Van Life: Year 2
Beginning with the Van Life Year 2 page, these #vanlife pages are going to provide a snapshot of our “moment in time” travels. We’ve been returning to some of these incredible destinations for over a decade, and each visit is absolutely unique and different. We want to share the differences inherent in each visit in these travel logs.
Each destination photo has now been shot during that year’s visit to the destination. The black button now links out to a route or adventure that I/we actually completed during that particular visit.
For more exhaustive and refined information on each destination, please visit the Adventure Guides Page and navigate by choosing the state/country -> destination that you’re interested in.
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Almont, Colorado - June 2023
Route: Doctor Park Shuttle Run
Route: Doctor Park Loop
Adventure: Doctor Park Hike
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Crested Butte, Colorado - May 2023
Adventure: Cascade and North Pass—the hard way. Mount Crested Butte, CO
Guidebook: Superb Alpine Mountain Biking in Crested Butte, Colorado
Guidebook: Lift-Served Trail Riding at Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Guidebook: Hike Through a Sea of Wildflowers in Idyllic Crested Butte
Guidebook: 6 Flowy Beginner Mountain Bike Trails in Crested Butte
Guidebook: Downhill Shredding in Crested Butte’s Evolution Bike Park
Guidebook: 4 Easy Hikes in Crested Butte that Everyone Can Enjoy
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Arapahoe Basin, Colorado - May 2023
Adventure: First day of the 22/23 snowboarding season!
Adventure: Snowboarding Day 14
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Gunnison, Colorado - May 2023
Guidebook: Best Mountain Bike Trails in Gunnison, CO
Guidebook: Best Hikes in Gunnison, Colorado
Adventure: Blue Mesa SUP
Adventure: Dillon Pinnacles SUP, Blue Mesa, CO
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Colorado National Monument, Colorado - April 2023
Adventure: Old Gordon Trail
Adventure: Otto’s Trail
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Grand Junction, Colorado - April 2023
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Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, Utah - April 2023
Adventure: Deep into Red Reef Canyon
Route: Red Reef Canyon Short Hike
Adventure: Silver Reef
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Snow Canyon State Park, Utah - April 2023
Route: Petrified Dunes
Adventure: Petrified Dunes and Red Sands
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Quail Creek State Park, Utah - April 2023
Adventure: SUP Up the Creek
Adventure: SUP Quail Creek Reservoir
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Zion National Park: Kolob Canyons, Utah - April 2023
Adventure: Taylor Creek
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Cedar City, Utah - April 2023
Adventure: Turnpike Trail
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Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Utah - March 2023
Adventure: WE GOT MARRIED!!
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St. George, Utah - March 2023
Guidebook: The Best Hikes in St. George, Utah
Adventure: Barrel - Zen Loops
Adventure: Elopement Photography Hike!
Adventure: Barrel Roll and Rim Trails
Route: Barrel Roll
Route: Santa Clara Rim Trails
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Moapa Valley, Nevada - March 2023
Route: Jackrabbit Loop
Adventure: Jackrabbit/Logandale Trails
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Valley of Fire State Park - March 2023
Guidebook: Ignite Adventure: Best Hikes in the Valley of Fire
Adventure: Seven Wonders, Fire Wave, White Mounds Slot Canyon and More!
Adventure: Elephant Rock Loop
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Lake Mead National Seashore, Nevada - March 2023
Adventure: Stewart Point
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Phoenix, Arizona - March 2023
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Superior, Arizona - March 2023
Adventure: Picketpost Mountain
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Oracle, Arizona - March 2023
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Sierra Vista, Arizona - February 2023
Route: Clark Spring Loop
Adventure: Carr Canyon - Clark Spring - Perimeter
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Sonoita, Arizona - February 2023
Adventure: Inner Loop
Adventure: Outer Loop - Aborted
Adventure: Historic Empire Ranch
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Patagonia, Arizona - January 2023
Guidebook: Experience the Desert: Mountain Bike the Arizona Trail
Route: Patagonia 30
Adventure: The Patagonia Not-Quite 30
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Vail, Arizona - January 2023
Route: Colossal Cave Loop
Adventure: Arizona Trail Shuttle
Adventure: Arizona Trail Loop
Adventure: Vail Vortex Loop
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Oro Valley, Arizona - January 2023
Guidebook: The 4 Best Ways to Ride Golder Ranch
Route: Honeybee-X Trails
Route: Honeybee Canyon Loop
Route: Honeybee Petroglyphs
Adventure: Honeybee Canyon
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Saguaro National Park, Arizona - January 2023
Adventure: Bajada Loop & Brown Mountain Loop Mixed Surface Ride
Adventure: Cactus Forest to Lime Falls
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Tucson, Arizona - January 2023
Article: 7 Top Tips for Tucson Van Life
Guidebook: Tucson’s 4 Favorite Road Biking Routes
Guidebook: 4 Easy Desert Hikes in Tucson, Arizona
Guidebook: The Flowiest Cross Country Trails in Tucson, Arizona
