Next Stop: Adventure

Category: National Parks & Monuments

  • Johnston Canyon [Banff, Alberta, Canada]

    Johnston Canyon [Banff, Alberta, Canada]

    Visiting Johnston Canyon is a must for any visit to Banff. It’s accessible year-round, and the frozen hanging icicles, stopping time in their tracks is a worthy winter destination. Another bonus about visiting this destination is that it’s an easy to moderate hike with multiple features— Lower Falls, Upper Falls, Ink-pots, and the Secret Cave. […]

  • Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park & Mesa Verde National Park [West & Central Colorado]

    Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park & Mesa Verde National Park [West & Central Colorado]

    During the month of October, I was sent back to Utah for work. During the free weekend, Kelli & I went on a quick road trip to West/Central Colorado to check out a couple new national parks (Hikes 39 & 40). Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park This quiet national park is not to […]

  • Sheep Lake [Hike 36/52]

    Sheep Lake [Hike 36/52]

    Distance: 3.6 miles, roundtrip Elevation Gain: 400 feet Pass: Northwest Forest Pass Hiked: 9.30.18 I loved this easy, fall hike! With the colors popping all around us, I wanted to get out and enjoy them before they were gone. In Utah, it’s mostly aspens putting on the show, so there are a lot of yellows. […]

  • Naches Peak Loop [Hike 30/52]

    Naches Peak Loop [Hike 30/52]

    Distance: 3.2 miles, roundtrip Elevation Gain: 600 feet Pass: Northwest Forest Pass OR National Parks Pass (depending on where you park) Hiked: 8.5.19 Wildflower, views and lush mountainsides are my favorite kind of hikes. Remember when I went wildflower hunting in Utah? I just love seeing a sea of color dotting the mountainside. Naches Peak […]

  • Cape Flattery [Hike 26/52]

    Cape Flattery [Hike 26/52]

    Distance: 1.5 miles, roundtrip Gain: 200 ft. Pass: Makah Recreation Pass Hiked 7.1.18 Halfway! I finally got to visit the most northwestern point in the contiguous US. It definitely lives up to its name: Cape Flattery. It’s managed by the Makah Tribe, so be sure to grab a permit at the Museum or grocery store within […]

  • Hurricane Hill (Olympic National Park) [Hike 25/52]

    Hurricane Hill (Olympic National Park) [Hike 25/52]

    Distance: 3.2 miles, roundtrip Gain: 650 ft. Pass: National Parks Pass Hiked 7.1.18 Kelli came to visit, which was a perfect excuse to get out to the Olympic peninsula and do some hiking. We woke up too early, drove for a few hours, did 2 hikes (#25 and #26—halfway!!), visited the most NW point in the […]

  • Thunder Knob & Diablo Lake Overlook [Hike 22/52]

    Thunder Knob & Diablo Lake Overlook [Hike 22/52]

    Distance: 3.6 miles Elevation Gain: 600 feet Pass: None Hiked: 6.10.18 I’m sure you’ve seen photos on Pinterest of Diablo Lake. I knew that when Erica told me she was visiting, it was something we needed make a trip to go see. Diablo Lake is absolutely stunning. This was also my first time in North […]

  • Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend & Grand Canyon

    Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend & Grand Canyon

    After Day 1: Goblin Valley State Park & Natural Bridges National Monument, we woke up early enough to catch breakfast at the hotel, grabbed some coffee and gas, and hit the road towards Page, Arizona. When we were planning this trip, Kelli wanted to go south instead of north so we had less of a chance of […]

  • Goblin Valley State Park & Natural Bridges National Monument

    Goblin Valley State Park & Natural Bridges National Monument

    A couple weeks ago, I went on a girls’ weekend trip with my friend Kelli to Southern Utah and Arizona. I got to do one of the coolest adventures I’ve been on, including Antelope Canyon, and see some new red rock spots! It was a fantastic weekend. On Friday, we began our drive south. Since […]

  • Joshua Tree National Park & Palm Springs in 24 Hours

    Joshua Tree National Park & Palm Springs in 24 Hours

    If you follow me on social media, you may have noticed that a few weeks ago a new dog started popping up in my photos— a beautiful husky named Mika! And before you ask, we have not adopted a new dog. We are long-term dog-sitting my brother in law’s husky while he moves to NYC […]