A hiker was injured on Christmas Eve after falling 20 feet from a trail near the visitor center at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre.
West Metro Fire Rescue first posted about the rescue operation at 4:23 p.m. Wednesday. By that time, paramedics had already taken the hiker to the hospital in critical condition, the agency said.
Limited information was available about the Wednesday incident, but West Metro officials said members of the agency’s technical team hiked up the trail to carry the unidentified patient out to a waiting ambulance.
West Metro officials did not specify which trail the hiker fell from.
Getting trapped in quicksand is a corny peril of old movies and TV shows, but it really did happen to one unfortunate hiker in Utah’s Arches National Park.
The park famous for dozens of natural, sandstone arches gets over 1 million visitors a year, and accidents ranging from falls to heat stroke are common.
Quicksand? Not really — but it has happened at least a couple of times now.
“The wet sand just kind of flows back in. It’s kind of a never-ending battle,” said John Marshall, who helped a woman stuck in quicksand over a decade ago and coordinated the latest rescue.
On Sunday, an experienced hiker, whose identity wasn’t released, was traversing a small canyon on the second day of a 20-mile (32-kilometer) backpacking trip when he sank up to his thigh, according to Marshall.
Unable to free himself, the hiker activated an emergency satellite beacon. His message got forwarded to Grand County emergency responders and Marshall got the call at 7:15 a.m..
“I was just rolling out of bed,” Marshall said. “I’m scratching my head, going, ‘Did I hear that right? Did they say quicksand?’”
He put his boots on and rendezvoused with a team that set out with all-terrain vehicles, a ladder, traction boards, backboards and a drone. Soon, Marshall had a bird’s-eye view of the situation.
Through the drone camera he saw a park ranger who’d tossed the man a shovel. But the quicksand flowed back as soon as the backpacker shoveled it away, Marshall said.
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The Grand County Search and Rescue team positioned the ladder and boards near the backpacker and slowly worked his leg loose. By then he’d been standing in near-freezing muck, in temperatures in the 20s (minus 6 to minus 1 Celsius), for a couple of hours.
Rescuers warmed him up until he could stand, then walk. He then hiked out on his own, even carrying his backpack, Marshall said.
Quicksand is dangerous but it’s a myth total submersion is the main risk, said Marshall.
“In quicksand you’re extremely buoyant,” he said. “Most people won’t sink past their waist in quicksand.”
Marshall is more or less a quicksand expert.
In 2014, he was a medic who helped a 78-year-old woman after she was stuck for over 13 hours in the same canyon just 2 miles (3 kilometers) from where Sunday’s rescue took place.
The woman’s book club got worried when she missed their meeting. They went looking for her and found her car at a trailhead. It was June — warmer than Sunday but not sweltering in the canyon’s shade — and the woman made a full recovery after regaining use of her legs.
LIVERMORE, Calif. — For more than 140 years, Wente Family Vineyards has blended tradition, innovation and family passion in every bottle.
Fifth-generation sisters Aly and Niki Wente are carrying on their great-great-grandfathers legacy, leading with sustainability, shaping the story “from grape to glass” and inviting guests to experience a little piece of the family every time they visit.
“When you visit Wente Family Vineyards, I want guests to feel that they are coming to be a part of our family,” said Niki Wente, director of Vineyard Operations. “You’re tasting all of our hard work. All of the generations are in every bottle of wine.”
Founded in 1883, Wente Family Vineyards holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously family-owned and operated winery in the United States. The legacy began with Carl Wente in the Livermore Valley and continues today under the leadership of the fifth generation.
“(Carl) learned how to make wine in the Napa Valley under Charles Krug,” said Aly Wente, senior vice president of Hospitality, Business and Marketing, and Carl Wente’s great-great-granddaughter. “He came to Livermore because Livermore was a really similar wine growing region to Napa.”
Aly and Niki’s great-grandfather, Ernest, began planting Chardonnay in the Livermore Valley in 1908, importing cuttings from Burgundy.
“He curated this really flavorful fruit-forward style of Chardonnay and people started to hear about it. Today, we believe that around 75% of all California Chardonnay has genetic roots back to our familys property,” Aly said.
“We come from a line of strong men who helped shape us,” Aly continued. “But now we have this incredible force of women leading winemaking, leading viticulture. So, we like to say ‘from grape to glass.’ Women are really kind of shaping the story at Wente right now.”
For Niki, that story begins in the vineyard.
“I run our entire agricultural division and so every day I’m really focused on sustainable quality of wine grapes and how to continue to produce the most beautiful wines possible from dirt to bottle,” she said.
At the tasting lounge, Aly said, “You can park your car, taste wine, play an 18-hole championship Greg Norman-designed golf course, then come back and potentially see a concert or attend a food and wine experience. You’ll never have to move your car and you get to have this wonderful day enjoying wine and being with people.”
Reflecting on the legacy, Niki said, “My great-great-grandfather Carl Wente would be stunned silent at the success of all the generations over the years. We have so much passion for growing grapes and making wines and working as a family and it’s just so important to us.”
It’s hard to believe Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat used to be a gravel pit.
Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat attracts plenty of wildlife, including a large number of migrating birds in the winter. (Ben Siebrase, Special to The Denver Post)
These days, the 100-acre refuge, at 5201 St. Vrain Road in Boulder County, attracts plenty of wildlife, including a large number of migrating birds that come for five on-site ponds knit together with 2.9 miles of flat, scenic trail.
Even on a cold December morning, it’s worth bundling up to see what’s fluttering through the reclaimed wetlands. Not far from Longmont’s municipal airport, Pella Crossing, a mile south of Hygiene, on the east side of North 75th Street, delivers a similar scene – industrial strip mines transformed into a peaceful haven.
Feeling unseasonably hopeful, I once took my young kids birding at Walden Ponds. The hobby requires a certain level of patience and quiet – not exactly our family’s strong suits. Despite near-constant reminders, my offspring produce their own special calls: a cacophonous blend of screeches, giggles, and bickering that clears a marsh faster than you can say :white-tailed Ptarmigan.” Still, after scattering every sparrow in sight, we caught an unexpected break on the drive out.
“Look,” my husband said, pulling over near Wally Toevs Pond. There were two golden eagles perched on a utility pole, primary feathers ruffling in the cold breeze. I fumbled for my phone, snapped a terrible, zoomed-in photo, and then, finally, we all fell silent.
