Long before the Catskill Mountains of New York State became known as the Borscht Belt, glacial snowmelt from the Ice Age was carving streams and canyons through the region. Numerous waterfalls were created as a result of this activity. This edition of Beyond L.A. spotlights Kaaterskill Fallls, the highest waterfall in the state (including Niagara)…
Read more Beyond L.A.: Three waterfalls in the Catskills (Upstate New York)
San Miguel is the westernmost of the eight islands in the Santa Barbara Channel, which include Santa Catalina, San Clemente, San Nicolas and the five that constitute the park. Without any other islands to serve as a buffer from the open ocean, San Miguel experiences high winds, fog and other conditions that make it feel…
Read more Beyond L.A.: Three hikes on San Miguel Island (Channel Islands National Park)
Mono Pass is a moderately difficult hike at a high elevation that offers stunning views of the Sierras, including lakes, alpine mountains and lush green meadows. Below is my guide on hiking to Mono Pass from the Mosquito Flats Trailhead. Hike details Elevation gain – 1,800 ft Total Distance – 7 miles round trip Duration…
In Colorado’s remote northeastern corner, a two hour drive from Denver and three hours from the Rockies, the Pawnee Buttes tower 300 feet above the high plains. The 4-mile round trip hike to the buttes is arguably the most popular in the Pawnee National Grassland, but don’t worry about crowds: the trail’s isolated location (reachable…
Read more Beyond L.A.: Pawnee Buttes (Pawnee National Grassland, Colorado)
In this edition of Beyond L.A., we tour some of Death Valley’s most famous attractions in a route that can easily be done as a two-day road trip from Los Angeles. Needless to say, there’s much more to the largest park in the continental U.S. than the hikes and sites described here, but for those…
Read more Beyond L.A.: A two day road trip to Death Valley National Park
This Beyond L.A. post features a peak that might be vaguely familiar to some hikers – Mt. Whitney. There’s no shortage of information available online about the tallest summit in the U.S. outside Alaska. That being said, there are some things that can only be learned from doing or experiencing them. My trip to Whitney…
Great Smoky Mountains National Park draws an average of over 11 million visitors per year – as much as any other two National Parks put together. The 800-plus square mile park straddles North Carolina and Tennessee, giving hikers a chance to do something that is not common in California (except perhaps the Tahoe area): hiking…
Read more Beyond L.A. Two waterfalls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Mt. Mitchell is the highest point in the continental United States east of the Mississippi River. The 6,684 summit is named for local professor Elisha Mitchell, who fell to his death while attempting to confirm a prior measurement of the peak’s height. The summit is located in Mt. Mitchell State Park in western North Carolina,…
In addition to its opulent hotels and popular beaches, the south shore of Kauai is home to Makauwahi, Hawaii’s largest limestone cave. The hike to reach the cave provides excellent ocean views and up-close looks at the area’s marine geology. If you are visiting Kauai and don’t have time to venture into the island’s remote…
Read more Beyond L.A.: Shipwreck Beach to Makauwahi Cave (Kauai, Hawaii)
Photo credit: trails.com Sacramento might not be known as a hiking city, but you may be surprised at how many great hiking trails are nearby. Here are four of my favorites. The Quarry Trail The Quarry Trail in Auburn, CA is a half-hour ride from Sacramento. From my experiences, this is a fairly tame hiking…
Southeast of Yosemite National Park lies the tiny town of Mammoth Lakes, population 8,000. Many Californians are familiar with Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort, California’s snow sports playground. You most likely know friends who have visited for its famed natural beauty. Among the pristine lakes and snow capped mountain views, Mammoth Lakes is the perfect setting…
Read more Beyond L.A.: Natural Hot Springs of Mammoth Lakes (Guest post by Keilah Keiser)
It’s no secret that the iconic landscape of Zion National Park draws visitors from all over the world. However, some might be surprised to learn just how popular it has become: in 2017, Zion was the third most heavily visited national park in the country, beating out both Yosemite and Yellowstone with an impressive total…
Here’s a hike that offers the outstanding scenery of Bryce Canyon National Park in a free, less crowded and dog friendly package. This five mile loop in the Dixie National Forest is a perfect introduction to the area’s famous landscapes, notably the “hoodoo” formations – the bizarre rock towers characteristic of the desert. Other highlights…
Read more Beyond L.A.: Buckhorn/Golden Wall Loop (Dixie National Forest, Utah)
Kauai, Hawaii’s northernmost island, is known for Manawaiopuna Falls (“Jurassic Park”), Waimea Canyon, the famous (and dangerous) Kalalau Trail and many other spectacular natural attractions. However, for those who want just a taste of adventure, there are also some great hikes to be found right on the outskirts of town. With a population of just…
Read more Beyond L.A.: Three hikes near Kapa’a (Kauai, Hawaii)
Located about an hour northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada’s Valley of Fire State Park is noted for its outlandish rock formations. The famous and recognizable “Fire Wave” is one of two hikes profiled in this post; the other is the short but adventurous White Domes Trail, visiting a remote canyon that has been a favorite…
Read more Beyond L.A.: Fire Wave and White Domes Trails (Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada)
With 1,000 L.A. area hikes published on the site, I am proud to introduce a new series of write-ups featuring hikes outside of southern California. For the past two years I have had the good fortune of being able to visit Kauai, Hawaii and do some terrific hiking. This write-up will discuss three trails in…
Read more Beyond L.A.: Three hikes in Koke’e State Park (Kauai, Hawaii)
