Your Guide to Visiting National Parks Solo

National Parks are some of the country’s most accessible and abundant nature focused destinations, but for a lot of solo travelers, they’re often intimidating. National Parks seem to be full of unknowns, opportunities to get lost, and no cell service… oh my. But, for many, like myself, National Parks are places of refuge. Personally, National Parks are some of the easiest places to visit as a solo traveler, once you know how to do it.

So, who am I, and why should you listen to my advice about this? My name is Halle, and I’ve been to 51 National Parks, most of them solo, and some more than once. I’ve been solo traveling since March 2019 and traveling full time since June 2019. One of my friends on TikTok even refers to me as the National Park Queen (since I’ve been to so many), this is genuinely my area of expertise.

These are all my tips for navigating and visiting your first National Park… as a solo traveler.

New River Gorge National Park

Go to the Visitor Center

When I first arrive at any National Park, I always make sure to do two things that are going to help my trip tremendously: get a park map, and go to the visitor center to ask a seemingly ridiculous amount of questions.

At most big parks, you’ll be offered a park map when you go through the entrance station, but at smaller parks that may not have an entrance station, you’ll want to grab one of these at the visitor center as well.

Then, I ask all my questions. These include:

I’m only here for one (or two or three) day(s), what should I absolutely make sure I see and do?

How do I get there if I lose cell service?

Where can I walk my dog? (many National Parks do not allow pets on trails)

Where can I refill water?

Where can I camp? / Is the campground full yet?

These questions will help you get your bearings and might lead to other things you need to know as well. Rangers are experts on their park, so don’t be afraid to ask them anything so that you have all the resources you need to have a safe and fulfilling trip.

Indiana Dunes National Park

Know The Basics Ahead of Time

I always visit the National Park Service website before my trip even starts so I have some basic information prior to arriving. The things I’m looking for when I visit the website include the absolute basics and then any information that might affect my plans in the park. It’s important to know these things ahead of time so that you aren’t caught off guard without cell service.

Basic information I want to know is:

-Admission fees and tour fees

-Where my pet can go

-Visitor Center hours

-Expected weather while I’m there

When it comes to information that may affect my plans, I’m usually looking for closures and timed entry regulations. I want to know if there are any roads closed for construction or weather, if there are any trails closed for various reasons that I might have been trying to hike, if there are climbing restrictions, seasonal restrictions due to weather or animal protection, and if admission to the park requires timed entry (like Yosemite and Rocky Mountain). This is also a great time to check if the hike you want to do requires permits (here are my tips for the Angel’s Landing permit system in Zion!) and if there are any environmental concerns you should be aware of (like harmful algal blooms in Zion’s water, which could be toxic if you or your dog drinks from the river).

Kenai Fjords National Park

Take a Hike!

Hiking is one of the best ways to explore a park and it’s a sport you can definitely do solo! Ask a ranger what hikes would be best for your skill level and go explore. Be honest about your hiking experience though, and don’t be afraid to pick up a trail map or only do a shorter trail if you’re new to hiking alone.

New River Gorge National Park

Make Friends

I love meeting people in the places I visit. Making friends is easy when you stay in campgrounds, and oftentimes you’ll be able to connect with someone who might be down to go on an adventure with you. Making friends on your solo travels is part of what makes solo traveling so fun and memorable. So don’t be afraid to go say hi, as long as you feel safe doing so!

Badlands National Park

Stay in Touch with an Emergency Contact

When solo traveling, especially in a place that may not have cell service in it like many National Parks, it’s important to choose an emergency contact to stay in touch with, in case anything happens to you. I often recommend sharing your location with a friend or family member, but also letting them know your plans. Text someone the name of the trail you plan on hiking before you leave cell service, as well as when you expect to return to cell service. Leave them instructions on what they should do if they don’t hear from you in that window of time, so that if you get hurt, they can call for help.

I also do recommend getting certified in Wilderness First Aid if you have the means to. I personally am a Wilderness First Responder and this makes me feel a lot safer and more prepared for longer and more remote trips.

Wind Cave National Park

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

You’ll see it everywhere on my website: GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE!

