Outdoor Project

A lesser-known Crater Lake sits high in an alpine basin, guarded by craggy peaks. Unlike the Crater Lake located in Oregon's only national park, the only way into this place is by climbing up a relentless series of switchbacks that enter the Wallowa high country. Hikers who take on this heart-pounding adventure are rewarded with a sense of remoteness not easily found in this popular backpacking destination.

The hike to the top of Tidbits Mountain provides a nice cross-section of what the Willamette Foothills has to offer. In just a few short miles the trail passes through stands of massive old Douglas fir trees. Then it traverses beneath impressive rocky monoliths, climbs up to the site of an old lookout tower, and opens up to 360-degree views of the surrounding peaks. On a clear day, all of Central Oregon and beyond unfolds before you.

Yosemite National Park Overview | Yosemite Valley | South Rim | North Rim | Tuolumne Meadows Area | High Sierra Camps | Hetch Hetchy | Lodging/Additional Campgrounds

Grand Mesa is a year-round playground that is not well-known outside of the western Colorado towns of Grand Junction, Delta, and Montrose. Very popular for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in the winter, it is a lightly-used area in the short warm season when the campgrounds are open (about mid-June to early October). There are two major recreation areas on the mesa, each having multiple campgrounds, at least one lodge, several lakes, and some summer home developments. The closest to Grand Junction and the smaller of the two is Mesa Lakes Recreation Area.

The Trinity Divide is the easternmost subrange of the Klamath Mountains. It is a hydrologic divide, as the western slopes drain into the Trinity and Klamath Rivers and the eastern slopes drain into the Sacramento River system. The highest point in this subrange is the modest Mount Eddy. At 9,026 feet high, Mount Eddy happens to be the highest peak in the contiguous U.S. west of Interstate 5 and is one of nine ultra-prominent peaks in California.

Bidwell Park stretches 11 miles from downtown Chico into the Sierra Nevada foothills. At 3,670 acres, it is one of the larger municipal parks in the United States. The park dates back to 1905, when Annie Bidwell, wife of General John Bidwell (and the founder of Chico), gifted their land to the city. The park is split into the urban forest of Lower Park and the more rugged Upper Park. This guide showcases the upper portion of Bidwell Park.

This hike begins at the Snow Lake Trailhead in Snoqualmie Pass, which is justifiably the busiest trailhead in the area. But don't let that scare you away! The hikers who have the extra curiosity (and stamina) to venture a few miles past the gorgeous shores of Snow Lake will be rewarded with much smaller crowds and a beautiful, crystal-clear alpine lake surrounded by jagged peaks.

The Goat Mountain and Green River Loop is an excellent trail to choose for backpacking or a day hike. Swimming holes, wildflowers, and continuous views of mountains are abundant. While the 22-mile loop is a beautiful walk, day trips to Deadman Lake or Vanson Lake still offer wildflower meadows and views of Mount Saint Helens on moderately difficult hikes.

If you are searching for a stunning southern Utah canyon backpacking adventure off of the national park circuit, Coyote Gulch might be just what the doctor ordered. Highly regarded by locals, this diverse canyon gem is less well known nationally, which means you might be able to catch it without the crowds. The varied scenery of this backpack trip spans dry wash beds, flowing streams, waterfalls, towering canyon walls, cottonwood groves, sand dunes, arches, and a natural bridge.  

In the 1880s and 1890s, the Red Mountain mining district was a booming 19th-century industrial juggernaut in the pristine San Juan Mountains. Silver was the basis of the currency, and much wealth was created in the area. Towns sprang up overnight, and the mountain sides were soon stripped of trees. Ranchers settled in the nearby valleys to raise cattle to feed the hungry miners, and railroads (like the Durango Silverton Narrow Guage Railroad) were built through rugged mountain passes to carry ore to be processed.