Category: USA
Grand Canyon NP (All the way to the bottom)

Grand Canyon NP (All the way to the bottom)

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All the Way to the Bottom

It is a place that needs no introduction! It is a world-famous natural wonder that truly earns all the rave reviews about its majestic and grandeur landscape. It is the Grand Canyon!! This stunning place is perhaps the most recognized landmark of the Wild Wild West. Even if you are not an adventurous person, you have to visit this out-of-the-world place at least once in your lifetime, and it will take your breath away.

I first visited the Grand Canyon NP, in my younger days, in 2008. At the time, I wasn’t the experienced hiker/adventure that I’m today and it didn’t even cross my mind that I can hike down the canyon, all the way to the mighty Colorado river. During that trip, I did a self-driving day trip to witness this stunning place with my own eyes, and it didn’t disappoint. In that trip, I planned a road trip along the south rim’s all viewpoints and had the time of my life, without really doing any adventurous stuff; so that is why I urge you to go visit this place even if you don’t fancy hiking down the canyon.

Fast forward 7 years, and in 2015 after a lot of hiking adventures around the World, I decided that I’m ready to tackle this seemingly impossible feat and hike all the way to the bottom of the canyon and, of course, hike back up:).

When attempting such a difficult hike, preparation, both physically and logistically, is the key to its success, as any mistake might lead to serious injury or even death. So, before getting into the hikes themselves (up & down), I’ll first go through the major planning items that you need to consider before you decide to go down and you can do all On Your Own!

The first thing you need to plan is when to do this hike? There are two options here: summer, which is more popular, and winter. Although the summer heat is the number one killer when hiking up from the river, there are some advantages that come with hiking in the summer. First, there are water sources along the major trails, up and down the canyon, which means that you don’t need to carry all your water from the beginning and can be a lifesaver. Second, the weather at night is warm so no need to carry a heavy sleeping bag or even a tent as you can sleep under the stars. Yet, you have to be aware of the heat, its no joke, and time your hike up perfectly to avoid the hottest hours of the day. On the other hand, in the winter, obviously, heat becomes less of a problem and the hike becomes a bit easier. Also, as it is less popular, it’ll be easier to get the permit to spend the night down. However, there won’t be any water sources along the trails as the supply is shut down, so you have to carry all your water for 2 days with you from the beginning! Also, you’ll need a tent and a heavy sleeping bag as it gets cold at night and this adds to the weight that you are carrying. So, assess your abilities and decide which season is better for you…we did winter:)

After deciding on when to hike, now its time to get your permit. You can’t hike all the way to the Colorado river and back in the same day, its not allowed and rangers along the trails will send you back up. You can’t also camp anywhere along the river as this is a fragile environment and the number of campers allowed per night is limited and controlled by the NP. Hence, you have to get a permit which comes with a camping spot reservation. The process of getting the permit is straightforward, but its in high demand, even in the off-season. Also, you can get this permit neither online nor in advance, so you have to go to the park’s backcountry office the day before your planned hike and get your permit. The permit system is based on first come first served, so you have to go very early to be one of the first people there when the office opens at 8am.

Got your permit! Now its time to plan your supplies. This is a very strenuous and long hike up, so you’ll need plenty of food, water, and drinks to give you energy along the way i.e. both salty and sweet snacks. But remember! You’ll have to carry all this stuff on your back, so, don’t overdo it and pack food that doesn’t take much space. Fruits are also important as they are highly nutritious and gives you a much-needed psychological boost when you are tired. You can find the detailed list of my packing items here (click to request info).     

Hopefully, by now you’ve planned everything and ready for this adventure of a lifetime…so lets start:)

There are a number of trails that go all the way to the bottom of the canyon from the South Rim, so study all the trails (their length & slope) and chose yours carefully. Since I did this hike in the winter, the water sources were not a factor in my decision, and I chose to hike down via the South Kaibab Trail and up via the Bright Angel Trail.

