Zion Narrows Hiking Guide for Beginners, Zion National Park
The Zion Narrows is not an everyday hike. The hiking is different, the planning is different. Without question, this is one of the most popular hikes in Zion National Park, if not all of the National Parks. And, one of my personal bucket list hiking adventures. I wanted to put together a guide of knowledge that I thought was helpful for me before I attempted this hike. There will be lots of items below that may seem intimidating. But I am telling you, this hike is something that you will remember forever. One of the best experiences I have had hiking and I hope the same for anyone else who takes on this adventure. For more on Zion National Park, check out my full park guide to plan your next trip, click here.
About the Zion Narrows
The Narrows is a popular “trail” that leads you through Zion Canyon and the Virgin River with twists and turns through the stunning slot canyon less than 20 feet wide in some areas stretching 15 miles. Red canyon walls tower thousands of feet above, catching sunlight that lights up the otherwise dark passageway. Most of the journey you’ll be ankle-deep in water, but depending on the river’s flow that day there may be some chest-deep or even swimming sections. Proper planning and gear is important for this hike.
The Narrows hike stretches 16 miles from start to finish. However, depending on your route you can hike up to what you are comfortable with. There are 2 ways to do this hike, Bottom-Up or Top-Down. Bottom-Up is the most popular and can be a day hike, as you can turn around when you want. Top-Down could be a very long and challenging day hike or most likely an overnight, two day backpacking trip.
This hike is unlike any other. It is a full on adventure. For instance, there is a lot more to think about hiking the Zions Narrows: water flow rates, flash floods, gear, permits (if applicable), and walking miles on rocks in a river. This may sound daunting but I assure you this experience can be enjoyed by all levels of hikers. I cover all of this in my guide so you can feel comfortable and knowledgeable for the best experience.
HOW TO GET THERE
For the Bottom-Up route of this hike, the roads to the Narrows trailhead are closed to the public and only buses are permitted. Hence, you will need to take a shuttle to get to The Temple of Sinawava trailhead. You will have to park at the Visitor Center, which is near the West Entrance of the park closest to the town of Springdale. The Visitor Center is located inside the park and has its own parking lot. If that parking lot is full, you can try to park in a lot outside of the park and walk over.
At the Visitor Center, the Zion Canyon Shuttle to The Temple of Sinawava trailhead is available free of charge. This is a first come, first serve shuttle. Once on the shuttle, get off on shuttle stop #9, which is the last stop. The shuttle ride from the Visitor Center to the trailhead is approximately 45 minutes.
Hiking Tip: You want to get on this early in order to spend ample time on the hike. Depending on the day/season, this could be overwhelmingly busy. I recommend getting on the shuttle by 8-9am in order to start the hike no later than 9-10am.
If it is a busy time and the wait is cutting too much into your hiking time, another option is to book through an outside shuttle company like Zion Guru, who are permitted to enter the road to the trailhead of the Narrows. This option will cost you more as a roundtrip ticket will cost about $40 per person, but it’s a solid option to avoid potential busy lines for the Zion Canyon Shuttle.
The Top-Down trailhead starts at Chamberlain’s Ranch. This requires a second vehicle or paid shuttle. It takes one hour and 30 minutes to drive from Springdale to Chamberlain’s Ranch.
Hiking Tip: Don’t miss the last shuttle. Or else it is another 4 mile walk to the Zion Lodge and then you need to figure out how to get back to the Visitor Center!
Best Time to Hike the Zion Narrows
In the Spring, the trail is typically closed in the March to May timeframe when flow rates are high from the snow melting and spring run-off. This could vary based on the winter weather conditions. Also, the weather is cooler and the water is much colder. And, yes flow rates are yet another thing to worry about prior to hiking. When the water flow is low, hiking is easier. The flow rate of the Virgin River is measured by Cubic Feet Per Second (CFS). The river is open with flow rates 0-150 CFS, which is considered to be safe hiking rates for bottom up hikers. For top down hikers, flow rates of 0-120 CFS is considered safe. Under 50 CFS is considered easy and over 70 CFS makes the hike a lot more challenging with the faster current and higher water levels. The park’s website will have this info daily as well.
Summer is a great time to hike the Narrows. The weather is excellent with high temperatures. The days are longer, shuttles run all the way to 9pm, and the water in the river is at its warmest. However, the park is crowded this time of year and the weather can be scorching. In addition, the monsoon season creates the highest risk of flash floods during this time.
Fall is another great time to hike the Narrows. The crowds start to diminish and the flow is at his lowest in the river. However, the air temperature goes down as does the water temperature. On September 30, the last shuttle pick-up time of the day is 7:15 pm, cutting your adventure by 2 hours.
This can be done in the Winter but the temperatures, air & water, are much colder. The shuttle bus does not run often, only on certain days. And, snowfall can potentially close the trail.
Personally, me and my wife went in the second week of May and everything worked out great. It was high 70s to mid 80s, which to me felt like 100 degrees! The temperature of the water was cold, roughly 45 degrees, but the gear we chose helped us not even notice how cold it was.
Before you go: Flash Floods
Monitoring the forecast for rain is one of those extra items to worry about if you are looking to hike the Zion Narrows. With rain, the potential of a flash flood in Zion Canyon is very possible. However, Zion National Park does a great job providing info on their website and issuing flash flood warnings. Even with a clear blue sky, the Narrows can close due to a rain forecast nearby.
There are sections of the Narrows with no high ground. Water levels rise very fast when a flash flood occurs in the canyon. There have been deaths with hikers being caught during a flash flood. I do not think this should deter but always proceed with caution. Always check the weather and the flash flood potential before planning your hike.
Can Beginners Hike the Narrows?
In short, of course! A lot of the information and what you read may sound frightening compared to most hikes, but the key to this hike is preparation. I couldn’t wait to hike this but my wife did not have that same sentiment. We just made sure to check all of the boxes that made us both comfortable. If that didn’t happen, we would probably haven’t done it. We researched the gear, watched the weather, spoke with Rangers on the flow rate and we were good to go.
To be honest, the trickiest part is your footing on the rocks in the water and any current that comes along. There is no elevation to worry about. Tons of hikers of all levels, children with families and older people. At any time, you can just turn around and head back.
It’s simple, if all the boxes don’t check, don’t go. But if they do, I highly recommend the time of your life and a memorable experience you will not forget.
WHAT GEAR DO I NEED?
At this point of my life, sometimes it is better to take the easy route. I researched and researched all the gear needed for the Narrows hike. And, it was a lot. Lugging that around on the plane and then spending the extra money on items I don’t have and would possibly never use again. My very smart wife said, stop being stubborn and let’s just rent it. That’s what we did and I have zero regrets. We would have enjoyed our hike less without all the gear I may not have purchased myself. No stress, just enjoyment.
There are quite a few rental equipment companies near the park. Our hotel was a 5 minute walk to the South Entrance and there was a Zion Outfitters across from the hotel, where we saw countless hikers each day go and rent for the Narrows. What they suggest to use, I would say is 100% needed. There are multiple rental options. What we went with was the Dry Bib package, which costs $55 per person that includes: Dry bibs (waders), Adidas Hydro Lace Canyoneering Boot, 5mm Neoprene Socks, and a Wooden Hiking Stick.
The Narrows bottom-up is quite the unique challenge in comparison to most hikes. You will be hiking in a river. Proper footwear, accessories, and clothing are essential.
Shoes - It’s all about grip and traction on the rocks. Canyoneering boots are waterproof and designed for the slippery conditions of this hike. I could not see myself getting by without them. You could use anything you want, but these are optimal for beginners in my opinion.
Neoprene Socks - These socks are very tight, waterproof socks that protect your feet and keep water from entering your boot. This will help prevent blisters. And, depending on the water temperature, keep your feet from getting cold.
Clothing - During the colder months, dry pants will help keep you warm and dry. Hence, we went with the full waders through the rental company. Quick dry, light clothing will be helpful as you go further and the water rises up or if you end up falling in. Bring extra layers as the canyon can get chilly, such as a light jacket, even in summer months.
Walking Stick - The rocks are darn slippery. The hiking stick helped me not fall flat on my face and keep my balance.. If you have your own hiking poles, make sure they are very sturdy.
Dry Pack or Waterproof Bag - This will be everything carrying necessary items such as water, snacks, extra clothes, and sun protection. Snacks and water are necessary if you will be hiking most of the day.
Waterproof Cell Phone Case - This was helpful so I could take pictures without fear of dropping my phone. I did not have it in me to bring my camera along for the trek with concerns of the water. But I did not see a few brave hikers with expensive cameras willing to risk it all.
2 WAYS TO HIKE
From the Bottom Up: This is the route most people will take. By far, the more popular of the two. No permit required. Taking the Zion Shuttle to The Temple of Sinawava trailhead, start at the Riverside Walk. This will lead you upriver for several miles. When you have taken in all the scenery, simply turn around and go back the same way you came. The farthest you can go without a permit is Big Springs, which will make your journey roundtrip 9-10 miles.
From the Top Down: This is for the adventurous hiker. A permit is required for this route. This is a 16 mile trek one way from Chamberlain’s Ranch to The Temple of Sinawava. If you make this a two day hike, you will reserve your campsite when you reserve your permit. For permit details and other info on this hiking route, I suggest doing a quick google. Lots of info out there by some good bloggers/websites. I did not take this route so I can’t speak in depth.
THE HIKE BOTTOM-UP
Trail Info: Distance: up to 9+ miles (1-8 hours) Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous (depending on water flow/distance) Trail Type: Out & Back Permit required: No Elevation: Mostly flat
The Zion Shuttle will drop you off at the last stop, the Temple of Sinawava, where the trail begins. The first mile will be paved on Riverside Walk along the Virgin River. After one mile, there is a drop off and it’s time to enter the river. This can be a crowded start as all the other hikers on the bus will be right with you. Take your time. The water is cold and the rocks are slippery immediately. Acclimate yourself to the rocks before you increase your pace. I almost fell a few times. Unfortunately for my wife, she took a fall right in catching herself enough to keep her face dry. Her upper body was pretty cold after that.
Sometimes you will walk on small rocks and other areas in the hike will be larger rocks. It is flat but the terrain does change. Then add in the water levels. Sometimes it is ankle deep, knee deep, or even waist deep. Sometimes it’s deeper or more shallow depending on the time of the year. There are even areas where you can swim, but we did not reach that far into the canyon. We went in May and it got up to my thighs and my wife’s waist at its highest. Given, we are shorter people.
The further you go into the canyon, the more narrow it gets. The beginning is the most crowded part of the hike for the first mile or two. The farther you go, there will be less crowds. The first landmark you will come across is Mystery Falls. This is a very small waterfall that flows down the canyon walls into the Virgin River about a half mile into the river. I mean small, you could easily miss it.
The next section is Wall Street, the most popular and well-known part of the hike. This is also the most narrow section of the hike, just after the Orderville Canyon junction. The canyon walls are only 22 feet apart. There is no land to go on, just water so be cautious about flooding here. This is about 2 miles into the water, 3 miles total from the trailhead. Most hikers reach this point and turn around.
The last known landmark is Big Springs, about 3.5 miles into the water. This the furthest you can go on the Bottom-Up route of the Narrows. A permit is required to proceed past this.
You can turn around any time. If it feels too difficult or not safe, just head back to the trailhead. Even hiking the shortest amount in the water will give you amazing views that other hikes do not offer.
