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Driving the Burr Trail Road in Utah
Southern Utah’s desolate swath of desert features towering rock spires, chiseled canyons, and lonely dirt roads. It is a place that beckons to explorers and adventure-seekers. A place synonymous with the American West. A place where signs of life abound, despite the odds. John Burr was a 19th century Mormon settler who grew up in this rugged and formidable backcountry. In order to move his cattle to greener pastures, he created a pathway that cut through the area’s barren desert and Waterpocket Fold. The cattle trail later became known as…
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Driving the Cathedral Valley Loop in Capitol Reef
Utah’s Cathedral Valley Loop features towering rock spires, soaring monoliths, colorful painted hillsides, and sweeping desert vistas. The spectacular 57.6 mile drive weaves in and out of Capitol Reef National Park and contains some of the American Southwest’s most dramatic features. And yet, despite its beauty, the Cathedral Valley is a place where solitude abounds. Due to poor roads and a lack of travel infrastructure, only a small fraction of Capitol Reef’s visitors bear witness to the area’s unique landforms. Aside from the occasional jeep rumbling down a sandy road,…
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Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park
When it comes to red rock landscapes, southern Utah has no shortage of awe-inspiring attractions. The swath of fiery-hued land is so striking that even its lesser-known areas are ripe with places to see. I became fully cognizant of Utah’s far-reaching splendor while road tripping through Capitol Reef National Park—a place tourists often bypass in lieu of the state’s other more renowned landscapes. Capitol Reef is the underdog of Utah’s Mighty 5. In fact, the national park receives so little attention that I wondered if it might even be worth…
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Hiking in the Oregon Badlands Wilderness
Bend Oregon is blessed with an abundance of nearby natural wonders. The town sits on the dry side of the Cascade Mountains, where forests and desert converge. Head west out of town, and you’ll be greeted by shimmering lakes, towering ponderosa forests, and snow-clad peaks. Head east, and the desert unfolds outward, as far as the eye can see. It isn’t difficult to understand why tourists flock to the mountains and lakes west of town. The area is a dreamland for hikers, photographers, and outdoor enthusiasts. But when crowds inundate…
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Things to Do in Bend Oregon
Located smack in the center of Oregon, the city of Bend boasts access to some of the state’s best outdoor offerings. The charming mountain town lies sandwiched between a national forest, a desert wilderness, and a national volcanic monument. Within half an hour, its tourists and residents can reach a string of sparkling lakes, some of the country’s best rock-climbing cliffs, and Oregon’s largest ski resort. Bend is a scenically-endowed town that is teeming with things to do and places to visit. Once merely an afterthought on Oregon itineraries, Bend…
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Exploring the Cascade Lakes Highway in Oregon
When it comes to natural splendor, Central Oregon is a land of plenty. It features everything an outdoor adventurer could dream of: verdant forests, towering snow-capped mountains, arid desert, and ancient lava flows. Amongst all its alpine beauty and high desert magic, I sometimes forget that the area is a mecca for water sports as well. But Central Oregon’s lakes and rivers are not merely an afterthought. In fact, the Cascade Lakes—a necklace of sparkling pools along the eastern edge of Central Oregon’s Cascade Mountains—are some of the state’s most…
