Hit up the Texas Panhandle for one of the state’s coolest running trails. Located in the small Texas town of Canyon, Palo Duro Canyon State Park appeals to outdoorsy adventurers who value the iconic “rugged beauty” of rocky canyons. Known by some as the “Grand Canyon of Texas,” Palo Duro Canyon is perfect for everything from geocaching and hiking to mountain biking and trail running.
Speaking of trail running, every sporty visitor who explores this stunning landscape should know about the park’s best running trail. Also one of the best hiking trails in Texas, Lighthouse Trail offers runners a rewarding challenge. Here’s what you should know and what you can see when running the Lighthouse Trail.
A 10-mile stretch of coastal waters in San Diego County continues to be utilized as a nursery by juvenile great white sharks. At times you can see them in the surf.
A roughly 10-mile stretch of coastal waters off San Diego continues to be utilized as a nursery by juvenile great white sharks, which sometimes appear in waves.
I captured the accompanying images during visits as recently as Dec. 20, usually before noon (with the sun at my back) while wearing polarized sunglasses for easier spotting.
Some of the sharks I observed swam close to shore as they searched (presumably) for rays and other fish. Some were beyond the surf, cruising parallel to the coast in either direction.
The stretch between Del Mar and La Jolla is a major aggregation site for young white sharks – a productive feeding zone in a reasonably safe and tranquil environment.
Many of the sharks are tagged. Chris Lowe, director of the of the Shark Lab at Cal State University Long Beach, told me recently that there could be as many as 40 sharks utilizing the area.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve does not routinely publicize the presence of sharks. But regular visitors know about them, and children on field trips are sometimes asked by naturalists to try to spot them.
The sharks can be spotted from trails and overlooks nearest the water. Mornings are best because the ocean is generally calm and the sun is at a proper angle. Binoculars and polarized glasses are extremely helpful.
My best sightings occurred at medium or high tide, when sharks seem more likely to approach the shore. But on Wednesday during a medium low tide I spotted one shark well inside the breaking waves (photo posted above).
Lowe told me in October 2022 that larger sharks were likely to hold over, while smaller sharks might leave if the water temperature dipped into the 50s.
For now, the aggregation appears to be holding steady but nobody knows how long it’ll last. Major aggregation sites are temporary and have formed and dissipated at other locations.
When cold winter weather has you trapped inside, you might start dreaming of a sunny beach vacation. In Florida, you can experience that magic year-round at Bahia Honda State Park. While most people only think about visiting the beach come summertime, it can be worthwhile to make the trip in cooler months. You can look forward to less crowded shores, gorgeous views, and early sunsets.
Tourists will find this park all the way down south, where pleasant temperatures stick around through winter. When you visit, take advantage of the great weather and scenic landscapes by getting active. Here are seven fun sightseeing spots and activities to consider when planning your trip.
Less than an hour northeast of the bright lights in Las Vegas, one special destination invites curious travelers to explore a “geological wonderland.” At Valley of Fire State Park, petroglyphs and petrified trees from over 2,000 years ago decorate a landscape of sandstone and limestone rock formations.
This park is like few others in the world. While the park was established in 1935, the region’s history dates back much further. On a hike through Valley of Fire, you’ll see petroglyphs carved by Puebloans about 2,500 years ago. These historic carvings are in stark contrast to the glamorous hotels and casinos located roughly 46 miles away in Las Vegas. Get a taste of what this trip back in time is like with this photo guide to Valley of Fire State Park.
If you’d like to observe great white sharks but do not want to board a boat, Torrey Pines State Beach in San Diego is just the spot.
Last November, a state beach in San Diego boasted that great white sharks had gathered beyond its shore and provided spotting tips for visitors.
The announcement put Torrey Pines State Beach on the map as a destination known for juvenile white sharks as well as magnificent trails and sweeping ocean views.
