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Trek America Review: An Incredible USA Road Trip

I’m back from an incredible USA group tour! From camping, to the activities on offer, and the group dynamic, find out all about my experience in my Trek America review.

As I edged towards seat 31A on my Air Norwegian flight from San Francisco to London I felt pretty sad. I hadn’t set off yet but I knew this was the onset of post-travel blues. This one was going to be A LOT harder to get over than most.

Rewind two weeks and I was waiting anxiously at the airport in London not knowing who I’d be spending the next few weeks with. We met at the gate, introduced ourselves, giggled nervously, compared what we’d packed and prepared for the 10 hour flight. Final destination? California. Reason for travel? Trek America’s big campaign #iTrekHere. Along with 7 other specially selected bloggers and vloggers, I would be road tripping from LA to San Fran. So who else was coming? Amy , Maddie and Josie from the world of fashion and beauty, Laura who has a comedy YouTube channel, travel blogger Scott , and superstar YouTuber Helen  and fiancé Matt. We would be sharing rooms, tents, stories and creating some unforgettable memories.

Check out the video, then read more of my Trek America review below.

I’m a big fan of both solo travel and group travel. Last month I wrote about where my wanderlust began – funnily enough during a trip with Trek America to Mexico 5 years ago . It inspired me to see more of the world, and now here I was 5 years later being invited to explore somewhere I’d always wanted to visit. California Callin’ s route would take us from the glitz and glam of LA, to the beautiful beach town of Santa Barbara, the waterfalls of Big Sur, the incredible rugged landscapes of Yosemite National Park, and end in buzzing San Francisco.

Ready for a few highlights? It’s going to be hard to pick but here goes…!

Oh the bright lights of LA! A sprawling city with pockets of landmarks made famous in films. Our tour guide for the week Darin, took us to the key spots and started to adjust to a tour dominated by social media, photos and vlogs. We joked that he’d be a YouTube superstar by the end of the week, and sure enough it wasn’t long before he was vlogging to camera!

Kicking off at Venice Beach, we checked out skate parks, surfer dudes and channelled our inner Arnies on Muscle Beach. While feebly hitting a punchball, I attracted a local personal trainer who wanted to give me some tips. “No not like that, punch it like you mean it. Does that feel good? I want you to shout IT FEELS GOOD.” My little arms flailed as I shouted “it feels good!” not wanting to deal with the consequences if I didn’t!

After snapping photos of cool street art it was time to head to the glitzy side of the city. Beverley Hills with its iconic sign and Rodeo Drive with its designer stores, and memories of Pretty Woman. It was every bit as glam as I’d hoped. Hey, we even went in the Wilshire Hotel – yes the Pretty Woman hotel! Fashionistas Maddie and Josie  were in their element, looking every bit the LA stars as they shopped in Chanel.

After a pit stop at Panera for deli sandwiches and healthy salads, it was time for #iTrekHere to hit Hollywood. When I first set eyes on the Hollywood sign, adrenaline pumped! So iconic, it was something I’d seen in countless films and TV shows and now here I was, right beneath it. Although the LA sun was beating down, it wasn’t a challenging walk, and along with the sign, there were incredible views of the whole city. It sprawled like some kind of  toytown.

We finished our whirlwind tour of LA by checking out some local drinking spots. The Sips of Old Hollywood tour run by Urban Adventures took us down the Walk of Fame, showed us where Marilyn used to sip cocktails, Walt Disney dreamed up his magical tales, and to a site of a few ghostly goings on. Don’t worry, this was very much a hands on tour and as I sipped on my Moscow mule in Boardners, I felt every bit the Hollywood superstar.

After a late night stop at Hollywood’s most famous hot dog store Pinks , we headed back to the hotel to crash out. It had been a long day ticking off the LA bucket list, but we’d done it!

Santa Barbara

Our introduction to the cool, upmarket beach town of Santa Barbara started with a hippie named One Feather. He talked about peace and love as he showed us his intricately decorated van. A true eccentric, it was hard not to be fascinated by him. Santa Barbara is known for its beach, pier and State Street (the main shopping boulevard). While some of the group headed out stand up paddle boarding, the rest of us went in search of frozen yoghurt. Mooching around the cute shops, cafes, and exploring a pop up farmers market felt like the perfect contrast to our hectic first day in LA.

