hiking

John F. Kennedy said America’s national parks are meant to ensure that future generations “may know the majesty of the earth as we know it today.” Nowhere is such preservation as apparent as at Glacier National Park, which puts some of Earth’s grandest majesties on breathtaking display. The park, as Life Magazine writer Bill Gilbert puts it, has no single defining feature or attraction, but rather stands as a monument to the underlying forces of nature. Glacier National Park’s vast wilderness and striking scenery are sure to offer rest from your cares, and there are many ways to enjoy them. Camping Glacier National Park's location in the secluded northwestern corner of Montana doesn’t easily lend itself to day trips. As such, it’s best to find a place to stay for a few days in the park, and camping is easily the best way to experience everything the park has to offer.

Utah County is definitely not the first location that comes to mind when the topic of ghost towns is mentioned. It is, however, a hidden gem of abandoned mines, ghost towns, and other forgotten locations. In addition to these ghost towns, Utah County is also home to several urban legends and supernatural happenings. Thistle, Utah (located in Spanish Fork Canyon) Thistle, dating back as early as 1878, was predominantly a farming community. In 1890, Thistle became accessible by railroad, which brought business to the small town. Disaster struck in 1983; a landslide blocked the river. The river blockage caused flooding and more landslides to bombard the town of Thistle. A mandatory evacuation notice forced residents to abandon their homes and farms. Residents only had a few hours to prepare before evacuating, so many families were forced to leave their belongings. Houses ended up completely submerged, and the railroad and highways running through Thistle were buried under fifty feet of mud. Even after the disaster subsided, Thistle remained abandoned. Today, remnants of old houses, buildings, and farms can be seen where Thistle once thrived. Weeping Widow (Located in Spanish Fork Cemetery) The Weeping Widow is an elegant gravestone carved into the shape of a woman. Located in the Spanish Fork Cemetery, the statue depicts a young woman, crouched down, with her hand near her face. Legend has it that this woman is mourning for her lost baby. During the night, the statue is said to actually cry tears. Some even claim to be able to see the tear stains during the day. Knightsville, Utah (located near East Tintic Mountains) Knightsville was a small mining town, with over 1000 residents in 1907. However, the mining wasn’t a sustainable venture. People began moving out in 1907, and the entire town was deserted by 1940. Today, old foundations make up the majority of the ruins, but Knightsville’s cemetery is still in surprisingly good condition. Rock Canyon (located near Provo, Utah)It is not uncommon for hikers to report hearing heart-chilling screams echoing throughout the canyon. Rock Canyon has an unfortunate history of hikers falling to their death. Several people have reported incidents of seeing a man fall from the cliffs but disappear before hitting the ground. Even more chilling, Andy Weeks wrote in his book, Haunted Utah, that “evidence of satanic rituals and the bodies of murder victims” have also been found in the canyon. Tibble Fork Parking Lot (Located in American Fork Canyon) Rumor has it that if a driver does three loops at the top of Tibble Fork parking lot, a ghost will be summoned. After making all three loops, the sound of another engine can be heard; doing the loops summons a ghostly hearse. Any attempt to leave the parking lot results in a high-speed chase. The ghostly hearse will apparently chase the tail lights, forcing you down the mountain and out of the canyon.

It all started with an earthquake. On March 20, 1980, the communities in Skamania County, Washington, US, experienced a 4.2 magnitude earthquake; this was the first definite sign that Mount St. Helens, a volcano that had been largely dormant, was about to erupt.

We Coloradans might not pledge allegiance to our state flag like the Texans, but we have plenty of state pride, and much of it stems from the natural beauty of CO. Open spaces, trails, and mountains galore make this state a hiker’s paradise. Here are just a few of the diverse attractions for the avid hiker:

Imagine a forest surrounded by blankets of monarch butterflies so thick that their orange hues obscure the horizon, foliage, and trees. The butterflies flutter around you, and some willingly land on your shoulders. The monarchs’ winter refuge in Mexico is not easily accessible to tourists, but it is well worth the travel.

Offering 469 miles of beautiful forests, hills, and gardens, Blue Ridge Parkway is known as “America’s Favorite Drive.” Winding south through the Smoky Mountains, the highway runs from Virginia to North Carolina. Both ends are home to a national park: the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at the north end, and the Shenandoah National Park at the south.