#north-rim

#north-rim

The Million Dollar Highway is a narrow, two-lane road that runs above a deep gorge, with sheer rock walls on one side and an unguarded drop on the other. Drivers experience awe-inspiring views of 14,000-foot peaks as they navigate this perilous route.

Goblin Valley State Park is often overlooked and relatively undiscovered, making it a perfect alternative for those seeking solitude away from crowded tourist spots like Bryce Canyon.

Rendezvous Bowl was icy and windswept in its uppers but softer and more forgiving halfway down. I popped out of bounds, did a couple of hikes, and clicked my skis on in a face-gouging wind. When I got to my drop-in, there were a few inches of snow and a foot of wind.

Gunlock Falls has only shown up four times in the past 15 years and is reliant on the capacity of the reservoir above it: When the reservoir surpasses its maximum capacity, the water flows over the spillway and down over the bright red rock below, creating Gunlock Falls.

Channeling the look and feel of authentic national park lodges was an important part of this renovation project. We took great care to preserve its independent spirit and also invite guests to truly immerse themselves in the destination, from the captivating views from the lodge to the quiet serenity offered by the Colorado River that winds itself around the property.

Eruptions of Echinus Geyser varied tremendously when the geyser was vigorously active. They could be vertical or inclined, occasionally soaking onlookers with warm water, and could be regular enough that the park would sometimes post predictions-the duration of an eruption could often be used to forecast the timing of the subsequent eruption.

Established in 1911, Starved Rock is Illinois' second state park and a popular destination among those who love the outdoors, history, and photography. Its name comes from a Native American legend that recounts a 1760s battle in which members of the Illinois Confederation fled to the top of the park's now eponymous 125-sandstone bluff for refuge.

Western water law is based on the prior appropriation doctrine, which gives the first entity to make "beneficial use" of water the right to keep on using that amount, even if that means that upstream "junior" users' spigots will get shut off. By the early 1900s, a rapidly growing California was enthusiastically diverting the Colorado River, with huge irrigation districts gobbling up the senior water rights.

For 2025, there was good news and bad news: overall, these areas were visited 323 million times over the course of the year. That's the good news; the bad news is that this figure was down ever so slightly - specifically, 2.7% - from a record-setting 2024.

The formation closely matches the outline of the Buffalo Valley Intermediate Field, an emergency triangular airfield built in the 1930s to 1940s along early aviation routes. In Nevada and other Western US deserts, triangular airfields were common in the 1930s and 1940s, serving early aviation needs such as mail routes and emergency landings.

Tens of millions of tourists visit Las Vegas each year, spending billions of dollars in the city's casinos, entertainment venues, and attractions. Yet my move brought me to Reno, a seven-hour drive from the desert of Las Vegas. Although Reno still has its fair share of casinos, the city feels like a world apart.

Many glamping places are right off the highway. With Backland, we wanted an immersive nature experience-total comfort, with unobstructed views. The camp sits on an immense and grassy meadow ringed by an unnamed forest. Ten nature suites looked more like futuristic Quonset huts than white tents.

As a SoCal resident, I visit Anza-Borrego at least once a year to explore the sandstone Slot canyon and surrounding desert, keeping an eye out for animals like chuckwalla lizards and bighorn sheep. Despite its incredibly dry environment (the park averages just four to eight inches of rain a year, and summertime temps routinely hit the hundreds), Anza-Borrego teems with life and opportunities to explore one of the nation's most unique ecosystems.

Now, in a recent study published in Geology, retired University of New Mexico geologist Karl Karlstrom and his colleagues conclude that the asteroid's impact shook Marble Canyon hard enough to dislodge great chunks of stone and send a landslide tumbling into the river. The debris formed a natural dam that backed up the Colorado for over 50 miles to near present-day Lees Ferry.

Shouldered by sandstone cliffs, these caves in Bayfield, Wisconsin, form when water-and, notably, waves-that would normally flow through the sandstone freezes instead, birthing icicles, columns, and curtains. During the winter of 2015, the caves attracted just shy of 40,000 tourists within a nine-day period, the Associated Press reported at the time.

Longer days, blooming flowers, and increasing temperatures make spring the perfect time for an escape to one of the 63 major US national parks. After traveling solo to all of them, there are a few I think are especially worth seeing between the months of March and June.