That night we stayed in a campsite. Oh, and this is where my camping virginity would be taken!

Only a few of us had never put tents up before so we were quickly selected for Darin’s demonstration. Poles, nails, ground sheets, rain covers… It was all jargon to me and I had never really understood why anyone would choose to camp! But as we gathered around the stove to cook a pasta dinner, enjoyed a few drinks and chatted away, I started to see the appeal. As I bedded down for the night with my new tent buddies Amy and Laura , we felt closer than ever!

Up and out early, Darin had described the day as a ‘driving day’ – i.e. stock up on snacks and pick someone with good music taste to manage the playlist. Oreos in hand, Kings of Leon blasting out we drove the Pacific Coast Highway. It turned out this wasn’t a mere driving day, it was accompanied by some of the most spectacular road trip scenery you’ll ever see! A Big Sur road trip isn’t just any old road trip! High cliffs overlooking the Pacific, suspension bridges, waterfalls and more. We continuously reached for our cameras, leaning over one another to get the killer shots.

We stopped several times at beautiful viewpoints including Hearst Bay for lunch and Piedras Blancas Beach to see the elephant seals. I’d never seen so many seals – they looked like an expanse of giant rocks on the beach. A few moments later we spotted the distant spouts of whales and dolphins swimming close to the shore. So much for it just being a driving day!

The final stop before the campsite was at McWay Falls, a picturesque 80 ft waterfall which crashes down onto the beach. When you Google ‘Big Sur’ – this is what comes up, and it’s one place that looks just as good in reality as the photos online!

Feeling like camping pros we put up our tents, enjoyed a delicious fajita dinner, and toasted marshmallows for smores on the campfire.

The next morning, we trekked to Pfeiffer Falls, a hike of around 3 miles through a beautiful forest of redwood trees. The sun beamed down creating beautiful sunny patches in the woods – even more spectacular once the waterfall came into view.

Magical scenery, jutting rocks, waterfalls, forests and potential bear sightings made this the part of the trip that appealed to me most.

It turned out to be every bit as magical as I’d imagined, if not more so. The drive into the park was breathtaking with huge mountains, pine trees, beautiful canyons, and a river complete with ferocious looking rapids. The landscapes were vast, making us feel very small indeed (even more than I usually do!) Tour guide Darin pointed out rock climbers on El Capitan (the most famous rock feature) – but they were barely visible to the human eye. Talk about feeling small!

We couldn’t wait to check out the giant sequoia trees in Tuolumne Grove. Over 3000 years old, the enormous trees again made us feel extremely small. Flecks of golden sun seeped majestically through the trees as we clambered in and out of cavernous old tree trunks.

While in Yosemite, I chose to follow the Mist Trail – a medium difficulty hike which took us up to see Nevada and Vernal Falls. While I’d say I’m reasonably fit, it was still a challenging hike, mostly due its steepness. The hike paid off when I saw the incredible panoramic views.

As we stopped for gas on the way back to the campsite, a wonderful surprise awaited us. Greg from Travizeo (our videographer who spent the week capturing our journey on #iTrekHere) ran to the van, grabbed his camera and sprinted across the parking lot. Unsure of what he’d seen, a handful of us did the same. A bear! A big black bear roaming free in the forest, crossing the road and going about his business. It was magnificent, beautiful and elegant. I couldn’t believe we’d seen a bear in the wild!

San Francisco 

Surviving four nights of camping, virtually no internet and a few shower experiences I’d rather forget, we made our way to our final stop San Francisco. It was the city everyone raved about. And soon enough – I’d be raving about it too!

Over the next 48 hours we would check out several cool neighbourhoods, sail a catamaran under the Golden Gate Bridge, escape from Alcatraz, and party until dawn. It was the perfect end to an incredible week.

First on our hit list – the Mission District a.k.a where the hipsters hang out. Covered in eye-catching street art, it was home to a handful of trendy boutiques, super cool restaurants and a tonne of taco joints. It was a cool place to kick off our time in SF.

Next it was off to Haight–Ashbury – famous for being the home of the summer of love in the 60s. Sure enough, it had retained its hippie vibe with tie-die stores, small boutiques, and a certain ‘scent’ in the air!

