Every year, more than one billion monarch butterflies make the 5,000km journey from Canada to Mexico, arriving into high-elevation forests just outside of Mexico City to "overwinter" in near-constant sunshine. The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve is a pocket of true magic amongst the sacred firs at 3,200m, and witnessing millions of butterflies floating through the air is truly indescribable. Of all the thing[...]
Just off the East Cape of Baja California Sur, Cabo Pulmo National Park protects a 70-sq-km area within the Sea of Cortez, famously described by French explorer Jaques Cousteau as the "World's Aquarium". What may seem like hyperbole is actually the most fitting description available for Cabo Pulmo National Park— a hidden gem whose marine diversity truly rivals that of the Galapagos, southern Thailand, and even the[...]
Coming fresh from a year of vanlife in the American West, we were convinced that Baja would present a big change to our usual boondocking and free camping— we expected mostly paid campgrounds and crowded RV Parks, and even fretted about how we'd find clean drinking water or fuel in between towns. In reality, camping couldn't be easier in Baja, and we spent a measly $24USD on camping for our entire 6 weeks on t[...]
Bordering the southern USA for a whopping 2,000 miles, Mexico presents one of the best (and easiest) opportunities for Americans and Canadians to experience international vanlife— and yet so many travellers are intimidated by the permit process, the border crossing, and the perceived difficulty of driving their van through a foreign country. There are definitely a few challenges, but almost all of these a[...]
New Mexico is all about blended diversity. Situated at the confluence of the southern Rocky Mountains and the southwest desert, it is one of the most geographically spectacular places in the country, but also one of the most culturally unique— Native American traditions and hispanic influence contribute equally to the rich tapestry of modern New Mexican life. From the Puebloan architecture still dominant in sm[...]
Nestled in the centre of the American Rockies and with the highest average elevation of any US state, Colorado is a mecca for epic outdoor adventures, from its dense concentration of windy 14ers and world-class ski resorts to its scalding natural hot springs and sprawling alpine deserts. We spent several weeks exploring Colorado in our van this October, and although the weather didn't allow for as many summ[...]
Standing at the base of central Idaho's towering snow-capped peaks, their serrated silhouette dramatically backlit by the summer sun, it's truly impossible to understand why the Sawtooth Mountains aren't more popular. They have all the grandeur of the Tetons, even greater accessibility than the North Cascades, as many alpine lakes as you're likely to find anywhere in the world— and yet, the trails are surprisingly[...]
As one of the country's most popular parks, it should come as no surprise that Zion National Park in southern Utah is literally overflowing with amazing things to do— but unlike other destinations that can be checked off a bucket list after a few days, Zion is the kind of place that takes a lifetime to explore, and another lifetime to truly know. There's spirited debate among road-trippers as to which of U[...]
Nestled between towering sandstone cliffs and extending along lush riverbanks, Zion National Park preserves an extensive network of canyons, desert towers, thriving forests, and altogether unlikely landscapes in southern Utah that truly defy comparison— in a state whose claim to fame is the fantastical and otherworldly, this is the crown jewel. After spending several weeks in Zion National Park and ventur[...]
Located in the vibrant desert of southern Utah, Zion National Park protects an extensive network of slot canyons, dramatic sandstone towers, lush riparian ecosystems, and wildflower-encrusted forests, each diverse square of the park more spectacular than the last. A whopping 84% of Zion is further preserved as Wilderness, the highest level of protection public land can receive, ensuring that this area remains wildly[...]
Of all the incredible hikes within Zion National Park, the Subway, a hollowed-out sandstone gorge resembling an underground tunnel, is one of the most spectacular— and also one of the most highly sought-after. Elusive wilderness permits greatly restrict visitors to the canyon, and technical terrain further limits who can experience the otherworldly splendour of this remote cave and its emerald pools. As t[...]
Arizona has 3 fantastic national parks, but I’d be willing to guess that most people can name only one. Saguaro National Park flanks downtown Tucson and provides access to dozens of hiking trails, each showcasing the nation's largest cactus, the giant saguaro, as well as 25 other species of cactus— making this the most diverse natural cactus garden in the entire country and an amazing place to visit! Div[...]
Named for its impossibly vibrant Aztec sandstone that seems to blaze under the midday sun, Valley of Fire State Park is home to some of Nevada's most awe-inspiring landscapes, a wild contrast to the city lights of Las Vegas less than an hour to the west. It's the kind of place that hardly feels real, with Fire Waves swirling alongside 4,000 year old petroglyphs and slot canyons giving way to natural rock arches.[...]
Holding the undesirable title of hottest place on earth (and with a name that conjures up, well... death), Death Valley seems an unlikely place to find natural beauty in the California desert— and yet, it's one of the most striking landscapes in the country, a wild place of extremes whose sun-scorched sand dunes and pearly salt flats provide an unlikely contrast to high elevation pine forests and snow-capped[...]
Protecting more than 200,000 acres of canyons, mountains, and unique desert wildlife, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is one of Nevada’s most spectacular outdoor playgrounds, attracting rock climbers and hikers from around the country to its vibrant Aztec sandstone cliffs and world-class crags. Even before tourism was its main draw, Red Rocks played host to countless critters and tribes of native people[...]