Three Hikes in One Day in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park

The always stunning Appalachian Mountains from Shenandoah National Park.

In January, I noticed I had a three-day weekend without any work obligations. Naturally, to me, that means an adventure needs to be planned. I set my eyes on Shenandoah, a place I spent a day in years ago and always hoped to revisit.

Shenandoah, and Virginia in general, often feels overlooked. A hidden gem of a place, like the New River Gorge in West Virginia.

I rarely have the opportunity to visit a national park in the off-season, and of course took total advantage. From Massachusetts, Shenandoah is a 7.5 hour drive, or about eight with a gas and bathroom break stop. I took the more scenic route through the middle-of-nowhere Pennsylvania to take advantage of the lack of traffic on a Friday afternoon start of the long weekend.

Since I was planning so last minute, I didn’t set any plans for my time there. My best kept secret for lodging is booking a cabin stay at a KOA. It felt meant to be when there was one vacant cabin left at the Harrisonburg/Shenandoah KOA. Of course I had to book it. With my rewards points, my three-night stay was very affordable.

These cabins are my favorite because they’re rustic chic. It’s a definite upgrade from a tent (or sleeping in my car if we’re honest), but it’s not lavish by any means.

After my long drive, I slept in. I prepared some coffee and breakfast on the porch of my cabin, and promptly ate it inside because it turns out, Virginia gets cold. Like New England cold.

I packed several layers thinking I would not need them, but ultimately used a lot of my cold weather gear when I went hiking. Always read what park rangers in Shenandoah National Park post about the most up-to-date information on alerts and conditions in the park. Skyline Drive can be entirely (or partially) shut down due to icy conditions.

Shenandoah National Park Wildlife

The only memory I really have from my first trip to Shenandoah is a rocky summit hike I did with dad, but this was quickly overshadowed by my first bear sighting. We caught sight of a bear cub about twenty yards from us and hastened our pace back to the parking lot. Lo and behold, momma bear was on the road.

It was truly a spectacle. That I enjoyed from inside our car because I did not need to be any closer to the bear than I already had been.

It was time to make new memories in Shenandoah, so I embarked on a few hikes. Here are three hikes you can take on in one day’s visit to Shenandoah National Park:

1. Bearfence Mountain

I took full advantage of the off-season and arrived to the park before sunrise to start my day with the sun atop a summit. The best spot to catch sunrise is Bearfence Mountain. Here’s a secret: you don’t have to make it past the icy ledges to the actual summit for breathtaking, 365-degree views.

The first light on a winter morning without a car or other hiker in sight for a couple hours in the park.

I was the only one in the parking lot, at milepost (MP) 56.4 when I arrived at 7 A.M. As soon as I turned off the ignition and crossed the road to the trailhead, I remembered this was the hike I did with my dad seven years ago. The one where I saw the momma bear on the road. A fitting mountain name for this hike. As much as I love seeing wildlife, I was hoping I wouldn’t come across a bear this time around.

The trail was icy, and as always, I’m racing against the sun. I made it up about .3 miles and around 275 feet of elevation when the wind really kicked in at one of the false summits. I was alone and cold, but couldn’t wait for the sun to rise.

The summit was a bit further out, along a little more of a rocky, iced ridgeline. I decided it was best to camp where I was and enjoy the start of the day from where I was. This hike is also one of the few hikes in all of Shenandoah National Park where you catch a glimpse of Skyline Drive from a bird’s-eye-view. I love a good road photo surrounded by nature.

But what I truly loved, was feeling like I was the only person for miles on this mountain watching the sun rise. Sunrises really are the best.

When I could no longer feel my fingers, despite my gloves and hand warmers, I headed down the same way I went up. Confident as always, I ate it on one of the last steps before I made it to the road. Just Shenandoah reminding me to humble myself.

The route from Strava

Here’s the route I took. At the end of the trail, I looked at the trail map and realized there is a way to avoid the icy, rocky ridgeline that I stopped short of by hiking on the Appalachian Trail instead. Next time (and if I wake up early enough)!

2. Hawksbill Mountain

When you finish soaking up the first light to hit the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, it’s time to head to a Shenandoah favorite, rightly so.

Shenandoah really has it figured out with all of its rocky ledges.

Right off Shenandoah National Park’s main park road, Skyline Drive, is the trail for Hawksbill at MP 45.6.

The route for Hawksbill Mountain

This hike was so nice I had to do it twice. One of my favorite aspects about it is that the summit reaches over 4,000 feet. I didn’t know any hikes further south from Massachusetts hit 4,000 feet, considering Massachusetts’ highest peak, Mt. Greylock, comes in at 3,490 feet.

In about one mile and only 500 feet of climbing, I was met with a windy, icy summit reminiscent of New Hampshire’s wintry peaks.

3. Stony Man Mountain

Stony Man was a quick jaunt, but worthwhile to see the Appalachian Mountains from a different perspective.

As the day begins to near the late afternoon, it’s time to make moves to catch sunset. You have two incredible options for sunset: one is to hike up Stony Man Mountain for jaw-dropping views of the Appalachian Mountains. Another, if you’re tired (or short on time), is to pull over at one of the overlooks and take a hidden trail to a secluded ledge. More on both options below.

A great trail leading right off of Skyline Drive is Stony Man Mountain. The parking lot is at MP 41.7. I had little to no service in the park, so I relied on the park map provided to me by the park rangers upon entering the park, as well as downloaded trail maps from AllTrails. There is also a Little Stony Man, so be sure to go for the big guy. This hike traverses the Appalachian Trail, which I loved, because it again reminded me of home back in New England.

The Strava route for Stony Man Mountain

A speedy three-quarters of a mile to the summit with roughly 300 feet of climbing brought me to this scenic spot. The other major perk of the off-season? Parking lots, trails, and summits entirely to myself. I loved every minute of it!

I would hike up Stony Man for sunset because it is short, has ample parking, and of course, the views.

Bonus Sunset Spot: The Point Overlook (MP 55.5)

If you’re short on time, or exhausted from a day full of hiking, check out MP (milepost) 55.5. Pull over and park at The Point Overlook right off Skyline Drive. You’ll find a stone wall with an empty space in it. Walk through that empty spot down the trail, roughly 300 feet.

You’ll be greeted with a rocky ledge all to yourself. I parked at The Point Overlook with two other cars, but neither party ventured on this hidden path. It’s definitely worthwhile, especially if you are short on time to run up a mountain.

Which hike is making it to your list? Would you take on all three in one day?

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Hiking Esther Mountain in the Adirondacks

I first discovered the Adirondacks from one of my best friends in college who was living in Hawaii at the time. She sent me a picture of Whiteface’s stony summit path and said, “you have to go there.” Naturally, I drove four hours the next morning (luckily it was the weekend), drove the road up Whiteface, and indulged in the best foliage I had ever seen. Still possibly the best foliage in all my years living in New England since.

I mean look at those colors. I took the photos of Whiteface Mountain below back in October 2016. I had only survived the Franconia Ridge the summer prior and had no idea the mountains and views in store when I’d move to Massachusetts the following year.

Little did I know that five years later I’d hike up the very mountain that first introduced me to the Adirondacks.

Whiteface Mountain in October 2020

Featuring a naive me, thinking I wouldn’t take on the Adirondack 46 at some point.

