As time went on, Avery and MacKaye began to butt heads, with MacKaye's more rustic, traditional vision of mountain trails falling short of Avery's more modern approach to mountain trail construction. By 1935, MacKaye backed off the AT project almost entirely, focusing on other things, while Avery continued with what was now his vision for the final result. By August of 1937, the trail was finally finished, Naturetrailinsight.Com spanning from its intended point of Georgia all the way to Maine, but that doesn't mean it was finis

Of course, hiking is one of the most popular activities at the park. With so many trails, it can be overwhelming trying to decide which one is worth spending an entire day (or several) on, and this is where guided tours can help. Not only will hikers have the chance to learn about the area from an experienced guide but they'll also have the reassurance that comes with a well-versed hiker, familiar with the trails. Some of these guided tours are all-inclusive which means that meals and extras are included, helping to curve the cost and take the stress out of planning a Zion excurs

While horses may be more iconic of the American West, the humble mule is the animal of choice for such a trek. In fact, the iconic painting by Jacques-Louis David of Napoleon crossing the Alps on a noble white horse was propaganda. Napoleon actually crossed on a mule. Mules combine sure-footedness with the strength of a ho

Two companies offering horse and mule rides on the South Rim are the Grand Canyon Lodges and Apache Stables. There is another company - Grand Canyon Mule Rides - that offers rides in the North Rim. If one is in a hurry, see here for how to see the Grand Canyon in a d

Find the right time to visit a national park such as this, though, can be tricky. Just as one wouldn't visit a high-altitude alpine park in the dead of winter, one wouldn't typically go for a strenuous hike in Zion at the peak of the summer. There is a 'best' time to visit this beautiful park and, while you're there, add these to your itiner

The majority of the thru-hike will be spent in a tent out in the wild but there will be towns to stop off in, and these are perfect for resupplying and grabbing a good night's rest. And there's no shame in doing

With that being said, the real question is this: when is the best time to explore this popular park? Undeniably, it's during the fall season. There are a number of reasons as to why this is the best time to head down to Zion; the first, obviously, is the heat. Arizona summers can be brutal and while temperatures might cool off later in the day at Zion when the sun is overhead, it's going to feel exactly like the desert environment that it is. During the months of September and October, the average precipitation is limited to just four days or so which means for an overwhelming majority of the month, there are plenty of nice, sunny days on which to trek its many hiking trails or stay at its campgrou

A hiker who has committed to hiking the PCT isn't likely planning on spending every night on the hike in a motel or hostel, but it is nice to know they exist. When it comes to the basics such as showering, sleeping in a (comfortable) bed, and general recovery time, motels and hostels are a necessity for s

Imagine oneself in the Old Wild West on a horseback ride in one of the world's most dazzling natural attractions. Horse (or mule) rides make one feel like a cowboy (or cowgirl) as one descends deep into the most famous canyon in the world. There are horse and mule rides in the Grand Canyon - with the option of spending the night in the can

A trail can stretch on for up to 30 miles before a water source is found. It would also be naive to think that running out of water only happens in desert terrain, as this can happen anywhere along the PCT that's remote and

The biome of Zion National Park is rather unique in the sense that it experiences a wide range of temperatures and weather patterns depending on the time of the year. During the summer and winter months, the region experiences extremes of both seasons - with summers being extraordinarily hot and winters being cold enough to bring snow. The park also has a monsoon season and during the months of January, February, and March, there are typically anywhere from seven to eight days of full precipitation which can cause flash flooding, according to Wildland Trekking . These weather conditions apply to both Zion Canyon and Kolob Canyon so it's always better to check the weather report prior to heading

It is situated along the Sierra Nevada in Northern California and spans up to 1,189 square miles of land. Thousands of lakes, ponds, and streams can be found within this park. There are over 800 miles (1,300 km) of hiking trails that allow visitors to see views of the mountains, glaciers, meadows, granite cliffs, and waterfa

Thru-hiking requires a permit and when a hiker is tackling such a long stretch of trail, it can require obtaining multiple permits. In the case of hiking the PCT, three are needed: a thru-hiker permit for those intending on hiking 500 or more consecutive miles, a northbound permit that allows hikers to enter Canada, and a California Fire Permit which allows hikers to cook and boil food in the state. Important: Campfires are not permitted anywhere in Southern California or wildfire-prone ar