Backcountry Secrets Latest Points

Winkler Botanical Preserve - Virginia

19 August 2008

Submitted by: lloydjason on 19 August 2008

Directions:
Take I-395 to exit 4 Seminary Road. Drive West for about 0.2 miles. At second traffic light, turn left onto Beauregard St. North. Proceed for 0.9 miles. Turn left on Roanoke Ave. Follow Roanoke for 0.1 mile into the parking lot. Metro bus can be taken to Beauregard Street North, and walk to Roanoke Ave.

Hiking
Great urban nature preserve. The best time of year to visit in Spring through Fall. There is a lake, waterfall, small "elf" type house, and mountain lodge along the hikes.

Stromberg - Baden Wurttemberg

19 August 2008

Submitted by: actioner on 19 August 2008

Directions:
Fly to Stuttgart, then by train to Kirchheim (Neckar)

Mountain Biking
It is a smaller forest area where you can still get lost. Nearby in Trippsdrill a nice park for action. You can also join a mtb club like the strombiker. They ride every Sunday at 10 am starting in Bönnigheim-

Downata Hot Springs - Idaho

19 August 2008

Submitted by: theelboys on 19 August 2008

Directions:
From Interstate 15
Exit either 31 or 36
Head East from highway.

http://www.downatahotsprings.com/

Camping
Campgrounds are well maintained with lots of shade trees, though fairly close together. There is a large park area with sand volleyball courts and lots of grass for young children to play on. Also, there is a playground near the pools.

Swimming
The pools are very warm and the hot spa is comfortably hot. There are 3 slides (one is smaller and located in the main pool) fun for kids 6 and up who can swim. The best part of this pool is the water playground for the younger kids.

Assateaque - Maryland

19 August 2008

Submitted by: miked77 on 19 August 2008

Directions:
(From Washington D.C.): From the Bay Bridge, take U.S. 50 East, follow signs for Ocean City. A few miles outside Ocean City, turn right on Route 611 to Assateague Island.(From Washington D.C.): From the Bay Bridge, take U.S. 50 East, follow signs for Ocean City. A few miles outside Ocean City, turn right on Route 611 to Assateague Island.

Canoeing
Canoeing and kayaking can be done on the bay side of the island. You can also access the campsites from the bayside of the island at various take out spots.

Hiking
Hiking is done along the beach and through a few trails through the woods.

Camping
Camping is done at various backcountry sites along the beach. There are no facilities at these sites.

Kite Boarding
Kite boarding and wind surfing or any other activity one can think of can take place in the ocean side of the island.

Penny Hot Springs - Colorado

17 August 2008

Submitted by: HCE Engineer on 17 August 2008

Directions:
9 miles south of Carbondale on HWY 133 on the left hand (east) side of the road.

Hot Springs
Hot spring in the Crystal River. Free....Just pull off the road and climb down the hill to the river. Swimsuits optional.

Kettle Morain South Trail Head - Wisconsin

16 August 2008

Submitted by: Ace on 16 August 2008

Directions:
The easiest way (if you're coming from the south) is to take I-43 North to Highway 20 and continue West on that. Then take a right so onto Highway 67 North and follow that until you see a few signs that say 'welcome to Eagle' and such. Highway 67 literally runs straight through the forest so it's easy to find. From the north, get on to 94 East and follow it until you reach Highway 67. Follow that south and it'll take you right through Kettle Moraine. If you're coming from Green Bay or that area, take I-43 South to I-94 West and look for Highway 67 to follow south to Kettle Moraine State Forest.

Hiking
Scuppernong Trail is off of county ZZ. There are three loo ps offairly easy hiking trails totaling about 13 miles. Emma Carlin Trails are off of county Z south of Highway 59. It offers about three different trails as well which are fairly hilly. The longest trail is about 5 miles. Ice Age Trail in its' entirety is over 1000 miles. The south Kettle Moraine Trailhead offers 30 miles of this trail which brings you through forests, vegetation, through streams and more. While on the trail you don't see much so you want to make sure you have everything you need with you (like OFF!) especially if you plan on hiking all 30 miles of the trail. There are three backpacking shelters which can be reserved that each have a good size shelter about 25' x 18' with a roof and gravel floor, a fire pit, and a bathroom pit.

Camping
Kettle Moraine offers four different camp grounds. Pine Wood Campground has 101 camp sites a mix of flush and pit toilets, showers, but no electrical sites. There is also a 24 hours quiet zone in one of the three loops. This is also a place for group camping. Personally, I found it's a very typical campground, but a very nice, peaceful place. The Ottawa Lake Campground is a year round campsite with half the sites electric. It has flush toilets and showers. It offers sites for people with disabilities as well as a reserve-able cabin. White Water Lake Campground has pit toilets and no showers. The closest showers are 20 miles away at Pine Wood. Good place to get back to nature. There are three year-round backpacking camp sites with pit toilets, fire pit, and pretty good sized shelter. The backpacking sites are generally a pretty good walk off the Ice Age path.