It also comes in at 4,867 feet, making it one of the highest peaks in the Adirondacks. Of course this places Whiteface on the 46er list (New York’s 46 highest peaks). Along one trail to Whiteface is a short detour to Esther Mountain.

On my hike up Whiteface, we took a slight detour in the wrong direction. When we approached the trail sign for Esther, it read, “path not maintained or marked.” Dejected from the detour, we trudged onward to Whiteface. After all, I wasn’t chasing the 46er list. I was there to spend time outside, and see the foliage. Not push on to a viewless summit in uncharted terrain.

Joke’s on me because three years after my Whiteface ascent, I decided I wanted to tackle the 46 highest peaks in the Adirondacks. So here I was with a free Saturday and a craving for a good climb. The weather was sunny and the temperature was moderate. I made a go for it!

Last weekend, I parked at the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center at 110 Marble Mt Ln, Wilmington, NY 12997. Plenty of parking here, but be sure to not park at the center itself. The trail is indicated with a visible sign.

From the start of the trail, it’s a lovely (short-lived) flat path before the 2,000 foot climb begins. A real-world, snow-covered stair climber. What more could you wish for?

Trail Route from Strava

An out-and-back 6.3 miles with about 2,800 feet of elevation gain.

The great part in summer is that the sunshine is covered for this brutal, sweaty climb. The best part in winter when all the tree branches are bare, is that the sun shines just enough to warm your uncovered face, while the rest of your body is fired up.

I love a good climb, and Esther was no different. At about .8 miles, you reach Marble Mountain, roughly 2,700 feet. A great break spot, complete with rocks to sit on and a view worth gazing at. When you’re done, the next leg of the trip continues to climb (shocking, I know), up to Lookout Mountain at 4,075 feet.

Snowshoes are actually required in the Adirondacks during the winter with more than 8 inches of snow.

The trail was very packed down, so I used microspikes on the ascent. I thought I’d try out my new snowshoes on the descent and they were incredible. These Winter Walker snowshoes from L.L.Bean are super affordable and did me well on a 4,000 footer! They are currently on sale too!

Esther Trail

The iconic Esther sign I referenced earlier is at this point, where you can either turn left for Whiteface, or head right, to the “not maintained” path. The beauty of winter (and several snowshoers before you) is having a very clear path outlined for you. I never faltered from the trail.

After a bit more climbing (several hundred feet), I soaked up the summit to myself. Everyone I have talked to Esther about always brings up the summer mudfest, or the lack of summit views. I’m not sure if it was because this was my first hike back in the Adirondacks after months away with marathon training, or if there were several feet of snow that elevated me, but I loved the far-off views of Whiteface I saw.

I’m a little biased because I also love winter hiking. A lot. I spent about an hour on the summit wanting to enjoy the perfect day before I headed down.

When I reached my car, I clocked in about 2,800 feet of climbing in 6.3 miles of going out-and-back on the Marble Mountain trail to the Esther trail.

The mountain is apparently named after Esther, a fifteen-year-old girl who was the first known person to summit. Turns out, she hiked up here just for the love of hiking. How fitting considering that was the exact way I felt all day up there. Hiking up Esther Mountain in the winter is definitely the way to go.

This was my 21st peak of the 46. Here’s to many more summit smiles!

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Winter is The Best Time of Year to Visit White Sands National Park

About five years ago, I hiked around Guadalupe Mountains National Park—making a pitstop at Carlsbad Caverns National Park since it was in the vicinity. I honestly agreed to the detour because of its national park designation. After walking through caverns before, I wasn’t sure how Carlsbad would be any different. I was clearly wrong after the cave tour led by a ranger who even sang in the dark depths of a cave tunnel to portray the incredible acoustics found down in the depths of those caverns.

Also in southern New Mexico, nearby Carlsbad Caverns, is White Sands National Park. At the time it was a designated national monument. As someone who isn’t the biggest fan of sand, I didn’t make any effort with the friends I was traveling with to justify another detour before we headed back to Austin, Texas.

Naturally when White Sands received the designation of national park in 2019, I was peeved I didn’t explore it when I had the chance. When would I make a trip down to southern New Mexico again for this park?

Fast forward to last summer when I was on the search for a winter marathon. The only cold marathon I could find in January? The inaugural Las Cruces marathon. Las Cruces, New Mexico happens to be about a forty-minute drive from White Sands National Park.

I didn’t need any convincing. I was sold.

After a little planning and a few months of training, I ran my best marathon yet, and enjoyed a visit to my 41st national park in great company.

I flew into El Paso’s international airport as it’s only an hour from Las Cruces, New Mexico. If I had more time, I would have flown to another airport in New Mexico and roadtripped around the state. Given that I only had a weekend, I opted for the swiftest option.

Here are my tips for your visit to one of America’s newest national parks, White Sands National Park:

1.     Winter is hands down the best time of year to visit.

It’s the off-season. Lines were non-existent and temperatures were mild. I despise extremely warm temperatures, so visiting this park right after New Year’s made me enjoy it so much more than I would have in the summer when I’m usually traveling.

2.     Check sunset times before planning the next day’s visit.

Living in New England, the sun sets rather early in the winters. I was pleasantly surprised when I checked my weather app and noticed how “late” sunset was at White Sands for my visit.

Knowing what time the sun sets helped me adjust the day’s schedule to arrive to the park earlier than I was originally planning to in order to capture all of sunset.

3.     Give yourself extra travel time to arrive.

Whether it’s the immigration stop, obtaining a National Parks Pass, or adding a new magnet to your collection at the Visitor Center – you may want to come well in advance of sunset to savor the sun before it falls behind the ridgeline.

The first evening I visited, I naively thought I could just park right away and catch sunset minutes before. Little did I realize I would need time to find parking, walk across the sand a bit, and find a good spot. By the time I did that, the sun had already set past the mountain range in the distance.

I lucked out when I turned around and saw a full moon ascending above the other mountain range as a pastel palette colored the sky.

4.     Park at Sunset Stroll and wander.

There truly is no wrong away to go about exploring the sand dunes at White Sands. There are a few longer hikes out onto the sand, but it can easily be a park you visit for a few hours. If I return, I’d love to backcountry camp overnight on the sand to see the sunrise.

On both of my visits, I parked near the Sunset Stroll sign, which has ample parking. This is also the designated spot for a ranger-led walk. It’s a few miles into the park.

The park itself has less than ten miles of road.

I walked over a sand wall that honestly looks like snow on a New England street after the plows went through, and traversed until the only light that guided me came from the moon.

5.    If you have time for a longer trek, try out the Alkali Flats trail.

Alkali Flats is White Sands’ longest hike. It’s a five-mile loop, and despite its “flat” name, walking up sand dunes is not your daily sidewalk dog walk. Give yourself plenty of time to enjoy this loop.

6.     Purchase an America the Beautiful Pass.

Visiting more off-the-beaten-path parks like White Sands isn’t the most affordable. A way to save (if you plan on visiting a handful of parks a year) is to purchase an annual parks pass.

Every year, I purchase the America the Beautiful pass. For $80, I can access any U.S. National Park for a year from the purchase month for free. Obviously it is not technically free, but a week’s visit to White Sands is $25. This entrance fee is valid for seven consecutive days from the day of purchase. Purchasing the annual pass also encourages me to fulfill my yearly goal of visiting two new national parks. I already paid for the pass, so it only makes sense to use at least $80 worth, right?

A handful of parks are free to enter, while others are $30. Check out this list for days that many fee-required national parks are free for a day.