Adventure: The Loop, Santa Cruz Park
Adventure: Golden Gate Pass Loop
Adventure: Babad Do’ag Trail
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Picacho Peak State Park, Arizona - December 2022
Route: Picacho Peak
Adventure: Sunset Trail
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Gold Canyon, Arizona - December 2022
Route: Peralta Regional Park
Adventure: Lost Goldmine - K Trail - AZTBP MTB Ride
Adventure: Wave Cave
Adventure: Peralta Road
Adventure: Goldfield Trails
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Tempe, Arizona - December 2022
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Scottsdale, Arizona - December 2022
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Fountain Hills, Arizona - December 2022
Route: McDowell Competitive Track
Adventure: Delsie - Bluff - Granite Loop
Adventure: Lousley Hill
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Surprise, Arizona - December 2022
Guidebook: Explore White Tank Mountain Regional Park
Adventure: White Tanks Competitive Track
Adventure: White Tanks Waterfall
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Mesa, Arizona - December 2022
Adventure: Usery Mountain Park
Guidebook: Hawes Trails: Ride the Best Singletrack near Phoenix
Route: Wind Cave
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Tijeras, New Mexico - December 2022
Route: Otero Canyon: Long Loop
Route: Otero Canyon: Short Loop
Adventure: Otero Canyon
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Albuquerque, New Mexico - November 2022
Adventure: Shining River
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San Ysidro, New Mexico - November 2022
Adventure: White Ridge
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Aztec, New Mexico - November 2022
Guidebook: Explore the Mysterious Alien Run Trails
Adventure: Alien Run
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Green River, Utah - November 2022
Route: Moonshine Wash
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Goblin Valley State Park, Utah - November 2022
Guidebook: Epic Off-Grid Adventures near Utah's Goblin Valley
Adventure: Valley of the Goblins
Adventure: Goblin Valley State Park MTB Trails
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San Rafael Swell, Utah - November 2022
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Arches National Park, Utah - November 2022
Guidebook: Sandstone Majesty: Best Hikes in Arches National Park
Guidebook: Beat the Crowds in Utah's Mighty 5 National Parks
Adventure: Delicate Arch
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Canyonlands National Park: Island in the Sky District, Utah - November 2022
Route: Mesa Arch
Route: Grandview Point
Adventure: Neck Spring Loop
Adventure: Murphy Point
Adventure: Aztec Butte
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Moab, Utah - November 2022
Guidebook: The Best Beginner Trails in Moab
Guidebook: Must-Do in Moab
Guidebook: The Top 5 Mountain Bike Trails in Moab, Utah
Guidebook: Recommended Loops in the Popular and Accessible Moab Brand Trails
Guidebook: Fly Below the Moab Radar at Klondike Bluffs
Route: Above the Abyss
Adventure: Klondike Bluffs
Adventure: Klondike Bluffs: Nome, Megasteps, and More!
Adventure: Pipedream Trail
Adventure: Mill Creek Canyon
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Golden, Colorado - November 2022
Route: North Table Mountain
Adventure: Green Mountain
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Canon City, Colorado - October 2022
Guidebook: Explore Canon City’s Epic Desert Mountain Bike Trails
Guidebook: Gravel as Far as the Eye Can See—Best Rides in Canon City
Guidebook: Best Hikes in Canon City, Colorado
Article: In Search of Dry Land, Volume II: Oil Well Flats, Canon City, Colorado
Article: In Search of Dry Land, Volume III: Section 13, Canon City, Colorado
Route: Oil Well Flats: MOOve Over
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Frisco, Colorado - October 2022
Guidebook: The 5 Flowiest Beginner MTB Trails in Summit County
Route: Lake Dillon Reservoir Loop
Route: Sky Pilot Figure-8
Adventure: Frisco Peninsula
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Fairplay, Colorado - October 2022
Route: Sheep Creek Trail
Route: Tiehack Lollipop
Trail: Salt Creek Trail
Adventure: Tiehack Trail
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Buena Vista, Colorado - September 2022
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Salida, Colorado - September 2022
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Twin Falls, Idaho - September 2022
Adventure: Auger Falls
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Issaquah, Washington - September 2022
Route: Tiger Mountain Loop
Adventure: Tour de Issaquah
Adventure: Tiger Mountain Loop
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Coquitlam, British Columbia - September 2022
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Vancouver, British Columbia - September 2022
Route: Stanley Park Seawall
Adventure: Stanley Park and Vancouver Sea Walls
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North Vancouver, British Columbia - September 2022
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Squamish, British Columbia - August 2022
Guidebook: 4 Classic Tech Trails in Squamish
Guidebook: 3 Gorgeous, Easy Waterfall Hikes on the Sea to Sky Hwy
Guidebook: Flowy Intermediate Trails in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor
Adventure: Meadow of the Grizzly & More
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Whistler, British Columbia - August 2022
Guidebook: 7 Best Trail Rides in Whistler: MTB Capital of the World
Guidebook: Whistler: The King of Downhill Mountain Bike Parks