Tourist areas Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 were brightly lit and filled with alluring gift shops, scents of cookies and big name chains. Unexpectedly, it was also home to a lot of sealions – spotted as we disembarked our catamaran. So cute! I also LOVED visiting Lombard Street – also known as the most crooked street in the world.

San Francisco is home to the biggest Chinatown outside of China, and I absolutely loved exploring the weird supermarkets and kitsch stores… even more so because of my love of pandas!

While spending the morning doing an audio tour of a former prison might not sound like a reason to get out of bed, our trip to Alcatraz was a real highlight. The tour offered a fascinating insight into the various attempted escapes and the big name criminals who used to be imprisoned there. It was eerie at times, but really struck a chord.

I can’t believe how much we crammed into our 9-day tour through California. It was the perfect taster of what the state has to offer, and somewhere I can’t wait to explore more of.

Along with special memories of the places we visited, I left with a great bunch of new friends. Since returning our group Whatsapp has continued to buzz with in jokes, funny photos and videos from the trip. We arrived as individuals but we definitely left as friends, something I really thank Trek America for. Once again, they delivered… here’s to the next #iTrekHere!

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my Trek America review, and it comes in handy if you’re considering booking a group tour with the company. Any questions, let me know below!  

Thanks to the team at Trek America and Visit California  for inviting me to be part of #iTrekHere. F ind out more about Trek America and the  California Callin’  tour.  As always, opinions are my own! 

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Chloe Gunning

With a passion for food, fun and adventure, Chloe is the content creator behind one of the UK's top travel blogs Wanderlust Chloe. From volcano boarding in Nicaragua, to sailing around Sicily and eating her way around Japan, her travels have taken her to some of the coolest spots on the planet. Named Travel Influencer of the Year in 2022, Chloe regularly works with a number of tourism boards, producing inspirational travel content across multiple platforms. Find out more about Chloe here.

18 thoughts on “Trek America Review: An Incredible USA Road Trip”

Wow that looks great – the perfect combination between urban and nature! I agree with your sentiment by the way, I am also a big fan of solo and group travel. This group seemed to have been the perfect mix!

Yeah it’s a great route to take in a bit of everything! The national park was a refreshing break after the hustle and bustle of LA… but then I was SO excited for San Fran at the end too! 🙂

This looks like such a fun trip! What a great way to meet new people and share your experiences! How did you find out about this trip? One day I’ll get to Venice Beach and to see the Walk of Fame. Thanks so much for sharing

It was a great trip – especially meeting new people on the road. We were such a family by the end! I was invited on it but you can book it via their website too. Deffo recommend. Cx

Oh well, that’a a tour I’d like to do!

Oh you should Luca! Definitely worth it – a great stress-free way to see some amazing places!

What an amazing trip and you could share it with others from the bloggos/ and vloggosphere. You do not get the chance to meet and travel with so many likeminded people (that are also working in the same field), so that must have been amazing.

That’s so true AnneMarie – sometimes it’s fun to travel with people who really get what you do. Although WOW did we have our cameras out a lot!!

I bet you did. I have been on a couple of press trips with journalists and it’s so much harder because by the time I am done with photos, they are already way ahead of me. With bloggers, we are all slow together.^^

Yeah I know what you mean! Especially when you’re videoing too! We definitely earn those cocktails at the end of the day 🙂

Ah, don’t even get me started on the video process. I get dizzy so much from constantly kneeling, bending and then climbing things to get shots. You definitely earned those chocktails!

Definitely! I can’t wait to put my Trek America video together but it’s going to take a while!

These pictures look AMAZING Chlo – so glad you had the best time! I’d love to trek the same route, it sounds awesome! Yosemite is a must on my wanderlust list!

Hayley xo http://www.frockmeimfamous.com

Hey Hayley! Thanks for your comment lovely! It was an amazing trip – hope you get out there soon. You’ll love it – esp Yosemite. Pics just don’t do it justice! Cx

I’ll be in California in two weeks and your post and photos are making me hop with excitement! I won’t be able to see as much as you but we have San Francisco, Yosemite and Big Sur on the itinerary – I can’t wait!!

Ahhh that’s so exciting! Yosemite was definitely the highlight for me as it’s just soooo stunning… but I also loved SF. It’s the kind of city I can imagine living in!

