Where in the West Should I Go? • 60 Places to Visit in 2023
Welcome to our 2nd Annual “Where in the West Should I Go?” This year, we’ve added some places, so you have more of the West to explore. The full list is only available to subscribers, though much of it isn’t behind the paywall.
Goat Rocks Traverse: Washington’s Best Backpacking
If you’re only going to have time for one hike next time you’re in the Pacific Northwest, you ought to make a beeline for the magnificent and exhilarating Goat Rocks Traverse. It’s one of the few areas of the North Cascades us non-birds can access with relative ease for bucket list-worthy, drop-dead gorgeous landscapes.
Backroads of New Mexico
A visit to New Mexico conjures up images of relaxation, adventure, art, history and gastrotourism. Usually folks flock to Taos or Santa Fe or Albuquerque for their New Mexican excursion. In 2023, leave the big cities behind and hit the backroads – you’ll see a whole different side of The Land of Enchantment.
Find Idyllic Mountain Beauty and Outdoor Fun in the Lost Sierra
The Lost Sierra’s promise of a less crowded, untamed version of alpine bliss had tantalized me since I’d first heard of it a few years ago. Situated among the rugged 8,500-foot peaks of the Sierra Buttes in Plumas County, it also boasts some 50 pristine, glacier-carved gems.
Big Landscapes at Big Bend
There’s no swinging by Big Bend National Park. The nearest “big city” is Fort Stockton, Texas, population 8,378, more than 100 miles north. No, anyone who ends up at Big Bend is going to Big Bend.
New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands
A trip to New Mexico should certainly include stops at Carlsbad Caverns, which will take you underground into a world of wonder, and White Sands, one of our newest national parks and a marvel in its own right.
Gem of Nevada Lies Along America’s Starriest Highway
In the middle of the high desert of the Great Basin lies one of America’s hidden gems, which is home to Nevada’s second tallest mountain, ancient trees and some of the darkest night skies in the country.
Biologists to Capture Grizzly Bears for Research in Yellowstone
Grizzly bear capture operations have been underway in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem since Aug. 9 and will continue through Oct. 28.
Pecos National Historical Park Offers Fall Fishing Permits
Pecos National Historic Park in New Mexico will offer fall fishing permits for the Pecos River within park boundaries. The season runs from Sept. 8 to Nov. 14.
Rewilding the American West Report Suggests Wolf Restoration
A first-of-its-kind analysis by 20 leading scientists has identified a network of 11 federally owned reserves where wolves and beavers could be restored across the American West.
Death Valley Experiences 1,000-Year Rain Event, Closes Due to Flooding
A historic rain drenched Death Valley National Park in early August with a year’s worth of rain falling in just three hours, causing widespread flood damage and a closure of all park roads.
Publisher’s Note, No. 5
After printing the magazine for a year at a great personal expense, I vowed to keep going digitally in 2023. However, beyond this “Where in the West” special section, I think it’s going to be a wrap for American West.
Artists of Yosemite National Park Leave Lasting Legacy
Many 19th century artists who documented the natural beauty of Yosemite National Park using paint brushes and cameras left a legacy still treasured today. Their work even fueled the expansion of the West.
Peering Into Yosemite, A “Repository of Sanity”
No one is more associated with Yosemite than John Muir – not even, alas, the Ahwahneechee people, who still live in the area. Yet there is no record of Muir’s reaction to seeing the valley for the first time, in the spring of 1868. Perhaps our great national wilderness prophet was struck speechless at the sight.
Black Canyon, Mesa Verde and Monument Valley
Fine art prints of Western landscapes by Lu Anne Tyrrell.
Can You Hear Me Now
A photograph taken by Randall Ball in California’s Adobe Valley on June 2.
The Silence is Deafening
A painting of Yellowstone National Park by Joel Patience.
Where in the West Should I Go? • 52 Places to Visit in 2022
From cities and towns to national parks and lesser-known landscapes, this inaugural special section has your 2022 travel through the West covered! We’ve curated a list of 52 places to visit this year – four in each of the 13 states we cover. If you travel at a breakneck pace, that’s one a week. Let this guide serve as inspiration and enjoy the West!