The fall season is a wonderful time of year for nature-oriented activities. Outdoor fall activities are a great way to stay active and nature can lend a helping hand in many ways. Leaves are changing into wondrous colors and the weather can be just the perfect temperature. Regularly participating in activities such as hiking, rock climbing, nature walks, camping, and other outdoor adventures can be a workout. It's also fun and a great way to spend time with family and friends. One way to be sure you get these outdoor activities in regularly is to form a nature club.

Decide who you are interested in forming the club with. Will this be strictly for family? Are friends invited to participate in the activities? What are the age groups? There could be separate groups for adults and children or it could be all-inclusive. Some may prefer even to ask around the community and make it a more formal club. Decide also if there will be dues or if everyone will just pay their own way whenever there are any associated costs. Many nature venues, such as state parks are free or low-cost, but there may be equipment and supply costs or a number of other small fees.

Scheduling should be something to think about when making plans. The group can decide together on a schedule that best fits all participants. Think about how many times per week or month is ideal, as well as days and times. Also remember to consider holidays, as well as possible weather conditions. Some activities, such as kite flying, would be good on a windy day.

Some may choose to focus a club on one fall hobby or activity. Others may choose to be more versatile. Whatever option you go with, be sure the chosen activities fit the skill levels of your nature club members. A fun way to keep track of everyone while on nature excursions is to get custom-designed t-shirts and matching shoes. Just be sure the shoes are durable and comfy, as well as appropriate for certain activities. Nature activities can be hard on the feet without proper footwear.

Sources:

http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/texas_parks_and_wildlife_promotes_family_nature_clubs

If you think earthquakes only happen in California, think again. It's true that most earthquakes happen west of the Rockies, and California has had plenty, but Alaska has had the most in recent history. But looking farther back, the most earthquakes have occurred in the central U.S., and the worst earthquake in U.S. history was along the New Madrid fault in Missouri over three months in 1811-1812. The effects were felt over 2 million square miles, and three quakes registered over an 8 on the Richter scale.

While geologists are working towards it, they still can't predict when or where an earthquake will strike. They do know that if a quake has hit an area in the past, it will happen again. So, it's possible that you'll encounter an earthquake when you're out hiking, camping, boating, or even skiing.

The first warning you'll have is a feeling of rolling ground, then the real shaking starts. Find the nearest open space, something treeless and not downhill from a rocky slope, and stay there. Most injuries outdoors, just like indoors, come from falling debris and in your case, that means trees, rocks, and even snow. Earthquakes can trigger some phenomenal avalanches. Curl up into a fetal position to make yourself a smaller target.

There will be aftershocks, so stay put. If you're hiking along the coast, though, know earthquakes often trigger tsunamis, so move inland and up, then find open space. When the movement stops, check yourself and the rest of your party for injuries, and treat what you can with your first aid kit.

Wear sturdy but comfortable boots like these new Ledge boots from Timberland. Sick of your old pack? This Ultimatum Gear backpack from Nike is brand new, and along with pockets for everything, it has Max Air straps to take the weight off your shoulders. This waterproof watch from Freestyle has an altimeter, a barometer, and a compass.

Know the history of the area you're hiking, travel prepared, and you can survive even an earthquake in the backcountry.

Most hikers don't consider sandstorms as a potential hazard in the U.S. Sandstorms attack our troops in Iraq, and sweep the Sahara desert; our deserts are hard and dry, not sandy, right? Wrong.

Sandstorms can hit throughout west Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and into Death Valley. They're caused by a dry wind of almost hurricane strength, which picks up any loose sand, and keeps carrying it as it continues to add more sand to it. In other places this wind has a name. In North Africa, it's the simoom or simoon, while in the Sudan it's the haboob. It doesn't happen often enough in the southwestern U.S. for us to give it a name, but it's one great wind that can move a sand dune to an entirely new place.

Some of the very worst are in Arizona. On July 16, 1971, a sandstorm hit the Tucson area and cut off visibility for miles. Another on July 17, 2007, covered the Phoenix area. Both of these sandstorms caused highway closures. Besides the reduced visibility, the windborne sand and dust can strip the paint from cars and houses - so imagine what it can do to a surprised hiker. In Death Valley, they are frequent and can be deadly. Despite the Arizona July dates, most sandstorms occur in the spring.