Do something that scares you just a tiny bit. Whether that’s taking the cave tour, going and making friends, swimming in the alpine lake you hiked to, or simply taking the trip at all, get out of your comfort zone. It’s going to lead to some incredible memories.

Your Guide to Denali National park

For National Park enthusiasts, Denali is one to check off the bucket list. I recently spent 4 months in the Alaskan Interior, and visited Denali 4 times. Between understanding the park road, wildlife viewing, and the best times to see The Mountain, this is your guide to everything you need to know to visit Denali National Park.

Why Visit Denali?

Denali is known as Alaska’s Yellowstone. It is a vast, incredible, open landscape that is mostly closed to vehicular traffic, making it one of the most pristine wildernesses you can drive to. Because of its untouched wild, it makes for an incredible space for healing, meditation, and being with oneself if you are on a pilgrimage pack to yourself. If you’re simply looking for an incredible place to experience the beauty of Alaska’s nature, there is no shortage of that, either. Denali is home to endless wildlife, the tallest mountain in the US, and incredible backcountry experiences you can’t get anywhere else.

This post was written in 2021, so rules may have changed if visiting in future seasons. For the most part, these systems are the same year to year.

Horseshoe Lake Loop Trail

When is the best time to go?

There are only two distinct seasons of visitation in Alaska: Summer and Winter. Of course, there are their versions of spring and fall, deemed the Breakup and the Freeze-up, but most people don’t visit during those periods. Denali is open year round, but unless you’re prepared for sub-zero temperatures, and getting around via dogsled, you’ll want to visit in the summer. Summer season in Alaska lasts from around June 1 to September 15. Businesses usually open around May 15, but some roads are still snowy then.

When it comes to visiting Denali, be prepared to become part of the “70% club.” Only 30% of visitors actually see the Mountain, and your best chances are to go in late June or July, and enter the park as early as possible. You’ll want to hop on a bus to Eielson for your best chances of getting a picture like the one below!

Can I drive to Denali?

This is a complicated question because the short answer is, yes, you can drive to the park. Due to protections instated by the National Park Service, though, you can only drive up to Mile 15 of the Park Road. You’ll be able to get to the visitor center, a few established trails, the bus depot, and your furthest point: Savage River. There are very low chances of getting to actually see Mount Denali from this section of the road, so if you don’t have bus reservations, I suggest visiting the local State Park as well, to try to catch a view of it from the North or South Viewpoints.

The Savage Alpine Trail, one of the established trails accessible from the first 15 miles of the Park Road

How does the bus system work?

The bus system is the only way to explore the park past mile 15. You must have a reservation ahead of time, which you can make through Reserve Denali. There are three types of buses you can reserve: Camper Buses, Transit Buses, and Tour Buses. Exceptions to this include buses going to Kantishna Lodge, and standby tickets only available for campers spending 3 nights or more at Teklanika River Campground.

Camper Buses are only for backpackers and campers staying in one of the Park’s many established campgrounds. These buses can take you to a campground, or drop you off in one of the Park’s backpacking regions.

Transit buses can take you through the park, usually as far as the Eielson Visitor Center. In past years, they were able to take you to Wonder Lake, but as of 2021, Wonder lake was only for campers. Transit buses are not required to give you park information, but are a great way to get to see wildlife, and drive through the park.

Tour buses have to give park information as they drive you through the park, but generally stop before Eielson. So if you want to get all the way to the visitor center, I’d suggest booking a Transit bus.

Due to landslides at Polychrome, the park road became inaccessible at the end of the 2021 season until the park finishes construction on this part of the road. The landslides were caused by melting permafrost. Please contact Reserve Denali to check road conditions before booking your bus ticket.

What are the best hiking trails?

Denali is mostly a free-hike park, meaning you can go anywhere you want in approved areas, without an established trail. If you choose to do this, make sure you’re confident in your navigation skills, and carry a topographical map of the area you’re going to be hiking.

Always carry bear spray when hiking in Alaska.

