Those first few miles, full of day hikers mostly going only as far as a lookout, were just a tease of the beauty and wild spaces we would find over our next few days at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. But as we descended through the ancient rock layers, we found fewer people, more solitude, and better and better views.

Getting to this moment of hiking into the Grand Canyon took literal years of planning. The first year we applied for permits to overnight in the Grand Canyon, we didn’t get them. The Grand Canyon is an incredibly popular backpacking destination and while you can get off the beaten path, the more frequented trails can be very challenging to acquire permits for.

This year however, we secured the permits. We were all set to hike Rim to Rim to Rim, probably the most popular trail in the canyon. And although we were not able to completely fulfill the goal of making it to the North Rim (due to trail closures) the trip was magical and well worth the effort.

So how do you get backcountry permits for Grand Canyon National Park? The easiest answer is that it’s challenging. You have to plan your trip and apply months ahead of your desired trip dates. But is it worth it? 100%. 

We’re hoping to make this complicated process a little easier, so that when you’re ready to plan your Grand Canyon backpacking trip, applying for permits doesn’t feel like such a daunting task. 

The post Hiking the Grand Canyon: How To Get Permits appeared first on Wildland Trekking.

Whether you’re looking to go for a refreshing swim on a hot summer day, a hike through breathtaking scenery, or a backpacking trip in the wilderness, there are plenty of trails and lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park that offer all of these experiences and more. 

In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most beautiful and worthwhile lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Whether you’re visiting the area on a road trip or are a Denver area local looking for a summer getaway, there’s something for everyone in the Rocky Mountain backcountry.

The post Alpine Lakes of Rocky Mountain National Park appeared first on Wildland Trekking.

Slot canyon travel ranges from casual hiking to truly technical canyoneering that requires ropes, harnesses, and rappelling gear. If you’re just getting started hiking in this environment, it is better to begin by exploring non-technical slot canyons on day hikes, as there’s a lot to think about even before the technical preparation.

The sandstone deserts around Utah, Arizona, and their neighboring Southwestern states, are known among canyon enthusiasts for the plethora of canyons carved into the rock layers of the Colorado Plateau. 

Slot canyons are hard to spot when scanning the landscape. They hide in the rocky, barren-looking desert. But like much in the desert, there is great beauty to be discovered when you take the time to explore beyond what you can spot at first glance. Slot canyons are a secret hiding in plain sight, but they take effort to truly experience and explore safely. 

Interested in slot canyons? Read on to learn about slot canyon formation, recreation, and essential preparation.

What are slot canyons?

Slot canyons are narrow canyons carved into the rock — primarily sandstone and other soft rock. Slot canyons can be found around the world but in the US they’re found primarily in the Southwest, where flash floods combined with dry, soft sandstone, create the perfect conditions for these deep gorges to form. 

The name “slot canyon” comes from how tight these canyons can get. Some canyons are barely wide enough for a body to fit through, while others require specific techniques to navigate walls pinching narrowly together. Slot canyons can be hundreds of feet deep and only measure a few feet or inches in width. 

Although slot canyons are formed by running water, they don’t all have year-round rivers running through them. However, even if they don’t always have running water, many have sections of standing water that require navigating while descending the canyon. Some canyons even involve swimming/hiking through water for entire sections. For this reason, it’s good to be prepared to encounter water, especially during wet seasons, and to take time to think about waterproofing and insulating layers. Sun cannot always penetrate deep, narrow canyons, and there may be long sections of cool dark to endure before one can again get dry.

How are slot canyons formed?

The formation of slot canyons is a long and complex process that begins with the deposition of sedimentary rock. Over millions of years, these sedimentary rock layers are exposed to weathering and erosion, creating canyons of various shapes and sizes. 

Slot canyons are typically formed by water rushing through rock, over millions of years. The Colorado Plateau is one of the most common places for slot canyons to occur. The Colorado Plateau is made up of layers and layers of sedimentary rock. As a semi-arid region, it receives sporadic rainfall, but when it does storm it rains hard, causing flash floods. These torrents of water, often full of abrasive materials like wood and gravel, run through washes and carve deep, winding paths through the soft sedimentary rock – creating slot canyons. 

You can see the paths that the water takes reflected in the winding, swirling shape of sandstone slot canyons. Slot canyons made out of other types of rock look different, as the type of rock affects the shape of the canyon. 

Why experience slot canyons?

Slot canyons turn a desert hike into something truly magical. Venturing into one of these narrow, descending canyons can be like entering another world, one you didn’t know existed until you rounded the corner.

If you love hiking but want to experience something that feels more off the beaten path than your average trail, slot canyons could be a great opportunity for you. If you’re already familiar with technical pursuits like anchor building, rappelling, and gear retrieval, then you may already have some of the skills needed to tackle more technical canyons. If you don’t, going on a guided trip can help you prepare to experience slot canyons on your own in the future.  

