Imagine oneself in the Old Wild West on a horseback ride in one of the world’s most dazzling natural attractions. Horse (or mule) rides make one feel like a cowboy (or cowgirl) as one descends deep into the most famous canyon in the world. There are horse and mule rides in the Grand Canyon – with the option of spending the night in the can
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
As time went on, Avery and MacKaye began to butt heads, with MacKaye’s more rustic, traditional vision of mountain trails falling short of Avery’s more modern approach to mountain trail construction. By 1935, MacKaye backed off the AT project almost entirely, focusing on other things, while Avery continued with what was now his vision for the final result. By August of 1937, the trail was finally finished, spanning from its intended point of Georgia all the way to Maine, but that doesn’t mean it was finis
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
In time, MacKaye found those like-minded people who started out as the Appalachian Trail Conference but would eventually go on to become the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, known as the ATC. While the Appalachian Trail was only one part of the plan, this was the first step – the communities were planned to start after its creation. Unfortunately, the Appalachian Trail was an incredible feat in theory but proved tough to get off the ground – no pun intended. Well into the 1920s, the AT was still not completed and McKay found that the Southern states were struggling to make progress. In response, a man named Arthur Perkins, who was a retired judge, took over the completion of the trail. This also garnered attention from a man named Myron Avery, who was a lawyer in Washington. With these two now leading the charge, Avery became the head of the ATC over Perkins, while the team continued mapping out plans for the Southern sta
Break in the hiking 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
Pacific Crest Trail it’s a Hollywood- stunning hiking trail. It spreads across three western states in the lower 48. The 2650 mile trail covers different terrains from the Mojave Desert in California and John Muir’s travels through the Sierras then through volcanoes of Oregon and Cascade mountains. Since it’s one of the longest trails in the country, information and safety measures have become readily available, and even a beginner hiker can try the Pacific Crest Tr
As for the months of November and December, they may bring icy roads, snow, and low temperatures, but it’s also when the Grand Canyon Railway’s Polar Express train comes alive with Santa Claus, reindeer, presents, themed stories, and delicious hot chocolate, from $61.99 per ad
Those familiar with their AT history will likely know the name Earl Shaffer, who was the first thru-hiker to ever complete the Appalachian Trail from start to finish. This not-so-simple achievement seemed to reinvigorate the efforts to fully complete the trail in 1948. By 1951, the AT was officially declared to be open, and additional thru-hikers were permitted on the trail to complete the longest intentional hiking trail in American hist
Two companies offering horse and mule rides on the South Rim are the Grand Canyon Lodges and Apache Stables. There is another company – Grand Canyon Mule Rides – that offers rides in the North Rim. If one is in a hurry, see here for how to see the Grand Canyon in a d
While many adventurers love exploring the Grand Canyon through nature hiking game maps|https://naturetrailinsight.com/, horseback riding, rock climbing, river rafting, or biking, others prefer enjoying those incredibly scenic views from the comfort and safety of the Grand Canyon Railw
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
