Welcome to Discover the West

"The tendency nowadays to wander in wilderness is delightful to see. Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life."

      -- John Muir

The American and Canadian west is home to thousands of miles of hiking trails. From the glacially carved mountains of the Canadian Rockies and Glacier National Park, to the red rock deserts of Sedona, hikers can find a wide range of hiking opportunities to satisfy their need for adventure, or to simply find solitude in wilderness.

Discover the West is based on many of the trails Kathy and I have hiked over the last several years. We've put this website together to help you discover some of the best hikes the western United States and the Canadian Rockies have to offer.

Here you'll find a range of hikes in Banff, Jasper, Rocky Mountain, Zion, Bryce, Arches, Grand Canyon, Guadalupe Mountains, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, Mt. Ranier, Redwoods and Yosemite National Parks, as well as in many of the national forests, national monuments and other public lands scattered throughout the west.

* To get started, simply use the Hiking Trail Directory (organized by state) located in the upper right column 


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Hikers can also visit one of our three sister websites, each of which offer comprehensive hiking trail coverage for Glacier, Grand Teton and Rocky Mountain National Parks:

* Hiking in Glacier

* Teton Hiking Trails

* Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails


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You can also purchase the mobile version of our new online trail guides for Glacier National Park and Grand Teton National Park:

Exploring Glacier National Park: The Comprehensive Hiking Guide from HikinginGlacier.com

Exploring Grand Teton National Park: The Comprehensive Hiking Guide from TetonHikingTrails.com


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The author of this website has also published the following books:

* Ramble On: A History of Hiking, which explores the rich and fascinating history of hiking.

* Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Rocky Mountains: Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, which showcases 75 day hikes that lead to extraordinary places across the Rocky Mountain Range.

Canadian Rockies

During our visit to the Canadian Rockies in the summer of 2017 we had an opportunity to explore three national parks: Banff, Jasper and Yoho. It likely goes without saying, but the Canadian Rockies are extremely beautiful. In fact, some of the hikes we took on this trip were some of the most scenic hikes we’ve ever taken in our lives (see list of hikes we took below). For me personally, perhaps the Paradise Valley in Mt. Rainier National Park is the only hike that would rival hikes such as Parkers Ridge, Iceline Trail, Wenkchemna Pass or Lake O’Hara. These four hikes in particular were simply epic - with scenery so incredibly beautiful that we walked in constant awe.

In this overview I wanted to provide you with a few observations from our trip. First of all, I should say that Canadians are very friendly people. We really appreciated that aspect of our visit. If you're considering a trip to this region, however, you may want to note that food and lodging are fairly expensive. With the favorable exchange rate that has existed over the last several months, however, we were pretty fortunate to catch a bit of a break on costs during this trip.

Trails in all three parks were extremely crowded. We were a little perplexed as to why there were so few trails in both Jasper and Banff. It seems that these parks could easily disperse the crowds by building more trails along the long Icefields Parkway and Trans-Canada Highway corridor, which stretches roughly 180 miles between the towns of Banff and Jasper. Perhaps Parks Canada is trying to keep the majority of those two parks as pristine as possible, or perhaps they find it’s easier to manage the masses that visit the parks by confining them to only a few trails. Who knows? If a degree of solitude is important to you, however, I highly recommend starting your hikes as early in the morning as possible.

Our group found that road and trailhead signage was very bad, especially when compared to American parks. In some cases the signage was confusing, while in others it was simply non-existent. Several times we had to guess where the trailhead was, or where the trail proceeded. We also noticed quite a bit of illegal trail cutting on switchbacks. This isn’t necessarily the fault of Canadians, as there were many people from all over the world visiting these parks, many of whom looked to be new to hiking. One day near Sentinel Pass we ran into a volunteer who was asking hikers to stay on the trail and to avoid the various social trails.

We were also very perplexed as to why we saw hardly any wildlife during our two-week trip to the region. Over the course of all of our hikes we saw only one golden eagle, one pine marten (a first for all of us), one marmot, one grouse, a couple of pikas, a couple of Barrow’s goldeneye ducks, and one deer standing along the road in the town of Banff. We don’t know if that’s normal or not, but we were pretty disappointed from that standpoint. That’s not to say there isn’t a lot of wildlife out there. You absolutely still need to be aware that you’re hiking in grizzly country while in the Canadian Rockies. In fact, on many trails Parks Canada requires visitors to hike in groups of at least four (we visited with two other family members).

Unfortunately smoke was very much a part of our trip. The summer of 2017 was a terrible wildfire season in the Canadian Rockies and the American Northwest, and as a result, heavy smoke filled the region for several weeks. We knew up front that smoke was going to be a major issue. In fact, we almost cancelled the trip after looking at some of the webcams in Lake Louise. Some days were sparkling clear, while others smoke completely obscured the surrounding mountains. We decided to move forward with our plans anyway, knowing the possible consequences. Although we experienced a couple of bad days and a couple of marginal days, the good days outweighed all the others. We saved the most scenic hikes for those days when smoke was predicted to be of little or no consequence.