When you're hiking in these areas, be sure to wear light hikers for traction and to keep your feet dry, and a cap with a bill to shade your face. If you see a wall of sand headed your way, take whatever shelter you can find, whether it's behind rocks or brush or a hillside (leeward to the wind). If there is no shelter, circle your group and put your backpacks around you on the outside. Cover the top with sleeping bags or groundsheets if you have them, or clothing if you don't.

Keep a little room for air, and don't move until the storm ends. Then dig yourselves off, drink some water, and consider heading for home, you just survived a sandstorm.

You probably won't need a bikini and flip-flops for this week's beach, but for its beauty and solitude, Crescent City Beach is the beach of the week. Crescent City is located on Highway 101 in extreme northern California. It's on a lovely curve of beach that provided the town with its name, and is the only incorporated city in Del Norte County. This quiet town of about 7500 is in the heart of California's redwood country and both Redwood National Park and Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park are an easy drive. The beaches include Crescent Beach and Enderts Beach, both just south of town, and South Beach, at the Crescent City Harbor. Just 8 miles north of Crescent City is Kellogg Beach, while Hidden Beach, with the head of an 8-mile hiking trail through the redwoods, is 20 miles south of town. Only South Beach has amenities like restrooms and concessions, but if you choose Crescent Beach or Enderts Beach, you'll probably have the sand all to yourself.

Crescent City definitely has a north coast climate. With 75 inches of rain a year, you can count on green year-around, but you can't count on a sunny day: they're as beautiful as they are rare. The average daytime high in January is 53 degrees Fahrenheit, and in August just 67 degrees, so you will want a jacket, and maybe a sweater under it. You'll also want a pair of convertible pants, so you're ready if it warms up, and a pair of hikers, because you can't visit Crescent City and not visit the redwoods.

Beaches here are for strolling, searching for shells, agates, and other treasures from the sea, and watching the tide pools brimming with sea life. From the beaches, you can see historic Battery Point Lighthouse, one of the first lighthouses in California. Whale-watching is great here too and the best months are between November and February, then between March and April.

Accommodations range from moderately-priced motels to pleasant bed-and-breakfasts. There are also plenty of restaurants with fresh seafood, which is their their specialty. But amenities aside, Crescent City beaches will soothe your spirits.

For many of us, the word "Niagara" is synonymous with "big". You've got Niagara Falls, of course, but the mountain climbers among us will be more impressed with Niagara Peak. It might not be the highest point in the country, but it's nothing to sneeze at.

This 13er (13,786 feet, to be exact) is located in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, not far from several other ambitious summits. The triangular shape of Niagara Peak combined with the beautiful view climbers enjoy at the top make it a pleasurable climb as well as technical.

Both the approach and the face of Niagara Peak are rocky and pitted, making for slow climbing if you aren't used to the terrain. A pair of sturdy hiking boots with high ankles for extra support and a set of thick gloves are absolutely essential for this climb.

Additionally, make sure you check the weather before you attempt to climb Niagara Peak. The weather here is unpredictable, offering snowfall and rain on the unlikeliest of days. The last thing you want is to get stuck on the side of a treacherous mountain with thunder ringing in your ears.

The great thing about climbing Niagara Peak, however, is that you're within close proximity of several other summits. For example, many expert climbers traverse both Niagara Peak and Jones Mountain on the same hike. There are also a few unnamed peaks in the vicinity that you might want to try if you're feeling adventurous.

There are two basic approaches to Niagara Peak. The most difficult is to approach via the saddle between Niagara and Jones, which is marked by heavy tundra and often difficult to cross in the early winter. However, you can also approach on the northeast side directly opposite Jones, which offers a sheer face but less brush on the ground to deal with.

In addition to the amazing climb offered at Niagara Peak, there is also some beautiful hiking to be done in this region. Abandoned mines, beautiful woods and a few scattered streams and ponds make for lots of wildlife, and you can easily spend an entire week exploring on foot or horseback.

There are many movies, which upon watching their footage, inspire people to get out into the wild in one way or another. One of such movies is the IMAX film, Yellowstone. Set in Yellowstone National Park in Montana, the beauty of the park's nature and wildlife will leave those who have never visited planning a trip.

