Bigger is not always better. While we spend plenty of time oohing and ahhing over larger mountain towns like Boulder or Chattanooga, there are dozens of smaller hamlets with fewer than 6,000 full-time residents that offer the right combo of amenities and quick access to some of the best spots for outdoor recreation in the country. Here are my favorite small adventure towns across the United States, from minuscule hiking and climbing outposts to bustling ski towns.

Bethel, Maine

Population: 2,730

Why I Love It

Bethel is the kind of town that makes you consider relocating. Tucked into Western Maine鈥檚 Lakes and Mountains region, the village itself is super walkable with an eclectic array of restaurants, while being surrounded by public land, from the peaks that make up the expansive White Mountain National Forest to the less-intimidating Community Forest trails accessed directly from town.

The slow-moving Androscoggin River passes through the village (prime tubing in the summer) and an ever-growing is attracting more and more mountain bikers.

Oh, and Bethel is flanked by two ski resorts. is the larger of the two, with more than 2,000 feet of vertical and 750 acres of terrain (not to mention a couple of heated lifts), while is the mom-and-pop ski hill we all wish we had in our backyard, with $39 lift tickets every day, a friendly uphill policy, and a solid mix of terrain to keep it interesting.

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Most people come to Bethel to ski Sunday River. If you鈥檙e looking for a challenge, head to Oz, a zone loaded with steep double black runs, or take Lollapalooza to Blind Ambition, an expansive gladed run on the edge of Jordan Bowl. Bring your mountain bike during the summer. Mt. Abram has lift-served terrain, but you can hit a number of trails directly from the edge of town. is a fun, flowy three-mile loop in the center of the Bethel Village Trails on the south side of the village.

Where to Eat

has a genius cocktail menu, as well as a seafood chowder that hits just right on a cold winter night. If you鈥檙e looking for something more casual, has burgers and a rotating New England IPA on tap.

Where to Stay

The will put you on the southern edge of the village, within walking distance of restaurants, and direct access to some of the town鈥檚 most loved mountain bike trails (from $126 per night).

Stowe, Vermont

Population: 5,230 or 745

Why I Love It

Quite simply, Stowe is the East Coast鈥檚 best ski town, especially this winter as Stowe Mountain Resort has enjoyed 329 inches of snow (and counting) at the time I鈥檓 writing this article, and then you have the New England charm of the village itself, with its steeples, covered bridges, and brick federal architectural style. And all of this sits in the shadow of the massive Mount Mansfield State Forest and Smugglers鈥� Notch State Park.

Not cool enough yet? How about an aggressive and progressive local population that鈥檚 worked to preserve more than for public use while building out a growing system of singletrack and nordic trails that can be accessed straight from town. Is Stowe still a sleepy hamlet tucked into the hills? Yes and no. The village still feels small, but it can be expensive, and it can get crowded, but that鈥檚 the proverbial price you pay for being the best ski town on the East Coast.

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In the winter, you鈥檙e obviously skiing Stowe, which is one of the East鈥檚 best resorts, with more than 2,000 vertical feet of drop, and 653 skiable acres split between two mountains: Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak.When the snow melts, combine a slice of the and the for an eight-mile loop that climbs the 4,393-foot Mount Mansfield via a 2,000-foot climb that includes some ladders and scrambling before reaching the treeless summit, where you can see the surrounding Green Mountains and the White Mountains in New Hampshire.

Mountain bikers should pedal the Stowe Recreation Trail, a six-mile paved path along the What River, to access , Stowe鈥檚 signature trail network with 12 miles of purpose-built singletrack. Make sure you hit the mile-long Florence, considered by many the best flow trail in the northeast. And listen, everyone should make a point to visit Stowe during fall, when the weather is crisp and the hardwoods are popping off in a barrage of reds, yellows, and golds.

Where to Eat

is incredibly hip, incredibly good, and incredibly crowded, but get on the waitlist and when it鈥檚 your chance, order the Vermont cheddar fritters and their smash burger and listen to the DJ spinning from a wall of vinyl. And if you鈥檙e in Vermont, you have to stop by the and pick up a four pack of the beer that put the brewery on the map, Heady Topper.

Where to Stay

Stowe has resorts attached to the ski hill and quaint bed and breakfasts, but check out the new cabins and lodge rooms at a few miles outside of town, with direct access to Stowe鈥檚 Recreation Path. The lodge has its own bar, pool, and hot tub and a grassy lawn overlooking the West Branch of the Little River (from $151 per night).

Silverton, Colorado

Population: 713

Why I Love It

Sitting at 9,300 feet in elevation, Silverton is a former gold and silver mining town that has found new life as a basecamp for outdoor adventure, thanks to the surrounding San Juan Mountains鈥攁 hotbed of skiing in the winter and alpine adventure in the summer. If you鈥檙e standing in downtown Silverton, you鈥檙e within and 15 miles of seven of Colorado鈥檚 14,000-foot summits.

The entire town is a National Historic Landmark with buildings erected in the late 1800s that still retain their Wild West vibe. Greene Street, the main road through the heart of town, is the only paved street in the municipality. I鈥檝e visited Silverton during the winter, on my way to ski the backcountry terrain in the San Juan mountains, but I鈥檓 dying to get back in the summer and early fall to check out the growing network of mountain bike trails and see the aspens surrounding town turn gold.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料s

Experience the best of the San Juans in summer by hiking the , located in the Weminuche Wilderness of the San Juan National Forest. The eight-mile out and back passes through meadows packed with wildflowers before delivering you to a trio of high-alpine lakes that are known to house rainbow, cutthroat, and brook trout. The hike tops out at 12,000 feet in elevation, but you can climb higher by picking up the Continental Divide Trail above the lakes.

The local bike club, the Silverton Singletrack Society, is in the process of building out 30 miles of singletrack in a system called that you can pedal to from town. The first six-mile loop has just opened, offering a steep climb before releasing you to a 1,000-foot, flowy descent.

If you have the skillset, I highly recommend skiing , which is like no other ski 鈥渞esort鈥� in the country. A single chairlift rises from a warming hut, from the top you can skin out to a cornucopia of backcountry lines, all of which demand expert-level skiing. If that鈥檚 not enough terrain, Silverton Mountain also offers heli-bumps from the top of the chairlift.

Where to Eat

has great IPAs as well as a full menu, from cauliflower tacos to pizzas loaded with sausage and bacon.

Where to Stay

The has 15 modern rooms in a multi-story building that once housed a gas station, ballroom, and lodge hall. The hotel sits in the heart of downtown and every booking comes with a $10 drink credit in the lobby bar (private rooms from $176 per night; bunks in the 10-bed bunk room from $75 per night).

Highlands, North Carolina

Population: 1,110听

Why I Love It

Highlands, which is one of the highest incorporated towns east of the Mississippi (elevation: 4,118 feet), has been a mountain escape since the late 1800s, originally attracting wealthy travelers who flocked to the village for its clean air and pristine surroundings.

People today show up for the same reasons, and Highlands has grown into a cultural hub of the mountains, with a surprisingly robust art and culinary scene given its small footprint. Main Street is bustling with shops, galleries and restaurants, while the surrounding Nantahala National Forest offers fast access to hiking trails, mountain lakes, and waterfalls.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料s

Hiking Whiteside Mountain, a 4,903-foot peak named after the sheer, granite face that rises to its summit, is the must-do adventure close to town. The two-mile forms a loop that delivers you to the edge of this 700-foot cliff, one of the tallest in the eastern U.S.

You can actually drive your car behind Bridal Veil Falls, just outside of town, but for a more adventurous waterfall, head to Bust Your Butt Falls, a swimming hole just off Highway 64 on the Cullasaja River with a jumping rock and natural water slide at the base of the falls.

Where to Eat

You can鈥檛 turn around without stumbling into another fancy (and pricey) restaurant in Highlands, but I like for its to-go sandwiches and snacks that hit the spot on big hikes.

Where to Stay

Highlands has no shortage of high-end hotels and resorts, but I like the new , a 14-room motel that was recently renovated into a boutique stay where each room has its own typewriter and turntable with record collection (from $189 per night).

Kanab, Utah

Population: 5,200听

Why I Love It

You can鈥檛 beat Kanab鈥檚 location. Tucked into the desert of southern Utah, just north of the Arizona border, Kanab sits within striking distance of some of the Southwest鈥檚 most iconic landscapes. Bryce Canyon National Park is an hour north, Zion National Park is 45 minutes west. If you鈥檙e looking to take a dip, Lake Powell is an hour east, and drive two hours south and you鈥檒l hit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

The town itself is steeped in Hollywood history, as more than 200 Westerns were filmed in the canyons around town. Kanab itself has a bit of a Moab vibe (think adobe buildings and streets sprawling through the desert floor) but it鈥檚 far sleepier than its gateway cousin, and in my opinion, has a much better culinary scene.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料s

So many parks, so little time. For something unique, head to where you can sand-board the 75-foot tall dunes, made of grains of quartz coated with iron oxide, giving them a pink hew. You can rent sand boards or sleds from the at the park ($25 per board).

Hike Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch, considered the longest slot canyon in America. The is the fastest way into the gorge, a 3.4-mile round trip that delivers you to the canyon. From there, you can explore up or down the canyon to your heart鈥檚 content. The gulch is in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. You鈥檒l need a for the day hike.

Buckskin Gulch is more than 12 miles long, and 200 feet deep at its low point. The walls are never wider than 20 feet during its entire length.

Where to Eat

Kanab is a legitimate foodie destination with a handful of restaurants that punch above the weight of a town this size. If you鈥檙e looking for a memorable dinner, head to , where the menu revolves around a series of small plates, from foraged local mushrooms to chili-rubbed beef sourced just across the border in Arizona.

Where to Stay

There are plenty of hotels around town, but spend the night at , a glamping resort with geodesic domes that have king beds, their own kitchenette, and massive windows overlooking the red rock cliffs (from $170 per night).

Patagonia, Arizona

Population: 789

Why I Love It

Start in Tucson, then head an hour south (almost to the Mexican border) and you鈥檒l find tiny Patagonia, a former mining town that鈥檚 just starting to transition into a bonafide adventure town. This one-street village is surrounded by 10,000-foot peaks, and sits within striking distance of two state parks鈥擯atagonia Lake and Sonoita Creek. But the real draw here is the myriad of gravel roads that extend from main street into the surrounding hills, traversing an endless sea of desert grassland.

You鈥檒l hear both Spanish and English spoken throughout town, which also sports the tell-tale signs of a modern mountain outpost (like at the coffee bar with weekend food trucks), but is still hanging onto its blue-collar roots (and rooms are still relatively cheap).

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The 800-mile long Arizona National Scenic Trail, which runs the length of the state, can be found just outside of town. Head south for a meandering hike through rolling grasslands, or north and you鈥檒l tackle the Santa Rita Mountains, where steep climbs and granite peaks await.

But you鈥檙e probably here for the gravel riding, too. The options are endless, and the terrain is rolling instead of grueling, so plan for big-mile days. Start with the 30-mile Alto Ghost Town ride, which climbs through a series of canyons on its way to the ruins of a former mining camp. The undulating grasslands turn gold in the fall but form mesmerizing, shimmering waves regardless of when you ride through them. has rentals (from $125 per day).

Where to Eat

The has build-your-own pizzas, margaritas, and classy oil portraits of The King, while brews coffee in the morning, beer in the afternoon, and hosts rotating food trucks on weekends.

Where to Stay

Grab a spot in the nine-room hotel, which sits on main street within walking distance of everything, and has dedicated bike storage (from $125 per night).

