Name: Avalanche Falls
State: Montana
City/ Location: Glacier National Park

Comment: About 5 miles round trip, moderate grade, when you get to the top, amazing view of dozens of waterfalls. To get back, retrace steps.

Name: St. Mary’s Falls
State: Montana
City/ Location: Glacier National Park

Comment: About 5 miles round trip, moderate grade, many river crossings and waterfalls. To get back, retrace steps.

Name: Ulm Pishkin Buffalo Cliffs
State: Montana
City/ Location: Ulm Pishkin Buffalo Cliffs State Park

Comment: Loop. About 5 miles round trip, start off at prairie then climb cliffs, about 20 feet high. Prairie Dog village at top of cliff. This is where native americans ran buffalo herds off the cliff to gather their meat.

Name: Paint Pots Hike
State: Wyoming
City/ Location: Yellowstone National Park

Comment: Loop. About 1 mile, on wooden boardwalks. Cool bubbling pits all along the way.

Name: Old Faithful Hike
State: Wyoming
City/ Location: Yellowstone National Park

Comment: Loop. About 1 mile, on paved roads and wooden boardwalks. Old Faithful is cool, but only one of MANY geysers on this hike. Beware the sulfur smell.

Name: Jenny’s Lake / Inspiration Point / Canyon Hike
State: Wyoming
City/ Location: Grand Tetons National Park

Comment: About 5 miles. Steep uphill walk then grade levels off in canyon. To get back, retrace steps. Boat trip required--but adds to the fun. We saw a MOOSE!

Name: Little Bighorn Battlefield
State: Montana
City/ Location: Little Bighorn National Park

Comment: Where Custer had his last stand. It was hot here and we didn’t walk too much, maybe a mile or so.

Name: Devils Tower
State: Wyoming
City/ Location: Devils Tower National Park

Comment: This rock is in the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. There’s a mile or so hike around the base. It’s fairly flat. We could see people climbing the face of the rock.

Name: Bike Ride at Naval Station Great Lakes
State: IL
City/ Location: Great Lakes

Comment: We rode bikes along Lake Michigan and through the woods at the Naval Station Great Lakes. We saw a deer

Name: Lava Beds
State: HI
City/ Location: Hawaii’s Volcano National Park

Comment: A six hour hike across old lava beds in search of fresh flowing lava. We didn’t find any but it was still an amazing hike. All the rangers said not to do it and it’s true that it’s not for your average tourist, but this was truly an super day. The differences in lava were awe inspiring but even better was how good the boys were, not one word of complaint. Beth and I were very proud of them.

Name: Kilauea Iki
State: HI
City/ Location: Hawaii’s Volcano National Park

Comment: A 4 mile hike descending 400 feet through rainforest, across the crater floor, pass Pu'u Pua'i cinder cone, and return via the crater's rim.

Name: Little Rock River Walk
State: AR
City/ Location: Little Rock, AR

Comment: Paved walk along river in Little Rock, well maintained but not busy. Nice view of city.

Name: Dino Tracks
State: OK
City/ Location: Near Black Mesa, OK

Comment: Short hike on private property along dry riverbed where actual dinosaur tracks can be found.

Name: Riverside Walk Hike, Zion National Park
State: UT
City/ Location: Zion, UT

Comment: One mile in and out at end of canyon, along river. Lots of other hikers. Friendly Squirrels.

Name: Emerald Pools Hike/The Grotto, Zion National Park
State: UT
City/ Location: Zion, UT

Comment: One of the most memorable hikes of our trip. Hike begins at valley floor and ascents past two waterfalls that you can walk “behind.” Take extra trail at top to find amazing views and another hidden waterfall that on our March morning created its own snowstorm. Incredible views, strenuous hills.

Name: Meremec State Park       
State: MO
City/ Location: Sullivan, MO

Comment: 6 mile hike through Missouri woods, lots of wildflowers, brooks.

Name: Gulf Islands National Seashore
State: MS
City/ Location: Near Biloxi Mississippi

Comment: We started at the Visitors center and hiked around the Bayou. We saw a lot of damage from Katrina, many trees had died. But others were growing back. Some areas were boardwalks.

Name: Fossil Butte National Monument    
State: WY
City/ Location: Near Kemmerer, WY

Comment: 2.5 mile hike, large gain in elevation, at top of hike you may find actual fossils in the rocks! Arthur found one. We left it there, as per requirements.

Name: Natural Bridges
State: UT
City/ Location: West of Blanding, UT

Comment: We love National Parks that are small enough to take in during a single day. This park has three bridges, called “Kachina,” “Owachomo,” and “Sipapu” formed by river erosion. One bridge has actual petroglyphs. Hikes are steep down then up inclines, but worth it.