The established trails that do exist in Denali are generally short, and many of them are located before Savage River on the park road. In this area, the Savage River and Savage Alpine trails are popular, and the Roadside Trail is the only official dog friendly trail in the park. For a trail close to the park entrance, check out the Horseshoe Lake Trail.

Some of my favorites though, are in the Eielson area, including Thoroughfare Ridge Trail, pictured above.

Looking for more information or local conditions? Check the National Park Service Website!

How to Visit Channel Islands National Park

California is home to 9 stunning National Parks, more than in any other state, including Alaska. 8 of these are accessible by car, but Channel Islands, off the coast of Ventura and Santa Barbara, CA is a little harder to get to. When you visit Channel Islands, you’ll have 5 beautiful islands to choose from, and 2 harbors you can sail out of. This is bound to be an amazing day trip or camping trip, so here is everything you need to know about getting to Channel Islands National Park.

Dogs are not allowed on the islands.

The Ferry

The ferry is the main way people travel to Channel Islands National Park. While you can take private boats out, the official ferry for Channel Islands National Park is Island Packers. They sail out of both Ventura Harbor (which is the larger harbor, and is closer to LA), and Santa Barbara Harbor (which is further from LA). Tickets are $63 per person, round trip for a day trip, and about $80 per person, round trip if you’re planning on camping on the island you choose. On your ferry ride, you’ll likely see animals like dolphins, whales, and sea lions.

The Islands

There are 5 islands you can choose from when visiting Channel Islands National Park. We chose to visit Santa Cruz Island because we went in the winter, only certain islands were accessible. Each island is known for some thing unique. For example, Santa Cruz is known for the endangered island fox and the sea caves!

Anacapa Island is known for the famous Inspiration Point and is also one of the islands that’s more accessible in the winter. Santa Rosa Island is California’s second largest island, and is home to over 100 bird species. San Miguel Island is smaller, and is home to the fossils of prehistoric pygmy mammoths and the caliche forest. Santa Barbara Island is the park’s smallest island, but is home to marine mammals and kelp forests that snorkelers love.

Camping on the Islands

Since you can’t drive to the Islands, the only way to camp on the islands is to backpack. You’ll have to carry all your gear, water, food, and shelter with you. Camping gear must be stowed on the ferry, which you’ll get back once you get to the island. There is a designated campground on the island you choose, and you have to camp there in order to preserve the land elsewhere. Island Packers asks that you book your campsite with the NPS before booking your ferry ticket.

Other Island Activities

There is a lot to do at Channel Islands National Park, but most people who were on our ferry chose to hike or kayak. You can rent kayaks at Ventura Harbor if you don’t own one. We hiked to the Potato Harbor Overlook, but there are other trails you can choose from. Each island has its own hiking guide, and you’ll receive a list of trails and a map when you check into your ferry. Other popular activities on the islands are kayaking, snorkeling, and wildlife photography. Or you can just explore!

Beautiful Destinations for Beginner Vanlifers

Vanlife is becoming the newest movement, and with so many people embracing the nomadic lifestyle, there are more visitors than ever to a lot of the most popular places in the US. While places like Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and Glacier National Park, are incredible, when you drive a large vehicle, these places aren’t as accessible as we might like them to be. However, there are lots of places in the country that are super accessible to vanlifers, and are must see’s when it comes to getting out and exploring the country for the first time. These are my favorites for when you first hit the road.

Sedona, AZ

Sedona is a vanlife hotspot that everybody already knows about. It’s not a secret destination, but it is incredibly van friendly, and the locals are welcoming to vanlifers. There’s Forest Road to camp along, free water fillups in town, and three major grocery stores to shop at. Not to mention, the endless hiking trails, beautiful scenery, and good plant based food. This is an area that people travel to every year, whether they live in a van or not, and the accessibility of the things to do, great places to sleep, and easy ways to stock up on supplies makes it a great choice for beginners.

Cons: The trailhead parking lots are super small, so if you live in a big vehicle like me, you might have trouble parking at some of the most popular trails.

