Photo Blog with Waterfalls, Hiking, Outdoors, and other Adventures
I came into this spot blind last night just looking for a place to sleep. Randomly winding up at Big Spring in Missouri just searching for a campsite? Pretty fortunate. I broke camp and drove just a short distance outside the campground to find Big Spring but you could walk/hike the Slough Trail if you … Read more
Final full day of adventure and starting to make my way north towards home. I have crossed over from Arkansas to Oklahoma and now into Missouri, and the next stop at George Washington Carver National Monument has been on my list for quite some time as I find his life and accomplishments both impressive and … Read more
Cooler temperatures this morning allowed for near perfect conditions to hike to the waterfall on the Dripping Springs Trail. If you are a camper, access is a very short walk just from the campground; day visitors also have easy access just left of the main entrance at the parking lot. The start of the trail … Read more
Weather today is again surprisingly hot for October reaching highs above 90°F. Decided to combat that by finding higher elevation at Mount Magazine State Park in Arkansas. There are several access points to the summit; I started from the Cameron Bluff Campground trail head. The trail is very well marked and maintained, and includes an … Read more
Boca Negra Canyon is another site within Petroglyph National Monument and is easy to find just a few minutes drive north from the visitor center along Unser Blvd. The location is more developed as compared to Rinconada Canyon with a small restroom and some picnic sites. On a weekday early afternoon there is enough parking … Read more
Second attempt at the Rinconada Canyon Trail area of Petroglyph National Monument. First try was on the weekend, and the signs posted from the park service warning about thefts & break-ins plus the local crowd told me to move along; today on a Tuesday at noon I nearly had it to myself. Be sure to … Read more
The final destination for me completing my visit at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument was at the Quarai site, located just 10 minutes north of Mountainair, New Mexico on NM-55 in the small unincorporated community of Punta de Agua. The visitor center / museum is currently closed for remodeling. This is a smaller site and … Read more
Two more sites to visit for Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument and both are a bit more remote. The next closest is a 30-minute drive south from Mountainair on rural State Road 55 (aka NM-55) to reach the Gran Quivira Unit. Again, the visitor center is closed today but that’s expected since it’s Monday in … Read more
Continuing from the Headland Trail you’ll naturally connect to the Inscription Rock Trail that leads along the bluff and observes the other significant focus of the monument – several ancient petroglyphs and hundreds of historic rock inscriptions. A careful eye will notice several petroglyphs on the large vertical faces of the cliff where big circular … Read more
Made it to Grants, New Mexico and stopped for fuel. Didn’t have anything planned in this area so I took a survey of the map and found an interesting feature relatively nearby. Headed south on NM-117 into El Mapais National Monument / National Conservation Area and checked out the La Ventana Natural Arch, the second … Read more