Outdoor Project

Fossil Creek is quite literally an oasis in the desert. Tucked within the folds of the Verde Valley's otherwise arid hillsides, this watercourse is fed with a constant 20,000 gallons of clear water per minute all year round. Although the water stays a consistent 70 degrees, this is a warm-weather-only destination because the deep gorge remains frigid in winter and gets limited sunlight.

Located on the northwest shore at the knuckle of Baker Lake between Boulder Creek Campground and Swift Creek Campground, Panorama Point is a quaint 15-site campground with sweeping views over the opal reservoir.

Half the size of Kulshan Campground, Swift Creek Campground is Baker Lake's second-largest campground, but it easily boasts the most amenities. Located on the knuckle of Baker Lake's northern shore, the campground is a favorite among boaters with its 20-slip marina and boat ramp.

Tucked away near the very end of Baker Lake off of Baker Lake Road, Shannon Creek Campground is one of the reservoir's most peaceful and sought-after campgrounds. With a small but well-shaded picnic day use area, boat ramp, and pebbly beach that looks across the waters to 6,220-foot Mount Watson, it's certainly worth driving the full distance to Shannon Creek. The campground itself is relatively small with only 19 campsites and several vault toilets.

Predominantly used only by elk hunters in the fall and climbers attempting alternative southern routes up 10,781-foot Mount Baker during the spring and summer, the Boulder Ridge Trail is otherwise off the radar of most hikers.

Fromme Mountain is one of the birthplaces of freeride mountain biking in Canada. Some of the trails here were established over 20 years ago, and others have been built and upgraded recently by the North Shore Mountain Bike Association and the District of North Vancouver. Most trails are now maintained through the Trail Adoption Program, whereby companies or organizations adopt a trail and are responsible for maintenance and upkeep.

Curt Gowdy State Park lies between Cheyenne and Laramie and provides a varied set of recreational options. The 38-mile trail complex is primarily oriented toward mountain bikers, making the trails less pleasant for hikers. One area not used by bikes is around the isolated North Crow Reservoir about 5 miles from the main entrance to the park.

The West Ridge of Mount Stuart (5.4 YDS, Grade II) is a complex route that winds up the second largest non-volcanic peak in Washington. There are several ways to approach this route, but one of the most popular is to carryover from Ingalls Pass, climb the West Ridge, descend the Cascadian Couloir, and finish the loop over Long's Pass to return back to the car.  The committing route is typically done in two or three days, is long and complex, and often forces parties to bivy on the mountain. 

The Pawnee National Grassland is a large, semi-protected area of high prairie grassland in northern Colorado. It is a patchwork of federal land and private property, and you'll find signs of its ranching history as well as the current boom in oil and gas drilling and wind energy. There are not a lot of opportunities to get closer to the essence of this land than driving through on the tangled network of dirt roads.

Overview

The South Fork of Warm Springs to Red Warrior is a great mountain bike ride contained entirely within the Warm Springs drainage near Sun Valley. It is more remote than some of the more popular rides, so it sees a bit less traffic. Much of the trail was rebuilt in 2009 and 2010, and the crew did an excellent job of creating a moderately challenging, flowy route that makes excellent use of the landscape.