This is amazing – I did a CA road trip 7 years ago and really feel like I need to repeat it! Love the video as well 😀

Thanks Kathi – yeah it was such a great route. Really varied! Thanks for checking it all out 🙂

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Trek America: Canyons & National Parks

• Hiking & Trekking
• Walking Adventure
• Fully Guided

Places You’ll See

• Introduction
• Day 1 Start San Francisco
• Day 2 Highlights of San Francisco then on to Yosemite National Park
• Day 3 Walking in Yosemite National Park
• Day 4 Drive across Tioga Pass and to Death Valley National Park
• Day 5 Travel to Zion National Park
• Day 6 Discover Zion National Park (breakfast)
• Day 7 Bryce Canyon National Park (breakfast)
• Day 8 Monument Valley (dinner)
• Day 9 Grand Canyon National Park (breakfast)
• Day 10 Grand Canyon National Park
• Day 11 Route 66 to Las Vegas

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Reviews About This Operator

• Tour Operator Exodus Travels 4.4
• anne · 23rd October 2019 Loved everything about the tour, great itinerary, transport, hotels, food and most of all our guide was wonderful... Show more
• Michelle · 14th September 2019 Tim was the VERY best— so informative and fun and related to each person in our small group
• Noeleen · 19th April 2018 Our tour guide Don. He was helpful informative and considerate! Many thanks to Don for making this trip a... Show more

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Good to Know

• Currency $ US Dollar USA

As a traveller from England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types A, B.

• Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
• Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
• For any tour departing before 25th August 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after 25th August 2024, a minimum payment of 25% is required to confirm your booking with Exodus Travels. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 90 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
• Some departure dates and prices may vary and Exodus Travels will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
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• Insurance Unless otherwise mentioned, TourRadar does not provide travel insurance. We do however recommend purchasing it through our tried and trusted partner, World Travel Nomads .
• Accessibility Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team , who are ready and waiting to help you.
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Trekking America

Trekking holidays in the united states.

Las Vegas to San Fran: Parks, Canyons, Valleys - 8 Days

• Las Vegas to San Francisco
• Age range: 15 - 99
• Group size: 12

Hiking in Yosemite National Park - 5 Days

• San Francisco to San Francisco

Western USA National Parks Loop - 5 Days

• Las Vegas to Las Vegas

LA to Vegas: Grand National Parks - 10 Days

• Los Angeles to Las Vegas

Zion Glamping Adventure - 4 Days

South Dakota to Yellowstone Parks Explorer - 6 Days

• Rapid City to Bozeman

Alaska Hike, Bike & Kayak - 6 Days

• Anchorage to Anchorage
• Group size: 11

Real San Francisco to LA - 13 Days

• San Francisco to Santa Monica
• Age range: 18 - 35

Trekking America - Small Group Treks

Trekking holidays America have never been more popular. The vast wilderness of the national parks offer so many routes and spectacular views along the way, it's a dream for many.

Some treks of course are very famous such as the John Muir Trail and the Pacific Northwest Trail to name but two, there are of course many more. 

Top 10 Treks In America

Here are the top 10 trekking and hiking holidays in the us:, john muir trail - 23 days, pacific northwest trail - 8 days, san fran to vegas: parks, canyons, valleys - 9 days, grand alaska camping - 12 days, deserts and canyons of the southwest - 14 days, grand canyon and rocky mountain trails - 15 days, walking the western us national parks - 10 days, yellowstone wildlife trails - hotels - 12 days, hiking utah's big 5 - 9 days, hiking sequoia, kings canyon, and yosemite - 8 days, who goes on the treks.

All of our US treks are small groups and guided. Groups are usually made up of around 10 people with typically equal mix of gender.

Usually around half of any group are solo travellers and the other half couples or friends.

Ages range from early twenties to over seventy but the average age is typically 39 ish.

The type of people who enjoy these trips really varies, we find the most important factor is the desire to be in the wild, away from city life and general life drama.

If you're interested in any departure date we can find out the make up of the group for you, just make contact with us by phone, chat or email:)

How Fit Do I Need To Be?

Each trek has a physical rating form 1 to 5. 1 is low meaning you don't really need to be fit at all where as 5 is challenging and we're recommend some training and an average fitness level.

