Mount Rainier is a mammoth of a mountain , its highest peak clocking in at 14,411 feet. Although the Wonderland Trail loop does not ascend Mount Rainier, there is an impressive elevation gain of 25,436 feet, with several stretches demanding 3,500 feet gain and loss back to back. This is a test to the knees that will prepare hikers for the roughest parts of the Appalachian Tr

Tunneled Trees: Wawona Tree, California Tunnel Tree, and The Pioneer Cabin Tree

The California Tunnel Tree is the last living giant sequoia tree with a tunnel cut through it. Previously there were also the Wawona Tunnel Tree and the Pioneer Cabin Tree (that fell in 20

The first French missionary colony in America was here on Mount Desert Island back in 1613. It was destroyed by the Colony of Virginia and heralded the long struggle in the continent between the English and the French and the English speaking colonists and the French colonists. This would eventually boil over into the French and Indian Wars and the French would be forced to cede it to the English. During the War of Independence, it was a part of Massachusetts before eventually becoming part of Ma

Break in the nature hiking game tips|https://naturetrailinsight.Com/ boots with this moderately trafficked loop through the Indian Peaks Wilderness. The steep climbs will condition a thru-hikers leg's to handle the many elevation gains and losses along the AT. The strenuous trail gains 3,533 feet of elevation over 10 miles to the Devil's Thumb summit, the last 1,000 feet consisting of a steep scramble. Most backpackers take the opportunity to rest for the night, conquering the challenging 6-mile descent the following morn

The majority of the Sierra High Route takes place over 9,000 feet above sea level, which is perfect for conditioning the body to handle high elevations. Altitude sickness can take an AT thru-hiker out of their element, the only relief from the often debilitating flu-like symptoms to descend to lower ground. There is a cumulative elevation gain of 44,000 feet on the Sierra High Route, passing over 30 mounta

The park is open year-round. Certain areas will be closed off during the wintertime and have rough weather conditions. The best time to hike is between May and September because of the good weather. Most of the trails are closed during the winter months due to s

Two of the (still living) trees in the grove have been shaped by the innumerable fires that have swept through the area through the decades. The Clothespin tree's truck is nearly severed by the repeated fires creating a space large enough for a pickup truck to drive through. While the Telescope Tree has been completely hollowed out from the fires - one can walk in, look up and see the

Maine is famous for its stunning northern forests and picturesque landscapes. One of its main outdoor hotspots is the eye-watering Acadia National Park. Piece of heaven is located on the mid-section of the Maine coast and includes the tip of the Schoodic Peninsula, half of the Mount Desert Island, and a part of the Isle au Haut. The park boasts majestic glaciated coastal and island landscapes with U-shaped valleys and glacial erratics. See here for other things to see and do in the summer in Mai

The Grand Canyon National Park is the most visited national park in the whole of the United States. The canyon is very popular for it receives more than 5millions tourists every year. These are people that come from different parts of the country to visit and experience various things in the can

Inside the park, one of the options is camping. Mount Desert Island has two campgrounds and the is another on the Schoodic Peninsula. On the Isle au Haut, there are five lean-to sites to choose from. The capacity of these sites has been reduced due to the pande

The most famous sequoia grove in Yosemite National Park is Mariposa Grove. It is located near the entrance to the park and near Wawona. It is the largest grove of giant sequoias in the park and has many of the most famous trees. There are several hundred mature trees in the park and two of the trees in the grove are among the 30 largest giant sequoias in the wo

The Appalachian Trail passes through 14 states, and a great way to get pumped up for such an amazing accomplishment is by getting used to the feeling by trekking the entire span of Vermont. The Long Trail is the oldest long-distance trail in the U.S., taking hikers along the ridge of the Green Mountains from the southernmost tip of Vermont to the border of Canada. With over 65,000 feet of elevation gain over the multi-week trip, hikers are guaranteed to earn the experience needed to master their AT thru-h

Remember that riding in the Grand Canyon is very popular, while there are not that many tours available. One will need to book months in advance. Before getting too excited, check the weight and age limits. See here for the best month to visit the Grand Cany

One of the common ailments hikers on the Appalachian Trail encounter is boot rot, also known as trench foot. Boot rot occurs when the feet are exposed to prolonged periods of moisture from both sweat and climate. What better way to test the effectiveness of waterproof gear than by hiking through a rainforest? The Dosewallips to Lake Quinault trail takes hikers deep through Washington state's Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park, with a respectable elevation gain of 7,066 f