• The Painted Hills part of the John Day Fossil Bed National Monument in Oregon.
    Hiking Guides,  National Parks,  Oregon,  Travel

    Experience the Beautiful John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

    If you have never visited the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, you’re in for a real treat. In this post I’m sharing what to expect you visit the John Day Fossil Beds in Oregon. For starters, the John Day Fossil Bed National Monument is a part of the National Parks System and features three distinct units: The Painted Hills Unit, The Sheep Rock Unit and the Clarno Unit. We visited the Painted Hills and Sheep Rock Units and hope to explore the Clarno Unit soon. Unlike most National Parks and Monuments, admission is free year round at the John Day NM! Our trip fell during the early part of…

  • Hiking Guides,  Mexico

    A Day Trip to Experience a Beautiful Waterfall in Santiago

    Just an hour and a half north of Cabo San Lucas, a waterfall hiking adventure awaits you in the most unlikely of places, in the middle of the desert! Considering the surrounding terrain, you might be surprised to know that a waterfall exists in the middle of a desert. Just just outside the town of Santiago, BCS is a lush oasis where you can visit Rancho Ecologico Sol De Mayo, a nature preserve featuring a short hike to a beautiful Mexican waterfall. This waterfall is just 50 miles north from Cabo San Lucas, within the Sierra de La Laguna Biosphere Reserve. This area is often referred to Fox Canyon or…

  • McDowell Creek Falls Hiking Guide
    Hiking Adventures,  Oregon

    McDowell Creek Falls Hiking Guide

    The McDowell Creek Falls hike under a lush woodland canopy is a peaceful place to enjoy nature with calming sounds of nearby McDowell Creek. There are several trail options going past multiple falls. Royal Terrace Falls, (not pictured) was just a trickle mid summer, so a fall hike would be a great time for ideal water flowing over the falls. About the Trail This wooded trail is fairly easy, but has a moderate rating due to the number of stairs. If you have mobility issues, this might not be a good choice. The stair cases will get your heart racing, but they are only in a couple areas. We hiked…

  • St Johns bridge in Portland Oregon
    Guides,  Hiking Adventures,  Hiking Guides,  Oregon

    Forest Park Ridge Trail Hiking Guide

    This hike through Forest Park offers an outstanding view of the iconic St Johns Bridge in NW Portland. Did you know, Forest Park is the largest urban wilderness in the United States? As such there are numerous trails to explore within Forest Park. According to Portland Monthly Magazine, one of the best trails in the park is the Ridge Trail. Whether you prefer urban hikes or a more peaceful hike through trees, you will experience both along the Ridge Trail. Parking for this hike is limited to about 6-8 cars near the trailhead. Without other nearby places to park, you will have better luck going early or later in the…

  • Crack in the Mountain Slot Canyon Hike
    Arizona,  Hiking Adventures,  Travel

    Crack in the Mountain Hiking Guide

    The Crack in the Mountain slot canyon hike goes by many names, (also called SARA’s Crack Trail, SARA Canyon Trail or Crack in the Wall),  but most people just refer to it as “The Crack.” The trail head, located at SARA (Special Activities Recreation Area) Park, is about 15 minutes south of the London Bridge Resort on hwy 95 in Lake Havasu City, AZ. This hike offers a fairly flat out and back trail through the canyon as well as an upper route both ending along the shores of Lake Havasu. The best part of this hike, in my opinion, is climbing up and around all the different obstacles within…