Outdoor Project

Home to the famous Matterhorn, Zermatt is known for world-class hiking, skiing, mountaineering, and more. Zermatt is car-free (except for the small electric taxi cars and buses), so you have to park just north of the valley in Täsch and take the train shuttle to Zermatt from there. There is no public road to Zermatt. There are numerous parking garages in Täsch, including one right at the train station.

Capitol Peak stands tall at 14,131 feet in elevation, and the standard route up is deemed the most challenging standard route up a Colorado 14er. The route up Capitol Peak has extensive scrambling and exposure to heights, and it is capped off with the famous "Knife Ridge." The Knife Ridge is a short and very exposed section of scrambling across a thin ridge with serious exposure on either side. Because of features like this, Capitol Peak has claimed at least seven lives, with a total of five hikers in 2017 alone. This is a peak to take very seriously.

Banning State Park is located just off of I-35 in Sandstone, Minnesota, and it is popular for kayaking, hiking, the historic sandstone quarry, Wolf Creek Falls, and the Kettle River.

Banning State Park was designated a state park in 1963 to protect the landscape surrounding the Kettle River. The Kettle River is popular for whitewater paddlers and provides five sets of rapids ranging from Class III to V. Banning State Park is also home to a 130-year-old sandstone quarry. The Quarry Loop Trail takes visitors through the ruins of the quarry.

Franconia Notch is a mountain pass nestled in between the Kinsman and Franconia mountain ranges within the White Mountain National Forest. This state park offers gift shops, a campground, an RV park, educational exhibits, several hiking trails, bike paths, and a lake with boat rentals and incredible views.

The Sandstone Canyon Loop Trail is one of several trails inside Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. The loop heads south from the main area of the park, tracing the bottom of the mountains that lie to the west. Though it is a loop, there are two distinct portions along this trail that meet at the far end. From the trailhead, beginning in a clockwise direction will take hikers along a wide dirt path accessible to emergency and maintenance vehicles.

The Overlook Loop Trail is one of several trails inside Spring Mountain Ranch State Park at the Las Vegas Valley's western fringe. Though relatively short at 0.75 miles, this trail packs in a quick steep climb up oxide-colored stone to an overlook point where hikers can catch views over the park as well as Blue Diamond Road and the mountains just beyond.

Spring Mountain Ranch State Park is a historical ranch property located at the Las Vegas Valley's western fringe immediately south of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

The 12-mile round-trip hike from Tuolumne Meadows to Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp follows the Tuolumne River through the rugged landscape of the Yosemite Wilderness in Yosemite National Park. The trail features Tuolumne Falls and White Cascade, both of which are around 50 feet tall, as well as numerous smaller waterfalls. Due to the popularity of this hike, it is recommended that visitors apply for a permit several months in advance. 

Los Flores Ranch Park is an excellent place for riders of any skill level who are looking for great riding in the Santa Maria Valley. There are several trails all over the park to choose from. It’s recommended to enjoy the park in the spring or fall because the trails are very exposed and can become quite hot in the summers. The old oak trees can provide shade on some trails, but most of the shade falls outside of trail boundaries.

When people think of wine country in California, they think of Napa Valley, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lodi... but it wasn't until the movie "Sideways" came out in 2004 that a greater mass of the wine-loving population became familiar with Foxen Canyon in Santa Maria Valley. Even though some of Foxen Canyon's vineyards have been around for quite some time, Rancho Sisquoc pressed its first grapes in 1972, and it still remains a highlight of the area. So, what does all this wine talk have to do with outdoor adventure?