Mazama, Washington

Population 200听

Why I Love It

There鈥檚 small, and then there鈥檚 Mazama, a hamlet in central Washington鈥檚 Methow Valley that has less than 200 year-round residents and a 鈥渄owntown鈥� that鈥檚 nothing more than a handful of businesses situated around a junction where two roads meet. But Mazama has everything you need鈥攆ood, beer, supplies, and a place to sleep.

More importantly, the town is surrounded by the , the largest network of nordic ski trails in the country (120 miles), all of which were created and maintained by a non-profit, also called . During the summer, there鈥檚 whitewater rafting on the Methow River, and trad and sport climbing on the Goat Wall, a 1,500-foot tall cliff overlooking the valley. Need more? Mazama is a gateway to North Cascades National Park, which has more glaciers than any park in the lower 48, and also happens to be one of the least visited parks in the country, with under 17,000 visitors last year.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料s

State Road 20, a.k.a. North Cascades Highway, closes from Mazama into the park during the winter, but come summer, the two-lane offers a beautiful 90-minute drive west over Washington Pass. The of the park offers the easiest access to Mazama. There, you鈥檒l find three reservoirs of differing shades of milky blue. Grab a canoe ($75 a day) from and explore the lake, which is surrounded by steep, green mountains. Or hike the 3.5-mile to a prominent point overlooking Diablo Lake.

If you make the trek during winter, cross country skiing is the ticket. There are 120 miles of nordic trails throughout the valley, all of which are groomed nightly. Crazy right? Mazama has its own trailhead, where you can kick and glide along the 11-mile , which has minimal gain but big-valley views.

Where to Eat

There aren鈥檛 a lot of options, but the has to-go sandwiches and snacks and is the best example of what a modern general store can be. The has a taproom and patio with views of Goat Peak, not to mention craft beer, rice bowls, and even sushi.

Where to Stay

The has lodge rooms within walking distance of the Public House (from $182 per night).

Fayetteville, West Virginia

Population 2,900听

Why I Love It

In the 1800s, the New River Gorge area attracted lumberjacks and coal miners, as the river canyon was rich in both resources. Now, it attracts hikers, boaters, and climbers, and the New River Gorge has become one of America鈥檚 newest national parks.

The small town of Fayetteville has stood witness to it all, evolving into a world-class gateway community with a historic downtown square, and just enough in the way of restaurants and shops to keep visitors and locals satiated. Fayetteville still retains that sleepy, small town vibe, but just beyond the city鈥檚 borders lies some of the best outdoor recreation in the East, starting with the whitewater rafting and world-class climbing inside the New River Gorge. There鈥檚 also mellow paddling on Summersville Lake, mountain biking on the Arrowhead Trails, a hand-carved system built by Boy Scouts, and more whitewater action on the nearby Gauley River.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料s

Most people show up to raft the , which runs for 53 miles through the heart of the 1,000-foot deep canyon. The river is typically broken down into two day-long runs. The Upper New is more family friendly, with 13 miles of class I-III rapids, while the Lower New has big hits that reach class IV plus.

The whitewater is exciting, but the climbing is actually better, with more than 1,500 established routes along the sandstone walls that loom over the river below. And that doesn鈥檛 even include the growing number of bouldering problems found in the gorge. The climbing isn鈥檛 easy (grades top out at ) but will put you on the right route if you鈥檙e looking for a guide (starting at $130 per person).

Where to Eat

Fayetteville鈥檚 downtown square sports a handful of restaurants. Operating out of a former church just off the square, has been the town鈥檚 go-to for breakfast and lunch for decades. If you ride a couple of hot laps on the flowy , make sure to stop by the for a cold beer and a brat (or taco) served al-fresco in their beer garden.

Where to Stay

The New River Gorge supports several adventure outposts, where you can find cheap campsites or luxury cabins. I like , which has options spread across a 350-acre campus with its own restaurants, a pool, and a stunning view of the gorge itself (covered platform tent sites start at $49 per night).

McCall, Idaho

Population: 4,066听

Why I Love It

The obvious draw to McCall is the skiing. The small town sits in the Cuddy and Salmon River Mountains of Idaho, collecting 300 inches of snow a year, with quick access to three ski resorts, Tamarack Resort, Brundage Mountain, and the aptly named Little Ski Hill, which has night skiing and just a T-bar for a lift.

But then you also have Payette Lake, a 5,000-acre beauty surrounded by green peaks and full of trout that have been beckoning anglers since the 1800s. Not to mention, whitewater rafting on the Middle Fork and Main Fork of the Salmon, and a growing portfolio of mountain bike trails, as well as ample hiking trails in Payette National Forest and Ponderosa State Park. Begin stacking all of these attributes up and it becomes obvious that the draw to McCall is鈥�everything.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料s

Many will argue that has the best powder in Idaho, so skiers should head there during a winter visit. The mountain has almost 2,000 acres of front-side terrain to explore, but it鈥檚 the 18,000 acres of backcountry that you can access via the resort鈥檚 that are the real gem here (starting at $575).

Bring your bike in the summer as McCall is rapidly becoming a , earning a Silver Ride Center designation from IMBA, with a diverse suite of trails that鈥檚 rapidly approaching 500 miles large. Head straight for , a golf course resort that鈥檚 gone all-in on mountain biking with 17 miles of fast, flowy descents, some of which are packed with wooden features, all accessed via easy-to-climb fire roads or shuttle ($30 per rider).

Where to Eat

McCall is a bustling adventure town with plenty of options for a good meal, but has award-winning lagers to go along with their fried wild salmon and chips.

Where to Stay

takes modern Scandinavian-inspired design and puts it into a 1970s-era motel built with local timber. And the rooms walk out onto an expansive lawn with games and fire pits (from $131 per night).

Bigfork, Montana

Population: 5,249听

Why I Love It

At first glance, Bigfork is a lake town, sitting on the edge of the massive Flathead Lake, which has 200 square miles of water and 185 miles of shoreline. And it has plenty of kayaking and fishing for those that are water inclined. But it鈥檚 also a hiking town, with quick access to the Bob Marshall Wilderness, the Flathead National Forest, and numerous state parks.

Want a little adrenaline? Bigfork is also the basecamp for whitewater adventures on the Middle Fork and North Fork of the Flathead River. Oh, and Bigfork is just an hour from the West Glacier entrance to Glacier National Park. So is Bigfork a lake town? Yes, but it鈥檚 also so much more.

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Head to the of Flathead National Forest, a 15,000-acre tract within the Bob Marshall Wilderness featuring more than 20 alpine lakes. Hike a 6.6-mile loop combining the (#717) and the Picnic Lakes Trail to the rocky summit of the 7,000-foot Mount Aeneas, where you鈥檒l find views of the Jewel Basin lakes below, and the ridges of Glacier National Park on the horizon. You鈥檒l occasionally find mountain goats on the summit too. Bring a flyrod and try to land one of the cutthroat or rainbow trout that thrive in the Picnic Lakes on the back end of the loop.

Flathead Lake has six state parks that protect its shoreline and the islands in the middle of the water. Paddle two miles across the lake from the boat launch in Dayton, Montana, to , a 2,165-acre state park in the middle of the lake that鈥檚 only accessible by boat. Instead of cars, you鈥檒l see feral horses and bighorn sheep. has kayak and paddleboard rentals (starting at $40).

Where to Eat

has views of the lake, 16 beers on tap, and a large pub-food menu that includes a burger topped with jalape帽o poppers. So, yeah. Yum.

Where to Stay

is an all-inclusive dude ranch on 2,000 acres running along the shores of Flathead Lake. You鈥檒l get access to the property鈥檚 15-mile private mountain bike trail system, canoes, hikes, and horseback rides to backcountry breakfast (starting at $5,103 a week). If you鈥檙e looking for less of a financial commitment, has cabins and Airstreams, all of which come with private access to the lake (from $210 per night).

Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 national parks columnist. He鈥檚 been lucky enough to live in a few of America鈥檚 most fun (and expensive) adventure towns, and recently wrote about the country鈥檚 best mountain towns. He also recently wrote about the best national parks for spring break trips.听

The post The Top 9 Small 国产吃瓜黑料 Towns in the U.S. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Surfing has an undeniable allure. The ancient Polynesian practice combines both power and grace and forges an intimate connection between a surfer and the ocean. The pros, like John John Florence and , make wave riding look effortless. But even experienced surfers are regularly humbled by the ocean. First-timers often get pummeled just trying to paddle out.

I still recall my first surf experience as a kid on the Jersey Shore. I had borrowed a friend鈥檚 shortboard and couldn鈥檛 make it past the relentlessly pounding breakers. Exhausted from being clobbered by the incoming waves, I gave up and tried to ride the whitewater. I ended up with a bathing suit full of sand and water leaking from my nose for what seemed like days.

After a few more failed solo sessions, I booked a lesson and my frustration instantly turned into enjoyment thanks to some basic pointers. Even one hour under the tutelage of an instructor can be a gamechanger, especially if you鈥檙e a total novice. Intel such as where to paddle out at a break, how to read the incoming sets, and knowing which size board is right for you, can transform your surf experience. Most newbies consider standing up on the board a success. But here鈥檚 a little secret. Learning to read the ocean and being able to paddle into a wave on your own, without a push from an instructor, is the real beginner鈥檚 success.

Now in my 40s, I consider myself an intermediate surfer. But I still try to take a lesson at least once a year, particularly when I travel to a new destination. Surfing is a lifelong practice, and the ocean is an ever-changing arena. You can always be learning and improving. And you鈥檙e never too old to hop on a board. One surf instructor I know says he regularly teaches students in their 60s and 70s.

Whether it鈥檚 your first time paddling out or you鈥檙e looking to fine-tune your bottom turn, the following surf schools can help get you up and riding and take your skills to the next level.

Hammer Surf School, Jersey Shore

Pro surfer Sam Hammer has chased waves around the world from the tropical beaches of Costa Rica to the frozen shores of Iceland to star in Chris Burkhard鈥檚 hit film, Under An Arctic Sky. But he hasn鈥檛 forgotten his Jersey Shore roots. His namesake surf school hosts private 75-minute lessons throughout the summer in several Shore towns, including his hometown of Lavallette. And most locales, like Spring Lake and Bay Head, can be accessed by train from New York City via New Jersey Transit. Hammer personally teaches the Sunday sessions in Spring Lake and you can book him for private coaching. I grew up on the Jersey Shore and know first-hand that if you can surf in Jersey, you can surf just about anywhere. The waves tend to be weak, yet steep, so they鈥檙e harder to paddle into, and, once you鈥檙e in, tougher to navigate. Summer conditions tend to be more mellow, but still, if you earn your surfing chops on the Shore, you鈥檒l feel like a pro on the slow, peeling waves in other destinations.

Beginner Tip: “Don’t overthink your movements on a surfboard,鈥� says Hammer. 鈥淟ike with any sport, you learn mechanics slowly and will instinctually move faster through repetition.”

Details: $99 for a 2.5-hour adult group surf class; $113 for a 75-minute, one-on-one private lesson;

Mario Surf School, Todos Santos, Mexico

Over the years, Los Cerritos beach has been discovered, but even with the crowds, it remains one of my favorite surf spots. Located just 10 minutes south of the hip town of Todos Santos and 45 minutes north of Cabo San Lucas, it鈥檚 incredibly accessible to reach and its mellow, smooth waves and a sandy bottom make it a friendly place for beginners. But those aren鈥檛 the only reasons Mario Becerril, a Baja native and former pro, chose to base his surf school there nearly 20 years ago. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also one of the few beaches in Mexico that has gradual wave zones suitable for all levels,鈥� he explains. This helps ease the congestion and is great for progression. Becerril鈥檚 school is known for its three-step, beginner-focused pop-up technique and also for offering more advanced learning options, such as multi-day clinics, and its surf excursions, which showcase the region鈥檚 best waves, like premier point break Punta Conejo.