Tip for New England hikers

The America the Beautiful pass also grants you free parking at national forests. For busy parking lots that charge for parking in the White Mountains National Forest, this means free parking!

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3 Hours in Kentucky’s Best-Kept Secret: Mammoth Cave National Park

When I embarked on my goal to visit all fifty states, I really had to dig deep to fathom what people saw in Kentucky. It’s inconveniently located in the U.S. It’s not close to the attractions of the western U.S., and it’s too far from Ohio and New York—what I consider to be the gatekeepers of the east for road trip lovers. Once I hit Ohio, I feel like I’m truly on a road trip.

Once I realized the state of Kentucky’s best-kept secrets lay under its surface, I knew I had to visit. Kentucky is home to the world’s longest cave system. That’s right. Little ol’ Kentucky holds the world record in cave system length. Next time you attend a trivia night, you can bet you’ll remember the name of this one.

Mammoth Cave feels suitable for the home of this world record holder. Exploring caves was never at the top of my to-do list until an unexpected trip to Carlsbad Caverns. A group of friends and I aimed to hike Guadalupe Peak down in Texas a few summers ago, and in the planning stages, we realized how close Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico was to where we would be. Naturally we had to visit two parks in one trip. Who wouldn’t?

Slightly kicking myself for not squeezing in White Sands while I was down there, but I will gladly take another excuse to visit New Mexico again because the caverns in Carlsbad blew me away. Here I thought I was just crossing another park off my list, but the caves were stunning. The tour I went on took me through multiple football field length rooms of open space underground. It was breathtaking.

When we were road tripping down to Florida and back to Massachusetts, Kentucky didn’t look too far off on the map. What’s an extra few hours when you’re already driving over thirty hours total, right?

Kentucky is one of three states I had never visited. I truly only knew it was home to the Bourbon Trail and the Kentucky Derby. Turns out, it has a bit more to offer than that. There are countless caves to explore and outdoor things to do. We only spent a half day in the state before venturing off to one of my favorite places in the U.S. (the alluring West Virginia), but that was plenty of time to discover Kentucky’s best kept secret: Mammoth Cave National Park.

Given the poor lighting inside a cave, there is little opportunity for photos. Had to get the classic national park sign shot at the entrance of the park! This also marked park #40 out of 63 for me!

Mammoth Cave National Park became a national park in 1941 and a World Heritage Site in 1981, and it’s no surprise why. Here’s the best way to explore this gem:

Take a tour with a park ranger. The park itself has more than 400 miles of mapped out passageways underground, but only about ten miles of those are available to explore through a tour. Visitors are in luck though because there are countless tours available and they are offered year round! Explore tour options here and book a guided cave tour here. You will need to make an account with www.recreation.gov to book.

Tip: There was some service in the parking lot of the visitor center, but absolutely none inside the center. All tours begin and end at the center, so I highly encourage you screenshot your ticket confirmation to ensure a smooth tour entry.

Another tip: For those of you like me who always invest in a National Park Pass (the interagency one), unfortunately it’s not accepted here.

We signed up 3 weeks in advance for the 12:15pm Historic Tour. It’s a two-hour tour that I felt would be the best bang for our buck (and we also only had a few hours to spend in the park before departing to our next destination). As of April 2022, this tour was $20 per person.

Lucky us, we ended up on tour with an entire sixth-grade class. Nothing more relaxing for two teachers on spring break than being part of a tour of students… Thankfully the park ranger could see our enthusiasm about this, and informed the group that anyone not part of the school group would be at the front. This was ideal!

Our tour guide took us through the historic entrance and told us all about . There are still plenty of miles waiting to be discovered—eight new miles were discovered as recently as the fall of 2021!

The Historic Tour is about two miles long at a slow pace. There are plenty of stopping points, but also fun sections that aren’t for the claustrophobic adventurers out there.

The paved path thinned significantly moments after this sign and caved in vertically as well. An appropriate caution sign for what was to come.

What I found most fascinating was the story of tour guide turned explorer Stephen Bishop, who we have to thank for a great deal of the discoveries in Mammoth Cave.

This tour gave a great taste of the treat that is Mammoth Cave. Like I said before, I’m not a big cave girl, but won’t turn down an opportunity to explore one either after Carlsbad. Mammoth Cave in a few hours felt like just the right amount of time spent to not get bored or tired. There are plenty of other tours to learn more or explore further, as well as trails to walk or bike on above ground.

At the end of the tour, you exit up these stairs. Before returning to the visitor center, you are required to walk across bio-security mats to prevent a fungal disease (white-nose syndrome) from negatively impacting the caves’ bat population.

For me, three hours was just enough time to enjoy the beauty that is Mammoth Cave National Park.

Would you travel to Kentucky for this national park? 

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The Best Local Hike in Western Massachusetts

Tekoa’s rocky ledge viewpoint is Western Massachusetts’ best-kept secret. Read on to find out how to get here.

One of the top reasons on my list for wanting to move to Western Massachusetts was for the outdoor adventuring. Growing up in a suburb of Dallas, hiking looked like going to local park and exploring the woods. It was a great way to pass a Saturday afternoon (and who can complain about time spent outdoors/), but I craved more. I wanted longer trails. Elevation gain. Summit views.

Western Mass has this hidden beauty that only those who visit will ever uncover. Most people who visit Massachusetts frequent Boston or the Cape. There’s a running joke up here that Worcester is Western Massachusetts to Bostonians. Very few take the scenic drive out to what I consider to be the real gem of the state.

I may be biased, but Western Mass has it all—from outdoorsy adventures to breweries, to easy access to day trips. In the six years I have resided here, I frequent many of the same trails. In the last year, however, I discovered countless new ones. My all-time favorite? Tekoa Mountain. And here’s why.

Tekoa is something special.

It’s not easily accessible. It’s not a walk in the woods like many Western Mass favorites. It’s immersed in nature. Untouched, it feels like. Overgrown at times. Rarely do I see other hikers on this mountain despite its beauty.

I first stumbled upon it on a solo drive to upstate New York. Everyone driving to that area of New York on the Mass Pike crosses over a bridge that showcases encompassing valley views. Yes, that bridge you see way down there in the images above.

If you’re able to glance long enough, you notice a rocky ledge on the upper righthand side. After I caught sight of it for the first time, I made a mental note of the town I was driving through (Russell, MA), and researched it as soon as I could. Want to know what I found?

Nothing.

No trail maps, no trail reviews—nothing on AllTrails, and that says something.

I found a few comments about a steep route up that involved a sketchy parking situation that I was not keen on venturing into. I put off the search for a couple years and decided to try again last fall. I lucked out after some digging and found a legal parking spot. With a little trial, some error, and a sprinkle of wrong turns, I finally found my favorite outdoor gem in Western Massachusetts and it sure was worth the wait.

Everything you need to know about hiking to the ledge atop Tekoa Mountain:

Parking – This is the trickiest part. The safest parking I found is along a residential road that ends with a gate that the town needs access to. There is room for about five cars to avoid blocking the gate. I plug in 48 Reservoir Road, Westfield, MA into Google Maps. This is technically in the town of Montgomery, but it will show up as Westfield. Once you’re on this quiet road, drive to the end. Park there. Again, be sure to not block the gate.

Cost – Free!

