Glacier/Waterton Lakes Travel Guide
UPDATED Resource for those planning to tour Glacier National Park and/or Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park. Located respectively in northern Montana and southern Alberta the adjacent national parks are typically visited at the same time and offer some of North America’s most spectacular mountain ranges and most beautiful lakes. In 1932, the United States and Canada designated these two national parks together as the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, a symbol of their longtime peace and friendship. Both parks offer outstanding opportunities to view wildlife and a wide variety of recreational activities. More…
Arizona Deserts
Petrified Forest Revisited
NEW Our brief Thanksgiving Route 66 tour brought us to Petrified Forest National Park where we had not visited since 1999. Quite a few changes have taken place: substantial acreage has been added to the park, there is more backcountry access for visitors, a series of “off the beaten path” unmarked trails …Our featured hike this trip was the unique and colorful Blue Mesa Trail. More…
California Central Coast
The Elephant Seals of Piedras Blancas
The elephant seal is the largest of all pinnipeds, with the largest males reaching 5,000 pounds. In the autumn and winter the Piedras Blancas Rookery teems with thousands of these incredible creatures, making it one of the world’s finest wildlife viewing locales. It is also an easy roadside stop with parking along the Pacific Coast Highway.
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New Regular Feature
American West Roadside Stops
Our American West Roadside Stop Series is back online. It features attractions on the side of the road or close by which require only a quick visit to enjoy. New sites will be added regularly.
- Hoover Dam
- NEW Red Mtn. Mining District
- NEW Holbrook, Arizona – A Route 66 Town
- American West Roadside Stops (The Complete List)
Special Guest Feature
Reminiscences of a River Rafting Photographer
Our friend, professional photographer and veteran Grand Canyon river rafter, John Blaustein, has announced the third edition of his classic book, The Hidden Canyon: A River Journey. We are featuring his original 2000 article, generously updated by John with several new photos from the third edition. Find out what it’s really like to raft the Grand Canyon! More…
Return to the Grand Canyon!
The Rock Art of Shamans’ Gallery
After 24 years of recovering from our last Grand Canyon expedition, we finally returned in April, 2014. We accompanied Ken Johnson’s rock art club to Shamans’ Gallery in Tuckup Canyon located in the remote and desolate far western section of Grand Canyon. This is a spectacular rock art site, with many life-sized figures. The artwork may be over 3,000 years old… More…
(Note: see Special Report on Ken Johnson elsewhere on this page.)
Yellowstone / Grand Teton Travel Guides
UPDATED Our Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park Travel Guides have been substantially revised and updated. Find up-to-date information on various outdoor activities and where to make reservations for lodging or find camping in and around these popular parks.
Glacier National Park Road Trip
3,500-Mile, 19-Day Journey to Adventure
Our September trip featured hiking the backcountry of Glacier National Park with some of the most fantastic scenes in the American West.
Special Report: Kenneth W. Johnson
Remembering the “Rock Art Buff Extraordinaire”
Our long-time friend and collaborator, Ken Johnson, passed away suddenly at the age of 69. After a long military then professional career, Ken retired to Las Vegas and developed an amazing passion for rock art. He spent his final years traveling the most remote highways and byways of the Southwest seeking out and documenting rock art sites. He showcased his excellent rock art photography (his photo, left) at Vegastraces.com which covered the Mojave Desert region. Two years ago, he moved to Kanab, Utah and began documenting rock art of the Colorado Plateau with plans for a new website, Kanabtraces. Sadly, he passed just as we were starting this project. We hope to eventually complete it for him. Rest in peace, Ken Johnson.
Recent Features We Really Like
Kicks on Historic Route 66
America’s most beloved highway. This is a diverse multi-part story with many great photos!
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Arizona/Utah
Some of the Southwest’s most famous and unusual scenery. The high desert landscape on the border of Arizona and Utah is a fantastic wonderland…
Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona
Become a superstar photographers for a day by visiting Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, exquisite “slot canyons”, abounding with fantastic and easily accessible photo opportunities.
The Wave, Arizona/Utah
You need to get lucky to visit the magnificent Wave in Coyote Buttes North of the Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, one of the world’s most well-known and surreal landscapes.
Remote Adventure at Coyote Buttes South, Arizona
The companion site to the more famous Wave, the adjacent Coyote Buttes South features an exciting drive on remote roads and at-large exploration of an untrailed wilderness.
The Rock Art of Horseshoe Canyon, Utah
A detached section of Canyonlands National Park in Utah, features some of the world’s greatest rock art
Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Nevada’s Valley of Fire preserves a starkly beautiful section of the Mojave Desert noted for its brilliant red sandstone formations and spectacular sunsets.
Recommended Classic Stories
Grand Canyon Backpack
Our classic feature describing our most exciting adventure has been updated and revised.
Wings of Freedom Tour
This popular tour features three of the most famous combat aircraft from World War II, all of them flyable.
Ute Mountain Tribal Park, Colorado
Spectacular Anasazi Cliff Dwellings and Rock Art.
Manzanar National Historic Site, California
When Fear Was Stronger Than Justice
Bodie, California
The West’s Best Ghost Town
The Trail to Utah’s Rainbow Bridge
It is still possible to capture the romanticism and adventure of visiting Rainbow Bridge by hiking overland, following the footsteps of the early adventurers.
Trinity Site, New Mexico
A visit to the world’s first “ground zero”.
Upper Antelope Canyon, Arizona
Considered by many to be the most beautiful and photogenic slot canyon in the world.
Touring Betatakin & Keet Seel Ruins, Arizona
Navajo National Monument in northern Arizona offers guided tours of two outstanding cliff dwellings dating to the 13th century, Betatakin and Keet Seel. Read my recently discovered journal which describes both tours in complete detail.