Beginner Tip: 鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to surf on a bigger board when you are learning and work your way down to smaller boards progressively,鈥� says Becerril, 鈥渁nd remember the best surfer out there is the one that has the most fun.鈥�

Details: $67 for a 60-minute group lesson; $80 for a 60-minute private lesson; $180 for a three-day clinic; $350 for a private eight-hour surf excursion

Mary Osborne Surf Academy, Ventura, California

Champion longboarder Mary Osborne has over 25 years of teaching experience and excels at tailoring lessons to match her clients鈥� goals. Her Ventura-based camp offers lessons year-round, but she suggests clients book between late August through December to score magical weather and epic right-hand point breaks. The area has a variety of surf breaks, making it ideal for progression. She starts beginners at Mondos Beach. 鈥淚 call it the Waikiki of California, because it is very easy, slow, safe, and great for learning,鈥� she says. And she coaches experienced riders how to cross step toes to nose on a longboard. Most adults book her 90-minute private lessons, however she also offers two-hour group adult classes on Saturdays, lessons with apr猫s surf brunch, music, yoga, and massages, and she can customize beachfront rental homes, dining reservations, and activities for visiting clients who book multi-day lessons.

Beginner Tip: 鈥淎 lot of times people will want to book a lesson everyday for a week, which sounds incredible,鈥� says Osborne. 鈥淗owever, the reality is the body gets tired and you may need a break every other day.鈥�

Details: 90-minute private lesson from $150;

Pro Surf School Hawaii, Waikiki, Oahu

In my opinion, Waikiki is one of the best spots to learn to surf. Legendary two-mile Honolulu beach has gentle, forgiving waves, plus it鈥檚 the birthplace of modern surfing, which makes it all the more special. Kai Sallas, the reigning International Surf Association longboard champion, was born and raised in Waikiki and operates his surf school from the stylish on the quieter, eastern edge of the bustling neighborhood. You don鈥檛 need to be a hotel guest to book a lesson (though if you鈥檙e visiting from out of town, it鈥檚 a relatively affordable, super convenient base, with the best brunch in town). Sallas and his team cater to both beginner and intermediate riders, educating on everything from surf etiquette and wave knowledge to performing more advanced maneuvers like cutbacks and snaps. He鈥檚 also a shaper and can suggest the perfect board for your riding abilities.

Beginner Tip: 鈥淎lways keep your eyes on the ocean,鈥� says Sallas. 鈥淪tudy it before you go out. Watch it as you paddle out and sit in the lineup. And keep examining the wave as you鈥檙e paddling into it.鈥�

Details: From $99 for a two-hour beginner group lesson, $199 for a private one-on-one; .

Skudin Surf, Long Beach and Rockaway Beach, New York听

Over the last two decades, brothers Will and Cliff Skudin have helped put New York surfing on the map with their global big wave pursuits and their community-driven, namesake surf school. Throughout summer, they offer adult lessons at surf spots in Long Beach and Rockaway Beach. Both can be reached from New York City by train (the former via the Metropolitan Transit Authority and the latter on the subway). Summer is typically the best time for beginners, because the ocean is a bit warmer and the waves are more manageable. Dealing with Mother Nature鈥檚 whims is part of surfing, but riders who want to finesse their pop ups in a more controlled environment can book lessons year-round at America鈥檚 largest indoor wave pool in East Rutherford, New Jersey, a 10-minute drive from Manhattan. The brothers also run a nonprofit, , which helps make surfing accessible to the economically disadvantaged and people with disabilities.

Beginner Tip: 鈥淎lways check the conditions before you go out to surf, so you鈥檙e set up for success,鈥� says Will Skudin. 鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing worse than gathering all your gear, being stoked to get out there, and showing up to flat or dangerous conditions.鈥�

Details: $125 for a 75-minute private lesson at Long Beach or Rockaway Beach; $99 for an hour-long wave pool session;

Surf Happens, Santa Barbara, California

Surf Happens has helped groom pros like Lakey Peterson and brothers Parker and Conner Coffin. The school鈥檚 successful teaching formula鈥攔efined over 25 years鈥攊s rooted in founder Chris Keet鈥檚 experience as a competitive surfer and lifelong waterman.

鈥淲hat sets our curriculum apart is its focus on levels of evolution, principles, and techniques that build upon one another. It resembles a martial art in its progression,鈥� he says. 鈥淩egardless of skill level or ability, from beginning to elite, there are cheat codes to get to the next level within the phases we teach.鈥�

Surf Happens鈥� methodology builds on fundamentals, like evaluating the ocean conditions for hazards, finding line-up markers, reading the winds, waves, tides, and currents, and understanding techniques like paddling and duck diving. The school鈥檚 home beach is Santa Claus Lane, which offers a sand bottom break with idyllic learning waves year round. But Keet and his team take students to various point, reef, and beach breaks in the area, from Campus and Leadbetter Point, to other secret spots. Adults have their choice of private or group lessons, coaching series, surfaris, and week-long custom packages that explore the best waves for your ability.

Beginner Tip: 鈥淭reat surfing like a life skill and be patient, humble, and hungry to learn,鈥� says Keet. 鈥淟earn how the ocean works, be respectful of her power, and the people who you share it with, know your limits and never give up.鈥�

Details: 90-minute private lesson from $150; three-day coaching series from $750; half-day surf safari from $250; week-long surf experience from $1,250;

Surf Simply, Nosara, Costa Rica

This week-long, all-inclusive surf coaching resort in Nosara is widely considered the top dog of surf schools and typically books up six to 12 months in advance, so plan ahead. The sleek, 10-room lodge is just 200 meters from Playa Guiones, a long, wide beach that delivers over 350 surfable days each year, with wave conditions for all abilities. Surf Simply鈥檚 earned a cult following for its unique, analytical style, which provides students a road map of skills and drills. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 teach you how to surf, we teach you how to teach yourself how to surf, or surf better through a combination of video feedback, theory lessons, and in-water coaching,鈥� says Robin Bass, the school鈥檚 logistics manager. This holistic approach includes classroom sessions on swell forecasting and board design, fine-tuning board agility and turtle rolling in the pool, plus mobility work and post-surf massages. Surf Simply鈥檚 team of nine coaches work with just 12 guests per week, ensuring personalized attention. And every guest is sent home with photos of their sessions and a video from the week.

Beginner Tip: 鈥淐ontrary to what a lot of people believe, I don鈥檛 think you need great balance to surf,鈥� says owner Harry Knight. 鈥淲hat you do need to be able to do is to relax your body in this unusual situation, so that your core stability muscles can do their job. The more you rush, the more tense you are likely to be and the harder it will be to find and keep your balance. Good surfing should be slow and smooth, not fast and jerky.鈥�

Details: $8,716 solo and $15,646 per couple for one-week, all-inclusive;

Surf Sister, Tofino, Canada

With more than 20 miles of rugged shoreline, the tiny coastal town of Tofino on Vancouver Island is considered Canada鈥檚 surf capital. The area鈥檚 wild backdrop of snow-capped peaks and old-growth forest are well worth donning a wetsuit to brave the brisk waters (you鈥檒l want a 4/3mm in summer and at least a 5/4mm, plus a hood and booties in winter). Surf Sisters set up shop here in the late 1990s with the mission to introduce more women to the sport. Mission accomplished. They now aim to make the sport accessible to all genders, races, and ages (their oldest client to date was 76).

Beginner lessons start with a briefing on ocean safety and surf etiquette, before moving into waist deep water where students can familiarize themselves with their longboards. A second lesson goes out past the breakers and gets into how to choose and catch a wave and how to begin to maneuver and turn once you鈥檙e up and riding. 鈥淥ur goal is to create a good foundation of knowledge so students can continue practicing and learning on their own,鈥� says Surf Sister staff member, Alyssa Teremy. Experienced riders looking to uplevel their skills can book private coaching with Shannon Brown, the head coach of the Canadian National Surfing Team, who can help with everything from surf psychology to improving stance and style. Conditions determine where you鈥檒l surf, but Surf Sisters typically teaches at South and North Chesterman and Cox Bay. The school also operates a surf shack at on Cox Bay, which caters exclusively to guests.

Beginner Tip: 鈥淭ake your time,鈥� says Teremy. 鈥淕etting into your wetsuit is hard enough when you first begin, so pace yourself with all things surfing and your entire surfing career will be all the better for it.鈥�

Details: 2.5-hour group lesson $99; private $199; $350 for a half-day of private coaching;

South Beach Surf School, Newport, Oregon

After running a surf school in Virginia Beach, Russell McClanan, a former competitive surfer and captain of the USA surf team, relocated to the Oregon Coast and was wowed by the lack of crowds and consistency of the surf. 鈥淚 got tired of teaching in flat conditions,鈥� he says. 鈥淚n Newport, there鈥檚 knee- to waist-high waves nearly every day of summer. The air is 65 to 70 and the water hovers in the mid 50s. A five millimeter wetsuit keeps everyone warm.鈥� His one-on-one lessons are geared to serious wannabe surfers who care more about learning to read the currents and understanding etiquette than popping up on day one. 鈥淓ach surf break is like a different football team that wants to beat you up,鈥� he says. 鈥淵ou need to study it and do your research and have a strategy before you paddle out.鈥� Every session starts with 20 minutes of balance exercises and some stretches before entering the water. Once out past the breakers, he hones in on essential techniques, like how to use your legs to spin your board while sitting on it in the lineup. He also offers big wave training and tow-in lessons for seasoned riders looking to up their game.

Beginner Tip: 鈥淧ractice the surf burpee on land so you get used to the mechanics of jumping to your feet,鈥� says McClanan. 鈥淵ou might be able to surf the whitewash crawling to your knees, but you can鈥檛 ride a real wave if you can鈥檛 get to your feet.鈥�

Pricing: $160 for a two-hour private lesson; $300 for two hours with video analysis;

Jen Murphy is a regular 国产吃瓜黑料 contributor and considers herself a lifelong student of the ocean. She tries to take a surf lesson at least once a year and regularly hires a coach or guide when visiting a new destination. She鈥檚 surfed around the world, from the remote shores of Easter Island to the rugged coast of Scotland.

The post The Best Surf Schools in North America appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Of all the road trips I鈥檝e plotted in my travel writing career, the best had this in common: they were scenic, they were unhurried, and they capped each day beneath the cosmos. The following astro-meets-adventure itineraries tick every box.

There鈥檚 no better way to celebrate the start of road trip season鈥攁s well as from April 21 to 28鈥攖han by taking a long, star-focused drive. Some of these itineraries might already be on your list, others may surprise you, and all can be completed in a long weekend. Here are the best stargazing road trips in North America.

Cook County Aurora Route

3+ nights | Northern Minnesota

Cook County is among the northernmost points in the continental U.S. That makes this Lake Superior region arguably the best place in the lower 48 to chase the aurora. Here鈥檚 a 140-mile out-and-back drive through northern Minnesota鈥檚 forested fringes.