Car birding
When I told lifelong Colorado birder Peter Burke about this, he wasn’t remotely surprised: “Golden eagles,” he explains, “like to nest on cliffs in the mountains, but they come down here for the winter and often perch on telephone poles while hunting prairie dogs.”
Burke, who founded the guide company Rocky Mountain Birding and currently edits the quarterly journal Colorado Birds, approved of our drive-by-birding technique. In fact, car birding is one of his go-to strategies.
You’re less likely to flush a bird this way. “Humans have the profile of a predator,” he notes. But cars? They’re more like big, slow cows – not particularly threatening.
As a bonus, you’ll be warm in your car on a chilly day. The main message I got when I called up a handful of Colorado’s expert birders is that you truly don’t have to travel far from Denver, especially once the temperature drops.
For some species, we’re south
As Jacob Job from Bird Conservancy of the Rockies puts it, “Winter birding is often overlooked.” That’s a shame because we get a whole new influx of species this time of year. (And it’s worth noting that as milder winters caused by climate change reshape migration patterns, some birds are sticking it out: mountain bluebirds, for instance, can now be spotted here all year long.)
We have an image of migratory birds flying south for the winter, but Colorado’s Front Range is south for many species, including raptors, cackling geese (a close cousin to the Canada goose), and rough-legged hawks, which breed in tundra way above the Arctic Circle then vacation in sunny Colorado. Other birds have an elevational migration within the Centennial State. Northern pigmy owls, for example, propagate in the mountains before coming to the foothills.
This time of year, Colorado birders are primarily searching for raptors, waterfowl and sparrows. Where you go will largely depend on what you’re hoping to spot, explains Burke.
Burke’s a fan of towhees. “They’re big, sparrow-like birds,” he tells me.
When I ask, “Spotted towhees?” he shoots back, “Are you a birder?”
Busted. I admit that I just Googled it.
Red Crossbills at Echo Lake on Mount Evans, 2012. (Peter Burke, Special to The Denver Post)
“I’m not a confident birder,” I say.
Burke laughs: “Really, it just comes down to curiosity and how much time you put into it,” he said. After a beat, he chirps, “And good binoculars!”
He recommends I spend, at minimum, $300 for a nice pair. When I ask Burke where I should take those fancy-pants binocs, he tells me that while lots of people don’t consider Red Rocks, at 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, a birding destination, it can be an excellent place for sparrows and towhees – plus the cliffs are home to nesting prairie falcons.
Follow the prairie dogs
Most of us love big birds. Raptors – and their humungous nests – are much easier to observe in winter-bare trees, explains community naturalist Dave Sutherland, who leads free – and absolutely fantastic – public classes for birders of all ages and skill levels. Visit davesutherland.co for details, and consider joining his upcoming “Hawk Walk” on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. (No cost, but reservations are needed.)
If you’re keen to watch bald eagles in the wild, try Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge at 6550 Gateway Road, a former chemical weapons manufacturing facility that was cleaned up in the 1980s before earning its protected status in 1992, soon after a roost of bald eagles was spotted on the premises.
The refuge hosts bison herds (try the wildlife drive!), a black-footed ferret exhibit, and plenty of prairie dogs. “Any place with a thriving prairie dog town will be a good place to see raptors,” said Sutherland, noting that “people love to hate on prairie dogs, but if you like birds of prey, you need to make peace with them.”
Ferruginous hawks, for example, are prairie dog specialists from Canada and North Dakota, and their numbers are in decline because we’ve wiped out prairie dog colonies on the Eastern Plains.
In addition to raptors – eagles plus ferruginous, rough-legged and Harlan’s hawks – Rocky Mountain Arsenal, with its sprawling plains, provides habitat for a variety of additional species, including white-crowned sparrows and dark-eyed junco.
Explore reservoirs
As long as they’re not frozen over, reservoirs – “pop-up habitat for waterfowl,” Burke said – are another place where bird enthusiasts can’t go wrong. Sutherland and Burke recommend Chatfield State Park, at 11500 N. Roxborough Park Road, home to the Kingery Nature Center, part of Denver Audubon’s holdings.
A Bohemian Waxwing in Boulder, 2013. (Peter Burke, Special to The Denver Post)
In Brighton, meanwhile, there’s Barr Lake State Park, 13401 Picadilly Road, another premium spot, where dozens of bald eagles overwinter. Bonus: Barr Lake puts on a variety of bird-themed walks, talks, and events throughout the year; for details, visit cpw.state.co.us/events and filter by park.
You’ll need a state-parks pass to enter Barr Lake and Chatfield in a vehicle, and Colorado Parks & Wildlife public information officer Bridget O’Rourke wants Coloradans to know that free passes are available through all Colorado public libraries. They’re tucked inside CPW’s “Adventure Backpacks,” which are available to rent anytime – and super fun for kids.
At Aurora Reservoir, 5800 S. Powhaton Road, look for “five to seven species of gulls, including a few rare ones,” Burke said, noting that these long-winged aquatic beauties spend the entire winter in the area, sleeping on ice then flying to the landfill to pick at garbage heaps before returning to the water to bathe. Be aware: Aurora Reservoir is not a Colorado State Park, and you’ll need a $10 day pass to enter (that’s the off-season rate).
Eight minutes north of Niwot, there’s Lagerman Reservoir inside Lagerman Agricultural Preserve, 7100 Pike Road. “It’s the ugliest little reservoir you ever saw, and for some reason birds love it,” Sutherland gushes. The 1.6-mile Lagerman Trail is closed through Dec. 31 for construction and will reopen to birders in the new year.
Reservoirs are popular hang-outs for other waterfowl, too, including the common goldeneye and Barrow’s goldeneye – “a really neat diving duck,” Burke said, that you’ll spot mixed in with mallards, northern shovelers and teals. Gulls can’t dive, so they like to swim with goldeneyes and try to steal their lunch. “It’s a game played out on Colorado reservoirs all winter long,” said Burke.
At Waterton Canyon, you’re likely to spot American dippers, a songbird about the size of a robin that spends its life in rivers and mostly hunts underwater. (Ben Siebrase, Special to The Denver Post)
Hole up on streams
If you want to see a variety of ducks, Sutherland will direct you to Prospect Park in Wheat Ridge, at W. 44th Ave. and Robb streets, where birders can sit tight along Clear Creek.