Learn more about Sedona in last year’s blog post: A Vanlife Guide to Sedona

Joshua Tree National Park, CA

National Parks are notoriously inaccessible, but Joshua Tree is a small exception. This beautiful National Park has large vehicle accessible parking, lots to see, do, and hike, stunning desert scenery, and nearby BLM land to park on, on both the South and North ends of the park. You can also fill up water in all bathrooms with running water, both on the South side of the park at the Cottonwood Visitor Center, and the North Entrance Station.

Cons: Joshua Tree is not dog friendly. While your dog can accompany you into the park, they are only allowed in the picnic areas, and not on any of the trails.

Bend, OR

Bend is easily one of my favorite places to be in the country. Aside from the adorable downtown, dog friendly trails, and nearby free camping in the Deschutes National Forest, this is truly a vanlife hotspot all year long. It’s even the site of one of the largest annual vanlife meetups, Descend on Bend. This is a super van friendly city where the locals know that vanlifers love to pass through. You’re allowed to park overnight on the streets in the city, too, if you don’t feel like driving out to the National Forest.

Cons: It is a larger city, which makes it a bit harder to navigate in a van. Be prepared for skinny dirt roads to get to camp, and busy highways to get into town for groceries.

Tips for Beginner Solo Travelers

With vanlife growing exponentially, there are countless amounts of people hitting the road for the first time. In my time scanning the internet, I’ve noticed a lot of these people are solo, and that a lot of these solo travelers are women. Traveling full or part time is becoming more popular, and with that, comes a beautiful new community of road dwellers. But what also comes with that, is learning to adapt to your new life on the road. You’ve created the life you’ve imagined, so how can you truly live it?

These are my best tips for new solo travelers hitting the road for the first time.

Badlands National Park, SD

Wake Up For Sunrise…

…At least once a month. When I first hit the road solo back in the summer of 2019, I woke up for sunrise almost everyday. The above picture is one of my favorite sunrises from that 3 month trip, in Badlands National Park, SD. Now that I’ve been on the road full time for almost 2 years, sunrises are more rare, but they’re always magical. Choose one day a month to truly cease your day, and wake up for sunrise, so you can make the most of the daylight you have, especially in the winter. Plus, there’s a special magic in experiencing a sunrise that’s all yours.

Sunrise in Mount Rainier National Park, WA

Follow Your Gut…

… And never doubt yourself. When you travel solo, especially if you’re a woman, your intuition will become a superpower. So many women ask how I stayed safe on the road as a solo female traveler, but my truth is, I listened to my intuition. I left places that felt sketchy to me, I avoided people that gave me weird vibes, and it kept me safe the entire time. If you pull up to a campsite and feel weird about it, save yourself the trouble, listen to that gut feeling, and find somewhere safe to sleep.

Don’t Post Your Location…

…Until after you’ve already left. This is my NUMBER ONE safety tip for solo travelers, especially those who identify as women. No matter what your social media following is, do not post your location on social media (even in Facebook groups, and especially in Facebook groups that are CoEd), until after you’ve left that location. I’ve found that posting a general location is okay (EX: California, Big Bend National Park, The Mountains, The PNW), but don’t post specific locations until you’re far away (EX: Quartzsite AZ, Big Baldy Trailhead, Half Dome, Camp 4). That way people can’t find you, and you remain safe where you are.

Indiana Dunes National Park, IN

Do Meet People and Make Friends…

…And maybe even caravan with a few of them. Even though you want to keep your location secret, some of my best friends are people I’ve met on the road while traveling solo. Just combine tips 2 and 3: use your gut, and keep your location a secret (as in, maybe don’t share your campsite until you’ve gotten to know your new friend a bit). You’ll eventually have a group of people you’ve met all over the world, and a ton of travel buddies who love the same life you do.

Solo travel can 100% change your life. Just make sure you’re being smart about it so that you can enjoy this life you’ve created in a safer way.

Your Guide to Yosemite National Park

Yosemite is one of the Big Three National Parks in the US, with Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon being the other two. It’s a top tourist attraction in California, and it’s the site of documentaries such as Free Solo, The Dawn Wall, and Valley Uprising. It’s a rock climber’s paradise, and it’s home to huge rock monoliths such as El Capitan and Half Dome. It’s a destination that’s on nearly everyone’s bucket list, but if you’ve never been, it’s quite an overwhelming park to plan a trip to. This is your complete guide, to help you plan your Yosemite camping trip, vacation, or something in between.