As seen in the movie Yellowstone, there are many breathtaking scenes of nature all around Yellowstone National Park. Old Faithful, the famous geyser, is located at Yellowstone National Park. Old Faithful can be viewed by foot on the trail or by car on a one-way drive. To get the whole nature experience, by foot is probably best. Since this will be on a hiking trail, onlookers should be sure to wear the proper hiking shoes, as well as carry a knapsack of hiking supplies.

Yellowstone also features an animal stampede, which may also be seen at the Yellowstone National Park. There is an abundance of wildlife in Yellowstone National Park, much of which can be seen very up close. It is important to stay in your car in some areas because of this closeness. There are designated areas to view animals on foot. Safety is key when in a natural wildlife habitat.

Inspired by Yellowstone to run wild in the nature at Montana's Yellowstone National Park? You just may be in luck. Backcountry hiking sites with overnight camping are available at the park, with a Backcountry Use Permit. Be sure to bring all your hiking and camping gear to be prepared.

Because a safe distance from the wild animals is at least 100 yards away (anything closer is prohibited for safety purposes), a good pair of binoculars is essential for viewing wildlife. To capture those images, a good camera is also ideal.

When it's time to settle in for the night, a sturdy tent can provide a decent shelter in an outdoor environment. Be sure to choose the one that is the right size for your group. Speaking of groups, keep in mind that when in a wild outdoor scene, such as this, safety is in numbers. Backcountry hiking alone is not recommended by the parks.

Sources:
http://boxoffice.com/reviews/2008/08/yellowstone.php
http://www.nps.gov/yell

Yellowstone National Park continues to attract millions of avid hikers, campers and outdoor enthusiasts each year. If you're one of the many hiker paying respects Old Faithful this season, make sure you're well-prepared for the adventure.

Here are a few essentials for making it through your Yellowstone trail like a pro:

Layer it up
Wearing layers is essential when hiking or camping in Yellowstone's temperate climate. Many areas of the park experience rain showers and chilly winds, especially during the autumn and winter seasons. Make sure you're well prepared for inclement weather with wool socks, moisture-wicking pants and shirts, an insulated vest, a wool beanie and a lightweight puffy jacket for any evening excursions on the itinerary.

Don't get Stuck in the mud
The trails are usually very wet and muddy at the beginning of the year; make sure you're wearing comfortable hiking boots that provide plenty of ankle support and will prevent your toes from getting wet. You may need trekking poles to make it across some of the bogs and marshes on the more challenging trails, so map out your route and factor in weather conditions well beforehand.

Pack up that First Aid Kit
Whether you're putting together your own or picking up a pre-made kit, make sure you're well prepared to manage insect bites, cuts, bruises and small wounds. While you won't have many rocky boulders to conquer on the beginner's trails in Yellowstone, you might find yourself forging through forests, thermal springs and canyons. Wrap up those wounds and treat insect bites in a flash with basic supplies stocked in your first aid kit.

Cook Smart to Avoid Bear Attacks
When you're setting up camp in Bear Country, make sure you're doing everything you can to avoid a bear attack. Many hikers and campers encounter bears in Yellowstone because they're not prepared; leaving food unattended at the campsite or cooking and storing food in open areas will leave a scented trail that attracts bears day and night. Use an efficient cooking and food heating system for your meals to make that food prep and cleanup is a cinch.

From pretty much any vantage point in Seattle, Washington, you can see Mount Rainier. So it makes sense when people think about hiking trails around Seattle, Mount Rainier is one of the first places to come to mind. You could of course hike (and climb) up to the summit, but - at over 14,000 feet - it would take you a fair while. Plus, unless you've done it before, it's also recommended to take a guide and that can be quite expensive. For a challenging, yet not too dangerous hike in the real outdoors, Mount Rainier National Park is still the place, and the Wonderland Trail is the hike.

The Wonderland Trail is a 93-mile trail that hits just about every major zone of the park. You can start the Wonderland Trail at many different places along its way, but it will take you at least 10 to 12 days to complete it if you decide to hike the whole thing, so be prepared.

The Wonderland Trail actually circles Mount Rainier, meaning if you do the whole thing, you'll see the mountain from pretty much every conceivable angle (except from the top, of course). There are also ranger cabins all over the park. Because there aren't any places to purchase food, if you do decide to walk the entire trail, you're going to have to arrange to have food packages mailed to several ranger locations for pick up as you hike.

