Mike QuineExplorer

This 14.5 mile (one-way) trek is a multi-functional trail. The trail can serve as standalone trail allowing hikers to get in either a solid in-and-out day hike or as a leg to a much bigger and epic Trans-Zion Trek. For those interested in the later, the West Rim Trail is the leg of the journey that either precedes or follows (depending on which side of the park you started) the Wildcat Canyon T...

Starting at 3,640 feet elevation, the Cascade Pass Trailhead begins adjacent to the Johannesburg Camp and proceeds east along a relentless series of switchbacks. Though the trail is consumed by a thick Washington evergreen forest, the switchbacks frequently open to sweeping vistas of the far-reaching mountain ranges.  **A word about landslides...as the North Cascades Highway and its many break...

If you have already stepped foot into Wrangell-St. Elias, you probably arrived via bush plane or by heroically navigating the relentlessly brutal, pothole smothered McCarthy Road. Once across the Kennecott River footbridge, you must take the shuttle from the river's edge to Kennecott (NB: the shuttle services to Kennecott in the winter). Once dropped off in Kennecott, the Visitor's Center is wi...

This 5.8 mile (one-way) trek is a multi-functional trail. The trail can serve as standalone trail allowing hikers to get in either a solid in-and-out day hike or as a leg to a much bigger and epic Trans-Zion Trek. For those interested in the later, the Wildcat Canyon Trail is the leg of the journey that either precedes or follows (depending on which side of the park you started) the Connector T...

The Wilderness Waterway in the Everglades National Park can be navigated either by kayak or canoe. This is an endurance voyage that typically takes upwards of 10 days if you are solo-canoeing. The voyage can take significantly less time if using a kayak or a multi-person powered canoe. This route is not recommended for novice canoes given both the length of the journey but also the absolute nee...

This journey begins at the northern terminus of the historic Kennecott Mines, following the Root Glacier trail to the north. Follow this trail between 1-2 miles until you reach a split in the trail. Follow the split to the southeast and continue along this trail until you reach another split. If you continue to follow the trail south from the split it will take you to the top precipice of the K...

For what was once a highly contested and disputed piece of land in the Pacific Ocean, now lays home to one of the most peaceful, tranquil, and historic hikes in the island chain. Start the hike at the parking lot of the San Juan Island National Historic Site American Camp Visitor Center. Proceed along a short trail through the woods at the east end of the parking lot. This Historic Trail opens ...

This guide assumes that hikers have already made their journey by either float plane or charter ship to the Windigo Port on the West end of the island of Isle Royale National Park.As mentioned above, this section hike of the Greenstone Ridge Trail partitions off one of the NUMEROUS options one can take when planning a backpacking route across the island. If you don't have multiple days to hike ...

Not a feat for the faint of heart. You have to want this one. Especially if you are dealing with intermittent patches of snow. The Upper Lehman Creek Trail, the Wheeler Peak Trail, and the summit are not overly challenging when done on their own, but the sum of it's parts makes this combination trek one for the books.  Before getting along, its worth noting that since this is a long haul and h...

Make no mistake, this is a unkempt, social trail. Starting at the base of the mountain at the McKinley Park Road sign for Big Creek/Igloo Mountain Campground, begin hiking northeast towards a faint social trail heading up the mountain. Once you reach the first false peak approximately 1/3 of your way to the top, you can carefully hug the southeast-face of the mountain along a precarious scree f...

The East Rim Trail is approximately 10-miles (one-way) and can either be started from the Eastern Entrance of Zion National Park, or more commonly from the Hidden Canyon or Observation Point Trailheads. Many people start from within Zion Canyon and do the arduous Observation Point Trail, forgoing the East Rim Trail. But not you! Whether you are just starting or finishing the Trans-Zion Trek, or...

The trail starts at Mahogany Flat campground which can be hiked to from the Charcoal Kilns to the north or more immediately accessible via 4WD on a dirt access road - use caution when driving this road in icy conditions. Once at the Mahogany Flat Campground, the trailhead is towards the south and is marked by a sign and trail post. Continue south through a densely forested eastface (warm in mo...

This 6.5 mile (one-way) trek is a multi-functional trail. The trail can serve as standalone trail allowing hikers to get in either a solid in-and-out day hike or as a leg to a much bigger and epic Trans-Zion Trek. For those interested in the later, the Hop Valley Trail is the leg of the journey that either preceeds or follows (depending on which side of the park you started) the La Verkin Creek...

The trail is a short one - stretching only a mile in length. The only semi-strenuous portion of the trail is at the beginning and end where you start by descending a set of stairs in order to reach the trail that loops around the historic cliff dwellings. Since this is a loop trail, the same set of steep stairs will be there waiting for you upon your return. Once fully descended, the trail begi...

Save one stretch of elevation close to the cove itself, this 8-mile, round-trip hike is a leisuring trek across one of the countries most beautiful, though less famous National Parks - the Channel Islands. Smuggler's Cove is located on the Santa Cruz Island, which also happens to be the largest in the island chain. For the sake of this adventure write-up, we are going to assume that you have al...

The following adventure guide for the Trans-Zion Trek will actually consist of six separate trails. The trails listed below are listed in order, going West to East. If the individual trail adventure is composed on the site as going east to west, it will be indicated that the reverse hike will be required for completing the trek in the below order. Please click on each trail name for a full des...

This 4.9-mile (one-way) trek is a multi-functional trail. The trail can serve as standalone trail allowing hikers to get in either a solid in-and-out day hike or as a leg to a much bigger and epic Trans-Zion Trek. For those interested in the later, the Connector Trail is the leg of the journey that either precedes or follows (depending on which side of the park you started) the Hop Valley Trail...

The town of Mendocino is as charming and quaint as one can find. It is no wonder why it was pegged as the perfect location spot to film the series Murder She Wrote. While the series heroine Jessica Fletcher's home can still be visited, it is the bay itself that will draw your attention.  Starting in the southwest corner of the town, Main Street ends where the Mendocino Cliffs Trail begins. Whi...

Theodore Roosevelt was undoubtedly the tip of what would become an ever-flying spear of the United States' conservation movement. It is fitting that this buffalo-seeking hero would have a park named after him. The 14-mile drive through the Park's North Unit allows adventurers and historians alike, to come together to appreciate a landscape and human figure that has and will continue to leave an...