ADDITIONAL TIPS
Before you go, always check Zion National Park’s website for conditions and closings, https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/index.htm.
The shuttle season is typically from March to November.
Use the bathrooms at the Temple of Sinawava before you start. There are no bathrooms or privacy once you are in the river.
Be prepared to get wet. Your feet and parts of your lower body will be submerged in water, or your whole body if you fall in! Dress appropriately as the water can be very cold. And, bring spare clothing and shoes for after the hike.
Leave no trace! Please ensure to clean up after yourself.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
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North-South Lake, North Point, The Catskills, NY
Trail Description: This great day hike in the Catskills at North-South Lake utilizing multiple trails offers stunning views such as Artists Rock, Sunset Rock, Newmans Ledge, and North Point. Also, some popular features such as Ashley Falls, Badmans Cave, and more.
Trail Info:
Where: Haines Falls, NY Distance: 7.0m (4-5 hours) Difficulty: Difficult Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, Mountains, Valley, Lake, Water, Cave, Catksills, Hudson Valley
How to get there:
93 North Lake Road, Haines Falls, NY 12436
https://goo.gl/maps/9rUFAjK3PieRJY7U9
Put the address above in your GPS. You will need to drive through the state park to find the trail. As you get closer, you will pass Scutt Road on the right, then go past the guardhouse. Turn right onto the first fork around the lakes heading south. Follow this road passing a big parking lot on the left until you reach another big parking lot at a dead end, past the pavilions. Park in this area and the trail will start in the back corner.
Hiking Tips
Not great phone service, so make sure to screenshot a map. Or my guide!
Lots of signage throughout trail, but keep an eye on the trail markers.
The Hike
This is a long one folks. Make sure you have all the snacks and hydration necessary on this hike. Once you are ready to go, head to the back right corner of the parking lot for the start of the trail, away from the picnic pavilion and lake area. There will be a gate with a stop sign. Go around the gate and start your trek on the yellow trail toward the old Catskill Mountain House, the first of many sites and views on this hike.
There will be a junction with the blue trail. Continue to walk straight across the field at the area of the old Catskill Mountain House. Off the ledge of the field will be the first view of the hike overlooking the Hudson Valley.
Turn around and head back toward the junction across the field. Stick to the right and continue following the blue trail until you see the North Lake signage. Past the guardrail with a stop sign, cross another parking lot to re-enter the woods & head straight across to find the blue trail. I did not see a sign (could have missed it) but just keep an eye for the blue markers.
Pass the picnic tables and this will lead to walking along a chain link fence to the right. At the end of the fence, there is a view off a porch ledge. Keeping straight on blue, the next item to pass is a registration box.
From here, the hike will begin to have an incline. In about 10 minutes will be the first viewpoint, Artist’s Rock. The first of many views on this hike.
Continue on the blue trail as the trail gets steeper toward the next viewpoint, Sunset Rock. There will be a set of cliffs above on the right. Sunset Rock viewpoint sits above these cliffs. The trail will eventually get you there. There will be a sign to hop on the yellow trail for Sunset Rock in 0.2 miles.
Keep a lookout for the markers, then turn right onto the yellow trail. The views will just open up and another incredible view will be had. But this isn’t Sunset Rock quite yet. Keep along the yellow trail and in a few minutes there will be a big rock to the right. I was actually too enamored with the view, I did not take a picture of the rock! But it will be pretty obvious & there is a sign. This area will have the best views of the hike. There will be views of North-South Lake with the Catskills in the background. Pretty jaw dropping in my opinion.
From here, retrace your steps from the yellow trail back to the blue trail. Turn right at the blue/yellow junction to rejoin the blue trail. There will be signage for Newman’s Ledge, 0.2 miles away, and North Point, 1.6 miles away. The trail will get steeper but in minutes you will reach more awesome views off of Newman’s Ledge.
In about 0.6 miles the next point of interest is Badman's Cave following the blue trail.
Continue on the blue trail as it becomes steep then levels out in an open area before re-entering the woods. In 0.6 miles there will be a junction with the red marked Mary Glen’s Trail. The red trail will need to be used but for now continue on the blue trail toward North Point. There will be a sign showing only 0.3 miles to North Point. The ascend for the next 0.3 miles is one of toughest in the hike. There will be a sign for North Point. The views will be beautiful as the Catskills will be right in your sight.
After you soak in the last of the amazing views, begin to head back toward the junction with the red trail. Take a right to hop on the red trail. This will be a rocky, steady decline as you eventually reach the sign for the North Lake Campsite, which will be another 0.6 miles. This will lead around the lakes onto the paved roads of the campsite. Continue to follow the red trail as you cross a footbridge over a stream. There will be a sign for Ashley Falls off the yellow trail if you wanted to take a look, it was very short but no waterfalls on this hot day in the middle of the summer.
Continue on the red and take a left on the road by the campsites. Then it will be almost a mile until you get back to the parking lot. At least it is a flat surface to end! Whew, what a hike. Tough but so many views.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search City or State here.
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3 Easy Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park is one of the most beautiful parks in the United States. It’s got mountain views, rivers, waterfalls, old-growth forests, and meadows of wildflowers in the summer months. To say I was ecstatic to visit for the first time would be an understatement. However, this turned out to be a very interesting trip to plan and taught me some valuable lessons. One month before the trip, my wife tore her ACL hiking. I spent so many hours planning and like that, I had to shift plans. Credit to my amazing wife, she still wanted to go to Mount Rainier as planned and make the best out of it. Would I like this to be a full blown guide of the park? Of course. But stuff happens and guess what? Trips always work out. Our trip consisted of lots of driving through the park over 3 days and as many easy walks as possible as my wife was still able to put some pressure on her leg (she had surgery the week we came back). And, we still had an absolutely amazing time. The park is so big that we barely covered it. Sticking to the easier things to do in the park, I realized not every trip has to be insanely packed and hiking crazy to enjoy it. National Parks are for everyone. You don’t need to even hike too much if at all to enjoy it. I saw so many families and many elderly enjoying the park. For me, that is what it is about and I hope to be in my 70s-80s enjoying National Parks still. With that said, we were able to find some easier hikes with amazing views.
Some brief info on the park. Mount Rainier National Park is about 2-3 hours from Seattle based on the entrance you choose and a good 3 hours from Portland, OR. The best time to go to the park would likely be July to October. I would lean toward August or September but it really is a gamble. It was only clear and sunny one day when I visited and the other 2 days were cloudy, rainy, & foggy, and Mount Rainier was covered by the clouds. The park is huge and has 5 main sections: Longmire, Paradise, Ohanapecosh, Sunrise, and Carbon River/Mowich. Paradise is the most common and has the main park visitor center. Always make sure to check for closures and weather. For instance, one of the hikes I will be recommending, Grove of the Patriarchs, is currently closed for the rest of 2022.
As stated above, the Nationals Parks are really built for everyone these days. There is so much to see and you don’t need to do long or difficult hikes to get incredible views. If you want to get the best experience out of Mount Rainier National, here are 3 easy hikes that will be quick and fulfilling. Plus, a bonus viewpoint that may be one of the coolest areas to photograph in the park.
Myrtle Falls via Skyline Trail
Distance: 0.8 miles Trail Type: Out & Back
Getting to Myrtle Falls is a simple out & back from the Paradise parking area. Starting at the Skyline Trail on the paved portion heading east for about 0.4 miles and then crossing a small footbridge over Edith Creek Basin. Take a left off the path for the Myrtle Falls viewpoint. This is one of the popular waterfalls in the park standing at 60 feet with Mount Rainier standing tall in the background. This short hike is mostly all paved with little incline so this is for all ages and families looking to get amazing views.
Nisqually Vista Trail
Distance: 1.1 miles Trail Type: Loop
The Nisqually Vista Trail, located in the lower Paradise parking lot by the Henry Jackson Visitor Center, offers stunning mountain views and the trail is filled with wildflowers. There are several lookouts to view Mount Rainier, the Nisqually River, and potentially the lower reaches of the Nisqually Glacier. There is not much elevation to this trail and is one of the only paved trails in the park. This is another family friendly option and strollers are welcome starting from the upper Paradise parking lot, which has ramps to access trails.
Grove of the Patriarchs Trail
Distance: 1.1 miles Trail Type: Out & Back
The one word I felt walking along the Grove of the Patriarchs Trail was enchanted. Walking through the forest, the bright green color everywhere, all the moss, and of course the massive trees! This short hike is located on the Southeast section of Mount Rainier National Park. The trail meanders along the Ohanapecosh River that takes you to a suspension bridge to a small island destination. Here you will be surrounded by Douglas-firs, silver fir, hemlock, and Western red cedar trees. Some of the large trees can be 40-50 feet in diameter and over 300 feet tall. A very unique and breathtaking trail that is very flat for all ages to explore in the park.
Bonus: Reflection Lake
Another easy to access destination with amazing views is Reflection Lake. Located off Steven Canyon Rd, a few miles from the Paradise turnoff, just a short walk from the car is a perfect photography opportunity of Mount Rainier reflecting in the water. A great spot for sunset or sunrise. There are connecting hiking trails around the lake but all is needed is a view off the road. Definitely a bucket list stop in Mount Rainier National Park. My personal favorite of my trip even with the cloudy weather.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search City or State here.
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Hiking the Breakneck Ridge Trail, New York
Trail Description: The Breakneck Ridge hike is one of the most challenging trails in the Hudson Valley. The mountain is known for rocky terrain, steep rock scrambling, and beautiful views of the Hudson Valley. This trail is immensely popular due to its easy access.
Trail Info:
Where: Cold Spring, NY Distance: 3.7 miles (3.5-4.5 hours) Difficulty: Strenuous Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, River, Mountains, Rock Scrambling
How to get there:
Typing the location “Breakneck Ridge Trailhead” into Google Maps will take you near the parking areas. There are multiple parking spots along State Road 9D, just park where you can north of the tunnel. There is a small lot near the trailhead and a larger lot further down.
For those concerned about parking/driving, this hike is accessible via train. There is a MTA to the Breakneck Ridge train station that is within walking distance to the trail on weekends only.
Hiking Tips
Go on a weekday to avoid the crowds, if possible. Go early on weekends.
Be prepared to rock scramble & use your hands to scale the cliff.
Not dog friendly (unless small dog that you can carry or your dog is a mountain climber)
The Hike
After parking, make sure you are walking along the right hand side of the road. The trailhead starts to the right of the tunnel, where there is trail signage and maps.
There are 3 trail route options for Breakneck Ridge. There is a sign explaining this at the beginning of the trail. The options consist of the short loop (2 hours) ,the regular/classic loop (3 hours), or the trail back to Cold Spring (4 hours). This guide will be the option we took which is the full classic loop.
There is a set of rock stairs that will bring you to the sharp ascent. Follow the white trail markers and start climbing! The terrain on the trail is pretty hard right away. There is a very steep ascent and I needed my hands and knees to get me through this portion of the hike. If you did bring hiking poles, I would suggest securing the poles to your backpack here as they will not be helpful. Depending on your level of climbing up, this can be anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.
Keep climbing until you reach the flagpole. You will see Pollepel Island with Bannerman’s Castle to your right, along with views of Storm King Mountain straight ahead across the river.
