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Road Trips

Eight Extraordinary Days in Montana's Glacier National Park

Often referred to at the Crown of the Continent, Glacier National Park is a world unto itself. Spread over more than one million acres of...

Eight Days in Oregon: Waterfalls & Redwoods

The state with the second most waterfalls in the country, topped only by it's neighbor to the north, Oregon is a truly magical place. ...

Eleven Incredible Days In Colorado

I went solo on this trip in late June and it turned out to be one of my favorite trips to Colorado over the last half dozen or so years....

A Weekend In Kentucky's Red River Gorge

In the heart of Kentucky's Daniel Boone National Forest lies a 400-million year-old canyon system known as Red River Gorge Geological...

Ten Days in Southern Utah: The Mighty Five & Beyond

If there is one state that looks and feels like a different planet, it's Utah. It's wild landscapes and soaring rock formations are...

Eight Unforgettable Days in Arizona & New Mexico

Arizona, one of America's most colorful states with its stunning red peaks, golden hills, and psychedelic sunsets. Home to one of the...

About

I'm Dan, the guy behind Great American Hikes. Other than dogs, my passions are hiking, backpacking, rock climbing and any travel that connects me with the outdoors. I'm also a bit of a history dork.

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Backpack the Cirque of the Towers Loop in Wyoming's Wind River Range

Widely regarded as one of North America's premier backpacking trails, the Cirque of the Towers loop in Wyoming's Wind River Range treats...

Backpack the Teton Crest Trail in Grand Teton National Park

Nestled in the heart of the rugged Teton Range, the Teton Crest Trail offers one of the most breathtaking hiking experiences in the...

Hike to Grandfather Mountain's Cessna 182Q Skylane N735MB Crash Site

Experience stunning ridgeline views, picturesque forest scenery, and uncover the remnants of a tragic 1970s plane crash as you hike...

Hike to the Black Mountain Crest 182H Skylane N2350X Crash Site

Enjoy panoramic ridgeline views, discover remnants of a 1970s plane crash, and ascend to the summit of the second tallest peak in the...

Hike to Lone Eagle Peak in Indian Peaks Wilderness

Undoubtedly among Colorado's best day hikes, the trek to Mirror and Monarch Lakes is nothing short of remarkable. Winding through thick...

Visit the Sachem: The Ghost Ship of the Ohio River

What connects Thomas Edison to Presidents Warren G Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and pop-singer Madonna? Look no further than the Sachem, one...

The Mummies of Mammoth Cave

For thousands of years, the caves in the Mammoth Cave region served as a source of valuable mineral deposits for Native Americans....

Hiking to the N28901 Plane Crash Site in Cranberry Wilderness

On the morning of November 28, 1995, Colin Campbell, a 31-year-old pilot employed by Casey Industries, embarked on a flight from Braxton...

Exploring Ohio's Hopewell Culture National Historical Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site

More than two millennia ago, long before the first Europeans ever set foot on the continent, Native Americans built thousands of...

Hiking to Sharp Top Mountain's B-25 Bomber Crash Site

Enjoy a sensational sunrise, discover the remains of a 1943 B-25 bomber, and get in some light scrambling on a moderately strenuous day...

Discover the Enigmatic Comet Thrower Pictograph

Nestled in the depths of Hell Roaring Canyon, just outside of Canyonlands National Park's Island in the Sky District, lies one of the...

Uncovering the Hidden Treasures of Salt Creek Canyon: A Backpacker's Dream Come True

For hikers with a passion for exploring ancient Native American ruins and rock art, embarking on a backpacking journey through Utah's...

Hiking into the Past: Exploring Horseshoe Canyon in Canyonlands National Park

Nestled within a detached unit of Canyonlands National Park, Horseshoe Canyon showcases arguably the most remarkable ancient rock art...

Unveiling the Elusive Solstice Snake: Moab's Best Kept Secret

Nestled deep within the Behind the Rocks WIlderness Study Area lies one of North America's most remarkable rock art sites. Crafted during...

Backpacking the Blue Ridge Parkway: Dobie & Humpback Mountain Plane Crash Sites

An overnight multi-trail loop backpack leading to two separate plane crash sites just south of Shenandoah National Park. Escape the...

Hike to Sedona's Birthing Cave

The history of the Birthing Cave is one that is steeped in legend and tradition. According to local lore, for generations the cave was...

Hike to Pennsylvania's Piper Cherokee N32777 Crash Site

A stone's throw from downtown Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, on the rocky slope of Bald Eagle Mountain, rests the remains of a 1986 plane...