Where do you find slot canyons?

Slot Canyons can be found all over the American Southwest, as well as in many other places around the world (including Australia!). But for this blog post, we’re focusing on the slot canyons of the American Southwest. 

Utah and Arizona slot canyons are some of the most famous in the world, including popular destinations like the Narrows in Zion, Antelope Canyon in Arizona, and Buckskin Gulch in Utah. Some of these can be incredibly busy during peak season, and many require permits purchased ahead of time.

But if you’re looking for solitude, there are also plenty of slot canyons where you can find no one for miles. These often have barriers to entry, such as being miles and miles off of paved roads or requiring technical skills and gear to safely navigate. But if you’re motivated, these canyons can be explored with the proper training, gear, and safety considerations.

Slot canyons are beautiful but their risks are also real. Flash flooding has deadly consequences in this part of the country. If planning a slot canyon adventure feels overwhelming due to a lack of knowledge and experience, a guided trip is a great option. Wildland Trekking offers backpacking and inn-based slot canyon adventures perfect for the explorer who wants to experience the beauty of the landscape without the responsibility of preparation and planning. There’s even a trip that stays at the Slot Canyons Inn!

The post The Skinny on Slot Canyons appeared first on Wildland Trekking.

Located on the Olympic Peninsula on the far western end of Washington state, Olympic National Park is a unique gem of a National Park, known for its diverse ecosystems. From the beautiful coastline to high ridges and peaks and the mossy wet Hoh rainforest, you could spend a lifetime exploring this park and the surrounding area and still have more to see. The park is home to over 70 miles of pristine coastline, ancient forests, and the Olympic Mountains, which rise to an elevation of 7,980 feet at the summit of Mount Olympus. 

Established in 1938, Olympic National Park covers an area of one million acres making it one of the largest national parks in the United States (although Alaska’s Wrangell St. Elias National Park wins the top prize at 13.2 million acres!).  If you’re planning a trip to Olympic National Park, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about where to stay, what to do, and how to make the most of your time.

Learn Olympic National Park facts and the best ways to experience this incredible landscape.

Olympic National Park Location

Olympic National Park is located in the northwest corner of Washington State. The park is approximately 100 miles west of Seattle and can be accessed via Highway 101 or by taking the ferry from Seattle (two ferries are needed to get to Port Angeles from Seattle). 

The layout of Olympic National Park is different from other national parks. The main section of the park lies between the towns of Port Angeles, Forks, and Lake Quinault in the south. The other section of the park lies along the coast, slightly separated from the rest of the park. This stretch of untouched coastline is incredible to explore for any water lover.  

There is a visitor’s center located in Port Angeles as well as several other visitor and information centers around the park including Hurricane Ridge, Hoh Rainforest, and several other locations.

How to Get to Olympic National Park

Seattle is the closest major city to Olympic National Park and many visitors begin there if flying in from elsewhere or visiting other locations around the area. From Seattle, you can drive to Olympic National Park in approximately 2.5 hours by taking Highway 101 or take a combination of ferries.

The most common ferry route to Olympic National Park from Seattle includes one leg from the city to Bainbridge Island, and then a second from Bainbridge Island to Port Angeles. There are also several other ferry options depending on where you are in the Seattle area, but all require a transfer along the way. 

There are also several airports in the area, including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and the smaller William R. Fairchild International Airport in Port Angeles

The post The Ultimate Guide to Olympic National Park appeared first on Wildland Trekking.

If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, breathtaking views, and a unique adventure, then Angels Landing is the perfect hike for you. But there’s a lot you need to know before you lace up your hiking boots and head out on your Angels Landing hike. 

This guide will give you all the information you need when hiking Angels Landing. From what to expect, when to hike, what makes it dangerous, and how to prepare, once you read this guide, you’ll be ready to hit the trail in Zion National Park.

The post Hiking Angel’s Landing: One of the World’s Most Dangerous Trails appeared first on Wildland Trekking.

Lake Chelan is over 31 miles long and nestled around its steep banks, you can find some of the most beautiful and wild land in the country. The North Cascades are known as the American Alps for the jagged peaks that cover this remote corner of the world. Many of the mountains in the North Cascades take days to access by foot, and few roads invade the heart of this range. 

Lake Chelan spans from sagebrush-covered buttes and the town of Chelan on the southeastern end, to remote granitic peaks and the small community of Stehekin, accessible only by foot or boat, on the northwestern end. 

Taking a trip to Lake Chelan could mean relaxing in a lakeside resort and swimming, kayaking, and lounging your day away. Or it could mean hiking 23 miles or taking a multi-hour ferry on the trip to Stehekin. The number of diverse recreation opportunities and views around Lake Chelan is unmatched. 