After taking in the views and enjoying a break, continue to follow the white markers as the incline continues. This part is less intense but still some rock scrambling. There is an area in the trail where you can choose to go steeper or take the easier ascent marked with X with an arrow pointing left & right. The easier route was definitely welcomed after the steep climb.
Continue to climb higher and there is another viewpoint with the flagpole far in the distance from above.
Keep climbing until there are no more bluffs and cannot continue further.This is where you head into the forest. The next few miles are much, much easier. You could go back down the way you came but it’s a tough way down and you will be greeted with a traffic jam of many hikers ascending up.
Continue on white markers & ignore the yellow marked trail for now.
There will be a fork eventually. Look for a turn off to the red marked trail (tough to miss red marking on rock). Follow red trail down a gradual descent through woods.
Depending on your pace, the red trail will dead end in about 30-60 minutes where you take left onto yellow trail (Wilkinson Memorial Trail) and keep going downhill and follow all the way to the parking area.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search City or State here.
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Acadia National Park Guide - Best Things to do
Acadia National Park is located along the rocky coastline of Maine and is the only major national park in the northeast. The beauty of the rugged coastline along with the variety of ponds, lakes, forests, and granite peaks are home to some stunning visuals. And, of course, a hiker’s dream with unique and exciting hiking trails that offer breathtaking views or easy strolls along the coastal paths. I can’t believe I waited so long to visit. My national park philosophy is the closer it is, the more opportunities I would have to visit. Thus, I put off Acadia. It took a major life change from a global pandemic for me to make the time to drive up to Acadia. My wife and I decided to take a long weekend trip and visit last October to check out some of the fall foliage. With only a few days to explore, we had an action packed itinerary and were able to enjoy lots of what Acadia National Park has to offer. This guide is based on what we did. However, there is additional info that will give you the tools you need to plan a short or long trip along with some practical tips.
Beehive Trail Summit views
About Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park comprises 3 regions: Mount Desert Island (MDI), Schoodic Peninsula, and Isle au Haut. The majority of the park is located on Mount Desert Island and is the easiest to access from Bar Harbor, the main town where tourists stay. Schoodic Peninsula is the area to visit if you want to get away from the crowds and is about an hour ride from Bar Harbor. Isle au Haut is a remote island only accessible by ferry. It takes a full day to visit Isle au Haut from Mount Desert Island.
The park costs are $30 per car, $25 per motorbike, and $15 per individual coming in on foot, valid for 7 days. Acadia National Park is open year round, however, roads and visitor centers close from late fall to spring.
Travel tip: Stop at the visitor center and get a map. Talk to some rangers to get info on hikes or destinations within the park.
How to Get to Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is found in Maine’s Mount Desert Island, off the east coast of Maine. The closest city to Acadia National Park is Bar Harbor.
Car: This is the most convenient way to get to the park. And, in my opinion, the best way to travel so you can go wherever you want within the park at your leisure. It is approximately a five-hour drive from Boston, Massachusetts, a three-hour drive from Portland, Maine, and an eight-hour drive from New York City.
Flying: The closest airports to Acadia are as follows:
Hancock County/Bar Harbor Airport (BHB)- 8 miles
Bangor International Airport (BGR)- 50 miles
Portland International Jetport (PWM)- 173 miles
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)- 274 miles
Travel Tip: If you can not find parking or do not want to have a car, there is a park shuttle that runs during peak season. The shuttle includes stops in Bar Harbor, Hulls Cove Visitor Center, and various places in the park.
When to Visit Acadia National Park
The best time to visit Acadia National Park is in the fall, specifically September and October. This is when the park's gorgeous fall foliage is at full display. This is also one of the busiest times to visit but it is well worth the views and leaf peeping experience.
Summer is a good time to visit but this is the peak season. In addition, there is a higher volume of mosquitoes and ticks. Spring is another good option. Be wary, the weather can change quickly any time due to the park’s far north, coastal location. This can range from rainy to extreme fog to super hot or very cold. Winter is the least favorable option due to shorter days, road closures, facility closings and it’s very cold.
Travel Tip: Currently, during the covid pandemic, this has caused a huge spike in visitors to the U.S. national parks, especially Acadia. Expect the park to be busy, with the exception of winter, as this is the place to go if you are within 8-10 hours driving distance.
Foggy fall foliage at Jordan Pond
Best Things to do in Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is full of many options for casual tourists, hikers, bikers, climbers, and photographers while visiting. Planning all you want to do can be hard but also the fun part. Here are some recommendations from our long weekend trip.
Views of the The Bowl from Champlain Mountain Trail
Watch the Sunrise or Sunset at Cadillac Mountain
Cadillac Mountain is the first place in the US to view the sunrise and the highest peak on Mount Desert Island. The sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean was a bucket list item for myself but even if you are only able to catch the sunset, the view is breathtaking. This was definitely worth the 3:30am wake up call.
Cadillac Mountain Sunrise
By far, this is the most popular area of the park. Parking is very limited so I recommend getting there at least an hour before sunrise. Once you drive to the top and park, you can just walk around the summit and look for a place to watch. No hiking is involved. However, there is a 0.3 miles trail at the top if you choose to do so. The weather can impact your experience. We dealt with quite a bit of fog all weekend. Due to the higher elevation, fog could block the views. However, the weather decided to cooperate and the skies were clear. And, we were able to see an amazing sunrise.
**IMPORTANT INFO**: This area of the park, you will now need reservations. The National Park Service has implemented a reservation system late-May through mid-October to cut down on traffic on Cadillac Mountain Summit Road. You can find details here on how to make a reservation.
Travel Tip: The top of Cadillac Mountain can be very windy and temperatures are much colder. Pack layers to stay warm and hand warmers, if applicable. Also, we brought head lamps to find a spot to watch since it was dark.
Go Hiking
The hiking trails in Acadia National Park can vary in difficulty, length, and elevation. There is something for all levels of hikers.
Some of the appeal to the hikes in Acadia is the excitement and thrill. There are a large number of trails with ladders and metal rungs. Similar to a via ferrata, you can hike along narrow ledges and climb up sheer rock faces with the help of metal rungs. Hikes that feature iron rungs and cliff walks include the Precipice Trail, the Beehive Trail, the Jordan Cliffs Trail, and the Beech Cliff Ladder Trail. However, if this is not for you, there are plenty of other hikes to choose from.
Starting with the easier hikes in the park, we did the Jordan Pond Loop, which is a 3.4 mile stroll around the Jordan Pond. Combining this with the Bubbles hike is an option. Check out my guide here on the Jordan Pond Loop Trail here.
Jordan Pond and the Bubbles
Other easier hiking trails include: Ocean Path (up to 4 miles or less), South Bubble (1.5m), & Cadillac Mountain Summit Loop (0.3m).
The Gorham Mountain Trail is a good option for a moderate hike. About 1.8 miles with some steep sections. Unfortunately, we were met with nothing but fog at the top. It was a fun hike but no views to show for.
Other moderately strenuous hikes include: Pemetic Mountain (6m), Penobscot and Sargent Mountains (5m) and North Bubble and Conners Nubble (3.5m).
Let’s get crazy. Of course, we had to do the Beehive Trail. Aside from Cadillac Mountain, this is probably the next popular attraction and the most popular hike. This thrilling hike heads up to a steep mountain that features a section with narrow cliff edges, iron rungs to climb up and several handrails for exposed rock scrambling. This spectacular peak overlooks Sand Beach from the northwest. This hike can be very crowded and there can be a log jam using the iron rungs to climb. This hike is very dangerous so please take your time. If you have a fear of heights, this is not for you.
Hiking the Beehive
Due to the shorter time we had to explore, we included The Bowl and Champlain Mountain summit to this hike as well. They can be done separately but make sense to include. Adding these additional trails brought the hike to about 5 miles. The views were amazing. For more specific info on hiking directions, check out my guide here.
Views from the Champlain Mountain Summit
Additional intense hikes to be deemed as difficult options include: Precipice Trail, the Jordan Cliffs Trail, and the Beech Cliff Ladder Trail.
Travel Tip #1: Weather can shift your plans. Be prepared with additional activities or hikes. It might be too foggy for views or the rain might make hiking dangerous. For instance, any hike with iron rungs, I would not suggest to attempt on a rainy day.
Travel Tip #2: If attempting the Beehive Trail, get there early for parking. The Sand Beach parking lot is where you park and fills up very fast.
Drive along Park Loop Road
Park Loop Road is a 27 mile loop that takes you to all the popular destinations in the park. The loop starts at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center. This scenic drive is a great start to an Acadia trip with some viewpoints and turnouts. Some sections can be very narrow and mostly one-way. The most notable stops along the way include:
Sand Beach
Thunder Hole
Otter Cliff
Jordan Pond
Cadillac Mountain (reservation needed)
Travel Tip: Be sure to grab a park map to plan your stops. Since the majority of the road is one way, you can not turn around if you miss something.
Sand Beach
Located on Park Loop Road, it is worth the time to stop at Sand Beach. From here you can hop on the Ocean Path Trail that is an easy walk along the eastern coastline. The trail is 2 miles round trip to Thunder Hole and 4 miles round trip to Otter Point. How far you go is up to you. You could stroll along like us and make some detours to the rocks & turn around.
Travel Tip: The main parking lot to Sand Beach is the biggest in the park. However, this is parking for all the trails listed for Sand Beach and located right across from the start of the Beehive Trail. We found parking around 8am. And, by 9-10am, the lot was full. Getting to popular parking earlier is always the best bet.
Thunder Hole
Thunder Hole is a natural inlet where you can watch waves come crashing against the rocks, creating a thunderous sound. These thunderous crashes are very dependent on the tide. Calm waves or low tide may offer an anticlimactic experience. We are able to hear the crashing noises but nothing too crazy as far as the water height.
Travel Tip: If possible, per research online, the best time to go is about two hours before high tide. Check out the tide charts here.
Jordan Pond House
The Jordan Pond House has been open since the 1890s and is famous for their delicious popovers. We stopped for lunch and other items on the menu as well were delicious. Get the blueberry lemonade, you won’t regret it.
Famous popover and Blueberry Lemonade
Not only is there great food, but there are great views as well. This restaurant is located at the shore of Jordan Pond, where you can take in the views of the North and South Bubbles in the distance. Also, this is where the Jordan Pond Loop Trail can be accessed.
Travel Tip: Parking is tough midday here. There is a small lot at the restaurant and then another bigger lot down the road. However, it is still not enough. We found better success after the lunch crowd after 2pm to enjoy a late lunch post hike. Also, their hours change by season so I would research before you go.
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
On the west side of the park, the most popular destination is the Bar Harbor Head Lighthouse. The amazing views of the rocky coastline along with the lighthouse is about as Maine as it gets. And, this setting is what brings so many tourists and photographers to visit. Upon arriving, there is a very, tiny parking lot. Sunset is the best time to come but the absolute busiest time. You will need to get there a few hours before sunset to get a spot. There is a path to the right where you can walk right up to the lighthouse. However, if you want that coastal view, there is a path to the left at the end of the parking lot that takes you down to the rocks.
Sunset at Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
Travel Tip: Based on my experience, it was about as busy as going to Costco on a Saturday afternoon on a holiday weekend. We got there an hour or so before sunset on a Saturday. Cars were lined up on the narrow road in a log jam and park rangers were turning cars away. I did see people parking even down the road up to almost a mile and walking to it. My wife stayed in the car & I ran down to the path. When I got down to the rocks, there were so many people, it was hard to get a good view. I had to leap rock to rock and ask for people to move out the way to get a picture (politely of course because there was some yelling going on over pictures!). I would suggest going off peak hours or on a weekday if possible.