Distance – About 5 miles out-and-back with a little over 1,000 feet elevation gain. There is an option to make a loop at the summit for a sunset view and different vantage point of the valley (with a little bushwhacking involved). If I could do it as a beginner bushwhacker, so can you! Sunset technically can’t be seen from the ledge, so this loop is great if you want that sunbeam shining through.

Difficulty – The reason this hike is my absolute favorite (and a Western Massachusetts hidden gem) is because most people think they need to travel a far distance for a tougher hike. I was one of those people, so I totally get it. What I love about this hike is that it’s local, peaceful, and has a climb. I love those short, easy hikes as much as the next hiker, but there’s something to be said for putting in the work and getting the payout once you reach the summit.

The route I take (logged on Strava) is above. From the parking to the viewpoint as an out-and-back.

Trail Details – After parking on Reservoir Road, follow the road behind the gate for a little under half a mile. It’s a steady, slight climb on a wide, gravel road. Veer left at the half mile mark and you’ll approach a gorgeous view atop a bridge of the Tekoa Reservoir. The calming stream and serene surroundings provides a great opportunity to catch your breath and enjoy the scenery.

When you’re ready, continue onwards and upwards. You’ll reach a Y intersection. Take the right, even though there’s a very official-looking sign on the left (it’s an informational sign). It’s not the direction you want for this hike.

Coming up is one of the best parts of this hike: the climb. After you turn right, you’ll follow along Moose Meadow Brook until you’re about a mile in. Here’s where I’ve gone astray far too many times. As you approach a mile, keep your eyes peeled for a left turn off the road into a dirt trail. It’s easy to miss if you’re deep in conversation, trail running, or just enjoying your hike. You’ll know you went too far if you cross another scenic bridge at a mile in. This bridge is great, but it means you missed the turn.

Once you’re in the woods, a gorgeous, well-trekked walk along a stream before the climb kicks in around a mile and a half in awaits you. This is one of my favorite parts of this hike because I have yet to come across anyone on this trail. It’s just the sound of the stream, the chirping of birds, and me. And my thoughts of bear encounters flooding in, of course. The first big climb of the hike flattens out for a tenth of a mile before beginning the final ascent to the ridgeline. Continue following the yellow markers. Though I usually see chipmunks or squirrels on this hike, I saw a bear for the first time here in May.

Tekoa in Winter

After one lovely dumping of snow, I knew I had to get out on the trail up Tekoa. It definitely did not disappoint. Snowshoes would have been a smart choice considering how infrequently traversed this trail is.

Depending on the season, the trail here is not maintained well. Be sure to bring bug spray or wear long pants to avoid any fun bug or plant reactions.

Once you finish that second, steep climb, you will find your trail opens up like a T. There are red markers here to remind you to take this trail back. Take a left and follow the yellow markers until you reach the summit. There are a few rolling hills and some rusty car parts along the way.

The viewpoint is approached from a wide clearing at the top with distant views of Springfield to your left. Take the trail to the right of the rock pile to reach the iconic, rocky ledge view you may have seen from the Mass Pike.

As always, please leave no trace. Whatever you bring onto the hike, please take back out with you to ensure this local gem stays beautiful for everyone.

You really cannot go wrong with any season you choose to accomplish this hike in. From foliage in the fall, to snow-capped hills in the winter, to the luscious greenery of spring — the constancy of a great view remains unchanged.

Tip: This is an incredible spot for sunset, and though the trail itself is not maintained well in terms of overgrowth, the trail markers have reflective stickers on them. For someone who is easily distracted in nature, I found these stickers so helpful with my headlamp even while trail running post-sunset.

What makes your favorite hike your favorite? Are you adding Tekoa to your list of must do hikes in Massachusetts? I’d love to know!

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Two Must-Do Experiences in Florida (No, Not Disney)

I’m the first to admit I did not see Florida’s potential. After a family road trip to Disney as a kid, I crossed this state off my checklist and called it a day.

Little did I realize that the National Park Service designated three parts of southern Florida as national parks, which meant I needed to make another trip (or two) down to explore. As I researched, I realized what a beautiful area southern Florida is. And how underrated it is considering Miami and Orlando get all the attention.

Florida is home to Biscayne National Park, Everglades National Park, and Dry Tortugas National Park. These three parks are almost entirely on water. Biscayne National Park is comprised of 95% water, while the Everglades is actually the slowest moving river in the United States. Just one search of Dry Tortugas will show you Fort Jefferson – and the other six islands that make up this incredibly unique park.

Needless to say, I had my planning cut out for me. I drove down to Florida with the sole purpose of crossing two parks off my list, but it turns out, Florida has more to offer than theme park rides and Disney characters. I didn’t fit Dry Tortugas in this trip because despite being one of the most remote U.S. national parks, there is a convenient way to access the park. The mode of transportation is a ferry that costs $190 per adult and is sold out one to two months in advance. When I researched other options, I only came up with chartering my own seaplane. As cool as this would have been, my wallet was not prepared to take that kind of heat.

Dry Tortugas was out, for now. Here’s what I explored with my time in Florida on a budget:

Our sailboat guided by the wonderful Byron with the Biscayne National Park Institute.

1. Sail around Key Biscayne National Park (and kayak and snorkel too!)

What I did love about Dry Tortugas is that the ferry works with the National Park Service. Sure there is only one way to get there, but it’s safe and maintained. Key Biscayne is similar! You can either hop on your own boat (which I do not have) or take a tour with the Biscayne National Park Institute, an organization that gives back to the very waters they sail on. Can you figure out which route I decided to take?

I opted for the latter. I booked the Sail, Paddle, Snorkel, and Island Visit tour and can’t recommend it enough. The tour is $189 a person, but for an all-day excursion in a national park that’s almost entirely on water, I found it exceptionally valuable. The tour has a maximum of six people, and with our luck, we booked a day where we were two of five.

Our instructor was extremely experienced and let me try out steering the boat a bit, while he taught others how to let down the sails. As we sailed, he told us historic tidbits about these majestic waters. From fascinating tales of the inhabitants on the very thin stretch of land I could hardly make out if I squinted enough, to all the critters that live beneath the water.

Once we docked, the tour continued via kayaks. We paddled our way through parts of the water the boat couldn’t navigate to and were able to get a closer look at what lived in the water. As we neared very shallow waters, our guide told us to gaze on the spots on the water’s ground.

Fascinating Wildlife

Turns out those “spots” were jellyfish! He picked one up and let us touch the gooeyness. It reminded me of the middle school slime my students were obsessed with making a few years ago.

The Biscayne National Park Institute’s tour features kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and they supply all the necessary equipment.

When kayaking ended, we hopped (more so wobbled with flippers on) into the water for the snorkeling portion of the tour. I saw a multitude of fish that our guide had introduced to me in the stories along the morning’s ride, including gnarly-looking crustaceans if you peered into the crevices of stone and searched for daddy-long-leg-like claws. The return ride was soothingly smooth as our crew chatted about places we’ve been and places we’re hoping to venture to while laying out on the front of the boat.

Other Tours

The Biscayne National Park Institute also offers a handful of other tours, including one to a Key Biscayne lighthouse (another historic gem) that parks along the water and lets you head up the top of the lighthouse. As a lighthouse lover, this tour was next on my list if I had another day here.

2. Ride an Airboat through Everglades National Park

After Key Biscayne, I noticed geographically how easily it would be to explore the Everglades. Despite never having a desire to travel to Florida again, at the very least the state was cognizant of placing its attractions in close proximity to each other. With my homebase in Homestead, Florida, the Everglades were a short drive away.