In case you're planning a trip to the Canadian Rockies someday, I wanted to mention here that there were a couple of hikes we didn’t get a chance to do as a result of the smoke. These are hikes you may want to put on your radar should you ever decide to visit the region: Edith Cavell Meadows, Fairview Mountain, Wilcox Pass and the Emerald Lake Triangle, which includes Yoho and Burgess Passes.

The following hikes are listed in order from most scenic (favorites) to less scenic. Keep in mind that some of the hikes towards the bottom were heavily impacted by smoke, thus biasing my thoughts on those hikes:

1) Lake O'Hara

2) Wenkchemna Pass

3) Iceline Trail

4) Parkers Ridge

5) Helen Lake / Dolomite Pass

6) Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse

7) Sulpher Skyline

8) Sentinel Pass

9) Bow Glacier Falls

Canadian Rockies Trail Guide Known affectionately as the Bible by outdoor enthusiasts, the Canadian Rockies Trail Guide was the first guidebook with accurate distances and detailed descriptions to the trails of the Canadian Rockies. The book includes 227 hikes for all fitness levels. Not only is Canadian Rockies Trail Guide known locally as the Bible, it is also the only hiking guide to the region recommended by Fodor's, Frommer's and Lonely Planet. With over 250,000 copies in print, the Canadian Rockies Trail Guide is one of the best-selling non-fiction books in Canadian publishing history

Wheeler Peak: the Highest Point in New Mexico

One of the main objectives during our first trip to New Mexico in 2006 was to climb Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico. With a round-trip trek of 15 miles and a climb of roughly 4150 feet, this would be the toughest hike either one us had ever attempted.

Located in the Carson National Forest, Wheeler Peak is about 90 miles north of Santa Fe in the Sangre De Cristo (Blood of Christ) range. To reach the summit we took the Wheeler Peak Trail (also known by locals as the Bull-of-the-Woods Trail), which begins from the Twining Campground at the Taos Ski Area.

Standing at 13,161 feet Wheeler Peak is the tallest mountain in New Mexico. It’s located within the Sangre De Cristo (Blood of Christ) Mountains, which is considered to be the southernmost subrange of the Rocky Mountains. Generally speaking, the climbing season for this mountain runs from late May through November. Because we happened to hike this trail at the very beginning of the season, we were warned by locals that there would be a section of trail below the treeline where we would most likely run into some snow. Although that section still had quite a bit of snow, we were able to pass through it with only a little extra work.

From the Taos Valley Ski Area the Wheeler Peak Trail (#90) proceeds in a northeasterly direction towards the Bull-of-the-Woods Pasture. At roughly eight-tenths of a mile it crosses over the Rio Hondo, and shortly thereafter you’ll arrive at the Long Canyon Trail junction. Hikers should stay to the right here.

At roughly 2.1 miles you’ll arrive at the Bull-of-the-Woods Pasture. Near this pasture, or meadow, the trail intersects with the Gold Hill Trail. Hikers should again stay to the right to continue on the main trail, which now makes a sharp turn towards the southeast. Shortly thereafter it begins to climb the northern slopes of Bull-of-the-Woods Mountain. You should note that while hiking in this area you'll be passing through private property.

The trail continues along the western slopes of Bull-of-the-Woods Mountain to a saddle along its southern flank, located roughly 3.2 miles from the trailhead. From here the trail begins to ascend towards 12,163-foot Frazer Mountain. As it crosses over to skirt along Frazer’s eastern slopes, hikers will cross into the Wheeler Peak Wilderness. This 19,661-acre wilderness area is home to bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, marmots, pikas and golden eagles. From this lofty perch, just below the summit, you'll enjoy commanding views of Wheeler Peak and the La Cal Basin towards the south.

Just beyond the summit of Frazer Mountain my wife and I reached another snow field, roughly one-half acre in size. Instead of walking around it we decided to walk over it, as it seemed to have a pretty firm crust. We were almost to the middle when I made the mistake of walking a little too close to Kathy, which created too much weight within a small surface area, and thus I broke through the crust. A little shocked at the suddenness of it all, I found myself waist deep in snow. Lesson learned!

From Frazer Mountain the trail drops roughly 360 feet to reach La Cal Basin, a favorite camping spot for backpackers. From the basin the trail climbs almost 1400 feet to reach the summit of Mount Walter. At 13,133 feet, Mount Walter is the second highest named peak in New Mexico. However, it’s usually not considered to be an independent mountain because it only has 53 feet of topographic prominence.

From Mount Walter the path leads you along a narrow ridgeline to reach your final destination, still a little more than a third-of-a-mile away. It was here that we experienced some extremely high winds. As a precautionary measure I held onto Kathy to make sure she didn’t get blown off the mountain! Hikers should note that high winds are fairly common along this stretch.

At roughly 7.5 miles hikers will finally reach the summit of Wheeler Peak. From the top you’ll enjoy spectacular 360-degree views of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, the Taos Valley, as well as Williams Lake in the valley directly below. Wheeler Peak ranks as the eighth highest state high point. It’s named for U.S. Army Major George M. Wheeler who surveyed much of New Mexico in the late 1870s. A plaque at the summit reads as follows:

Named in honor of Major George Montague Wheeler (1832–1909) who for ten years led a party of surveyors and naturalists collecting geologic, biologic, planimetric, and topographic data in New Mexico and six other southwestern states.

