TrailTroves: National Parks, Hiking, Wildlife & More
A Hoodoo-Filled Sprint: My Weekend at Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon National Park had been sitting on my bucket list for way too long. I finally made it happen in June 2025, and I did it solo, fast, and maybe a little crazy.
Getting There
Thanks to a flight pass, Las Vegas was the easiest (and cheapest) airport for me to fly into, so I grabbed a late Friday flight from San Francisco. Landed around midnight, picked up a rental car at the airport, and hit the road straight to Bryce. The drive is about 260 miles / 420 kilometers and takes roughly four hours. Keep in mind, you lose an hour on the way there as you cross from Pacific Time into Mountain Time—but you gain it back on the return, which is nice. I stopped once to grab a coffee and use the bathroom, but otherwise kept it moving. It was a bit of a marathon trip, but I was on a mission—and I made it just in time for sunrise at Sunrise Point. At that hour, the rising sun hits the amphitheater walls just right—lighting up the hoodoos in deep reds, soft oranges, and golden highlights. The colors shift quickly as the sun climbs, and it's honestly one of the best times to take it all in.
Being there so early—around 6 a.m.—meant I also got to see some wildlife before the crowds showed up. I spotted pronghorn antelope and mule deer moving through the park in the early morning. That time of day just has a different feel—quiet, calm, and a little more alive.
After soaking in the sunrise, I drove the full 18-mile scenic route through the park, stopping at different viewpoints. Then I took a nap in my car at the very end to catch up on some sleep.
First Impressions
If you've never heard of hoodoos, get ready. Bryce Canyon is packed with them—in fact, it's home to the highest concentration of hoodoos on the planet. These are tall, thin spires of rock formed by millions of years of frost and erosion. The result? A surreal landscape of orange and pink stone towers that are unlike anything else you'll see in a national park.
Day One: Fairyland Loop
I chose to tackle the Fairyland Loop first. It’s a little bit longer (8 miles / 12.8 kilometers long with 1,566 ft / 477 meters of elevation gain) and a bit more remote of the two hikes I chose to do that weekend, so I decided to start with it and see how I felt. Plus, it was getting later in the morning, and I liked the idea of a quieter trail as people were starting to fill up the park.
The hike winds through wide-open sections of the park, giving you sweeping views of the hoodoos from a distance. It was windy but surprisingly cool for June, which made the hike comfortable. If you like solitude and big vistas, this is your trail.
I stayed that night in Tropic, a small town just 10-15 minutes down the road from the park. It’s more affordable than staying in Bryce Canyon City and less crowded. There are a few restaurants, a coffee shop, and a laid-back vibe that made it a relaxing and convenient base for exploring the park.
Day Two: Figure 8 Loop
I originally planned to start from Sunrise Point, but the parking lot was already full. No big deal—I found an overflow lot down the road and was able to hop on the trail from there.
The Figure 8 Loop connects four trails: Navajo Loop, Peekaboo Loop, Queen’s Garden, and Wall Street. Together, they form a sort of figure-eight shape with a central connector.
About midway through the hike, I had a surprise wildlife encounter: I spotted a Great Basin Gopher snake—this thing was massive, probably around four feet long. It looked like a rattlesnake at first glance and can even mimic their behavior by rattling its tail, but it’s non-venomous. Still, definitely gave me a pause when I first saw it. I clocked about 7.5 miles / 12.1 kilometers with 1,613 ft / 491 meters of elevation gain.
This hike gets you up close and personal with the hoodoos—towering walls of rock right next to you, narrow passages, and even some manmade walkways carved through the stone. It’s a totally different experience from Fairyland and just as memorable.
Worth the Weekend
If you want a visual feel for the trip, check out my all-in-one Bryce Canyon post on Instagram here. It’s a roundup of the hikes, views, and some wildlife too.
