Hiking Archives – The Olden Chapters

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information. When hiking, camping, or adventuring the outdoors, you always need to be prepared. If not for an emergency, just for the day! Leaving for a hike without the ten essentials is like driving to work without shoes or your ID, it just doesn’t make sense. The point of the ten hiking essentials is to be fully prepared for the day ahead. These ten items will ensure your safety, comfort, and basic needs. Food, water, and shelter are what every human being requires to live comfortably, and the ten essentials do just that. They are the ten minimum things you need to bring with you outdoors. Being the wife of an Eagle Scout means that we always carry the ten essentials in each of our backpacks. In fact, we have the ten essentials in both of our hiking backpacks,…

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information. Well, we did it! My husband and I visited each and every official stop at Arches National Park! That was my goal for our visit during our Southwest National Parks Road Trip but I honestly didn’t think we would be able to do it. So I can say, with confidence, that I have put together the ultimate Arches National Park guide! So, do you plan on visiting this gorgeous place anytime soon? Or maybe you’re just curious what this national park has to offer? Look no further! I totally have got you covered. The Basics Let’s start with the basics, of course! Arches National Park is a breathtaking geologic wonderland located just to the north of Moab, Utah. As a geologist myself, this truly is an amazing place to visit! Arches National Park contains over 2,000 natural stone…

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information. After days of exploring one of my favorite national parks to date, I can easily say I have seen the best hikes in Zion National Park. I stopped at Zion during my Southwest National Parks Road Trip. When I first arrived, I was completely overwhelmed by the countless hikes and activities to do in this wonderful place. There are gorgeous cliffs, streams, pools of water, and even a lodge to stay at! This place has an adventure for everyone! But after much exploration and talking with the park rangers, I became comfortable with the area and learned how to navigate each region. Now that I have done all the hard work, sit back and read the top destinations you should check out on your adventure! Know Before You Go: This is an incredibly popular park, be…

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information. It is incredibly rare for me to end up beginning my spring break with no plans. Usually, I have pages of task lists and about ten hikes already scheduled. This year was surprisingly different but incredibly refreshing! My husband and I decided the day before spring break to drive down to the Grand Canyon. So, with nearly 24 hours to prepare before our departure, I quickly looked up a few blog posts and maps and roughly decided on a southwest national parks road trip itinerary. Road Trip Facts: Total Time: 3 Nights, 4 Full Days Drive Time: 28 Hours National Parks Visited: Six States Visited: Four Total Cost: $198 Route: Google Map Let me first begin by saying that we were incredibly lucky. Our spring break ended up being much earlier than most so I was able…

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information. Hiking is by far my favorite activity. It combines a great workout with some of the best views you can find. And, out of all regions I have hiked, Washington State is still my favorite place to explore. Alright, I might be a little bias since I did live there for 24 years of my life (so like… nearly all of it?) BUT I will always come back to the beautiful Pacific Northwest for my favorite adventures. This is what led me to put together my top 10 hikes in Washington State. After hiking well over 100 trails, both for personal and for educational adventures (I am a geologist after all…), I have had the amazing pleasure of seeing some of the best places you can see in Washington! I will admit, I still have many…

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information. Mount Falcon via Castle Trail Date Hiked: February 11, 2018 Length: 7.9 mi Elevation Gain: 1669 ft Starting Elevation: 6060 Difficulty: Intermediate Distance from Denver: 30 min Sarah’s Ranking: 8/10 Total Hike Time: 3.5 hrs Parking: free, large lot Best Time: early spring to late fall Features: castle ruins, views Additional Information: All Trails About the Area: Mount Falcon is located in Morrison, CO, just south of the Red Rocks Amphitheater and marks the beginning of the Rocky Mountains. Mount Falcon contains numerous hiking trails, among the most popular, the Castle Trail, leads to the ruins of the Walker Mansion. Because of its popularity, this is a year-round, heavily trafficked trail that is both bicycle and dog-friendly. There are numerous benches, picnic tables, and covered areas along the trail as well as a few informational signs.…

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information. South Table Mountain Hike, Golden, CO Date Hiked: January 28, 2018 Length: 9.2 miles Elevation Gain: 1023 ft Starting Elevation: 5800 ft Difficulty: Easy Distance from Denver: 25 min Sarah’s Ranking: 7/10 Total Hike Time: 2-3 Hours Parking: free, small lot (4-5 cars) Best Time: Sunny Day, Anytime Features: Views of Golden Additional Information: All Trails About the Area: Golden, CO is known to be a hub for beer drinkers (Coors Brewery), college students (Colorado School of Mines), and outdoor enthusiasts. There are countless hikes and outdoor activities nearby including Red Rocks, Dinosaur Ridge, Lookout Mountain, North Table Mountain, South Table Mountain, and much much more. The views from all of these hikes are different in their own way and people come from miles around to just get a glimpse. South Table Mountain itself is…

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information. Alberta Falls via Glacier Gorge Trail, CO Date Hiked: November 4, 2017 Length: 1.6 Miles Elevation Gain: 219 ft Starting Elevation: 9180 ft Difficulty: Easy Distance from Denver: 2 Hours Sarah’s Ranking: 7/10 Total Hike Time: 1 Hour Parking: Medium Lot, Entrance Fee Best Time: Late Spring to Mid Autumn Features: Waterfall, Views of Valley Additional Information: All Trails About the Area: The Rocky Mountain National Park is completely and utterly GIANT. There is so much to see and do it can be incredibly overwhelming. However, after hiking numerous hikes and checking out countless destinations in the park, I can easily say that Alberta Falls is among my top Rocky Mountain National Park hikes. To begin with, the hike itself is straightforward and easy. It is quick with a spectacular reward. My only regret was…

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information. Bear Lake Trail, CO Date Hiked: November 4, 2017 Length: 0.7 Miles Elevation Gain: 39 ft Starting Elevation: 9510 ft Difficulty: Easy Distance from Denver: 2 Hours Sarah’s Ranking: 6/10 Total Hike Time: 30 Minutes Parking: Large lot, Park Entrance Fee Best Time: Late spring to mid-autumn Features: Lake Additional Information: All Trails About the Area: Bear Lake is located in the Rocky Mountain National Park at the entrance just outside of Estes Park, CO. This is, perhaps, one of my favorite locations of the Rocky Mountain National Park. The roads are incredibly well maintained and nearly all paved. Most trailheads (especially the popular ones) have nice large parking lots and the trails themselves are large, well maintained, and easily accessible. These trails are a beautiful 2-hour drive from Denver, perfect for a day hike.…

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information. Hiking Dinosaur Ridge Date Hiked: November 11, 2017 Length: 1.1 Miles (add 8+ miles for Dakota Ridge) Elevation Gain: 210 ft Starting Elevation: 5960 ft Difficulty: Easy Distance from Denver: 20 Minutes Sarah’s Ranking: 8/10 Total Hike Time: 1 hour Parking: Small Lot, Free Best Time: Non-Windy Day, No Snow Features: Dinosaur tracks and bones, view Additional Information: All Trails About the Area: Dinosaur Ridge is the best place to find dinosaurs near Denver, CO. It is located near the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, CO, and is a fun, easy, and educational hike. The ridge itself starts and ends with a small parking area and information center; one of which is at the entrance of the Red Rocks Amphitheater. The entire hike is on an abandoned asphalt road with numerous interpretive signs at each location…