It was a well-trekked sandy trail leading us into the thick brush. A gentle breeze rustled the shrubs and straggling mesquite and ironwood trees. In an instant on the short track, we seemed to leave the Sonoran Desert behind and move into a stunted but lush preserve.

The vast collection of earthworks at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park were the temples of a complex religion, practiced by people throughout the entire Eastern United States, and on high holy days would have been cosmopolitan cities full of elaborately dressed practitioners who spoke a panoply of languages.

If you’ve ever visited Lassen Volcanic National Park, you’ll probably have hiked the Bumpass Hell Trail. It’s one of those must-do hikes. But that’s not the only trail you should tackle. Contributing photographer and editor Rebecca Latson hiked Cinder Cone Trail in the more remote northeastern portion of the park and firmly believes the rewards are worth the effort.

As Jerry Bransford leads tours through Mammoth Cave, he can point to more than 150 years of family history in the passageways.