Driving the Shafer Trail between Canyonlands National Park and Moab is absolutely hair raising. The descent from the park's visitors center to the canyon floor is a heart stopping collection of narrow switchbacks. Better yet, the narrow trail is flanked by a sheer, 1,000-foot cliff on one side and a rock wall on the other. And if that is not enough disincentive, there is little between you and a precipitous drop other than a few tenacious sage brush.
There are many ways to explore Mesa Verde, be it by car, hiking trail, or guided tour. Like many National Parks, Mesa Verde boasts a dramatic scenic route with numerous vista pullouts and interpretive displays. Even visitors with severely limited time can enjoy a quick taste of the park by driving the Mesa Top Loop to wet their appetite for a longer visit. Hiking trails across the park highlight not only the remarkable structures in the park but the beautiful landscape.
Mark Twain described Mono Lake as "lifeless, treeless, hideous desert... the loneliest place on earth" in his work Roughing It. And while adjectives like "desolate," "harsh," or "bleak" may be appropriate, "hideous" would not. Lake Mono is an expanse of lacy limestone sculpture flanked by majestic mountain ranges. This shallow saline soda lake is a thing of beauty.
Seventy-miles north of Flagstaff, Arizona is one of the most iconic National Parks in the United States: the Grand Canyon. A drive along Highway 64 will travel between many iconic stops along the Grand Canyon's South Rim. Even as a day trip from Flagstaff, it is absolutely worth the trip.
I don’t know if “Lucky” is the right word for it. We have a National Parks Pass. But it wasn’t really needed as we cruised through the unmanned toll booths of both the Grand Canyon and Death Valley in a…
There is a reason for the hikes popularity. It's a relatively easy hike, good for all ages, and the views are AMAZING. Each elevation gain calls for another pause to take in the panoramic view. While the route is a 3.2 mile loop with moderate elevation gain, any distance along the trail is worth the view!
Sedona has so many trails in and among the brilliantly colored buttes that the choice of what to hike can be daunting. There are the classics—like Broken Arrow and Devil's Bridge—but the popularity of these shouldn't negate the many other trails. In fact, popularity and small parking lots can be a compelling reason to focus on alternate trails, especially later in the day.
Like any tourist destination, finding a place to stay is a challenge. Most campgrounds are booked out in advance. But, if you have 4-wheel drive and a willingness to rough it without facilities, there are undeveloped campsites with amazing vistas along Forest Road 525C.
We only spent one night in Twizel and launched back on the road for one last bid for a rain free hike. This time we aim for Christchurch and its scenic peninsula.
Contending against gale-force winds to see a glacier on the Hooker's Valley Track along the Southern Alps in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.