Cross-Country Skiing
Scuppernong Trail is off of county ZZ. There are three loops of fairly rollie trails totaling about 13 miles. The Nordic Trail, on County Highway H provides skiing through a variety of vegetation, hardwoods, pine plantations, open meadows, and kettle moraine terrain. There are six different trails of varying lengths and degrees of difficulty, providing hiking or skiing for all levels of ability. A warming shelter is open every day, and parking, vault toilets and a sledding hill are also available at the trailhead.

Swimming
Several lakes which provide O.K. swimming. small beaches but good picnic areas.

Jump Creek - Idaho

13 August 2008

Submitted by: elconquistador13 on 13 August 2008

Directions:
To get there: From Boise take westbound Interstate 84. Take the Nampa exit to Highway 55 and go through Marsing. Continue 1.5 miles past the Highway 95 intersection, turn left onto Cemetery Road. Travel another 1.5 miles and turn left (south) on Jump Creek Road and head for the mouth of the canyon which is visible in the distance.

Hiking
If you don't want to climb "Devil's Ladder" there is a trail to the west of the canyon that stays above the rim providing excellent views of the falls and canyon formations.

Rock / Ice Climbing
There are cliffs everywhere(up to 600ft tall) and on Google earth there is a picture of the falls frozen in the winter creating a large ice wall.

Swimming
At the base of the falls there is a large pool to take a swim. I've seen people that climb around the back of the falls and jump down into the pool. I think that is why it is called jump creek. It doesn't look very safe but there is a lot of people who do it.

Canyoning
Near the canyon's mouth, Jump Creek flows over a 60-foot cliff into a large pool. If you cross the creek just below the pool and head up the hill there is a crack which you can climb to access the canyon above the falls. The BLM brochure calls it "Devil's Ladder" The canyon is small and technical, thick vegetation and steep, slippery slopes make for a challenging trip.

Smith's Crack - Idaho

11 August 2008

Submitted by: elconquistador13 on 11 August 2008

Directions:
From Boise take the first mountain home exit. immediately after you pass the gas station take a right and head up the old highway. Then take the second left that allows you to cross the tracks. just after the tracks take a right through a BLM gate and follow the road until an obvious parking area on the left.

Caving / Spelunking
This is unlike most caves in the area. It's not a lava tube but a fissure. A crack that opened when the lava cooled. The entrance is closest to the corner. For the most part there are arrows pointing which way to go. TELL SOMEONE WHERE YOU ARE GOING. The entrances and exits in some rooms took us a long time to find so be prepared for a couple of hours underground. Just before the cave decends to the bottom of the lava flow there is a good 20 ft vertical drop. After the bottom the caverns slowly begin th regain altitude, eventually leading to the exit, abut 100 yards north of the entrance. I weigh about 180 and a few spots are tight so be warned. Take extra water and light in case of an emergency.

Shi Shi beach - Washington

5 August 2008

Submitted by: etpxkd1 on 5 August 2008

Directions:
Ask directions in Neah Bay.
Approx 2.5 mile hike from trailhead over flat but muddy trail.

Hiking
Trail is well-maintained, but muddy in places Requires permit from Makah Indian Nation

Camping
Nice beach, on NPS land

Yellowstone Branch Line Trail (Route of the Yellowstone Special) - Idaho

4 August 2008

Submitted by: Tree Mover on 4 August 2008

Directions:
The trail can be accessed east of Ashton Idaho at the Warm River Campground (44.12049 -111.31159) located at the actual southern end. This trail crosses through Island Park grizzly bear habitat. Overnight camps are allowed along the way, standard practices of properly hanging food, etc. should be followed. Contact the Ashton District Ranger Office at 208-652-7442 for information on camping or trail conditions. The trail from one end to the Montana border is about 39 miles. The trail crosses many of the old railway trestle bridges and one tunnel. The center portion of the trail is closed to motorized use from May 1st through June 15th to protect a sandhill crane nesting area.

Mountain Biking
The trail is up an old railroad bed. Balast used for the rail bed and sandy areas provide a good road way.

Hiking
Hiking is easy as it follows up the railroad grade.

Horseback
Riding along the trail on horse back will allow the riders views of the old mountain west.

Snowmobiling
This trail is a wonderful ride in the winter.

Camping
Back Country Camping along the trail is allowed. Contact Ashton District Office at 208-652-7442.

Cross-Country Skiing
Trail is used in winter as a Cross-Country trail.