Great American Hikes | Epic Outdoor Adventures

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.

**DISCLAIMER**

This site contains information on sensitive archaeological sites. Please respect all rock art and cultural heritage sites by not touching, disturbing, or defacing any rock art. These sites are sacred, fragile, and irreplaceable. Help preserve them for future generations by observing only and leave no trace.

Hiking & Backpacking

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Backpacking the Needles: A Passage Through Time

The Needles District of Canyonlands National Park is a land of raw, untamed beauty—a labyrinth of towering sandstone spires, deep...

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...

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Parowan Gap: A Journey Through Time with Petroglyphs and Dinosaur Tracks

Starting over a thousand years ago, Native Americans journeying through the area now known as Parowan Gap paused to carve intricate...

Fish Creek Panel: Must-See Rock Art Near Capitol Reef

The Fish Creek Panel, located near Torrey, Utah, is a remarkable collection of ancient rock art comprising both pictographs and...

Visiting the Temple Mountain Pictograph Panel

Visiting the Temple Mountain Pictograph Panel in Utah offers a vivid glimpse into the deep history of the region. Nestled within the...

Hiking to Jeep Arch

Jeep Arch, located just outside of Moab, Utah, is a striking natural sandstone formation named for its resemblance to the outline of a...

Hiking to See Ancient Boobs: The Quest for the Moab Maiden

The Moab Maiden is a fascinating petroglyph etched into a solitary sandstone boulder perched above Kane Springs Creek just outside of...

Hiking the Subway (Bottom-Up) in Zion National Park

Deep within the heart of Zion National Park, hidden among towering cliffs and winding canyons, lies one of the most surreal and...

Crack Canyon: A Hidden Gem in the San Rafael Swell

Hiking Crack Canyon in Utah’s San Rafael Swell is a trek through a rugged and beautiful desert landscape shaped by time and the elements....

The Golden Cathedral: An Iconic Treasure in Grand Staircase-Escalante

Tucked away in the depths of Lower Neon Canyon, Golden Cathedral stands as a masterpiece of nature’s artistry, a place where time, water,...

Fascinating Tales in Stone: Weavers Caves Rock Art

Tucked away in the rugged canyons of eastern Utah, Weavers Caves are a hidden gem that offer a glimpse into the ancient past. The natural...

Lower Calf Creek Falls: The Stunning Desert Oasis Worth Every Step

The hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument isn’t just a walk through the wilderness; it’s an...

Bull Valley Gorge: Where Jeeps Go To Die

Bull Valley Gorge in southern Utah is a place where the earth folds in on itself—narrow, towering, and ancient. The dramatic slot canyon...

Stripes in Stone: A Trip Through Zebra & Tunnel Slot Canyons

Deep in the remote, untamed wilderness of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, where time and water have carved sandstone into...

Through the Squeeze: Hiking Peek-A-Boo & Spooky Slot Canyons

Hiking through Peek-A-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is nothing short of a heart-pounding...

Cosmic Ashtray: The Strangest Sand Pit in Utah

In a land already renowned for its surreal, sculpted wilderness, one formation dares to defy imagination itself—Cosmic Ashtray. Tucked...

Backpacking the Needles: A Passage Through Time

The Needles District of Canyonlands National Park is a land of raw, untamed beauty—a labyrinth of towering sandstone spires, deep...

Hike the Heiroglyphic Trail in the Superstition Mountains

The Hieroglyphic Trail in Arizona's Superstition Mountains combines beautiful Sonora Desert scenery with a glimpse into ancient history....

Hike to Broadway Cave in the Superstition Mountains

Shrouded in legend, the hike to Broadway Cave in Arizona's Superstition Mountains provides stunning views of Apache Junction and the...

Hike Siphon Draw to Flatiron

Arguably the most iconic hike in Arizona's Superstition Mountains, the hike to Flatiron via Siphon Draw offers hikers with unrelenting...

Hike Peralta Canyon to Lone Pine

A great day hike or an even more rewarding overnight backpacking trip, the trek to Lone Pine in Arizona's Superstition Mountains features...

Hike the Fort Hill Earthworks Trail in Rocky River Reservation

The centerpiece of northeast Ohio's Rocky River Reservation, the Fort Hill Earthworks Trail offers hikers beautiful views, challenging...