The Basics

Yosemite is located in Northern California, and is closest to Sacramento. It spans over 1,200 square miles. It’s most easily accessible from the west entrance. The east entrance through Tioga Pass closes for snow between November and May/June. It costs $35 to enter per car, or the use of an America the Beautiful Pass. You will need a car to get from the entrance station into the Valley, but in a normal operation year, there is a shuttle you can take around the park. Overall, pets are not allowed on trails, but please check NPS.gov/yose/planyourvisit/pets for more information on where your dog can accompany you so that you can make the decision of whether you want to bring your dog with you to the park.

What time of year should I visit?

Yosemite is known for its waterfalls (Yosemite falls is the tallest waterfall in the lower 48), so if your goal is the see the falls, spring is going to be your best bet, after the snowmelt. But, that’s not to say that other times of the year aren’t amazing times to visit. Winter is ideal for avoiding crowds, but the park does get super snowy. Winter is also the only time of year you can see the annual Fire Fall at Horsetail Falls (February). Summer will be the warmest but also the most crowded season, however, it’s not too late to see the waterfalls this time of year. In the Fall, the waterfalls are mostly dried up, but this is the only time of year that you can see the trees changing colors, which is a unique sight to see in this park.

Where should I stay?

If your goal is to stay in the park, you’ll have quite a few choices. If you want to camp in the park, I suggest making reservations on Recreation.gov as soon as you start planning your trip. Upper Pines is my favorite reservable campground in the park, but any of them will do. If you can’t get a camping reservation, I love the community at the walk up campground Camp 4. This is the famous climber’s camp, and it’s only $6 per person.

If you’re not super into camping, there are quite a few lodging options within the park. The Ahwahnee, the Yosemite Valley Lodge, and the Wawona Hotel are three hotel options within the park. If you want a glamping experience, Housekeeping Camp or Curry Village are great options.

If you can’t get a spot in the park, there are plenty of hotels and even a hostel in the nearby town of Oakhurst.

What should I not miss?

When people ask me this question about Yosemite, I have a list of my go-to spots for first time travelers. If you’re entering the park from the west side, make sure you make a stop at Glacier Point on your way either in or out of the park. Once you’re in the Valley, make sure you see Lower Yosemite Falls, and if you’re a hiker, hiker to Upper Yosemite Falls. If you visit in the Spring or Summer, make sure you go see Mirror Lake. Seeing the giant Sequoias in the Mariposa Grove is a must-see for anyone who’s new to the Sierra Range. For hikers, Vernal and Nevada Falls are a great combo of hiking destinations to fill a day with. Of course there is so much to see in the park, but if you can’t fit anything else, make sure you catch the sunset over Half Dome one night.

Anything else?

Yosemite is home to tons of wildlife, so to keep them and you safe, make sure that you use bear boxes whenever camping, and try not to leave food in your car. Yosemite bears are smart and can break into vehicles. Bear spray is not necessary in the park, unless it makes you feel better, since there are no grizzlies in Yosemite, but they do want your food, so make sure you don’t sleep with anything in your tent that smells like food.

Also, remember that no national park is an amusement park, so you’re responsible for your safety on the trail, your food, and to keep your area clean of all trash. Wear proper footwear when on the trail, and bring water, even if it’s cold outside.

Best Gifts for Wandering Souls 2020

The holidays are almost here, and with hope for travel looking up for 2021, you might be thinking of what to get your favorite traveler. I’ve been traveling full time for a year and a half now, and over that time, I’ve truly found products that I’d consider travel essentials. These are my favorite must have’s for any traveler—full time or not. These are the best gifts for travelers in 2020.