• Lutsen: Start roughly 90 miles north of Duluth for a stint on the 300-mile Superior Hiking Trail by day. Trek by day, then unwind beneath the stars after dusk. Sprinkle in some wellness with a stay at , where each abode has a private sauna with forest-view windows.
• Grand Marais: Drive 20 minutes north along the lake to reach Grand Marais, a spirited arts community. See the stars in unmitigated splendor on a guided night-vision hike with , a first-of-its-kind outfitter located just outside of Grand Marais. To optimize your aurora odds, book an accommodation within walking distance of ideal lights-hunting perch Artist鈥檚 Point (like ).
• Gunflint Trail: Sip your last dregs of city life before heading an hour inland on the 57-mile Gunflint Trail. This traverse, thick with maples and birches, is famous for its numerous moose sightings. For remote stargazing, reserve digs like or pitch your tent at a local campground (typically open starting in May). If you have time, set aside another day to explore nearby Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, another DarkSky Sanctuary

The Arizona Traverse

3+ nights | Arizona

Inky nightscapes abound in Arizona, where global light pollution authority DarkSky International has certified more than two dozen astronomical getaways. Catch the cosmos on this 340-mile road trip, which weaves northward through the Grand Canyon State鈥檚 space-watching听hotspots. Consider adding a few detours, like Petrified Forest National Park. Your adventure starts in Tucson, and can end in Flagstaff or Las Vegas鈥攂oth major Southwest transit hubs.

• Tucson: Start your Arizona Traverse on the new , a mini road trip in itself that connects a dozen astronomy attractions in and around the city. Highlights include Kitt Peak National Observatory, home to one of the world鈥檚 largest radio telescopes, and Saguaro National Park, a DarkSky-certified escape where towering cacti pierce a sparkly night sky. Camping is available in six designated Saguaro Wilderness Area campgrounds. (Note: the sites are only accessible by foot.)
• Sedona: Head roughly three hours north of Tucson for stop number two, Sedona, another DarkSky-certified destination with star-view options galore. Admire the silvery pinpricks from Beaverhead Flat Scenic Overlook or the Aerie trailhead. Or, watch for stars and peculiar flying objects on a guided UFO tour. Reserve accommodations like to enjoy the dark-sky splendor from bed.
• Grand Canyon National Park: There鈥檚 nothing like sky-watching from the spellbinding Grand Canyon, whether it鈥檚 a ranger-guided astronomy session on the South Rim, or DIY stargazing on the remote North Rim, which is open from mid-May to mid-October. For the ultimate twilight treat, try the lottery for a sleep at Phantom Ranch, the only lodging on the Grand Canyon鈥檚 base.

Baja Coast to Coast

2+ nights | Baja Sur, Mexico

You could make a multi-month adventure out of zigzagging along Baja鈥檚 many natural and night-sky attractions. But for those who don鈥檛 have unlimited PTO, here鈥檚 a bite-sized, 100-mile trip from the Gulf of California to the Pacific coast. You could tackle this road trip in a quick weekend, but I recommend at least four nights to soak up the culture and daytime marvels.

• Loreto: Start your Baja Sur weekend in Loreto, a seaside town famous for its blue whales, national parks, beach clambakes, and鈥攖hanks to a recent community movement鈥攕targazing. The local astronomy club Cielo Magic hosts for residents and tourists in town. There鈥檚 also a local sky-watching meetup every Friday near the main plaza. Or, take a roughly 30-minute drive out of town to admire the planets and stars in the foothills of the Sierra de la Giganta mountains. Stay at historic and centrally located , which has a rooftop for space-gazing above the main square.
• Puerto Adolfo Lopez Mateos: Crisscross the peninsula鈥檚 mountainous interior to reach this tiny coastal town鈥攁 magnet for whale watchers between January and March. But marine life isn鈥檛 the only reason to visit. You can also book twilight sand dune tours and picnics through local outfitters. Overnight at an before heading back to Loreto the next day.

Oregon Outback

3+ nights | Central-South Oregon

Few destinations top stargazers鈥� bucket lists like the Australian Outback, but most don鈥檛 know that the U.S. has its own version much closer to home: the Oregon Outback, a stretch of high desert in the state鈥檚 central and southern regions. The region鈥檚 half-dozen DarkSky destinations are all within a few hours鈥� driving distance. Consider spending an additional evening in Sisters, an artsy DarkSky-certified community just outside of Bend.

• Prineville Reservoir State Park: Begin an hour from Bend at Prineville Reservoir State Park, a stop with kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, and fishing, as well as year-round for all-hours star access. If you鈥檙e more of a glamper, book one of the park鈥檚 five deluxe log cabins to start your trip in style.
• Summer Lake: A three-hour drive south of Prineville Reservoir will drop you in the 2.5-million-acre Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary. Try the Summer Lake Wildlife Area for birdwatching in the marshes and camping beneath the cosmos. Or, upgrade your visit with a stay at the , a collection of campsites and cabins with onsite soaking pools.
• Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge: This remote, high-elevation refuge鈥攋ust three hours southeast of Summer Lake鈥攊s the ultimate Pacific Northwest retreat for space lovers. Pitch a tent for free at to snooze beneath the stars, then spend your daytime hours searching for petroglyphs or hiking to see pronghorns, pikas, and bighorn sheep.

Nova Scotia to New Brunswick

3+ nights | Eastern Canada

Life in Atlantic Canada centers on the sea, but don鈥檛 sleep on this maritime region鈥檚 starry skies. Three Dark Sky Preserves lie within a picturesque, six-hour road trip across the region. You鈥檒l start in Halifax and end in Moncton, though you can add stops like Prince Edward Island along the way.

• Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site: Kejimkujik鈥檚 thick pine forests, set two hours west of Halifax, brim with natural wonders and Mi鈥檏maw culture. Try hiking or biking through forests or along the coast, or take a to follow the footsteps of the area鈥檚 earliest humans. After sunset, snag a campsite (open mid-May to late October) and point your eyes skyward for a glimmering twilight fresco.
• Fundy National Park: A four-hour drive north will lead you to Fundy National Park, home to the highest tides in the world. Explore the expansive mud flats and craggy coasts in the afternoon, then watch for planets and stars by camping in the Dark Sky Preserve (sites and yurts available year-round).
• Kouchibouguac National Park: Conclude your journey with a 115-mile drive up to Kouchibouguac National Park, a mosaic of honey-hued dunes and sprawling wetlands. Spend daylight looking for river otters and seals, or mountain biking the park鈥檚 nearly 40-mile trail system. Camping, available from mid-May to late October, provides the best twilight view. You can also try a nearby cabin, , and visit the park at night.

Across the Appalachians

3+ nights | West Virginia to Virginia

Link up three DarkSky getaways just a short trip from D.C. This Virginia-West Virginia adventure totals roughly 150 miles point-to-point. Spend more time in West Virginia鈥檚 Monongahela National Forest, a rock-climbing oasis, if your PTO allows.

• Watoga State Park: Drive four hours west of Washington, D.C., or 2.5 hours north of Roanoke, for a starry retreat with all sorts of aquatic adventures. Watoga State Park, a 10,000-acre getaway with swimming, fishing, boating, and hiking, is part of one of the east coast鈥檚 largest DarkSky-certified areas. Overnighting in one of the park鈥檚 (from $157), or pitching a tent at one of its three (from $50), puts you smack-dab in the stargazing action.
• Natural Bridge State Park: Cross state borders to reach Natural Bridge State Park, a two-hour drive east of Watoga. This DarkSky-certified spot is full of karst terrain and navigable caverns. The park will host events starting April 25. Alternatively, book a primitive campsite or at a nearby campground and do your own star-watching from there.
• James River State Park: Around 60 miles east of Natural Bridge State Park, this Virginia escape offers pristine twilight skies and plenty of overnight accommodations, from park-run to full-service campsites. Spend your non-astronomy hours hiking the scenic 3.5-mile Cabell Trail or angling for smallmouth bass or catfish.

Klondike Highway

3+ nights | Yukon Territory, Canada

This historic highway parallels the route miners traversed during the Klondike Gold Rush. It鈥檚 also one of the continent鈥檚 best night-sky drives. Fortunately, you can tag some of the best bits in a long weekend. Start in Whitehorse, drive six hours up to Dawson City, then head back the way you came.

• Whitehorse: The aurora often flickers above Whitehorse, the Yukon territory鈥檚 main city, between early fall and spring. Book a private telescope session at the Yukon Astronomical Society鈥檚 Observatory, or try beneath the aurora. Come summer, enjoy another astronomical marvel: the midnight sun. Sleep just outside of town at forest-fringed , a quiet escape tucked amid evergreens.
• Carmacks: Just two hours north of Whitehorse, you鈥檒l find the quiet riverside town of Carmacks. Local companies offer aurora tours from mid-August to mid-April. Hit the hay at a hotel in town, then stock up on road-trip snacks at the general store for the next leg of your drive.

Dawson City: After the 220-mile drive from Carmacks, your arrival in Dawson City will feel like striking gold. This National Historic Site overflows with Indigenous and gold-rush history. Explore downtown on foot, then admire the nightscapes from a yurt. If you鈥檙e here for the midnight sun, try summer camping up in mountainous Tombstone Territorial Park, a protected area on the Dempster Highway.

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On a late fall camping trip, my family and I were headed to Picacho State Recreation Area. The remote desert park is situated along a scenic 9-mile stretch of the Colorado River on the border of Mexico near Yuma, Arizona. We were trying to get there before sunset, going as fast as the 18-mile dirt road would let us. We were later than planned. A day earlier, a wildfire closed the desert highway, and we set up camp nearby to wait it out. When we finally arrived, it was golden hour, the sinking sun playing off jagged pinnacles of volcanic rock all around us. We were properly awed by the unexpected andesite formations ignited by the last light鈥攁lmost like we planned it.

California might have more stunning campgrounds than any other state. The area boasts the most national parks of any state (nine), 280 state parks with over 15,000 campsites, 840 miles of coastline, three distinct deserts, and mountain ranges with some of the highest peaks in the lower 48. A staggering number of visitors flock to see these wonders, which makes getting a campsite at high profile destinations (ahem, Yosemite) a competitive sport. The good news is that tons of incredible spots don鈥檛 involve the .

From my home in Los Angeles, my camping preference is for California鈥檚 deserts, where I can get off the grid and soak up the solitude. I dig desert camping so much that I even 鈥�Death Valley and Joshua Tree. But at some point, the deserts get too hot, and I head to the mountains or coast to keep up my four-season camping habit.

Below are some standout under-the-radar California campgrounds broken out by geography鈥攄esert, coast, and mountain. They range from free and dispersed, to supported, to sites with some serious amenities (hot tubs, what?). Pick any of these, and you鈥檒l be experiencing the state鈥檚 incredibly diverse landscape at its finest.

California’s Desert Camping听

Picacho Campground

Location: Picacho State Recreation Area, north of Yuma, Arizona

Located in California鈥檚 remote Colorado Desert, Picacho Campground is the main campground serving a stretch of the scenic lower Colorado River. The 54 campsites are huge and widely spaced, tucked amid striking ancient volcanic rock formations. For being so far out there, it鈥檚 surprisingly well-developed and maintained with concrete picnic tables, shade structures, fire pits, and bathrooms with solar showers.

Don鈥檛 Miss: Fishing for bass, catfish, and bluegill on the Colorado River. Take the short two-mile drive to Taylor Lake to see one of the river鈥檚 scenic backwater lakes. Hike the two-mile round-trip Stamp Mill Trail over volcanic hills for views of the river and mining ruins.

The Cost: $20 per night

Book It:

Kelso Dunes

Location: Mojave National Preserve

The dispersed sites at the Kelso Dunes sit on the edge of the largest dune field in the Mojave Desert. A jaw-rattling washboard road takes you past the official trailhead for the dunes (there鈥檚 no camping at the trailhead) to a collection of widely spaced campsites. Some have fire pits, and vault toilets are available. If you hear an eerie booming sound, that鈥檚 the singing sand; wind or footsteps trigger small avalanches and create deep vibrations.

