Trail Legends Are Real People
I have now stood next to two of the most accomplished ultrarunners in North American history without knowing it. Both times, they told me themselves. Eventually.
Read more →Trail Notes & Field Wisdom
Trip reports, access tips, map tricks, and the occasional campfire rant.
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We Built a Free Alternative to AllTrails. Here's Why.
AllTrails wants $36/year. The Dyrt wants $35. Trek4Free wants nothing. No ads, no email, no paywall — just federal public lands data in one place. Here's the story behind it.
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Three Sisters Springs: Where Manatees Swim Out as You Swim In
We showed up at midnight, the gate was locked, the flashlight was somewhere in the car, and I had my daughter with me. This is still the best family trip I have ever taken.
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You're Never Lost. You're Just Discovering New Places.
We left Colonial Heights on a Friday after work, Amy was navigating, and Google Maps was trying to get us to Paris, France. We found a presidential retreat in the dark instead. Shenandoah's Camp Hoover, and why the best adventures don't start with a plan.
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Texas Has Great Hikes. You Just Have to Know Where to Look.
From the highest point in the state to 40 miles of empty trails that nobody talks about, Texas hiking is better than its reputation. Here's where to actually go.
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Pack Before You Sleep: A Flash Flood Story from Davis Mountains
A park ranger's knock in the middle of the night, a flash flood warning, and no time to think. The same storm system that took lives in Kerrville. Why we always sleep in the car — and always pack up before we close our eyes.
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One Mile In: What the Grand Canyon Does to Unprepared Hikers
We trained for months. Hiked 18 miles day one, 20 miles day two. Came home with blisters. And watched someone get helicopter rescued after walking just one mile down Bright Angel Trail.
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Where Dad Was Standing, There Was Now a Grizzly
Three generations on the Highline Trail. Half the group ran toward the grizzly. My dad ran the other direction. Then my dad disappeared. What happened next is the most vivid wildlife encounter of my life.
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My Dog Got Me Home: Hiking with Dogs and the Gear That Always Goes With Us
Hiking and camping with dogs is one of the great joys and one of the great stresses of outdoor life. One dark trail run on the AT taught me more about preparedness than any checklist ever did.
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Two Pairs of Running Shoes and the Dogs: My Complete Gear List
The more stuff you own, the more reasons you have not to go. After 40 years of trail running, camping, and van life, my kit fits in one bag and the dogs are non-negotiable.
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Mountain Lion Tracks, a Grouse, and the Worst Timing in Trail History
Backcountry West Virginia after a light snow. No cell service. Tracks in the fresh snow that were unmistakably mountain lion. And then a grouse launched from a bush right under my feet.
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The $20 Propane Burner My Dad Taught Me and 40 Years of Camp Meals
One burner. One pot. Pop-top cans and ice blocks. My dad carried frozen fajita steaks in his backpack. I've used the same camp cooking approach for 40 years and I see no reason to stop.
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Swimming Holes, Waterfalls, and What You're Actually Looking For
The trail doesn't have to lead anywhere specific. Sometimes the waterfall at the end is the point. Sometimes just being outside is the point. Here's what 40 years of chasing water has taught us about finding your zen.
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Angels Landing: Zion's Most Thrilling (and Terrifying) Hike
Chains anchored into sandstone. A 1,500-foot drop on both sides. A permit lottery you need to win before you can even try. Here's what Angels Landing is actually like.
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The Appalachian Trail: Everything You Need to Know
2,198 miles. 14 states. 260 shelters. 5–7 months of walking through the eastern United States. The AT is one of the world's great long trails — here's how it works.
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Bear Lake to Fern Lake: Rocky Mountain's Best Alpine Walk
A chain of glacially carved lakes through subalpine forest — Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, Odessa Lake, Fern Lake — on a 7.6-mile shuttle hike in Rocky Mountain National Park.
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Bright Angel Trail: Grand Canyon's Most Famous Descent
One of the most iconic hikes in North America drops 4,380 feet from the South Rim to the Colorado River. Here's everything you need to know before you go down.