Guidebook: Get Steep and Deep on Blackcomb Mountain's Best Trails
Guidebook: Best Tech Trails Outside of the Whistler Bike Park
Guidebook: Best Wet Weather MTB Rides in Whistler
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Pemberton, British Columbia - August 2022
Guidebook: Best Mountain Bike Rides in Pemberton, BC
Guidebook: 7 MTB Rides with Phenomenal Views in the Sea-to-Sky
Guidebook: Easy Hikes in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor
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Cayoosh Range, British Columbia - August 2022
Route: Rohr Lake
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Quesnel, British Columbia - August 2022
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Babine Mountains Provincial Park, British Columbia - August 2022
Adventure: Silver King Basin
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Smithers, British Columbia - August 2022
Guidebook: 3 Rad Rides in Smithers, BC
Route: Twin Falls Viewing Platform
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Carcross, Yukon Territory - August 2022
Guidebook: 3 Rad Rides on Lower Montana Mountain
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Whitehorse, Yukon Territory - August 2022
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Eagle River, Alaska - August 2022
Route: Mirror Lake Loop
Adventure: Eagle River Trail
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Palmer, Alaska - July 2022
Route: 16 Mile DH Trail
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Chena Hot Springs, Alaska - July 2022
Route: Angel Rocks
Adventure: Mastodon Trail
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Fairbanks, Alaska - July 2022
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Denali National Park, Alaska - July 2022
Route: Savage Alpine Trail
Route: Mount Healy Overlook Trail
Route: Mountain Vista Loop
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Anchorage, Alaska - July 2022
Guidebook: Experience Kincaid Park’s Summer Adventures
Route: Campbell Tract Gravel Ride
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Seward, Alaska - July 2022
Route: Lost Lake Out-and-Back
Adventure: Spinning Around Seward
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Kenai Peninsula, Alaska - July 2022
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Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska - July 2022
Adventure: Exit Glacier
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Tombstone Territorial Park, Yukon Territory - July 2022
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Dawson City, Yukon Territory - July 2022
Route: Midnight Dome Loop
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Stewart, British Columbia - June 2022
Adventure: Salmon Glacier
Adventure: Clements Lake
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Burns Lake, British Columbia - June 2022
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Williams Lake, British Columbia - June 2022
Route: Fox Mountain Loop
Route: Aflow Daddy Shuttle
Route: Loose Moose Shuttle
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Duncan, British Columbia - June 2022
Guidebook: 4 Runs on Mount Tzouhalem's Best Trails
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Campbell River, British Columbia - June 2022
Guidebook: Chasing Waterfalls near Campbell River, BC
Adventure: “Gravel” Biking Snowden Trails
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Strathcona Provinicial Park, British Columbia - June 2022
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Cumberland, British Columbia - June 2022
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Bellingham, Washington - June 2022
Guidebook: Galbraith Mountain: The PNW’s Premier MTB Trail System!
Guidebook: Pedal the PNW: 5 Best MTB Trails in Washington State
Guidebook: Waterfall Hikes in the Rainforest in Bellingham, WA
Route: Brown Pow
Route: Two Dollar Loop
Adventure: North Chuckanuts
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North Cascades National Park, Washington - June 2022
Guidebook: North Cascades NP: Most Rugged Mountains in the Lower 48
Adventure: Trail of the Cedars
Adventure: Washington Pass
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Hood River, Oregon - June 2022
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Van Life: Year 1
Notes:
This page only documents the second year of my van life travels and not my extensive domestic and international travels over the previous 14+ years. For more exhaustive documentation, please see the Adventure Guides tab.
Each featured photo was taken during the most recent visit to the destination.
The black button links out to a route or adventure that I/we actually completed during that particular visit.
Destinations are only listed once, even if I visited a destination multiple times.
Definitions, in descending order of detail:
Guidebook: A collection of recommended routes on a particular theme, with an overview of the destination.
Article: Article that I’ve written about a destination.
Route: Recommended route with a detailed written overview.
Trail: Trail listing in a database.
Adventure: A lived adventure that I actually went on, but have not yet expanded with additional information to create a route.
I haven’t listed every single resource that I’ve published for each destination. For more exhaustive and refined information on each destination, please visit the Adventure Guides Page and navigate by choosing the state/country -> destination that you’re interested in. For even more routes and guidebooks, be sure to visit FATMAP.com. And for more articles, be sure to visit Singletracks.com.