Don鈥檛 Miss: You can technically climb the dunes anywhere, but there is an . Follow the three-mile round trip route to a high ridge where you will have sweeping views of, you guessed it, more dunes.

Pro Tip: If you are set on having a campfire, bring your own metal container in case you don鈥檛 get a site with a fire pit.

The Cost: Free

Book It:

Juniper Valley

Location: Weed, California

Awesome views are what make the sites at Juniper Valley a good pick. Two sites are perched in Northern California鈥檚 high desert near the Oregon border amid widely scattered Ponderosa pines, juniper, and manzanita. The lack of dense vegetation means that you have open views of a whole crew of impressive peaks in the Cascade Range鈥攕now-capped Mount Shasta, the distinctly shaped Haystack Butte, and Goosenest, an ancient volcano. The camping here is stripped down from the sparseness of the landscape to the amenities. Sites have a picnic table and access to potable water but no bathrooms or fire pits.

Don鈥檛 Miss: The crystal-clear night skies. Also, hiking in the nearby Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The four-mile out-and-back McCloud River Trail winds through a basalt lava rock canyon, passing three waterfalls with opportunities for summer swimming.

The Cost: $50 per night

听

The Inn at Benton Hot Springs

Location: Benton Hot Springs, California

Hot springs are the reason the picturesque almost ghost town of Benton continues to exist. The 13 campsites at the Inn at Benton Hot Springs are a unicorn, each with its own hot tub filled by the natural underground springs on the property. The 1,255 acre-ranch is operated in conjunction with the Eastern Sierra Land Trust to preserve the property from development. Most visitors don鈥檛 leave the campsites, opting to prune up in the tubs while meditating on the foothills of the White Mountains and grazing cows in the field next door. Bring everything you need. The closest town with supplies is Bishop, California, 40 minutes south.

Don鈥檛 Miss: The nearby Volcanic Tablelands, named for a cataclysmic volcanic eruption 750,000 years ago, draws rock climbers for its fantastic bouldering and desert rats for the austere landscape and petroglyph sites.

The Cost: $95 for two-person sites, $105 for three-person sites, plus $10 per night additional person

Book It: up to one year ahead of time; book early

Ricardo Campground

Location: Red Rock Canyon State Park

Campsites at Ricardo Campground are tucked under an unexpected crop of red sandstone cliffs in the northern Mojave Desert. The cliffs rise up out of nowhere along flat and Joshua tree studded desert Highway 14, like you temporarily hallucinated Utah. Most people cut through it on the way to the Sierra Nevada Mountains or Death Valley, but it鈥檚 easy to access from Los Angeles, and a beautiful destination in the fall when temps are lovely.

Don鈥檛 Miss: Hike a series of short trails, including the Red Cliffs Trail and Hagen Canyon Nature Trail to get close to the fluted formations. Venture out on off-road adventures to nearby ghost towns and mining camps including the Burro Schmidt Tunnel, a .5-mile tunnel hand-dug through solid granite.

The Cost: $25 per night

Book It: . Sites can fill by Thursday night or Friday morning in the spring, fall, and on holiday weekends.

Blair Valley

Location: Anza Borrego Desert State Park

The largest state park in California, the Anza Borrego Desert State Park has badlands, palm oases, mountain peaks, and waterfalls all accessed by miles of unpaved roads and hiking trails. It also has 12 campgrounds and tons of open camping. Of all the options, Blair Valley is my go-to for a secluded base camp to explore the park. Primitive sites are scattered along low rocky hills ringing a wide valley. In wet years, this is a hotspot for spring wildflower viewing. There is a vault toilet near the entrance, and some of the campsites have fire pits.

Don鈥檛 Miss: Anza Borrego is a certified dark sky park, and Blair Valley is one of the best places in the park for stargazing. There are also a few short, interesting hikes that leave from the campground. A 2-mile round trip trail up the face of Ghost Mountain (Yaquitepec) leads to 360-degree views and the ruins of a 1930s adobe homestead. You can also check out pictograph panels and ancient grinding stones by following the trail signs at the end of the valley.

The Cost: Free

Book It:

California’s Coastal Camping

Jedediah Smith Campground

Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

The Northern California coast is dotted with a long strand of redwood parks, with the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park at the top, near the Oregon border. The campground setting has a primeval feel, situated in dense old growth forest along the scenic Smith River, where banana slugs frolic (okay, maybe move slowly and strangely). There are 89 sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and animal-proof lockers.

Don鈥檛 Miss: Hiking through lush rainforest on the park鈥檚 20 miles of trails. Try the 5-mile , which goes through redwood forest, periodically opening up to views of the Smith River. Or opt to drive the historic Howland Hill Road. The Smith River is good for fishing and kayaking.

The Cost: $35 per night

Book It: ; available up to six months ahead of time

Jug Handle Creek Farm

Location: Caspar, California

As if its location on the edge of Mendocino鈥檚 famously wild and rocky coast was not enough, Jug Handle Creek Farm has 33 acres of fir forest and meadow as well as its own native plant nursery, community gardens, and nature trails. The farm is actually a nonprofit nature center supporting nature restoration projects in Mendocino County and offering onsite educational programs for kids. There are 11 private campsites situated across the property in a forest or meadow.

Don鈥檛 Miss: A wooden staircase from the farm leads down to scenic coves with tidepools at Jug Handle State Reserve. Be on the lookout for Harbor seals.

The Cost: from $40 per night

听

Freedog Farms at Cactus Flower Ranch

Location: Buellton, California

Freedog Farms is one of my favorite Hipcamp sites, a good resource for unique camping. At the ranch, optimally situated between Central Coast wine country and its beaches, campsites are terraced into 43 acres of rugged hills with incredible views.

Goats, chickens, and dogs run freely throughout the property, hence the name. There are also two vintage trailers where you can stay the night. Even if you are tent camping, the level of amenities automatically upgrades you to glamping status. The features include a central area with a barn for gathering, a firepit, cold dunk tank cowboy pools, hammocks, and a hot outdoor shower. This is a great spot for large groups and families with lots to do and plenty of space for the kids to roam. The owners always have projects in the works and, if they have time, they will give you a tour to go along with your welcome drink.

Don鈥檛 Miss: Have a beach day at nearby Gaviota, Refugio, or El Capitan beaches. Also, do the short hike in Nojoqui Falls Park to an 80-foot waterfall. Afterwards, the Folded Hills Winery Farmstead has a great spot for a picnic.

The Cost: $75 base rate for one person, plus $50 per person, per night; Ages 3-13 costs $10 per person, per night and those under 3 are free

听

Jalama Beach

Location: Jalama Beach County Park

The thing that makes this particular beach so special is seclusion. Jalama Road leaves the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and winds 14 miles through coastal hills to reach the rocky, windswept beach. Plus, the camping here is at beach level, a rarity along California鈥檚 dramatic, bluff-lined coast, with all 107 campsites beachfront or overlooking the ocean. The campground feels like a small village with hot showers, restrooms, water, and a general store with sundries, supplies, breakfast and a 鈥淛alama burger鈥� that people swear by. In addition to the tent and RV sites, the park offers seven cabins.

Don鈥檛 Miss: Jalama Beach for swimming, surfing, whale-watching, birdwatching, and surf fishing.

The Cost: $35 per night standard sites; $50 per night beachfront partial hook-up sites

Book It: ; reservations available six months in advance

California’s Mountain Camping

Mill Creek Resort

Location: Community of Mill Creek, south of Lassen Volcanic National Park

Mill Creek Resort makes a good base camp for visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park, located 11 miles north. The collection of accommodations, set on 12 acres of cedars and pines, is based around the historic 1930s Mill Creek Lodge. A wooded campground has tent and RV camping, vintage cabins, glamping tents, and retro trailer and RV rentals.

Don鈥檛 Miss: Lassen Volcanic National Park for its steaming fumaroles, idyllic meadows, clear mountain lakes, and volcanoes. Drive the park鈥檚 main road and then choose one of many hikes. Try the 3-mile Bumpass Hell trail past bubbling mud pots or hike the 2.8-mile round trip path from Hat Lake to Paradise Meadows, where you will want to twirl and sing 鈥淭he hills are alive!鈥澨�

The Cost: Camping May through October, cabins year-round, from $28 per night tent sites, from $48 per night RV sites, from $90 glamping tents, trailers, RVs, and cabins

听听

Green Creek Campground

Location: Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, south of Bridgeport

Green Creek has 21 sites tucked into an aspen grove along the banks of the scenic waterway known for excellent fishing. The combination of first-come, first-served sites and the 11-mile unpaved road to the area can make getting a spot feel daunting, but if you鈥檙e willing to chance it, the campground is a gem. On a trip this past Labor Day Weekend, we showed up mid-Friday afternoon and landed a campsite, but they were all full by evening. Group sites are directly along the creek and can be reserved. If the campground is full, you can post up at one of the backcountry sites along Green Creek Road. Strictly no fires are allowed at these sites.

Don鈥檛 Miss: A moderate trail from the campsite heads into the Hoover Wilderness for a six-mile round trip hike through aspen groves to alpine Green Lake. Or change course entirely and head back out to CA-395 to visit Mono Lake, a high desert lake where limestone spires rise from the water to create a hauntingly beautiful sight with opportunities for swimming, hiking, and kayaking.

The Cost: $22 per night, $75 and $100 per night for group sites (25 and 50 people)

Book It: , late April to early October

Rock Creek Lake Campground

Location: Inyo National Forest, northwest of Bishop, California

The forest service leaves a wheelbarrow in the parking area so you can haul gear across Rock Creek to the 28 campsites, tucked into aspen and pine forest at 9,600 feet. It鈥檚 surrounded by the gorgeous John Muir Wilderness, known for granite peaks, creeks, and alpine lakes. Make sure to use the provided bear boxes and keep a bear-safe camp. On my last trip, a surprise visitor showed up at night, enticed by a neighbor鈥檚 buffet of un-stored food and drink.

Don鈥檛 Miss: Fishing and kayaking or canoeing the lake. on the other side of the lake, has kayak and canoe rentals (as well as a small store and breakfast). Trailheads for miles of spectacular hiking begin along Rock Creek Lake Road. Hike the 8-mile round-trip trail through Little Lakes Valley to several alpine lakes and meadows for one of the most scenic and popular trails in the area. For a little more solitude, check out the moderate nine-mile hike to Hilton Lakes.

The Cost: $35 per night

Book It: available six months in advance, May through September

Jenna Blough听is an avid camper and fan of western deserts. She is the author of three Moon travel guides to California including and . When she鈥檚 not planning her next camping adventure, you will find her hiking a canyon or driving a dirt road, because that鈥檚 where all the good stuff is. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter and never gets tired of exploring the Golden State.

The post The 12 Best Campgrounds in California to Ditch the Crowds appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Will Dunn owes his life鈥攁nd maybe his marriage鈥攖o his REI Co-op Half Dome tent.

鈥淭he tent was a gift from my now-in-laws before we were in-laws,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t was my first backpacking tent, and it got us through some pretty delightful hikes鈥攁nd some pretty harrowing ones.鈥� On one trip, Dunn and his now-spouse were backpacking in Utah鈥檚 Canyonlands when a windstorm swept in out of nowhere.