Waterton Canyon, just south of the intersection of Waterton Road and Glenn L. Martin Boulevard, is another excellent option. Beyond the famed bighorn sheep, you’re liable to spy American dippers, a songbird about the size of a robin that spends its entire life in rivers and mostly hunts underwater.
“Anything along Boulder Creek you can get dippers,” Job added, also recommending Eldorado Canyon State Park, at 9 Kneale Road, and Lair ‘o the Bear Park, at 22550 State Highway 74, the latter a kid-friendly gem in Idledale.
Try state wildlife areas
If you aren’t sure where to go, check out one of CPW’s 350-plus State Wildlife Areas – “the hidden gems of public lands,” as O’Rourke put it. You’ll need a special SWA recreational pass to enter these protected swaths, which are open to hunters and wildlife viewers alike.
But don’t let the hunting deter you: SWAs attract winter owls, including long-eared, pygmy, and screech varietals, said Job. If you try an SWA, do wear very bright colors during open season. Fluorescent orange and pink will do the trick.
To uncover SWAs in your area, check out CPW’s online map, at cpw.state.co.us/swa-finder. And don’t miss the state agency’s nature viewing page, which is packed with useful information for local birders.
Speaking of owls, the last couple of years, there have been snowy owls at Denver International Airport. If you have winter travel plans that include a flight, this might be a good reason to arrive at the airport extra early.
Be a homebody
Front Range residents won’t have to leave home for good birding. “I love dark-eyed juncos,” said Job. Denver gets four to five subspecies in the wintertime. Job added, “They’ll come to the house to hang out by feeders.”
Putting out bird feeders can be a lifeline for migrating birds, and a thoughtful setup keeps feeders truly bird-friendly. Burke recommends placing feeders near bushes or trees, so visitors have quick cover from predators like hawks. It’s easy to protect birds from window collisions by adding visual cues like hanging cords or UV decals to large windows.
All the experts agree that it’s important to keep feeders clean. Wash them with soap and water every few weeks (or when refilling) to prevent diseases; gloves are recommended. A pro tip: If you have problems with squirrels in your feeders, try mixing seed with cayenne pepper. Birds don’t react to the spicy chemical compound but squirrels hate it.
If this sounds like a lot of work, you can always throw seed on the ground. Juncos and towhees happily eat ground seed.
A birding shelter at Fossil Creek Reservoir offers interpretive signs. (Jamie Siebrase, Special to The Denver Post)
Involve the kids
Longtime Colorado birder Carmela Coyle, bestselling author of the “Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?” series for kids, has a new picture book coming out in January, just in time for winter birding. Read “Anyone Else Awake? A Dawn Chorus” (Muddy Boots publishing) with the kids in your life, then explore Coyle’s favorite hotspots – both close enough to count as backyard birding for Denverites.
In Littleton, there’s Ketring Park, at 6028 S. Gallup St., where the quarter-mile dirt trail around Wetland Loop is perfect for very young explorers. Coyle also recommends the Stone House Trail at Bear Creek Greenbelt Park, 2800 S. Estes St. “Park in the lot off of South Estes Street,” Coyle said, “and proceed west to the narrower dirt trails to the south through trees and brush.”
Field wisdom
You’re bundling up and heading out because you want to see some plumage, no? These pro tips help ensure a successful outing.
If a bird changes its behavior because of you, you’re too close. Use binoculars, instead of your feet, to get a better look, and remember: Winter birds are here to rest and refuel, not perform.
While apps like Merlin are great tools, overusing playback can stress out our migratory birds, sending them searching for threats that aren’t there. Let the landscape speak first, and use calls sparingly.
Don’t forget to stay on designated trails and obey private property signs. Birders should always strive to be great stewards of the land.
The birds are waiting. Grab your binoculars, and let’s see what winter on the Front Range has to offer.
Every time I slip on a rain jacket, I give thanks that we no longer have to wrap ourselves in thick, smelly sealskin to stay dry. The best rain jackets today are more comfortable and watertight than ever, thanks to advances in weatherproof textiles and apparel design. But depending on the climate and your level of activity, sorting through different styles, technologies, and waterproof ratings can be confusing.
Every year, I test dozens of rain jackets through the soggy Pacific Northwest winter. I hike, bike, run, and walk my dogs—sometimes I even stand in the shower with my clothes on when the weather isn’t cooperating. I also got advice from Amber Williams, a professor at Brigham Young University who has been an expert on outdoor product design. All to find the rain jackets worth your time and money.
Updated November 2025: We added the Arc’teryx Beta SL, the Lolë Piper 2.0, the Páramo Velez Adventure Smock, the Helly Hansen utility rain coat, the North Face Antora, the North Face Mountain Parka, the Finisterre Stormbird, and the Rab Firewall Alpine and Phantom.
Best Overall
Photograph: Adrienne So
Every year, I try to find another jacket that beats the Arc’teryx Beta SL for roominess and dryness, and it’s just impossible. Despite its extravagant price, this is the jacket that I always end up reaching for when an atmospheric river starts pouring through Portland. This is Arc’teryx’s lightest rain shell. It has Gore-Tex’s latest fabric innovation, called ePE (expanded polyethylene)—it’s a breathable, waterproof membrane laminated to a nylon face that’s also free of carcinogenic perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and has a hydrostatic head (HH) rating of 28,000, which is pretty incredible (the standard is around 10,000). When it comes to rainwear, I sacrifice sustainability in favor of not getting wet—being cold and wet really sucks and could be life-threatening in the wrong situation. But this jacket has kept me dry through the bugging-est out, sideways-pouring rain.
Features-wise, the hood is big enough for my hair (or a helmet, if your hair is smaller than my hair), with adjustable cuffs and pit zips (very important for activity!). And unlike many other jackets, the women’s version has plenty of space for my shoulders and arms to move freely for biking, hiking, and moving heavy objects. If you’re only getting one rain jacket, it should be this one.
Best Rain Jacket for Women
Photograph: Adrienne So
Photograph: Adrienne So
I love this rain jacket. I was walking in the city with my friend (in the rain) when a truck suddenly went through a puddle right next to us on the road and covered me head to toe, Sex and the City-style. This jacket kept me dry. Its waterproofing specs are average—it uses a carbon-based, durable water repellent and has a HH rating of 10K, which is about half the waterproofing of what some of our other picks have—but I really like its design features.
