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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.

Hiking & Backpacking

More Gems

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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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...

Hike to Arch of Triumph, Star Gap Arch & Skyview Arch in Red River Gorge

A fantastic day hike through a semi-secluded part of Kentucky's Red River Gorge. Featuring the stunning Star Gap Arch and the elusive...

Hike to Rainbow Point in Red River Gorge

This is an easy day hike that also makes for a fantastic short overnight backpacking trip, with beautiful cliff views, incredible sunset...

Hike to Indian Cave in Kodachrome Basin State Park

Southern Utah's Kodachrome Basin State Park offers a variety of excellent hiking trails, including the short, scenic walk to Indian Cave....

Hike the Queens Garden & Navajo Loop in Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park, renowned for its surreal rock formations known as hoodoos, offers a unique and stunning hiking experience....

Hike to the Da Vinci Panel

The Da Vinci Panel is an intriguing petroglyph site located in the Beaver Dam Mountains Wilderness, between Littlefield, Arizona, and St....

Hike Willis Creek Narrows

Willis Creek Narrows is a stunning slot canyon located in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The canyon showcases narrow,...

Hike to the Circle of Friends Pictograph Panel

The Circle of Friends pictograph panel, also known as the Circle of Life panel, is a fascinating rock art site near Escalante, Utah. It...

Hike to the 100 Hands Pictograph Panel

The 100 Hands pictograph panel in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument offers a wonderful day hike that culminates in an amazing...

Hike to Brandywine Falls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Formed by Brandywine Creek, a significant tributary of the Cuyahoga River, the 60-foot Brandywine Falls is the tallest waterfall in...

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...