I decided to hike down via the South Kaibab Trail as it is the shortest trail which means it is the steepest and will be tough going up; yet, going down, it is an adventurous trail as in many places you’ll be hiking around cliffs with amazing views of the river. The trail is 7 miles with an elevation difference of -1,457m and takes around 4-6 hours to reach the river. On the day of our adventure down, we took the hikers’ express shuttle from the backcountry office at 9am (latest) to the South Kaibab Trailhead. This is a dedicated shuttle bus for backcountry hikers and you’ve to show your permit before you board. Now we are at the trailhead and the adventure will begin…any last thoughts about going through with the hike have to be dealt with here:) Ready!! Take a souvenir pic & go:) 

The first part of the trail will take you in a zigzag section through some steps and you’ll lose elevation quickly.

I’ve to admit that with every step, fear starts to creep into you as, unlike mountain hikes, after a certain point, you just can’t turn back and abandon the hike! As you venture deeper into the canyon, more and more amazing views of this stunning landscape unveil themselves to you.

The trail will get steeper and windier after about an hour of hiking, so, be careful with every step you take and always take your time while hiking down.

At this point, you start to realize the grandeur of this canyon and that you are now deep into this wilderness with no people around and you’ll stop thinking about any doubts you previously had as your adrenaline will be pumping and all you care about is reaching the mighty Colorado river. Yet, at this point, you still didn’t see the river! However, the first sight of this mighty river will give you goosebumps and a feeling that can’t be described.

Here, conflicting feelings will creep into you… you are getting closer to your goal, yet you are getting further from your final destination! But keep going…you’re born for this.

Now the trail will get flatter and you’ll keep getting amazing views of the river as you go further down…so, enjoy and abandon your fears.

 

Finally, you’ll reach the river and the bottom of the Grand Canyon…it is a very surreal feeling and the degree of humbleness that you’ll feel in this grand landscape is beyond belief. When you reach the river, go to your campground and pitch your tent. Now its time to relax and enjoy.

When night falls, you’ll start realizing the extent of the task ahead of you tomorrow to get out of this canyon…its scary, and like it is written on the signs along the trail “going down is optional, up is mandatory!” My advice to you, distract yourself from these thoughts by keeping yourself entertained and have trust in your abilities and planning skills…So have a good night’s sleep and get yourself ready for the big day.

Hopefully, you’ll wake up refreshed, have a good breakfast, and pack your camping gear and get yourself ready. As I mentioned earlier, I took the Bright Angel Trail up as, although it is longer, its less steep and easier to hike up. Also, this is a popular trail for day hikers who hike down to a certain point and back, which means that near the end of the trail, when you are tired, there will be people around and help will be quicker in case you needed it. So, lets start getting out of this wilderness and my advice to you….Take Your Time…and don’t over exhaust yourself at the beginning by being too eager to go up.

The first steps on your way up, the adrenaline will be pumping as you’ll be scared of what lies ahead, but this part is easy and goes along the river.

Then, the trail will turn left, away from the river, and you’ll start your long way up. From this point, its all Up:) but not so steep. Also, this trail has some vegetation around it which is a welcome sight from the desolate desert landscape.

I know in this part, tiredness and doubt will creep into you, but keep going and always keep hydrated and charge your energy by whatever trail mix you packed with you. In the middle of all of this, don’t forget to look back as this is where the amazing views of the canyon are.

Continue going up and take as many rests as you need, but be wary of your timing as you don’t want to hike up in the dark. Also, it will help if you kept your spirits high by singing or doing whatever cheers you:)

Over the last mile, you’ll start meeting the day hikers and they will look at you in awe which will make you realize the extent of the achievement that you just did.

The last part of the trail is a zigzag section and it can be grueling especially that by now you’ll be completely drained. However, at this point, you’ll start seeing the rim above you and the end of this adventure, which will be enough to give the last needed boost to keep going. You are almost there and when you reach the final step up, savor this precious moment, enjoy, and treat yourself to a nice meal:)

  
Zion Canyon National Park

Zion Canyon National Park

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Zion Canyon National Park

One of the most iconic national parks in the wild wild west is Zion Canyon NP in southern Utah. Dramatic landscape and a deep canyon carved by the North Fork of the Virgin River provides scenery that is out of this world.

Of course, no trip to the wild west is complete without true adventures and no place can do adventures like Zion NP and all On Your Own! You can spend an entire lifetime here and still you wouldn’t be able to explore the entire beauty of this park. The extensive hiking trails in Zion NP, whether day hikes or backcountry ones, will take you to places that you wouldn’t have imagined that they exist.

