The trails at Sylvan Lake provide some of the best views in all of South Dakota’s Black Hills. Hike the easy and flat 1.1 Lake Shore Loop around Sylvan Lake, and add in the 3.1 mile Sunday Gulch Loop for a fun but challenging hike past a creek with several small waterfalls and then up into the mountains of the Black Hills. Other trail options also include Little Devil’s Tower, my favorite viewpoint within the Black Hills, and Black Elk Peak (formerly known as Harney Peak) which is the highest point in elevation east of the Rocky Mountains. The trail to Black Elk Peak gains 1350ft, making it a tough trail. Little Devil’s Tower is shorter with less elevation, but involves a significant rock scramble at the end. There is also a spur trail to Cathedral Spires, a unique set of towering rocks.
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.
Snow Canyon is a very accessible State Park just outside of St. George, UT, where you can explore unique lava tube caves. Make sure to bring a flashlight or headlamp as the light on your phone won’t be enough. If you have more time, then head to Jenny’s Canyon (a short slot canyon), and enjoy a more urban hike out to Scout Cave.
If you are looking for a breath of solitude off the beaten path in Nevada, check out the amazing rock formations within Cathedral Gorge State Park. You can see the canyon from trails at the top and bottom of the canyon, as well as explore within the walls themselves which are cut into a maze of slot canyons.
Your complete guide to a trip to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park - Plan your trip for a 1/2 day with a night at Goulding’s Lodge or the View to enjoy a sunset and a sunrise at the park. Hike Wildcat Trail, and enjoy the 17-mile driving loop on your own if you have a vehicle with higher clearance or book a tour guide. Mile Marker 13 on US-163 marks the spot where Forrest Gump stopped running, which you can take a selfie at on your way out of the park. I’ve also included ideas other nearby hiking destinations to include on your road trip to Monument Valley.
Traveling to Moab? Here’s your complete guide to Canyonlands National Park, including viewpoints and trails in both Island in the Sky and the Needles districts. Find the best places to see the sun rise and set in Canyonlands, check out the best hikes, and see my links to other nearby places to hike while you stay in Moab, UT.
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.
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.
If your goal is to hike to the top of Minnesota, or you are just looking for an extremely quiet and remote hike along the North Shore, Eagle Mountain is your trail. This trail enters the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and summits to the top of Eagle Mountain, MN’s highest point. Eagle Mountain is just over 6.5 miles, with a steep ascent of 500ft in the last third of the hike and is a moderately difficult hike.
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.