I’m 5’2″ and it’s long enough to cover my shins. You can button the cuffs to prevent water from running down the sleeves. It has multiple (huge) pockets for all your random walking-around needs, with both zippered and open options. The fit is incredibly loose for layering—why don’t more outdoor brands do this? I’m very small on the bell curve of humanity, but I shouldn’t need to size up to men’s medium to get a size loose enough for layering! Most importantly, it packs up into its own small, self-contained backpack with straps so you can hang it on a wall when you get to the party instead of leaving a giant, soaking garment to hang from a hook and drip all over everything.
★ Alternative: If you’re not trying to stay dry for hours while outside and you also like a feature-rich rain jacket with big pockets, I like the Helly Hansen utility rain coat ($200), which also covers a lot of your body and has a lot of pocket options.
Best Rubber Rain Jacket
Photograph: Adrienne So
Since the 1960s, modern rainwear has relied on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or “forever chemicals”, to waterproof clothing. Modern durable water repellents (DWRs) use PFAS in manufacturing, which then migrate from your clothing into soil and streams as you tromp around outside. Today, many companies are reducing the levels of PFAS in their products, probably because states are banning these chemicals.
The best way to make sure you don’t have PFAS in your coat is to go with a classic rubber raincoat, like Stutterheim’s Stockholm raincoat. Technical rain jacket manufacturers tend to shy away from polyurethane because it’s, well, rubbery. But the material is durable, long-lasting, windproof, waterproof, and PFAS-free. I also prefer rubber rain jackets in damp coastal climates, like the Pacific Northwest. Breathability is less of a sticking point when the air is already humid.
BEIJING — Local authorities have shut down a popular hiking destination on Mount Everest in China’s Tibet region because of heavy snowfall and icy conditions.
Tourism officials said Zhufeng peak in Dingri county, where the Chinese side of Everest is located, is shut until further notice, according to an announcement Tuesday. Earlier in October, hundreds of hikers were trapped for days on Everest after a heavy snowstorm hit during China’s national holidays, a peak travel season.
The local weather forecast predicted snowfall and icy conditions into Wednesday, potentially a hazard for visitors at higher altitudes as even moderate amounts of snowfall can hamper trails and road conditions.
Earlier in October, rescuers ended up helping 880 people who were trapped at the altitude of 4,900 meters (16,000 feet). This included 580 hikers, 300 guides and other staff, according to local media. At the time, authorities in Dingri temporarily shut down the Zhufeng tourist area.
Mount Everest, called Mount Qomolangma in Tibetan, straddles the border between China and Nepal, and reaches a height of about 8,850 meters (29,000 feet). The peak attracts both hikers as well as climbers who attempt to scale it.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Brazil’s leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed confidence Monday that his country and the United States will reach a trade deal, saying that U.S. President Donald Trump had practically “guaranteed” it during their talks the day before.
“I think we should be able to make some good deals for both countries,” Trump had said after meeting Lula.
According to Lula, he presented Trump with a written document outlining arguments against the U.S. tariff hikes that Lula said acknowledged the United States has the right to impose the measures, its move was based on “mistaken information.”
Trump didn’t commit to suspending the tariff hikes, nor raised any conditions during their talks, Lula said.
“He guaranteed to me that we will reach an agreement,” Lula told a news conference, speaking through an interpreter. “I am very confident that in a few days we will reach a solution.”
The Trump administration imposed a 40% tariff on Brazilian products in July on top of a 10% tariff hike earlier. The U.S. justified the tariffs saying that Brazil’s policies and criminal prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro constitute an economic emergency.
Bolsonaro was recently convicted of attempting a coup after losing his bid for reelection in 2022 and a panel of Brazil’s Supreme Court sentenced him to about 27 years in prison.
Lula said he again reminded Trump that Brazil was one of three Group of 20 industrialized and emerging-market nations countries with which the U.S. maintains a trade surplus. The U.S. had a $6.8 billion trade surplus with Brazil last year, according to the Census Bureau.
He also noted that Bolsonaro had been given a fair trial, and that his case should not factor in their trade negotiations.
“Bolsonaro is part of the past now in Brazilian history” he said.
Lula said he also offered to help mediate the crisis in Venezuela, where President Nicolas Maduro has accused the U.S. of fabricating a war against him after Washington sent the world’s biggest warship towards his country.
Lula, who marked his 80th birthday on Monday, said he felt at a high point of his life and that he hopes to live up to 120 years old. He was in Kuala Lumpur to attend annual summits held by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as a guest of chair Malaysia, which hopes to deepen the region’s trade links with Latin America.
From aboard Air Force One, Trump also wished Lula a happy birthday, describing the Brazilian president as “a very vigorous guy.”
“I was very impressed,” Trump said.
___
Associated Press writer Christopher Megerian in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, contributed to this report.
KALSOY ISLAND, Faroe Islands (AP) — While once the Faroe Islands might have slipped under the radar, more tourists than ever are arriving on the remote archipelago in the north Atlantic.
According to Statistics Faroe Islands, a record 94,954 check-ins occurred last year at hotels, hostels and guesthouses.
That’s relatively small for a European destination, but authorities are already thinking about how to protect the windswept 18 islands from the tourism pressure that has led to backlash elsewhere.
Be ready for anything, especially when hiking. At some point, it will rain. Strong winds can pick up quickly, and fog can be disorienting.
The Landsverk local authority has weather cams on its site, and so does FaroeIslandsLive. The official Visit Faroe Islands site has detailed advice on safe travel, as locals are aware that people can slip off trails into the sea – and sometimes do.
“I will take photos to die for, without dying for them,” says a tourist-focused flier called “The Faroese Pledge” on the library door in the village of Fuglafjordur.
Trails marked as suitable for children may not be. Keep in mind that hiking times and difficulty levels have been estimated by locals. A few of the most heavily traveled routes ask for a fee. The popular hike to the Kallur lighthouse on Kalsoy Island is about $30. Do not miss it.
Undersea tunnels, upper-tier fees
It’s best to explore with a rental car for more flexibility. Public buses are available to many locations, but timetables are limited. They are available at the Strandfaraskip site. Multi-day travel passes can be purchased at the airport’s visitor center.
The Faroe Islands now have four undersea tunnels linking a few of the most visited islands, but prepare to pay. Fees range from over $15 for a round trip to over $27 one way. Plan day trips accordingly. Fees are paid to the rental car company at the end of a visit.