The one thing I knew I had to experience in the Everglades was an airboat tour. Like its two sister parks in the state, majority of this park is on the water. It’s also the third largest national park in the lower forty-eight states.

Airboats aren’t your typical boats. They’re iconic for their large fan in the rear of the boat that propels them forward. Riders feel a rush as the captain steers, making sharp lefts and hard rights. Tall, thin grass briefly slides against your arm as the boat speeds past miles and miles of the stretched sawgrass.

Along the way, the guide points out gators both in the thick of the grass and in the boat’s clearcut path. I saw about ten alligators total during the thirty-minute tour.

Like the other parks, there are designated companies that gained the seal of approval from the National Park Service to operate within the park. As you drive around the area, you’ll inevitable pass by countless companies offering airboat tours, but only the national park designated ones take you through national park waters. The authorized airboat businesses inside Everglades National Park include: Coopertown Airboats, Everglades Safari Park, and Gator Park. You can find more on these three companies here. I went with Everglades Safari Park and wasn’t too impressed with the guide, so definitely check out the other options! I wish we learned more about the history of the park as we were on the boat navigating the waters.

A beautiful day for an airboat ride through the Everglades.

Which of these experiences are you adding to your bucket list, or have already crossed off?

Hike the Vermont 5 4,000 Footers Challenge

New England hikers love a good list. There’s the 48 in New Hampshire, the 14 in Maine, and the 5 in Vermont. If you’re extra adventurous, there’s the 46 in the Adirondacks in New York to complete for the Northeast list.

After finishing my 48 in the White Mountains in New Hampshire in 2020, I focused my efforts on smaller mountains in Lake Placid with the Lake Placid 9. In 2022, I reset my focus on 4,000 footers.

I decided to tackle the Vermont 5.

I actually hiked one of the Vermont 4,000 footers back in 2016 and then never hiked in Vermont again, despite several visits to the state’s charming towns. I ran races around hilly Stowe and set my eyes on Mt. Mansfield, but hadn’t hiked it yet.

At the start of 2022, I realized I could easily hike the four remaining 4,000 footers. Here’s how I took on the Vermont 5 in winter:

1. Camel’s Hump (4,083 ft)

I technically hiked this one in November before the official winter season, but let me tell you it sure felt like winter! My first year in New England, my friend invited me to Burlington, VT for the weekend and told me to pack hiking gear. This looked like my thickest cotton and basic hiking boots. I’m serious. Check out the pictures in this post if you don’t believe me.

We took the Monroe Trail out-and-back for six miles and around 2,500 ft gain. The views were absolutely breathtaking (could’ve also been the wild winds that took my breath away). I was hooked on winter hiking after this one. 360-degree views of the Green Mountains with a nice decent.

2. Killington Peak (4,235 ft)

This peak may have a reputation for incredible skiing and stunning views, but I couldn’t tell you if either are true after my hike. I was the only hiker on New Year’s Day at the parking lot. Excited to spend the start of the year outside, but nervous about the conditions.

As I embarked on the Bucklin trail, my worries dissipated. The trail was a moderate climb. Slowly and steadily, I ascended. Surprised by the sweat dripping down in the crevices of my arm as I gripped my backpack straps on my way up. Equally surprising? The hail that began to hit me like Monday morning’s alarm. I reminded myself that this was what winter was in the mountains of New England: a three-course meal ensuring your tongue had a little taste of everything. And I sure was hungry for it.

I spent very little time at the summit considering the hail, along with the incoming text informing me of the weather advisory in the area. It was also a complete wash, so that didn’t quite entice me to stay for the view. The way down was a speedy one. I ended with 6.85 miles logged and 2,559 ft of elevation gain on the out-and-back trail.

3. Mt. Abraham (4,006 ft)

I spent this winter eyeing the forecast like it was another one of my part-time jobs. With full-time teaching and marathon training on my schedule, there were only a handful of days that even allowed for a Vermont day trip. Let alone a day where the winds weren’t treacherous. Pro tip: I use Mountain Forecast to plan out my hikes. On the website, type the mountain you’re hoping to climb, and it gives you everything you need to know to make a smart decision: temperature, wind chill, wind miles per hour. All of it for the summit. I can’t tell you the number of times I went hiking when I was a beginner that I’d rely on my iPhone’s weather app and solely look up the small New Hampshire mountain town my hike started in.

I learned pretty quickly that the weather in town isn’t necessarily on the same communication channel. While it’s sunny and warm in town, it can easily be the complete opposite atop the summit.

I found easy parking along Elder Hill Road, but I assume it was due to winter dissuading the average hiker from weekend adventuring. From Elder Hill Road, the Battell trail is quick to spot. Another speedy one thanks to packed down snow, I took Battell to the end when it formed into the Long Trail.

Lincoln Gap Road has a shorter distance hike to the summit, but in winter this road is closed. Regardless, Battell is roughly a six mile out-and-back. The summit offers scaping views of the Green Mountains. There is an old airplane (remnants of a crash) along the summit ridgeline, but with all the snow at the time, I didn’t come across it. Always need to leave a reason to revisit though, right?

Summit views from Abraham.

With the parking lot in sight, I logged 5.84 miles and 2,700 ft of climbing total.

4. Mt. Ellen (4,083 ft)

When I parked on Jim Dwire Road, I thought I would be the only one out on the trail today. I almost missed the trail sign because it blended in so well. There were a few cars parked on the side of the road that indicated I was indeed, in the right place. A small dirt road on a residential street, why would I find anything strange with that?

As I made my way to the tiny sliver of trail from the trail sign, I thought about the week before when I was on the opposite side of these mountains. After such a great day meeting Abraham, I could hardly wait to meet Ellen. However, Abraham didn’t relay the memo to Ellen to pack down the fresh, fluffy powder for me.

It took me quite some time to make my way to the summit as I didn’t have snowshoes. I called Ellen just about every name other than her own as I struggled to the summit. The sun was setting soon and the temperature was dropping. I made it to the summit, only to be met with skiers swiftly speeding past me.

After a moment to enjoy the view, I raced against the daylight (usually a losing battle in winter) to return to my car before the sun called it a night. At 7.11 miles roundtrip and 2,700 ft ascended, I can confidently say I met Ellen, but she wasn’t my favorite.

5. Mt. Mansfield (4,393 ft)

Mt. Mansfield for the big finale felt fitting. As the tallest peak in the tiny state of Vermont, I wanted a clear day at the summit. I watched the forecasts and my training plan schedule, and finally found an opening in March that let me head up Mansfield.

I parked on Mountain Road in Underhill State Park and began my steady climb along another road that isn’t maintained in winter. The road was a decent climb, but quiet. I took the CCC road with a quick shortcut thanks to the Eagles Cut trail to get me onto the trail I set out for: Sunset Ridge.

Sunset Ridge is definitely a gem of a trail. There is plenty of exposure on the trail with a little rock scrambling. Normally I love that, but with some wild winds, I was nervous about taking this trail down. Sunset Ridge joins with the Long Trail near the summit for a totally exposed view of the Green Mountains, including a nearby ski lift. I had the trail that day (and the summit) to myself, and it felt like such a great way to finish off hiking the highest peaks in Vermont.

When it came to descending, my heart sank contemplating returning Sunset Ridge with how windy and exposed it was. However out of the two trails (Sunset Ridge and Laura Cowles) from Underhill State Park, Sunset was less steep.