I planned this whole trip on a whim, but it worked out perfectly. I was back in Vegas Sunday night in time for a Monday morning flight. Two days, two amazing hikes, and I still made it back to Vegas with time to spare. The drive back was a whole different experience than the way there—this time it was still light out, and what a beautiful drive that is. From Bryce to Vegas, you pass through all kinds of landscapes—wooded wilderness, high plateaus, desert stretches, and endless hills. Back to work like nothing happened—except I had a camera full of red rock and a weekend I won’t forget.
If you’ve got Bryce on your list, stop waiting. It’s doable—even in a weekend—and absolutely worth the trip.
👉 See gear for your Bryce Canyon trip
Written by Tyler, founder of Globetroves™
About Me | Instagram
Posted June 2025
Yellowstone National Park: Geyeser, Wildlife & Big American Magic
In September 2023, I took a four-day trip through Yellowstone National Park. I had a general idea of what to expect, but the place still surprised me. Before heading into the park, I stopped in Jackson Hole for a night. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s a very nice mountain town — lots of scenery, stylish, outdoorsy, a little high-end.
After that, I drove straight through Grand Teton National Park, caught a few quick views (wish I had more time), and continued into the wilderness that is Yellowstone.
I was lucky to find a campsite inside the park — I booked it just about a week before the trip. It was late in the season, with most campgrounds closing by early October, so this was one of the last weekends to squeeze it in. Even then, the park still felt busy. Nights were cold, especially in a tent, but that’s part of the deal that time of year.
Just How Big Is Yellowstone?
It’s easy to underestimate how massive Yellowstone is until you’re driving across it. The park spans over 3,400 square miles (about 5,470 square kilometers) — that’s bigger than the entire state of Delaware, and roughly the same size as Crete, the largest island in Greece. Translation: you’re not seeing this place in one day. It’s broken up into several regions, each with its own feel, wildlife, and surprises.
Wildlife Central: Lamar Valley & Beyond
One of the best spots to see animals is Lamar Valley, often called "America’s Serengeti." It didn’t disappoint — bison were everywhere. You don’t need to go looking for them. They roam across roads, fields, and sometimes right next to your car. Just don’t get out and try to take a pic too close. They are wild animals.
In the northwest corner of the park near Mammoth Hot Springs, I saw tons of elk, some relaxing right outside the hotel area. The scenery up there is different — more rugged, with steamy rock formations that feel like another planet.
The coolest moment for me was catching a coyote hunting — just out in the valley doing its thing, pouncing on small critters. No bears this time (kind of a relief), but the place is absolutely teeming with life.
Geysers Galore — and Yes, Old Faithful Delivers
If you think Yellowstone is just Old Faithful, think again. The geyser basins, mostly on the west side of the park, are packed with geothermal activity. You’ll see bubbling mud pots, steaming vents, and colorful hot springs scattered all over. It’s wild how many there are — far more than I expected. I thought the first cluster of them I saw from a distance was brush fire smoke.
As for Old Faithful, it erupts about every 90 minutes, and yep, it’s still worth seeing. They’ve built stadium seating all around it, so show up early if you want a good view. It’s cheesy, it’s touristy, and it’s awesome. I couldn’t believe how high the water spouted.
🚨 Warning: Don’t Get Close to the Geysers
It might seem like common sense, but every year people get seriously injured—or worse—by stepping off the boardwalks in Yellowstone in the geothermal areas. The ground can look stable but isn’t, and just beneath the surface is near-boiling, often acidic water. In one case, a man fell into a hot spring in the Norris Geyser Basin, and the water was so hot and corrosive that by the next day, nothing was left but his wallet and flip-flops. It’s a harsh reminder that this place doesn’t play around. Stay on the trail.
