Arguably one of the most famous points at the Grand Canyon, hiking down to Ooh Aah Point should be a box ready to be checked on any hiker's checklist. Gaining its name from the obvious “Ooh, aah" sound you make upon reaching it, the point has been made uber-trendy by Instagram and TikTok “influencers”, and …
One of the few epic destinations on the island of Trinidad, Maracas Waterfall is well worth the journey. While reaching it requires a rather lengthy drive and a challenging hike, the experience is rewarding. Standing at an impressive height of 300 feet (or 91.5 meters, though some claim 298 feet), Maracas Waterfall claims the title …
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One of the more unique National Parks due to being separated into four distinct “districts” separated by rivers, Canyonlands National Park - Needles District is the most southern of the four. The other three districts are Island in the Sky, The Maze, and the rivers themselves. Per the National Park website, “These areas share a …
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Hands down my favorite part of Death Valley National Park, the Badwater Basin Salt Flat is a must-see for anyone visiting the park. Officially the lowest point in North America, at 282 feet (86 m) below sea level, it was once considered to be the lowest elevation in the entire Western Hemisphere. It is now …
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Deep within the Shawnee National Forest, approximately 30 minutes outside the small town of Harrisburg, Illinois in Saline County, sits a pretty cool-looking rock formation that resembles the face of an old woman (or man). Part of the Stoneface Research Natural Area of the Shawnee National Forest, it’s in a lesser known area home to …
If you’ve watched the comedy Tropic Thunder, then you’ve seen the jungles of Kauai, Hawaii. The movie was filmed entirely on the island, and after experiencing the Wailua River and hike to Secret Falls, I fully understood why the producers chose Kauai as the “Vietnam backdrop”. As we paddled down the river, surrounded by nothing …
While the better-known Garden of the Gods is located in Colorado, this one is Southern Illinois' main claim to fame. By far the most popular hiking spot in the area, I firmly believe that the Illinois Garden of the Gods is worthy of its name. Beautiful and unique, it's a favorite go-to spot of out-of-towners …
Located along Highway 89, approximately 2 miles south of the small town of Yarnell, Arizona, sits the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park. It’s a unique state park, dedicated as a memorial site to a mass tragedy. On June 30, 2013, 19 members of the 20-man Granite Mountain Hotshots died fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire. …
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Rainbow Falls Trail. As far as hikes go, hiking within the Great Smokey Mountain National Park was a wonderful and beautiful experience. I didn’t get to hike inside this famous National Park with the famous hazy mountains either time I previously visited, and I certainly wasn’t passing up the opportunity a third time! While staying …
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The Narrows. Lovers of Zion National Park know the name well. If you’ve heard of this majestic park, you’ve likely heard of The Narrows. It’s one of the park’s most well-known hikes, alongside Angels Landing and Temple of Sinawava, which, unfortunately, also makes it one of the most popular. The first time we visited Zion …