But be warned!! This isn’t a land for the fainthearted and any hike here should be well planned in advance. In the next blog posts, I’ll first show you an introductory hike that will get you acquainted with this park before we endeavor into 2 of the wildest & most iconic hikes that you can find anywhere in our planet:)

Hike 1: Emerald Pools

Hike 2: Angels Landing

Hike 3: The Narrows
The Narrows (Zion NP)

The Narrows (Zion NP)

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The Narrows (Zion NP)

If you think that you’ve seen it all, wait till you hike The Narrows!! Technically, the adventure into The Narrows is more of wading in waters rather than hiking, as 60% of it will be in the Virgin River! And the landscape you’ll encounter during this adventure is truly out-of-this-world. Add to that that this adventure will take you off-the-beaten-path in one of the busiest NPs in the entire US, so the feelings and experience of exploring such a unique place, On Your Own, are priceless.

Most people will only venture to the entrance of The Narrows by hiking the easy 1-mile paved Riverside walk from the Temple of Sinawava, unaware, or not adventurous enough, that they only got a faint glimpse of what lies ahead.

This means that this adventure is not for everyone, especially if done in the springtime, as I did. There are risks of flash flooding and hypothermia that you might face. In the spring, the snow is still melting, which mixes with the Virgin River water in The Narrows, so the water is freezing and the weather can change suddenly leading to risks of rain and flash flooding. So don’t attempt to undertake this adventure unless you are very well prepared!

The first step of your preparation is that you’ve to consult with the rangers at the visitor center the day before your planned adventure about the risks of flash flooding. They’ve all the necessary information that will allow you to make an informed decision. If the risk is low, then you still have to avoid the risk of hypothermia as you’ll walk in a freezing waters, in some sections it’ll be knee-high, for more than 4 hours.

Your normal gear won’t cut the chase here, evern if you use waterproof gear, you still need something like a drysuit to insulate the cold; so, you’ll need special gear from head to toe! (for details on the gear you need click to request info). Luckily, you don’t have to buy them as there is an outfitter in Springdale, UT who rent out this gear and they are reliable (click to request info). So, prearrange your gear, and on your planned day to hike The Narrows, pick them up in the morning and get ready to embark on an adventure of a lifetime!!

As I mentioned earlier, the access to this adventure is after hiking the Riverside Walk. So, park your car at the Temple of Sinawava parking lot and don’t put on your gear yet, hike this trail to the mouth of The Narrows first.

Now it is time to gear up and getting ready to venture away from the crowd On Your Own

The total length of this adventure is about 3.6 miles (1-way) of hiking, rock hopping, and wading in the water inside a narrow gorge and splendid sandstone formations, till reaching Big Spring as you are not allowed to continue further on a day hike and without a permit; however, this is, by all means, not an easy 3.6 miles to navigate.

At the start of the adventure, the water level will be very low and even some sections will be dry, but you’ll start to get an idea of this special terrain and landscape. The first section will take you to an area called Narrow Alcove. In this section, you’ll have to continuously hop on the rocks to find your way around the fast running waters. It is fun, yet not to be underestimated.

With every step, the water level will get higher, making your experience more adventurous and unique.

When you reach the Narrow Alcove, there will be a small beach on the side where you can rest and take a break.

Right after the beach, the gorge will get narrower and narrower, and you’ll feel that you are on a different planet!

This section till the Grotto Alcove is the easiest of all sections and, in some areas, it gets wider and the water will be peacefully still.

Now, and after 1.6 miles, the highlight of The Narrows begins. Right after the Grotto Alcove, the narrowest part of the entire Narrows, called Wall Street, begins. This is the section for which you saw pictures in famous websites and thought that they were photoshopped as you couldn’t imagine someone can access this area:) The gorge here becomes so narrow and, in some areas, only 20-feet wide!

At the beginning of Wall Street, there is a detour to your right to Orderville Canyon which is a scary even narrower tributary of the Virgin river that isn’t for the faint hearted. Even if it looks scary from its entrance, try to, at least, venture a couple of hundred feet inside and back to experience this wild place.

