- Civil War Series - Nearly a year after the onset of the conflict at Fort Sumter in April 1861, the Civil War had seen very few significant military engagements in the Eastern Theater. Following the Battle of Bull Run in July 1861, both sides played defense: strengthening their fortifications, bolstering their ranks, and eyeing …
Southwest Colorado’s “Million Dollar Highway”—also known, less memorably, as Route 550—traverses some of the most breathtaking scenery in the state. With sharp curves, steep grades, and a conspicuous lack of guard rails, it is also one of the most harrowing drives in the Rockies. The 23-mile section connecting Ouray to Silverton features historic ghost towns, …
Continue reading “Million Dollar Highway” – Ouray to Silverton
At 595,400 square miles—roughly double the size of Texas—the French Canadian province of Quebec is enormous. Yet, because the vast majority of population centers are in Quebec’s extreme south, it is hard to get a sense of perspective unless you drive north into the oblivion. One such option to experience Quebec outside the Montreal-Quebec City-Sherbrooke …
The 58-mile drive between Leadville and Aspen, Colorado is one of the finest scenic byways in the state. Highlights include the rushing waters of the Roaring Fork River, a stop at the mysterious Grottos, and stunning panoramas from Independence Pass, which—at 12,095 feet—is one of the highest points in the country reachable by paved road. …
Interstate 70, a principal artery for long-distance travelers across the United States, covers 2,153 and crosses nine state lines between Utah and Baltimore, Maryland—and most of the route, admittedly, is less than scintillating. After all, America’s mega-highways were built primarily for ease of travel, not to catch scenic views. There are a few spots where …
Moab, Utah—the now iconic hangout for hikers, bikers, climbers, and alas, jeep enthusiasts—is situated amid a sea of slickrock and flanked by the Colorado River, the blissful sculptor of many of the American Southwest’s grandest canyons. While millions flock to Moab’s Arches or Canyonlands National Parks each year, lesser-known Highway 279 follows one of the …
If you’ve made it to Capitol Reef National Park in central Utah, you’ve already reached one of the American West’s most isolated destinations. Wayne County, in which much of Capitol Reef is located, has not a single stoplight, and any delays encountered on the road are more often than not of the bovine kind. Most …
Continue reading Notom-Bullfrog Road and Burr Trail to Bullfrog Marina
Capitol Reef National Park—a long, skinny unit comprising 378 square miles in the heart of Utah’s canyon country—can be divided conceptually into three separate districts, each with a unique flavor. Around 95 percent of visitors flock to the central Fremont River District, which includes the Highway 24 corridor and the Scenic Drive. Ambitious day hikers, …
Continue reading Cathedral Valley Loop Drive (Capitol Reef National Park, UT)
Canyonlands National Park’s Needles District comprises more than a hundred square miles of spindly spires, dizzying canyons, and colossal views. It also boasts some of Utah’s best hiking and backpacking opportunities, including the Chesler Park Trail, the Big Spring – Squaw Canyon Loop, and the Confluence Overlook Trail. Yet visitors making the 1 ½-hour drive …
Continue reading Utah Highway 211 to Canyonlands National Park’s Needles District
Live and Let Hike 