Our Favorite Backyard Adventures
The EF Adventures team travels the world for a living. But the trails that started it all? Most of them are right here in the U.S.A.
The EF Adventures team travels the world for a living. But the trails that started it all? Most of them are right here in the US. Six staff members share the hikes, national parks, and backyard adventures that shaped how they move through the world—from a great-grandmother’s favorite trail in Estes Park to a predawn climb up Angel’s Landing on gas station coffee and GORP.
Sophie: Olympic NP, WA.
“Growing up in the PNW, it would have to be Washington State’s Hoh Rain Forest in the Olympic National Park. It’s magic in the truest sense of the word. Literally a kingdom made of moss, lichen, and evergreen trees. You can take glacial ice baths in the Hoh River and hug giant spruce trees and drink coffee out of a camping mug while you watch elk from afar.”
Brady: Bryce NP & Zion NP, Utah
“Unlike hikes on the east coast where I’m from—which are most certainly beautiful!—the single biggest reason I love Utah is just how vast it feels. Every view feels impressive and makes you feel something different.”
Experience the Southwest for yourself. Big sky landscapes. Navajo culture. And otherworldly national parks explored up close and on foot.
U.S. Hiking: Sedona, the Grand Canyon & Zion National Park
Alexis: Estes Park, Colorado.
“My family has been going to Estes since before I was born. I’ve gone too many times to count and been so lucky to hike it with family and so many friends. Flattop in Estes was my great grandmother’s favorite hike and though I was never able to go with her as she passed when I was young, I was finally able to go a few years back and I felt so close to her.”
Abbey: Acadia NP, Maine
"A fan favorite among us is Acadia in Maine. I hiked there ten years ago as a kid with my family, and last year went back to celebrate my partner's birthday, so a nice full-circle moment, and now a place we make an annual trip to. Acadia has something unique called Thunder Hole, where waves smashing against the coast sound like actual thunderclaps. Best part: when you're done, head back into Bar Harbor for a pint and a lobster roll."
Grace: Medicine Bow, Wyoming
"Medicine Bow National Forest holds a quiet kind of magic — and for me, it's made even more meaningful by the fact that it's just 30 minutes from where my fiancé grew up in Wyoming. He spent his childhood exploring these trails, skiing its slopes, and building memories. Last year I finally got to experience it for myself. We hiked 16 miles through alpine peaks, dense forests, and glittering lakes, climbing to 11,000 feet. It's an unassuming place, not the kind of destination that tops anyone's bucket list, but the landscape is quietly stunning. Getting to see it through his eyes made it all the better."
Kian: Zion NP, Utah
"Growing up with two parents who were Park Rangers, we spent every summer hiking the National Parks. Zion is home to one of the most iconic hikes: Angel's Landing. My family woke early one July morning and started the 5-mile climb to the summit — fueled by GORP (good ole raisins and peanuts) and gas station coffee. We ascended 21 switchbacks as the sun came up, then continued on exposed chains bolted into the Navajo sandstone, with 1,000-foot drops on either side. After about four hours we made it to the top, cracked open an iced tea, and just stared into the unreal views!"
Experience the Southwest for yourself. Big sky landscapes. Navajo culture. And otherworldly national parks explored up close and on foot.
U.S. Hiking: Sedona, the Grand Canyon & Zion National Park
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