Rocky Mountain National Park is a place where rugged peaks, alpine lakes, and endless skies meet. Whether you’re hiking to a glacier-fed lake, trying to spot moose, elk, or bighorn sheep, or just soaking in the crisp mountain air, Rocky Mountain National Park is a dream for outdoor lovers. In this guide, I'll share my tips on how to make the most of a short visit to Rocky Mountain National Park, tailored to a visit in late spring or early summer. This itinerary is ideal if you want to experience a little bit of everything — from iconic hikes to wildlife viewing and scenic drives.

Great Basin National Park is Nevada’s only “unshared” national park — unlike Death Valley, which also stretches into California. It’s one of the most remote and least visited parks in the United States. But don’t let the low visitation numbers fool you — Great Basin is packed with natural wonders: from ancient Bristlecone Pines and turquoise alpine lakes to glaciers and sweeping desert views. Imagine hiking through snowy peaks, passing the oldest trees on Earth, then gazing down at a vast desert valley from above. The contrasts are stunning — and totally surreal. If that sounds like your kind of adventure, grab your favorite drink and dive into what makes this hidden gem so special!

What could be more breathtaking than a road trip from California’s rugged Pacific coast across Utah’s deep red deserts to Colorado’s rushing mountain rivers in late spring? Imagine yourself traversing the vast, sun-scorched deserts along the Loneliest Road in America, gazing into the universe under some of the world’s darkest skies, hiking the tallest sand dunes in the Northern Hemisphere, and admiring turquoise alpine lakes while looking down at bone-dry deserts stretching endlessly below. In this article, I’ll take you through my absolute favorite outdoor adventures on a three-week road trip spanning California’s coastline, Utah and Nevada’s wild landscapes, and Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are nestled in the stunning scenery of the Sierra Nevada and are home to the impressive giant sequoias — the largest trees in the entire world. While these incredible trees are reason enough to visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, there’s much more to see—gray granite mountains, waterfalls, abundant wildlife, valleys, or canyons with raging rivers.

Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of the lesser-visited national parks in California, yet it is by no means less beautiful or interesting. In this article, I will share my experience and best tips for hiking from Cold Boiling Lake to Bumpass Hell, where one encounters the awe-inspiring scenery of wildflower meadows, tiny streams, and turquoise lakes, all leading to the largest hydrothermal area in Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Yosemite National Park is beautiful any time of year, but visiting in winter offers a chance to experience a true winter wonderland. If you visit from mid- to late February, you may also witness the phenomenon known as the firefall, when the last rays of sunlight hit Horsetail Fall at just the right angle, making it appear as if fire, rather than water, is falling down. Join me on a snowy hike along the Mist and John Muir Trails to Vernal and Nevada Falls, as well as the attempt to see the firefall. Plus, learn what to know before hitting the icy trails in Yosemite in Winter!

The Twenty Lakes Basin Loop is a stunning hike that begins at Saddlebag Lake and leads you through a series of breathtaking alpine lakes and scenery. Along the way, you'll be treated to impressive views of nearby mountain peaks. In this article, I’ll take you along with me on this hike, which I did in late summer after a particularly snowy winter. The lingering snow patches, which persisted until September, made the hike both tricky in places and exciting.

What was that? It sounded like someone or something broke a bunch of thicker branches and I immedetly knew that it was impossible that a squirrel, a mouse or even a coyote could have caused this. The trail was rather narrow at this point. To my left side, there were thick bushes that were hiding the river down in the valley below us. The sound was so close. It must have come from these bushes! I turned my head to the left and all I could see was fur in the midst of greenery, A LOT of brown fur.