The weather in this area can be a bit iffy, even in the summer. Park rangers will also warn you to watch out for sudden, extreme changes of weather. If you're walking the whole Wonderland Trail, there's a good chance you'll experience some severe weather during the almost two weeks that you'll be hiking. So make sure you're prepared with all the right equipment.

The Wonderland Trail sounds like it could be too much like hard work, but, in reality, it's one of the best ways to see the park. All kinds of flora, fauna and wildlife exist, not to mention the panoramic views. And let's face it, if you've seen anything of Mount Rainier from Seattle, it'd be kinda cool to see it from so close up.

One place that's wonderful to visit is Big Sky, Montana. I mean, really, how can you not want to go to a place that has such a cool name? Hiking in a place like Big Sky is also amazing, with all that clear blue sky, mountains and massive amounts of land. The Big Sky area has two great places where you can hike: Gallatin National Forest and possibly the world's most famous national park, Yellowstone National Park.

Get in your head a picture of the movie, A River Runs Through It. Dramatic scenery, fresh air, pretty big mountains, rivers, streams and an incredible blue sky. This is what you'll see if you hike in Gallatin National Forest. Just a few miles away from Big Sky, Gallatin has almost 2,300 miles of hiking trails - it's truly enormous. One of the best hiking areas in the country, bar none, and some of the mountain peaks are over 11,000 feet.

To start off hiking in Gallatin National Forest, it's best to go in the summer when the weather isn't too severe. There are five different mountain ranges you can hike. On all of them you'll see incredibly diverse plants and wildlife, including the area's famous bald eagles and grizzly bears. Be very aware of your surroundings though and watch what you're doing. A fall or a grizzly bear attack on many of these trails could leave you badly injured and miles away from help. To get started, you're better visiting one of the park's offices - the main one being in Bozeman - to collect maps, information on good starting points for hikes, estimated times to complete trails and more. Also carry bear spray and wear clunky boots. Bears don't like a lot of noise, so the noisier you are, the less chance you have of accidentally stumbling upon one.

Yellowstone National Park is only a short drive from Big Sky and has 1,200 miles of hiking trails. One of the trails easily accessible from Big Sky is called Tee pee. It's about 13 miles south of Big Sky, right before you get to Yellowstone National Park. The great thing about Tee pee is it's perfect for all levels of hiker, especially kids, and it eventually enters Yellowstone National Park, where you'll find many more hiking trails to enjoy. Get more information about hiking trails from one of the many Yellowstone visitor centers.

A few years ago, I spent a couple of weeks in Miami with my parents. My parents like to hike so, after a couple of days on the beach, we decided Florida's stellar hiking trails were calling us, and off we set.

Jonathan Dickinson State Park
This park is on the banks of the Loxahatchee River and has some great trails, all mapped out for you by the Florida Trail Association. The trails are all looped trails, so eventually you'll end up back where you started, but meanwhile you'll see some lovely mangroves, swamp land and pine woods. You can also camp here in the designated camping areas. Some of the trails are also board walked, which makes hiking easy. You can concentrate on the beauty around you instead of worrying where you're putting your feet.

South Fork St. Lucie Hiking Trail
This trail is about two and a half miles long, but what makes this trail really cool is it's a hiking-canoe trail that can only be accessed by canoe (at least at the moment, though that's likely to change in the future, so try it out soon). You get to the hiking trail by first paddling your canoe for around three miles, then get out at the trailhead. All along the canoe trail and into the hiking trail you're likely to see turtles and alligators. Make sure you watch where you're stepping though as alligators in Florida have been known to eat people.

Corbett Hiking Trail in Palm Beach County
The Corbett Hiking Trail is a bit further out but well worth going to. It's 16 miles long, which is more than 30 miles if you do the round trip, and goes over flatlands, wetlands and into copious amounts of saw palmetto, the famous Florida fan palm. You'll see a lot of wildlife on the Corbett Hiking Trail. River otters, white-tailed deer, bobcats, woodpeckers, herons and many other species have been spotted from Corbett Trail. The trail also has a 1.2 mile boardwalk, which is a great place to stop, take a rest and check out what might be lurking in the undergrowth. The best time for the most sightings is usually either early morning or late afternoon, when the trail is quieter. Make sure you take your camera too.

Miami doesn't have to be about a flashy lifestyle or a nice tan, it can also be about getting out into nature and trying one of the Miami areas' many hiking trails.