Most of the US treks fall between 2 to 4, so quite easy to quite tough. In all cases we think it is a good idea to do even a little bit of training such as long walks with aback pack and if you're getting new walking shoes, get them early and break them in!

I Am A Solo Traveller

Don't worry, at least half of our customers overall are also solo travellers and our tours and holidays are designed with solo travellers in mind. We know it can be daunting if you're a solo traveller or of course it's your first time travelling alone. All of our team have travelled alone and we're very happy to talk you through it.

Usually about half of any group is made up of solo travellers. We pair solo travellers together of the same gender and age (where we can) to share a room which keeps costs down.

You can of course opt for your won room on most treks and adventures usually for a little extra.

Each trek is guided and the guide is there to make sure everyone is happy and safe. If you have a problem maybe with gear, your room mate, food etc the guide will be able to help and can usually fix any problems that arise!

Is Vegetarian Food Available?

Yes. All tours have  vegetarian options.

Is Wifi Available?

Not always. This depends upon where you are, which net work you're with etc...

What Gear Do I Need?

Each trek has a brochure you can download which includes a 'what to pack' list as each trek is different.

However, there are some essentials you may require:

- Good trekking shoes

- Light weight shorts and trousers 

- Sun cream

- Sunglasses

- Insect Repellent

- Waterproofs

- Water Bottle

Speak To Our Team

Call or email our expert team to find out more and help with ideas and planning.

Call to add flights or build a tailor made adventure

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What Our Customers Say

Trust the adventure people.

Communication was excellent both by email and over the phone, everyone I had contacted followed and actioned my request or answered my question politely and efficiently.

Would definitely recommend this company.

The staff are super helpful and friendly and always answer e-mails as soon as they can.

Trip achieved all my expectations!

The tour that I booked with The Adventure People met all my expectations. The local agent in Vietnam kept in regular contact with me during my trip. All of the connections worked perfectly. The hotels were all of a good standard and comfortable as well as being in a good location. Would definitely use them again

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Trek Bikes - The world's best bikes and cycling gear

Online bike shopping made easy

Your perfect bike may already be in a store near you. Browse local inventory online for the fastest availability.

Upon arrival, your bike will be assembled by certified bicycle technicians and made ready to pick up or deliver to your home.

If you’re not in love with your bike within the first thirty days, we will take it back without any additional charges or hassle.

Your local bike shop has the knowledge, products, and expertise to help you get the most out of your new bike.

Back-to-back bike of the year

Slash - 2023 Bike of the Year

Fuel ex - 2022 bike of the year.

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Used bikes, certified awesome by Trek

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No time to waste

We’re changing the business of bikes

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Our mission Trek started in a small Wisconsin barn in 1976, but our founders always saw something bigger. Decades later, we're on a mission to make our world a better place to live and ride. We build only products we love, provide incredible hospitality to our customers, and change the world by getting more people on bikes.

At least 3 climbers believed dead on Mount Everest

Amid the tail end of the climbing season on Mount Everest , at least three people are believed to have died this week, according to officials and those close to the men.

Cheruiyot Kirui, a senior relationship manager at African bank KCB Group (previously known as Kenya Commercial Bank), died during his trek on the mountain, his employer said .

His body was found on Mount Everest, according to Khim Lal Gautam, a Nepal government official at base camp. It was unclear when the body would be recovered because it would be difficult to carry at that altitude due to the low oxygen level.

KCB said he died “while summiting” Everest. It reported the death took place Wednesday or Thursday.

Kenya’s principal secretary for foreign affairs, Korir Sing’Oei, said on the social media platform X on Thursday that Kirui was “my friend.”

“He is a fearless, audacious spirit, and represents the indomitable will of many Kenyans,” he said. “We shall miss him.”

Nawang Sherpa, a guide who was with the banker, was also reported missing.

Two other climbers, Daniel Paul Paterson of the U.K. and Pastenji Sherpa of Nepal, are feared dead after reaching the summit and descending on Tuesday, according to a joint post Thursday from the Instagram accounts for Everest guide Lakpa Sherpa and 8K Expeditions.

They were missing after a cornice collapsed near Hillary Step, and their bodies have not been recovered, the accounts said. Their deaths have not been confirmed by government officials.

Paterson listed himself on social media as co-owner of England’s Wakefield CrossFit gym, and was described in the Thursday post as someone known for his “uplifting personality, and strong determination.”