On land, some of the older tunnels are single lanes with designated passing areas. Some of the scenic “buttercup” routes are single lanes as well. Guardrails are not always present.
On one stretch of road leaving the community of Tjornuvik, a signal has been installed to limit traffic to one direction at a time along the well-battered guardrail above the sea. Tourists don’t know how to reverse, residents said.
Mind the sheep, and other details
The need for cash is almost nonexistent. The AP used it once, for a coin-operated shower in one of the public restrooms often found at camping locations or tourist-frequented villages. Pay with cards and phones.
Food is expensive, as most of it is imported.
English is widely enough spoken and displayed.
Drone use is restricted. The Visit Faroe Islands site has details.
Don’t bother the sheep. Call the police if you hit one.
If the cooler weather last week seemed too good to be true, that’s because it kind of was. To no surprise, the unpredictable weather of Dallas-Fort Worth lived up to its reputation — seemingly as quickly as the temperatures dropped, they rose to the 90s again…
Don’t let the cooler weather of the past couple of days fool you, because the 90-degree weather is set to return this week — this is Texas, after all. If you find yourself chasing this brief respite from the heat, you might want to look north. Another short jaunt out of state is waiting to be discovered, just a few hours from Dallas…
DENVER — Hikers who climbed a Colorado mountain got more than just a sweeping view at the top. A man in an ice cream cone costume unexpectedly was handing out frozen treats.
No one seemed to know the man who carried ice cream sandwiches and dry ice in a 60-pound (27-kilogram) pack up Huron Peak over the Labor Day weekend. But word of him spread quickly to hikers still making their way up the more than 14,000-foot (4,267-meter) mountain that’s one of Colorado’s tallest.
Blaine and Katie Griffin were about three-quarters of the way up Huron Peak when other hikers told them about the man. They worried he would run out of ice cream by the time they got there.
“Eventually we got up to the top of the mountain and, tired, hot, thirsty and didn’t know it, but ice cream was just kind of what we wanted,” Blaine Griffin said.
He and his wife enjoyed their ice cream sandwiches, which still were surprisingly very cold, with some leftover pizza they carried with them.
Christopher Whitestone said his two children, Olivia, 11, and Owen, 8, went straight to the ice cream man as soon as they reached the top.
“It definitely leaves a lasting impression for my kids as a very positive experience,” Whitestone said.
But he warned them not to expect that every time they climb a mountain.
Photos on social media show the man in a camping chair, a beer nestled in the armrest, wearing sunglasses with a fake mustache attached to it. Members of a Facebook group for people dedicated to climbing the state’s “14ers” called him a hero, with one declaring him “legend dairy.”
Some also marveled at his ability to climb the mountain with such a heavy pack.
Blaine Griffin said the man later zoomed past them on the way down the mountain, this time without his costume, making him think he had climbed it many times.
The ice cream had just run out by the time Ric and Sara Rosenkranz of Las Vegas made it to the top. But Ric Rosenkranz said he was just happy to be able to witness the quirky stunt, which he said was a good antidote to the tendency to focus on racking up achievements in the outdoors.
“He provided a nice reminder of just enjoying the moment,” Rosenkranz said, “just really making it fun, not taking it more seriously than it needs to be and just spending time with his fellow hikers.”
Although Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, don’t expect the North Texas weather to abide by that idea. So, we’re mapping out easy getaways to escape the lingering Texas heat…
I didn’t notice the scarlet tanager until the alert appeared on my phone: “Merlin heard a new bird!”
Despite its brilliant plumage — jet-black wings on a crimson body — the songbird can be a hard one to spot in a forest because it prefers to stay high in the canopy. It sounds a little like a robin to an untrained ear.
But the free Merlin Bird ID app detected a scarlet tanager was likely nearby by using artificial intelligence to analyze my phone’s live sound recording. I paused my hike, quietly scanned the treetops, saw the bird as it kept singing and clicked a button to add the species to my growing “life list” of bird sightings. Digital confetti dropped on my screen.
Like a real-world version of Pokémon Go, a gotta-catch-’em-all drive to add to my Merlin list has helped me find a great kiskadee in Mexico and a rusty-cheeked scimitar-babbler in the Himalayas. But sometimes the greatest revelations are close to home, as more AI nature app users are starting to discover.
“Our stereotypical demographic five years ago would have been retired people and already-avid birders,” said the Merlin app’s manager, Drew Weber, of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “Now we’re seeing a lot of 20-and-30-year-olds posting stuff on their TikTok or Instagram.”
“Am I a bird person now? Am I a bird person now?” exclaims one incredulous TikTok user whose Merlin app detected a tufted titmouse, a cardinal and a Carolina wren within five seconds of her switching on the app.
“That was a northern mockingbird,” says a smirking Darnold, then 27 and now 28, holding his phone up high while sitting in an outdoor lounge chair.
The app isn’t always perfect, and mockingbirds — because they mimic other bird sounds — can sometimes confuse the AI. Was that really a great horned owl that flew over your home and hooted while you left the app on record by the window screen? Maybe, maybe not.
“Low-frequency sounds can be challenging because there’s other low frequencies, like cars driving past, that can trick it,” Weber said.
Built-in computer vision technology on newer iPhones and Android devices makes it easier to identify plants and other creatures without having to download an app. Simply look at the flower you just photographed and — on iPhones — a leaf icon appears that, when clicked, can suggest the species.
But their AI accuracy isn’t always the best for more obscure fauna and insects — and they are missing the immersive community and citizen science experience that free apps like Merlin and the image-based iNaturalist offer.
Every observation submitted to iNaturalist, run by a nonprofit, and Cornell’s Merlin is potentially helping with conservation research as animal extinctions and biodiversity loss accelerate around the world.
iNaturalist’s executive director, Scott Loarie, sees someone’s urge to identify a backyard plant as just the start of their engagement with the app.
“Our strategy is really building this community of really passionate, engaged nature stewards who are not only learning and sharing knowledge about nature, but they’re actually huge engines for creating biodiversity data and conservation action,” Loarie said.
Submit an incorrect ID suggested by iNaturalist’s AI and someone with real expertise will often politely correct you. Once there’s enough consensus, you’ll be notified that your observation has made it to “research grade.”
On the search for huckleberry, a favorite of jam makers and grizzly bears, I kept iNaturalist handy on an August hike through the Wyoming wilderness.