Reversible Clothing from Splice Clothing

I never knew I needed Splice Clothing until I met Splice Clothing. Splice is a female owned business specializing in travel apparel with the goal of making it easier to pack lighter. All of their clothes are reversible, and they even offer other products that have been created with the idea of packing light and becoming a carry on only traveler. They even offer Capsule Wardrobes where you can get a few full outfits, perfect for anyone planning a trip soon!

This Poncho and Pants combo can be bought at Splice Clothing

Functional Sunglasses from Tifosi

We all know you can’t travel without sunglasses, which is why I love mine from Tifosi Optics. Tifosi sunglasses are made for adventure. They’re durable and made to stay on your face, no matter what you’re doing. If you’re a cyclist or runner, they also have specific sunglasses for your sports. If you’re a hiker like me, you’ll love the fit of their sunglasses and the beautiful lens colors that somehow make nature look even more spectacular.

These Svago sunglasses can be found at Tifosi Optics

Travel Inspired Clothes from The Wanderful Soul

The Wanderful Soul is just wonderful! This is the perfect gift for any traveler, especially those who don’t travel full time. The Wanderful Soul’s clothes are perfect for encapsulating the personality of a traveler, and allowing them to remember their time on the road through their clothes. For backpackers, there’s even a perfect packing list available to help people pack light when traveling overseas or by plane. This is an amazing female owned business that I love working with, and all of her products make the perfect gift for travelers.

Find the National Parks Founding Fathers Tee at The Wanderful Soul

Any Outdoor Gear from Madera Outdoor

USE CODE HALLESWANDERINGSOUL FOR 20% OFF

Madera Outdoor is an awesome small outdoor company that plants trees for every product purchased. This means they make sustainable and practical gifts for travelers. I personally love their 0 degree sleeping bag and hammocks and have used both of them while camping and backpacking (overseas and trekking in the states). They also have smaller gifts for travelers and campers like microfiber towels designed by small artists and pocketknives. And remember, every product plants trees!

The holidays are almost here, so if you have a traveler on your list, be sure to check out these four sites, they have everything your traveler needs!

Top 5 Underrated Destinations of 2020

Despite 2020’s strange circumstances when it came to travel, the magic of vanlife is that I still got to see quite a bit of the country. We passed through more than 15 states on our way from California to Kentucky, between mine and my boyfriend, Jared’s family. Even though we dealt with COVID-19 closures, restrictions, and stress, there were still quite a lot of places that truly stood out to me. I have a whole list of places I’d love to return to one day, but I’ve complied my top 5 underrated destinations for you to add to your list for future travel.

Ranch horses in the Alabama Hills

The State of Idaho

Idaho is seriously one of the most underrated places in this country. From unexpected mountain ranges to flowing waterfalls to abundant hot springs, Idaho has natural beauty around every corner. Idaho is located in the west, in between Oregon and Washington on the coast and Montana and Wyoming inland. It’s known for its potatoes but it is so much more than that!

City of Rocks, ID

Places worth seeing:

·       Sunbeam Hot Springs

·       Stanley

·       The Sawtooth Mountains

·       City of Rocks National Reserve

·       Craters of the Moon National Monument

Sawtooth Mountains, ID

Badlands National Park, SD

This is an interesting one because I actually visited the Badlands in 2019 too, but didn’t like them nearly as much as I did this time. I recently wrote a whole post on the Badlands so I don’t feel like I need to go into too much detail, but the Badlands are spectacular. They are located in western South Dakota, and are home to animals such as coyotes, pronghorns, bison, prairie dogs, big horned sheep, and more.

Places worth seeing:

·       Yellow Mounds

·       Roberts Prairie Dog Town

·       Toadstool Rock

Alabama Hills, CA

The Alabama Hills were actually the first place we chose to live during quarantine in the vans. Located just outside of Lone Pine, CA in the Eastern Sierras, the Alabama Hills are located on BLM Land, which means free camping, lots of hiking and climbing, and stunning views. The Alabama Hills are known as the “Whitney Portal—” the gateway to Mount Whitney, the Lower 48’s tallest mountain. Because of that, you’ll get both desert rock formations and mountain views when you visit this iconic spot.