In the middle of Iowa, near Des Moines, you'll find The Great Western Trail. It's 'great' because it's long, almost 17 miles, and also because it's beautiful. You can hike and bike on it and, in the winter, can even cross country ski. In the winter though, be warned, the trail can sometimes be treacherous. At the moment, the trail is actually closed due to the horrendous floods that hit Iowa recently. It's expected to re-open after the floods subside and renovations are completed. In nicer weather, though, it's one of the prettiest spots in Iowa - a perfect blend of urban and rural, with lovely hills, wildflowers (many endangered species of flower) woods and wetlands.

The trailheads for the Great Western Trail are in Des Moines on Valley Drive and in Martensdale on Inwood Street. The trail is full of history (especially that of the railway that used to run through this part of the country), so a hike on the Great Western Trail will be an awesome experience for history buffs. You can even see some of the old railway markers that tell you the distance from one place to another.

Walking the Great Western Trail is also fabulous for nature enthusiasts. It's just so pretty. One really cool thing about the trail is that it's paved, so it's a great place for bike riding and even for taking the kids, because you can tow them in a carrier behind your bike. This also makes it a very easy hike for beginning hikers, although not much of a challenge for the more serious hiker (except for the distance, of course).

The Great Western Trail is lovely in every season. In the summer, you get the trees in full bloom, wildflowers everywhere and birds singing. In the fall, you'll experience the fall colors and a more open trail as the leaves fall from the trees. Then, in the winter, if you're brave enough, you can hike (or use snow shoes) in the snow or, if there's too much snow, cross country skiing is an option. Whichever you choose, the Great Western Trail is almost 17 miles of pure loveliness and a great way to get away from the stresses of normal life.

A few years ago, I went to Las Vegas with my then-fiancé. We were both into hiking, so after a couple of nights of gambling and fun, we decided it might be a good idea to head out of the city and get some fresh air. Now, before I talk about hiking in Las Vegas, I will warn you about one thing - the heat. We were there in November, so it was pretty perfect for hiking. If you're in Vegas in the middle of July though, I'd give hiking a pass. You're likely to get heat stroke or worse. Save the hiking until the winter months. In the winter though, Red Rock Canyon, just outside Vegas, offers amazing hiking trails with incredible scenery and picture-perfect photographic opportunities.

Red Rock Canyon is about a 15 mile drive outside Vegas. Once you get there, you'll find at least 20 trails you can choose from. Before you decide on a trail though, make sure you go to the visitor center. We found its employees to be very helpful, and we also got some handy maps, saw interesting exhibits and bought a couple of books at the bookstore.

When we finally got to hiking, we decided to start out with the First Creek Canyon Trail. The lady at the visitor center said it was quite easy, and for a first trail, that's what we wanted. We took Charleston Boulevard, followed the signs and were soon on the trail. We were thrilled to find it easy going, but with a bit of minor rock climbing and even a couple of small waterfalls in the canyon. The whole trail was only around three miles round trip. After completing this one and emptying the backpack of our packed lunch, we went for something a bit more difficult.

Turtlehead Peak, north of the visitor center, turned out to be five miles roundtrip, had some fairly tough rock climbing sections, and because of a lot of loose rocks on the ground, it required more concentration than other hiking trails. Turtlehead Peak Trail runs along an old river bed then heads up to the peak of Turtlehead (as the trail name suggests). Make sure you hike all the way to the peak, because the view of Vegas from up here is phenomenal and well worth the climb, even if it is a bit strenuous.

Next time you're thinking about Las Vegas, enjoy the gambling but don't forget there are some pretty cool, nearby hiking trails too.

If you're in Georgia and wanting to hike, you can't do any better than checking out The Cherokee Trail and Carter's Lake hiking trails. They're both pretty remote places but offer great scenery and relatively easy hikes.

Cherokee Trail is what's known as a 'loop trail,' which means it goes in a circle, so there's no need to hike back the way you came. Because it runs in a circle, you can start hiking it pretty much anywhere as you'll always end up back where you started. Cherokee Trail (also known as 'Stone Mountain Loop') is an awesome trail for families, because it's not difficult and has some really fun stuff for the kids to see and do. Near the trail, there's a nature garden, the ruins of an old homestead, a couple of large lakes, a play area and even some old Indian village ruins. On your hike, you can also see the largest stone carving in the world, which took over 50 years to complete. The trail has a nice visitor center and clean toilets (which are, all too often, missing in many hiking trail areas).

