Outdoor Project

Ten million years ago the high plains of Colorado had about 300 feet of sedimentary rock on top of the current level of the ground. Nearly all of that soft sedimentary rock has since eroded away. In the north-central part of the state, a few areas of harder Ogallala Formation sandstone capped and protected the softer stone underneath. One of these places is the Pawnee Buttes. These mounds of rock remain as some of the last fragments of the old high prairie landscape, now mostly washed out to sea.

Like so many of the best hikes in North Cascades National Park, this trail demands a lot - 10.6 miles there-and-back and nearly 3,800 feet of elevation gain - but the reward of 360-degree views of the surrounding North Cascades and lake-filled cirques is absolutely worth the effort and scramble it takes to get to the top of 5,966-foot Trappers Peak.

The Pawnee National Grassland stretches over nearly 200,000 acres (much of it mixed with private land) in the north-central part of of Colorado. This is not a park with many developed facilities, but it has some very beautiful and peaceful places to visit. Birding is very popular, and there is a self-guided birding drive through the prairie. The only campground within the grassland is Crow Valley, and it is a wonderful place of solitude and beauty.

Hidden Valley's trails are located on the acreage at Reno's eastern edge where the Washoe Valley abuts the mountains in an area collectively known as Hidden Valley County Park.

There are many trails and paths meandering through the mountains over here. The lower-elevation and more gradually sloped trails serve mountain bicyclists and equestrians, while hikers can take the steep rocky terrain and leave the traffic behind for a steep ascent to views over the entire Reno/Sparks metropolitan area.

This trail is a wide, dusty, well-worn double track that parallels Steamboat Ditch, a seasonally-flowing irrigation ditch that carries water from the Truckee River in Verdi to farms and ranches in South Reno. 

The generally flat trail is an ideal jaunt for dog walkers, runners, mountain bikers, and equestrians. Other trail users tend to disappear as you venture further from the trailhead, however, and you may have the path through the dry Sierra foothills to yourself. 

Reaching the summit of Elk Mountain is an arduous task. The trail climbs nearly 2,000 feet in less than 2 miles, and the steepness is compounded by loose footing almost the entire way. But for those brave enough to take on the challenge, this trail is one of the gems of Oregon's Coast Range. It's unlikely you'll encounter other hikers as you pull yourself up the ridge's path.

Buffalo Park offers the easiest hiking near Flagstaff, and these trails are also the most conveniently accessed from town. Driving a short distance from downtown or biking, running, or walking on the Urban Trails will get you to Buffalo Park in no time.

Park is a word commonly used in Northern Arizona to mean a meadow, and Buffalo Park is a picturesque example. This grassy expanse with numerous wildflowers and sparse ponderosa pines sits atop a low mesa scenically situated between Flagstaff, Mount Elden, and the San Francisco Peaks.

Fry Canyon is one of the least committing and most easily accessible technical canyons in the Cedar Mesa region of Utah. Even for experienced canyoneers, however, this one is worth the trip because of its refreshing pools and well-preserved Native American ruins tucked deep within the sandstone walls.

The Grand Mesa is a 700-square-mile flat-top mountain that rises dramatically east of Grand Junction, Colorado. Little-known outside of the nearby western Colorado towns, the Grand Mesa is a vast playground dotted with lakes, streams, and wildflower-strewn meadows. There is no better way see it in its vastness than this wonderful hike. Crags Crest runs like an east-west backbone about 1,000 feet above the rest of the mesa, affording 360-degree views of countless lakes and distant mountain ranges.

The Paradise Royal Mountain Bike Trail is a must for anyone traveling through the King Range National Conservation Area with a mountain bike. With access to Tolkan Campground and Tolkan Mountain Bike Terrain Park, the Paradise Royal Mountain Bike Loop is a great activity to include in a multi-day adventure in the Lost Coast region. Situated above the small coastal town of Shelter Cove, the trail provides something for all skill levels to enjoy.