Trail: Wheeler Peak Trail (Trail #90)
RT Distance: 15.0 Miles
Elevation Gain: 4150 feet
Max Elevation: 13,161 feet
TH Location: Taos Ski Area
Map: Carson NF Trails Illustrated Map

Santa Fe - Taos Hiking Guide: - The Santa Fe­ - Taos area contains a wide selection of easily accessible trails throughout its mountains and high desert places - where outdoor enthusiasts can explore the diverse topography and ecosystems of northern New Mexico year-round. Now for the first time in one convenient volume, veteran local guidebook author Bob D'Antonio introduces you to 52 great hikes within an hour of these two towns. From alpine peaks to sage-covered mesas, northern New Mexico offers incredible hiking opportunities - and this guide leads you to the best.

Canyon Trail in Tent Rocks National Monument

If you’re spending more than a day or two anywhere in the Santa Fe or Albuquerque area, be sure to visit the somewhat unknown and out-of-the-way Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. This is truly a remarkable place - located about 40 miles southwest of Santa Fe.

The odd cone-shaped formations that give the area its name are the products of volcanic eruptions that took place 6 to 7 million years ago, which left pumice, ash and volcanic tuff deposits over one-thousand feet deep. Over the millennia wind and water slowly eroded the tuff, which formed the canyons and tent rocks we see today. Some of these hoodoos, or tent rocks, reach up to 90 feet in height.

The only other place in the world where you can find these unusual rock formations is in the Cappadocia region of Turkey.

The monument includes two trails that provide up-close views of the tent rocks, as well as the opportunity to pass through a narrow slot canyon. In some places the canyon walls narrow to just-beyond shoulder width. The two trails combined, the Slot Canyon Trail and Cave Loop Trail, are known as the Tent Rocks National Recreation Trail. This hike description encompasses both trails for a total roundtrip hike of 3.7 miles.

From the parking area the main trail heads north through a piñon-juniper woodland. After walking about a tenth-of-a-mile along the sandy path you’ll arrive at the lower Cave Loop Trail junction. We stayed right here to continue towards the slot canyon. From the lower junction the Slot Canyon Trail continues along a gentle grade to reach the upper Cave Loop Trail junction, located at roughly four-tenths of a mile. On your return trip you’ll turn here to complete the Cave Loop portion of this hike. We stayed to the right at this junction as well.

From the upper junction the more difficult Slot Canyon Trail becomes a one-way trek through the winding and narrow canyon, while making a fairly steep 500-foot ascent to reach the top of the mesa. In some areas the walls of the canyon will tower more than 300 feet above the canyon floor. Though the route is obvious as you pass through the chasm, there are a few spots that will require some very minor scrambling to reach the top. At just under 1.5 miles from the trailhead hikers will reach the top of the canyon. From here the official trail continues south along the narrow mesa. After walking a short distance it comes to an end at a low rise, but an unimproved social trail continues almost to the southern edge of the mesa.

From the top of the mesa hikers will enjoy a birds-eye view of the tent rocks below. You’ll also enjoy excellent views of the Sangre de Cristo, Jemez and Sandia mountains, as well as the Rio Grande Valley. On your return trip, after exiting the canyon, hikers will turn right onto the Cave Loop Trail at the upper junction described above. This trail leads to the base of the cliffs where you’ll notice a cave dwelling, or cavate, carved into the soft volcanic tuff. Ancient ancestors of the nearby Pueblo de Cochiti dug this cavate sometime between the 14th and 15th centuries. In the traditional Keresan language of the Pueblo, “Kasha-Katuwe” means “white cliffs.” From the base of the cliff the trail meanders back down to the lower junction, and then heads back to the parking area.

Along either trail hikers may see a variety of wildlife, including mule deer, coyotes, rabbits, lizards, rattlesnakes, ravens, hawks, kestrels, swallows, swifts and maybe even an eagle. Plant life along the trails include ponderosa pine, cottonwoods, shrub oak, hop trees, pinon, juniper, yucca and even manzanita.

Be sure to bring plenty of water, as none is available in the national monument.

After returning back to our "base camp" in Santa Fe later that afternoon, we paid a visit to an excellent brewpub in town known as the Blue Corn Café. With two locations in town, I would recommend going to the downtown location. If you’re lucky enough, grab a table on the balcony. Both the beer and the New Mexican style food are outstanding.


Trail: Cave Loop / Slot Canyon Trail
RT Distance: 3.7 Miles
Elevation Gain: 900 feet
Max Elevation: 6365 feet
TH Location: Off I-25, between Albuquerque and Santa Fe
Map: Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

Santa Fe - Taos Hiking Guide: - The Santa Fe­ - Taos area contains a wide selection of easily accessible trails throughout its mountains and high desert places - where outdoor enthusiasts can explore the diverse topography and ecosystems of northern New Mexico year-round. Now for the first time in one convenient volume, veteran local guidebook author Bob D'Antonio introduces you to 52 great hikes within an hour of these two towns. From alpine peaks to sage-covered mesas, northern New Mexico offers incredible hiking opportunities - and this guide leads you to the best.

