Category: National Public Lands

Big Bend Hikes: Long Chisos Basin Loop

My last hike before ending my season at Big Bend had to be one more walk in the Chisos Basin. Since I’m in training for a long walk in France, I chose to do the long loop around the top of the basin –… Continue Reading “Big Bend Hikes: Long Chisos Basin Loop”

Big Bend Hikes – Blue Creek Trail

If you’re looking for something a little different and less travelled, the Blue Creek Trail has a lot to offer. The trail starts in the Blue Creek wash near the Homer Wilson Ranch ruins and climbs up into the Chisos Mountains – from desert… Continue Reading “Big Bend Hikes – Blue Creek Trail”

Big Bend Hikes: Pine Canyon Trail

Thanksgiving Day in Big Bend National Park started off crisp and clear, eventually warming up in time for a nice mid-day hike into Pine Canyon. The Pine Canyon Trail starts at the end of Pine Canyon Road and is reached via 6 miles of… Continue Reading “Big Bend Hikes: Pine Canyon Trail”

Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway Part III Vol. 2

On our second day trip to Crater Lake a week later, the weather was considerably different. There was a heat advisory in effect and the sky was very hazy with lots of thunderstorms moving through the Cascades. Unfortunately, we did not get an early… Continue Reading “Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway Part III Vol. 2”

Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway Part III Vol. 1

The next leg of our journey exploring the entire Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway took us to the amazing Crater Lake National Park. We picked up the byway in Fort Klamath and traveled Route 62 to the turn off for Crater Lake. The byway circumnavigates… Continue Reading “Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway Part III Vol. 1”

Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway Part II

Several weeks ago we decided to embark on another section of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway. Our goal was to explore Lassen Volcanic National Park. While I recommend spending more than one day here, that’s all we had so we made the most of… Continue Reading “Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway Part II”

Lava Beds Desert Bloom

From a distance, the Lava Beds NM landscape looks fairly barren and harsh. But, up close and personal, there are many wildflowers blooming right now along the trails and roadways. On my travels in and around Gillems Bluff the other day, the sagebrush and… Continue Reading “Lava Beds Desert Bloom”

Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway – Part I

The Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway is one of 42 “All American Roads” established in the United States.  The entire route is nearly 500 miles in length and is easily divided up into leisurely day trips.  We are fortunate to be working right smack in… Continue Reading “Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway – Part I”

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Adventure

From the Davis Mountains State Park in Texas, we drove two full days to arrive for a brief stopover at the Escapees Saguaro Co-op Campground in Benson, AZ. Our one-night stopover at the Las Cruces Overlook Rest Area was restful and surprisingly quiet! We… Continue Reading “Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Adventure”

Big Bend National Park Revisited

Big Bend National Park is quite possibly our all-time favorite national park. We’ve visited the park several times over the years and our last visit at the beginning of January 2022 re-ignited our love of this breathtaking area. Many things have changed since our… Continue Reading “Big Bend National Park Revisited”