鈥淲hen it hit us, it hit hard鈥攖here were rocks and sticks beating down on the sides of the tent, and we didn鈥檛 know when it would end鈥 sure was happy to have that shelter.鈥�

Dunn鈥檚 love letter to his Half Dome is one of thousands. After all, when a tent has been around since 1980鈥攁nd is built to last through decades of use鈥攊t should be no surprise that it has racked up a serious fan club among REI members. And in this case, the Half Dome didn鈥檛 just exist for 45 years鈥攖hanks to member feedback it remained at the forward edge of shelter design for its category. It still is. That鈥檚 not surprising considering that when the tent first debuted in 1980, it revolutionized backpacking for a whole generation of hikers.

The Origins of a Legend

If you wanted to buy a tent back in the late 鈥�70s, your options were pretty limited. You had your heavy synthetic dome tents, flimsy A-frame pup tents, and the old-school canvas numbers your local scouting troop probably lugged around on character-building expeditions. You could choose between a lightweight design and a livable one. Very few brands were building shelters that ticked both boxes鈥攖hat is, until decided to reinvent the tent back in 1979.

The goal: straighter walls and more livability, all in a lightweight, weatherproof package. Ambitious? Yes. But the team tackled the challenge the same way it did with any new gear project. It polled REI members, gathered feedback, and set to work creating something that really answered the needs of the hiking community.

After a few iterations, the REI design team drew up a cross-pole design with a single entryway. The vertical walls made it easy to organize gear, get dressed, and play cards without bumping nylon. That first tent, released in 1980 and dubbed the Half Dome, was already a game changer. Then David Mydans got ahold of it.

Mydans was a backpacker and climbing bum who got his start at Chouinard Equipment before REI brought him on as a product designer in 1988. He was famous for spending hours on the cutting room floor, sewing up prototypes and tearing them apart, creating gear piece by piece the old-fashioned way.

鈥淧roduct design at REI is still very hands-on, but he was really passionate about it,鈥� says David Crumrine, 搁贰滨鈥檚 current gear design lead. When he started thinking about tent design, Mydans knew he was tired of crawling over his backpacking partners to get to his sleeping bag. He also knew REI Co-op members wanted more livability. 搁贰滨鈥檚 ethos has always been to let member feedback drive innovation, and the Half Dome鈥檚 progression owes a lot to that philosophy. But for years, further improvements to the tent鈥檚 livability proved elusive. Then, around 2000, Mydans had an epiphany.

鈥淗e realized he could create a tent with two doors and two vestibules,鈥� Dunn says. (Since that fateful Canyonlands trip so many years ago, Dunn has become 搁贰滨鈥檚 staff historian and archivist.) After months of tinkering, Mydans turned his epiphany into a prototype: a two-door tent that was comfortable, lightweight, and easy to set up. He dubbed it the Half Dome 2.

Wind Testing on Highway 410

Of course, comfort and convenience weren鈥檛 the only essential criteria. If this thing was going to work for hardcore backpackers like Mydans, it also needed to be protective.

Enter wind-resistance testing 1.0. Back then, product quality and safety standards hadn鈥檛 really been established yet. REI often had to create its own to make sure new gear was up to snuff. To test wind resistance, REI fashioned a DIY 鈥渓aboratory鈥�: an employee鈥檚 green pickup truck with a giant wooden platform bolted onto it. Whenever the gear team had a new tent to test, they鈥檇 lash it to the platform and drive down a stretch of Highway 410 at 65 mph. A passenger would observe the tent and take diligent notes while the walls flapped thunderously in the wind.

鈥淭he testing was actually pretty scientific for the setup they had. They鈥檇 test a tent with the door closed, door open, guyed out, not guyed out鈥攜ou name it,鈥� Dunn says. REI did this from the mid-1970s all the way up until 1993. (The iconic green pickup is now retired; in the 鈥�90s, the co-op switched to wind tunnel analysis. Today, it relies more on computer modeling and in-depth materials testing.)

Awards and Innovation听

When the two-door Half Dome 2 launched in 2001, campers quickly fell in love with it. Then, Backpacker Magazine put the Half Dome on the map, awarding the tent a coveted after two staffers survived a blizzard in it in 2002.

Backpacker also gave the tent an Editors鈥� Choice Gold Award in 2010. That鈥檚 about the time Mydans introduced a new dual hub design that vastly improved the tent鈥檚 interior space and livability. (Again, this was a piece of member feedback the gear team took to heart and brought to life.)

Later, the tent got inducted into the Backpacker Gear Hall of Fame and earned 国产吃瓜黑料 Magazine鈥檚 Gear of the Year Award. For the editors, nominating it felt like a no-brainer.

鈥淭he Half Dome鈥et a new standard in livability and affordability for a two-person tent,鈥� Backpacker then-editor-in-chief Dennis Lewon .

But the story doesn鈥檛 end there. Over the years, REI kept pushing the envelope. As with its other products, the co-op leveraged new materials and modern technology, finding ways to do more with less weight. Ultimately, designers were able to dramatically expand the Half Dome鈥檚 interior space without making it any heavier. The tent became the centerpiece of . The fan club only grew.

鈥淭he Half Dome is the bestselling tent at REI by a large margin,鈥� says Rick Meade, a senior product manager and the brand鈥檚 former tent buyer. 鈥淲e call it the Goldilocks of tents. It鈥檚 like your all-wheel-drive SUV鈥攊t does everything well, and it鈥檚 your trusted companion for all your adventures.鈥�

A New Take on a Timeless Classic

Now, REI is once again relaunching its fan-favorite Half Dome, once again with member-requested updates.

鈥淲e did a complete nationwide study a few years back where we went to all the major regions of the U.S., getting out with co-op members in the field and doing interviews,鈥� Crumrine says. 鈥淚 remember being with a member in their house and just filling up their living room setting up their new Half Dome tent. We鈥檝e done that kind of thing with other products over the years, and we always learn so much through that cooperative research.鈥�

The new tent doesn鈥檛 just leverage those recent takeaways鈥攊t also stands on the shoulders of 45 years of member inputs and feedback. The result: an all-new Half Dome 2, Half Dome 2 Plus, and Half Dome 3.

The new tents boast best-in-class comfort, more interior volume, and better weather protection than ever before. All the tent鈥檚 outer coatings now have nonfluorinated durable water-repellent (DWR) that helps moisture bead up on the surface, and the rainfly material is more durable thanks to an all-new ripstop reinforcement. And like all REI gear, it鈥檚 and backed by the co-op鈥檚 100% satisfaction guarantee. In sum: It鈥檚 a tent by the people, for the people.

鈥淲hat I really love about the Half Dome tent is its intersection with design and community,鈥� Dunn says. 鈥淚t meets those community needs. It鈥檚 everybody鈥檚 tent.鈥�

Give Back Bonus

REI Co-op is teaming up with the National Parks Conservation Association to defend America’s favorite places. Your Half Dome tent purchase helps power this partnership. From March 25 through April 30, REI will donate 20% of proceeds from full-price Half Dome tent sales to the National Parks Conservation Association. Since 1919, the nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks.

is a consumer cooperative that exists to inspire and equip everyone to get outside. Everything it makes is created with the mindset and community of a co-op. From the backyard to base camp, 搁贰滨鈥檚 products are designed to be best in class for the great outdoors and the greater good.

The post The Goldilocks Tent That Changed It All, 搁贰滨鈥檚 Iconic Half Dome Turns 45 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Hawaii鈥檚 tumbling waterfalls, craggy lava fields, and palm-shaded beaches are undeniably enchanting. But the islands鈥� true beauty lies beneath the surface of the sea. When I slip on fins, a mask, and snorkel and dive into the ocean, another world reveals itself: green turtles munching sea grass, neon-hued parrot fish and wrasse darting between colorful corals, and during certain months, a symphony of humpback whales.

The captivation of seeing sea creatures up close explains why snorkeling is so popular. According to the Hawaii Ocean Safety Team, a nonprofit dedicated to making the state鈥檚 waters safer and cleaner, approximately 3 million people snorkel in Hawaiian waters each year. Most people won鈥檛 be surprised to learn how many people enjoy such an accessible, wonderful activity鈥攂ut what鈥檚 shocking is how dangerous it can be and the consistent number of snorkeling fatalities. According to the Hawaii State Department of Health, drowning is the , far outpacing the national average. Around 45 tourists drowned in the ocean each year in Hawaii , and snorkeling was the number one contributor.

This year has proved especially deadly. In March, a 43-year-old visitor from California at unguarded Larsen鈥檚 Beach. And Oahu saw two snorkel-related tourist deaths the first week of February: a 64-year-old woman on the North Shore and a who was part of a kayak tour.

While these incidents were terrible, they also didn鈥檛 shock me. I live part time in Maui and regularly see panicked snorkelers. In February, I watched an older gentleman crawl out of the water onto the beach as he was pounded by shore break in his snorkel gear. Later that month, I witnessed a young woman struggle to remove her mask after it had filled with water. Despite the dangers, many snorkelers appear to lack safety training or an understanding of their gear鈥擨 regularly observe people wearing fins backwards and snorkels upside down.

Underestimating the Skills Required to Snorkel

Some visitors mistakenly think a snorkel is a flotation device, said Andy McComb, founder of Redline Rafting, a tour operator in Maui that runs snorkel excursions. He said his team is asked almost daily: 鈥淒o I need to know how to swim in order to snorkel?鈥� Swimming is challenging enough for some people. Add a claustrophobic mask, a straw-like snorkel, fins that can weigh you down, plus waves and strong currents, can lead to a casual activity quickly turning into a high-intensity workout.

鈥淲hen people come to Hawaii, they see beauty, not danger,鈥� said Jason Bitzer, a former Honolulu Ocean Safety member who spent six years lifeguarding at . 鈥淰isitors think snorkelling is a controlled activity, like zip-lining. The ocean is in control.鈥�

Even in the calm, flat waters of Hanauma Bay, water can enter through the top of the snorkel. 鈥淧eople panic and instead of pulling the snorkel out of their mouth to spit out the water, they start to suck it in and choke,鈥� said Shayne Enright, a spokesperson for Honolulu Ocean Safety. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 how a drowning can start even in harmless looking ocean conditions.鈥�

A common misconception is that snorkeling is effortless and relaxing. It can be for some people. But for those new to the activity, it can be overwhelming and exhausting, too. 鈥淵ou need to have coordination, some fitness, and an awareness of your surroundings, even if you鈥檙e in three feet of flat water,鈥� said Enright. 鈥淛ust like riding a bike, it takes practice to get comfortable.鈥�

Why Do Experienced Snorkelers Drown?

It鈥檚 easy to blame inexperience on the unusually high number of deaths, but many fatalities have involved experienced swimmers and snorkelers, like Ray Johnson. In February 2022, Johnson, then 64, took his fifth vacation to Hawaii with his wife Patti and four friends. The Michigan couple had snorkeled the waters of Hawaii many times before, Patti told me. 鈥淩ay was an incredible snorkeler; it鈥檚 what he loved to do,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e planned vacations around snorkeling. He鈥檇 snorkel the lakes in Michigan and always kept his fins and snorkel in the car.鈥�

On February 25, two days after their arrival, Ray and some friends went snorkeling off Wailea Beach in Maui, which fronted their resort, the Fairmont Kea Lani. Patti had taken a walk along the paved path that overlooks the beach. 鈥淚 looked out and waved and then realized it looked like people were helping him,鈥� she recalled. 鈥淚 assumed he stepped on a lava rock.鈥� She rushed down to the beach, but by then she said he was on his back and being pulled out of the water.

Someone called 911, but medical professionals weren鈥檛 able to resuscitate him. The autopsy report deemed Ray鈥檚 death an accidental drowning, which Patti said she doesn鈥檛 believe. The friends who had been snorkeling with Ray told her at one point, he said, 鈥測ou gotta help me, I鈥檓 having trouble breathing.鈥� That鈥檚 when they decided to head to shore, she said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think you鈥檙e having a conversation if you鈥檙e drowning,鈥� she rationalized.