Then winter arrived, some sharks left for warmer water, and the hype ended. But I can attest that there are still plenty of white sharks, perhaps dozens, hanging out at Torrey Pines.
I’ve visited the park four times in the past two weeks and saw sharks during each visit. During my most recent visit last Wednesday, I spotted multiple sharks during an hourlong period, including four sharks at once.
Two days earlier, I saw a large juvenile shark, perhaps 9 feet, probing in the sand in green water less than 30 yards from shore.
It could be argued that at present, because trails at Torrey Pines provide a bird’s-eye view, there is no better location for observing white sharks from shore.
The aggregation site spans from Del Mar to about Black’s Beach just south of Torrey Pines. Juvenile white sharks, measuring 5 to 10 feet, utilize the area as a nursery. They feed mostly on rays and other bottom fish.
Chris Lowe, who runs the Shark Lab at California State University Long Beach, told FTW Outdoors that in recent weeks 27 tagged sharks have remained in this area “day in, day out.”
Not all of the sharks are tagged and some come and go, so it’s difficult to estimate the number of sharks off Del Mar/Torrey Pines. But Lowe said it could be as many as 40.
Juvenile white shark aggregation sites, which can be established anywhere along the coast, are temporary so it’s unclear how long the sharks will remain off Torrey Pines.
Those who wish to observe them should plan their hikes to overlooks during morning hours with the sun at their backs.
Calm, sunny mornings during a high or incoming tide are best, and polarized sunglasses are a must unless conditions are perfect.
There are no guarantees, but if conditions are right and visitors spend enough time looking, they have a solid chance of seeing a shark or two. (I’ve seen them swimming as close as 30 yards from shore.)
Since juvenile white sharks feed on fish instead of the seals and sea lions preferred by much larger adult white sharks, they do not pose a significant threat to swimmers and surfers.
However, last Nov. 4 a woman was bitten by a presumed white shark while swimming 200 yards offshore in Del Mar. She was hospitalized and treated for puncture wounds to her right thigh.
Note: White sharks are protected in California. Anyone caught targeting white sharks while fishing at Torrey Pines State Beach will be cited.
Some people call New York’s Letchworth State Park the “Grand Canyon of the East.” The park’s incredible gorges are just one part of its appeal, though.
If you want to spend all day hiking past waterfalls and rafting down the Genesee River, Letchworth is the place to go. The region offers miles of trails, tons of scenic overlooks, and some stellar campgrounds. There are even cabins available for a unique glamping experience. Plus, the park enjoys an explosion of color in the fall. It’s one of the best places to spend a cozy fall weekend.
Plan your trip to Letchworth State Park with this photo guide to its best hiking, camping, and sightseeing spots.
Oregon is rich in waterfalls, with many excellent waterfall hikes around the state. But the Trail of Ten Falls in Silver Falls State Park is a huge crowd favorite. If you’re a waterfall lover, you’ll want to take this hike.
Silver Falls State Park is located near Silverton, Oregon, 20 miles southeast of Salem. With more than 9,000 acres, it’s Oregon’s largest state park. Explore 24 miles of walking trails, or ride a horse or bike in some parts of the park. It’s also a gorgeous place for a picnic if you just want to chill and enjoy the trees.
If you’re not used to dangling on a rope hanging off a 200-foot old-growth tree, it takes a minute to find your climbing rhythm. You have to muster the balance and the quadriceps strength to stand up in your foot loops and push the top metal ascender up the rope with your right hand. Then, you sit back in your harness and lift your left knee while using your left hand to push up the bottom ascender. In this fashion, I inch-wormed my way up the Douglas fir.
Megan Bonham, my guide at Tree Climbing at Silver Falls, was relentlessly encouraging. She climbed beside me, coaching me upward and reminding me which piece of equipment did what.