Pastenji Sherpa worked with 8K Expeditions, which said he was one of the Himalayas’ busiest guides. He was a dedicated climber from his youth who had previously climbed Everest, as well as other well-known peaks.

“We remember and honor their enduring spirits and extend our deepest condolences to their grieving families,” the Thursday post stated.

Two Mongolian climbers died last week while descending from the summit. Additional climbers and guides on Mount Everest have been reported missing, according to numerous accounts, but official word of their status was unavailable late Friday.

Officials said more than 450 climbers have scaled Mount Everest from the Nepali side of the peak this season. The spring climbing season on the world’s tallest mountain shuts down at the end of May. The Himalayan peak sits on Nepal’s border with China.

Jean Lee is an associate reporter with NBC News’ Social Newsgathering team in Los Angeles. She previously reported for the NBC News consumer investigative unit.

Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. 

The Black Keys Quietly Cancel International Players Tour 2024

The Black Keys have quietly canceled their upcoming International Players Tour, which was scheduled to bring them to arenas throughout North America.

The tour, announced in early April, was scheduled to kick off in September, with dates set for New York City’s Madison Square Garden and Los Angeles’ Kia Forum. The 31-date trek would have brought them across North America, with stops planned in Seattle, Boston and Milwaukee before concluding at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena on Nov. 12. All dates have been marked as canceled on Ticketmaster’s website.

On the Black Keys’ website, tour dates have been scrubbed with the exception of a sole performance still scheduled for July 6 at NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race.

Management and publicity for the Black Keys did not respond to Variety ‘s requests for comment.

After news broke on Saturday that the tour had been canceled, the group posted on Instagram explaining that they had to reconfigure their tour to bring a similarly “exciting, intimate experience” for fans and that tickets for the original trek would be refunded in full.

“The band wants to assure everyone that Dan & Patrick are alive and well,” reads the caption. “Following the recent run of shows in the UK & Europe, including stops at iconic venues like Brixton Academy and the Zenith in Paris, we have decided to make some changes to the North American leg of the International Players Tour that will enable us to offer a similarly exciting, intimate experience for both fans and the band, and will be announcing a revised set of dates shortly.

Everyone who had purchased tickets and/or VIP to the initial tour dates will be fully refunded – and when the new plans are announced, will be the first to be able to buy tickets. Thank you for your understanding and apologies for the surprise change… We're pretty sure everyone is going to be excited when you see what we have in mind though, and look forward to seeing everyone soon.”

The Black Keys, which consists of Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach, were set to kick off the tour in support of their most recent album “Ohio Players,” which released in April. On Wednesday, the pair appeared on NBC’s “The Voice,” where they performed “Beautiful People (Stay High).”

The band also recently debuted the documentary “This Is a Film About the Black Keys,” which had its world premiere at SXSW last month. The film explored the historical tensions between the bandmates as well as what united them. "We've figured each other out, for the most part,” said Auerbach in the doc. “We're just two very opinionated, hard-headed people, trapped for eternity together."

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• Why the Black Keys Made a Documentary About Their Rise From Broke Indie Rockers to a Top Band That Didn't Speak to Each Other for Three Years
• 'This Is a Film About the Black Keys' Review: The Duo That Rocks Together Stays Together, Even Amid Communication Breakdowns

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He Took a Terrible, Horrible, No-Good 800-Mile Hike So You Don’t Have To

In “A Walk in the Park,” Kevin Fedarko recounts a trek-of-a-lifetime that becomes a nightmare in one of America’s most stunning sites. At least he can laugh about it.

By Blair Braverman

Blair Braverman is a writer, adventurer and dog-sledder. Her most recent book is “Small Game.”

A WALK IN THE PARK: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon, by Kevin Fedarko

Maybe it’s when he’s extracting drinking water from damp sand with a syringe, trying desperately not to die from dehydration, but there came a point in “A Walk in the Park,” Kevin Fedarko’s memoir about walking the length of the Grand Canyon, that I thought: Wow, this hike is a terrible idea.

Not that this was a revelation; Fedarko says as much from the start. But I still assumed, being well versed in the rhythms of adventure stories (and the accompanying “wait-till-you-hear-how-bad-it-was” ), that a Grand Canyon hike wouldn’t be uniquely awful. I was wrong.