No words can describe the Wall Street section…the curvy sandstone formations, the clear water, and the narrow gorge, gives it all a feel of exclusivity and eeriness that makes you feel unique and privileged. In some sections the water is shallow.

And it gets deeper and deeper in others

But in all sections, it is a landscape that will make you appreciate the beauty of our stunning planet

The wall street section ends about half a mile before Big Spring, the gorge will get wider and you’ll feel that you are back to life:)

Continue your way to Big Spring, have your picnic and rest and get ready for heading back and more adventures:)  

Angel’s Landing (Zion NP)

Angel’s Landing (Zion NP)

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Angel’s Landing Hike (Zion NP)

I have to admit, this must be the scariest hike that I’ve ever did!! It needs strong courage and belief in your abilities to be able to navigate the last part of this crazy trail! but the reward is the iconic view over the entire Zion canyon that only few can reach. It is a hike that truly captures the essence of the Wild Wild west; and as always…you can do it On Your Own!

To access this hike, you’ve to first start by hiking the strenuous West Rim trail till you reach Scout lookout. If you are here for this hike only, then you can access the West Rim trail from the Grotto parking lot; however, I combined this hike with the Emerald Pools hike so it was longer but with added rewards. So, following on from the Emerald Pools hike blog, I’ll take you in this blog through this amazing and unforgettable hike.

Coming down from the Upper Emerald Pools, you’ll merge with the Kayenta trail instead of heading back to your car. This is a moderate 1-mile trail that will mark the start of your endless uphill journey to Angel’s Landing:) The trail first starts gently along the North Fork of the Virgin river.

Then will start climbing up till you reach the junction with the West Rim trail. At this point you would have gained 150ft of elevation and, looking back, the bird’s eye views of the valley will start to unfold.

Now you’ll start the real hike, or shall I call it…the battle! From here you’ll continuously hike uphill on the West Rim trail. You’ll need every breath with every step you take, so take your time and use the opportunity to admire the views along the way…Behind You!

After around half a mile, you would have gained a considerable elevation by now; and looking back towards the rive and the snaking trail, you’ll realize how high up you are! The views here are a glimpse of what awaits you during the rest of your adventure, but they are outright amazing.

Take your breath and continue hiking up! Your muscles will start to ache by now, but also the adrenaline will be pumping:) The trail will continue along the rim for another mile or so before the start of the switchbacks to Scout landing, so take a break here and admire those yet more amazing views.

The landscape here is a true reflection of the Wild West with rocky desert terrain, a deep canyon carved by a mighty river, and cactus trees dotting the landscape.

Now you are close to Scout landing, only half a mile, but it is all uphill through endless switchbacks.

The switchbacks will take you away from the river and deep into the rocky rim that will give you a feeling of a wanderer:)

Finally, you’ll reach Scout landing after gaining an elevation of almost 1,400ft. At this point, the views are magnificent enough to make you wonder wait more can possibly await you! You are now almost at the top of the west rim of the canyon and you can see all the way down to the bottom of it.

And this is the road that you drove on!!

You can also see both sides of the canyon from here which gives you a stunning 360 degrees panoramic views.

Now its time to take a long rest and have your lunch because what awaits you is a completely different animal! You only have half a mile left to hike with approximately 90ft of elevation gain till you reach Angel’s landing, but this is not what should concern you here…what should is the trail itself!!

Take a close look at this picture!

Yes, you’ll hike on that trail and On Your Own!! So, you’ve a big decision to make! You should trust your abilities, but also know your limitations as fatalities are not uncommon here! So take your time, assess the trail and the weather, and decide if you want to continue or not…and, if you need any encouragement… I spent almost an hour at Scout landing trying to make a decision! I kept peaking at the trail, hike few yards and back, and thinking will I be able to do it! But, at the end, I gathered all the courage that I have and decided to go for it…and I’m glad I did. My advice to you when doing this part of the hike is to take your time, watch every step you take, use the guardrails and chains installed, don’t get distracted by the views, forget about taking pictures here:( and above all…NEVER LOOK DOWN!! And remember you have to come back the same way!

