Cathedral Gorge State Park is an underrated and remote park in southern Nevada filled with tall spires, slot canyons, and a ridge of “badland” type formations. I loved exploring this super secluded park full of beauty and wonder. Cathedral Gorge is just a couple hours from Las Vegas and southern Utah so you can easily…
Many people don’t realize that between the glitzy Las Vegas and the epic national parks of Utah and Arizona is an often underrated and overlooked Nevada State Park: Valley of Fire. Valley of Fire State Park is truly one of the most stunning, jaw-dropping places I’ve visited in the southwest United States—and I’ve traveled all…
Joshua Tree National Park is named for its most iconic feature: the Joshua tree. These unusual plants grow primarily within the Mojave Desert in southern California and Nevada, with a small range extending into western Arizona. The park contains an estimated 879,000 Joshua trees, and as you drive through, you’ll often see hills and valleys…
Death Valley National Park is a place of extremes. Located in eastern California, right along the Nevada border, it’s officially the hottest place on Earth, holding the world record for the highest air temperature ever recorded at 134°F (57°C). It’s also the driest place in the United States, averaging only about two inches of rain…
Tucked away in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park is an exciting hike to one of the most insanely epic arches in the entire state of Utah. Yes, I’ve done Delicate Arch. Yes, Druid Arch *might* even be better (but really, it’s not a competition—they’re both amazing!) Canyonlands is the least visited National Park…
Exploring the best slot canyons in the Southwest is one of my favorite things and has led to some incredible hiking experiences. Truly, these are some of the most visually stunning and geologically fascinating landscapes in the United States. Plus – who can deny that exploring a slot canyon just feels like a great adventure??…
Canyonlands National Park is one of the most unique and awe-inspiring landscapes in the United States. Located in southeast Utah, close to Arches National Park and not far from Goblin Valley State Park and Capitol Reef National Park, this desert park offers visitors the opportunity to explore dramatic canyons, towering mesas, and iconic sandstone formations…
This national park is an incredible destination, but not for the usual reasons that a national park is famous. While it does have mountains, vistas, and trails, the main focus of Mesa Verde National Park (located in southwest Colorado) is jaw-dropping human achievements – hundreds of dwellings constructed in small cracks in the middle of…
Swamps don’t usually make most people’s travel lists—but this isn’t just any swamp. Mysterious, massive, and full of life, this place feels like something out of another world… The Okefenokee Swamp is one of the most unique natural environments in the United States. Spanning 630 square miles (nearly half a million acres), the Okefenokee National…
Outside of the popular Arizona destinations like the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, and Sedona are a whole host of other incredible places just waiting to be discovered… For me, Petrified Forest National Park is the literal definition of a hidden gem (in more ways than one!). First off, it truly does feel actually…