Havasu Canyon is home to the Havasupai Tribe of Arizona, whose name is translated to “people of the blue-green water.” If you’ve seen photos of the Havasupai waterfalls, it’s easy to understand how they got their name. The creamy aquamarine, spring-fed Havasu Creek gets its exquisite color from heavy limestone deposits in the cliffs that line Havasu Canyon. Most visitors who get a permit to Havasupai can’t wait to see the stunning Havasu Falls, but what they don’t realize is that there are actually several waterfalls in Havasu Canyon, all of which display that incredible teal color. Both ..read more

With off-season prices, thinner crowds, and the change of seasons, winter is one of my favorite times for outdoor adventure in the US. Whether you are a winter lover and want to hit the slopes on a snowy vacation or are looking for warm weather and sunshine, there are plenty of winter destinations where the season and weather will fit the bill. In this blog post, we’ve rounded up the best winter vacations in the US for outdoor adventure. Best Snowy Winter Vacation Destinations Visit Crested Butte, Colorado A few years ago, I had the opportunity to explore Crested Butte, Colorado in the winter ..read more

The Grand Canyon is one of the most-visited National Parks in the United States, but only about 1% of visitors actually go below the rim. If you want to experience the Grand Canyon from below, the Bright Angel Trail is one of the best – and most popular – day hikes and a good entry point for first-time visitors to this amazing National Park. In this post, we share everything you need to know about doing a day hike on the Bright Angel Trail so you know how to prepare and what to expect. Bright Angel Trail Basics These stats are for the Bright Angel Trail to Indian Garden. The trail does continu ..read more

Bisbee, Arizona is a historic mining town that, over the years, has turned into a quirky desert artist haven and it’s a quintessential stop on any road trip through southern Arizona. Nestled into the Mule Mountains, Bisbee has a unique charm that only an old western town can have. The town’s character-filled architecture coupled with the vibrance of its community makes it an especially interesting tourist destination for every kind of traveler. Below we share our favorite things to do in Bisbee, Arizona, a town full of history, art, dive bars, and outdoor adventure. All photos courtesy of Jono ..read more

Have you ever wanted to explore one of the most remote and beautiful places on earth? Well, an overnight kayak trip to Lake Powell’s Labyrinth Canyon is the perfect way to do just that! This remote corner of Arizona and Utah is a paddling paradise, with hundreds of miles of winding canyons to explore. In this blog post, I share a step-by-step guide on planning an overnight kayak trip to Lake Powell’s Labyrinth Canyon. From what gear to bring to where to camp, this post will cover everything you need to know for a successful and enjoyable trip. So whether you’re a seasoned paddler or totally ne ..read more

Nestled in the heart of the Sonoran Desert and surrounded by four different mountain ranges, Tucson, Arizona offers visitors one of the most iconic landscapes in the country.  From sprawling vistas full of ancient saguaro cacti to seemingly secret deserts oasis’ and high elevation forests, Tucson has a wide variety of options for hikers looking to get outside. I’ve spent plenty of time in Tucson but my absolute favorite time of year to visit is in the winter when the desert cools down but is still much warmer than most of the country.  When it’s cold and snowy elsewhere, Tucson is a ..read more

With only 650,000 annual visitors, Petrified Forest National Park often flies under the radar when planning National Park trips. I hadn’t heard much about Petrified Forest when I decided to stop en route to Flagstaff from Albuquerque, but I was impressed to find a totally uncrowded National Park filled with fun hikes, colorful landscapes, detailed petroglyphs, historic Pueblo sites, and loads of 200 million-year-old crystallized logs. What a surprise! Luckily this is a National Park that can easily be explored in one day or less. Only have an hour or two to spare? Just drive through the park a ..read more

Located on the Utah/Arizona border in the Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, backpacking Paria Canyon involves 38 miles of hiking down the meandering riverbed in-between two enormous walls of Navajo sandstone. I spent four days backpacking through the winding canyon and absolutely loved it. A Paria Canyon backpacking trip requires wading downriver, with dozens of crossings – in some ways similar to hiking the Narrows in Zion, but more remote and isolated. Your feet will be wet the entire time. Due to the nature of the trail (or lack of trail), the hiking is slow, but it is nothing ..read more

A Sedona trip is at the top of many outdoor adventurers’ bucket lists for good reason. It’s an outdoor lovers paradise with spectacular scenery at every turn, endless hiking and mountain biking trails, rivers, waterfalls, swimming holes, and so much more. The city itself is beautiful as well and full of great restaurants with spectacular views and plenty of interesting shops to explore. In this Sedona travel guide, we share our best travel tips to help you make the most of your time there, especially if you love to hike and adventure outside. Since Sedona is such a popular destination, it’s go ..read more

My first visit to Sedona was a quick stopover on the way home from a trip to the Grand Canyon. As we drove in on scenic highway 89, we were blown away by the immense beauty all around. We marveled at the views, squeezed in a quick evening hike before spending the night dispersed camping, and then continued on down the road – just enough for a taste that has had me wanting to go back to enjoy a full Sedona itinerary ever since. I recently returned to Sedona with a girlfriend, this time for four days, and we had an absolute blast. When planning this trip, I wanted to maximize our fun and adventu ..read more