The start of the Angel’s landing trail will be on a slippery rock face. After this initial hurdle, you’ll feel a bit secure as, although the trail gets very narrow, it is not exposed from both sides. But this is the last of such comfort feeling which explains why I was happy in these pictures (took on my way back), and why these are the last pictures that I took:) I’ve to admit, I was scared to death and being a solo hiker, self-timer pictures aren’t an option here:)

  

It took me nearly an hour to navigate this trail and, lucky me, it wasn’t that windy. At some sections, I felt that I want to go back, but I couldn’t turn as the trail is so narrow, so my only option was to go forward and gather all the courage I have and trust my abilities.

I can’t describe the feeling when I reached this magical spot and because it took me so long to come here, I was alone which is an added bonus! It is so surreal, scary, and peaceful st the same time. So enjoy this unforgettable moment and take as long as you like…you did something really tough and you deserve this reward.

One last advice… don’t get a false sense of security on your way back and say to yourself that it’ll be easy as you did it before! Yes, it will be easier, but never easy. So, take the same precautions on your way back till you reach Scout landing…at this point youcan start dancing if you want:)

 
Emerald Pools Hike (Zion NP)

Emerald Pools Hike (Zion NP)

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Emerald Pools Hike (Zion NP)

This is an introductory hike to this amazing wild park. It’ll give you an idea about the dramatic landscape here and how tough the terrain is…so lets begin!

This hike is a combination of 2 different trails that will take you to these majestic pools while passing along seasonal waterfalls along the way. The first hike is the easy 0.6mi Lower Emerald Pool trail which will then be combined with the moderately strenuous 0.5mi Upper Emerald Pool trail.

Entering the park from its main entrance near Springdale, UT, you’ll start driving along the Zion Canyon scenic drive. Take your time driving this scenic road as you are now entering the bottom of a massive canyon carved by the mighty forces of nature. Almost halfway through the drive, you’ll reach the Emerald Pools area where you’ll park your car and start your adventure (click to request info).

From the parking lot, you’ll start your hike by crossing the river and hike along the sheer rocky cliffs of Zion canyon. The rock formations are dramatic and, depending on the season, there will be small waterfalls all along the way dripping above your head…so prepare to get wet:)

 After crossing the river, the trail will start travelling uphill, but it is not steep, and as you hike along the cliffs, some sections will become very narrow. Here you’ll get a real feeling of how small humans are when standing next to these massive cliffs…its is an amazingly humbling feeling.

 

After about 0.4 miles, you’ll hike up some stairs that will lead you to the Lower Emerald Pools.

If you are here in late spring when the snow has melted, the pools will be full and deep, I was there in early spring so they weren’t that full as some of the snow has not melted yet.

However, standing at these pools surrounded by the massive rocky cliffs is a scene to remember.

From here, you’ll turn left and merge with the Upper Emerald Pool trail. It gets tougher from here as the trail will start going uphill.

As you hike along this trail, you’ll get closer and closer to the cliffs and the small waterfalls will continue dripping above you so be careful…it can be slippery.

Finally, reaching the upper pools signals the end of the trail and the views around you will be breathtaking.

The entire hike should take maximum 45 minutes, so its time to retrace your steps back along the Upper Emerald Pool trail, but at the junction with the Lower Pools trail don’t head back as this will be the start of the famously crazy Angel’s Landing hike…so get ready:)

 

Carriage Roads Bike Tour (Acadia NP)

Carriage Roads Bike Tour (Acadia NP)

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Carriage Roads Bike Tour (Acadia NP)

Acadia NP has an extensive network of carriage roads that was constructed between 1913 and 1940. In total there are 45 miles of carriage roads and 16 stone bridges; and exploring these roads will take you to unchartered areas of the park. Of course, no motor vehicles are allowed on these roads so the best way to explore them is by bike On Your Own. You can either take your bike or rent one from one of the bike shops in Bal Harbor (click to request info).

However, no tour can be done on these roads without a good map; and the nps website has a pretty handy one which I added here and you can download it for free from their website.

As you see from the map, these roads have no names, but each junction is numbered and you can use these numbers as your navigation guide; and they are well signposted in all the roads. Sure thing you can combine any number of roads as you desire according to your time, but in this blog, I designed a particular combination that allowed me to explore the majestic lakes of Acadia NP. This tour is, in total, a 16.4-mile loop and takes around 4-5 hours to complete depending on how many stops you’ll make, which I assure you will be many:) So lets begin!