A seasoned hiker told me to take Laura Cowles (the steeper, tougher trail) down and I’m so glad I listened! I was originally worried of exposure descending Laura Cowles, but that trail, from the summit, quickly turns forested. Before I realized, I made my way down to the road and logged 6.6 miles and 3,130 ft of climbing.

Have you hiked any of Vermont’s highest peaks? Would you take on the VT 5?

3 Colorado National Parks to Visit That Aren’t Rocky Mountain

This is in Colorado. I know, I was shocked too.

When you think of Colorado, what comes to mind? Almost immediately glimpses of Denver appear or the snow-capped summits of the Rocky Mountains range wander through your head. Denver and the Rockies definitely deserve the hype, but they aren’t all that Colorado has to offer you!

Next time you plan a trip out West, or one to Colorado specifically, add these lesser-known destinations to your must-see list. My biggest piece of advice is to purchase the Annual Parks Pass ($80). If you do a Southern Colorado trek, each of these parks have entrance fees of $15-$30, so it may be more beneficial to pay the one-time $80 cost. I’m all about saving money where I can! I happened to also be trekking to Moab, Utah, so I knew I’d save since I was also entering three parks there that each have an entrance fee.

Last summer on a cross-country road trip, the ultimate destination was Idaho. How to get there, however, was up for discussion. After some great Kansas City barbeque, Colorado seemed like it was just minutes away, so I planned for that state next on the itinerary.

Colorado is home to four national parks— one of which is way more popular than the others. Rocky Mountain National Park is well-known for good reason! It’s easily accessible from Denver and it’s breathtaking. I visited the park a few years ago, so I opted out of revisiting this time around.

Instead, I traversed southern Colorado exploring the other national parks this gorgeous state has to offer. And what I discovered is that they are each true gems that not many people know about!

While you need a permit now to enter Rocky Mountain National Park due to its extreme popularity and congestion (4.4 million visitors in 2021!), the remaining three national parks have so few visitors it’ll feel like you have the park to yourself at some times.

Though I love a good tourist moment like when you first lay eyes on the Rockies, or when you witness the exact point when Ol’ Faithful erupts, I also take great pleasure in those quieter moments. The ones that not many are able to experience.

Here are the national parks that you should definitely visit in Colorado:

1. Great Sand Dunes National Park

We all know Colorado has the mountains, but sand dunes? And North America’s tallest ones at that?

In the southwest pocket of Colorado, in the town of Mosca, that’s exactly what you’ll find. A striking mountain range that serves as a backdrop to the sheer beauty of sand several hundred feet in the sky, seemingly out of nowhere.

There are three dunes that top all the others: High Dune, Star Dune, and Hidden Dune. For all three, park at Dune Parking just past the Visitor Center.

High Dune isn’t the tallest dune, but it is the quickest to get up. If you are only passing through the park, this is the perfect one to tackle. From the parking lot, head straight up the dunes. It’s a little under 700 feet and about three miles total.

Star Dune and Hidden Dune are the tallest – Hidden is slightly taller than Star. These two are longer treks (around 6-7 miles).

This park is one of the least visited (as are the other two on this list). In 2019, Great Sand Dunes had 527, 546 visitors. Obviously that number has risen with the increase of road trips and stateside travel, but it’s still nowhere near the looks of visitor numbers in popular parks.

Tips: Start early or go later in the afternoon. Sand can really heat up. If you’re into it, rent a sandboard from town to save yourself time once you hike up. There is a water station at the parking lot to rid yourself of sand. Though it might stick around for longer than you’d like!

Best time of year to visit: Fall or winter to see the contrast of the mountainscape behind the dunes. Summer brought welcomed warmth on a windy day at the dunes. You can’t go wrong!

Where to stay: The dunes can be a day trip, but if you want to take advantage of seeing the stars at night, I would camp within the park at the designated campground, Piñon Flats.

2. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

The Black Canyon is one of the few places I’ve visited that left me in utter awe. This park truly is phenomenal. Located right by the charming, small town of Montrose, this park is a hidden gem. Considering it is one of the deepest canyons, it makes sense it isn’t visible to most people.

The drive in isn’t too captivating, but as soon as you stop at the first overlook, the jagged rock structures and sheer darkness along the canyon edges will surely give you a reason to not look away.

The Gunnison River in all its glory.

This park only had 432, 818 visitors in 2019. That blows my mind. There is truly something for every explorer at this park. World-renown fishing, incredible hikes, and stunning vistas.

I recommend driving down South Rim Road and stopping at each view along the way. Each trek is short and provides new angles of the canyon. I couldn’t get enough of its depth!

Tips:

Spend two days in this park. One day can be spent exploring all the overlooks and going on short hikes to see the true depths of this canyon. The next day can be spent with an obtained permit to go down into the canyon on the Gunnison route. This route is an incredible 2.7 mile hike with 1,700 ft elevation gain. The trail is minimally marked and a very limited number of hikers are allowed each day, fueling the intensity of this hike.

The first viewpoint from the entrance of the park opens up to this scaping view of the Black Canyon.

Best time of year to visit: Summer. This park is so infrequently visited that parking wasn’t an issue, neither was overcrowding at any lookout point. The roads are also closed in winter, so that’s something to keep in mind.

Where to stay: KOA in Montrose, CO. This KOA is very affordable and conveniently close to both the main street and the park. As with most KOAs, you can camp in a tent or stay in a cabin!

3. Mesa Verde National Park

These cave dwellings were built around the end of the 12th century. How wild is it that we can view (and walk among them) today?

I have had this park on my list from the beginning of my park journey. Famous for the cliff dwellings, this park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. One of the first in the United States!

Despite how incredible this park is, only a little over half a million people visited in 2019 (556,203).

I did a self-guided exploration of this park for half a day, soaking in the cliff dwellings from every angle I could and from every lookout point possible. I suggest driving along the Mesa Top Loop. This road will give you access to neat stops like the Sun Point View and views of the cliff dwellings. If you’re short on time, definitely take a ride along this loop road to absorb as much as you can.

I love imagining what it would’ve been like to discover places like this (and Machu Picchu) for the first time. Here is a cave dwelling from an overlook point.

Tips: For guided tours, book in advance! There’s nothing worse than arriving at a new park, hopeful to see something, only to find out it’s booked. You can book your guided tour here.

Best time of year to visit: Almost every season. Seriously! I visited in August and never struggled for a parking spot. It’s very unvisited, which makes it quite the hidden gem. However, if you really want to take a guided tour, you need to visit May-October as they are not offered in the winter and spring months.

Where to stay: Cortez/Mesa Verde KOA Journey in Cortez, CO.

Have you visited any of these Colorado national parks? Which one is on your list?

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How to Spend 24 Hours in Ithaca, New York

One part about teaching in New England I love is having an additional winter break. A week off in February right when the days are short, and the weather is cold is perfect. A close friend of mine from Texas decided to visit for the weekend with only one request: to experience winter.

After a few warmer days, I knew we needed to head north. One spot that’s always been on my list is Ithaca. Known mostly for two colleges in town, Cornell and Ithaca College, Ithaca has way more to offer than an incredible education.

A quaint, charming town way north of the common New York city experience proved to be the perfect winter getaway.

Here’s how we spent a day in Ithaca, New York:

1. Hike in Taughannock Falls State Park.

Taughannock Falls in all its wintry glory.

