Whether you’re planning a bucket‑list national park trip, searching for a quiet wilderness loop, or simply daydreaming about red rock, alpine lakes, or volcanic ridges, you’ll find detailed guides, honest reflections, and practical tips from the trails I’ve walked.
Start anywhere. Every link leads to a new landscape.
Explore by Type of Adventure
If you like choosing hikes by the kind of experience you want, these sections make it easy to find the right adventure.
Multi‑Day Backpacking Loops & Routes
Looking for a full backcountry adventure instead of a single day hike? These trip reports and route guides cover multi‑day loops and traverses across the High Sierra, Utah canyons, Washington volcano country, and the desert ranges of Texas and beyond—complete with permits, water strategy, campsites, and honest on‑trail lessons.
- Backpack the Hamilton Basin Loop Now: 5‑Day Loop — A big, beautiful circuit through Sequoia National Park, crossing Kaweah Gap and Black Rock Pass with wide alpine views and classic High Sierra granite.
- Kings Canyon & Evolution Basin Loop via the JMT — A four‑day high route linking Piute Pass, Evolution Basin, and a chain of alpine lakes framed by some of the Sierra’s most impressive peaks, with links to both silent and narrated trail footage of the full journey.
- How to Backpack East Wonderland Trail Without Competitive Permits — A multi‑day journey through Indian Bar, Panhandle Gap and Summerland, capturing some of the Wonderland Trail’s best scenery without the competitive permit process.
- Goat Rocks Wilderness — Hawkeye Point, Lily Basin & Knife’s Edge Loop — A stunning alpine loop linking Hawkeye Point, Lily Basin, Goat Lake and a dramatic stretch of the PCT. Expect volcanic ridgelines, cloud inversions, big views toward Mount Rainier and Mount Adams, and one of the most memorable sections of trail in Washington.
- Zion Traverse Guide: Route, Itineraries and Planning Tips — A complete multi‑day breakdown of the Zion Traverse, comparing 2‑night and 3‑night itineraries, east‑to‑west vs west‑to‑east direction, campsite options along La Verkin Creek, Hop Valley Trail, Wildcat Canyon, and the West Rim Trail, plus essential planning tips for a smooth point‑to‑point crossing of Zion National Park, with links to full trip reports of the same route.
- Capitol Reef National Park Backcountry Loop: 2‑Day Guide) — A quiet, scenic loop starting from the popular Fruita area, linking some of the park’s best day hikes with less‑visited backcountry trails. Expect desert colours, solitude, big canyon walls, and practical water‑planning tips for the hotter months.
- McKittrick Ridge Trail: Backpacking the Toughest Hike in Texas — A tough, rewarding ascent into one of Texas’s most dramatic mountain ranges, with big views, steep climbs, and a true desert backcountry feel.
Day Hikes
Shorter adventures with huge rewards. These are the high‑impact days: iconic trails, dramatic scenery, and routes that deliver maximum payoff for a single day out.
Grand Canyon Rim‑to‑River‑to‑Rim — A demanding, world‑class day hike linking South Kaibab Trail and Bright Angel Trail, descending all the way to the Colorado River — a place fewer than 1% of Grand Canyon visitors ever reach — before climbing back to the rim for one unforgettable full‑day adventure.
West Rim Trail: Top‑Down vs Bottom‑Up — A detailed comparison of Zion’s classic West Rim Trail, covering elevation profiles, logistics, water availability, seasonal conditions, and how the experience changes when hiking top‑down from Lava Point or bottom‑up from The Grotto — including day‑hike and overnight options.
Wasson Peak Loop, Saguaro National Park — A rewarding desert loop via Kings Canyon, Hugh Norris, Esperanza, and Gould Mine Trails, with sunrise wildlife, sweeping Sonoran views, and one of the best summit climbs in Saguaro National Park.
Chiricahua National Monument Big Loop: Complete Hiking Guide — A full‑day hoodoo circuit through Heart of Rocks, Sarah Deming, and Echo Canyon, mixing narrow passages, balancing rocks, and sweeping views across the “Wonderland of Rocks” — the most iconic adventure in Chiricahua National Monument.
Kearsarge Pass: Gateway to Kings Canyon National Park — A spectacular High Sierra climb to the gateway of Kings Canyon, the JMT, and the PCT, yet unforgettable even as a standalone day hike, with alpine lakes, granite peaks, and huge views from one of the Sierra’s most iconic passes.
Road Trips & Park Itineraries
Who doesn’t love a road trip — long scenic roads, quiet early‑morning starts, and the way each park feels different from the last. There’s a real freedom to linking landscapes together, watching the desert, mountains, and canyons change mile by mile. These itineraries capture the routes I enjoy most: varied days, beautiful drives, and the open‑road feeling that makes a journey as memorable as the hikes themselves.
Saguaro, Chiricahua, Guadalupe Mountains & Carlsbad — An NPS Road Trip — A full desert‑park road trip linking towering saguaros, hoodoo canyons, West Texas limestone peaks, and the vast underground chambers of Carlsbad Caverns — shaped by early starts, long desert drives, remote trailheads, and the practical decisions that make the journey smooth.
Half‑Day Death Valley Itinerary: The Essential Highlights — A sunrise‑friendly loop through Golden Canyon, Red Cathedral, Badlands, and Gower Gulch, followed by drive‑up highlights like Artist’s Drive, Artist’s Palette, Badwater Basin, and Zabriskie Point — the essential half‑day plan for exploring Death Valley safely and comfortably.