The Grand Canyon: Rim to Rim

For many hikers, a “bucket list” or “life list” just wouldn’t be complete unless it included a rim to rim hike across the Grand Canyon. I was fortunate enough to do just that over the Memorial Day weekend in 1996 with three fellow hikers. While the hike itself was no easy task, perhaps just as difficult was trying to coordinate all the required reservations - at least one year in advance!

Our plan was to hike down the North Kaibab Trail, spend the night at the Phantom Ranch, and then climb back up to the South Rim via the Bright Angel Trail the next day. To accomplish this we had to leave our car at the South Rim and then take the five hour shuttle to the North Rim. The day we arrived at the South Rim temperatures were in the 80’s, however, by the time we arrived at the North Rim that evening it was snowing!

After spending the night at The Grand Canyon Lodge, the only lodging on the North Rim, we took the park shuttle to the North Kaibab Trailhead at daybreak to begin our 13.6-mile trek to the bottom of the canyon. Starting off we dressed in lots of layers as the temperature was quite cold that morning.

Surprisingly, the hike begins in a spectacular alpine setting. As you continue down the trail you’ll quickly begin to see millions of years of erosion as you descend through the various geologic eras. You’re also likely to see guided mule tours as you proceed down the canyon. Some might consider this the “easy” way down to Phantom Ranch, but some of those folks didn’t appear to be having a particularly good time. We learned that mules prefer to hug the outside of the trail, which was a little frightening for some of the riders. I should note here that the park service emphatically claims that no one has ever been killed while riding a mule in the park.

This being my first visit to the deserts of the southwest, I was quite surprised by the amount of wildflowers we saw along the trail.

The first section of the North Kaibab Trail to Supai Tunnel is extremely steep, dropping more than 1400 feet in the first 1.7 miles. There are several sections where the trail is essentially a shelf on a wall. For someone who has a bit of fear of heights, I thought the steep drop-offs in some places were quite frightening. From Supai Tunnel to the Cottonwood Campground, the trail isn’t quite as steep, but still has an average grade of 10%. Once past the campground, with “only” 7 miles to go, the hike becomes much easier on the knees and follows along the bottom of the canyon until you reach Phantom Ranch.

Built in 1922, the Phantom Ranch is only accessible by foot, mule or raft, and seems like an oasis after an all-day hike. We arrived late in the afternoon and made our first stop at the Phantom Ranch Canteen where t-shirts, snacks and cold drinks are available. After purchasing the ceremonial Phantom Ranch t-shirt and a supersize Snickers, we headed over to our cabin. After a long day on the trail my feet were pretty beat up. Since our cabin sat along Bright Angel Creek, I immediately removed my boots and dipped my achy feet into the creek. Although quite cold, it felt great. While the cabins only have the basics: bunk beds, a sink and toilet, guests must go to a separate building to take a shower. What I remember most were the luxurious towels and the hot water…this was an unexpected treat for being at the bottom of the Grand Canyon!

Dinner is served at a pre-determined time and your menu is chosen at the time you make your reservations. I’m glad I went with the beef stew – probably the best I’ve ever had. After the ranger presentation we all turned in early - too tired to do anything else.

After an incredible pancake breakfast the next morning we hit the trail at daybreak, each with a sack lunch provided by the Ranch.

Shortly after leaving the Ranch we crossed the Colorado River via the Bright Angel Suspension Bridge, where hikers can look straight down through the grated bottom and see the raging river – another challenge for someone with a fear of heights! The hike up Bright Angel Trail is a 9.9 mile trek. While the first three miles from the Ranch are relatively easy, the last 7 miles are a long slow slog to the top. Since Bright Angel Trail is one of the most popular trails in the park, it’s also the most congested, especially as you get closer to the top. It’s no wonder why though, the views are large and spectacular.

About midway up a park ranger stopped all hikers from going any further for roughly 30 minutes due to a helicopter rescue. The next day we actually met the rescued woman in the airport and found out that she broke her ankle after tripping over some rocks. This is another reminder of how dangerous hiking can be, especially on the Bright Angel Trail, which was named as one of the 10 most dangerous trails in the country by Backpacker Magazine a few years ago.

Although tired and sore, once we reached the top of the South Rim I was overjoyed by a spectacular sense of achievement. At that time it was the most miles I’d ever hiked in a two-day period. After a well-deserved ice cream stop we headed over to our hotel, El Tovar, which is another one of the park’s National Historic Landmarks. This was the perfect spot to pamper ourselves after two days and almost 24 miles of hiking.

After all is said and done, some may ask “was it worth it?” Absolutely! As one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon is a national treasure everyone should enjoy at least once in their lives.