Schoodic Peninsula and Isle au Haut
We did not get a chance to visit but I would have looked into these other areas of the park if we had more time. Schoodic Point is another great area to see beautiful views of the coastline, with far less of crowds. And remember, Isle Au Haut is only accessible by ferry. Please note that they limit the number of visitors allowed in the Isle au Haut section to protect the environment, so I would suggest stopping by the Hulls Cove Visitor Center to plan ahead.
Carriage Roads
There are 45 miles of car-free carriage roads that run through the park. Here you will find hikers, bikers, and horses along the crushed rock surfaces. There are multiple access points and just another option to enjoy nature in the park.
Explore Bar Harbor
The town of Bar Harbor may be the one of the most exciting towns in the U.S near a National Park. There is so much to do here. This small town is full of great restaurants, bars, and unique shops. Everything is within walking distance and a very safe environment. Also, there are spectacular views of the harbor.
Where to Stay
There are numerous accommodations to stay near Acadia National Park. Airbnbs, bed & breakfasts, and hotels are plenty on Mount Desert Island. Bar Harbor is the closest town with the most going on. If you want to stay a bit farther away from the crowds, there are options in the Northeast Harbor, Bass Harbor, or Southwest Harbor. And, there are campgrounds as well such as: Blackwoods, Seawall, Schoodic Woods, and Duck Harbor Campgrounds.
We stayed at the Island Place, which was affordable and convenient. Walking distance to food and 15 minute ride to the park. Some other options include the Bar Harbor Quality Inn, Bar Harbor Grand Hotel, Bar Harbor Inn & Spa, Shore Path Cottage, and The Elmhurst Inn.
Where to Eat
If you follow this website, you know it’s about travel, hiking, and food. All about finding the good spots to eat and you know I found where to get donuts. With that said, we actually only ate out a few times and packed snacks & lunch (Hannaford’s is right in the center of town in Bar Harbor). We went to Side Street Cafe for dinner, which is very popular. The wait was pretty long but it was an excellent meal. If you want lobster, this is the place. We actually got lobster stew and it was fantastic. For breakfast, we stopped at 2 Cats for some baked goods, breakfast sandwiches, and donuts! Also, they have pretty funny cat puns at all their signs.
Other recommendations based on research to try include: Havana, Atlantic Brewing Company, Jeanine’s Great Maine Breakfast, Docksider, Rosalie’s Pizza, Mount Desert Island Ice Cream, C-Ray Lobster, & Rose Eden Lobster.
If you have any further questions about planning your trip to Acadia National Park, please post in the comment box below.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
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How to Hike The Beehive Trail, The Bowl, & Champlain Mountain, Acadia National Park
Trail Description: This hike climbs The Beehive via cliffs and iron rungs that leads to The Bowl (a pond), and then climbs up to the summit of Champlain Mountain. There are amazing views from the summits and various spots on the trail.
Trail Info:
Where: Bar Harbor, ME, Acadia National Park Distance: 4.9 miles (5-6 hours) Difficulty: Strenuous Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, Mountains, Water, Pond, Cliffs, Summit
How to get there:
Sand Beach Parking lot in Acadia National Park. There are restrooms here. In addition, there is beach access and other hiking trails.
Hiking Tips
If you have a fear of heights, the Beehive Trail is not recommended for you.
If it has rained recently and the trail is very wet, I would recommend not including the steep climb portion of the Beehive Trail on that day.
Be sure to take this loop trail counter-clockwise. You do not want to climb down the irons rungs nor clog up traffic.
This is the one of the most popular hikes. It will be very busy, start early!
The Hike
The Beehive loop hike at Acadia National Park is probably #1 on most tourists' itinerary. This is a short and steep hike with some exhilarating but dangerous sections using iron rungs to climb up the side of the mountain. The hike is not for the faint of heart. The experience alone makes this a bucket list adventure. So, of course, it was one of my top priorities visiting Acadia for the first time. My wife and I went for a few days last fall. Due to time constraints, I needed to ensure I got the best bang for my buck. Luckily, The Beehive trail intersects with the Bowl which connects to the trail that summits Champlain Mountain. Now, you could do all 3 of these separately but this was a no brainer. This allowed my wife and I to see more amazing views in the allotted time we had.
The trailhead is located on the opposite side of the street, about 100 yards across from the Sand Beach parking lot. From the parking lot, start heading on the gravel path to the right of the parking lot entrance as you walk up to Park Loop Road. Cross the road and the trailhead for the Bowl Trail will be right there. Just follow the crowd! The trail is flat but rocky to start. After 0.2m turn right onto the Beehive Trail where Bowl Trail goes straight. Follow the blue blazed trail.
This is where the climbing begins. First are the short staircases. Then, there are a few narrow ledges with sheer drops. Followed by climbing iron rungs used to assist in the ascent up the vertical rocks. All completely exposed. You have some options here if you are not comfortable going up the Beehive Trail using the iron rungs. There is an option to access The Beehive from the backside or skip it entirely and choose to head to The Bowl. I enjoyed this as it was challenging and thrilling. And, the views were awesome. However, it is not to be taken lightly. It is dangerous. Take your time and be thoughtful to your fellow hikers. This part of the hike is relatively short.
At around 0.6m, we reached the summit of the Beehive Trail and enjoyed some amazing views of Sand Beach and Great Head. The hard work is worth it!
Continuing on the blue blazed trail, go straight through an intersection where a connecting trail leaves left. At 0.9m, this is where we reached the shore of a pond, known as The Bowl.
Follow the path with the wooden boards on the left along the shoreline for 0.1m to split in the trail. The Bowl goes left and Champlain South Ridge Trail will veer to the right. Take the right and follow Champlain South Ridge Trail. The sign indicates 1.6m to Champlain Mountain from here. There is an amazing view of The Bowl as you hike higher up the mountain.
Be weary of the blue markings along the trail and follow the cairns. There are more spectacular views at the summit of Champlain Mountain. This summit is less hectic than the Beehive so this is a good spot to have a snack and relax.
After soaking in the views, retrace your steps down to The Bowl. There are four paths leaving the summit, ensure you are heading the direction you came up. Once you get down to The Bowl intersection, bear right away from the pond and take the rest of the trail back to Park Loop Road for about 0.8m. You will pass two trails on the right leading up to Gorham Mountain and two trails on the left heading to the Beehive. Just keep going straight at all intersections.
This will lead you back to where you started. As mentioned above, we decided to combine all three trails so we can see more. I would highly recommend this particular loop in this fashion. Lots of great views. Amazing hike. The Beehive hype is real. Bucket list checked off.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search City or State here.
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Jordan Pond Loop Trail, Acadia National Park
Trail Description: The trail is an easy hike that circles Jordan Pond with many opportunities to explore the shore and observe wonderful views.
Trail Info:
Where: Mount Desert, ME Distance: 3.4m (1.5-2 hours) Difficulty: Easy Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, Mountains, Pond, Water
How to get there:
The Jordan Pond North Parking Lot is located on the left side of Park Loop Rd at the Jordan Pond House. There is another lot next to the restaurant for additional parking as the lot fills up quickly.
https://goo.gl/maps/oQGDyrrCaNHjccsb8
Hiking Tips
Weekends are super crowded. Beware! Parking can be tough.
Post hike, eat at the Jordan Pond House. Get a popover & blueberry lemonade!
The Hike
One of the more iconic landscapes you will see at Acadia National Park is Jordan Pond. If you find yourself in Acadia, this has to be added to your list of things to check out. The shoreline of the pond has amazing views of The Bubbles, two glacially sculpted mountains at the northern end of Jordan Pond. The views are great all times of day, especially sunset and stargazing at night. Not only are the views spectacular, but the rewards of delicious food at the Jordan Pond House is almost worth the visit alone.
This was my very first trip to Acadia. I was not a happy camper to show up to nothing but fog. However, as I am learning, planning trips for national parks is impossible. You take what you can get from mother nature. Even though it was foggy, my wife and I decided to circle Jordan Pond as intended. We did have a few moments where the fog began to lift for some cool views on the pond and a tease of that fall foliage we drove 6.5 hours for! But that dissipated rather quickly. Even so, the eerie look was pretty cool.
The beginning of the trail can be found at the end of the field at the Jordan Pond House. The trail will be split as you approach. We chose to head right to stroll along the east side first. This section of the trail is more level. There are some bridges to cross over the streams that flow into the pond. As we made our way to the left side, there is a dirt trail, boulders, and a wooden plank path through the wetlands. The last 0.5m of the hike was on elevated boards, which I thought was a really cool way to protect the ecosystem. There are various points on the trail where you can hop off and explore the pond's shores. Other than that, the trail is well-marked and pretty self-explanatory.
The other great thing is that you do not need to really hike that entire trail to see some amazing views. The Jordan Pond House practically overlooks the pond. We did not get a chance to eat there the first day so we came back the next day and the weather was beautiful. I walked around the east side again briefly and I was able to see the stunning views I came here for.
Make no mistake, the views are as advertised. BUT do not, at any circumstance, miss out on a popover from the Jordan Pond House. By far, the best meal I have ever had in a national park. That popover with the jam and butter and you have to get the blueberry lemonade, magnifico! We actually tried the bison meatloaf sandwich too. Pretty damn good.
For views like this in a national park, this is as easy as it gets for a hike, or leisurely stroll. The trail is for everyone including children & dogs. It’s a great starter hike to get blood flowing or cool down after some more treacherous trails. This is a classic Acadia hike that should be added to your National Park bucket list. The view of the water with the curves of The Bubbles in the background is quite memorable. And, when you finish, it’s time for a popover!
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every change I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search City or State here.
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Jones Mountain Preserve, New Hartford, CT
Trail Description: The Vista Trail is a red-blazed loop that circles the Jones Mountain Preserve. Most of the trail is an old carriage road that leads to summit views overlooking New Hartford and the Farming River to the north.
Trail Info:
Where: New Hartford, CT Distance: 2.5m (1.5 hours) Difficulty: Easy Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, Mountains, Valley
How to get there:
161 Steele Rd, New Hartford, CT 06057
You will see the parking lot located on the right coming from Route US-44W.
Hiking Tips
For trail map, click HERE.
Stay on the trails. Lots of hunting areas surrounding.
The Hike
Once entering the nature preserve from the parking lot, there is a footbridge crossing. There will be a fork for the start of the red blazed trail. This is the Vista Trail that loops around the preserve. Going right will lead you to the summit view. After about 0.3m there is a sign with an arrow toward the peak to follow.
This part of the hike is the most difficult. There is a gradual incline with an elevation gain of 367 feet as you make your way toward the carriage road. This will last for 15 minutes or so. Reaching the carriage road will occur at about 0.5m and it is fairly easy from here. At 0.9m there is another footbridge crossing.
This will bring you to the summit of Jones Mountain at 1.5m. The lookout is a splendid view of the Farmington Valley West to New Hartford.
Continue on the red loop for the rest of the trail. Due to storms, there is a road closure at the time of our hike. This forces you to hop onto the white trail inside the preserve. The white will lead back to the red and right to the parking lot.
