Category: National Parks

Posted on

Hiking the Rift Zone Trail at Point Reyes National Seashore

A fence separates a hiking trail from a cow pasture.
The Rift Zone Trail at Point Reyes National Seashore follows pastures along forested areas.

The hike on the Rift Zone Trail at Point Reyes National Seashore is a hiker’s minefield.

The trail was loaded with cow pies, steaming horse apples, two hives of bees that swarmed next to the trail, swarms of flies on fresh cow patties, a lavish supply of spider webs that crossed the trail in more places that could be counted but could not be seen as you walked through them. There was overgrowth that reached out to touch you. Most of it was blackberries that looked like poison oak, but then there was actual poison oak that had to be dodged. Then there was mud – both sticky mud and mud that caused your feet to slide out from under you when you stepped on it. And then there was the heavy humidity.

Continue reading “Hiking the Rift Zone Trail at Point Reyes National Seashore”

Posted on

Hiking to Ooh Ahh Point in the Grand Canyon

A view overlooking the Grand Canyon out on the horizion.
The view from Ohh Ahh Point looking out to the vast horizon of part of the Grand Canyon.

The hike to Ooh Ahh Point, a short one-mile hike, is pretty easy on the way down. The way back up is another story and on an average of 11.2 percent grade for about a mile. Once you get to Ooh Ahh Point, it’s easy to see why it’s named what it is.

Looking out at the Grand Canyon is breathtaking from here. The colors and the vastness of the canyon are awe-inspiring as you look across to the horizon and down into the canyon where you can see the trails far below you go.

Continue reading “Hiking to Ooh Ahh Point in the Grand Canyon”

Posted on

Hiking to Glen Campground from Bear Valley

Tents in a campsite under canopy.
Some of the campsites at Glen Campground at Point Reyes National Seashore offer shade under the green forested canopy.

The hike to Glen Campground starts out on the Bear Valley Trail at Point Reyes National Seashore, and I’ve written about the Bear Valley Trail a few times. This portion of the hike is an easy family friendly trail along the Bear Valley Creek under lush cool canopy.

After about 3.2 miles, you’ll come to a junction. Go straight, and you’ll go out to the ocean and to the Coast Trail. Go left, and you’ll start an ascent through lush, humid forest that leads to the Glen Campground. After about .6 miles on a point 6.6 percent grade, a fork appears between the Glen Trail we were on and the Glen Camp Loop Trail. We stayed left and went onto the Glen Camp Loop Trail and then hiked up about .9 more miles on an average of a 2.3 percent grade to the campground.

Continue reading “Hiking to Glen Campground from Bear Valley”

Posted on

Hiking to Grinnell Lake in Glacier National Park

Grinnell Glacier high in the mountains with Grinnell Lake below.
Grinnell Lake sits below Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park.

The hike to Grinnell Lake in Glacier National Park is spectacular while at the same time can be spectacularly hard in places when you start climbing.

The hike on the Swiftcurrent Lake Trail starts off just to the south of the Many Glacier Lodge and heads to a trail that is really easy and nearly flat as it meanders around the south eastern side of Swiftcurrent Lake though the forest. The views of the lake, when you can see it from the trail, are amazing with views of Grinnell Point.

Continue reading “Hiking to Grinnell Lake in Glacier National Park”

Posted on

Hiking Three Falls in Glacier National Park

St. Mary Lake with mountains in the background.
Saint Mary Lake from the Piegan Pass Trail in Glacier National Park.

This was our first hike in Glacier National Park, and I’m glad it was our first. We weren’t real impressed with the hike for about the first two miles until we started getting into the forest. Prior to that, we hiked through a burned-out area, and it reminded us of being back home in California where much of the state’s wilderness areas have suffered from wildfires. But we could see beauty in the distance as we looked to where we were headed.

As we hiked along, the view of Saint Mary Lake was quite beautiful with the snowy mountains in the background.

Continue reading “Hiking Three Falls in Glacier National Park”

Posted on

Hiking to Hidden Lake in Glacier National Park

Hidden Lake sits below mountains in the background and forest in the foreground at Glacier National Park.
Hidden Lake in Glacier National Park is a sight to behold. From the viewpoint, it can be incredibly breathtaking, and we found it difficult to head back.

Overlooking Hidden Lake in Glacier National Park is awe inspiring, and looking out from here is one of the places where you can see why Montana gets the label “Big Sky Country.” No picture can capture this – it has to be experienced to be understood. The best way to describe it is that the sky above you doesn’t seem to stop, and you can seem to see forever over the horizon.

Continue reading “Hiking to Hidden Lake in Glacier National Park”

Posted on

Backpacking to Dewey Point in Yosemite National Park

The view from Dewey Point with El Capitan to the left.
The view from Dewey Point looks the High Sierras in the distance with El Capitan to the left.

The hike to Dewey Point from the McGurk Meadow Trail in Yosemite National Park is a hike to a fantastic view of El Capitan with Half Dome in the distance and the majestic tops of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in the background. While many people do this hike as a day hike, we decided to backpack in and spend the night at Dewey Point.

Continue reading “Backpacking to Dewey Point in Yosemite National Park”

Posted on

Hiking Grand Canyon Of The Yellowstone To Ribbon Lake

Lower Yellowstone Falls from Artist Point.
The view from Artist Point at Yellowstone National Park of Lower Yellowstone Falls and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone can be spectacular.

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is an incredible sight to see and hike along in Yellowstone National Park. From different vantage points, you can marvel at Lower Yellowstone Falls. The forest along the hike was tranquil and mediative, and once we left the crowds, we probably saw a little more than a dozen people.

Continue reading “Hiking Grand Canyon Of The Yellowstone To Ribbon Lake”

Posted on

Hike to Darwin Falls at Death Valley National Park

Darwin Falls is a spring-fed waterfall at Death Valley National Park.
Darwin Falls is a spring-fed waterfall at Death Valley National Park.

A waterfall at Death Valley National Park? Yep, there certainly is, and the hike to Darwin Falls is pretty easy for the most part.

The hike starts off from the parking lot and follows a Darwin Wash back to the waterfall. We didn’t start to notice water until about .7 miles from the trailhead that flowed from the waterfall in a stream. As we ventured further back, we went from a dry desert wash to trees, cattails and other greenery, including ferns, fed by the water.

Continue reading “Hike to Darwin Falls at Death Valley National Park”

Posted on

Hiking Desolation Canyon at Death Valley National Park

From the high point of the Desolation Canyon Trail at Death Valley National Park, you can see the Panamint Mountain Range, Telescope Peak, portions of Cottonball Basin, Middle Basin and Badwater Basin.
From the high point of the Desolation Canyon Trail at Death Valley National Park, you can see the Panamint Mountain Range, Telescope Peak, portions of Cottonball Basin, Middle Basin and Badwater Basin.

If you love dirt and sand, Desolation Canyon at Death Valley National Park is for you. If you don’t, the view at the end and colors in the canyon walls is may be worth the hike, but getting there can be a chore.

Continue reading “Hiking Desolation Canyon at Death Valley National Park”

Proudly powered by WordPress