Granite Mountain is said to offer great views, but at a price. The trail climbs nearly 1,000 vertical feet per mile. It’s steep, with only a few gentler slopes to catch your breath on. Access is straightforward, with the trail beginning off I-90 and less than an hour east of Seattle. Time your trip right […]
Hiking Mailbox Peak Loop
There are two main routes leading up infamous Mailbox Peak, and this loop takes you up one (the “Old” trail) and down the other (the kinder, gentler “new” trail). This is the summit mountaineers train on when winter weather shuts down access to higher peaks. And for good reason, the old trail climbs over 4,000 […]
Backpacking the North/South Lake Loop: Goddard Canyon to Sapphire Lake
DAY THREE on the North Lake/South Lake Loop The trail up to Evolution Valley starts off with a 1,000 feet of switchbacks that dig in right away! The switchbacks follow the waterfall that is Evolution Creek flowing out of the valley – and some of the views are breathtaking. As you top out, you then […]
Backpacking the North/South Lake Loop: Hutchinson Meadow to Goddard Canyon
DAY TWO on the North Lake/South Lake Loop Our second day on the trail would be relatively short, and connect us with the John Muir Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail with the Goddard Canyon Junction our destination. We awoke to another beautiful, clear morning and we headed southwest along Piute Creek towards the JMT junction. […]
Hiking Grays Peak
At 14,270′, Grays Peak is one of only two fourteeners that actually sits on the Continental Divide. The ninth-highest mountain in Colorado has a well-defined trail to the summit and its proximity to the slightly lower Torreys Peak (14,267′) make this a popular mountain destination, especially on summer weekends, so start your hike early. We […]
Hiking Birthday Peak
Birthday Peak is in the 12er family. At 12,730 feet, it sees less foot traffic than its taller cousins, which means you’ll have more solitude but still have epic views of the surrounding mountains in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. This hike requires some additional navigation skills and includes a fun boulder scramble to the summit. If […]
Hiking to Bergen Peak
Bergen Peak in the Jefferson County Open Space is a short 30 minutes from Denver. At an elevation of 9,708′ it provides a good view of Mount Evans to the west, as well as a good portion of the front range. The trail is well-maintained and well-marked, yet climbs nearly to 10,000′. It’s the perfect […]
Backpacking to the Confluence Overlook in Canyonlands National Park
The Confluence Overlook Trail in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park takes you away from the crowds and through a maze of slick-rock canyons to the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers. I hadn’t planned to hike this trail. I had just been to Arches National Park to hike the Devil’s Garden Loop. I […]
