John Cox

Blogs · @wyome

Tagged hiking · everything

www.planetware.com

Georgia's Beautiful State Park Full Of Waterfalls And Viewpoints Is Truly A Natural Wonder

Tallulah Gorge State Park near Tallulah Falls, Georgia offers five waterfalls, a nearly 2-mile-long gorge, and 20 miles of trails suitable for various skill levels, with camping and rock climbing also available. The park's history includes a famous 1970 tightrope walk by acrobat Karl Wallenda, and visitors can learn about the area's ecology and protected species at the on-site interpretive center. For easier access, the North and South Rim trails provide scenic overlooks of multiple waterfalls, while more ambitious hikers can tackle the permit-required Gorge Floor Trail or nearby Panther Creek Falls.

Permalink hikingcampingwildlifenature

www.independent.co.uk

12 state parks that are just as beautiful as national parks — and they’re free

State parks across the US offer spectacular geological features and outdoor recreation at little or no cost, often with far fewer crowds than national parks. This guide highlights 12 free-to-enter state parks featuring dramatic waterfalls, natural bridges, canyons, and river landscapes across regions from Ohio to Missouri, including Ohio's Hocking Hills gorge system, Pennsylvania's Ricketts Glen with 22 waterfalls, and Arkansas's Mount Magazine perched atop the state's highest peak. Most parks offer affordable camping and cabin accommodations for overnight stays.

Permalink hikingcampingwildlifetravel

www.buzzfeed.com

21 Products That’ll Make Camping About 50 Times Easier

This is a roundup of 21 camping and outdoor gear products with customer reviews, ranging from practical items like water filtration systems and fire starters to comfort upgrades like air mattresses, hammocks, and a propane camp stove. Each product includes a brief description, a promising customer review, and pricing information from retailers like Amazon, REI, and Etsy. The collection covers essentials across several categories—sleeping, cooking, hydration, bug protection, lighting, and entertainment—designed to make camping trips more comfortable and convenient.

Permalink hikingcampinggearshopping

www.afar.com

17 Scenic Waterfalls to Visit on Kentucky's Wildlands Trail

Kentucky Wildlands tourism office launched a curated 553-mile trail linking 17 standout waterfalls across the 14,000-square-mile Wildlands region, whittled down from over 800 candidates based on accessibility and uniqueness—including record-holders like Yahoo Falls (Kentucky's tallest) and Cumberland Falls (the "Niagara of the South," famous for its rare moonbow). The piece is especially useful for noting which falls have ADA-accessible or paved routes, such as Cumberland Falls' Moonbow Trail and Flat Lick Falls' one-mile loop, making it a practical guide for travelers with mobility considerations who want to combine waterfall-chasing with a Kentucky road trip.

Permalink hikingaccessibilitytravelroad trips

travelcurator.com

Worth Driving For: Healdsburg, California

This travel piece champions Healdsburg as the unpretentious heart of Sonoma wine country, positioning it as a more soulful alternative to Napa, and maps out a practical itinerary spanning tasting rooms, redwood hikes, galleries, and standout restaurants like SingleThread and Dry Creek Kitchen. It also flags Charles M. Schulz Airport as an underused entry point and recommends specific hotels (Montage Healdsburg, The Madrona) for a full trip-planning reference. Worth keeping as a ready-made guide for a Sonoma visit, with concrete names rather than generic recommendations.

Permalink hikingrestaurantstravelwine

www.islands.com

Nestled Along The Columbia River Gorge Is A Popular Oregon Hiking Trail Full Of Waterfalls And Mountain Views

Piece profiles Eagle Creek Trail in Oregon's Columbia River Gorge as the standout hike in an area already known for waterfalls, describing highlights like Punch Bowl Falls and the cliff-tunnel behind 170-foot Tunnel Falls, plus practical logistics (permit costs, 12-14 hour hiking time, campsite options for splitting the trek). It also flags real safety concerns—over 150 rescues in a year, narrow cliffside sections requiring one-at-a-time passing, and advice to carry overnight supplies even on day hikes—making it as much a caution-and-prep guide as a scenic showcase.

Permalink hikingsafetytravelwaterfalls

gearjunkie.com

The Best Backpacking Meals of 2025

GearJunkie's annually updated ranking of freeze-dried and pouch backpacking meals, built from taste-testing thousands of options across thru-hikes of the PCT, CDT, and AT plus blind panel tests. Peak Refuel's Chicken Pesto tops the list for its calorie-to-weight ratio, with Readywise's Still Lake Lasagna as the budget pick and newer additions like Bowl & Kettle's Crawfish Étouffée and tinned Patagonia Provisions seafood rounding out splurge and protein-boosting options. Worth keeping mainly for the comparison chart (price, calories, water needed, prep time) and the buyer's-guide breakdown of calorie-density rules, cooking methods, and dietary-restriction picks.

Permalink hikingfreeze-driedfoodbackpacking

daytripnomad.com

One Day In Zion National Park Itinerary For Adventurers

I put together a jam-packed one-day itinerary to help you maximize a short visit to [[Zion National Park]], focusing on the main canyon’s highlights and finishing with a scenic drive. Start early and choose either the permit-required summit of [[Angel's Landing]] (enter the Recreation.gov lottery) or a river trek through [[The Narrows]]; both can consume your morning and require planning for shuttle schedules and safety. Midday options include the Riverside Walk or the Emerald Pools, while the afternoon suits the [[Zion-Mount Carmel Highway]] with stops like [[Checkerboard Mesa]] and Canyon Overlook. Practical tips cover permits, shuttle restrictions, seasonal timing, lodging in [[Springdale]] or [[Zion Lodge]], and winter gear (the author describes using a drysuit). The guide also lists campgrounds, nearby parks and driving routes for extended trips.

Permalink hikingcampingutahzion

bearfoottheory.com

17 Beginner Backpacking Mistakes to Avoid

Kristen Bor’s guide to common beginner backpacking mistakes condenses decades of experience into practical tips to keep first-time backpackers safe, comfortable, and prepared. Drawing on trips near [[Mt. Rainier]] and the [[John Muir Trail]], she covers 17 pitfalls including overpacking, wearing impractical clothing and improper footwear, relying on car-camping gear, underestimating food and water needs, neglecting navigation and weather research, and skipping emergency supplies. Bor recommends lightweight backpacking-specific gear (e.g., [[Jetboil Flash]]), testing equipment before departure, carrying a hygienic [[Kula Cloth]] for women, using a reliable filter like [[Platypus GravityWorks]], and bringing a communication device such as a [[Garmin InReach Mini]]. The post emphasizes Leave No Trace ethics, wildlife awareness, realistic route planning, and small habits that significantly improve safety and enjoyment on the trail.

Permalink hikinggearsafetyfood

nytimes.com

The Gear You Need to Hit the Trail

This gear guide recommends specific equipment for four different types of walking activities: casual city exploration, trail running, day hiking, and multiday pilgrimages. For each category, it provides detailed product suggestions across relevant gear categories (footwear, packs, clothing, accessories) with prices and brief descriptions of why each item is suited to that particular activity. The recommendations emphasize lightweight materials, durability, and functionality appropriate to the intensity and duration of each walking endeavor.

Permalink hikinggearpackingoutdoor