I rented the bike from Bal Harbor and parked my car there and drove the bike on Duck Brook road till I reached junction #5 which was my starting point.

I first wanted to explore Witch Hole pond so rode my bike from junction #5 to junctions #3, #2 & #4; a total of 2.3 miles. Witch Hole pond is a nice small pond in very peaceful surroundings that will give you a hint of what to come!

During this first part, I passed under some of the stone bridges, and if you are an engineer like me, you’ll truly admire them:)

I was almost alone the entire time which gave me an extra feeling of being a true explorer:)

From junction #4, ride 1.1mi to junction #6 and start the Eagle Lake loop. The start of this loop is from junction #9 which is right after #6 and I rode till junction #7. Eagle lake is out-of-this-world! The serenity in the area, the views, the crystal clear waters, and the pure sunlight makes you feel in heaven…so take your time, get off your bike, and enjoy it to the max.

Along the road there will be small beaches at which you can stop and relax.

Now the adrenaline will be kicking; and the beauty of these carriage roads will make you want to explore further; so gather your stamina and paddle 3.1mi to junction #17. On this leg you’ll bike more on a trail in the forest rather than a carriage road which is a fun experience.

 

Now it is time to go to another magnificent pond which is Jordan pond. From junction #17 bike towards junction #16 for 1.3 miles then onto junctions #15 & #14 which are right after #16. From junction #14, you’ll paddle 2 miles to junction #10 which is the toughest part of the tour as it is an uphill road.

Unlike Eagle Lake, you’ll not be riding next to Jordan Pond, instead the road will give you stunning views of its pure blue water from above.

Take your time, have a picnic, and enjoy the views as after reaching junction #10 you’ll start heading back to your exit. From junction #10, bike 1.9 miles to junction #9 which will take you on the other side of Eagle Lake; and yet more amazing views and absolute serenity.

From here, the end of the tour will be looming, so bike to junction #4 for 1.1mi, then back to your starting point at junction #5 after 1 mile.

I hope you’ll enjoy this tour as I did as these carriage roads are a unique feature of Acadia NP that you’ll not find in any other park around the country…Enjoy!
Beach Mountain Loop (Acadia NP)

Beach Mountain Loop (Acadia NP)

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Beach Mountain Loop (Acadia NP)

The Beach Mountain Loop is a short hike, yet it offers unparalleled views of the unspoiled landscape of New England, especially at sunset. The total length of this loop is 1.3 miles and takes you up Beach mountain at 839 ft in an hour.

The access to the trailhead is not via the Park Loop Road, but you’ve to enter the park via road 233 and drive on Beach Hill Road till you reach the parking lot (click to request info).

The trailhead is right across the parking lot and the trail itself starts in the forest on the trademark rocky terrain of Acadia NP.

After 0.1mi, the trail will fork to form the loop, so it is recommended to take the south trail (on your left) while ascending as it is less steep. After 0.8mi, around 30 minutes, you’ll get above treeline and the panoramic 360 views will unfold all around you! Try to time your ascent to the summit around the sunset for unforgettable experience. So, sit back and enjoy the views and take lots of pictures and try to capture the perfect sunset.

Don’t forget yourself in this serene beautiful landscape as you still want to hike down before dark. This time, take the north trail and it’ll be only 0.5mi till the parking lot.
Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park

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Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is the only national park in Maine and entire the New England region. Although it is one of the smallest parks in the US, Acadia NP boasts stunning natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the US Atlantic coastline.

With 158 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads, Acadia NP offers an abundance of adventure opportunities that will take you to stunning coastlines and picturesque lakes through some of the toughest hiking trails in the country.

You can spend months here without getting enough of this amazing park; however, during my adventure, I did two day hike loops and a bike tour, On My Own, that captivated me and made me fall in love with this park. So get ready and explore with me these amazing adventures.

