Oberg Mountain is a 2.5-mile loop hike with a gradual elevation gain of 500ft. This is a relatively easy hike with amazing views around the entire loop of the surrounding hills, Lake Superior, and Oberg Lake.
Caribou Falls is an approximately 1-mile out-and-back hike, off of MN-61 between Tettegouche and Temperance State Parks. This is a subtly marked hike, meaning that although it is just a short distance away from the scenic highway that runs along Lake Superiors shore, you just might get to enjoy this waterfall by yourself. Enjoy the peacefulness of the Caribou River along your hike to the falls.
Vacation Ideas to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park - Plan a trip for your family.. This post includes favorite hikes, places to visit, and ideas on where to camp.
Red Rock Canyon is just a little over 30 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip and has several short and long trail hiking options amongst multi-colored rock walls, canyons, and mountains. Check out my itinerary from March 2021 when I travelled here with my 8 and 12 year sons: Calico Tanks, High Point Overlook ,Petroglyph Wall, Lost Creek Children’s Discovery Trail, and Ice Box Canyon.
Just an hour drive, Valley of Fire State Park is the best deal that you will find near Las Vegas at only $15 / car of non-NV residents. The colors of the rocks and their fun shapes (caves, arches, and holes) will invite you to fully explore up, down, around, and through. This is a stop that you shouldn’t miss if you find yourself in Las Vegas in a non-summer month (October through April).
Hiding just below the Hoover Dam are two hot springs accessible by day hikes. On the Nevada side of the Colorado River, the hot springs are referred to as the Gold Strike Hot Springs. On the Arizona side, they are referred to as both the Arizona Hot Springs and the Ringbolt Hot Springs. The trail may also be referred to as White Rock Canyon. Gold Strike is a crazy fun challenging hike involving boulder scrambles and ropes to navigate the largest boulders. The Gold Strike Hot Springs is near the Colorado River so you can play between hot and cold water. On the other hand, the AZ Hot Springs are incredibly warm and deep and are my favorite hot springs that I’ve found so far. Please read my post for more information on both trails.
Caribou Falls is an approximately 1-mile out-and-back hike, off of MN-61 between Tettegouche and Temperance State Parks. This is a subtly marked hike, meaning that although it is just a short distance away from the scenic highway that runs along Lake Superiors shore, you just might get to enjoy this waterfall by yourself. Enjoy the peacefulness of the Caribou River along your hike to the falls.
Written to be a complete overview of hiking trails at Tettegouche State Park, this post includes the must see views at Shovel Point, High Falls, and Palisade Head, as well as the lesser known secrets including the Cascades, Mt. Trudee, Mt. Baldy, Crystal Bay, Sea Caves, and some tips for winter hiking. Read through to the end of the post to learn about the 7 mile loop of Bear and Bean Lakes along the Superior Hiking Trail.
Looking for a place to stroll, sit quietly and enjoy the sound of nature without any crowds? Or maybe you are looking for a challenging place to climb up and down bluffs and ignore the traces of civilization? Both are options at Beaver Creek Valley State Park in MN, where you will lose cell phone coverage and be able to walk away from some of the stress in your life. Read more for recommendations on the best hikes in the park.
If you are interested in planning a trip to Death Valley, here is a guide to get you started. Explore Sidewinder Canyon, Badwater Basin, Salt Flats, Devils Golf Course, Artist’s Palette, Golden Canyon, Zabriskie Point / Badlands Loop, Twenty Mule Team Canyon, Harmony Borax Works, Salt Creek, Ubehebe Crater, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Mosaic Canyon, Charcoal Kilns, and Darwin Falls.
My favorite non-North Shore MN State Park, Whitewater is in southeastern MN, and is worth a full weekend visit. There is so much to do between swimming, hiking, jumping for rock to rock in the river crossings, exploring inside of chimney rock, and climbing up and down a lot of steps. Consider park hoping to nearby Carley State Park, or for a longer excursion, head over to Niagara Cave to see a 60ft waterfall inside of a cave.
Afton is a charming park to hike with close proximity to both Minneapolis and St. Paul, but does not have the feeling of being near any city development. There are beaches to play at, bluffs to hike, streams to cross, and prairies to enjoy. At the end of the post, there is also a map of nearby Vermillion Falls.
If you are looking for a place to have a beautiful afternoon or evening stroll, I would suggest heading across the state border into Osceola, Wisconsin to walk the Cascade Falls Trail. At 0.6 miles (out and back), this is an easy walk minus some steps at the beginning and end, which passes a moderate sized waterfall, features enchanting boardwalks, and ends at the St. Croix River. Head back to the trailhead the way you came to continue an easy walk, or if you are up for a challenge, take the Eagle Bluff Trail back. This results in a 0.3 + 0.8 mile loop back to the trailhead. The Eagle Bluff Trail ascends up a short but steep hill (~200ft) along a dirt path.
If you are looking for an impressive waterfall worth hiking to near Minneapolis and St Paul MN, check out Willow Falls at Wisconsin’s Willow River State Park. Trails access the falls on both sides of the river. The Willow River trail is 1.2 miles round trip and the Burkhardt Trails is 2 miles round trip.
Here’s your guide to spending the day in Joshua Tree National Park. Included are trail reviews for Bajada Nature Trail, Cottonwood Springs / Mastodon Peak, Cholla Cactus Garden, Arch Rock, Skull Rock / Discovery Trail, Ryan Mountain, Hall of Horrors Slot Canyon, Cap Rock, Keys Viewpoint, Hidden Valley, Barker Dam, and Rattlesnake Canyon.