Places worth seeing:

·       Mobius Arch

·       Whitney Portal (drive or hike to the Whitney trailhead, depending on the time of year. If you’re up for it, and the trail isn’t snowed over, it’s 11 miles one way to the summit!)

·       Death Valley (This famous National Park is only an hour away and worth the day trip)

Hiking the road up to Whitney Portal

Crested Butte, CO

We spent about a month in Colorado, and while I loved so much of the state, Crested Butte will always stand out to me as my favorite. Famous for being a ski town in the winter, Crested Butte is surrounded by mountains such as Gothic Peak and Crested Butte itself. This area is home to some incredible wildlife such as elk and bears, and mountains that resemble those of Glacier National Park. This is the first place I heard an elk bugle, so in the fall, make sure you keep an ear out!

Places worth seeing:

·       Gothic Peak Trail (even if you don’t make it to the top, the views are pretty incredible)

·       The town itself (the town of Crested Butte is adorable and reminded me of places like Telluride)

·       Crested Butte (this towering formation is hard to miss, and you can hike or bike to the top if that’s your thing)

Mount Hood National Forest, OR

I’d wanted to visit Mount Hood for a really long time, but I didn’t realize how incredible it would really be. This is a place to climb mountains, swim in lakes, dip your toes in an ice river, and camp with a view! Mount Hood is easily my favorite National Forest in the country, only rivaled by the Sawtooth and Wind River Wildernesses. Mount Hood is also full of waterfalls, stunning pine trees, and dog friendly trails.

Trillium Lake

Places worth seeing:

·       Trillium Lake

·       White River

·       Cooper Spur (if you feel like climbing a mountain)

·       Timberline Lodge

·       Tamanawas Falls

Tamanawas Falls

While 2020 wasn’t the adventure we thought it would be, that doesn’t mean there wasn’t plenty to be seen. How many of these places have you visited? How many are on your bucket list?

The Realities of #Vanlife

Like many people, I fell in love with the idea of vanlife after watching youtubers, discovering documentaries like Expedition Happiness, and following tons of vanlifers on Instagram. The media does an amazing job of making vanlife look like everyone’s dream life, but now that I’ve lived on the road for over a year, it’s time to make that obligatory “realities of vanlife” post.

The truth is, vanlife is not all good views and campfires, there are a lot of layers to vanlife that a lot of people never talk about. Between working long hours to be able to sustain my life on the road to driving out of our way to get WiFi when we need it, to the van being an absolute mess more than 50% of the time, #vanlife really resembles real life a lot more than people think.

This past week, we encountered every vanlifer’s nightmare: a two day mechanic visit. My van, Sequoia, is over 20 years old, and it was about time that the entire cooling system needed to be replaced. This was not only a huge financial setback, but it was also a huge wake up call because of the time it took to fix. This van is our home, and without it, things can be very stressful. We were lucky enough to have family to stay with for the night, but if we hadn’t, things might have gotten even more costly.

If you’d like to help support my journey, I’ve finally added STICKERS to the shop! Check them out below!

The thing is, at this point, vanlife is just life. It is different than normal house life, but it’s just the way we currently choose to live. We’re used to the complications and frustrations, but it’s important to highlight those things because not everyone who loves the idea of vanlife will actually like living the vanlife.

Vanlife is dusty

We’re living outside. The thing a lot of people don’t understand about vanlife is that we aren’t living in the van—we’re living out of it. We spend almost all of our time outside, especially when there are friends around, which means the floor of the van is almost always dirty, the rug can always use an extra shake, and dog hair hides in the trickiest of places. Vanlife is not a luxury lifestyle. It’s truly the dirtbag movement of the 21st century, and while social media makes it look like the dream life, it’s super important to highlight the fact that this is a dirty lifestyle. You won’t be showering every day or even every other day, your feet will always be dirty, and you’ll always have to move stuff around to make room for life.

Camp isn’t always a good view

While we love a good view, and definitely wouldn’t shy away from driving up some sketchy dirt roads to reach one worth sharing, not every night is spent at an insta-worthy camp spot. So often, we’re staying in parking lots: or Walmarts, Cabela’s, and rest stops next to highways. Whenever we’re in cities for errands, or even tricky areas like Olympic National Park, it’s easier to stay in a safe parking lot than risk being kicked out just for parking in a prettier area. But the good news is, parking lots are usually not that far from somewhere beautiful to go right when we wake up for a good breakfast view.

