Tag: Hiking

The Milky Way

Explore the Best Baron Lakes Idaho Hikes

Explore the best Baron Lakes Idaho hikes with our backpacking guide. Our favorite 25 mile route begins at the Grandjean Campground Trailhead before winding up along Baron Creek to the three Baron Lakes. Camp along a dramatic ridge or push through to the lakes for your first night. And enjoy unobstructed views of the stars from these 8,000 foot alpine lakes.

Idaho's Snake River as seen from Massacre Rocks State Park. Sagebrush and a rocky ridge are visible on either bank of the river. The high desert region is home to many desert species and a thriving ecosystem.

Idaho Campgrounds – Massacre Rocks State Park and the Oregon Trail

While camping at Massacre Rocks State Park, hike along the Snake River canyon and sections of the Oregon and California Trails. Experience the rich history of the Po’hogwe Trail and learn about the Shoshone people who first inhabited this area of Idaho. Visit nearby attractions in American Falls and fish near the historic American Falls hydroelectric dam, now managed by Idaho Power.

Hikes Near Stanley Idaho - a stream at the outlet of Fourth of July Lake in the White Cloud Wilderness. Sunset over the Chamberlain Lakes, seen from the edge of a high-elevation alpine lake near Castle Peak.

Hikes Near Stanley Idaho – Chamberlain Lakes and the White Clouds Wilderness

For the best hikes near Stanley Idaho, check out the White Cloud Wilderness and the Chamberlain Lakes. Starting with an easy hike to Fourth of July and Washington Lakes, the increasingly difficult loop takes you high into alpine country below Castle Peak.

Idaho Hot Springs - The Best Natural Hot Tub Waterfall - Pine Flats Campground and Hot Spring. A view of the upper thermal pools that create a waterfall over the South Fork of the Payette River.

Hot Springs Near Boise Idaho – The Best Natural Hot Tub Waterfall

Pine Flats Hot Springs is a great mix of accessible and remote, undeveloped but comfortable. The short hike keeps the crowds down, but the trail is maintained and easy to moderate, depending on weather conditions.

Oregon Life - Road Trips Oregon. The Ancient Forest Center at Opal Creek, Oregon, in the Opal Creek Wilderness. Historic cabins at Opal Creek can be reserved and rented. Changing fall leaves in the foreground contrast with the green tin roofs of the cabins, with smoke swirling above them at dusk in the mountains.

Oregon Hikes – Opal Creek Hike

Visit Opal Creek, Oregon and the Ancient Forest Center, a private, non-profit educational center in Oregon’s Opal Creek Wilderness. The historic settlement sits along Opal Creek near a Depression-era water wheel and power station in the wilderness area.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest Hikes - Lava Canyon Trail #184. This photo shows the Southern side of Mt. St. Helens in Washington State, including the debris fields left after the 1980 blast melted ice and snow and sent a flood of debris that carved out the Lava Canyon. The Lava Canyon Trail provides a challenging, yet rewarding view of Muddy Creek and the canyon re-carved by the melted ice and rock that resulted from the volcanic eruption.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest Hikes – Lava Canyon Trail #184

Discover the Best Gifford Pinchot National Forest Hikes Near Mt. St. Helens. Hike the 2-mile Lava Canyon Trail to see lava formations, waterfalls, & more! Lava Canyon Trail #184 has both an accessible, paved hiking path and a moderate to difficult section of trail that follows the Muddy River down to the base of the canyon.

A young girl hikes up a 45-degree sand dune at Bruneau Sand Dunes in Southwestern Idaho. Bruneau Sand Dunes is the tallest free-standing dune in North America.

Camping in Idaho – Bruneau Sand Dunes

One of the state parks along the Snake River basin is Bruneau Sand Dunes, the surprising location of North America’s tallest free-standing sand dunes, kept in place by near-constant opposing winds. The Dunes state park also has an interpretive center observatory and day-use area if you’re not planning to stay overnight.

A view from the top of the first ridge of the Abel Tasman National Park trail. The trail carves out a deep section of the hillside as it wraps around the top of the hill.

Abel Tasman Coast Track – Great Walks NZ

If you’re thinking of either a long day hike or a longer, overnight trek, add Abel Tasman National Park to your list of stops on your two week trip. We’ve hiked the Milford Track, one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, and many shorter treks throughout the South Island. The scenic views, secluded beaches, and dense native bush of Abel Tasman make this one of our favorite areas to hike and camp (and we have a lot of favorites in New Zealand!).

A mother and daughter pose in an open window at the Brunner, New Zealand, while another daughter stands nearby, on railroad tracks that lead toward a museum building on the site.

New Zealand Itinerary – Brunner, Waiuta, and Motueka

We planned day four as a driving day to cover about 1/3 of the length of the South Island, from Hokitika all the way to Motueka, on the South Island’s North Shore between the Abel Tasman National Park and the wine-growing region of Nelson, Picton, and Blenheim. If you have a little more time, you could easily break this into two segments and stay in Reefton, the first town in New Zealand and all of the Southern Hemisphere to receive electricity. You can easily cover the distance with a few fun stops in less than a full day.

A stylized sign made of driftwood spells "Hokitika" on the West Coast shore of New Zealand, looking out to the Tasman Sea.

New Zealand South Island Road Trip – Hokitika

Hokitika is known for its greenstone shops and other tourist attractions. Originally a gold mining town in the 1860s, Hokitika was once one of the most populous New Zealand cities. Even though the original industries have faded, it has become a popular tourist destination along the West Coast, and we recommend spending at least half a day checking out the historical downtown area and gray sand beaches.

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