And while I had a hard time finding a huckleberry bush, iNaturalist helped me discover other fruits: a type of serviceberry known as the saskatoon; the big-leafed, raspberry-like thimbleberry and the vibrant orange berries of the Greene’s mountain-ash, a type of rowan. After cross-checking many other resources, I tasted all three. The first two were sweet, the last bitter and disgusting.
“You should never trust any sort of automatic ID or a stranger on the internet for something as important as edible plants,” Loarie said. “So, I definitely don’t want to endorse that. But I’d certainly endorse getting to know plants and animals.”
iNaturalist’s executive director, Scott Loarie, sees someone’s urge to identify a backyard plant as just the start of their engagement with the app. The nonprofit also owns a sibling app, Seek, that is kid-friendly and less complicated.
Elsewhere, I’ve found it particularly helpful in identifying things to avoid – poison ivy, poison oak, disease-carrying ticks – and things to destroy, like a nymph of the invasive spotted lanternfly that’s now infesting at least 19 U.S. states.
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Is there a tech topic that you think needs explaining? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip.
Phoenix is a hiking city. Whatever moves residents and visitors to a mountain to climb it outward or upward, making the jaunt in peaceful surroundings is generally preferred…
FRESNO, Calif. — Firefighting crews tried to corral a fast-growing blaze churning through central California’s Sierra National Forest as forecasters warned Tuesday that lightning strikes from thunderstorms could spark new ignitions.
Since breaking out Sunday afternoon, the Garnet Fire has scorched 14 square miles (36 square km) of grass, chaparral and timber in a remote area known for camping and hiking about 60 miles (97 km) east of Fresno. There was no containment.
Firefighters were aided by scattered rain showers as they worked to protect the tiny Balch Camp community and nearby hydroelectric facilities along the Kings River, according to a Tuesday incident report.
“However, continued strong, erratic winds on top of dry, heavy vegetation will likely test containment efforts,” the report said.
Parts of central and northern California are under red flag warnings for increased fire threat from dry lightning that could accompany thunderstorms, the National Weather Service said.
The 10-square-mile (26-square-km) Pickett Fire in Napa County wine country saw little growth Monday as crews kept flames contained to canyons about 80 miles (130 km) north of San Francisco. It was 17% contained on Tuesday.
There have been no reports of damage to any vineyards from the fire, a spokesperson for the trade group Napa Valley Vintners said Monday.
In central Oregon, rain and cooler temperatures helped crews make progress against the Flat Fire, which has charred 34 square miles (88 square km) of rugged terrain in Deschutes and Jefferson counties since igniting in dry, hot weather last Thursday. It was 7% contained on Tuesday.
“The incident, for the first time in the last three days, is really beginning to stabilize,” Travis Medema, the state’s chief deputy state fire marshal, told a community meeting Monday night.
Authorities at one point ordered evacuations for more than 4,000 homes but lifted orders for some areas on Monday.
An injured hiker was rescued Sunday from Daniels Park in Douglas County after falling 20 feet from an overlook rock, South Metro Fire Rescue officials said.
South Metro officials said crews had to create a “technical rescue plan” to extract the hiker by rope. The hiker, an unidentified adult, was taken to the hospital with unknown injuries.
A video posted by South Metro Fire Rescue shows crews hoisting the injured hiker up through a 150-foot pulley system and carrying the hiker out of the park on a stretcher.
No additional information about the rescue was available Sunday evening.
Update: Crews have made contact with one party and working on a technical rescue plan to extract the party via rope. pic.twitter.com/R68zLO60t8
Make your own DIY doggy pouch for summer walks and hikes! Carry treats, water, first aid, and more with ease. Keep your pup safe, hydrated, and happy on every adventure.
Treats, check. Water, check. Insect repellent, check. A leash alone isn’t enough to keep your dog safe and stress-free on summer walks and hikes. A DIY doggy pouch helps you carry essentials hands-free, keeping your outings more comfortable.
Assembling your doggy pouch
Start by purchasing a miniature, lightweight backpack with long straps that rests comfortably on your back. Then fill it with the following items:
Treats: Pack a small bag or container of high-quality treats for training purposes and reinforcing good behavior. Treats also provide protein-rich snacks for long walks or hikes.
Water: Clean fresh water is essential for keeping your dog (and you!) hydrated. “Water would be the most important thing [to take] on a hot day,” says veterinarian Dr. Mark Stair.
Collapsible bowl: Lightweight and easy to pack, a collapsible bowl is important for giving your dog water while on the trail.
Dog brush and comb: Pack a long-bristled slicker brush. It can detangle your dog’s hair if he runs into a patch of burrs or picks up twigs or leaves in his coat. A comb helps remove all the debris.
Pop bags and disposable wipes: It’s important to always clean up after your dog, so Dr. Stair advises adding poop bags to your doggy pouch. “And, of course, you’ll need something to pick up the stools with,” he adds. Personal experience tells me to always double bag. Include disposable wipes to clean up messy dogs.
Tick remover: Since tick-borne diseases are an issue in many areas, remove these pests as soon as they attach to your dog. I carry a key-sized tick remover tool in my doggy pouch.
Insect repellent: Bring a natural insect repellent made for dogs to keep bugs (including ticks!) at bay.
Moisturizer: Add a gentle moisturizer made from natural ingredients for your dog’s paws or snout – this is a great item to have on hand for dry or windy days.
Sunscreen: Protect your dog’s nose from those UV rays by carrying a tube of natural pet sunscreen.
EpiPen/first aid kit: Dr. Stair notes that dogs often eat random things off the ground. They also occasionally suffer bee stings, or accidentally get injured. It’s a good idea to have an EpiPen in your doggy pouch in case of allergic reactions. And include a basic first aid kit for scrapes, cuts or bites.
Pheromone oil: If your dog gets agitated or overexcited around other dogs or wildlife, pack pheromone oil to help him stay calm. “It mimics the pheromone the mother dog gives off when she has her puppies, and makes dogs feel secure,” says Dr. Stair.
Sentimental item: Some dogs form strong attachments to certain items and carry them as a “security blanket.”“My daughter’s dog likes to carry a hat around,” says Dr. Stair. Save a place in your doggy pouch for one of these items.
Number for poison control: Store a poison control phone number in your doggy pouch and on your cellphone (e.g. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435). “If you were told to make your dog vomit, you would usually use hydrogen peroxide,” adds Dr. Stair. So, carry a small bottle of the latter as well.
