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 is one of the most beautiful floats the Natural State offers 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… 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
Several people have commented to me how Arkansas has such wonderful state parks. And the parks in the Arkansas State Parks system are definitely the best I have visited throughout the country. Between the interpretive programs and wide variety of activities they offer, helpful staff,… Read More »Arkansas State Parks to check out
Belly River Backpacking In the summer of 2014, Lagena and I decided we needed to backpack on our trip to Glacier National Park. We eventually ended up picking the Belly River Trail, which was perfect for the two of us. There were two elements of… Read More »Belly River Trail – Glacier National Park
Bayou DeView Water Trail offers beautiful kayaking The Arkansas Water Trails program is a fun excursion for the outdoor adventurer in Arkansas. As part of the educational programs with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, the trails are located throughout the state along rivers, streams,… Read More »Winter kayaking in the bayou
A soggy socked start to the new year Last New Year’s Eve was the first holiday that I went to bed before midnight since I have been old enough to stay up to ring in the new year. Zach and I decided to spend the… Read More »Big Brushy Trail Complex
I first started researching Big Bend National Park a few years back when a friend and I were looking for a destination for a desert camping trip. That year we ended up at another Texas park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, about four hours to the… Read More »Big Bend National Park
Summiting Arkansas’ highest mountain I believe anyone who loves big mountains and lives in Arkansas needs to at least once hike bottom to top of the state’s highest mountain, Mount Magazine. My brother, Jacob, and I had planned to hike another trail, but after looking… Read More »Hiking Mount Magazine bottom to top
I had only been through Oklahoma City twice, but coming back from Texas one trip I caught a glimpse of a lively downtown. I told Crystal, who visits the city often because a family member lives there, that it might be fun to come with… Read More »Girls’ Weekend in Oklahoma City
Brush Heap Mountain is located on the Athens-Big Fork Trail, which is one of the hardest trails to tackle in the Ouachita Mountains. Most trails follow the ridges of the Ouachitas, located in southwest Arkansas, which run east to west. The ABF, however, is a… Read More »Hiking Brush Heap Mountain