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Clingmans Dome: The Highest Point on the Appalachian Trail
At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the top of the Great Smoky Mountains and the highest point on the entire 2,198-mile Appalachian Trail. The view from the observation tower stretches into four states.
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The Continental Divide Trail: America's Wildest Long Walk
3,100 miles along the backbone of the Rocky Mountains from Mexico to Canada. Harder to navigate than the AT, more remote than the PCT, and arguably the most wild of the Triple Crown trails.
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Delicate Arch: Utah's Most Iconic Hike
Three miles of slickrock to the most photographed arch in the world. No shade. No handrails. No bad views. Here's how to hike Delicate Arch without suffering.
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The Harder-to-Find Places Are the Point
The best outdoor experiences aren't at the trailhead with the paved parking lot. They're somewhere harder to reach, less photographed, and rarely on a top-ten list. Here's why that friction is worth it — and how to find them.
Read more → The Four C Trail: East Texas's Most Demanding Backcountry Hike
20 miles of primitive trail through Davy Crockett National Forest with no potable water and complete solitude. This is the best wilderness experience in East Texas — if you're ready for it.
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Half Dome: Yosemite's Ultimate Day Hike
14–17 miles, 4,800 feet of gain, a permit lottery you might not win, and a 400-foot granite face with steel cables for handholds. This is Half Dome.
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Highline Trail: Glacier National Park's Greatest Walk
A 11.8-mile traverse along the Garden Wall at 6,500 feet — mountain goats, grizzly bears, and views that make every other hike feel like a warmup.
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The John Muir Trail: 211 Miles Through the Heart of the Sierra
From Yosemite Valley to the summit of Mt. Whitney, the JMT is the finest multi-day hike in the United States. Here's what it takes to walk it.
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The Lone Star Hiking Trail: Texas's Longest Wilderness Footpath
128 miles through Sam Houston National Forest, from Richards to Cleveland, TX. Longleaf pine, stream crossings, the Little Lake Creek Wilderness, and complete solitude — this is Texas backpacking at its best.
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Navajo Loop + Queen's Garden: Bryce Canyon's Best Day Hike
Drop into a forest of hoodoos, walk through a slot canyon, and climb back out through an alien red-rock landscape. This 3-mile combination is one of the Southwest's finest short hikes.
Read more → The Pacific Crest Trail: 2,650 Miles from Mexico to Canada
Desert. Sierra Nevada. Cascades. Canada. The PCT is the longest, loneliest, most spectacular continuous walk available in the American West.
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Skyline Trail at Mount Rainier: Wildflowers, Glaciers, and the Mountain
The 5.5-mile Skyline Trail loop at Paradise gives you Rainier's glaciers, subalpine meadows full of wildflowers, and views that stretch to Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens.
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State Parks Are Overrun. Here's Where the Solitude Went.
Since 2020, state park visitation has exploded. Reservation systems, full lots, and sunrise lines at the gate have become the new normal. The wilderness hasn't shrunk — you just have to know where to look.
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The SUV Camping Car: Not Pretty, But It Works
Sprinter vans are for the wealthy. VW vans will leave you stranded. And towing a trailer almost killed us on the highway. Here's the honest case for converting what you already have.
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Van Life with Dogs: The Parking Reality Nobody Warns You About
Dog-friendly hotels charge $75–$150 per pet per night. Half of Walmarts no longer allow overnight parking. Loves truck stops are tightening rules. Here's the honest picture — and how dispersed camping solves most of it.
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The Best Free Campsites Near National Parks
Want to camp near National Parks without paying for crowded sites? Discover the best free camping near Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and more—plus tips to stay off-grid legally and comfortably.
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How to Earn a Trail Name on the Appalachian Trail
Trail names are a rite of passage on the Appalachian Trail. Learn how hikers earn them...
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Use Airplane Mode to Conserve Battery on Hikes
Even when your phone shows no bars, it's still draining your battery searching for signal. Learn how switching to Airplane Mode can extend battery life while keeping maps and GPS working off-grid.
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