Whether you’re visiting the local park or hitting a forest trail, a well-stocked DIY doggy pouch ensures your dog’s safety and comfort. It also gives you peace of mind so you can relax and enjoy your hikes and walks together.
Advantages of a doggy pouch
A doggy pouch offers a couple of important benefits.
Gives you better control of your dog: My high-energy Husky/Akita mix, Luna, is too strong for me to manage without both hands. I needed something I could carry on my back so my hands were free if I needed them.
Allows you to comfortably carry everything you need: A doggy pouch can accommodate items you might otherwise have to leave at home. For example, I take Luna’s tiny stuffed green Brontosaurus on walks because it helps her calm down. I also carry moisturizer for windy days.
Start by purchasing a miniature, lightweight backpack with long straps that rests comfortably on your back.
Pack a long-bristled slicker brush to detangle your dog’s hair if he runs into a patch of burrs.
Inside: A local family visits Glendale Nature Park and shares all the details on hiking, exploring the mill ruins, enjoying the waterfall, and more.
When we heard Spartanburg County gained 1,000 acres of nature to explore, we knew we had to check it out! We discovered family-friendly trails, towering ruins from Glendale Mill, and accessible water features along Glendale Shoals. Read on for everything you need to know about this new hiking spot on Spartanburg’s eastside!
Quick Look at Glendale Shoals
👟 All-natural trails, mix of beginner & moderate ⏰ Open daily from dawn to dusk 🅿️ Free parking at all locations 🚻 No restrooms on-site 🌳 Northern Trailhead at 618 Lewis Chapel Road, Spartanburg, SC 🧱 Southern Trailhead & Historic Ruins at 135 Glendale Avenue, Glendale, SC 🌊 Trail Access & Water Access at Goodall Environmental Studies Center 351 Broadway St, Glendale, SC 🧺 Picnic Pavilion & Water Access at 151 Emma Cudd Road, Spartanburg, SC
A Brief History of Glendale Shoals
Tucked along the banks of Lawson’s Fork Creek in Spartanburg County, Glendale is a mill village with a mighty legacy. It’s where Revolutionary War battles once echoed, colonial ironworks fired hot, and the South’s textile industry rose and fell.
Glendale Mill—initially called Bivingsville Cotton Factory—was built in the 1830s with a small dam over Lawson’s Fork Creek, topping off the series of waterfalls and shoals that flow downstream from it.
The textile mill changed hands over the decades, and the dam was replaced in 1903 after a great flood. A new metal bridge was built over the dam in the 1920s that still stands to this day. The mill brought financial stability to the Glendale area for over 100 years as a center of industry, booming during World War II as it met wartime demands for cloth, but finally stopped producing textiles in the 1960s.
After that, Glendale Mill was used primarily for storage until 2004, when a massive fire destroyed the facility, leaving only the ruins we see today. But from the ashes, the mill village found new life: The historic property and its surrounding acreage was gradually acquired by a few different groups to preserve it as a greenspace for the entire community.
Conversion to Nature Preserve
The Mill Office, along with 3 adjoining acres, was donated to Wofford College not long after the fire, providing fertile ground for the launch of their Goodall Environmental Studies Center.
Spartanburg Area Conservancy (SPACE) had obtained 13 acres around Glendale Mill only a decade before the fire, creating the initial Glendale Shoals Preserve, also sometimes called the Mary Arrington Walter Preserve after SPACE’s first executive director. Then, in 2022, SPACE was able to purchase an additional 17 acres in the area, expanding Glendale Shoals Preserve to a beautiful 30 acres along Lawson’s Fork Creek.
Most recently, in 2025, the State of South Carolina purchased 945 acres from private owners and leased it to Spartanburg County, marking the creation of the new Glendale Nature Park.
Today, these greenspaces around Glendale Shoals offer almost 1,000 acres combined for families to explore and enjoy. Amenities include a pedestrian bridge over the old Glendale Mill dam, the Carolyn Fawcett Converse Garden maintained by students and volunteers from Wofford College, multiple picnic spots and access points to Lawson’s Fork Creek, and 3.5 miles of connected, natural trails with even more in the works.
Hike the Forest in Glendale Nature Park
Newly opened in June 2025, Glendale Nature Park offers a sweeping 945-acre woodland wonderland adjacent to Glendale Shoals Preserve. As the second-largest greenspace in Spartanburg County, it’s an exciting new destination for families to hike and discover nature together.
Hikers at Glendale Nature Park will be starting at the northern trailhead of the Glendale Shoals natural trail network. You’ll find a clean gravel parking lot with a large map, showing not only the trails in Glendale Nature Park but also those in the Glendale Shoals Preserve. You can take a picture of the map like we did, but you’ll also find the map conveniently posted at key junctions on the trails!
From the parking lot, you’ll start down the easy 1.1-mile Hunt Club Trail marked in orange. This trail is wide enough for several people to pass shoulder to shoulder, mostly level, and manageable with a sturdy stroller. However, pushing a stroller is probably nota good idea after rain, as the trail can get muddy.
About 3/4 of the way down the Hunt Club Trail, you’ll have the option to turn left onto the moderate half-mile South Knob Trail marked in purple. This trail is much narrower, only wide enough for one or two people through most of it, with some inclines and terrain that will get your heart rate going.
The final trail is the moderate 1-mile Box Turtle Trail marked in white. This trail starts at the very end of the purple South Knob Trail and continues with much the same terrain until it hits the Glendale Shoals Trail in Glendale Shoals Preserve. The easier Hunt Club Trail marked in orange ends right at the halfway point of the white Box Turtle Trail.
Our favorite route is to walk the full Hunt Club Trail, turn left (east) onto the Box Turtle Trail—walking half of that trail, and then following the South Knob Trail back to the Hunt Club Trail. That route is roughly 3 miles and takes us less than an hour and a half at a pretty leisurely pace, and it’s a good mix of easy hiking at the start and finish with a little challenge thrown in the middle.
If you look closely at the trail map, you’ll notice the outlines of some more trails yet to come. A lot of clearing work still needs to be done on these trails, and they are not considered safe until they are officially opened to the public. Be sure not to venture down any unmarked trails on your visit, and stick to the ones with clear trail markers corresponding to their colors on the map!