The Johnson family believes the real cause of Ray鈥檚 death was a lesser-known medical condition called rapid onset pulmonary edema, or ROPE, which causes fluid build up in the lungs. In 2024, Patti filed a lawsuit against the Hawai鈥榠 Tourism Authority, Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, and the Fairmont Kea Lani, where Ray rented the gear, alleging that Hawaii travel entities failed to educate the public on this 鈥渋mportant public health concern,鈥� according to the complaint filed in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit in the State of Hawaii. Patti鈥檚 Oahu-based lawyer, Jay Stuemke, told me the case is still in the discovery phase, and trial is currently set for November. The Hawaiian Tourism Authority, Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau and Fairmont Kea Lani declined to comment on the lawsuit.

What Is ROPE and How Does it Affect Snorkelers?

Years of data from the Hawaii Department of Health revealed that many snorkel-related fatalities occurred in mild ocean conditions and were not accompanied by signs of distress. In October 2017, the state established a Snorkel Safety Sub-Committee to investigate the unusual circumstances. A two-year conducted by the sub-committee and funded by the Hawaii Tourism Authority tested 50 different snorkels, reviewed medical examiner reports and case studies, and conducted a survey of 131 snorkelers at Hanauma Bay.

The study was the first to link ROPE to snorkeling. released in 2021 concluded that rapid onset pulmonary edema in snorkelers may be as common, or more so, than the accidental inhalation of water, which typically causes someone to react in distress. When snorkeling, we breathe against more resistance than we typically would, explained Dr. MeiLan Han, Chief of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care at the University of Michigan Health. 鈥淲hen the body tries to inhale but is unable to do so or it鈥檚 hard to do so, it creates increased negative pressure within lungs,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his encourages fluid to cross over from the blood into the lungs.鈥� When this occurs, the person can lose too much oxygen and become unconscious. 鈥淩OPE associated with snorkeling certainly can be fatal,鈥� said Dr. Han, who noted that there is very little literature on this topic.

The snorkel safety study suggested that preexisting medical conditions, increased exertion, exposure to high altitudes, and the degree of the snorkel鈥檚 resistance to inhalation may increase risk of ROPE while snorkeling. It also suspected that prolonged air travel might be a factor given the majority of travelers have flown at least five hours to reach Hawaii. However, data was not conclusive and the sub-committee recommended further research of this hypothesis. The study also recommended developing a statewide public education program to address snorkeling safety.

According to a spokesperson for the Hawai驶i Visitors and Convention Bureau, only general ocean safety posters are in the island airports. And have been created to warn against everything from dangerous shorebreaks to jellyfish, but very few are specific to snorkel safety. Because Hanauma Bay State Park is a snorkel haven, visitors are required to watch a seven-minute that warns: 鈥淪norkeling is a strenuous activity that requires good physical conditions and skillful practice. It is critical to your safety that you have strong swimming abilities before entering the ocean.鈥�

The state鈥檚 has a dedicated with that include a footnote about how causes of snorkel-related drownings, including air travel, are currently under investigation. Patti Johnson said she and her husband had never seen this brochure, nor had they been warned of any of these potential risks while snorkeling in Hawaii, particularly the concern around flying. She said she has since heard of snorkelers being warned to wait a few days after air travel in Cancun, Curacao, and Thailand. Patti now distributes business cards with warnings about air travel and snorkel-related ROPE to friends and sporting goods stores. 鈥淢y main goal in life is to educate people and hopefully to get Hawaii to start educating people,鈥� she said.

Should You Be Wary of Full-Face Masks?

Generally speaking, you want a simpler snorkel design that is easy to breathe from, said Dr. Han. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 want to be pulling against a lot of resistance,鈥� she said. Of the 50 masks and snorkels tested in the snorkel safety study, only four were , which allow the user to breathe through their nose and mouth and typically feature a tube at the forehead.

The study concluded that full-face snorkelling masks had no inherent advantage or disadvantage in terms of resistance, however they did have drawbacks. Users cannot spit out the mouthpieces, nor are they able to dive beneath the surface safely. They can鈥檛 be removed easily in an emergency. Water can鈥檛 be cleared from the tube, often located at the top of the mask, by blowing sharply. And the study found valve malfunction could lead to serious breathing impairments. I personally have found full-face masks, even those with quick-release mechanisms, very hard to take off and feel that you should always choose the safer, rather than the more comfortable, gear option.

Colin Yamamoto, a sub-committee member and former battalion chief of ocean safety for the Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety, said he conducted his own research on full-face masks versus traditional face masks and found the former to be far riskier. 鈥淚鈥檓 not a scientist,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut my theory is that you are breathing in higher levels of carbon dioxide with the full-face mask. That coupled with low oxygen levels is problematic if you are older or have pre-existing medical conditions.鈥� A small, 10-person conducted by Duke University in 2021 was inconclusive about whether full-face masks were responsible for more snorkel drownings, but it did raise safety concerns around the lack of regulation and control of these masks.

The includes a section about the pros and cons of using a full-face mask, and links to a from Dr. Monty Downs, President of the Kauai Lifeguard Association in which he opined: 鈥淒on鈥檛 use full-face snorkel masks unless you are an expert who鈥檚 had a lot of training and experience with them.鈥� Many in Hawaii have independently banned the use of full-face mask snorkels and tourism boards, such as the one for , now warn visitors of the risks of full-face mask snorkels.

Snorkel Safety 101

The following is a list of tips I curated from recommendations listed on the Hawaii Department of Health ocean safety page, Honolulu Ocean Safety members, and snorkel tour operators.

• Check ocean conditions and only snorkel at guarded beaches. 鈥淭he chance of a rescue and resuscitation is much higher at a guarded beach,鈥� said Enright, of Honolulu Safety.
• Never go alone. Always have a buddy. Inexperienced snorkelers should consider booking with a tour operator.
• Rest a day or two after flying. 鈥淚 never suggest anyone go straight from the plane to doing any activity, whether snorkeling or surfing,鈥� said Enright. 鈥淢any visitors come here dehydrated and need to acclimate to the different climate. Give your body time to regulate.鈥�
• Test your gear on dry land or even in a pool before jumping into the ocean. Your fins and mask should have a snug, yet comfortable, fit. Practice breathing through the snorkel. Know how to clear water from your snorkel and what to do if your mask leaks or fogs. Make sure you can scissor kick with your fins while swimming. A doggie paddle or frog kick won鈥檛 cut it.
• Don鈥檛 wear your fins on the beach or boat. Walk into the water first, get past the shore break, then put them on. Similarly, take them off before you exit the water.
• Go slow, breathe slowly, and keep your heart rate low. Don鈥檛 overexert yourself.

Jen Murphy is a regular contributor to 国产吃瓜黑料 and a snorkel fanatic. She lives part time in Maui where she snorkels any chance she gets. In her 20s, she worked a short stint as a snorkel assistant aboard a catamaran, where she regularly fielded questions, such as, 鈥渄o I really need to get my face wet to snorkel?鈥澨�

The post The Surprising Cause of Hawaii’s Snorkeling Deaths appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

It was somewhere around the third or fourth storm on the tenth day of my first attempt at the Colorado Trail that I began to question my sanity.

I was drenched nearly to my internal organs, my pack probably five or 500 pounds heavier than before the sky began throwing its endless tantrum. So much hail had come down over the prior days that it felt like I鈥檇 been trapped in an endless paintball loop with a sadist, my skin raw from the relentless assault. I fantasized about leaving the trail, chucking my gear into the nearest trash can, and making a new life as a used bookseller in some quaint Colorado town. I could take up knitting. Tend to a garden. Plan the kind of vacations where you remain mostly horizontal.

Then a burly wind gust blew through my daydream, shoving me to the ground, and I began to cry.

This was supposed to be fun鈥攐r at least, that鈥檚 how I pitched it to my hiking companion, MacGyver, who I鈥檇 met while trekking the Pacific Crest Trail. I spent two years working on a guidebook for the PCT, hiking the first thousand miles multiple times in multiple seasons, and I craved a fresh path; MacGyver just figured that hiking sounded better than not hiking.

The Colorado Trail (known as the CT to its faithful and the syllable-averse) promised to fulfill our simple requests. Its roughly 486 miles, cast on a squiggly diagonal across the Centennial State, connect Denver to Durango via a rollercoaster route of single track and dusty roads. The trail contours around slopes thick with aspen and wildflowers, passes through forests rife with conifers and chanterelles, plunges across creeks and rivers, skirts crystalline lakes, and ascends a handful of high mountain passes. After so much time spent in California’s deserts and Sierra splendor, I wondered if a different landscape could equally stir my soul.

In parts, the CT delivered. As MacGyver and I began our southbound hike just outside Denver, we marveled at the newness of it all. Back home, the Sierra鈥檚 highest reaches exist as white-grey moonscapes constructed of angular granite; here, the mountain passes unfurled in soft carpets of tundra, greener and lusher than anything I鈥檇 experienced in California. The forests felt older, denser, and delightfully mysterious, the kind of places where you might stumble across a fairy flitting about a smattering of toadstools. Sure, there were marmots and pika and deer scampering around as they were back home, but for the first time in my life, I also watched moose lumber across the trail, quietly munching on the abundant vegetation not far from where we froze in awe.

For each of these fresh wonders, however, the CT seemed to deliver an equal number of fresh hells. We discovered quickly, for instance, that the trail’s architects were seemingly unaware of the power of the humble switchback. I wrote in my journal:

“It is a violent, aggressive trail. When it goes up, it does so at an exhausting grade. Almost worse, it does the same on the way down. The jolting pain of each step, usually tangled in wet tree roots or sharp rocks, is an assault on the body.”听

MacGyver chose to address such rudeness by rocketing up each incline like a wayward bull; I preferred to suffer slowly, muttering a litany of curse words to score the misery. It was no surprise to either of us when one of MacGyver鈥檚 knees simply quit bending at the two-week mark of our journey.

Our tally of complaints grew by the hour. The trail lacked the 鈥渨ow鈥� factor of the High Sierra鈥檚 alpine vistas. The route was frequently lined with stubby, stabby plants we referred to as 鈥渧iolent pines.鈥� Other hikers were nearly nonexistent (I didn鈥檛 mind; poor MacGyver, however, had been conditioned to the PCT鈥檚 summer camp social air and began talking to me鈥攐r at me鈥攏early nonstop in the vacuum of humanity). The forest was filled with terrifying, Blair Witchian structures. The water tasted of a gently bovine essence. And we were constantly dodging bicycles, especially during the Breckenridge 100, a century race near the ski town that partially converges with the CT. It was an added insult to the parade of injuries when, after hours of jumping downhill to avoid being run over, my body decided that it would clear itself of all contents in a manner not unlike colonoscopy preparation.

Then there were the storms, which came in multiple waves almost every day. Once, while camping with friends at Kenosha Pass, the sky morphed from sunny to angry in an instant, burying our tents, campfire, and dinner in a rage of hail. Another day, after MacGyver left the trail to rest his battered knees, I experienced five separate thunderstorms that drowned everything so thoroughly that I was forced to pitch my tent in the smallest puddle I could find.

And, of course, there was the storm that knocked me off my feet. Resting on the ground, pack against the wet dirt, I cried. I sniffled. I wailed. And then I screamed.

I eventually staggered to my feet and began walking, faster and angrier, sadder and more weirded out than I’d ever felt on a trail. When I caught up to MacGyver, he looked at my tear-soaked cheeks and asked, “Are you ok?”

I answered, “No, I am not.”