Photo by Megan Bonham
It wasn’t all smooth climbing — I sometimes lost my equilibrium and unexpectedly swung around like a helpless baby monkey. And, a couple of times, I encountered pointy broken limbs keen on impaling me. But the thrill of being right up in the grill of such a stately tree, and the excitement of trying something so outside the norm, propelled me up. And when you get to the top of the climb? Ah, the forest view.
Learning to climb
The climbing happens in Silver Falls State Park, a gorgeous green space near Silverton, Oregon, known for its waterfalls. Aspiring tree climbers meet their guides in a trailhead parking lot, where they get suited up with gear. Once you have adjusted your harness and helmet, you’re ready for the practice tree.
Guests learning in the practice tree. / Photo by Teresa Bergen
If you’re like me, the idea of tree climbing evokes an image of clambering up branches. But this is all about rope work. My first few minutes on the practice tree involved trying to remember which ascender was which and swinging around stupidly. It seemed unlikely that I’d get the hang of it and manage to climb a tall tree. Turns out, my experience was pretty typical.
Bonham’s favorite part of her job is seeing people transform from struggling with their gear on the practice tree to successfully climbing. “Once we get into the big tree, just seeing how they learn to maneuver through the branches and everything and then the reaction when they do make it up to the top and have that realization of oh, wow, they did it!” she said. “It’s such a thrill.” She loves to see her clients feel proud of themselves.
Made it to the top! / Photo by Megan Bonham
Who climbs trees?
Bonham has personally guided a client as young as seven — a fearless birthday girl who zoomed up the tree while her mother had heart palpitations. The company’s oldest guest so far has been 89. People climb trees at Silver Falls on their honeymoon or to celebrate an anniversary. Most are on vacation. Some are local. Bonham fondly remembers one couple who had survived a medical scare with cancer and were spending a year touring the country and checking off their bucket list items.
“Just taking advantage of the time that they have,” she said. “That was really, really neat to be part of their experience.”
Why not climb a tree? / Photo courtesy of Tree Climbing at Silver Falls
Tree camping
Guests can climb three trees at Silver Falls, ranging from 200 to 300 feet tall. You can climb the tallest to see the sunset, then rappel down in the dark. Or, if you really like it up there, you can book the tree camping option. “You get a beautiful view of the sunset, and rock to sleep in the wind,” Bonham said.
Would you like to sleep up high in this hammock? / Photo courtesy of Tree Climbing at Silver Falls
Much as I loved climbing the tree, I’m not sure how much sleeping I’d do while lying in a hammock or on a portaledge and harnessed into ropes. But it’s an intriguing idea. The guide prepares dinner in the trees for the campers and makes breakfast before rappelling down the next morning. You can tree camp from May 1 to September 30. Tree climbing is available year-round, weather permitting.
Or opt for the deluxe portaledge. / Photo courtesy of Tree Climbing at Silver Falls
In addition to Silver Falls, the company has a location on Lopez, one of Washington’s San Juan Islands. Hmm. I’m already plotting more trees to climb.
Adventurous travelers know that the United States is home to a treasure trove of natural wonders. There are countless places worth exploring from coast to coast. Each state has its own special landmarks to explore. Hiking trails, waterfalls, swimming holes, and more await tourists curious enough to find them. But you don’t always need to travel across state lines to find fun outdoor escapades. If you’re in Texas and searching for new travel spots, peruse this list of five attractions you can find without leaving the Lone Star State.
Here are the best nature destinations in Texas and why you’ll love them.
Washington enjoys a wealth of incredible natural wonders. Home to Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Park, the state offers boundless adventures for outdoorsy tourists. Outside of national parks, travelers can continue exploring the great outdoors at spots like Snoqualmie Falls and Cape Flattery Trail. While these sights deserve a visit, only one place has the honor of being Washington’s most-visited state park. Discover Deception Pass State Park with this handy visitor’s guide.
Located in Oak Harbor, Washington, near the San Juan Islands, Deception Pass State Park showcases miles of captivating coastal beauty. Here are the top places to visit in the park for magical and mesmerizing views.
