Isle Royale National Park is a serene, isolated wilderness in the middle of Lake Superior, making it the least-visited national park in the contiguous United States. Despite its remote location, those who make the journey are rewarded with breathtaking scenery, fascinating wildlife, and a chance to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life. In this episode, we delve into the details of visiting Isle Royale, including transportation options, various activities to experience, and the best time of year to visit. We also discuss the available accommodation options, the ideal length of st ..read more

In our Mailbag! episodes, we answer questions from listeners about the national parks, ranger-led tours, road trips, hiking, camping, backpacking, gear, relationships, and pretty much whatever anyone wants to ask us. In this episode, we cover these topics: ·     A listener asks our opinion on whether to spend a weekend in Olympic NP or Shenandoah NP (the title of this episode is a clue to our answer), ·     Suggestions about which of the three Washington national parks would be best to visit when you have an extra two days on route to an Alaska ..read more

We used to think that winter was for hunkering down inside and planning for warm-weather activities in the parks. But that all changed one day when we rented snowshoes in Yellowstone on a zero-degree February day. After an exciting day experiencing the uncrowded backcountry covered in a deep blanket of snow, we were hooked. The scenery was breathtaking, and we had several wildlife encounters that would not have been possible in warmer months. Now, we make a point to snowshoe at least a few times each winter in our incredible public lands. In today’s episode, we talk about some of the basics of ..read more

Radiating out from the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers in southeastern Utah is a landscape full of spectacular canyons, unusual rock formations, and some of the most challenging backroads anywhere in America. Separated into four distinct districts, Canyonlands NP has something for everyone, from easy-to-access canyon overlooks to breath-taking hikes of all degrees of difficulty. The park even has one of the most photographed natural arches in the southwest. In this episode, we cover all this and much more!   Here are a few helpful links about some of the topics in this episode ..read more

If the historic national park lodges could talk, they’d tell us chilling stories about strange things happening over the years within their walls. From the sound of mysterious parties coming from deserted ballrooms to presidential rocking chairs moving by themselves, we’ve pulled a few of our favorite ghost stories from the history books to share with you during this spooky time of the year. In this episode, we take you to several lodges where unexplained happenings keep guests and caretakers on the lookout for figures from the past around every corner.   Here are links about some of the ..read more

The trail to Kanarra Falls in southwestern Utah has it all: beautiful scenery, a pristine creek running through a slot canyon, and a picturesque waterfall. It’s just the right length at about 3.5 miles roundtrip and is only moderately strenuous. This is why it’s become a hugely popular destination for outdoor adventure seekers. In this episode, we talk about our experience hiking this trail in October 2022, how we got our permit, and a little history of this popular site. We even talk about how the town of Kanarraville now keeps this special place from being over-loved and the heroic efforts t ..read more

 South Dakota might not be the first place you think of as a vacation destination, but the Black Hills and surrounding areas are packed with incredible sights and activities. In this episode, we take you to the epicenter, Custer State Park, where you can see bison roam, hike some world-class trails, and take a scenic drive through granite spires and narrow tunnels. From there, we explore other fascinating public lands that are a short distance to a couple of hours away, including several national park service units. And as a bonus, there's not just one History Channel segment in this epis ..read more

In our Mailbag! episodes, we answer questions from listeners about the national parks, ranger-led tours, road trips, hiking, camping, backpacking, gear, relationships, and pretty much whatever anyone wants to ask us. In this episode, we cover these topics: ·     Our favorite wildlife sightings while visiting the national parks, ·     Our opinion on hiking and backpacking with portable solar chargers, and ·     What to consider when choosing the right hiking boots for your feet.   Our Patreon account is now up and r ..read more

Now is the perfect time to plan a winter trip to Everglades National Park. While the park's rainy season is typically April through November, the other months are a great time to visit. In this episode, we talk about hiking trails we enjoyed and some other park activities you might want to try, such as airboat tours, nature photography tours, kayaking, canoeing, and Matt's favorite, slough slogging through the wetlands. But the fun doesn't stop there. We dive deep into the sawgrass marsh with a close look at its reptile population as Karen explains the differences between alligators and crocod ..read more

It’s time for another road trip! The Grand Circle Tour is a driving itinerary that takes you to some of the most amazing natural wonders in southern Utah and northern Arizona. Travel along with us in this episode as we start in Las Vegas, travel northeast through Utah, loop down to southwestern Colorado, and come back to Utah before making a few stops in northern Arizona on our way back to Las Vegas.   This tour is a general guide; you can customize it to your liking. You can also begin and end it from any point on the loop if Las Vegas is not your starting point. So, buckle up and get re ..read more