say more?! That's what you'll encounter on this short 2.5 mile out and back hike to the Gaviota Wind Caves in the San Ynez Mountains, West of Santa Barbara. The Gaviota Wind Caves are a sandstone formation located 1 mile from the Pacific Ocean. One good thing about this hike is it's right off the 101 freeway...and cost free! The bad thing about this hike is that yo...

...After spending my 3 days exploring and capturing the partial lunar eclipse at North Cascades National Park in Washington, I was eager to find another adventure that I haven't done yet or others didn't know much about. As I was driving East leaving Gorge Creek Falls, .9 miles on my left I spotted a dark area that looked to be either another gorge, slot canyon or waterfall. Pulling over instan...

...Who doesn't enjoy a short adventure to an scenic location?! If I were to guess, I'd say a good majority of us. This four mile, low trafficked hike to the Broadway Cave will lead you to one of the best spots to hang out or watch the sunset. The Broadway trailhead is located by taking Highway 60 East of Mesa to Apache Junction, where the expressway ends but Highway 60 continues. Shortly after ...

…Who doesn’t enjoy a little slot canyon fun, especially when it’s just off the highway. This (spooky) canyon is a fascinating slot canyon, consisting of conglomerate rock in the Lake Mead area in Arizona, not far southeast from the Hoover Dam. Most people don’t know even know this slot is here, so there's a good chance there'll be minimal or no people here. The dirt parking lot to the right of ...

...When arriving in the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, take the drive and park at Sycamore Canyon parking lot. Parking is free and also offers restrooms and some history about the park. Follow the trailhead South until you come to the Satwiwa Culture Center on your left and a dome-like stick configuration. Just a bit of history for you: Satwiwa, which stands for "the bluffs", is the ...

...Deep in the central Oregon Forest is a cave that is surrounded by Juniper Trees, Ponderosa Pines and the landscape of a secret volcanic underground world! This short hike is located roughly 12 miles East of Bend, and makes for an epic adventure for all to enjoy. A little history on the cave...it was created by a basalt lava flow roughly 80,000-90,000 years ago. It was originally called "Cro...