THE PERSON BEHIND THE SIDEQUEST
About The Scenic Sidequest
Hi, I’m Josh! I like hiking and seeing cool places around the world. I also have a camera that my beautiful girlfriend bought me. Working as a digital marketer in SEO, I thought why not document the trails, destinations and unexpected stops I experience along the way on my own website.
The Scenic Sidequest is where I share firsthand hiking guides, practical trip-planning lessons, places I stayed and food stops worth remembering. The goal is to show what each experience actually felt like, especially for people who are doing research as casual hikers or travelers.
Why I Created The Scenic Sidequest
I started The Scenic Sidequest partly to help everyday hikers and travelers plan with more confidence. More than anything, though, I wanted a place to document the experiences I did not want to forget.
Photos can capture a view, but they do not always preserve the confusing trailhead, the section that felt harder than expected, the food spots that hit perfectly after a long hike or the small mistake that changed the entire day. Specifically, I want to help out those who want to do research about hikes and build a day around it.
Not to mention, writing these guides gives me a way to remember those details and practice my writing.
I am still building my experience one trail and destination at a time. That is part of the point of the site: it follows the process of exploring, learning and becoming a more capable hiker rather than pretending I already know everything.
What You’ll Find Here
Firsthand Hiking Guides
My hiking guides are based on trails I personally completed. I cover parking, trail access, distance, elevation, terrain, scenery, difficulty and the parts of the hike that surprised me.
Complete Trip Experiences
A trail does not exist in isolation. When it adds value, I also document where I stayed, where I ate, how I organized the trip and which nearby experiences were worth including.
Honest Lessons
I share the things that went well, but I also include mistakes, poor planning decisions and what I would change before attempting the same trip again.
How I Approach Each Guide
I Start With the Actual Experience
I take notes, photographs and observations during or shortly after each trip so the guide reflects what I genuinely encountered.
I Verify the Practical Details
Whenever possible, I compare my experience with information from the appropriate park, government agency or land-management website.
I Separate Facts From Personal Opinion
Official distance, fees and regulations are different from how difficult or worthwhile a trail felt to me. I try to make that distinction clear.
I Update What I Can
Access, prices, closures and conditions can change. I review older content when possible, but readers should still confirm current details through official sources before leaving.
More Than the Trail
Hiking remains the main focus of The Scenic Sidequest, but some of the best parts of a trip happen before reaching the trailhead or after taking off the hiking shoes.
That is why the site also includes hotels, cabins, campgrounds, restaurants, coffee shops and scenic stops that I personally experienced during the same trips.
I am not trying to review every hotel or rank every restaurant in a destination. I focus on what mattered during the trip: convenience, comfort, location, cost, atmosphere and whether the experience was genuinely worth remembering.
A Note About My Perspective
I am not a professional hiking guide, outdoor instructor, hotel critic or food expert.
My difficulty ratings and recommendations reflect my personal fitness, hiking experience, expectations and the conditions during my visit. A trail that felt manageable to me may feel very different to another person.
Hiking and outdoor travel involve real risks. Weather, trail conditions, wildlife, elevation, heat and personal preparedness can all affect an experience. Always evaluate your own ability and consult current official information before starting a hike.
The site is meant to provide one honest perspective, not replace professional instruction, official guidance or your own judgment.
About the Photography
Most of the photography on The Scenic Sidequest comes from the trips documented on the site.
The photos are not always technically perfect, especially when I am tired, moving quickly or more focused on the experience than the camera. I still prefer using original images because they show what the place looked and felt like during the actual visit.
Where the Sidequest Goes Next
Arizona is currently the foundation of the site, but future guides will cover national parks, other parts of the United States and international destinations such as Japan.
Wherever the site goes, the approach will remain the same: experience it firsthand, document it honestly and share the details that might help whoever stumbles onto this site.
Get In Touch
Have a question about one of my guides, found information that may have changed or have a trail recommendation for a future sidequest?
You can reach me at josh@thescenicsidequest.com.