Yellowstone = Peak USA
Yellowstone is one of those places that really shows off what the American landscape is capable of. The scale, the variety — geysers, canyons, wildlife, forests, rivers — it’s all packed into one park. It’s a reminder of how wild, dramatic, and beautiful this country really is
👉 See gear for your Yellowstone trip
Written by Tyler, founder of Globetroves™
About Me | Instagram
Posted June 2025
Hiking Angels Landing at Zion National Park
After seeing Dead & Company show at the Sphere in June 2024, we headed out to Zion National Park — it’s about a 2.5-hour drive from Vegas. We had permits lined up in advance to hike Angels Landing, one of the park’s most popular trails. It was June, temps were in the 90s, and the trail definitely delivered. The final stretch with the chains was no joke — narrow ridges, big drop-offs — but the views were worth it.
What to Know Before You Hike
This isn’t your casual stroll through the park. Angels Landing requires a permit to access the final chain section — yes, the narrow ridgeline with sheer drop-offs on both sides. You can hike up to Scout Lookout without a permit, but if you want to tackle the chains, you’ll need to secure a permit in advance through the National Park Service website lottery system.
I came prepared: multiple bottles of water, good hiking shoes, and — pro tip — gloves for the chains. That metal? Wicked hot in the summer sun. The early switchbacks (known as Walter’s Wiggles) and be tough with the heat and limited shade. Pacing yourself is key.
👉 See boots, gloves and hydration gear
Chains, Cliffs, and Views for Days
Once you reach the chains, things get real. The adrenaline kicks in as you climb the narrow ridge, gripping the metal chain to keep steady. The exposure is wild — 1,500-foot cliffs on either side — but the views? Unreal. That final summit moment, standing above the canyon with and red rock as far as you can see, is something I’ll never forget.
The descent is also pretty intense. You’re re-tracing your steps along the same narrow path, and it takes just as much focus going down as it does climbing up. You’re looking down the whole time, so keep that in mind if you are afraid of heights. That said, we saw all kinds of people out there — teens, older hikers, and everyone in between — but you definitely need a good head for heights and decent fitness to make it past the chains.
Getting Around Zion
You can’t drive in Zion, so most take the shuttle buses throughout the park. To avoid the packed shuttle buses, we rented electric bikes just outside the park in Springdale, Utah where we stayed. It was a great decision. We had the freedom to explore at our own pace, stop when we wanted, and enjoy the scenery without the crowds. We rode right to the trailhead, parked them there, and after the hike, having that electric assist on the ride back was clutch — didn’t take much effort at all.
Zion is the kind of place that humbles you. The contrast of quiet canyons and bold cliffs makes you feel both tiny and alive at the same time. After Vegas, this was the perfect reset.
👉 Read about the concert I saw at the Sphere before heading to Zion
Written by Tyler, founder of Globetroves™
About Me | Instagram
Posted June 2025
Bay Area Hikes: Coastal Views, Redwoods & Local Favorites
You don’t have to go far to feel like you’ve escaped the city. The San Francisco Bay Area — especially just across the Golden Gate — is packed with hikes that deliver epic views, quiet trails, and a whole lot of variety. Whether you're chasing foggy cliffs above the Pacific, shady redwood canyons, or wide-open coastal bluffs, there’s no shortage of nearby adventure.
What I love most about hiking in this part of Northern California is the contrast: you can go from cypress-lined ridgelines to fern-filled ravines in just a few miles. And no matter which trail you hit, you're getting a dose of that signature NorCal magic — sea breeze, elevation gain, and the kind of quiet that resets your brain.
Below are a few of my favorite hikes so far — each with a short write-up and link to the full story. I’ll keep adding more as I explore.
👉 See gear for these days hikes
Featured Bay Area Hikes:
Steep Ravine Trail
Switchbacks, redwoods, ocean views — and a ladder climb tucked into a fern-covered canyon.
👉 Read the full hike →SCA Trail (Marin Headlands)
A short, view-packed trail with nonstop panoramas of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco skyline, and the Pacific.
👉 Read the full hike →Tennessee Valley Trail
A mellow classic that leads to a hidden cove beach — great for sunsets, wildflowers, and coastal calm.
👉 Read the full hike →