The second notable hiking trail in Georgia is Carter's Lake Hiking Trail. It takes its name from Carter's Lake, which is an absolutely enormous manmade lake popular with people who like to fish, camp and boat. There are four very nice trails running around the lake, and because there's a lot of wildlife in the area it's also a good place for bird watching. It's also famous for the beaver pond that was built here. The lake has picnic tables and bathrooms, and if you want to get in a bit of fishing after you hike, there are two cement fishing decks that you can fish from - the fishing is fabulous here too!

The other wonderful thing about these trails is the weather in Georgia is quite mild all year; they're accessible just about all the time. If you're looking for a cool place to take the family for the day or even for a weekend camp, Carter's Lake and the Cherokee Trail would be great choices.

I think Virginia is one of the prettiest U.S. states. Lovely weather, green hilly fields and blue skies in the summer, and postcard-perfect fall colors in the autumn - you really can't beat picturesque Virginia. The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail is a perfect example of beautiful Virginia countryside. It's also a great place for hiking trails. With 770 miles of hiking available, you can hardly complain about choice.

The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail runs from the Potomac River itself all the way to Allegheny Highlands in the Ohio Basin. There's even a 100-mile, unbroken section of trail where you could actually walk for three to four days without branching off it. There are literally hundreds of different sections of trail you can hike or backpack but check these three out in Virginia's lower Potomac region, as they are probably some of the best.

George Washington's Birthplace - I can't think of a better place to hike than the birthplace of our first president. Popes Creek Plantation is right on the Potomac. It has a nature trail that runs for a mile and lots of little footpaths that you can take to get in a good hike. There are also historically interesting exhibits scattered around that tell you about colonial life and Washington's early years.

The Dameron Marsh Natural Area Preserve - The wetlands here are home to many birds, insects, flora and fauna. There's almost 330 acres of marshland, much of which you can explore, as well as forest with hiking trails. It's a great area to hike just to see the marshland birds you probably won't see anywhere else and to revel in the beauty of the birdsong.

The Voorhees Nature Preserve - If you're really lucky, you might see bald eagles along trails in the Voorhees Nature Preserve, a nesting place for bald eagles. There are almost 800 miles of trails on the preserve, and it is right next door to Westmoreland Berry Farm. So, you can hike and enjoy nature, and then come back to the farm and pick berries to take home for dinner.

The best time to experience any of these trails is spring or autumn, when temperatures are perfect for a strenuous hike. The summer too can be a nice time to visit, as long as you don't mind the heat.

A few years ago, I moved to Denver, Colorado. Now, not being a freezing cold weather kinda gal, that foray into nature didn't last very long before I moved on to boiling hot Texas. But, during my stay in Denver, I did manage to discover some really gorgeous hiking trails. The wonderful thing with Colorado is the scenery. Pretty much anywhere you look it's just beautiful. (How can you not love snow-capped mountains and clean, fresh air?) Colorado's hiking trails also feature the same panoramic views and natural beauty, so it truly is a spectacular place to hike.

One of my favorite discoveries was Mount Falcon Park near Evergreen, Colorado. To get to it, you can drive west out of Denver on Highway 285. Turn off at the Indian Hills exit, drive for about 5 miles, then turn right onto Picutis Road and go to the park's parking lot. There are tons of trails at Mount Falcon Park and most of them are pretty easy going (no need to do any major mountain climbing here). Castle Trail is the most interesting trail, I think, simply because at the end of the trail you can explore the ruins of Walker Castle. (Kids love doing this!) John Brisben Walker was a Denver businessman who used to own most of the land around, what is now, Mount Falcon Park. He built himself a huge house, which burned down in the early 20th century. Known now as Walker Castle, (it's not a castle, just a big stone house,) the ruins are still fascinating to explore.

What's also interesting about Mount Falcon Park is the sadness that surrounds it when you think of how it bore witness to John Brisben Walker's tragic story. A once-successful business man, when Walker died, he actually died destitute.

The Castle Trail at Mount Falcon Park is around 5 miles long. It goes up to an elevation of about 9,000 feet and the view is spectacular up there. So don't forget your camera. You'll get some amazing photos of Rocky Mountain National Park. Also, don't forget to read the signs along the path that tell the story of John Brisben Walker's life.