Trails: North Kaibab Trail / Bright Angel Trail
Total Distance: 23.5 Miles
 * North Rim to Phantom Ranch: 13.6 Miles
 * South Rim to Phantom Ranch: 9.9 Miles
Elevation Gain/Loss - North Rim to Colorado River: 5760 Feet
Elevation Gain/Loss - South Rim to Colorado River: 4380 Feet
Max Elevation: 8241 Feet (on North Rim)
TH Location: Grand Canyon Lodge (North Rim) / Grand Canyon Village (South Rim)
Map: Grand Canyon Trails Illustrated Map


Special Notes: The park sternly warns that hikers should not attempt to hike from the rim to the river and back in one day, especially during the months of May to September. Over 250 people are rescued from the canyon each year.

Because the inner canyon air is so dry and hot, sweat evaporates instantly, making its loss almost imperceptible. The park website notes that your body can only absorb about 1 quart of fluid per hour, so drink 1/2 to 1 quart of fluids every hour that you're hiking in the heat. You should also alternate between drinking water and a sports drink with electrolytes. The park also warns that success in the summer can be as simple as staying off the trail and out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Hikers should also note that potable water is usually available in a couple of locations along both trails, but the park warns that you shouldn't rely on it. Check with a ranger, or trailhead signage, prior to your hike to make sure it's available.

Hiking Grand Canyon National Park provides first hand descriptions and detailed maps for all of the developed trails in the park - from easy day hikes suitable for novices and children, to extended backpack trips geared for intrepid wilderness travelers. The guide covers 15 hikes on the South Rim and 13 hikes on the North Rim. Also included are tips on safety, hiking with children, access, and services, as well as indispensable information about backcountry regulations, permits, and water sources.

Avalanche Peak in Yellowstone

During the late summer of 2001, Kathy and I spent part of our two-week vacation in Yellowstone National Park. One of our prime hiking destinations for the week was a climb up 10,568-foot Avalanche Peak, located about eight miles from the park’s east entrance. We put this hike at the top of our itinerary because it’s one of the higher peaks in Yellowstone that doesn’t require any technical skills to reach the summit.

Instead of the pleasant weather we had experienced over the previous few days, we were greeted by dark and threatening skies on the morning of our hike. We decided it might be a good idea to stop at the Fishing Bridge Visitor Center to get an updated weather forecast before setting off.

The ranger at the visitor center, although friendly and very helpful, dampened our spirits even more. Not only was there a good chance of rain for the day, but she also warned us about the high level of grizzly bear activity in the Avalanche Peak area. Indigenous to this part of the park are whitebark pine trees, which, in late summer and fall, produce seeds that are highly rich in fat. The seeds are one of the preferred foods for grizzlies as they fatten-up for the winter, thus attracting them to this area during that same time period. Interestingly, the park's website now recommends that visitors avoid hiking this trail in September and October.

At this point we were a bit leery about the prospects for our plan.

Maybe we sound like a couple of “Chicken Little's”, but being from the Midwest we weren't really accustomed to hiking in areas where we’re second on the food chain. Hiking in black bear country doesn’t bother me, but grizzlies definitely make me nervous. Despite our limited experience in grizzly country up to that point, we were still aware that hiking in numbers tends to increase the safety factor. We decided to drive up to the trailhead to see how many cars were in the parking lot. If it looked like we were going to be the only hikers on the trail that day, we decided we would look for another trail elsewhere in the park.

We were quite relieved to see several cars in the parking area at Eleanor Lake.

However, as we began packing our lunch and gear it started to drizzle. The drizzle quickly turned into a downpour. For nearly a half-hour we waited in our car until the clouds finally began to break. Just as the rain was ending, another couple pulled into the lot next to us. We thought this to be a good omen. With the additional company along the trail, we felt a little more at ease about hiking in grizzly country.

We set off with our new friends in a light misty drizzle. Our companions, we found out, were a couple of summer park employees working in the Mammoth Hot Springs area. What a great way to spend your leisure time while working in one of the most beautiful places on Earth!

Almost immediately the trail begins ascending the mountain, climbing through a dense, lush-green forest of spruce, fir and pine trees. Even though the trail isn’t marked on the official park map, it appeared to be well maintained and was clearly visible along the entire route.

As the trail steepened the pace of our companions started to slow, so Kathy and I moved on without them. By this time it was becoming increasingly apparent that the hike up Avalanche Peak isn’t for the faint of heart. The trail gains 2100 feet in just 2.3 miles, which translates into a grade of more than 17%! To make matters worse the trail has virtually no switchbacks, which means there aren’t a lot of flat sections to rest legs and lungs as you make your ascent. Fortunately the rain had already cleared out by the time we reached the steeper sections of the trail.

Roughly two-thirds of a mile from the summit we reached a meadow just above the tree line - near the base of the large bowl below Avalanche Peak. We noticed four hikers descending the mountain about 150 yards up the trail from where we stood. About 200 yards above them, I saw what I assumed to be another hiker, dressed in brown from head-to-toe, cross over the trail. It took me a second or two to realize that what I was actually looking at was an adult grizzly bear moving towards the east. I yelled a warning to the four hikers between us and the bear. The bear also heard me, and looked a little startled as he stopped to check us out.