 

Hike 1: The Bowl loop via Beehive trail

Hike 2: Beach Mountain loop

Biking the Carriage Roads
The Bowl Loop via Beehive Trail (Acadia NP)

The Bowl Loop via Beehive Trail (Acadia NP)

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The Bowl Loop via Beehive Trail (Acadia NP)

Before I visited Acadia NP I read about how scary and tough the Beehive trail is and how some hikers are not able to do it, not because it is tough as much as it is scary, but I said to myself…how scary can it be…it is not a high elevation park! Guess what…It is absolutely scary!

This loop is one of the must-do hikes in Acadia NP as it combines beautiful coastline hiking with forests, cliffs and mountain hiking; and rewards you with stunning views and picturesque lakes. The hike, as most in the US, can be easily done On Your Own, but before venturing into this adventure, you’ve to be armed with a good map, not necessarily a topographic one though (click to request info).

To make this a loop hike, drive on the Park Loop Road and park your car at (click to request info) as you’ll return back to the same spot. This loop combines sections of several trails in an amazing adventure, so let us begin!

In the first part of this loop you’ll hike on the Ocean Path Trail from the parking lot. The trailhead itself is 0.3mi from the parking lot and you’ll walk a bit along the road so be careful. The Ocean Path Trail is a flat rocky trail that hugs the rugged Main coastline. It’ll be a nice introduction to this park as it gives you a glimpse of the views here and an idea about the terrain. Part of the path is shaded in the forests while on some sections you’ll rock scramble along the coast.

After 2.1 miles you’ll reach Sand Beach. At this point, to continue your loop, you’ll have to cross the road again and walk 0.2 miles till you reach The Bowl Trail trailhead. Starting from this point you’ll be hiking up the cliffs and the stunning views will start unveiling themselves to you.

You can take this trail all the way to The Bowl pond, but this isn’t the adventurous way! After only 0.2 miles you’ll find a junction with the Beehive Trail on your right, so follow this trail & be ready for what is coming next:)

For me the Beehive Trail isn’t a hiking trail, it is almost a climbing one! There are even ladders and iron rings installed in some sections to help you to navigate your way up.

From here, my advice to you… “Don’t Look Down” because it is scary! The trail becomes really physically challenging and it’ll take its toll on you, but you’ve to stay strong and take your time because any slip could be fatal.

I’ve to admit, I hiked a lot of trails across the country and some are famous for their difficulty, but the Beehive Trail is a different animal!! It is tough, narrow, high, slippery, and scary; and the views around you will not do you any favors as they’ll continuously distract you. At some sections I couldn’t believe that I’ve to hike that path!! It becomes very narrow and right on the edge with nothing to hold on to!! Yes, it is scary but doable and, believe me, fun. I tried my best to take a picture of myself on this section, but as you can see, I failed because the trail is so narrow and my body is hiding it.

After this hair-rising adventure, the trail will start to widen and in 0.4mi you’ll reach the Beehive rock and be rewarded with amazing views.

 

So time for a well-deserved rest, recharge and take lots of amazing pictures.

After taking your rest continue of the Beehive Trail for 0.2mi till you reach The Bowl pond. This is a very picturesque little pond on the top of the hills and in the middle of the lush green forest…Stunning! 

What tops these stunning views is that you can swim in the pond; however, beware that the water might be very cold; I was there in May and it was freezing, but honestly the adrenaline from the Beehive Trail was still pumping so I had a blast:) Yes, I did feel cold after I was done swimming and you can tell from the next picture as I started layering up:)

When you are ready to continue, take the Bowl South Ridge Trail for 0.2mi after which you’ll connect with the Gorham Mountain Trail. This is a rocky trail (all of the are actually) that will take you to the summit of Gorham mountain at 525ft. It is an easy climb with stunning views in a very peaceful environment.

From here, the rest of the loop will be downhill and start descending via the Gorham Mountain trail for 0.4mi. At this point there is a detour to Cadillac Cliffs Trail. This trail venture away from the Gorham Mountain Trail cutting into the rocks; and then rejoins it after 0.3mi. I highly recommend taking this detour as this trail is an adventure in itself and doesn’t add mileage to the loop. The Cadillac Cliffs Trail will take you through rock tunnels and high cliffs and it is a nice last adrenaline kick before you finish your hike.

 

After rejoining Gorham Mountain trail, it’ll only be 0.2mi till you reach your car…so Congrats, You Made It!!!