Vans are tiny homes to the next level

The tiny house trend is still going strong, but the thing with having a van as your tiny house is, vans are really tiny. Most of them are less than 80 square feet and most of that space is taken up by the bed (aka the most important place in the house). Van living requires you to be an extreme minimalist. It’s a sacrifice for travel to give up having lots of material things. We watch TV on a computer or phone screen, only own the clothes that fit, and have to wash dishes more often, but the small space is still home, even when we’re in the most foreign places.

Van chores suck

Seriously. Van chores suck. And with such a small space, we’re doing them all the time. Dishes are hard to wash in such a small sink, water is complicated to fill, and grey water smells… horrible. Don’t even get me started on black tanks. If you want to live in a van, you have to prepare to get down and dirty because you can’t call a plumber when your sink won’t drain. Instead, you might end up with a floor full of grey water to mop up.

But Vanlife is wonderful

But, despite all of this, vanlife truly is the dream life. It is ultimate freedom, it is adventure, and it is beautiful. We find ourselves in the most stunning and unique places, and even though vanlife can be a little stinky, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. It’s my life, and it’s what I need at the moment, so even though my floor is dusty, and I definitely need to get rid of a few shirts, at least I have a cool view or two in my future.

Backpacking in Wyoming's Last Wilderness

When you go on your first backpacking trip, nothing can prepare you for the pain. In your hips, in your legs, the mental discomfort of forcing yourself to reach a destination your body doesn’t think you can reach. You will be carrying a good fraction of your body weight and fueling yourself with dehydrated food.

For my first backpacking trip, my boyfriend, Jared, convinced me to venture with him into one of the Lower 48’s last true wildernesses: the Bridger Wilderness. We planned on 15 miles a day, something only experienced backpackers can do. I’m a hiker. I’ve been hiking for about 4 years now, but I haven’t carried a 30+ pound pack on my back over the long distances I usually hike in a day. Starting out, I suddenly felt connected to Cheryl Strayed, realizing that I couldn’t possibly make it 15 miles when it took me twice as long to cover a mile than it would with just my normal day pack on.

By the time we made it to Eklund Lake, there was talk about stopping, less than halfway to our original goal of Titcomb Basin. We were here to experience the Wind River Range, some of the last untouched wilderness in the country. You can’t drive to the Winds. There are no roads that lead here. The closest many people make it is Photographer’s Point, about 4.5 miles in, where the day hikers usually stop.

The view from Photographer’s Point

But I didn’t want to stop at Eklund Lake. I wanted to feel like I accomplished something, and in my brain, that meant at least making it to Seneca Lake, which is often used as one of two base camps for the Titcomb Basin (the other being Island Lake).

Finally at Seneca Lake

With hundreds of people on the trail, we didn’t see any wildlife except the scattered ground squirrels and chipmunks, and baby birds screaming for food in the trees. I had hoped to see a moose or a bear (from a distance), something that would make this place feel more wild than the parks I usually hike in, but the truth is, the journey itself was what made it wild. At no point did we know how far we’d walked, or how much further we’d have to walk. By the time we made it to Seneca, the avocado I’d packed and meant to eat for lunch suddenly became the best thing I’d ever tasted, but I was still craving potato chips or something other than the sugary protein bars I’d packed due to the last minute decision to go on this trip in the first place.

Entering the wild

By the time we reached mile 17 over two days, my knee injury decided to scream at me. The last thing I wanted was to walk anymore. But we had to keep going so that we didn’t have to spend another night in the tent. So we kept going, and when we returned to the van, I collapsed on the bed and was so thankful for my tiny home on the road. I was so thankful that I could return to the trailhead and be home. But my body still hurts, even as I write this little recap. My hips are still bruised from carrying my pack, my legs are still sore, and yet, I’m inspired to go again. Not now, but eventually.

-HWS