Hiking Guides
Detailed trip write-ups, stunning photography, thoughtful itineraries, and how-to guides for some of my best hiking and backpacking adventures.
Helpful Hiking Resources
Day Hiking Checklist
Ultralight Backpacking Gear List
How to Meal Plan for Backpacking
Complete Hiking & Backpacking Resources Guide
14 Best Hikes Near San Diego (Eagle Rock, Oak Canyon & More)
San Diego is one of the most popular U.S. travel destinations for several reasons. For some, it’s a good base for visits to that world-famous zoo. For others, it’s the perfect beach escape. And, if you’re into outdoor adventure, the best hikes near San Diego won’t disappoint. San Diego’s hiking scene offers trails with diverse … Read more
Hiking Peru’s Inca Trail to Machu Picchu [2023 Guide]
“Something lost behind the Ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go!” That’s Rudyard Kipling talking about exploration in general, but for me, it’s a specific command to explore Peru’s Sacred Valley and its crown jewel, the lost city of Machu Picchu. I’ve hiked Peru’s Inca Trail region seven times and can’t wait to do it … Read more
17 Best Hikes Near Portland (Mount Hood, Tillamook & More)
Flanked by volcanic peaks, deep gorges, and old-growth forests, Portland, Oregon is home to many of the best hikes near any major American city. Whether visiting the Pacific Northwest for the first time or exploring as a long-time resident, these trails need to be on your list whenever pass through The Rose City. Searching for … Read more
Columbine Lake Trail: Superb Hiking Near Silverton, Colorado
I arrived at Silverton’s Columbine Lake Trailhead on an ominously overcast afternoon with dull thunder rumbling overhead and cold rain sprinkling down. I started the high-elevation hike against my better judgment, unsure of what the weather would bring. But the dark clouds above never cracked as I traversed through some of Southwestern Colorado’s finest backcountry. … Read more
Herman Gulch Trail: Incredible CDT Day Hiking Near Denver
The Herman Gulch Trail is undoubtedly one of the best day hikes near Denver. With its trailhead situated just an hour’s drive from the heart of Colorado’s bustling capital, this Arapaho National Forest hiking gem is as beautiful as it is easy to reach. Over its 6.4 idyllic miles, this out-and-back gem captures nearly everything … Read more
Booth Falls Trail to Booth Lake: Vail Day Hiking at its Finest
I’d been eyeing Vail’s Booth Falls Trail to Booth Lake day hike for a couple of years, and on a perfect Colorado July day, I finally pulled the trigger. The ensuing adventure was a breathtaking and ass-kicking journey through the Gore Mountain Range’s more rugged and raw terrain. It was well worth the trip. Tucked … Read more
Chicago Lakes Trail: Colorado’s Stunning Mt. Evans Wilderness
The Chicago Lakes Trail exemplifies everything I love in a Colorado day hike, even if its high-elevation ascents had me pouring sweat and gasping for air. I guess it’s hard to complain about such challenges when the trail I was hiking lead to a crystal clear glacial lake at the base of a towering 14,000-foot … Read more
4th of July Trail: Nederland’s Gem (Arapaho Pass + Lake Dorothy)
The 4th of July Trail is just a short drive from my hometown, yet I’d never experienced its staggering beauty until my recent hike exploring its wide-open spaces. Hiking the trail’s breathtaking Arapaho Pass to the pristine Lake Dorothy blew my mind at every single turn. It was worth the 32-year-long wait. Nestled in the … Read more
Bukhansan National Park: Hiking Dobongsan’s Jaunbong Peak
I was bored and stir-crazy, itching for something new. The cramped and hectic streets of Seoul were starting to get under my skin. I needed a break from South Korea’s booming capital of 10 million people. It was time for a nature fix. A scenic hike up Seoul’s Dobongsan Mountain in Bukhansan National Park seemed … Read more
Backpacking Food: Meal Plan Tips & Ideas for Your 2023 Hikes
Past attempts at organizing my backpacking food and creating meal plans were always a bit reckless for me. My old approach usually involved jamming a hodgepodge assemblage of hiking food into my over-stuffed bag and hoping for the best. Ensuing days on the trail were spent hiking around dull and nutritionless food, falling short on … Read more
Torres del Paine ‘O’ Circuit: Patagonia’s Top Trek (2023 Guide)
I’d heard rave reviews about the stunning beauty of Torres del Paine’s ‘O’ Circuit, but I wasn’t prepared for it to take me to a transcendent new world. Towering granite spires, sprawling glaciers, breathtaking mountain passes, intense and ever-changing weather — I experienced it all on every step of my six-day journey. Trekking Patagonia’s ‘O’ … Read more
Backpacking the Atacama: The Eerie Ghost Town of San Bartolo
Sunblock and sweat run into my eyes as I trudge through a harsh, unearthly landscape. Ahead, the trail is fading away and a blast furnace sun beats down. A whisper of self-doubt reminds me that I’m completely alone in the middle of the driest desert in the world. I take a slow, deep breath and … Read more
Huemul Circuit Guide (Map, Route, Gear, Camping & Weather)
Profound Patagonian winds tear into my tent as I begin to realize that sleep is a fleeting possibility. Rest, however, is of little concern. Because I will soon be watching the sunrise over a pastel-blue bay of untainted water. The mountains at my back will burn orange as calving glaciers crack softly in the distance. … Read more