If you ask Idahoans from the eastern portion of the state what their favorite hike is, they’ll probably say the Darby Wind Caves. This hike is universally recognized as one of the coolest and most unique hikes in all of Idaho. Not only does it take you through a beautiful canyon studded with greenery and waterfalls, but you end up at a massive, looming cave entrance that takes you inside of the canyon wall. The cave itself is absolutely spectacular and must be experience first-hand. This is a family-friendly hike that is perfect for a late summer or Fall adventure! Check it out.
This is the entrance to the humongous and spectacular wind cave located on the western side of the Teton Mountains.
There are some places in Idaho that you can ONLY find in Idaho, and this is one of those places. Bullets ‘N Brew may just be the most unique coffee shop in the state for the sole fact that they also happen to sell guns. Pretty weird, right? Whether you’re on the hunt for a well-brewed coffee or a new gun, this strange little business has you covered. Despite all of its quirks, you’ll soon see this is a charming small business at its core and it’s well-worth visiting when you’re in the area.
If you’ve ever felt the urge to grab a coffee and go gun shopping (haven’t we all?), then you’ll find that Bullets ‘n Brew is just the place for you. Located in Hagerman, this unique coffee shop sells a variety of items—including guns—and it’s actually kind of awesome.
At first, the combination of both coffee shop and gun shop seems incredibly bizarre. However, it makes complete sense when you take into account that Hagerman is just a small Idaho town where lots of businesses end up doing double duty. Plus, it’s not only guns and coffee this shop sells.
While tourists flock to Yellowstone in the winter to see the magnificent thermal features and sled all around the place, Wyomingites head to Thermopolis for their winter excursion. In this charming and historic town, you can escape the brutally cold winter air by soaking in relaxing and rejuvenating mineral hot springs.
Thermopolis is home to Hot Springs State Park, one of Wyoming’s most underrated attractions that’s worth visiting all year long.
The entire park was designed to preserve and protect the world’s largest mineral hot springs, and you’ll spot so many unbelievable natural wonders when you wander around the trails.
The legend of Paul Bunyan has been circulating around North America since the 1800s. The story goes that he’s a huge lumberjack who stands at least eight feet tall, and is always accompanied by his faithful companion, Babe the Blue Ox. Paul and Babe are friendly, hard-working characters who were the heroes of turn-of-the-century loggers in the thick forests of the U.S. and Canada.
There are some unique rock formations here in Utah that call to mind Paul Bunyan, and you can take a short hike to see them (and get an amazing valley view at the same time!)
Paul Buyan is a folklore hero who’s said to wander the countryside, chopping down huge trees with his companion, Babe the Blue Ox.
If you’ve ever wondered why Juab County doesn’t have lush forests full of towering trees, it might be because the pair tromped through here, chopping everything down and leaving large piles of logs. Take the Paul Bunyan’s Wood Pile Trail to see them!
The landscape of Southern Utah offers so many unique natural gems – from the towering cliffs of Zion National Park to the stunning Colorado River that spent millions of years carving canyons into the terrain. While you can easily see the effects of erosion when gazing at the hoodoos and spires of Bryce Canyon National Park, some geologic wonders will fit right in the palm of your hand. Have you ever run across moqui marbles?
Take a stroll through Utah’s Zion National Park or Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and you might see a strange geological phenomenon.
In some places where Navajo sandstone covers the landscape, you’ll find large collections of strange rock-like formations. They’re called moqui marbles, and they’re not actually rocks – they’re small concretions.
It’s no secret that Utah is home to magnificent natural architecture unlike anywhere else in the world. While snow-capped mountains fill the north half of the state, vibrant rock bridges, hoodoos, and sculptures of every size and shape imaginable dot the landscape of Southern Utah, carved and smoothed by ancient winds and waters into the stunning national parks and monuments that we know and love today.
But tucked away within these towering formations, stepped canyons, and stately mesas are the remnants of a completely different kind of architecture: ancient Native American cities and dwellings, miraculously preserved and impossibly carved into the landscape itself.
While not nearly as ancient as some of the ruins you might find in other countries, many of these structures date back over 1,000 years and offer an unrivaled glimpse into the past – as well as some spectacular hiking opportunities! For a truly unique weekend trip with photo-worthy rewards, grab a friend and check out this incredible ancient ruins hike in Southern Utah.
Positively glowing in sun-kissed desert hues of burnt orange and rust red, Southern Utah is literally just one mesmerizing vista after another.
Everywhere you turn, there’s a photo-worthy scene stretching as far as the eye can see!
What makes this scenery even more surreal is how its rugged beauty intertwines with the unique history of our state, and is filled with tangible remnants of ancient peoples, cultures, and their stories.
Warm up your winter by relaxing in one of these hot springs in Wyoming. Warm up in the healing, therapeutic water while you watch winter do its thing. These hot springs in Wyoming exude an ambiance of peace and tranquility, especially when the snow is quietly dancing on the water and creating a white blanket all around.
Hot Springs State Park trickles along the Big Horn River in Thermopolis. While the outside pool is closed during the winter, the park has a free bath house open year round where the water is maintained at 104º for therapeutic soaking. The bath house is open seven days a week but closed on winter holidays. While there, be sure to check out the morning feeding of the bison that takes place during the winter months. Hot Springs State Park is located at 538 N. Park Street in Thermopolis.
It might be a chilly outside, but temperatures in Oregon often allow for year-round camping, and many of our state parks are open during all four seasons. Here are nine spots around the Beaver State to consider for your next winter adventure.
This state heritage area is located along the Oregon Trail. It’s packed with history and surrounded by old-growth forest – perfect for a fun family weekend. You’ll find four campsites available during winter months, but you might want to snuggle into one of the six rustic log cabins to stay nice and cozy.
There’s something truly magical about a wintery waterfall; the stunning sight of an ethereal cascade framed by ice and snow is an almost otherworldly beauty. Here are nine of Oregon’s most breathtaking waterfalls that become even more enchanting when the temperature drops below freezing. Bundle up and grab your gear, and prepare for a day of stunning scenery on these best winter hikes in Oregon!
Located in the Columbia River Gorge, this stunning waterfall is more than 200 feet tall, and it’s absolutely stupendous when it freezes. A short 1.5-mile hike will lead you to the falls, but be extra careful in the wintertime. The path can be quite muddy, and extremely slippery closer to Elowah Falls.
Montana is amazing in any season… and while we’ll sometimes complain all day about the weather, the truth is, we appreciate seeing our beautiful state covered in snow. And since our winters are so long, you’ll have plenty of time to see all 7 of these spots.
This is a trip you’ll want to take as soon as possible. Bigfork transforms into a Christmas village every year, and it’s amazing. Get the details here.
