Highway 12 in southern Utah is a breathtaking journey past some of southern Utah’s most picturesque features, including Red Canyon, Bryce Canyon National Park, Kodachrome Basin State Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, and Capitol Reef National Park. The highway explores high desert rock formations, historic sites, badlands, and aspen forests high in the mountains through …
Grand Teton National Park is known for its rugged and picturesque mountains, its sweeping views, and abundant wildlife. One thing people notice that’s not easily available however, are the waterfalls you’d expect to see pouring off of the eastern face of the Tetons. With a few tricks however, many waterfalls can still be found, some of them relatively easily. Jackson …
Important: It’s vital to remember that these are wild animals, and that your safety is not guaranteed, even with a ranger present. Bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem will react on instinct every time, and if you do not respect their space, you will find out exactly what that means first hand. Before venturing into areas like this, please show both …
Rule #1: Do not start the trail without any training. The Arizona Trail thru-hike will test you in ways you never anticipated, so your physical condition should be the least of your worries. Without proper training, you will succumb to injuries, as well as the possibility of not reaching water sources or food quickly enough. It’s important to get that …
Distance: 5.5 miles Difficulty: Strenuous Best time of year: Summer, Fall The Sleeping Indian, known formally as Sheep Mountain, is often overlooked by many tourists due to it being located opposite from the Teton Mountains. Yet frequent visitors and locals develop a fond admiration for the mountain as, once the image is seen, it becomes a popular target to watch …
Distance: 4.4 miles (one way) Difficulty: Strenuous Best time of year: Spring, Summer, Fall For those that don’t have the time and/or energy to hike the full Teton Crest Trail, the in-and-out hike to Phillips Pass is an easily accessible segment. Since the trail starts out at 7,800 feet already, the elevation change isn’t as bad as other areas along …
Distance: 3.7 miles (loop) Difficulty: Easy Best time of year: Spring, Summer, Fall The String Lake Loop is an easy but rewarding four miles that brings visitors to beautiful views of the lake and beyond, as well as intimate forests at the mouth of Paintbrush Canyon. Sweeping views of the lake and peaceful aspen groves await those willing to get …
Distance: 2.1 miles Difficulty: Moderate Best time of year: Summer, Fall Ski Lake is a very popular hike among locals. It’s outside of Grand Teton National Park, which means it doesn’t have a big tourist draw. Likewise, it’s not the most spectacular lake in the Teton Mountains, but it is beautiful and nestled near the treeline of the southern Tetons. …
Lake Solitude sits perched atop the back of the North Fork of Cascade Canyon in the Teton Mountains. It’s one of the most spectacular and relaxing lakes in the Teton Mountains, and with a gradual elevation change for most of the way, makes for a great destination for a day-hike. Lake Solitude Trail Description Begin either at the String Lake …
Distance: 0.75 miles (loop) Difficulty: Easy Best time of year: Spring, Fall The Mesa Arch Trail is an easy and welcoming loop that brings visitors to a jaw-dropping view of a massive canyon crowned with a large arch to peer through. Anyone visiting the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park should do this hike. Mesa Arch Trail …
Driving along Highway 14/16 between Cody, Wyoming and the Bighorn Mountains for most people can be an excruciating experience. Mile after mile yields very little difference in landscape interest as the full stretch offers only a bland, sparsely populated high desert environment with only a small badlands hill sporadically placed across vast distances. As a result, many people would wonder …
Now that I’ve finally finished adding photos from the Arizona Trail to my website, I can now focus on other tasks. One such task is this blog post, a list of gear that I found invaluable and/or highly useful on the trail. Note that some links may be affiliate links, but I was not approached by any company to write …
Distance: 11.2 miles Difficulty: Strenuous Best time of year: Summer, early Fall Last hiked: 2016 September Most people will stop at the Gardner Lake Trailhead for the Beartooth Loop Trail, stand at the overlook, and then continue driving the scenic Beartooth Highway. Hardly anyone ever takes the trail the down Gardner Lake. Even fewer will actually hike the entire loop. …
Distance: 6.8 miles Difficulty: Strenuous Best time of year: Summer, early Fall Last hiked: 2016 October The end of the Table Mountain Hike is what many people refer to as, "The best view in the Tetons." After finally getting around to hiking this extraordinary trail, I can now say, the statement holds up. Along the way are beautiful canyon views …
Distance: 1.7 miles (one way) Difficulty: Easy Best time of year: Fall, Winter, Spring Last hiked: 2016 March At the western end of the South Mountains is the San Juan Lookout. It can be accessed via the road system or a short hike along the National Trail. At the western end of the trail, it peters out into a widening …