Based on what I saw online, there are some monuments and mill ruins along other trails in the preserve if that interests anyone reading this. We chose to just tackle the summit view.
I am enjoying finding new hiking trails in Connecticut. This trail is fairly easy, has a good view, and will get your heart pumping a little bit. Any one looking to get into hiking or just need a break from a strenuous trail, I would suggest this. Fall is officially here as I write this post. This would be a good fall hike as well once the leaves change. Get hiking!
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every change I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search City or State here.
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Kaaterskill Falls Trail, The Catskills, New York
Trail Description: The Kaaterskill Falls Trail is short hike to a stunning waterfall in the Catskills.
Trail Info:
Where: Haines Falls, NY Distance: 2.3m (1.5-2 hours) Difficulty: Moderate Trail Type: Out and Back Features: Views, Mountains, Waterfall
How to get there:
Note, you will lose service as you get closer. I put in my GPS:
103 Laurel House Road, Palenville, NY 12463
Depending which direction you are coming from, you will turn onto N Lake Rd off RT 23A and follow up to Laurel House Road. In roughly 2 miles, turn right on Laurel House Road where you will find the upper trail parking lot.
Hiking Tips
Start at the upper parking lot.
Make sure to check out the views from the platform.
Summer water levels may be low and rainy periods may be muddy.
Be safe. Multiple people have got hurt jumping in the falls, or worst, fallen off the top of the fall and died.
The Hike
A trip to the Catskill Mountains in New York has been on my immediate bucket list. The abundance of hikes and mountain peaks to be seen caught my eye. Since this is not a long drive for my fiancé and me, we picked a weekend, laced our boots, and hiked until we couldn’t any longer. The one obvious choice to hike is the ever popular Kaaterskill Falls Trail. Being mid-July and not much rain, the fall wasn’t going to be as cool as in the rain season. But this was the only weekend we could go and it was still worth the hike. I always do my research ahead of time and noticed there were multiple parking lots. The more popular lot seems to be the lower which looked like a train wreck. We drove by it. The parking is miserable with tons of cars in the highway on a narrow strip parked in the road. I would be concerned walking back to my car. The better option is the upper falls lot off Laurel House Road, where there is a platform you can see the falls from above. As long you can there before 10-11am on the weekend, there should be enough parking. The other thing in my mind was the crowd. I suggest doing this hike very early on weekends or if you can on a weekday. The lower falls are popular for swimming in summers. We started this around 9am and it was pretty crowded, especially at the lower trail.
Once we parked in the lot on Laurel House road, there is a gravel path to the kiosk of trail info where the hike begins. From here, we proceeded to take the Yellow Trail on our left. In short time, the Blue Trail will be on the left. We continued on the Yellow Trail to the right heading to upper platform for views of the falls. This portion of trail was developed and improved in 2016 to make it safer for everyone to hike. While this may be manmade, I think that was essential for this trail. If not for all the new steps and paths, people would get hurt and there is way more to offer on this trail for everyone. And, the platform offers a new perspective with remarkable views of Kaaterskill Falls. I am glad I did not start from the lower trail!
After checking out the platform, we retraced our steps back to find the intersection for the Blue Trail. This will lead to a bridge crossing that will lead to another intersection. From here, turn right toward the Lower Falls. This is where difficulty of the trail increases but not too bad. To proceed along to the Lower Falls, we proceeded to head on the Yellow Trail. There will be more signposts to veer onto other trails if you want to adventure but we just wanted to see the falls. As we descended closer to waterfall, you can hear the crowd of people below as you get closer on this hot summer day. There was a side trail venturing to our right where the falls are up close. You could actually get in the water and take a picture under them.
We returned back to the fork and proceeded to descend down the steps to lower part of the waterfall. Once we reached the bottom, you can see both sections of Kaaterskill Falls. We climbed up on some rocks to get closer. And, of course I hiked with a donut. Hence, obligatory donut and waterfall shot. We stopped at a local donut shop about 10 minutes away from
The crowd was a lot to deal with. We headed back retracing our steps back onto the Yellow Trail until we reached the bridge again. Then take the path toward the parking lot. As I mentioned previously, this was non-rain season so the fall was not as robust. However, it is one of the must hike locations in the Catkskills. I ensured my first trip included Kaaterskill Falls.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every change I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search City or State here.
SEE OTHER POSTS IN ARCHIVE
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24 Hours in the Black Canyon at the Gunnison National Park
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is one of the least known national parks and that is a travesty. I admit, I wasn’t too familiar with this park myself. Located in western Colorado, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison did not gain National Park status until 1999, making it the second youngest national park in the U.S. The Black Canyon is named so because the walls are often covered in shadows making them appear black. These steep walls were formed over 1.7 billion years ago. Another awesome note on this park is that it contains 12 out of the 48 mile-long canyon of the Gunnison River.
For most national park or outdoors enthusiast, you want to experience as much as possible in your travels. Planning trips can be difficult and offer time restraints. Exploring most national parks you need anywhere from 3 days to two weeks. On my recent Colorado road trip, I planned for one day at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. There is a North and South Rim. This guide will be for the South Rim only. This rim is more developed and accessible. Can you explore the entire South Rim in 24 hours? The answer is yes. The best time to visit is April to November. We stayed in Montrose, which is about 15 minutes from the park. The downtown is pretty cool. Oh, and there is an amazing donut shop, Montrose Donut and Deli Shop. The best donuts I had in Colorado. Get the biscuit donut. I digress…..
The South Rim is comprised of a modest 7 mile loop with 12 spectacular overlooks. I suggest to stop at each overlook. A lot of the overlooks do require walking a short trail but nothing strenuous. I would not miss out on Painted Wall, Cedar Point and Sunset View. There are multiple hikes on the South Rim. I went out of my way to do them all and to be honest, if you are stressing for time, skip the hikes. If camping is your thing, there are campgrounds here. Lastly, do NOT leave the park without driving down East Portal Road. I cannot recommend that enough. There is no crowd concern at this park. I counted maybe 30 people on a Friday in mid-May. I read the peak of the visitors stroll through in July. There are even less visitors on the North Rim, which is a 3 hour drive from the South Rim. However, the views are even more dramatic from the North Rim. The scenic driving was amazing. This park should be way more popular. The views were ridiculous. One of the best experiences I had in a national park. Here’s my guide to the South Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
How to get there
Black Canyon’s South Rim is about 14 miles from Montrose and 63 miles from Gunnison. To get there from Montrose, travel 7 miles north on CO Highway 347 from the intersection with U.S. Highway 50 east of the city.
Viewpoints (South Rim)
The first viewpoint that visitors will see entering the park is Tomichi Point. This is right off the side of the road, no hiking needed. The second viewpoint, Gunnison Point, is located right behind the visitor center. A short path down some steps leads views of the canyon facing northwards. The view is more vivid than Tomichi Point and there is sneak peak of the ravine.
The next viewpoint is about two miles down the road at Pulpit Rock Overlook. There is a 134 yard trail leading to this area. The canyon really opens here with the river in view as it curves around a 90 degree bend. Cross Fissure View offers a different a unique look at the canyon. The river is not visible and most of the canyon is hidden. There is a view of overlapping ridges and crevasses from multiple angles. This viewpoint is a 357 yard walk.
Rock Point is a less traveled path at 294 yards. The longer the path the less visitors you will see. Devils Lookout is the longest path at 607 yards. This path goes right the edge of the rims for great views including the river and the valley. Both this and Rock Point lie above the narrowest part of the entire canyon.
Chasm View is one of those jaw dropping views. This is a very short path off the road above the steepest part of the whole canyon. Painted Wall View is almost adjacent to Chasm View. This may be the most well-known viewpoint. Painted Wall is the highest cliff in Colorado at 2,250 feet and a half mile across.
Every viewpoint from here on is a must see. Cedar Point is a 303 yard path overlooking the lower canyon. This is a spectacular view as you can see 1.5 miles of the river, flowing rapids, and some greenery below. Next up, Dragon Point offers very similar views. The widening ravine enclosing colorful waters of the river. This can be reached by a path of 300 yards.
Sunset View was one of my favorites. This is the westernmost viewpoint along the South Rim road. There is large parking area along with restrooms and picnic tables. This a great place to soak in amazing views of the canyon. This is the longest stretch of V shaped canyon. The last viewpoint is another mile down the road, High Point. There’s not much to this but you have to pass this in order to turn around and head back.
The Hikes (South Rim)
At the end of South Rim road, there is a parking lot where the Warner Point Trail begins. This a 1.5 mile out and back that takes you to the furthest overlook on the South Rim. The trail starts flat with views of green fields 1,000 feet above Bostwick Park. The trail begins to climb slowly then drops and ascends again before reaching the final viewpoint. This overlook offers stunning views of the San Juan Mountains, West Elk Mountains, Uncompahgre Valley, and the canyon. If you choose a hike in the South Rim, this would be the one I suggest.
Warner Point
The Oak Flat Loop begins by the visit center. The trail is narrow and traverses down a steep slope. This offers a peek at the landscape below the canyon’s rim. This is the most challenging hike in the South Rim with steep uphill and downhill portions. In total, the loop is 2 miles.
Rim Rock Nature Trail starts at the visit center or the Campground Loop C entrance. You can even hop on this trail from Tomichi Point. This relatively flat hike takes you along the rim of the canyon for views of the Gunnison River and sheer walls of the gorge below. This can be between 1-2 miles.
East Portal Road River Access
Located right at the entrance/exit to the park, you will see the access for East Portal Road. This is a 5 mile road with a significant decline (16% grade) with hairpin turns taking your car to the base of Black Canyon. This is the only way to get down into the canyon. Once arriving at the bottom, the views from down below are gorgeous. The picturesque surroundings of the beautiful lake and the cliff walls of the canyon from up above are majestic. By far the coolest experience I had in the park. I was just in awe. I read a lot of things online and it made it sound dramatic and dangerous to drive down. Any car/van can handle it. Vehicles with an overall length (including trailer) greater than 22 feet are prohibited. Trailers may be left unhitched and left at a parking area at the campground entrance. This road is closed in the winter. Just be smart about driving down. It took us about 30 minutes. This is a bucket list type event. Don’t chicken out!
The drive down into the canyon.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every change I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search City or State here.
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Minnewaska State Park Reserve
Minnewaska State Park Reserve is located in Kerhonkson, NY on the Shawangunk Ridge. The park is full of numerous awesome hiking trails to spend hours exploring. This post will cover Awosting Falls, Lake Minnewaska, and Kempton Ledge. Great picturesque views through out the hiking trails. A great visit visit to Minnewaska State Park reserve. Hiking for Donuts approved.
Trail Description: Minnewaska State Park Preserve is situated on the Shawangunk Mountain ridge. This park offers a variety of intersecting hiking trails that offer magnificent views. A great day hike consists of capturing Awosting Falls to cliff views off Kempton Ledge and back around Lake Minnewaska. This will offer best landscapes of the park.
Trail Info:
Where: Minnewaska State Park Reserve, Kerhonkson, NY Distance: 5.5 miles (4 hours) Difficulty: Moderate Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, Waterfall, Mountains, Lake, Cliffs, Views
How to get there:
The park is easy to find and it’s a cool drive. The address for the GPS is:
5281 Route 44-55, Kerhonkson, NY 12446
Once entering the park, you will pay the $10 parking fee at the guard shack. For this hike, pull straight ahead into the Awosting Falls parking lot.
