family hikes Archives - Nancy East

The Beehive Loop Hike: Acadia National Park

Tue, 21 Aug 2018 01:49:18 +0000

Acadia National Park’s Beehive On my family’s trip to Acadia National Park in Maine this past June, I promised the kids I’d let them help map out an itinerary versus me creating it exclusively. My kids are teen/tweens now, and they’ve become a bit more vocal when we visit national parks, requesting that we expand...

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Big East Fork Trail in Pisgah National Forest

Fri, 30 Mar 2018 17:04:34 +0000

There are certain trails in western North Carolina that I find myself hiking repeatedly. It’s usually due to their spectacular scenery or their easy access, but rarely is it a combination of the two. The Big East Fork Trail in Pisgah National Forest is a trail that fits both of these criteria though, and I...

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Mt. Perry Hike in Death Valley National Park

Fri, 16 Feb 2018 04:26:59 +0000

This post is the 4th in a series of posts about my family’s adventures in Death Valley National Park. The first three posts are as follows: Day 1: Panamint Dunes and Darwin Falls Day 2: Mosaic Canyon, Badwater Basin, Devil’s Golf Course, and Artist’s Drive Day 3: Rhyolite Ghost Town, Titus Canyon Road, Ubehebe Crater,...

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Rhyolite Ghost Town, Titus Canyon Road, Ubehebe Crater, and Mesquite Sand Dune Hiking

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 14:46:05 +0000

This post is the third in a series, outlining my family’s adventures in Death Valley National Park. As a recap, our first two days were spent in the following areas: Day 1: Panamint Dunes and Darwin Falls Day 2: Mosaic Canyon, Badwater Basin, Devil’s Golf Course and Artist’s Drive Rhyolite Ghost Town and Goldwell Museum...

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Mosaic Canyon, Badwater Basin, Devil’s Golf Course and Artist’s Drive in Death Valley National Park

Mon, 05 Feb 2018 03:02:53 +0000

After spending our first day in Death Valley National Park exploring Panamint Dunes and Darwin Falls, our second day starts from the Stovepipe Wells Campground, located roughly in the center of the park. The blistering sun makes its appearance early, eliminating any thoughts of sleeping in. We know we need to hit the trails early...

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Hiking to Panamint Dunes and Darwin Falls in Death Valley National Park

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 22:52:22 +0000

Panamint Dunes It feels as if we’re breaking a cardinal rule of front country camping our first night in Death Valley National Park. We’re (legally) camped just to the side of a dirt road with dry, sun-baked ground beneath our tents, hard as concrete. The moon is nearly full as I watch Paige reading in...

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Logistics for Hiking the West Highland Way

Mon, 23 Oct 2017 01:55:57 +0000

The West Highland Way (WHW) is a walking path that starts in Glasgow, Scotland and ends 96 miles later in Fort William, Scotland. It was a grand adventure, and I highly recommend this route as an option for families seeking an international destination that centers around hiking. My kids were 13, 11, and 10 when...

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How to Have a Spooktacular Day in Cataloochee (Big Fork Ridge – Caldwell Fork – Rough Fork Trails)

Fri, 20 Oct 2017 17:50:30 +0000

[content-upgrade id=”3163″] Halloween is my favorite holiday, what with all the decorations, kids in costumes, fall colors, and late night loot raids (my kids’ Almond Joys don’t stand a chance of making it past Halloween night). That it takes place during one of most scenic seasons in the Smokies doesn’t hurt either. I wasn’t about...

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Mountains to Sea Trail to Fork Ridge

Tue, 26 Sep 2017 16:17:19 +0000

After returning from a long weekend of solo hiking, I was suffering from a bit of wilderness withdrawal. What’s a mom to do except hit the trail again, even if the meditative walking is replaced by the cacophony of five children between the ages of 10 and 14! We hit the Mountains to Sea Trail...

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Backpacking the Teton Crest Trail with Kids

Sun, 27 Aug 2017 22:06:15 +0000

Day 1 (Death Canyon Trail to Death Canyon–5.9 miles) After our kids survived a backpacking trip into the Grand Canyon at ages 11, 9, and 8, we wanted to keep the momentum going with another backpacking trip a few months later to one of my favorite places on earth: Grand Teton National Park. We spent...

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