Josiah RoeExplorer

The Sparks Marina, just minutes from downtown Reno, is a convenient and fun place to learn how to SUP or to spend an afternoon out on the lake. The Sparks Marina Park has ample parking and several places to put in, but there are also numerous others around the marina, including a lovely inlet on the east side that runs under several bridges and feels like a canal better suited for Venice, Italy...

Obstruction Pass State Park is something of a hidden gem on Orcas Island given that its nearby neighbor, Moran State Park, gets most of the tourist attention. What this means is that you can find solitude and quiet, *and* make a visit to the only publicly owned beach on the island. There are several interconnected trails in the park (including Sound View) and the Highlands Trail takes you acros...

The nine primitive campsites and one Cascadia Marine Trail campsite of Obstruction Pass State Park are the only first come, first serve campsites available on Orcas Island. The campsites themselves overlook a fantastic (and accessible beach) and Obstruction Pass itself. There are four composting toilets, two in the campground, two at the trailhead), and you must pack in your own water as there ...

Diablo Canyon has grown in popularity over the last decade, particularly due to its frequent appearance in television and films. It has hundreds of sport and trad climbs of varying difficulty on basalt cliffs that reach over 300 feet high, with approaches varying from 5 to 30 minutes.Grades range from 5.8 to 5.13 and vary in steepness and exposure. Many routes are moderate 5.10 and is one of th...

Cascada Sol De Mayo can be found just beyond the village of Santiago off Highway 1, the main road between La Paz and San Jose Del Cabo. After turning off Highway 1 towards Santiago, simply follow the signs for the "Waterfalls", Cascada Sol De Mayo, and/or Ranchero Ecologico Sol De Mayo.  Eventually the road turns to dirt and dead-ends at the Ranchero, which has bathrooms and a small, sometimes...

Wild Goose Island in Glacier National Park is one of the most iconic photography locations in the park. As a subject it differs wildly from time of year and time of day; a gorgeous 14' tall element surrounded by a vast alpine lake in the heart of a glaciated valley set against glacier-carved peaks.The Wild Goose Island viewpoint can be found along the eastern end of Going-To-The-Sun Road along ...

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 Yellowstone Supervolcano is one of the most active geothermal areas on earth with more hot springs than anywhere else on the planet. The walls of the massive caldera of often hidden under snow and forest, but in places like Firehole Canyon you can see the Firehole River cut through massive lava flows. The Falls themselves can be found along Firehole Canyon Road about 16 miles east of West Y...

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...

Lake Nacimiento near Paso Robles, CA is a gorgeous reservoir used for kayaking, paddle boarding, and all manner of water sports. To get there, from Highway 101 take the 24th street exit in Paso Robles west till it turns into Lake Nacimiento Drive. Lake Nacimiento Drive will eventually turn into Godfrey Road and then back into Nacimiento Drive.  Just before the road crosses the damn, go left on ...

There are numerous ways to incorporate the Car Wreck trail into a larger loop through the Laguna Coast Wilderness and Aliso Canyon Park, but a common route is to begin at Alta Laguna Park at "Top of the World" in Laguna Beach. Take the West Ridge Trail .5 miles, bearing right onto the marked Car Wreck Trail. Here's the route increases significantly in technical difficulty. Eventually you'll pa...

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...

Sometimes you just need to launch a friend 20' in the air out into the ocean. Sometimes you just need to be launched 20' in the air out into the ocean. Palapa Papas may be overrun with the newly wed, over fed, and nearly dead twice a week when the cruise ship comes to the island but the rest of the time it is a fantastic place to relax, enjoy a beer, and goof off with friends by launching them ...

Brooks Street Beach is just a couple of blocks off the Pacific Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. Parking can be tricky, so be forewarned that you may need to walked a few blocks.  Winter can be good, but during the summer and big south swells are when you want to go surfing, so be sure to check out surfline.  This adventure was featured in our Spring 2019 Lookbook!

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...

Nestled in a forested area on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, Galena Creek Regional Park is seven miles up the Mt. Rose Highway from the intersection with I-580. Galena Creek flows through the park creating separate north and south portions of the park, and the Jones Creek Loop is a great way to get a taste of all the park has to offer. For current park information visit the Galena Cre...