Jemez Falls

Jemez Falls - View from overlook through the trees

Camp was quiet and nearly cleared out on this mid-October Monday morning, and my feet are losing their soreness so it’s time to try another short hike. As far as short hikes go this one has a great payoff at Jemez Falls, the highest waterfall in the Jemez Mountains. The trailhead is very easy to … Read more

Cascade Falls

Cascade Falls - View of falls from small platform above

It was a chilly morning commute in the high 30’s as I left camp down in the canyon but I am not complaining. The sun is a fantastic golden blaze and skies are clear with a bit of haze offering a vivid glow to anything the light touches. I’m taking a short drive down state … Read more

Hot Springs Waterfall

Hot Springs - Direct view of the "waterfall" cascading down the cliff

Made a quick stop in Hot Springs, South Dakota as something caught my eye as I was driving down the main street. Lots of construction so I had to drive past and then park in the Centennial Park lot and walk down the paved path that runs parallel to the Fall River. Not pictured but … Read more

Falls of the Big Sioux River

Falls Park - View of falls from atop the observation tower

I’ve been through Sioux Falls only one other time back in 2016, and that was only to sleep and pass on down the road. Before leaving this time I thought “there must be a waterfall here somewhere, else the city wouldn’t be named like that.” A quick online search later and oh boy did I … Read more

Pipestone National Monument

Pipestone National Monument - Old Stone Face rock formation

Thus far on my road trip I’ve basically been making up plans as I go along. But my main goal for sticking around in this area was to visit Pipestone National Monument in Pipestone, Minnesota. I’ve had this on my “to do” list now for a few years and it never came together but happily … Read more

Devil’s Gulch

Devil's Gulch - Rocky parts of the trail require some creativity to find a path

Just down the road from Split Rock park is another local park called Devil’s Gulch. I didn’t know what to expect at first, but the attraction here is a large gulch (or ravine), a waterfall perhaps, and some Wild West history if you believe the stories. Not shown in this post is a small visitor … Read more

Split Rock Park

Split Rock Park - Wide angle view of the area near the dam

Today seems like “do everything interesting in Garretson, South Dakota” day but it wasn’t really by plan. As it often happens, I was freestyle cruising Google Maps and came across a couple parks not far away from camp. So I headed just a couple miles down the road and first stopped at Split Rock Park. … Read more

Baxter’s Hollow Rapids

Baxter's Hollow Rapids

Darkness was setting in as I reached the final stop on the weekend’s adventure. I had not expected water levels on Otter Creek to be flowing quite so well at Baxter’s Hollow, but I frantically scrambled to get some photos before I was completely out of light. So after driving to the end of Stones … Read more

Big Springs Nature Park

Big Springs Nature Park - Guttenberg, Iowa

My final destination for the day was at Big Springs Nature Park in Guttenberg, Iowa. From Hazel Green, Wisconsin I followed IA-3 and US-52 along what they call the Great River Road National Scenic Byway. The drive itself is pretty fun and shows the Iowa side along the Mississippi but often times goes inland. Either … Read more

Big Spring Creek (2022)

Big Spring Creek - Spring water cascading down the rocks

My turkey hunt was going nowhere fast today. After striking out at Governor Dodge State Park I fueled up, took a short midday nap, and drove around in search of new public lands with favorable terrain. Along the way I ended up at a familiar destination at Big Springs Fishery Area in Highland, Wisconsin. Here’s … Read more