There’s a trip for anyone at Lake Chelan, from days in the backcountry to lakeside lounging. Learn more and plan your trip to Lake Chelan with this ultimate guide.

The post The Ultimate Guide to Lake Chelan appeared first on Wildland Trekking.

On my first “backpacking trip”, my dad took me to Timothy Lake in Oregon. I was a young kid — maybe five or six. We hiked barely a mile into a campsite by a lake — all my little legs could handle. I wore a small, external frame pack that my brother used before me; my dad probably hauled in his cast iron. My main memory from the trip was when my childhood dog wore my little backpack to carry his food. Somewhere along the trail, he lost the pack — an inevitability of a dog carrying human gear. We spent the trip making s’mores and playing in the water. 

After that trip, I didn’t go backpacking again until college. But in the backpacking world, a lot had changed since the ‘90s. New trail systems, shiny, high-tech gear. Entering the outdoor community for the first time on my own, I had absolutely no idea how to start backpacking.

When you’re planning a backpacking trip, there’s so much to consider. What gear do you need? Where should you hike? How far should you hike? When you’re just getting started, it can all feel incredibly overwhelming. 

But it’s okay to take it slowly. Rent, borrow, or find used gear. Learn from friends, from books, from guides. Over time, it will all come together. And trust me — the feeling you get from being in the backcountry, with everything you need on your back and beautiful views and experiences at every turn? It’s 100% worth it. 

So how do you embark on your first backpacking trip? This guide will help you break down how to start backpacking, including what gear to bring, what to eat, and where to hike. 

Why Backpacking?

The payoffs of backpacking are huge. Spending days (or even weeks) in the backcountry connects you to the natural world. You can experience many health benefits, create strong relationships, and develop personal confidence.

One thing I love the most is the feeling of self-sufficiency when you’re carrying everything you need on your back. Through this process, I’ve learned that you don’t need anything more than what you have. Life becomes very simple; it’s just you, the trail, and the views.

go Backpacking with Award Winning Guides

The post How to Start Backpacking: Everything Beginner Backpackers Should Know appeared first on Wildland Trekking.

The beauty of Canyonlands National Park barely feels real. It’s almost hard to comprehend how the desert — a place that many believe to be desolate and empty — contains so much magnificence and depth. 

The area was shaped by rivers that still wind through the park today, reaching a confluence where you can watch the dark water of the Green River mixing with the red silty water of the Colorado River. 

Standing at Grandview Point, staring at hundreds of miles of canyons, towers, and seemingly infinite layers, is an experience everyone should enjoy. And although some parts of the park, Grandview Point included, are easy to access by road, most of Canyonlands is remote and hard to get to except by foot, bike, or 4×4 vehicle. This guide to Canyonlands National Park will give you tips for where to stay, when to go, and what to do.

All Inclusive UTAH HIKING ADVENTURES

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Welcome to North Cascades National Park.

The unassuming National Park sign sits on the side of a highway, but there’s no entrance gate, no entrance fee, nothing except the views, and a map to tell you that you have entered a spectacular national park. Many national park visitors skip this park in favor of other more popular destinations. 

But despite not receiving nearly the visitation of nearby Olympic or Rainier National Parks (in 2020, North Cascades received ~30,000 visitors compared to Olympic’s 2.5 million and Rainier’s 1 million), North Cascades National Park is well worth the visit. 

Read on for our guide to North Cascades National Park. You’ll discover the hidden beauty of one of the most beautiful alpine regions of the country.

All Inclusive Backpacking Trips

The post The Ultimate Guide to North Cascades National Park in Washington appeared first on Wildland Trekking.

How do you imagine your perfect vacation? Do you picture yourself lounging on a beach for hours on end? Well, you might be in the wrong place. But if you like to be on the move, connect with an area by immersing yourself in the outdoors, and maybe get a little adrenaline pumping, then an adventure vacation is for you.

Growing up, I was always at odds with my family on vacations. The only choice my mom wanted to make on vacation was “beach or pool?” And that is entirely fair! She works a high-paced, stressful job, and she deserves all the relaxation, margs, and beaches-side reading that she wants. 

But, on a family vacation to Mexico (my first trip out of the country), I craved more. I wanted to go hiking or kayaking and wander around town and experience the culture, not just sit by the pool. Now, when I travel with my family, we find a balance. I plan the hiking trips, figure out the best beaches for snorkeling, and choose my must-see locations at our destination. Then, some days, we alternate between the beach, pool, and bar. And it’s great. 

If you are someone like me who wants to step out of the norm and try new things while you travel, read on to learn about adventure vacations around the world that might just slide onto your bucket list.

The post 9 Adventure Vacations That Will Blow Your Mind appeared first on Wildland Trekking.