The summit of Avalanche Peak is in the far right corner of the picture. That small dark spot right in the middle of the picture, just above the copse of trees, is the grizzly bear.

At this point we were a little undecided as to what to do next. Do we turn around and head back down the mountain, or do we move up the trail to join the company of the other hikers for more safety? As we stood there mulling over our options, the bear suddenly became visibly agitated with my wife and I. Abruptly, he crouched down on his front legs and faced directly towards us. There was no misunderstanding his body language or the menacing glare he gave us; he wanted us off HIS mountain! Not to offend him further, we calmly started to back away. Fortunately, so did the bear. Just as quickly as he faced us down, he turned away and continued his eastward procession towards a grove of scrub pines. The bear was obviously more interested in stuffing his belly with pine seeds rather than a couple of hikers.

Feeling a little bolder, we walked up the trail to join the other hikers while we watched the bear indulge in a favored delicacy. After watching for several minutes, the two park employees we met earlier finally joined us. As we all stood there, the bear finally wandered over to the other side of the mountain. We now had another important decision to make: do we take the safe route down the mountain with the group of four, or do we go ahead and summit the mountain with our park employee companions. Our high altitude conference concluded that if all four of us stayed together it would be relatively safe to continue.

Our decision to move forward proved to be an excellent one. Much to our relief, with our periodic clapping and yelling of “hey bear”, we never saw the bear again. Even the weather cooperated with us. The overcast, drizzly conditions we experienced on the lower part of the mountain now gave way to billowing white clouds against the backdrop of a cobalt-blue sky. The final push to the top was a fairly easy scramble along the rocky ridgeline of Avalanche Peak. At the summit we were rewarded with an incredibly spectacular view of Yellowstone Lake to the west, the Absaroka Range to the north and east, and the Grand Tetons in the far off distance towards the south.

I’ve made several trips out west over the years and have had the opportunity to hike in some of the best parks and wilderness areas of Colorado, Utah, Montana and Wyoming. Not only was our trek up Avalanche Peak the highlight of our Yellowstone trip, but was undoubtedly one the most memorable hikes I’ve ever had. The combination of stunning scenery and the chance encounter with a grizzly bear made this a wilderness experience of a lifetime.

Before venturing into Yellowstone's backcountry it's a good idea to have an understanding of how to be safe while hiking in bear country.


Trail: Avalanche Peak
RT Distance: 4.6 Miles
Elevation Gain: 2100 feet
Max Elevaton: 10,568
TH Location: Eleanor Lake picnic area near Sylvan Pass
Map: Yellowstone NP Trails Illustrated Map



Top Trails Yellowstone & Grand Tetons - has all visitors need to enjoy for 45 of the best trips in the area: tranquil backcountry lakes, panoramic summits, glacier-carved canyons, steaming geyser basins, vast meadows teeming with wildlife, and much more. Hikes range in length from a half-mile stroll, to a 30-mile trek past intriguing thermal features and wildlife galore. Each hike features easy-to-follow trail notes, maps, distances and approximate times, and ratings and rankings for each trail.

Kansas Hikes

  * Konza Prairie - near Manhattan

  * Surviving Mount Sunflower - The highest point in Kansas

California Hikes

Yosemite National Park:

  * The Panorama Trail

  * The Four Mile Trail up to Glacier Point

  * Sentinel Meadow & Cook's Meadow Loop

  * Vernal Fall

  * Vernal Fall & Nevada Fall Loop

  * Gaylor Lakes

  * Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

  * Wawona Meadow Loop



Redwood National and State Parks:

  * Stout Grove - in Jedediah Smith State Park

  * Lady Bird Johnson Grove - in Redwood National Park

Moon California Hiking: The Complete Guide to 1,000 of the Best Hikes in the Golden State - Seasoned outdoors authors Tom Stienstra and Ann Marie Brown know the best hiking trails in the Golden State, from breathtaking coastal walks north of Los Angeles, to challenging backcountry treks in the Sierra Nevadas. Moon California Hiking leads beginner and expert hikers alike to the best trails the state has to offer. The book also includes unique "best-of" lists, such as Best Waterfall and Best Wildlife Hikes.

Nevada Hikes

Washington Hikes

Mt. Rainier National Park:

  * The Skyline Loop Trail

          > Paradise in Spring

  * The Burroughs Mountain Loop

  * Comet Falls

  * Naches Peak Loop Trail

  * Bench and Snow Lakes

  * Rampart Ridge Loop

  * Grove of the Patriarchs

  * Carter Falls



North Cascades:

  * Lookout Mountain

 

100 Classic Hikes in Washington is a collection of 100 hikes in the Alpine Lakes, North Cascades, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, South Cascades and Olympics regions. The guide features color maps and photos on high-quality (recycled) paper. At-a-glance information for easy browsing includes the following: mileage, suggested duration in hours or days, high point, elevation gain, seasonality, topo map codes as well as additional contact information.