The body is a shifting landscape transformed by surfaces and sensations. Each look captures a different tactile world: the heat of blood, the cool weight of metal, the yielding drift of water. The result is a sculptural study of how the elements carve, shield, and release the self. The materials we embody become the emotions we carry, and the body becomes a materialised exhibition of our emotions, from the pulse of Blood to the discipline of Metal to the surrender of Water.

My father was a petroleum geologist. A lot of my childhood, he was gone, away on oil rigs in the Powder River Basin and remote parts of Wyoming, living in man camps long before cellphones. We had to wait days to talk to him. When he went into the nearest town to shower, he'd find a payphone and call us. I was always breathless with news.

Yosemite National Park is bracing for thousands of visitors who will descend on the area to see the setting sun illuminate a waterfall so that it looks like fire. The so-called firefall phenomenon takes place each February at Horsetail Fall, which flows over an eastern ridge of El Capitan. This year, the projected viewing period began Tuesday and runs to Feb. 26.

When the weather warms up and the late winter rains turn trees green and fields into wildflower wonderlands, it's the perfect time to take a drive. Whether your preferred landscape is mountains, deserts, forests, plains, or coastal views, there's a spring road trip in the United States for you. Explore historic sites, regional food, wineries, or nature-all from the front seat.

Some travelers love vacations that involve doing absolutely nothing-trips where lounging by the beach or pool, napping, reading, or going for a light swim are the most rigorous activities on the agenda. Other travelers, however, crave trips that are a bit more ... active, whether that means hiking, biking, or parasailing. If you fall into the latter category, you should consider heading to Wyoming for your next trip, according to Wander.

I trekked it in December 2023 with plans and a permit to camp at Bright Angel Campground, a scenic cottonwood-shaded hideaway just near the famed Phantom Ranch (the only lodging on the world wonder's floor). Then, two days before my trip, a miracle happened: One last-minute reservation became available for Phantom Ranch. The ranch digs typically book out over a year in advance, but if you're lucky, you can either get in via the lottery or a last-minute opening. This made the grueling but gorgeous hike down and up the steep South Kaibab Trail even more memorable.

Home to Grand Teton National Park, world-class ski slopes, and the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is a destination unlike any other. Victoria Gonzalez, lead Pathfinder at The Cloudveil, describes the region as "the intersection of wilderness and the resilient American spirit." In other words, it's somewhere travelers can go to experience a "flourishing cultural arts center with celebrated restaurants, a playground for year-round recreational opportunities ... and natural wonder."

"One time is enough." That's what I'd heard countless times about visiting Las Vegas before making the trip myself. I'd always wanted to go, if only to have that once-in-a-lifetime experience. Turns out, one time wasn't enough. I've been five times now, and I have no doubt there will be a sixth. The nightlife and gambling aren't what keep me coming back, though. These days, I skip the casinos and explore nature instead - and one of my favorite places is about 45 minutes outside the city: Valley of Fire State Park. There was no turning back once I found a side of Vegas I didn't know I was missing

Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction, Colo., is an awe-inspiring canyon boasting scenery any traveler would be lucky to soak in. It's also, bafflingly, crowd-free. "People tend to head straight for the Grand Canyon, or maybe Arches or Zion national parks," says Adam Kinsey, owner and founder of Grand Junction's Handlebar Tap House as well as the new WestCo Brewing. The canyon boasts a serenity you simply won't find at the Grand Canyon, with its steady flow of tourists.

Each city was scored across five weighted factors using publicly available data sources: average winter temperatures (NOAA), trail accessibility, average number of reviews, average trail ratings (AllTrails), and the number of campgrounds in the state (Camping USA). After looking at all the available information, Extreme Terrain named Tucson as the No. 1 destination for a nature getaway this winter. According to the findings, it won out thanks to its "excellent trail access and highly rated hikes."

Before hitting the road, download or print a map with directions in case you lose cell service. Also, be sure to fill up on gas, water, and snacks because gas stations are limited on this route. Plus, you'll want to check the weather prior to making the drive, since the winter months can mean snowy road conditions with the route's high elevation.

You may dream of seeing the geysers of Yellowstone or the overwhelming greatness of the Grand Canyon, but chances are you have a handful of little wonders in your own backyard. State parks like Goblin Valley in Utah hold their own against the neighboring Arches National Park (or Canyonlands, for that matter), while Maine's Baxter State Park is arguably just as wild as the well-known Acadia National Park (Baxter doesn't even have running water!). Plus, state parks tend to be less crowded and more affordable-two things that bode well for overnight guests.