Hiking Tips:
Get there early for a less crowded trail. It can be chaos.
There are no signs for the Kempton Ledge but there will be a big opening off the cliff ledge with a big open view. If you keep your eyes out, you won’t pass it.
The trails are well marked but there are areas that are not as obvious. Having a map will be handy.
The Hike
Finally getting around to some hikes I did in the summer! I have seen amazing pictures online of Lake Minnewaska. My girlfriend has told me memories of her hiking in this park and how much there is to offer. On this past Memorial Day Weekend, we decided to head to Minnewaska State Park Reserve in Kerhonkson, NY located on the Shawangunk Ridge. The park is full of many trails and provides some spectacular views of Lake Minnewaska and overlooks the Catskill Mountains. You can spend hours exploring or just come for a quick hike. The one downfall I was warned about it how unbelievably crowded this park can be. And, that was definitely the case. There are many parking lots in walking distance to pretty nice views and picnic table areas hence there will be lots of families. And, the trails are not that difficult. They are mostly carriage roads and can be flat. As one blog I read on this hike stated, you will find more peace and quiet at Walmart. However, the exploring of this park is completely worth it and there are many trails that are less trafficked.
Given the knowledge of the potential crowds, we started our drive toward Minnewaska early and got there as the park opened at 9am. Note, parking will cost $10 inside the park. Not bad in my opinion. Once you enter the park, you will pay at the guard shack. There are many lots to park. Since there weren’t many people there yet, we pulled straight ahead into the Awosting Falls parking lot. The busier it gets, the further you will have to park from the guard shack. Our agenda for this day was to check out Awosting Falls, Kempton Ledge, and finish with trail around Lake Minnewaska. Once parked, we followed the signs to the Awosting Falls Trail.
About a half mile from the parking lot, we found ourselves descending 60 feet into a wide open view of the falls. This is actually a decent size waterfall and there are multiple different viewpoints. You can climb the rocks up on the side of it and get close like I did. Meanwhile, Nichole got stuck videoing an engagement proposal. She was like did you see that? Not a chance, there was a waterfall in front of me!
At this time, there was no one really at the falls so I took advantage of it. After taking a half hour of pics, Nichole was ready to get this hike moving along. We headed back the same way we came. We found the orange blazed Sunset Carriageway on our left as we approached the road. We started taking the trail up the switchbacks. As we got closer to Lake Minnewaska, we noticed the parking lot to our left. This is where you would park if you didn’t want to hike the fun way. We kept on the trail and started following the red blazed trail labeled “Minnewaska Lake Loop.” There is a pretty awesome lookout right away of the lake and the cliffs.
Continuing on the red trail, we passed the swimming beach that gave another gorgeous view of the lake. After that, we came up to the bathroom facility. Then we noticed the sign for the blue blazed Castle Point Carriageway on our right. That is what we needed to get to Kempton Ledge. After about 30 minutes, you will arrive at Kempton Ledge. There is no sign for it but once you see the ledge, you will know. There is an amazing view.
We headed back the way we came and took the first right you can to the Hamilton Carriage Road (will see sign). We kept going straight ignoring the merging trails. Eventually, this road led us back onto the red blazed Lake Minnewaska Loop and right down to the edge of the water. Here you will get great views across the lake. This is where you find all those who parked at the top. This can be a crowded section on a busy day.
The red trail continues and becomes a little steeper. We noticed a viewpoint to our right that will display the Skytop Tower at Mohonk Mountain House. The skies weren’t as clear as we hoped this day but still a great view. After this, we kept climbing at the fork toward the white cliffs.
There was a wide open picnic area as we approached the top. We walked across the grass toward the cliffs and views of the lake. We decided to take a quick lunch as the views were beautiful. And, there was some solitude at this particular time.
After absorbing the views, we headed back around the lake staying as close to the lake as we could. The trails become less marked around this area. Looking for more red markings, we passed some private property and porto-potties. Taking the middle road to the left of the porto-potties, we walked by an open field of many picnic tables and families. This path gave us one last look of Lake Minnewaska before we reached the parking lot again. The orange trial (Sunset Carriageway) was on our right and we took that the same way we came up down the hill back out to the road. Following the signs to Awosting Falls parking lot, we made our way back to the car.
I had a blast on this hike. Minnewaska State Park Reserve has so much to offer. You can choose your trail and go as far as you like. There are so many awesome views to see. Yes, it can be crowded but I would just plan accordingly. I suggest going early because we didn’t hit the crowds much. And, you will know which trails will have more traffic, closer to the lake and the waterfall. The hiking paths are really wide and flat. Our hike on this day was just around 5.5 miles. This took us about 4 hours but I also was a photo whore so you can knock off 30-45 min from that. I would say it was easy to moderate only because of the mileage. I look forward to coming back to this park. Afterwards, we drove into the downtown area of New Paltz, NY that was about 10 minutes away from the park. And there were cool shops, restaurants, donuts, and a brewery. That is what I’m talking about! Hopefully I will be exploring more of what the Hudson Valley has to offer.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Elephant Rocks State Park
Elephant Rock State Park
Trail Description: Located in Southeast Missouri, Elephants Rocks State Park has a unique attraction. The trail will lead you to large granite boulders which resemble a train of pink circus elephants.
Trail Info:
Where: Elephant Rocks State Park, Belleview, MO Distance: 1.4 miles (1 hour or until you are done exploring) Difficulty: Easy Trail Type: Out and Back Features: Boulders, Water, Quarry
How to get there:
The park was easy to find via GPS. However, you may lose cell signal nearby so make sure your map is up already. Here’s the address to put in your GPS:
7406 MO-21, Belleview, MO 63623
Hiking Tips:
This is a very popular destination. Prepare for crowds.
The Engine House Ruins Trail is less crowded and worth hiking.
The Hike
My trip to Missouri continued to mystify my original thoughts of the state. Prior to my visit to St. Louis, I stumbled upon online Elephant Rocks State Park. The main attraction for this park is there is the line of giant, 1.5 billion year old granite boulders that stand end-to-end, like a train of circus elephants. The pics looked intriguing online.This is a 2 hour drive south from St. Louis. I wasn’t sure if it was worth the drive. However, it just so happens, I chose another hike nearby and figured why not throw this in afterwards. Smart decision, always go all in on exploring in new areas. This park did not disappoint me.
Park entrance sign.
Elephant Rocks State Park is located in the St. Francois Mountains in Belleview, Missouri. The park was easy to find via GPS. Being labor day weekend, the park was packed. There is ample parking for lots of people. Picnic tables are scattered before the trail begins. There are bathroom facilities. Families can have picnics, enjoy the outside, and take their kids for some fun exploring the boulders. This is definitely a tourist hotspot.
Parking area , Boulders, And aMerica.
There are two trails to explore through the park. The main trail is called the Braille Trail. This is a self-guiding trail that winds among the rocks and takes you throughout the park. This is paved and accessible for people with disabilities, physical or visual. At different areas of the trail, we noticed interpretive signage with information of the landscape and the history of the park. The trail is one mile and marked as red. There are various viewpoints and we kept walking off the trail to explore more of the boulders.
Once we reached the old engine ruin house, we noticed the blue marker trail to our left for the Engine House Ruins Trail. The terrain is more rugged but still easy. This added another 0.4 miles, which leads around the back side of the old quarry that connected us back to the Braille Trail. We followed the blue arrows on the trees and did our thing. There is some fun climbing that can be done on this section. Along with views beyond the bluff. Not many people tend to add this section of the hike so it was a nice break from the crowd.
old engine ruin house
pretty cool, this is in the middle of the park.
views from the top.
taking it all in. the best part.
After connecting back to the Braille Trail, we slithered through the rocks and made our way to the giant boulders. Once I got the full view, I understood where the name of the park was derived. I could see the elephant like figure. Due to the crowd, it was tough to capture how breathtaking it was in person. Everyone was climbing between the boulder and snapping selfies. Children are fascinated by the size of the boulders as they enjoyed climbing. I found myself scaling the boulders and didn’t want to leave!
Trying to get a good picture amongst the crowd.
The elephant’s trunk rock.
rocks.
more exploring.
We ended up spending about an hour and half enjoying the park. That is about all you need. Very easy, go at your own pace and enjoy type of hike. And, if you want, you can throw in some climbing. When I booked a trip to St. Louis, did I anticipate incredible landscapes and geological boulders in the heart of Missouri? Heck no. But I am sure glad I got to experience them. The fun part about traveling is finding gems like Elephant Rock State Park.
Wow so strong!
Well….hello there. Just doin’ some climbing.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Lone Elk Park, St. Louis County, Missouri
Lone Elk Park is located in St. Louis County, Missouri. This park is only 35 minutes from downtown St. Louis and is a must visit bucket list. This park offers you a great nature adventure without needing to get out of your car. I never thought I would find elks and bison roaming in Missouri. This was an fun and exciting adventure. Read more about this in my latest blog!
I bet if I were to tell you, within a 35 minute drive from downtown St. Louis you would find a park that was reminiscent of Yellowstone National Park; you would think I am out of my mind. Lone Elk Park gives you that type of experience. Don’t get me wrong, it is nowhere near the size of Yellowstone, it is pretty small in comparison (only 2600 acres). Nor does it offer any of the landscape of Yellowstone. However, being able to drive among wild animals in nature from your car is a very cool experience that reminded me of when I was in Yellowstone. Again, at a very smaller scale. But come on, this is in Missouri!!! Who would of thought? As the name of the park states, you will see a huge elk population roaming. In addition, you will see bison, wild turkey, waterfowl, and deer. Essentially, you drive a loop around the park that takes about 30 minutes and hope to see some animals walking around. And, the park is totally free!
Entrance to the park. Veer left.
The park is tucked away in Valley Park, around Hwy 44 and Hwy 141. It is very easy to get to via gps. The park opens around 7am in the summer and *am in the winter. After doing some research online, I read the best time to see animals out is early in the morning or late at night before the park closes (sunset). Pretty good advice.
ELk butt.
We drove in from our hotel and got there around 8am. We pulled up to the park entrance. There is a bird sanctuary to your right if that is what you like. You will see the caution signs to stay in your car. Within the first 20 seconds of driving in, Nichole says to me, “Umm…is that fake?” And I responded, “Oh snap. That is as real as it gets”. The first animal we see in the middle of the road was a massive male elk with huge antlers. It honestly did look like a statue from far away. We crawled slowly past the elk and it was almost arm’s length away from the car. We made sure not to make to make it angry. We had a small rental car and this guy would tear it up.
this is real. First Elk we saw. Massive.
Great view of the lake and ELk.
As we proceeded, we saw more elk in the woods and a herd to our left as we saw a full view of the lake. We continued to drive along the loop and we started seeing more deer and wild turkeys. The deer here were big guys. We passed the lake and once that was behind us, we started to enter the bison area. You we see more signs here as they want to make sure no one gets out of the car. On this morning, we did catch a few bison out in the fields but they were further away. Not as close as the elks. After that, there isn’t much to the drive and the exit was upon us.
The great thing about this park is you can keep driving around as many times as you want. We wanted to take one more loop to see if more animals came out. Unfortunately, they moved further away the second time. But worth a shot. Also, the park does have hiking trails where you can be out in the open and potentially cross paths with the animals. On your feet or in your car, be careful. Bison and elk will gore you or your car.