Trail Summary:
Hunt Club Trail – Easy, 1.1 miles
South Knob Trail – Moderate, 0.5 miles
Box Turtle Trail – Moderate, 1 mile
Parking Address: 618 Lewis Chapel Road, Spartanburg, SC
Wander the Ruins at Glendale Shoals Preserve
Smaller but rich with character, Glendale Shoals Preserve offers just under 30 acres of historic, waterside beauty for families to explore—and it connects seamlessly into the trail system at Glendale Nature Park. You can hike straight into Glendale Shoals Preserve from Glendale Nature Park’s Box Turtle Trail!
If you prefer to drive, you can just put “Glendale Shoals Preserve” into your map app, and it will most likely lead you to the southernmost parking option off Emma Cudd Road. You’ll find limited roadside parking here, and a set of stairs leading down to a shaded, grassy area by the water. There is a small picnic pavilion with two tables, where you can look out on a calmer section of Lawson’s Fork Creek. You can access the water from this side of the preserve, but none of the trail system is accessible.
The next option is to park at Wofford College’s Goodall Environmental Studies Center on the northern side of Lawson’s Fork Creek. We highly recommend this option! There is more parking here, and easier access to all the amenities offered by both the Goodall Environmental Studies Center (more on that later!) and the larger Glendale Shoals Preserve.
Glendale Shoals Preserve offers two fantastic hiking trails—each with a different but beautiful view!
When you enter the preserve from the parking lot in front of the Goodall Environmental Studies Center, you can follow the path straight ahead to start on the Glendale Shoals Trail. This easy, half-mile trail is wide, grassy, and mostly level, but there are many narrow trails splitting off it towards the water! From the moment you enter the preserve, you can branch off to your right on just about any little path you see and find the best views of the shoals!
When the water level is low enough, you can even walk out on the rocks! Just watch your footing, as these rocks can get very slippery, and you do not want to take a tumble in water like this. Exercise even more caution after rainfall, when the water level will be higher and the current will be stronger.
The second trail is the easy, half-mile Glendale Greenway Trail. Some maps show the trail starting on the parking lot side of the Goodall Environmental Studies Center, but in our experience, there is usually a locked gate on this side of the building. Instead, go directly through the entrance to Glendale Shoals Preserve from the parking lot, and then cut through the gardens around the back of the building to get to the trailhead.
The Glendale Greenway Trail is also wide and grassy, but has more inclines along the way. The major highlight of this trail is right at the beginning, as it leads you directly past the ruins of the old Glendale Mill! There are a few different towers left behind, and you can get pretty close to them and even go inside one or two of the structures. There are a couple paved areas with one picnic table in each, but as of this writing, parents should be advised that there is some colorful graffiti in this area, and throughout the rest of the ruins.
The Glendale Greenway Trail and Glendale Shoals Trail do connect to one another, but you can also follow the Glendale Greenway Trail to a dead end and turn back or branch off the Glendale Shoals Trail onto the Box Turtle Trail, taking you into the larger Glendale Nature Park.
Pay careful attention around these intersections, as trail markings are not as clear here, and there are also some older trails in need of maintenance in the area. We recommend using a hiking map like AllTrails, or when in doubt, just retrace your steps back the way you came!
Trail Summary:
Glendale Shoals Trail – Easy, 0.5 miles
Glendale Greenway Trail – Easy, 0.5 miles
South Parking Address: 151 Emma Cudd Road, Spartanburg, SC North Parking Address: Goodall Environmental Studies Center 351 Broadway St, Glendale, SC Trailhead Address: 135 Glendale Avenue, Glendale, SC
Learn and Grow with Goodall Environmental Studies Center
Now, as promised, let us fill you in on the Goodall Environmental Studies Center we keep mentioning! Located right at the entrance of Glendale Shoals Preserve and sitting pretty on 3 acres of its own, this is a living laboratory where students, researchers, and community members can learn from the surrounding landscape.
Right when you walk onto Glendale Shoals Preserve from their parking lot, you’ll spot the Carolyn Fawcett Converse Garden on your left, a lovingly maintained native plant garden with paths, seating areas, and signage for plant identification. There is a bee apiary in a fenced area on the far side of the building, and the honey is harvested and available for purchase at Hub City Farmer’s Market!
In addition to the gardens, the center plays a major role in watershed education. Wofford students and researchers actively monitor the health of Lawson’s Fork Creek and provide real-time data online through their public Stream Gauge and Dam Cam.
While the building itself is not open to the public for tours, the outdoor areas are open daily during daylight hours, and volunteers are always welcome for trail and garden upkeep. Follow the Goodall Environmental Studies Center on Instagram for details on volunteer opportunities!
Wander Wisely: Final Tips for an Epic Visit
With nearly 1,000 acres of preserved woodlands, waterfalls, historic ruins, and connected trails, Glendale Shoals is one of the most exciting outdoor destinations in Spartanburg County. Whether you’re planning a casual picnic, a scenic hike, or an afternoon of waterside exploration, this spot offers something for everyone.
And the best part? You can enjoy as much or as little of it as you want in one visit—every trail has its own unique charm to guarantee a good time. Before you lace up your shoes and head out the door, here are a few tips from our experiences:
Wear sturdy shoes for natural trails with mud and water.
Pack bug spray and a good hiking stick if you have one.
Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated on these hot days.
Remember to make a pit stop before you arrive, especially for your littlest family members, because there are no restrooms onsite.
Watch little ones very carefully around the water, and be careful with your own footing if you venture out onto the rocks.
Respect local wildlife, and don’t mess with any animals you might see as you explore.
Dogs on a leash are welcome, but be prepared to pick up after them.
Use the buddy system, and stay safe on these secluded trails.
Glendale Nature Park gets popular on Saturday mornings starting around 9am, but the trails at Glendale Shoals tend to be less populated no matter what time you go.
See You on the Trail!
Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, soaking up local history, or spotting turtles on the trail, Glendale Shoals is the kind of place you’ll want to return to again and again. Pack your bag, grab your crew, and get ready to spend meaningful time outside with family or friends. Happy hiking!
Discover many more gorgeous places to go for a hike. There are hikes here for all ages and experience levels in our Kidding Around Hiking Guide.
About the Author
Sarah Burnett is a local of Upstate, South Carolina with 3 kids, a husband she adores, and a God who never fails. After working in family services for about a decade, she founded Seek First Family Cooperative and now serves children and families on the homefront. She loves to learn about homemaking, homesteading, and homeschooling, and she writes and volunteers as opportunities arise. You can find and contact her through LinkedIn.