Oregon Hikes

  * The Columbia River Gorge

  * Multnomah Falls - Near Portland in the Columbia River Gorge

  * Oregon Coast - North

  * Oregon Coast - South

Hiking Oregon - Featuring 50 of the state's best hikes, with an additional 52 honorable mention hikes, Hiking Oregon is the ticket to experiencing the Beaver State's remarkable diversity. This one-of-a-kind guidebook will take outdoor enthusiasts on hikes along rugged, rocky coastline to historic lighthouses; through scented, sagebrush high desert and magnificent lava plains; to the tops of volcanic peaks; past cascading waterfalls; and alongside wild and scenic rivers.

Utah Hikes

Arches National Park:

  * Delicate Arch

  * Double Arch and Window Arch

  * Park Avenue Trail

  * Arches National Park - An overview of the park



Canyonlands National Park:

  * Mesa Arch

  * Lathrop Trail

  * Aztec Butte

  * Slickrock Foot Trail



Bryce Canyon National Park:

  * Rim Trail - from Sunrise Point to Inspiration Point

  * Wall Street / Queen’s Garden Loop



Zion National Park:

  * Observation Point

  * Zion Canyon Overlook

  * Riverside Walk to The Narrows

  * Emerald Pools

  * Exploring The Lesser Known Areas of Zion

Utah's Incredible Backcountry Trails - This illustrated hiking guide contains 496 pages with nearly 500 color photographs to guide you through Utah's incredible backcountry. The most popular trails are generally located in the state's 12 national parks and monuments, but there are also many fantastic trails in Utah's 33 wilderness areas and other less protected places. This book will take you up mountain peaks, through redrock canyons, past Anasazi cliff dwellings, as well as to natural arches, waterfalls, hot springs and swimming holes. Each trail has clear and concise trail descriptions, detailed trail maps, distance, elevation gain, color photographs, conditions, season, and each is rated with 1-5 stars according to how interesting and enjoyable the hike is.

Texas Hikes

Guadalupe Mountains National Park:

  * Guadalupe Peak - The highest point in Texas

  * The Devils Hall - Guadalupe Mountains National Park



Big Bend National Park:

  * Big Bend National Park

100 Classic Hikes in Texas - With over 80 parks, 56 wildlife management areas, 9 natural areas and 28 historic sites and parklands, this vast state offers a plethora of hiking options to choose from. Regions covered include the Panhandle Plains, prairies and lakes, piney woods, Gulf Coast, South Texas Plains, Hill Country, and Big Bend country. This guide includes elevation profiles, sidebar tips, topographic maps, and a handy Hikes-at-a-Glance chart to help readers find the hikes they want quickly and easily. Whether you're planning an extended backpacking trip through the northern cross timber or a short day hike just outside of town, this guidebook presents a wonderful variety of iconic Texas trails.

Wyoming Hikes

Grand Teton National Park:

  * TetonHikingTrails.com - Comprehensive trail information for Grand Teton National Park

  * Floating the Snake River



Yellowstone National Park:

  * North Rim Trail

  * Avalanche Peak

  * Bunsen Peak - Osprey Falls Loop

  * South Rim - Clear Lake Loop

  * Osprey Falls

  * Bunsen Peak

  * Mystic Falls

  * Yellowstone Lake Overlook

  * Trout Lake

  * Lamar River Trail

  * Grand Prismatic Overlook

  * Cascade Lake

  * Harlequin Lake

  * Two Ribbons Trail



Greater Yellowstone / Grand Teton Region Hikes:

  * Mt. Glory - at Teton Pass

  * Black Canyon Overlook - at Teton Pass

  * Coal Creek Meadows - near Teton Pass

  * Alaska Basin - in Targhee National Forest

  * Fred’s Mountain - Grand Targhee Resort

  * Sheepherder Lakes - Beartooth Highway

  * Beauty Lake - Beartooth Highway

  * Night Lake - Beartooth Highway



Bighorn National Forest:

  * Sherd Lake - in Bighorn National Forest

  * Rainy Lake - in Bighorn National Forest

  * Cloud Peak Wilderness Overlook - in Bighorn National Forest

  * Otter Lake - in Bighorn National Forest





Top Trails Yellowstone & Grand Tetons - has all visitors need to enjoy for 45 of the best trips in the area: tranquil backcountry lakes, panoramic summits, glacier-carved canyons, steaming geyser basins, vast meadows teeming with wildlife, and much more. Hikes range in length from a half-mile stroll, to a 30-mile trek past intriguing thermal features and wildlife galore. Each hike features easy-to-follow trail notes, maps, distances and approximate times, and ratings and rankings for each trail.

Arizona Hikes

Grand Canyon National Park:

  * The Grand Canyon: Rim to Rim - Via the North Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails (overnight at the Phantom Ranch)

  * Rim Trail - Bright Angel Trail

  * Cape Final

  * Views from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon



Flagstaff Area Hikes:

  * Humphreys Peak - Highest point in Arizona

  * Brins Mesa Trail - In Sedona

  * Sunset Crater / Wupatki National Monument

  * Island Trail - In Walnut Canyon National Monument



Other Arizona Hikes:

  * Monument Valley - Iconic scenery on Arizona/Utah border

  * Glen Canyon Float Trip - Float trip through a spectacular canyon

  * Blue Mesa Trail - Petrified Forest National Park

Hiking Northern Arizona features 120 of the best trails in this spectacular region. Included are high alpine trails near Flagstaff, as well as desert hikes in the stunning Red Rock area of Sedona. Also included are hikes near Williams, Camp Verde, Cottonwood and Jerome. Hiking Northern Arizona offers outings that are suited to day hikers and veteran backpackers alike.