Second time around the elk went to down the water. The model stayed put.
That’s where they went.
MOre of the big elk in the lake.
This was first time Nichole has seen wildlife like this so close. It was a cool experience. Note, if you want pictures, make sure you are driver side. I went in the back seat. No way was I driving, too excited! Definitely glad we came across this place in our research and made the drive. If you are visiting, this is a must add to your list. It is a great opportunity to get in touch with nature and you don’t even have to leave your car.
Lake views from the top of the hill.
I don’t trust turkeys.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Rattlesnake Mountain to Pinnacle Rock via Metacomet Trail, Farmington, CT
We headed on the trail to our left toward the Rattlesnake Cliffs. The trail starts out flat then begins to switchback up the side of the mountain. After a half mile in, the trail will ascend uphill and the terrain is rockier. We passed lots of large rock boulders as we got closer to the cliffs. This particular trail was very well-marked. We eventually came across the boulder rock cave known as Will Warren’s Den, which I later found out was a historical site.
Looking for a good hike in Connecticut? Well, I stumbled upon a hidden gem right under my nose. Rattlesnake Mountain to Pinnacle Rock trails are located in Farmington, CT and crosses over to Plainville, CT. This is part of the New England/Metacomet Trail. Finding the parking area can be tricky. There are 2 areas where you could start. Blue trail markers can be accessed from Pinnacle Street in Plainville. The GPS wasn’t picking this option up so my girlfriend and I chose to drive on RT 6 in Farmington. There is a small parking area on your right where the trail starts. If you GPS 200 Colt Hwy Farmington, CT 06032, that should find it.
Parking area off route 6.
From here, you can hike to the Rattlesnake Cliffs, which is a 2.6m out and back loop. Or you can continue to hike another 2 miles out and back to Pinnacle Rock. Thus, it will be 4.6m total for this hike.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by City or State here.
Explore other posts in the archive.
Start of trail
Once parked, we headed on the trail to our left toward the Rattlesnake Cliffs. The trail starts out flat then begins to switchback up the side of the mountain. After a half mile in, the trail will ascend uphill and the terrain is rockier. We passed lots of large rock boulders as we got closer to the cliffs. This particular trail was very well-marked. We eventually came across the boulder rock cave known as Will Warren’s Den, which I later found out was a historical site.
Not long after this, we reached the Rattlesnake Cliffs. Wow, what a spectacular view. I was absolutely stunned. On our left, we could see as far as the city of Hartford. And the sky was clear, so we could visibly see the biggest buildings in downtown Hartford. On our right, we could see the East and West Peak at Hubbard Park in Meriden and the Pinnacle Rock in Plainville. Great views all around. How did I not know this view existed? If this was all we did, I would have still ranked this hike very high on my list of CT hikes.
Views from Rattlesnake Cliffs.
hartford views to the left from the cliffs.
On your RIght from the cliffs.....
PANO VIEW FROM RATTLESNAKE MOUNTAIN CLIFFS.
We hopped back on the blue trail down Pinnacle Rock and started making a steep descent. We witnessed other hikers take a wrong turn here by going straight down. We were able to stay on track. We continued hiking along the bottom of Rattlesnake Mountain and noticed a small tunnel formed by the rocks. We decided to climb through and found ourselves blue markers on the other side. Note, this is how you to get to Pinnacle Rock. There is a quite a bit of climbing on and over rocks for this section.
And, this trail is not as well-marked. There were areas we lost the blue markers. Sometimes the blue marker was faded on rocks and we didn’t notice until we got closer. If you do not come across blue after 5 min or so, I suggest turning around.
If you can't find blue markers, they may be on the rocks.
We reached the bottom and crossed an area under power lines that led us climbing up to the other side. We reached a dirt paved road and we saw a tree marked with blue and red. This took us to the final section before we reached Pinnacle Rock. You will be going uphill and start climbing the rock on your right to the peak of Pinnacle Rock.
The view of Pinnacle Rock is nice. But Rattlesnake Mountain has a higher wow factor. The view from Pinnacle Rock is not as appealing as you will see mostly homes. This is a big rock climber’s paradise and I did see a few people doing so. I will hike all day. But climbing isn’t for me.
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Crazy guy climbing up pinnacle rock.
VIew from the pinnacle Rock summit.
Top of pinnacle Rock with railings and rock seating to enjoy the views.
We headed back the same way we came. Took another peek from the Rattlesnake Cliffs before we headed back to the car. Such a great view. That is one of best views in CT. I was very impressed by this hike. This is easily one of my favorites now. It is very challenging. I would say it’s a moderate hike. Lots of different terrain and some climbing. Round trip is 4.6 miles but I feel like it’s closer to 5 miles. Definitely suggest hiking boots and a pack for this one. This took us about 3 hours. This is one New Englanders should add to their hiking list!
The review:
Rattlesnake MT to Pinnancle rock (farmington, CT), ~4.6m: 4.5 out of 5.
Black Pond via Mattabesett Trail, Middlefield, CT
The Mattabesett Trail extends through the state of Connecticut. Along this trail, there are great views. Black Pond has an amazing view from Besek Mountain. Check out the blog for pics and helpful info!
The Mattabesett Trail extends over 50 miles throughout the state of Connecticut. The first half of this horseshoe like trail follows high trap rock ridges of the Metacomic Ridge, from Guilford south to Meriden. The second part extends extends north from Guilford to Middletown where it ends at the Connecticut River. There are multiple areas throughout the state to hop on the trails. You will find numerous picturesque views along the way. One of my favorites spots to check out is Black Pond in Middlefield. I came across this trail a few years ago and the views are spectacular.
For the directions, the trail starts on Baileyville Road (RT 147) that intersects Meriden Road (RT 66). I always gps the restaurant Guida’s across from the trail. I park there and cross the street or there is a little parking area off the side of the road, where you will find the Mattabesett Trail blue-blazed marker.
Once we saw the marker, we headed into the woods to begin the trail. The trail is well maintained and marked pretty well. Thus, just follow the blue markers on this one. Nothing too tricky on this trail. Due to the storms recently, we saw quite a bit of trees down throughout the hike. And there are areas of rock formations where snakes may be hiding. Be on the lookout, I almost stepped on one.
About three-quarters of a mile into the hike, we came out to an open field that led us under power lines. We could see Route 66 highway from here, as the trail runs parallel to the highway. We then passed a brick and stone chimney along the way.
From here, the trail will begin to ascend up the mountain.
Until I was researching the area, I wasn’t aware this was called Besek Mountain. And, there is a ski area next to it, Powder Ridge. Once you reach the cliffs, you see the stunning view of Black Pond and Mount Higby in the distance as well. You can continue the trail from here and follow the blue-blazed trail further past the ski area chair lifts and the true summit of Besek Mountain. And you can go all the way to Guilford. However, this is where we stopped and turned around. We had our fun taking pics and checking out the view.
The loop was roughly 2.8 miles. The hike was moderate difficulty. The terrain was easy in the beginning but had some up and down sections. The hardest part may be finding the trail. This is a great morning weekend type hike with a rewarding view. Be sure to add this to your list, especially if you are local.
The Review
Black Pond via Mattabesett, 2.8M (Middlefield, CT) - 4 out of 5
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Old Furnace State Park, Killingly, CT
Old Furnace State Park is located in Killingly near Rhode Island. This is a great park for hiking, biking, and fishing. Exploring new areas is always fun, even if you get lost on the trails. Check out the blog to make sure you stay on the trails!
Scrolling through the list of the 2018 Sky’s Limit Hiking Challenge in Connecticut, I wanted to explore unknown parts of the state that would be new to me. I haven’t spent much time in the Windham County area, neighboring Rhode Island. I really had no idea where I was going and there was not too much info on the park online. But, I convinced my girlfriend to drive over an hour with a promise of beers and off we went.
Old Furnace State Park is located in Killingly, CT. You will find the park entrance off Route 6 via Route 395. Ross Pond State Park is fairly close so my GPS took me there instead. If yours does the same, just keep going past that until you can take a left onto South Frontage Road and the park will be there on your left. The blue-blazed trail of this park runs about 3 miles. This particular hiking challenge calls for 2 miles round trip until you reach the overlook from the cliffs at 200 feet over Half Hill Pond. With this view you get a great look of valley stretching into Rhode Island.
We finally found the parking lot and noticed there was mountain biking event going on. Apparently, this is a big mountain biking trail. I didn’t expect to see anyone. The hiking trail starts at the parking lot. I used the trail located at ct.gov here . The path instantaneously takes you into the woods.
As we began, we crossed a small brook that led us to crossing a small footbridge.
The trail was fairly wide open until we reached an unmarked section ducking through a brush of bushes. We found ourselves questioning our direction. Eventually, a blue marker did appear.
From here the ascent started to get steep. About a mile into the hike, we saw the path break into two. Unfortunately, we kept going straight and that was not correct and saw some brown marked trails.
Thus, we circled back and took the path to the left which was the ridge along the pond. And, finally we found ourselves at the cliffs overlooking Half Hill Pond. The pond was completely filled with water lilies.
We stopped here because the trail was pretty buggy and I didn’t think the rest of the trail would offer much. But if you want to continue, this will lead you down to the parking lot and boat ramp at Ross Pond to Squaw Rock Road where you turn around and come back. If you are not from the area, the directions to the park could be difficult and the trail itself has areas that should be marked better. The hike itself was not hard. I would rate it easy. I would bring bug spray and pay very close attention for the blue markers. Looks like a good area to fish and maybe kayak as well. I’m sure this is a nice spot for locals but one time is probably enough for me.
The Review
Old Furnace State Park, Blue Trail, Killingly, CT (~2m): 2.5 out of 5.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Artists Bluff Trail, Franconia Notch State Park
Artists Bluff is one of my favorite trails in the White Mountains of New Hampshire located in Franconia Notch State Park. This trail checks off all boxes for a great hike. The views are spectacular. Check it out!
Trail Description: The Artists Bluff Trail is a short hike that offers some of the best views of Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch.
Trail Info:
Where: Franconia Notch State Park, Franconia, NH Distance: 1.5 miles (1-1.5 hrs) Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Trail Type: Out and Back Features: Views, Valley, Lake, Forest
How to get there:
From I-93 (Franconia Notch Parkway) get off on Exit 34C toward the Cannon Mountain Ski Resort and head west on NH 18. Go up roughly a half mile where you see a large parking area on your right. Walking across the empty lot in front of you will lead to the signs for the Artists Bluff and Bald Mountain.
Hiking Tips
Shortly along the trail, there’s a fork in the path that not clear which direction to go. Stay to your right to follow the Artist Bluff Trail. The other option will take you on the Bald Mountain Trail and will take you longer to get to Artists Bluff.
Great fall hike with amazing foliage.
The Hike
If you are looking for a great trail with amazing views that is relatively quick in New Hampshire, the Artists Bluff Trail in Franconia Notch State Park is exactly that. My friend owns a house close by and about 10 of us drove up for the weekend. After having too many beverages the night before, we wanted something relatively short on this morning. And, we wanted to beat the rain that was inevitable. We have hiked Artists Bluff in the past but it is a great hike and it is very satisfying. The loop is only 1.5 miles but it is challenging with steep sections. And, the trail will lead you to amazing views of Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch.
