If the lake level drops below 3,490 feet - termed the minimum power pool - the turbines that generate electricity have to be shut down. When the water level reaches critically low thresholds, air is sucked down like a whirlpool into the penstocks, forming explosive bubbles which can cause massive failure inside the dam.
The Million Dollar Highway is a narrow, two-lane road that runs above a deep gorge, with sheer rock walls on one side and an unguarded drop on the other. Drivers experience awe-inspiring views of 14,000-foot peaks as they navigate this perilous route.
Goblin Valley State Park is often overlooked and relatively undiscovered, making it a perfect alternative for those seeking solitude away from crowded tourist spots like Bryce Canyon.
Gunlock Falls has only shown up four times in the past 15 years and is reliant on the capacity of the reservoir above it: When the reservoir surpasses its maximum capacity, the water flows over the spillway and down over the bright red rock below, creating Gunlock Falls.
The Colorado River is an interconnected system, sustained by Rocky Mountain snowpack, rainfall and groundwater. It is fragile, and under increasing stress. Two and a half decades into this century, the river that built the modern West has 20% less water flowing through it than it did on average in the last century. As heat and drought intensify, so do the stakes: Failure to recognize the severity of changing conditions, managing the river in parts without considering needs of the whole and inadequate planning for long-term shortages put the future of all the basin at risk.
Established in 1911, Starved Rock is Illinois' second state park and a popular destination among those who love the outdoors, history, and photography. Its name comes from a Native American legend that recounts a 1760s battle in which members of the Illinois Confederation fled to the top of the park's now eponymous 125-sandstone bluff for refuge.
Channeling the look and feel of authentic national park lodges was an important part of this renovation project. We took great care to preserve its independent spirit and also invite guests to truly immerse themselves in the destination, from the captivating views from the lodge to the quiet serenity offered by the Colorado River that winds itself around the property.
Lake Superior was named the cleanest in the country thanks to its oxygen rich, clear water and low mineral content, according to a study by Fishbox, a fishing forecast platform. Lake Superior, which flows into Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, is also renowned for its fishing: ice fishing in the winter and summer catches that include bass, salmon, trout, and walleye.
Tens of millions of tourists visit Las Vegas each year, spending billions of dollars in the city's casinos, entertainment venues, and attractions. Yet my move brought me to Reno, a seven-hour drive from the desert of Las Vegas. Although Reno still has its fair share of casinos, the city feels like a world apart.
Eruptions of Echinus Geyser varied tremendously when the geyser was vigorously active. They could be vertical or inclined, occasionally soaking onlookers with warm water, and could be regular enough that the park would sometimes post predictions-the duration of an eruption could often be used to forecast the timing of the subsequent eruption.
Deer Valley's expansion may be the largest ski area expansion in history. Prior to the expansion, Deer Valley was the 15th largest resort in the United States, boasting over 2,000 acres. The expansion, aptly named "Expanded Excellence," more than doubled Deer Valley's size, bringing the total to 5,700 skiable acres.
As a SoCal resident, I visit Anza-Borrego at least once a year to explore the sandstone Slot canyon and surrounding desert, keeping an eye out for animals like chuckwalla lizards and bighorn sheep. Despite its incredibly dry environment (the park averages just four to eight inches of rain a year, and summertime temps routinely hit the hundreds), Anza-Borrego teems with life and opportunities to explore one of the nation's most unique ecosystems.
BASIN Glacial Waters to function as both architectural frame and sensory mediator, a space where the physiological effects of thermotherapy meet the raw power of protected wilderness. With an opening last September at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, this marks the first thermal bathing facility in North America to fully integrate European sweat culture traditions with glacial-fed hydrotherapy at this scale.
Lake Tahoe has seen a dramatic influx of water in recent weeks, with approximately 16 billion gallons added to the lake since February 15, according to the U.S. Geological Survey-the equivalent of roughly 90,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. This large bump has nudged the water gage height upward from about 7.5 feet to 8 feet on the lake's measuring station, reflecting substantial gains in the basin's water supply as winter storms continue to unload precipitation across the region.
Many glamping places are right off the highway. With Backland, we wanted an immersive nature experience-total comfort, with unobstructed views. The camp sits on an immense and grassy meadow ringed by an unnamed forest. Ten nature suites looked more like futuristic Quonset huts than white tents.
Now, in a recent study published in Geology, retired University of New Mexico geologist Karl Karlstrom and his colleagues conclude that the asteroid's impact shook Marble Canyon hard enough to dislodge great chunks of stone and send a landslide tumbling into the river. The debris formed a natural dam that backed up the Colorado for over 50 miles to near present-day Lees Ferry.
Western water law is based on the prior appropriation doctrine, which gives the first entity to make "beneficial use" of water the right to keep on using that amount, even if that means that upstream "junior" users' spigots will get shut off. By the early 1900s, a rapidly growing California was enthusiastically diverting the Colorado River, with huge irrigation districts gobbling up the senior water rights.
This quaint little town, surrounded by green pastures and granite cliffs, is the northern gateway to the High Sierra. Bridgeport always evokes nostalgia and is one of my favorite views of the Eastern Sierra. In my younger years, it was all about the resorts, and Bridgeport was a place to stretch the legs on the way to Mammoth Mountain. Now, I look more to the backcountry trailheads, and Bridgeport has become an alluring area along the 395 corridor.
Digital creator Richard Oldham bought 400 acres in the mountains of Utah and built an off-grid cabin to enjoy with family and friends. As an avid snowboarder, Oldham enjoys touring his property and discovering new features on his land. Last winter he was out for tour when he came upon rock outcropping that would have been perfect for jumps but it was overgrown with trees and inaccessible in its current state.
Part of the Craighead Caverns cave system, the Lost Sea is located near Sweetwater, a small city in the foothills of the Smokies, right between Knoxville and Chattanooga. While the lake is said to have been discovered in 1905 by a 13-year-old boy named Ben Sands, the surrounding caverns were used by the Cherokee, and 20,000-year-old jaguar tracks were also found there.
Some travelers love vacations that involve doing absolutely nothing-trips where lounging by the beach or pool, napping, reading, or going for a light swim are the most rigorous activities on the agenda. Other travelers, however, crave trips that are a bit more ... active, whether that means hiking, biking, or parasailing. If you fall into the latter category, you should consider heading to Wyoming for your next trip, according to Wander.
Whether you're hoping to see the wildflowers or planning to drive the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road, there's something here for every kind of traveler, style, and budget. If you're looking to fully immerse yourself in this spectacular environment, there are a ton of campgrounds in and around the national park, plus a few glamping sites and RV parks nearby if you prefer not to rough it as much.
"One time is enough." That's what I'd heard countless times about visiting Las Vegas before making the trip myself. I'd always wanted to go, if only to have that once-in-a-lifetime experience. Turns out, one time wasn't enough. I've been five times now, and I have no doubt there will be a sixth. The nightlife and gambling aren't what keep me coming back, though. These days, I skip the casinos and explore nature instead - and one of my favorite places is about 45 minutes outside the city: Valley of Fire State Park. There was no turning back once I found a side of Vegas I didn't know I was missing
Whenever I'm asked about my recent trip to Alaska-a journey to visit Katmai National Park & Preserve and Kenai Fjords National Park-I nearly always mention the scale. The scale of the glaciers, the mountains, the sunsets, and the utter wilderness; every aspect of the landscape was just so much larger and more grand than anything I'd ever experienced. Magnitude is a continuous theme all across Alaska.
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