• La Verkin Creek Trail

    La Verkin Creek Trail

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    Jake Bramante

    The Kolob Canyons area of Zion National Park receives far fewer visitors than the main Zion Canyon, but it is a stunning area full of red rock cliffs. The La Verkin Creek Trail travels through these canyons following Timber Creek down to La Verkin Creek. It then follows up the creek into the canyons taking you…

  • Firebrand Pass 2015

    Firebrand Pass 2015

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    Jake Bramante

    Firebrand Pass is not on the radar for most of Glacier National Park’s visitors, but this gem of a hike near Marias Pass has me coming back again and again. After some back and forth with Jeff and Harry, we decided to make the pass our destination and then figure out what off trail route…

  • Chinle Trail

    Chinle Trail

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    Jake Bramante

    In the southwest corner of Zion National Park lies an exposed desert trail with wonderful views, few visitors, and some petrified trees. The Chinle Trail lies outside of the main Zion Canyon so it receives few visitors and a unique experience. Those that prefer the trail can hike it as an out and back while…

  • The Narrows

    The Narrows

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    Jake Bramante

    The Narrows in Zion National Park competes for one of the top hikes in the national park system. Using the Virgin River as a trail, you walk up a breathtaking canyon where the walls, hundreds of feet in height come together at a scant 22 feet across. Lush plants hang along the walls and contrast…

  • Swiftcurrent Raptor Count 2015

    Swiftcurrent Raptor Count 2015

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    Jake Bramante

    While spring’s migrations tend to be more intense with all of the waterfowl, I love the fall migration of the raptors. Every fall I head up to Glacier with some of the biologists to count migrating hawks and eagles. While some migration count sites get more hawks than anything else, high up in Glacier’s alpine,…

  • Feels good to be back home

    Feels good to be back home

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    Jake Bramante

    After a couple months of hiking in Yellowstone National Park, I’m finally back home. While Yellowstone is amazing, I still need my Glacier National Park fix. It’s also fall around here and the colors are changing quite dramatically and both Kristen and I wanted to see Glacier in her new clothes. Another development has been…

  • Back to Yellowstone

    Back to Yellowstone

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    Jake Bramante

    I’m about ready to head south again. As smoke from innumerable fires both inside and out of Glacier fill the skies, I’m thankful that I’m spending September in Yellowstone National Park. My blogging has slowed as I’ve doubled down on my hiking, but that will bring hiking blogs all throughout the offseason. Yellowstone is a…

  • Canyon Overlook Trail

    Canyon Overlook Trail

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    Jake Bramante

    The walk up the Canyon Overlook Trail in Zion National Park is short sweet and to the point… or overlook. The half mile trail climbs up some stairs cut into the sandstone, then traverses under  rock and over open sandstone to an incredible vista of Zion Canyon. Kristen and I drove from Springdale through the…

  • Piegan Pass 2015

    Piegan Pass 2015

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    Jake Bramante

    While the hike up to Piegan Pass and back is a great trip in Glacier National Park, through hiking this exceptional day trip down to Many Glacier takes it to the next level. Dropping down into Many Glacier has you passing terraced, alpine landscapes, beautiful waterfalls and a series of emerald green lakes in the…