This has been one of my most memorable hikes and is a must-do in Acadia NP; and in total it is 5.4mi and should take you around 3-4 hours with stops.
Letchworth State Park

Letchworth State Park

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LETCHWORTH STATE PARK

One of the hidden gems of upstate New York is Letchworth state park & during the fall season this park becomes at its best. In this park you won’t only find amazing fall colors, but you will also be treated by a combination of nature’s best features: a canyon, nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the east, a lazy river, and roaring waterfalls!

The adventure in this park is different, in nature, as it doesn’t involve strenuous physical activities, but its more about an adventurous drive with scenic overlooks coupled with a number of short hikes to amazing views. So, in this blog post I’ll cover a day trip into this stunning park which will reward you with all what you can crave for; albeit, you can extend your trip here at your leisure as there some longer adventurous hikes with some with the best-located campgrounds in the state (click to request info).

Driving southwest from Syracuse, you will first take I-90, afterwards you will have two options to enter the park: The north & south entrances; depending on which entrance, you will take different driving routes (click to request info); however, if you ask for my recommendation I’ll definitely recommend to enter from the north end and drive the park road all the way to the south end for one simple reason: most of the park’s stunning highlights are at the south end so this way you will save the best for last and whenever you think that you saw it all…you will find more amazing sights ahead till you reach the south entrance.

When you enter from the north entrance, you will be greeted by a glimpse of fall colors, not that spectacular though, then the first overlook will be at Mount Morris Dam. If you are into engineering structures, then this overlook might be of interest to you; otherwise, continue driving.

 

Following the park road south, you will start driving away from the Genesee river with not much views to admire till you reach Highbanks recreation area. At Highbanks, you will get a glimpse of what this park has to offer, yet you will feel that these views are inaccessible because the road will continue to bend away from the Genesee which will frustrate you.

 

Driving south all the way to Gardeau, there won’t be much to see and even the drive itself will get a bit boring and you will not even think that there is canyon in this area! But keep driving as it’ll all change soon!

Approaching St. Helena area, the road will become narrower and more winding which will make the drive more adventurous and challenging till you reach the Great Bend area. Now you will, involuntarily, hit the brakes and park at the nearest parking area you will meet as you won’t believe what started to appear next to you! The canyon will get narrower & deeper, the forest thicker, the colors brighter, and the Genesee river meandering its way below you.

 

From this point onwards you will be in heaven!! The Great Bend itself is a sight to admire, how the river carves its way through massive rock cliffs & the force behind the rushing water are ones of nature’s miracles and if the sun is out that day, the reflection of the light on the tree leaves will offer a spectacular display of fall colors.

Starting at the Great Bend, the real adventure begins and, depending on your time, you can either start hiking the 7-mile gorge trail all the way to the south entrance, or combine driving & hiking by continuing your way south and joining the trail for short hikes at your leisure and back to your car for more driving (click to request info). Recommending the latter option, as the drive itself isn’t to be missed, continue your south route and after the Castile entrance you will start getting the views of the lower falls and feel the mist coming from them on your face!

 

Now you don’t have to follow specific trails or itineraries as you will be overwhelmed by all the beauty surrounding you and want to do it all!! So, set yourself free…drive, hike, play, admire, and take pictures, but always remember that you entered from the north entrance & still the best is to come:)

Whether you decided to drive or hike, ditch your car when your reach “Inspiration Point” lookout as from here the hike will be truly inspirational! At this lookout, you will stand face-to-face with the highest falls in the park: the “Middle Falls” with the mist in your face, you will get wet:) and if you were lucky, like me, a rainbow will come out from the bottom of the falls!

 

You will spend here much more time than you planned…I know that:) so be it…you can only see this once! Continue hiking the gorge trail as well as its tributaries to get closer to the falls till you reach the upper falls where you will find a railroad bridge above.

 

These falls are less spectacular, yet looking back at the middle falls will give you another perspective of this amazing SP.

 

I’m sure you won’t want to get out of the park till it is dark, and you shouldn’t! Enjoy every bit of sunlight here because as the sun comes down the colors change, and you want to take more & more pictures. When you are ready to leave, and depending on your destination, you can either head back to the north entrance or go out through the south one…so enjoy & have a safe trip!

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