The hike is not an easy one but it is worthy of the effort and time one would put in as a thru-hiker. The range of terrains can vary anywhere from desert settings to snow-capped mountains, meaning hikers must be well-prepared to encounter a number of conditions. In total, the trail spans roughly 2,650 miles through the most scenic and beautiful of western U.S. sta
The first French missionary colony in America was here on Mount Desert Island back in 1613. It was destroyed by the Colony of Virginia and heralded the long struggle in the continent between the English and the French and the English speaking colonists and the French colonists. This would eventually boil over into the French and Indian Wars and the French would be forced to cede it to the English. During the War of Independence, it was a part of Massachusetts before eventually becoming part of Ma
The first person to successfully complete a thru-hike of the 2,190 mile Appalachian Trail was Earl Shaffer in 1948. He viewed the challenge as a way to leave his war experiences behind, documenting his travels in great detail in a journal that’s on display at the Smithsonian. It took him 4 months and one pair of bo
Hike a portion of the popular Pacific Crest Trail to get a feel for what it’s like to make the wilderness your home. The Oregon Skyline Trail has an elevation gain of over 60,000 feet, taking hikers across the crest of the Cascade Mountains and naturetrailinsight.Com through Crater Lake National Park. Several PCT hikers take the opportunity to resupply at the park, just as AT-thru-hikers stop every few days for the same reason. It is a great hike to get used to the unique demands of hiking extremely long distan
The park is one of Maine’s greatest natural treasures and it is one of America’s most visited national parks – in the top ten across the nation. It is famous for its landscapes, views, combining the land and sea, and its many classic hotels. It is also a great park to visit in the fa
Another famous tree was the Wawona Tree. It had a tunnel cut through it that was large enough for horse-drawn carriages and early cars to drive through. However, the tunnel weakened it and it fell in a storm in 1
In the winter, the deciduous leaves have long since disappeared, and while the forest itself may be less appealing, the new vistas opened up are incredibly rewarding. The Spring is a time of rejuvenation and one can take in a parade of wildflowers and flowering trees decorating the p
For example, some might be fearful of the wildlife that exists in this vast wilderness but, in reality, it’s rare to see so much as a mountain lion and unlikely that a hiker would run into a bear. Hikers should consider more the event of a sudden thunderstorm during which lightning is a concern, as well bees that might defend their territory. Rattlesnake sightings are more common, which means hikers should always be alert and aw
Imagine oneself in the Old Wild West on a horseback ride in one of the world’s most dazzling natural attractions. Horse (or mule) rides make one feel like a cowboy (or cowgirl) as one descends deep into the most famous canyon in the world. There are horse and mule rides in the Grand Canyon – with the option of spending the night in the can
Inside the park, one of the options is camping. Mount Desert Island has two campgrounds and the is another on the Schoodic Peninsula. On the Isle au Haut, there are five lean-to sites to choose from. The capacity of these sites has been reduced due to the pande
Maine is famous for its stunning northern forests and picturesque landscapes. One of its main outdoor hotspots is the eye-watering Acadia National Park. Piece of heaven is located on the mid-section of the Maine coast and includes the tip of the Schoodic Peninsula, half of the Mount Desert Island, and a part of the Isle au Haut. The park boasts majestic glaciated coastal and island landscapes with U-shaped valleys and glacial erratics. See here for other things to see and do in the summer in Mai
Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the park and is one of the most popular spots in the Smoky Mountains. The views here will take anyone’s breath away and are endless. Sunrises are rivaled only by the sunsets. To get here, take the 1-mile round trip walk up to the top of the observation t
Ordinarily, they offer a guided one-hour campfire trail ride that ventures to the wagon ride at the campfire, everyone returns by wagon. The horse-wagon ride takes riders to the campfire and back by wagon. Bring one’s own food (none is provid
If one would like an exhaustive guide to all the 150 official trails in the park, then the National Park Service recommends the book ” Hiking Trails of The Smokies “. Another source of information on the numerous trails in the Smokies is Outdoor Project and they have information on 16 must-do hikes. These hikes cover everything from easy strolls near Gatlinburg to epic hikes deep into the backcountry. Some of the best hikes in the park according to Outdoor Project are listed below. Related: Hiking In The Smokies? Don’t Read These Ghost Stories Before Yo
