Explore the journey — one trail, museum, meal, and memory at a time.
Capitol Reef National Park and Butch Cassidy
A slow morning in Capitol Reef National Park turned into a day shaped by history. From the working orchards of Fruita and the massive Fremont cottonwoods known as the Silent Sentinels, to roadside petroglyphs and a humble stop at Butch Cassidy’s childhood home, the drive west became a reminder that this landscape has been lived in, marked, and worked for centuries.
Goosenecks to Capitol Reef
What should have been a short drive from Goosenecks State Park to Capitol Reef National Park became a slow, deliberate journey across southern Utah. By skipping the Moki Dugway and following Utah State Route 95 through Fry Canyon and Hite Crossing, the road stretched into a day defined by quiet highways, towering rock walls, and long moments of stillness that made the destination feel earned.
Lone Rock to Gooseneck State Park Utah
I woke alone near Lone Rock in Glen Canyon and drove a looping route through Arizona to reach southern Utah. Along the way were unexpected stops: Glen Canyon Dam, the Navajo Nation’s solar fields near Kayenta, Monument Valley, Forrest Gump Point, and Mexican Hat. The day ended at Goosenecks State Park, camped on the rim above the San Juan River, surrounded by silence and fading light.
Hurricane, Utah to Lone Rock
I left Hurricane after Christmas, trading uncertain ski conditions for a drive across southern Utah and northern Arizona. The route climbed onto the Kaibab Plateau, dropped into Lee’s Ferry, crossed the Colorado River, passed the Vermilion Cliffs, and ended at Lone Rock, where the exposed shoreline made the absence of Lake Powell impossible to ignore.
Red Cliffs National Conservation Area Utah
The day after Christmas started quietly in southern Utah, with an early shuttle run to St. George and a stop for pastries in Hurricane. A plan to hike to Babylon Arch near Leeds took an unexpected turn when soft sand and washed-out roads left us stuck—briefly—before search and rescue rolled through and pulled us out minutes later.
Harpers Ferry - Day 2
I started my day near Harpers Ferry, grabbed breakfast in Charles Town, then hiked the Maryland Heights Loop—the steep climb, the fort, and the overlook were worth every step. After lunch at The Rabbit Hole and watching a freight train blast through town, I caught sunset at Antietam and ended the night quietly at Planet Fitness.
Harper’s Ferry - Day 1
Harpers Ferry sits where rivers, ridges, and revolutions meet. I spent the day exploring its museums, historic streets, and the story of John Brown’s raid that changed a nation. From Washington’s armory to Civil War battles and the legacy of freedom that followed, every corner of this town tells a piece of America’s defining century.
Dolly Sods
A light snow covered Dolly Sods as I woke to a dead Starlink switch and no internet deep in the Monongahela National Forest. What began as a plan for a winter hike became a lesson in adaptation—navigating forest roads, a Walmart run, and a warm latte before settling in for a quiet night on the road.
Blackwater Falls & Dolly Sods
I woke at the overlook above Elkins with fog filling the valleys and drove the rough mountain road down toward town. After restocking supplies, I followed the storm north to Blackwater Falls, where rain poured and the campground was closed. By afternoon, I was on the rocky road to Dolly Sods, climbing into wind, fog, and the high country of West Virginia.
Spruce Knob & Seneca Rocks
I woke to fog and rain in the Monongahela National Forest and set out for Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia. After exploring the summit’s alpine forest, I continued to Seneca Rocks for a steep hike, sweeping mountain views, and unexpected conversations about shutdowns, miners, and the strength of small mountain towns.
Cass Railroad and Green Bank Observatory
A cold start in the forest turned into a day of discovery. After a stop at a roadside bakery, I explored Cass Scenic Railroad, where the legacy of logging still echoes through the hills, then continued to Green Bank Observatory, where massive radio telescopes listen to the stars in one of the quietest places on Earth.
Falls of Hills Creek & Cranberry Glades Botanical Area
From steep trails and roaring waterfalls to quiet bogs preserved since the Ice Age, this stretch of the Monongahela National Forest reveals a wilder side of West Virginia. I hiked the three falls at Hills Creek, wandered the boardwalk through Cranberry Glades, met a few unusual characters, and ended the day camped high on Route 150 under a glowing fall sky.
Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine
I began the morning at Twin Falls Resort State Park, then toured the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine with a retired mine inspector. He spoke about the work, the dangers, and even the rats that warned miners of bad air. From Beckley to Helen and Itmann, the Coal Heritage Trail traces stories of coal, community, and endurance—ending with quiet reflection in an abandoned company store.
Twin Falls State Park & Mullens
A quiet morning in Beckley turned into a full day of mountain roads and waterfalls. After finding the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine closed for the season, I explored the hills near Mullens and ended the day at Twin Falls Resort State Park. The trails to Marsh Fork and Black Fork Falls were damp but peaceful, and by nightfall I was camped beneath a clear sky.
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
The day started at the open Canyon Rim Visitor Center in New River Gorge, followed Fayette Station Road under the bridge, stopped at Babcock’s grist mill, and paused at Hawks Nest to confront the tunnel disaster. I grabbed ice cream in Ansted, explored historic Fayetteville, and ended the day at South Side Junction Tap House.
Charleston, WV
The drive into Charleston wound through tight turns and across the bridge to the Capitol Complex. I spent the morning at the West Virginia State Museum, a well-designed walk through time that tells the story of how the state came to be. Outside, I stopped at the Veterans Memorial and the Lincoln statue before exploring the Capitol. Inside, a long talk with a former police chief led to the story behind the Robert C. Byrd statue and its controversy. As the day ended, I photographed Kanawha Falls from the roadside, the light fading fast over the water.
Jenny’s Creek Bike Ride
I started my ride on the Dawkins Line Rail Trail from the Jenny’s Creek Trailhead, a quiet stretch of eastern Kentucky where forested hills meet farmland. The trail once carried coal and timber by rail; now it carries cyclists, hikers, and horseback riders through 36 miles of Appalachian history (I rode 15 miles), including the forgotten Civil War skirmish at Jenny’s Creek.
Morehead, KY
Morehead, Kentucky, sits in the foothills of the Appalachians, a quiet university town surrounded by the Daniel Boone National Forest. I spent the day exploring the Morehead State University campus, the Rowan County Arts Center, and a small exhibit of local watercolors. On campus, I found a covered display protecting a rare petrified fern root—an unexpected link to the region’s ancient past.
Red River Valley
I camped at Koomer Ridge in the Daniel Boone National Forest, one of the few out in the cool, rainy weather. The day took me from a steep climb to Kentucky’s largest natural bridge to a kayak tour through the flooded tunnels of an old limestone mine. I ended the loop drive near Morehead after passing through narrow mountain roads and a one-lane tunnel cut through stone.
Blue Heron Mine / Trail
I stayed a few days at Bear Creek Horse Camp in the Big South Fork National Recreation Area, then hiked the Blue Heron Loop Trail. The 6.5-mile path winds past sandstone cliffs, coal seams, and the re-created mining camp of Blue Heron. It was a day of quiet forest, unexpected encounters, and a glimpse into Kentucky’s coal-mining past.