United States

Hidden in the eastern reaches of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cosby region receives a fraction of the visitation of Gatlinburg or Cherokee. This section of the park preserves some of the best deciduous old-growth forest in the eastern United States. Individual tulip trees and eastern ...

They don't call it the butt slide trail for nothing— the Okolehao Trail (translated to iron butt, for more than just the glutes involved) —is a short drive from Princeville, just before Hanalei Bay. Filled with lush vegetation, ample wildlife, and stunning viewpoints, the full trail isn't for th...

Starting at roughly 3,000ft above sea level the Mt. Washington Auto Road will take you up nearly eight miles of beautiful, scenic, and well maintained mountain auto roads to The Mount Washington Summit. The summit sits at 6,289 and offers stunning 360° views of New Hampshire's Presidential Range,...

This half-mile, steep hike to the 2225 foot summit of Rocky Mountain has some great views of Fourth Lake and the surrounding area from it's open summit. Simply follow the steep, well worn trail (and yellow DEC discs) to the summit. The round trip of this hike is one mile, with an elevation gain ...

Pillsbury Mountain is a fairly short but satisfying hike, ending with beautiful views of surrounding mountain ranges and lakes, and home to a defunct ranger station and fire tower. To get to the parking area within the Perkins Clearing wilderness area, head north on Route 30 out of Speculator and...

There a numerous trails in the Laguna Coast Wilderness that proceed up and along the ridges and down into the canyons (or the reverse), and are quite popular for mountain biking, hiking, and trail running. A great mountain biking loop begins in Emerald Canyon at the end of Emerald Canyon Road an...

Head East out of Bend, Oregon towards Prineville Reservoir State Park and Highway 27, which runs along the Crooked River. It is about an hour outside of Bend. Once you reach Highway 27 (Crooked River Highway), there are several campgrounds and pull-outs along the side of the road where you can st...

The Jenny Lake campground is by far the most popular campground in Grand Teton National Park, and there are several reasons for that. However, be aware that it is extremely crowded and will oftentimes fill before 8 AM. If you are looking for a campground with solitude or easy access, this is not ...

The Cowboy Trails offer a perfect break from climbing in Red Rock Canyon or a night on the Town in Las Vegas. You will need to be as tough as a cowboy (or cowgirl) to ride these trails. It is just as much of a workout going up as it is down. However, this area offers you the chance to hone your ...

A simple, quiet drive down a dirt road (Grapevine Spring) leads you through desolate landscape until a parking lot sprouts up to your right.  From here you can see that a stretch of land sandwiched in a little valley where the trail heads directly east.  The trail is easy to follow, just keep yo...

The trailhead is located next to the Minister Creek Campground, which is 14.7 miles southwest from the town of Sheffield, via state route 666. If coming from the west on highway 62, the trailhead is located 20 miles from West Hickory along state route 666. There is a parking lot across the road f...

One could a lifetime exploring, and attempting to describe, the beauty of the Channel Islands National Park and Santa Rosa Island in particular: its wildly diverse terrain, endemic flora and fauna, and also the only of the Islands to allow backcountry beach camping. While the opportunities for di...

Smith Woods is a 32 acre old growth forest in Trumansburg, NY, directly across from the Trumansburg Fairgrounds. Start by parking in the Shur Save parking lot, and walk to the corner of the woods where you will find a sign and trail blazes. The trail is an easy .5 mile loop hike through the wood...

Winter is a special time in Grand Teton National Park.  The landscape is transformed into a winter wonderland, and there is a stillness and quiet that you won't find in the busier tourist seasons.  It is also a prime time for spotting wildlife as many species move down from the surrounding mounta...

The trailhead is easy to find, and has a vault toilet and a decently sized parking lot. The trail leaves from right next to the toilets, and is very easy to follow. Follow a couple easy switchbacks down the hillside, cross the memorial bridge and stop to take in the beautiful scenery before follo...

Disclaimer: Canyoneering is a dangerous and technical activity. Don’t enter any canyon without the skills to match it, or the knowledge to navigate it. Echo Canyon requires a canyoneering permit that can be reserved online and picked up at the Zion Visitor Center. Be sure to reserve your permit 3...