Time, wind and water have chiseled these beautiful and seemingly never-ending mountains for ages, creating a landscape of rocky summits, wooded hollows, roaring waterfalls and bubbling streams. This lush environment is one of sheer abundance. Both the flora and fauna of Shenandoah National Park thrive in large numbers.
There are a few actionable things you can do to avoid rattlesnake encounters while hiking. Once you’re in rattlesnake territory, an encounter is basically always coincidental. To minimize your chances of seeing a rattlesnake on the trail and being bitten, there are several effective rattlesnake safety tips and precautions you should keep in mind.
From backpacking trips into the rugged Painted Desert to seeing the remains of Old Route 66, hiking in multi-colored badlands and among enormous collections of petrified wood, Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park may be small, but it has a lot to offer.
In this post, I’ll talk about mountain lion safety and what to do when you see a mountain lion. It’s important to know that mountain lion attacks are very rare, but they do occasionally occur. Therefore, you need to be aware of the animals’ presence when hiking in mountain lion habitat and know what to do during a mountain lion encounter.
Wiping the sweat off your forehead, you try to catch your breath as you gaze across a landscape dominated by red rocks and sandstone hills. Towering rock pillars and enormous domes fill the view, interspersed by wide valleys and, here and there, a hardy desert bush. Your chest still heaving up and down after a short but steep climb to the overlook, you sit down and take a well-deserved sip from your water bottle.
Although often underrated and overlooked, birds are actually the most visible animals around. In national parks, too, they’re the easiest animals to spot. This is why I recommend making bird watching in national parks a priority. It’s not only about bears, moose and whales. Birds are fascinating to watch as well.
One of my favorite ever camping experiences was in the Painted Desert in Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park. It was neither a particularly difficult hike nor was it extremely remote, yet the amazing solitude and absolutely beautiful landscape took things to the next level.
In terms of places to watch the sunset in Shenandoah National Park, there are myriad options. There are numerous awesome Skyline Drive overlooks for sunset, while a couple of short hiking trails lead to gorgeous views atop a mountain.
I might kick in an open door with this, but California is much more than sandy beaches, the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, and tech start-ups. The third-largest state in America, after Alaska and Texas, California is incredibly, exceptionally diverse.
No visit to “The Last Frontier” is complete without a wildlife watching tour of some kind. The epic, world-class wildlife watching in Alaska is what makes the state such a great and popular destination. Seeing iconic animals such as bears, moose, whales, bald eagles and sea lions in their natural habitat will be a huge highlight of your trip.
December’s well on its way and winter’s right around the corner. As temperatures drop across America and the days grow ever shorter, nature’s most challenging season draws out winter sports enthusiasts, who relish the opportunity to once again hit the slopes, trails and lakes.
As exciting as a grizzly bear encounter or sighting in the wild may be, it can also be scary. When outdoors, always keep in mind that we share our state, provincial and national parks with other creatures. So, if you’re headed into bear territory, you should know what to do when encountering a grizzly bear while hiking.
As exciting and unforgettable as a black bear encounter or sighting in the wild may be, it is also a potentially frightening experience. It is important to remember that we share our state, provincial and national parks with other creatures, some of which can be dangerous.
Attracting people because of its accessibility, beautiful woodland hikes, cultural importance and historic sites, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is an especially for a superb destination in fall. Moreover, it’s entirely possible to see all major attractions in the park in just one day.