Joel Bear

Taft Point is such an amazing and different view of the Yosemite Valley. If you're lucky and you time it right, you'll also experience complete solitude. While driving Glacier Point Road, just a few minutes before arriving at Glacier Point, you'll see a parking lot for the Taft Point Trailhead. The hike is an intermediate level hike for a little over a mile one way. The hike itself is amazing,...

Point Lobos is one of the hidden gems of the California coast. Located just off of Route 1 right after Monterey, Point Lobos is a state park on the coast. The cost to explore inside is ten dollars, but so worth it. As you explore, be sure to hike around Whalers Cove, which is incredible at sunset with the ocean spray and lush forests. The ocean vistas, rocky shores, and hiking trails can easil...

Glacier Point is one of the highlights of Yosemite. The point is located at the end of Glacier Point Road. This viewpoint allows you to survey the entire Yosemite Valley and gives the viewer a captivating sight of Half Dome. It's a little bit of a tourist trap (especially during the summer season), but worth it. If you're up for hiking to the point at night, the stars are another amazing featu...

Start by entering Rocky Mountain National Park through Estes Park, Colorado. After acquiring a map start your ascent on Trail Ridge Rd (the road is closed in winter). The Road will take you up in elevation into the mountains so a good car is strongly recommended. As you wind up the switch backs, the tree line will start to thin and you will come upon an overlook called Medicine Bow Curve which...

Granstaff Campground has 17 campsites available, which are first come, first served. The sites are $15 a night per vehicle. The campground is a little limited and doesn't have running water, so bring your filter or head into town and pick up supplies.During the day, you can easily make your way to Canyonlands or Arches. If you only have a little time on your hands or are looking for something q...

From San Francisco, drive north over the Golden Gate Bridge and onto the scenic Route One. Plan to spend a full day on the round trip if you're going for the first time; along the drive, you'll most likely want to stop every ten minutes to check out the charming seaside towns or the stunning coastal vistas. When you reach Point Reyes, turn left onto Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and take this ro...