Fedarko grew up in Pittsburgh, in a landscape drained by coal mining and poisoned by the byproducts of industry; his family recalls the yellow mist of the Donora Death Fog, a quirk of atmospheric pressure that trapped chemical emissions over a town some 20 miles south of the city, killing at least 20 people and sickening many more. As a child visiting his grandparents, he played on hills of strip-mine waste.

But when a magazine assignment brought him to the Colorado River, he fell in love with both the Grand Canyon and the elegant wooden dories that traverse it. He uprooted his life to volunteer for a tour company, handling raw sewage on rafting expeditions in the hope of one day being promoted to the driver’s seat of a dory. As he relates one grievous mishap after another, the reader faces a dawning realization. Wait: Is this guy going to walk the whole canyon because he’s not good enough to row a boat?

Indeed — and outdoor literature is the better for it, because “A Walk in the Park” is a triumph. Fedarko doesn’t describe awe; he induces it, with page-turning action, startling insights and the kind of verbal grace that makes multipage descriptions of, say, a flock of pelicans feel riveting and new. The canyon has no established through route. It is a living oven, full of scorpions, cactuses, venomous snakes, flash floods and various other incarnations of hell on earth.

Indeed, Grand Canyon is one of the deadliest national parks, and Fedarko relates in unflinching details the list of fatalities: Various tourists plummet off viewpoints and a guy drowns while crossing rapids on an air mattress. By the time he explains how the canyon’s extreme heat can cause the proteins in human cells to “denature and congeal as if one were boiling an egg,” I wished he were a little less gifted in his descriptive powers.

Fedarko’s hiking companion is his longtime creative partner, the photographer Pete McBride. Each man “often found the other to be madly annoying,” writes Fedarko — but some of his warmest and funniest writing is about his friendship with McBride, whether they’re discovering ancient petroglyphs or wrenching pieces of cholla cactus off each other. McBride is made up of equal parts idealism and “pigheadedness.” He theorizes that they don’t need to train because “the hike itself is the thing that’s gonna get us in shape for the hike” — though Fedarko acknowledges, in a lengthy and diplomatic footnote, that his depiction of the duo’s incompetence, while not technically in accurate, may be played up for drama. That it annoys McBride, it seems, is only a side benefit.

The canyon, unlike the reader, is unamused. The prospect of death very real, these men have to get their act together or quit. Though at times they come close to their demise, a team of magnanimous experts helps them to trek on. They encounter radioactive mine sites, wild horses, pools of dead tarantulas and countless other shocks and wonders, such as a cactus that retracts into the dirt and a carnivorous mouse that howls at the moon. Along the way they, and we, meet many of the park’s stakeholders, from Indigenous activists to a professor of Euclidean numbers theory. Fedarko interweaves their stories with wry, precise distillations of natural history and incisive profiles of the investment interests that aim to squeeze wild nature into cash.

The book never shies from its paradoxes: I did this so you don’t have to; I did this because you shouldn’t; I shouldn’t have done this, but it’s good I did. By the time the men complete their yearlong hike, they’ve endured and overcome so much that they’re briefly mistaken for plane crash victims. But in truth, they, and we, are pilgrims on holy ground. Readers will be tempted to visit the canyon just to keep the book’s spell alive longer — and to feel Fedarko’s company in their awe.

A WALK IN THE PARK : The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon | By Kevin Fedarko | Scribner | 489 pp. | $32.50

Exploring the Outdoors, One Step at a Time

Hiking is a great way to immerse yourself in nature and tune out the chaos of city life. the tips below will help you get ready before you hit the trail..

Hiking offers a host of mental and physical benefits. If you’re new to it, here’s how to get started .

Fourteen years and one Apple App of the Year award in, AllTrails has become something rare: a tool that works for both experts and newbies .

Make sure you have the right gear . Wirecutter has recommendations for anything you might need — from hydration packs  to trekking poles . And remember to try on hiking boots  at the right time of the day .

These clever apps and devices  will help you to find your way, triage an injury and generally stay out of trouble on the trail.

Planning to venture out for a nighttime  hike ? Opt for wide, easy-to-navigate paths.

Experts say failing to alert family or friends of your plans is one of the biggest mistakes hikers make. Here are some more safety tips .