Marin County is truly unique. Nestled on a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay, these hills gave birth to mountain biking and were home to George Lucas’ magic-makers – all just a short drive from San Francisco over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Muir Woods and Mt Tamalpais get much of […]
Hiking the Devil’s Garden Loop in Arches National Park
Arches National Park in Utah attracts over one million visitors a year with it’s namesake geologic wonders. Most visitors head to the easily reached roadside arches and viewpoints. In contrast, the Devil’s Garden Loop is considered the only “hiker’s hike” in the park. Hiking the Devil’s Garden Loop is a great way to escape the throngs […]
Hiking to Berry Creek Falls in Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Giant old-growth redwood trees, lush forest, babbling creeks and beautiful waterfalls–there is plenty to love about this nearly 11 mile loop hike to Berry Creek Falls in Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Big Basin Redwoods is California’s oldest state park, and features the largest stand of coastal redwoods south of San Francisco. These are tall […]
Photo Gallery: Backpacking in Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park frequently shows up on lists of favorite backpacking treks, and in particular the 32-mile Teton Crest Trail. Last week I traveled to Jackson, Wyoming for a conference, but before the work — I met up with another attendee who travelled from Germany and together we spent four days backpacking this beautiful […]
Hiking the Canopy View Loop in Muir Woods National Monument
Walking among the ancient, towering trees in Redwood Canyon, I’m reconnected to the natural world and to history itself. Most of the old growth redwoods here are between 600-800 years old, and the oldest is about 1200 years old — still young by redwood standards. As I hiked among these giants, it was easy to imagine […]
Exploring Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is one of the most surreal places I’ve explored. The Navajo sandstone slot canyon was formed over years of flash floods, wind and weather leaving behind the softly flowing curves in the stone canyon. The result is a photogenic wonder, ever-changing as the sun passes over head. The surreal shapes and colors make Antelope […]
Hiking the Ewoldsen Trail in Julia Pfieffer Burns State Park
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park has everything that Big Sur is known for — dramatic old growth coastal redwoods that tower above you; streams dancing through steep gorges lined with colorful wildflowers; stunning views of the rugged coastline; and photogenic waterfalls. The 5.9 mile Ewoldsen Trail delivers the goods. We tackled this scenic loop in […]
10 Amazing Hikes Around the World
One of the very best ways to really get to know a place is by exploring it on your own two feet. Here are ten amazing destinations that are rich with day hiking adventures for all abilities. New Zealand Photo credit: Samuel Mann – Creative Commons New Zealand is well-known for the dramatic mountain scenes […]