Hike is a loose term given the usual hikes I find myself chasing after. This time, we were chasing waterfalls instead. Taughannock Falls features a massive, 215-foot waterfall. And in winter, you can bet there’s incredible icy formations all around.

The park is popular, but we arrived in the afternoon and managed to snag a parking spot right away. Though the lot is small, the hike itself is a quick walk, so there likely wouldn’t be a long wait for another car to exit shortly.

From the parking lot, we walked on a mostly paved path. The path is extremely scenic – you easily forget you’re relatively close to civilization and it’s a wonder this isn’t a more popular destination.

High cliffs, a rushing river, and the winter magic made this trek feel like we were hiking in a national park.

We reached a short bridge about ¾ of a mile into our walk. The falls are visible from this bridge, but we walked a bit further on the path to get a close-up view.

Surprisingly, Taughannock Falls is actually three stories taller than Niagara Falls (not too far away from Ithaca). I’m not a big waterfall gal, but winter changes the game for me. This view was stunning and I couldn’t get enough!

Once you get your dose, drive up the road a couple minutes for a birds-eye-view of the falls from the overlook.

Things to note:

• Both the trails mentioned above are open year-round, while the rim ones are not.

• There is a $7 park entrance fee. The overlook is free though!

• Dogs are allowed on a leash!

2. Peek into Cornell University’s Uris library.

I love a good library, and Cornell’s Uris Library is quite the gem. Think Belle from Beauty and Beast’s library meets J.K.’s Rowling’s rendition in her novels. The best part? It’s open twenty-four hours with incredible sunset views over nearby Cayuga Lake.

It was peacefully quiet when we entered and remained so as we explored. If you’re a book lover, it’s worth a quick stop here.

We did feel odd being back on a college campus after graduating several years ago. I definitely had flashbacks to all the late nights in the PCL library in Austin. I probably would’ve enjoyed going to the library more with views like these though (or I might’ve studied more…).

3. Grab dinner in Ithaca Commons.

I had major New England vibes in Ithaca Commons – pedestrian-only for a couple blocks of shops and restaurants. Parking was easy to find once we navigated the streets.

One of my favorite finds in a new town is walking along the main street, or in this case, the Commons.

Similar to Burlington, Vermont, Ithaca comes alive in this area. A few restaurants were closed Sunday when we visited (and a few closed permanently, sadly), but there were a handful of delicious options on this last-minute trip.

3. Enjoy a bagel breakfast at Collegetown Bagels.

Since we had a four-and-a-half-hour drive home to Western Mass, we needed to head out early in the morning, but not before finding a coffee and breakfast spot.

We enjoyed a fresh cup of coffee from Gimme! Coffee, followed by bagels from Collegetown Bagels.

Collegetown had every type of breakfast sandwich imaginable and felt like the place you could create something wild and they’d make it happen.

I had the Rise n’ Shine with a couple changes: a bagel with jalapeño cream cheese, roasted red peppers, provolone, and sausage. Anytime there’s jalapeño cream cheese on the menu, you can almost guarantee I’ll be ordering it.

I suggest grabbing the bagels to go and heading to the final stop on the itinerary: Ithaca Falls.

4. Look in awe at Ithaca Falls.

I told my friends I had one more surprise in store. When I parked in an empty parking lot off a street, they were confused. They followed me for a minute and were immediately awestruck by Ithaca Falls.

This waterfall is literally on the side of the road. How is Ithaca so lucky?

Tip: The path down to the falls is paved, but with the wintry weather, it had a lovely layer of ice on top. I used microspikes to get to the bottom of the falls.

We stayed at a charming, pet-friendly, and very affordable AirBnB just moments from Ithaca Commons, which made all the adventuring in under twenty-four hours possible!

Though we only checked out two waterfalls, the Ithaca area is actually home to over one hundred waterfalls. It’s one-liner is “Ithaca is gorges.” So fitting. Have you visited any?

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Lake Placid 9 Hiking Challenge

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Lake Placid 9er Hiking Challenge

I never grow tired of the beauty of these majestic mountains.

If I’m being honest, the Lake Placid 9 originally didn’t appeal to me. I love the brutal nature of a long day hike. Of miles and hours spent climbing a couple thousand feet for the triumphant feeling at the summit. Even if the view isn’t there.

I first heard about the Lake Placid 9 after hiking a couple of the ADK 46. I thought, why spend my limited time in these gorgeous mountains on very short hikes? Well it turns out, these short hikes sure know how to hold their own.

When mapping out my fall foliage adventures, I usually spend one weekend in the Adirondacks and the rest chasing the colors in New Hampshire. This year, after spending an early September weekend in the Adirondacks showing my parents the beauty New York has to offer, I decided to spend more time in upstate NY. Instead of New Hampshire. I know, I hardly recognized myself too.

My parents were up for a short hike, so I picked the shortest one of the Lake Placid 9: Cobble Hill. After this hike, I had an idea.

What if I combine my fall foliage chasing adventures with this short hiking challenge? It’d motivate me to get out there, and I’d gain more experience up in these rugged mountains. Plus, I’m a sucker for the foliage photos.

And thus began my multiple trips to Keene and Lake Placid, NY in September to October, with one final lap in November.

Over the span of 31.31 miles, I climbed 10,388 ft along these 9 summits. Here’s how I broke down the challenge:

1. Cobble Hill

Distance: 2.89 mi

Elevation Gain: 610 ft

Location: Lake Placid, NY

With my parents visiting for a short weekend, I wanted them to experience an ADK hike without too much exhaustion. Since we were staying in Lake Placid, I figured why not finally check out Cobble Hill.

We hiked the steep, shorter way up, and took the longer, gradual way down. I highly recommend this route because you get a bit of rock climbing with a rope ascending, but descend on a lovely trail walk next to a private pond. It’s a great way to get your feet wet starting out on this challenge!

My route to Cobble Hill is above.

2. Mt. Jo

Third trek up this mountain gave way to a new view!

Distance: 1.94 mi

Elevation Gain: 761 ft

Location: North Elba, NY

Technically this was my third time hiking up this mountain. Every time I hit the trail, my hope to find the iconic view is strong. This hope slowly withers away as I simply couldn’t find the lookout point.

After two failed attempts, I wasn’t leaving the summit this time around without seeing the heart-shaped lake in its entirety. Aptly named, Heart Lake. You’re in luck, because my determined self found it this time so you won’t have to hike up multiple times (unless you choose to!).

Mt. Jo is an extremely popular mountain because of the trails, location, and views. When you arrive at the ADK Mountain Club Loj, you’ll pay $15 as a non-member for a full day or $7 for a half day. Depending on the weekend, you may get lucky with an afternoon. If it’s peak foliage season on a late September or early October weekend, you may way to

After parking, you embark on a short traverse before finding two roads diverged in the woods. You can take the short way, or the long way. I’ve never taken the long way, but be prepared for some stairclimbing if you take the short route.

The trail is a swift one mile up, and I took the same route back. Stay cautious heading down on the rocks, especially if you’re taking this on in the fall where often times rocks are wet due to those rainy autumn forecasts.

Tip: The view at the summit isn’t the best view. The best view is easy to miss. When you’re near the ladders, there’s a trail a few steps away that is sure to give you a reason to love Mt. Jo.

My route is on the left.

