Category: Destination Guides
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Lauf Elja Trail – The Elja Experience Program
Recently I was given the incredible opportunity to be part of the Elja Experience Program through Lauf, an Icelandic company that designs and manufactures road, gravel, trail and XC mountain bikes. The ask: try out an Elja Trail mountain bike and 1.) report back on my first impressions, 2.) test out different tire widths, and…
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Trekking to Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon
Hidden deep down in the Grand Canyon there is a blue-green creek that flows through deep, red canyon walls. Along the way, this creek drops almost 100 feet to make Havasu Falls (Havasu means blue-green water). Havasu Falls is a highly coveted destination and is widely photographed, but there are actually five main waterfalls in…
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The Kumano Kodo – A Japanese Pilgrimage and UNESCO World Heritage Site
As an individual with a love of hiking and travel and a curiosity about the world’s religions, my interest has been piqued by two ancient pilgrimages: the Camino de Santiago in Spain, which I’ve walked and biked previously, and the Kumano Kodo in Japan, a far lesser known pilgrimage that I learned about many years…
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Five Beautiful Hikes in Sedona, Including Three ‘Secret’ Caves
Sedona, Arizona is only a day’s drive away from me, but I’ve spent so much time exploring Colorado’s mountain ranges that I had yet to make the trip there. The natural beauty of our world never ceases to amaze me, and Sedona was no exception! I spent three days there but could easily have spent…
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Colorado’s Backcountry Cabins: the 10th Mountain Division Huts
Colorado is well-known for its picturesque landscapes and mountain getaways. However, few people know about the 10th Mountain Division Huts, which are tucked away deep in the peaks between the cities of Aspen, Vail and Leadville. Many require a hike, snowshoe or ski in depending on the time of year, but a few have trailheads…
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Cycling the Oregon Coast Bike Route
The Oregon coastline is stunning with its tall, jagged rocks jutting out of the water and thick stands of trees lining the fine sand. I had never been to Oregon before, but as I was researching multi-day cycling trips, information on this route came up and I was immediately struck by its beauty. Since I…
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The Camino de Santiago – Cycling the Portuguese Coastal Route
I first heard about the Camino de Santiago in a college Spanish language course. A classmate presented on the topic at the front of the classroom after having learned about it herself while studying abroad in Spain. As I listened on with intrigue, I had no idea I would be partaking in the adventure myself…
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Four Days Backpacking in Custer-Gallatin National Forest, Montana
This will easily go down as one of my most favorite places to backpack, ever. And that’s saying a lot coming from someone who lives in Colorado and frequently backpacks in the Rocky Mountains. Montana is stunning!! Breathtaking!! As beautiful as Colorado but with more water. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity.…
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Road-Tripping in Utah
I’ve been to Utah a few times, primarily to visit Arches National Park and to ski near Salt Lake City in the winter, but I had never really explored beyond those areas. I had a week of vacation available and was itching for some outdoor time hiking and camping. Seeing as it was April in…
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Backpacking in Glacier National Park
After ten years of applying to the lottery for a Wilderness Permit at Glacier National Park, a friend finally received a five day itinerary that we couldn’t pass up. Glacier National Park is in Montana’s Rocky Mountains, stretching up to the Canadian Border. Picture 700 miles of hiking trails with amazing views of alpine lakes,…
From Trails 2 Tales 