HikeArizona.COM

Disclaimer- Not trying to make anyone jealous or anything. Haha yeah right!

Vicky and I hit the road back to AZ in a week and plan to spend a month exploring the backbone of North America. The plan is to take the Alcan to the Cassier, head south and make our way to the numerous NP's on the way. I was hoping to come up with a collaboration of some the great hikes, things to do, and places to see in the vast general area of British Columbia, Alberta, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. (Wont be going through Washington/Oregon)

So please feel free to post names, photosets, etc of your cool wondering of this awesome part of the world. Ill be sure to do my part and share the experience! After I go through the few thousand from this summer :bdh:

Kyle-

Downtown Calgary looks really nice.
That's all I've got.

Laird Hotsprings milepost 475
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explor ... ard_rv_hs/

Jackson Wyoming is my favorite western mountain town. Only downside is that it's very expensive, but I've been able to get out of the Snake River Brewery with a meal and a couple of beers for around $30.

if you're going through yellowstone, i thought the grand canyon of the yellowstone was pretty cool:

http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/ncanyon.htm

I liked Craters of the Moon in Idaho, near Arco, ID. Worth the stop and drive, as it was a mild place compared to many of the mountain parks, and it was neat. You might consider non-NPS places, and hike/scramble Borah Peak, in Idaho.

Then since, you will probably be there, you should hike Cascade Canyon in Grand Teton National Park. You can climb the Grand, too, and the recent log and set demonstrates that you could hire a guide if necessary and interested.

what jim said
jenny lake trailhead for cascade canyon:
http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/jlth.htm
we did the little hike up to inspiration point
took the boat across jenny lake in the rain
many options from there
pre-digital camera - will see if i can find some photos

Grinnell Glacier in Glacier NP is where it's at. There's a garter snake den there, so look down a lot. Many Glaciers is good for grizzly and black bears. Huckleberry Mtn is good for wildlife too. North Yellowstone has rattlesnakes but I don't know Yellowstone too well.

MT
Grinnel
http://hikearizona.com/photoset=21627

Huckleberry Mtn (West Glacier)
http://hikearizona.com/photoset=16489

Two Medicine
http://hikearizona.com/photoset=16479

Avoid Belly River, Avalanche Lake, and Cracker Lake at Glacier. There are better trails than those.

Bryce Canyon is cool, if you've never been there.

UT
Fairyland Loop:
http://hikearizona.com/photoset=31149

Bryce
http://hikearizona.com/photoset=31145

Despite being born in Canada and having family in Calgary (which, like most Canadian families, owns a cabin in the wilderness), I've foolishly explored very little of Alberta's Rocky Mountains. But I would advise not underestimating their vastness and majesty, which I think happens here in the US. We are in love with Alaska out here. But ask a lot of Canadians from the Rocky Mountain provinces (BC, Alberta), and they'll wonder what the Alaskan fuss is all about. They can drive 45 minutes and have what it takes us a 7 hour flight to see.

Sorry for the non-specific commentary. One thing I would throw on the table is my personal dream of heading out to the Canadian Yukon. But you'd have to go pretty far up north if you wanted to do more than just the town of Dawson, etc.