3. Mt. Van Hoevenberg

Distance: 4.7 mi

Elevation Gain: 1,047 ft

Location: Lake Placid, NY

Mt. Van Hoevenberg has two trails to the summit: a newly constructed one, and the old one. I was already familiar with the ADK Loj area, so I chose the older path. The parking here is extremely limited – maybe less than ten cars can fit. I went at a less popular time of day, so it worked in my favor.

The distance of this hike is longer than Mt. Jo, but the first mile is a simple walk in the woods. It’s quite lovely! After climbing 1,000 feet in roughly a mile, expansive views of the valley open up. This hike is a true gem!

It’s definitely one I’d love to revisit in winter when the peaks are snow-capped. The trails are an out-and-back, unless you have another car to park on the ski area side where the new trail begins.

Here’s my route:

The trail to Mt. Van Hoevenberg.

4. Big Crow Mountain

A solo summit on a moody evening.

Distance: 1.34 mi

Elevation Gain: 610 ft

Location: Keene, NY

When I entered Keene for this hike, the clouds decided to join me. I knew it was a short distance, so I thought I’d knock it out and if I got a view, I’d be two for two. The parking lot for Big Crow is also the lot for one of the routes up Hurricane. An AWD vehicle would be best as the last mile felt a little sketchy in my RAV4, but still doable. This road isn’t maintained in the winter months, so get this hike in in the summer or fall from this trailhead.

A speedy, consistent climb of 600 feet in under three-quarters of a mile again opened to wide-scaping views of these mountains that are slowly feeling like home to me. I set up my tripod as the clouds rolled in, took a few pictures at the top, and headed back down.

I made a mental note to come back to hike Hurricane from this parking lot since I was now familiar with the drive up.

Here’s my route:

Route map above to Big Crow Mountain.

5. Baxter Mountain

Distance: 3 mi

Elevation Gain: 869 ft

Location: Keene, NY

After the stormy wonder of Big Crow, I knew I had to try out Baxter on this trip up to Lake Placid despite the rainy forecast. I woke up to the steady pitter-patter of raindrops. Contemplating just driving back home, I thought, why not just get out for a three miler?

I made my way over to Keene and parked along the road for this trailhead. The sprinkles fell from the sky and with each step, my disappointment of seeing a view grew. On the way to the summit, there are great viewpoints (arguably better than the summit!). For the fifth time on my Lake Placid 9er journey, I lucked out with the views.

Tip: Always go for it when there’s light rain and you don’t think you’ll get a view. You may just end up with this.

My route is on the right. The photos are where the viewpoints are.

If you’re tackling the challenge, head to the summit to say hello, then stop for the views on the way back.

6. Bear Den Mountain

Distance: 3.82 mi

Elevation Gain: 1,542 ft

Location: Wilmington, NY

The day I embarked up Bear Den was a toasty one. A crisp marshmallow in the campfire on a summer night. Quite the opposite of my previous visit to the mountains with the rainy hike up Baxter. Park at the Whiteface Mountain Ski Center and you’re right at the trailhead. The first mile of this hike doubles as a mountain biking route, so be aware if you have a furry friend with you. The trail’s switchbacks keep things interesting as you make your way up. Just tell yourself you’re almost there, trust me, it helps.

It doesn’t help, but every step is a step closer to the summit! I was in absolute awe atop the summit. The foliage, in unison with the summery weather, lit Whiteface Mountain on fire. It was incredible to gaze my eyes upon.

After awhile of solitude on the summit, I realized the group I passed quite some time ago never summited. As my mind pondered, my eyes wandered. A couple odd colors caught my eye. Those little dots were the other hikers! They had made their way to a rocky surface across the way.

I was curious where they had turned for that added bit of solitude (plus a different angle!). When I headed down, I realized this was another case of the Mt. Jo hidden treasure.

The view of Bear Den’s summit.

As you approach the Bear Den summit, you turn left. Instead, turn right at this sign. There is a very well-trodden trail that leads to that open-rock summit with these views of Bear Den’s summit.

Here’s my route, including the totally-worth-it right turn detour.

7.  Pitchoff Mountain

The famous Balanced Rocks!

Distance: 4.15 mi

Elevation Gain: 1,744 ft

Location: Lake Placid, NY

I was saving Pitchoff for a perfect day. The summit itself is hardly impressive, but a steady climb leads you there with views to the right of Cascade and Porter. It’s neat to see where you’ve hiked before.

After the summit, I returned back to finally see Balanced Rocks. It doesn’t look like much on the trail, but it’s another iconic view like Heart Lake from Mt. Jo. I’ve seen it from the road more times than I can count. Two rocks sit on a very open summit looking as if you could just flick them and they’d fall off. Almost like the Glen Boulder trail in the White Mountains.

Truly the perfect sunset hike in the Adirondacks.

You’ll have incredible water views from here, as well as a great shot of the Olympic jumping complex. It’s a phenomenal sunset spot if you decide to take this mountain on later in the day. The trail is easy to follow with a headlamp at night afterwards.

Here’s my route to both Pitchoff Mountain and Balanced Rocks.

8. Catamount Mountain

Distance: 4 mi

Elevation Gain: 1,624 ft

Location: Wilmington, NY

Oh, Catamount. When researching the Lake Placid 9, this hike was advertised as fun with a side of scary. I took this trail on thinking I’d get Catamount done by the early afternoon with enough time to also trek up Hurricane in the same day. This hike didn’t go as planned at all!

The elevation gain was serious and the hike feels very isolated on a weekday. The trail itself is well-marked and easy to follow. The “fun” comes into play when you’re closer to the summit and features all sorts of rocks to climb. Everyone’s favorite is this little sliver to climb up and through in order to continue the hike.

If I was alone, I think it would’ve felt more enjoyable, but when I hike with my dog, she occupies my mind. I worry about her moves and how she’s going to climb up. The drop is a little steep. After this point, the rest of the trail is smooth sailing.

I would advise against hiking this one on a rainy day, which the summit for me ended up being a little rainy. After eight summits out of nine, I was bound to have a clouded summit. It was fitting it was the toughest one for me! I was able to sneak a peek of what some of the summit views might’ve looked like on my descent.

My route to Catamount Mountain.

9. Hurricane Mountain

Incredible views all around atop Hurricane.

Distance: 5.47 mi

Elevation Gain: 1,581 ft

Location: Keene, NY

The final peak for me was Hurricane Mountain, and as I told myself a month earlier, I was going to park where I did for Big Crow. This trailhead is a popular summer one as it’s the shortest ascent to the famous Hurricane Mountain fire tower.

I made it just in time before winter entered the mountains and the road would have to be maintained (which it isn’t). At the end of November, I lucked out with a beautiful day to myself on this summit. I summitted swiftly, to my surprise. This hike turned out to be one of my favorites. Catamount for me came in as one with the most elevation gain, but Hurricane is the longest distance-wise. Though after hiking the NH 48 and a few of the ADK 46, a 5.5 mile hike feels light in my mind.

Maybe it was the solitude, or the fire tower, or even the fact that it was shoulder season, so all the foliage chasers sat this one out that day. Whatever it was, it sure felt good to end in this moment.

The hike up Hurricane Mountain offers incredible views from the summit, as well as from the fire tower.

My very straightforward route is on the left.

Are you ready for a winter challenge? Take on the Lake Placid 9 in the winter months to earn a special patch for the added difficulty of navigating winter.

Would you hike these nine mountains? Let me know!