Southwest Archives | REI Co-op Journal

Thunder Falls cascades from a cave mouth high above the canyon floor.

The Top Grand Canyon Waterfall Hikes

Morgan Sjogren//June 27, 2019

With underground rivers that gush from its sheer cliff walls and cascades that plunge more than 100 feet in a single span, the world’s most famous chasm is also home to some of its most spectacular waterfalls. These are some of the best. Read More...

A lone sandboarder stands on a dune in southern Utah.

Sandboarding: The Strangest Sport You Definitely Need to Try

Jennifer Simonson//May 8, 2019

If you love snowboarding but are running out of snow as winter comes to an end, there’s a growing, year-round sport you may want to check out. Read More...

Phoenix Outdoor Activities: Explore the Southwest

Morgan Tilton//February 8, 2019

With perpetual sunshine and a plethora of public lands, it’s easy to see why Phoenix is attracting a growing stream of travelers each year. Read More...

How Ada Hatch Helped Change the Field of Archaeology for Women

Morgan Sjogren//October 22, 2018

A profile of Ada Hatch, 76, who spent the summer of 1962 working as one of the Southwest’s first woman archaeologists on the Glen Canyon Salvage Project. Read More...

Is this Van-Dwelling Yosemite-Fiend Climbing’s Next Great Photographer?

Leslie Hittmeier//April 13, 2018

Montanan Drew Smith recently landed one of climbing's most-coveted positions. This is his story. Read More...

The Surprising Frequency of Rockfall in Yosemite National Park

Chris Van Leuven//

Until last week, the last rockfall-related death in Yosemite was nearly two decades ago, but slides in the park are more common than you may... Read More...

Climbing Road Trip: Autumn’s Best Crags

Nick Mott//

Autumn offers some the best climbing of the year. Here's where to send. Read More...

Bears Ears: Run to the Sunrise

Morgan Sjogren//

One runner’s search for adventure and a fresh start in our newest—and now at-risk—national monument I’m shivering in the back of my yello... Read More...

Dewey Point with El Capitan in the background, Yosemite, California"

Yosemite National Park Visitor Guide

REI Staff//

One of the crown jewels of California, Yosemite National Park boasts spectacular granite peaks, iconic waterfalls and pristine rivers and streams. Read More...

A Bears Ears National Monument Primer

Shannon Davis//

President Obama preserves 1.35 million acres in southern Utah Just weeks after banning oil drilling in federally owned arctic waters, Oba... Read More...

Ride Here Now: Your Best Bets for Winter Riding in the Southwest Desert

Jordan Carr//

Warm temps, sunshine and trails abound in these desert oases When icy trails and dark days have you feeling down, look no further than th... Read More...

Backpackers gaze into the depths of the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon National Park Visitor Guide

REI Staff//

More than a mile deep, up to 10 miles wide and 277 river miles long, the Grand Canyon is one of the world’s most breathtaking wonders. Read More...