How to Get to Utah's Marlboro Point

Home to Canyonlands and Arches National Parks, Moab, Utah is certainly no stranger to spectacular sunrise spots. Canyonlands' Mesa Arch...

Hike West Virginia's North Fork Mountain to Chimney Top

If you've never heard of the North Fork Mountain to Chimney Top hiking trail you're missing out. What might be the best hike in the...

Explore Arizona's Apache Death Cave

Along Old Route 66 in the tiny ghost town of Two Guns, Arizona, twenty minutes west of Winslow and a stone's throw from Meteor Crater...

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Visit Ohio's Junction & Steel Earthworks

Located amid the scenic landscapes of Chillicothe, Ohio, the ancient Junction and Steel Earthworks continue to fascinate the minds of...

Hike Cascade Canyon in Grand Teton National Park

Hiking Cascade Canyon in Grand Teton National Park is an unforgettable experience, offering a perfect blend of breathtaking landscapes...

Hike to Delta, Surprise & Amphitheater Lakes in Grand Teton National Park

One of the top day hikes in Grand Teton National Park, the trek to Delta, Surprise, and Amphitheater Lakes provides hikers with...

Backpack the Cirque of the Towers Loop in Wyoming's Wind River Range

Widely regarded as one of North America's premier backpacking trails, the Cirque of the Towers loop in Wyoming's Wind River Range treats...

Backpack the Teton Crest Trail in Grand Teton National Park

Nestled in the heart of the rugged Teton Range, the Teton Crest Trail offers one of the most breathtaking hiking experiences in the...

Hike to Rapidan Camp: President Hoover's Rustic Retreat

Tucked away within the lush landscapes of Shenandoah National Park lies a hidden gem of American history: Rapidan Camp. Once the rustic...

Backpack Rocky Mount & Gap Run in Shenandoah National Park

A much less traveled loop in Shenandoah National Park's South District, the 9.5 mile Rocky Mount & Gap Run Loop offers sweeping panoramas...

Backpack to Hanson's Point & Gray's Arch in Red River Gorge

An incredible overnight backpacking loop in Red River Gorge offering near 360-degree panoramas from Hanson's Point, arguably the area's...

Self Discovery Tour in Mammoth Cave National Park

Featuring some of the largest cave rooms in Mammoth Cave, as well as numerous artifacts left behind by prehistoric Native Americans and...

Extended Historic Tour in Mammoth Cave National Park

Journey through the depths of history with the Extended Historic Tour in Mammoth Cave National Park. This immersive experience takes you...

Violet City Lantern Tour in Mammoth Cave National Park

The Violet City Lantern Tour, arguably one of the most intriguing experiences at Mammoth Cave National Park, guides visitors through some...

Backpack the Mount Rogers & Grayson Highlands Loop

An excellent overnight or multi-day loop through one of the most scenic areas in Virginia. The route leads hikers to the summit of Mount...

Plane Crash Hikes

The following is an evolving list of plane crash hikes in the Northeast and Southeast, each with a brief description, location, and links...

Backpack the Big Beechy/Middle Fork Loop in Cranberry Wilderness

A good beginner backpacking loop in the heart of West Virginia's Cranberry Wilderness, one of the largest designated wilderness areas...

Hike to the USAF C-45 Plane Crash Site in Laurel Fork Wilderness

An easy-going day hike with a small amount of off trail navigation leading to the wreckage of a US Air Force C-45 that crashed into...

Backpack the Cranberry Wilderness North South Loop

In the heart of the West Virginia's Yew Mountains rests the largest Forest Service wilderness area in the eastern United States,...

Great Onyx Lantern Tour in Mammoth Cave National Park

Experience Mammoth Cave as if you've stepped back in time to the 1800s with the Great Onyx Lantern Tour at Mammoth Cave National Park....

Hike to Yahoo Falls & Yahoo Arch

Explore the unspoiled beauty of the Daniel Boone National Forest and towering rock formations on a hike leading to one of Kentucky's...

Hike to Pine Island Double Falls

Pine Island Double Falls, arguably one of the most scenic waterfalls in the Bluegrass State, forms as two distinct streams merge and...

Hike to Grandfather Mountain's Cessna 182Q Skylane N735MB Crash Site

Experience stunning ridgeline views, picturesque forest scenery, and uncover the remnants of a tragic 1970s plane crash as you hike...