In the summer of 2017, I managed to snag a position as an Interpretive Park Ranger Intern at Shenandoah National Park; it was one of the best summers of my life! I got to explore much of the park in my time off, hiking to my heart’s content. The great thing about Shenandoah is that a lot of the hikes are on the shorter side and are relatively easy to access from Skyline Drive, which means you can see a lot in a short time. Here are a few of my favorite - and some of the park’

Take a sunrise hike to the historic Mount Fremont Fire Lookout at Mount Rainier for some of the park's premier views.

The Misery Ridge Trail is well named - it is steep steep steep all the way to the summit.

Perfect for a long weekend, this 3 day itinerary for exploring the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is made for hikers and first timers.

The Spencer Trail is a stunning but challenging trail that gives great overlooks of the Colorado River, Vermilion Cliffs, and Glen Canyon.

The South Rim Loop plus the climb to Emory Peak is Big Bend National Park's premier hike.

The Lost Mine Trail is one of Big Bend National Park's iconic hikes and is the one I would recommend to visitors with limited time.

The popular Lakes Trail in Sequoia is known for its four stunning alpine lakes: Heather, Emerald, Aster, and Pear Lakes.

Hiking to Shining Rock Mountain via the Art Loeb Trail from Black Balsam Knob

In late September 2021, I made a spur of the moment decision to spend three days exploring Yellowstone

Mount St. Helens is one of the volcanoes that inspired me to study science (specifically volcanology) when I was little.

Hike to Charlie's Bunion and the Jump Off, a classic hike of the Smokies.

Contained within the Albert Pike Recreation Area within the Ouachita National Forest is the 26 mile Eagle Rock Loop, one of Arkansas’s

In East Tennessee, there’s a song that’s so well-known that everyone immediately recognizes it from the very first note.

Grandview Trail to Horseshoe Mesa Distance: 7.5 miles RT to the viewpoint at the far edge of the mesa Elevation Gain: 2500 ft

One of the most iconic mountains in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Mount LeConte, known for its expansive, ridge-filled views.

There are many adjectives I could use to describe Bryce Canyon National Park, but the one that immediately comes to mind is “magical.”

Scramble up Trappers Peak in North Cascades during a snowy July.

Hiking the Grand Canyon rim to river via the South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails with a visit to Phantom Ranch along the Colorado River.

Deserts are freaking awesome. Yes, I said deserts, not desserts. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a mountains girl through and through...