The Mountains in southwest Arkansas between Glenwood and Mena are my favorite on the entire planet. They are so rugged, remote, and beautiful, you simply cannot look at them without awe. Last month I hiked the Caney Creek/Buckeye Trail Loop in that area for the… Read More »Caney Creek/Buckeye Mountain Trail Loop
Spring rains might mean a weekend full of Netflix instead of slogging through sloppy soaking hike, but it also means it’s waterfall season. Last week here in Arkansas it rained for four days straight. And it was a nice gentle rain, it poured and flooded.… Read More »Fuzzy Butt Falls
I’m really excited to have my dad on the blog today. My dad has been a great inspiration in my life. He works behind the scene on Right Kind Of Lost as he edits every post. Today he writes for Right Kind Of Lost about… Read More »A place that is special to him
I always thought of the Grand Canyon as a place I can get to “some day.” It was never high on my list of places to see. But after making an impromptu trip last March to Grand Canyon National Park, it is now one of… Read More »Grand Canyon National Park Trip Report
Summer is approaching quickly, and going to the beach is on many people’s minds. Did you know the National Park Service operates several beaches, which can make for an awesome get-away. Within the National Park Service you can find national seashores and lakeshores, which provide… Read More »National Park Beaches to explore this summer
Have you ever had a trip that didn’t go as planned, but you ended up having a wonderful time anyway? That is how this last weekend went for me and my friends at Richland Creek. I also had to eat crow because I swore my… Read More »Lost at Richland Creek
If you are looking for an awesome day hike within a short distance of Hot Springs National Park, it is not hard to find a trail. You can narrow it down by what you want to see, like a waterfall, the lake, beautiful woods, or… Read More »Hiking the Charlton Trail
Boxley Valley in the Buffalo National River is one of the most picturesque places in Arkansas. Between the natural beauty and historic charm of the area, it is one of my favorite places to hike in Arkansas. The Buffalo River Trail begins here in Boxley… Read More »BRT – Boxley Valley to Steel Creek
Taking on the Athens-Big Fork Trail If you are up for a challenge, or umm maybe death march, you need to try the Athens-Big Fork Trail. I have been told this 10.5-mile trek located in southwest Arkansas is the hardest hiking trail in state. I… Read More »Athens-Big Fork – hardest trail in Arkansas
If you haven’t considered going to South Dakota for an outdoorsy vacation, you might want to reconsider. The Black Hills in western South Dakota are full of opportunities for adventure tourism. For those of us who are in love with nature, the Black Hills will… Read More »Exploring the Black Hills in South Dakota
One of my favorite hikes around the Hot Springs, Ark., area is the Caddo Bend Trail at Lake Ouachita State Park. This four-mile loop showcases the beauty of the forest that blankets the Ouachita Mountains. It also showcases the beauty of Lake Ouachita. The Caddo… Read More »Hiking the Caddo Bend Trail
Last year I wrote a blog post called Hometown Hikes, where I wrote about trails inside or right outside Hot Springs, Ark. But if you are looking to expand a little further out of Hot Springs, here are three trails that are about an hour’s… Read More »Hot Springs hikes – about a one hour’s drive
Nothing “bad” about Badlands National Park Badlands National Park is an unique place. My aunt likened it to exploring another planet, and I definitely felt like I was in another world. The park is located in western South Dakota just east of the Black Hills.… Read More »Exploring Badlands National Park
Part of the reason I love the Arkansas State Parks systems so much is that it does a great job of showcasing each ecosystem the state offers. In Cane Creek State Park you get two ecosystems in one – the Arkansas Mississippi River delta and… Read More »Cane Creek State Park – adventurer’s guide
If you have seen pictures of Arkansas, you have probably seen pictures of Whitaker Point. The scenic spot, also known as Hawksbill Crag, is probably the most iconic picture of The Natural State. A great book and trail guide for this area is Tim Ernst’s… Read More »Arkansas staples – Glory Hole, Whitaker Point
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is more beautiful than words can describe. It’s also an excellent destination for the adventurer. With kayaking, backpacking, fishing, ice climbing, and backcountry skiing, the park will not leave you bored. Lagena and I spent… Read More »Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Olympic National Park, three parks in one Traveling to Olympic National Park is like getting three parks in one. You can explore beaches on the Pacific Ocean. You can hike through giant moss covered trees in a rain forest. And you can climb mountain peaks… Read More »Olympic National Park
The White Zone segment of the Iron Mountain Trail System, a great newbie trail Arkansas offers numerous gorgeous mountain biking trails and is an excellent state for the hobby. The Iron Mountain Trail System near Degray Lake in Caddo Valley is one of the best.… Read More »Iron Mountain Trail System – white zone
Lazy float and lounging at Buffalo Point The hot and steamy summer of Arkansas drives many outdoor enthusiasts to the water. A great place to dip into a cool mountain stream to beat the summer heat is Buffalo Point. Located on the lower section of… Read More »Buffalo Point Trip
The Little Missouri River in the Ouachita Mountains in southwest Arkansas is my favorite area – anywhere. Several trails snake through the area with spectacular scenery, but the Winding Stairs segment of the Little Missouri Trail is my favorite. The Little Missouri Trail is a… Read More »Winding Stairs – Little Missouri River
The Buffalo National River is more than a wild and scenic river. The area offers numerous gorgeous hiking trails to explore on foot if you are tired of floating, or simply want to hike. The Ponca Wilderness is a jaw-dropping area to be seen on… Read More »Ponca Wilderness – Centerpoint to Compton
The Buffalo National River, located in northwest Arkansas, is the first river to be designated a national river. It is also the one of the few undammed rivers in the lower 48 states and is managed by the National Park Service. Because of this the… Read More »Kayaking – Buffalo National River
One of my favorite aspects of epic hikes is being able to start out in on type of ecosystem and view others throughout the hike. In our visit to Olympic National Park in Washington State last summer (2015), Lagena and I really wanted to hike to… Read More »West Fork Dosewallips River Trail
When Lagena and I were planning our road trip from Arkansas to Glacier National Park in northern Montana, I had originally made a long list of places I wanted to see that were “on the way. Unfortunately with that great of a distance, there are… Read More »Yellowstone – when you only have 48 hours
One of my favorite day hikes around Hot Springs is the Hunt’s Loop Trail in the Ouachita National Forest. The 4.3-mile-hike takes you straight up Short Mountain to a gorgeous vista and then through some of the most beautiful woods along the ridge of the… Read More »Hiking Hunt’s Loop Trail
Before hiking the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail, the furthest I had ever hiked continuously was about 20 miles, a one-night backpacking trip in Montana. I asked my brother, Jacob, who is a teacher, if he wanted to do a backpacking trip with me during spring… Read More »Gotta LOViT – the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail
Learning to ski is always an adventure, but not out of reach Someone once told me that learning a new, physically demanding, and dangerous activity is best done before the age of 30. Well I’m 33, and last month I went snow skiing for the… Read More »Surviving your first ever ski trip