Upon arriving we saw the parking lot off Route 18 on your right across from the Cannon Peabody slopes. We walked across the empty lot in front of us that led us to the signs of the start of trail for Artists Bluff and Bald Mountain.
We followed the Red marked trails to get to the bluffs. The trail starts off pretty easy then you have some steep inclines and declines as you get closer to the bluffs.
About .25 miles or so into the hike we saw split in the path to hike up to the summit of Bald Mountain on our left. This will add .5 miles to the hike. As we wanted to beat the rain, we stayed the course toward Artists Bluffs.
The trail eventually broke into the open and I saw views of Cannon Mountain. There was a storm recently in the Northeast and there were actually quite a bit of trees knocked down. I came across volunteers doing some maintenance to the trail and trying to clean up. After passing the volunteers, I came up to the rock that points to the direction of the bluffs.
Artists Bluff stands at 2,368 feet high. The views at the top are amazing. You get a great outlook of the Franconia Notch. We hung out for about a half hour at the top reminiscing and questioning prior nights beverage consumption. And, then we decided to head back. The initial descend was pretty tough and rocky but the trail got easier as the path took us along Route 18 across from Echo Lake. And, this took us to where we originally started.
I would do this hike again and likely many more times. Each season of the year I am sure you get different views. Fall foliage would be the best. The trail is well marked and the forest is beautiful. Even though this is close to the highway, it is still far enough away and quiet as you hike. For a hike in the White Mountains, I would say this was an easy level hike. However, I could see this trail being moderate for others due to some the steeper sections. The hike will only take about an hour. But you will always add 20-30 minutes at the top taking in the views. The only thing that would have made this better is if I had some donuts with me!
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Arches National Park, Utah
Utah is filled of awesome and cool areas to explores. Especially, if you want to see some arches. Check out my blog on some must see landmarks in Utah!
Summer time is approaching and all I can think of is the endless possibilities to explore. A friend of mine recently went out West and sparked my memories of the trips I have taken. One of those trips was in Utah. In general, Utah is an underrated state. There is so much to do and so many cool national parks.
One thing about Utah, you can find many arches. You know…the rock sculptures that form natural bridges. There are over 2000 natural stone arches in Arches National Park alone, not counting the myriad of those found throughout Utah. After about 20 arches, you get the idea. You see so many in one area over and over you become a little too familiar. But they are awesome to see. You have to snap out of it and realize that you don’t see this type of scenery ever. With that said, my friends and I had a plan to hike to three very different arches that a each had a different and unique perspective. First, we would hike to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, the most popular to visit in Utah. Second a hike to Corona Arch, just outside of Canyonlands National Park, this is popularly known for adventure junkies that try to rope swing through the arch. There are many vids on YouTube, check this out. You could not pay me enough. And finally, Mesa Arch, located in Canyonlands National Park's Island in the Sky District.
The first stop was Arches National Park for the Delicate Arch. The hike was about 3 miles round trip over exposed open rock that was quite slick. The trail begins at a large parking area near Wolfe Ranch. On this day, the wind gusts were up to 55 mph as you got closer to the arch. Not a smart decision to wear a hat. In addition, debris, sand, sunglasses, you name it was flying around. This is a very popular hike so the top was super crowded. Due to the popular photos you can take here, this will be a populated area most of the time. We had to wait in line in order to get a picture in front of the arch. For the view, it was definitely worth it. The trail is well marked with cairns. The hike isn’t that difficult and it’s a must when you are in the area.
Next on the arches list was the Corona Arch. The trail head of this hike was on the bank of the Colorado River. This hike was far more desolate. We may have seen a hand full of people on the trail. This is a very cool hike with some fun parts of climbing as you approached the arch. Round trip you are looking at about 3 miles also. As I mentioned above, some people actually climb the arch and will rope swing through it. We got lucky that day and ran into a group of crazies from Seattle who were doing just that. It was pretty intense to see in person. I would have never expected to actually see this in person. We had a chance to speak with them and they mentioned they tested the rope with a bag of rocks and the rope didn’t work. Yet, they went ahead and did it anyways! My buddy Corey actually filmed some one of the swings and swapped contact info with guy who did it. The west is indeed wild.
Lastly, we set out to see the Mesa Arch. Most people who visit Canyonlands National Park make the 0.5 mile hike out to the Arch, especially around sunrise. However, we were slackers on this day and got there around sunset time. The arch is off the edge of a 500 foot cliff, part of a 1,200 foot drop into Buck Canyon. Not much to say about the hike since it was so short. It is fairly easy, well-marked and the terrain is slickrock. Nevertheless, the views at the Mesa were incredible. You can get a keyhole view of White Rim country. Endless pictures were taken for sure. Utah has an unbelievable amount of must see landmarks and countless outdoors space to discover. If you make it out west to Utah, make sure you check out some arches. You won’t be disappointed.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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River Highlands State Park, Cromwell, CT
This is the first hiking trail review on the Connecticut hiking challenge trails. Check out the blog to learn more about the challenge!
Trail Description: A view 150 feet up of the Connecticut River can be seen from the White Blazed Trail in the River Highlands State Park. In addition, there is water front with picnic tables to enjoy.
Trail Info:
Where: River Highlands State Park, Cromwell, CT Distance 1.5 miles (1 hr) Difficulty: Easy Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, River, Water
How to get there:
Directions in detail can be found here,https://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=434748&deepNav_GID=1650.
River Highlands State Park, Field Rd, Cromwell, CT 06416
Hiking Tips
Good beginner hike or weekday hike after work.
Super buggy area. Bring bug spray.
The Hike
Finding good hikes in Connecticut is becoming less a challenge. And, that is a good thing. Most people just dismiss how much is truly out there. Recently my friend told me there is a hiking challenge in CT. I can’t believe I haven’t come across this. Of course, I googled and found Sky’s the Limit Hiking Challenge by the CT Department of Electric & Environment Protection (DEEP). They list 14 lesser known trails to encourage more hiking in CT state parks. There are rules and info here. You can win some prizes too. I think it is a great idea. I haven’t heard of most of the trails. I smell some new blog material. I am definitely on-board and will be joining in on the fun.
With that said, here in my very first hike of the Sky’s the Limit challenge. A rare weekday hike but if it is 90 degrees in May in CT, you get outside. Nichole and I went to River Highlands State Park in Cromwell, CT. This was an easier and quick hike. The hike offers views of the Connecticut River from 150 feet above the water. I would use this link for the trail maps. Directions can be found on the CT DEEP link above.
The park consists of multiple color trails. You can go multiple different directions. The biggest loop will take you about 2 miles but you can connect to many different trails and adventure as much as you want. The trails are very well marked and the terrain is pretty level. Maybe one or 2 short, steep sections. We chose the white trail from the parking lot. This takes you directly to the high bluffs overlooking the Connecticut River.
More river views.
From there we took the yellow trail down to the camping site. Typically, you can go to the bottom and walk out to get more views of the river. However, due to all the rain we had recently, the water was really high. Trees and picnic tables were covered. It is probably best to do this hike in the summer. Luckily, I did this a few years ago when the water was low.
After trying to snap some good IG pics, we continued to follow the yellow trail out to the parking lot. There are quite a bit of small bridges to cross over. And, this particular area is swampy and gets very buggy. Tons of mosquitoes. I suggest Deep Woods spray for this hike.
We did do some adventuring off the trails mentioned but it shouldn’t be more than 1.5 miles if you use the white to yellow marked trails. Barely took us an hour. This is a very good beginner hike. You don’t need boots but it is a wetlands area so it can be very muddy. It’s a good, quick hike for those locally.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Hancock Brook Trail, Waterbury, CT
Spring weather is finally upon us. As summer approaches, I look forward to finding new hiking trails. I came across Hancock Brook on Instagram and the hike surprised me. And, no it's not closed. Read up on my advice to make sure you complete this trail!
It has been a long, very long winter in the Northeast. The weather finally felt like spring and that means it was time to find some new trails to hike. I came across the Hancock Brook Trail in Waterbury, CT on Instagram from some fellow CT hikers I follow. I never heard of it and the views looked cool. However, my research displayed this trail was closed including sites like Alltrails. After seeing recent posts and finding one actual site with directions on this trail, I felt comfortable enough to give it a go. And, I can confirm the trail is NOT closed. People are giving up too easily. Yes, there is a rotted bridge but the trail can be accessed elsewhere. For directions, plug into your GPS: Sheffield St., Waterbury, CT, 060704. Drive all the way down until you hit the quarry and there is a small parking lot to your right.
The Hancock Brook Trail is a blue-blaze trail along the edge of the Mattatuck State Forest. This hike is a 2.8 mile loop. The terrain does get quite rocky, which includes steep uphill and downhill portions and some climbing. The trail was covered in leaves on this day and was quite slippery because of that. I would consider this a moderately difficult hike for the average hiker.
Onto to the infamous bridge I kept reading about. Ignore the bridge.
From the parking area, you will start walking up the side of the quarry and look for the first Blue marker. Upon entering the woods, the trail splits and the trail to the right with one blue marker will take you along Hancock Brook. The first half mile or so will give views of the stream and its rapids. The trail is fairly narrow and gets unpleasant as you reach the inclines where the bushes have grown into the trail.
You will reach a spot in the trail where you hear lots of trucks and work on the quarry. There will be a sign to stay on the blazed trail on a tree with the Blue marker.
Continue this direction and go straight. This is a tricky part of the trail. The markings are not great until you reach the peak. You will want to veer right but that will take you the wrong way. There is a like a raised branch signaling not to go this way. If not, you will reach a small pond and you will see a very sketchy trailer. Do not go there. That is not part of the trail. You will be too close for comfort. Turn around. I just envisioned all the crazy TV shows I saw with a crazy dude coming out of a trailer and chasing me.
If you went the right way, you will reach the pond and see the trailer across far enough away. You need to make an abrupt left into the woods to start the incline. Once you do not see blue markings, stop and just turn around. We walked by it as well. I took pictures for guidance. The blue marker was covered by trees.
The trail will get tougher at this stage as you enter a pine forest. There is a mini pond with a bunch of trees down as you get closer to the ascend uphill. Keep an eye out for the blue markings. They are a little too far apart in this area. Once you pass this pond, the steep uphill will begin and there will be some switchbacks.
This tough stretch will be worth it as you will reach a beautiful lookout spot for views. The rock formation is called Lion Head and is the peak at 660 feet. This is a great spot to stop and soak in nature. Have a snack and fuel up on water. Maybe eat a donut.
The climb down was tough at first but got pretty easy as we kept going. And, the trail markings were way better. The spots where they were too far apart, I suggest going the way that made sense and you will find them. You will pass a few more lookout points to enjoy more views along the way.
At the end of trail, there will be a steep downhill section before you reach the quarry where you started. And, somehow we completely missed the waterfall coming in, or the water started to come down from melting while we hiked. Before we left, we took a closer look at what is called Hancock Cascades. This was to the left at the end of the final descend.
This was a surprisingly good hike. This took us about 2 hours and that is with stopping for 20 minutes. I don’t think I would have found it without Instagram. The hike was fun and didn’t take too much time. I would just be careful of the markers. There were times where it was lacking and you really had to keep an eye out. And, stay away from the Breaking Bad looking trailer!
Trail Review:
Hancock Brook Trail, Waterbury, CT (2.8m): 3 out of 5
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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See where I have been recently on Instagram. Follow @HIKINGFORDONUTS