How to Spend One Unforgettable Day in Sequoia National Park — A varied, high‑reward day linking the giant sequoias of Giant Forest Grove and the General Sherman Tree with the panoramic summit of Moro Rock, giving you the essential highlights of Sequoia National Park in one scenic, easy‑to‑follow itinerary.
Capitol Reef One Day Itinerary: Plan Your Perfect Day — A realistic, heat‑aware day plan built around cooler‑morning hikes on Hickman Bridge, Cassidy Arch, Grand Wash, or Chimney Rock, followed by low‑effort midday stops in Fruita and high‑reward sunset viewpoints like Goosenecks Overlook and Panorama Point.
Zion vs Capitol Reef: Which Park Should You Visit? — A detailed, practical comparison of scenery, crowds, hiking style, logistics, and how each park fits into a short Utah road trip — including time splits, route options, and the best way to link Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Capitol Reef.
Permits, Safety & Planning Guides
The American West rewards preparation. These guides help you plan smarter, walk safer, and enjoy the miles more.
High Sierra Permits: Loop Hikes and Alternatives — A clear, practical guide to booking Sequoia–Kings Canyon wilderness permits, understanding High Sierra Trail entry points, and choosing smart loop alternatives like the Hamilton Basin Loop or Mineral King Loop when point‑to‑point logistics become too complex.
Kings Canyon Entrance Passes (east): Which One to Choose — A detailed comparison of east‑side approaches into Kings Canyon, covering permit competitiveness, elevation gain, trail difficulty, and access to major destinations via Kearsarge Pass, Bishop Pass, Lamarck Col, Piute Pass, Baxter Pass, Sawmill Pass, and Taboose Pass.
Biggest Grand Canyon Hiking Mistakes and Safety Tips — A detailed, experience‑based guide to understanding Grand Canyon heat, hydration, electrolytes, timing, and the common mistakes hikers make on steep, exposed inner‑canyon trails — including practical strategies for safe rim‑to‑river‑to‑rim days.
Death Valley Tips, Mistakes, and Lessons Learned — Practical lessons learned from extreme summer heat, early‑start strategy, camping decisions, and the challenges of staying safe in one of the hottest landscapes in the American West — including why timing, lodging, and realistic planning matter more here than anywhere else.
How to Plan a Safe Zion Traverse Water Strategy — A detailed, safety‑focused guide to planning water for the Zion Traverse, covering caching locations, unreliable springs, cyanobacteria risks, and how to manage enough water for long, exposed miles across La Verkin Creek, Beatty Spring, Hop Valley Trail, Wildcat Canyon, and the West Rim Trail.
Explore by Region
From deserts and canyons to alpine mountains and volcanic ridges, the American West is wonderfully diverse. Whatever terrain you prefer, it’s waiting for you here.
Southwest Desert
Where heat, colour and canyon solitude define the miles.
- Zion National Park
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Saguaro National Park
- Chiricahua National Monument
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park
High Sierra
Find granite basins, glacier‑cut passes, and some of the most dramatic multi‑day loops in the US.
Backpack the High Sierra Trail Loop: Route Guide – A unique High Sierra loop that’s easier to permit than the point-to-point classic, simple to plan, and fully shown from the first mile to the last.
North Lake – Piute Pass – Lamarck Col Loop (via JMT) – A rugged four‑day High Sierra loop, shown in full through silent route footage and supported by narrated trip reports for every day on the trail.
Kearsarge Pass: Gateway to Kings Canyon National Park – A spectacular High Sierra climb with alpine lakes, granite peaks, and huge views — unforgettable as a standalone day hike and a classic eastern approach into Kings Canyon.
How to Spend One Unforgettable Day in Sequoia National Park – A varied, high‑reward day linking giant sequoia groves, panoramic viewpoints, and classic High Sierra scenery in one scenic, easy‑to‑follow itinerary.
Pacific Northwest
Discover volcanic ridges, high meadows, and wildflower basins that capture the Pacific Northwest at its best.
A volcanic ridgeline wilderness with big views, alpine basins, and one of the Pacific Northwest’s best dramatic day‑hike and backpacking areas.
Route Previews (Video)
Sometimes a trail makes more sense when you see it. These videos pair with the written guides above — the best way to preview the terrain, the difficulty, and the views before you go.
Featured Video
A long‑distance favourite from the American West — a clear look at high‑country terrain and the style behind Fussyphotos.
Is This the Best 4‑Night Backpacking Loop in Sequoia NP? Part 1
US Canyon & Desert Day Hikes Playlist
Day‑hike guides for the best canyon and desert trails in the American West — from Zion and Capitol Reef to the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Saguaro and Chiricahua. Clear, factual route breakdowns, ranked recommendations, heat‑management tips, and practical planning advice for hikers exploring canyons, desert basins and classic national‑park viewpoints. Watch the playlist.
Video‑Supported Guides
These routes work especially well with video — the film shows the terrain, and the written guide explains the details.
- Hiking Goat Rocks Wilderness: A Beautiful Hidden Washington Gem
- Capitol Reef National Park Backcountry Loop: 2‑Day Guide
- North Lake – Piute Pass – Lamarck Col Loop (via JMT)
- Backpack the High Sierra Trail Loop: Route Guide
Start Anywhere — Every Trail Tells a Story
The American West is a place of contrasts: heat and cold, canyon and forest, granite and sand, silence and sudden wildlife encounters. These guides come from walking those miles myself — I share the good decisions, the bad ones, the unexpected weather, the views that stop you mid‑stride, and the quiet moments that you dream of long after the hike ends.
Wherever you begin, enjoy the read — and enjoy the walk.