New Mexico Hikes

  * Wheeler Peak - Located near Taos, Wheeler Peak is the highest point in New Mexico

  * Cerro Grande Route - Bandelier National Monument

  * Tsankawi Loop Trail - Bandelier National Monument

  * Coyote Call Trail - Valles Caldera National Preserve

  * La Jara Trail - Valles Caldera National Preserve

  * Canyon Trail - Tent Rocks National Monument

           > Tent Rocks in Black and White

  * La Vega - Santa Fe National Forest

  * Chimney Rock Trail - Ghost Ranch, near Abiquiu

  * White Sands National Monument

  * Carlsbad Caverns National Park - Self-guided tour of the Big Room

  * Santa Fe - “The City Different”

  * Santa Fe - “The City of Holy Faith”

100 Hikes in New Mexico - New Mexico offers a surprising variety of terrain to explore, from the Chihuahuan Desert in the south, to remarkable alpine lakes in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the north. In this completely updated guide to New Mexico's impressive trails, author Craig Martin includes easy 1 and 2-mile day jaunts, numerous 8 to 12-mile hikes, and difficult 20-plus-mile backpack trips for the more ardent adventurers.

Montana Hikes

Glacier National Park region hikes:

  * HikinginGlacier.com - Comprehensive hiking trail information for Glacier National Park

  * Bob Marshall Wilderness - Located within the Flathead, Lolo, Helena, and Lewis and Clark National Forests, just south of Glacier National Park



Greater Yellowstone hikes:

  * Lava Lake - near Bozeman, Montana

  * Beehive Basin - Big Sky, Montana

  * Silver Run Plateau - near Red Lodge, Montana

  * Silver Run Lakes Basin - near Red Lodge, Montana

  * Sheepherder Lakes - Beartooth Highway

  * Beauty Lake - Beartooth Highway

  * Night Lake - Beartooth Highway

  * Yellowstone National Park hikes

Hiking Montana - Lace up your boots and sample more than 100 hikes in the magnificent national forests and national parks of Montana. From the grandeur of Glacier to the fantastic fishing in Yellowstone, this renowned hiking guide takes you through old-growth cedars, up jagged peaks, past roaring waterfalls, and across remote meadows to crystalline alpine lakes. Experience true wilderness as you traverse the Continental Divide and explore the spectacular world of Big Sky Country.

South Dakota Hikes

  * Harney Peak - Located in the Black Hills, Harney Peak is the highest point in South Dakota

Hiking the Black Hills Country - covers nearly all the trails in the area from Devils Tower National Monument and Mount Rushmore National Memorial, to Custer State Park and Wind Cave and Badlands National Parks. Detailed descriptions and maps will get you to the trailheads and help you plan your trip. This guide also includes tips on safety and hiking with children, elevation charts, photographs, no-trace camping information, and an equipment checklist.

Colorado Hikes

Rocky Mountain National Park:

  * RockyMountainHikingTrails.com - Comprehensive hiking trail information for Rocky Mountain National Park


Colorado Fourteeners:

  * Mt. Elbert - near Leadville

  * Huron Peak - near Leadville

  * Quandary Peak - near Buena Vista


Other Colorado Hikes:

  * Pawnee Pass - Indian Peaks Wilderness

  * Lake Isabelle - Indian Peaks Wilderness

  * Long Lake Loop - Indian Peaks Wilderness

  * Sneffels Highline - near Telluride

  * Bilk Basin Overlook - near Telluride

  * Black Face Mountain - near Telluride

  * Blue Lakes - near Ouray and Telluride

  * Horsethief Trail - near Ouray

  * Porphyry Basin - near Ouray

  * Ouray Perimeter Trail - Ouray

  * Ice Lakes - near Silverton

  * Cottonwood Pass South - near Buena Vista

  * Monarch Crest Trail - near Salida

  * Gilpin Lake Loop - north of Steamboat Springs

  * The Devils Causeway - south of Steamboat Springs

  * Monument Canyon Trail - Colorado National Monument

  * Devils Kitchen - Colorado National Monument

  * Otto's Trail - Colorado National Monument

  * Hanging Lake - Glenwood Canyon (near Glenwood Springs)

  * Crater Lake - near Aspen

  * The North Trail - near Vail

  * Indian Peaks Wilderness - Located within the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, just south of Rocky Mountain National Park

  * Great Sand Dunes National Park

100 Classic Hikes Colorado - Beautiful color photographs accompany this collection of the absolute best hikes Colorado has to offer. With this guide's bounty of useful new informational features, hikers will be well equipped to choose a trip that suits their needs. 100 Classic Hikes Colorado includes topographic maps, elevation profiles, and a trails-at-a-glance chart.