We walked in silence and I ruminated. Halfway in, the Colorado Trail had tested not just my physical limits, which I welcomed, but also my emotional ones鈥攁nd I wondered if it had nudged them a bit too far. This is, of course, one of the realities on any long hike: the further you walk, the deeper you go. You鈥檝e just got to be ready for a little soul excavation along the way.

MacGyver and I didn’t finish the trail that summer. His knees wouldn’t allow it, and neither would my cat sitter, who texted that she couldn’t handle my feline鈥檚 rather aggressive affections and could I please come home. We were both subtly relieved.

In the months that followed, however, we sent a volley of texts, their contents growing progressively more deranged:

鈥淚鈥檓 never hiking the CT again.鈥�

鈥淭hat was as bad as I鈥檓 remembering it, right?鈥�

鈥淚 dunno鈥擨鈥檓 not a quitter. CT this summer?鈥�

鈥淎ctually, let鈥檚 yo-yo the CT? Double the fun!鈥�

鈥淚 might be a masochist, but I miss the CT.鈥�

So MacGyver and I returned the following summer, battle-worn soldiers lured by the siren call of grassy peaks and shimmering aspen, munching moose, and a touch of amnesia, strangely excited for the pummeling to come. Just as soon as we鈥檇 begun the mental and physical preparations, however, the 416 and Burro fires erupted, scorching over 54,000 acres near the trail鈥檚 southern half and derailing our plans for a glorious completion. We settled on hiking the 160-mile Collegiate Loop at the CT鈥檚 midsection, named for a parade of fourteeners strung across its heights.

We hitched to the loop鈥檚 southern end and began wandering its heavily forested eastern stretch with a bit of delusional optimism that was quickly tamped by the same hot and dry conditions that primed the wildfires鈥� spread. Instead of the previous summer鈥檚 monsoonal drenching, we were sunburned and eternally thirsty, loading our packs with six liters of water any time we found a running source. 鈥淚t鈥檒l get better when we鈥檙e on the western side,鈥� one of us would utter from time to time. 鈥淵es, it鈥檒l get better,鈥� the other would reply, with a strong lack of conviction.

(It did not, in fact, get better.)

Wildfire smoke poisoned the air. We were intimidated by a trio of crabby moose. I was nearly flattened by a mountain bike. During a side quest to climb a pair of fourteeners (Mount Belford and Mount Oxford) with some Denver pals, I grew dizzy and nauseous, barely tagging one peak before stumbling back down to my tent only minutes before a multi-hour storm soaked the area. Then, the rotten cherry on top: my lightweight pack, overburdened with water and ill-equipped for the task, created a patch of chafe that eventually bloomed into an open wound. Despite MacGyver鈥檚 best efforts at playing medic, it was once more time to call it quits.

As before, I wasn’t exactly sad to leave. But this time, it wasn鈥檛 because I was ready to go; it was because I not only figured we鈥檇 be back, but also knew that somehow, I鈥檇 gotten exactly what I鈥檇 come out here for. Not just the moments of sublime beauty, time with my thoughts, and endless conversation, but also the difficulty, the chaos, the opportunity to peel back yet another layer of my humanness and examine what lay beneath. The suffering and the enlightenment, so deeply intertwined along this trail.

On our final morning, I slowly dismantled my tent, whispering goodbye to the pain and the penance, but also the pines and peaks and moose and magpies. I moved on pensive autopilot until my foot lodged under a large rock, sending me sailing, my pack a bully’s hand pushing me into the dirt. My wool tights ripped at the knee; my flesh scraped from the same. I rolled over and watched the blood come. And then I laughed. The tears that followed weren’t ones of sadness or anger or frustration, but of knowing: the trail always provides鈥攁s long as you鈥檙e willing to accept a bit of suffering.

Shawnt茅 鈥淩ustic鈥� Salabert has happily suffered through thousands of miles on other long trails, including the John Muir Trail / N眉眉m眉 Poyo, Backbone Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail, and has nothing but glowing words for the latter in her guidebook .听 She鈥檚 a contributing writer for Treeline Review, a recurring guest on the Rock Fight podcast, and has written about national parks, urban ecology, and the outdoor industry for 国产吃瓜黑料. Her next book, to be announced later this year, takes an unconventional look at a trail that has treated her a whole lot better than the CT ever has.

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Behold! Classic trips have been reconsidered鈥攜ou鈥檝e gawked at the Grand Canyon, but have you run it from rim to rim?鈥攚hile new destinations have caught our eye. This year we鈥檙e joining the revelers at Colorado鈥檚 Red Rocks Amphitheater, trekking up Mexico鈥檚 tallest volcano, paddling through the world鈥檚 brightest bioluminescence off Puerto Rico, hiking Canada鈥檚 wildest coastal way, and much more. What do these trips have in common? They鈥檙e incredible experiences, all.

1. Hut-Hop in New Hampshire

The best way to experience the White Mountains鈥� Presidential Range is hiking between the Appalachian Mountain Club鈥檚 eight historic high-mountain huts. Connecting distances aren鈥檛 ridiculous鈥攖he shortest leg is 4.5 miles, the longest 13.4. From late spring to early fall, on-site staff make guests hot breakfasts and dinners, but I prefer to visit during shoulder season, when rates are cheaper and I can cook my own meals. My favorite hut is Zealand, because the wood-burning stove keeps the bunks toasty on chilly nights. Intent on a summer stay? Book on the AMC site three months in advance. From $74 鈥�Mardi Fuller

2. See a California Superbloom

As I cruised through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park one April afternoon, the road curved to reveal a seemingly infinite carpet of purple and yellow. Caught unawares, I felt like I鈥檇 entered Oz. A superbloom! The rare phenomenon occurs when consistent above-average rainfall follows a drought, nurturing a floral explosion so vast and vibrant that it鈥檚 visible from space. I鈥檝e since seen superblooms in Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve. They鈥檙e not limited to Southern California, though; for more info on possible places these awesome, ephemeral displays might appear in 2025, check out the nonprofit Theodore Payne Foundation. 鈥擲hawnt茅 Salabert

3. Backpack the West Coast Trail in British Columbia

A six-day trek along this 47-mile Vancouver Island trail exceeded my wildest expectations. The route ambles between mossy rainforest and sandy stretches, where black bears forage and orcas and gray whales breach offshore. Wooden ladders and boardwalks keep the hike engaging, and a dozen established campgrounds mean tent sites are plentiful (but also popular鈥� prepare to get cozy with your neighbors at Tsusiat Falls especially). I found solitude at Cullite Cove and Carmanah Creek. Download the West Coast Trail app to stay abreast of camping options, conditions, and tide info. And pack motion-sickness meds for the bumpy shuttle back from the far trailhead. Permits and mandatory ferry reservations, which do not include Pacific Rim National Park Reserve entry, go on sale each January and sell out within hours (from $154). 鈥擹oe Gates

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4. Ride Horseback in Canyon de Chelly, Arizona

One May day, saddled atop two small horses perfect for our short frames, my teenage daughter and I followed a Din茅 woman and her preteen son up the low, brown waters of Chinle Creek and into the deep ochre Canyon de Chelly (pronounced de-shay). Indigenous people have lived here for 5,000 years, and the only way to explore the canyon today is with a Native guide. As ours narrated her tribe鈥檚 history, she pointed out petroglyphs鈥攐f hunters, snakes, the god Kokopelli鈥攐n the sheer thousandfoot-high walls and fielded queries about modern life in the Navajo Nation. On the return, the boy spotted a herd of wild horses and broke away from our equine train, chasing them through an open field surrounded by cottonwoods. The whole outing felt timeless. Justin’s Horse Rental is the canyon鈥檚 only authorized horseback outfitter. From $30 鈥擳asha Zemke

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The national parks of Utah usually steal the thunder, but don鈥檛 forget about its state parks. Utah has 46 state parks, and there are some serious gems among them. I鈥檝e rounded up nine of my favorites, ranked.

I do want to add a disclaimer that, while I’ve visited every park on this list, I haven鈥檛 gotten a chance to visit all the state parks in Utah yet. A few on the top of my list are Goblin Valley, Dead Horse Point (where I would love to go mountain biking), and our state鈥檚 newest park: Utahraptor. Established in 2021, will stage its grand opening this spring. Visitors can explore an area where more than 5,500 dinosaur bones have been found, including those of the park鈥檚 namesake. The park also has a new campground and trails for hiking, mountain biking, and off-roading鈥攁nd preserves the historic site of a former Japanese internment camp.

But back to the state parks on this list鈥攆or each park, I鈥檝e shared my favorite adventure, the best time of year to go, and some local tips for maximizing your time. While individual park fees vary, if you plan to visit more than five or six state parks in the next 12 months and you鈥檙e a Utah resident, it makes sense to purchase a ($125). Finally, all of Utah’s state park reservations can be made through the site up to four months in advance.

9. Great Salt Lake State Park, Magna

Specs: 162 acres, with access to the 1,000,000+ acre lake

Best For: Boating, wandering, learning, bird watching

While not the most idyllic environment, the Great Salt Lake is a defining feature of the state of Utah and this is the perfect place to learn about it. The mostly consists of the marina, shoreline, a campground, and a short trail. If you鈥檙e interested in learning more about this bizarre, saline environment, the visitor鈥檚 center here is the best place to start.

The Best 国产吃瓜黑料 in Great Salt Lake State Park

Rent a tandem kayak at the marina through (from $40 for two hours) and paddle out to explore the biggest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. Bring binoculars and see how many birds you can spot. Millions of birds visit the lake each year to feast on brine flies鈥攎ore on that below.

When to Go

The park is open year-round, but it鈥檚 most pleasant in the fall. hatch from April and stick around through November. Mid-spring can be a particularly nasty and unpleasant time to be on the lake or its shores due to the bugs. Call ahead to check on the fly status.

Local Pointers for Great Salt Lake State Park

The nearby historic Saltair is just a couple miles from the park (a five-minute drive) and is a strange and interesting site to check out. First built in 1893, the recreational building has been the victim of fire and flooding over the years, with several reconstruction efforts over the years as a result. Today, it mainly serves as a .

8. Anasazi State Park Museum, Boulder

Specs: 6 acres

Best For: Learning

This is not your ordinary state park鈥攊t鈥檚 actually a museum located on the historic site of what was once a large Ancestral Puebloan village. Puebloans lived on these lands from 1050 to 1200 C.E. At , you can tour remnants of the original site, explore a replica of an ancient dwelling, and see artifacts excavated from the site itself. The museum is located in tiny, quirky Boulder, one of the gateway towns to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

The Best 国产吃瓜黑料 in Anasazi State Park Museum

While the artifacts inside the museum are interesting, I most enjoyed walking around the original site and the replica of a kiva. I visited on a cold November day and it was fascinating to imagine living in this landscape in a round, subterranean structure year-round, staying warm by fire.

When to Go

You won鈥檛 want to travel all the way to Boulder, Utah, for this museum鈥攎ost likely, you鈥檒l be tacking it on to a trip to Grand Staircase-Escalante. While the museum is open year-round, the best times of year to explore the national monument are early fall and mid to late-spring.

Local Pointers for Anasazi State Park Museum

This museum is within spitting distance of , a James Beard-nominated restaurant, and in my opinion, the best in Utah. Open seasonally (usually mid-March through early November), the grill is a mandatory stop for breakfast or dinner. The grill is located at the Boulder Mountain Lodge, if you鈥檙e looking for accommodations in the area, too.

7. Jordanelle State Park, Park City

Specs: 6,704 Acres

Best For: Beaching, boating, fishing, grilling, camping

Utah鈥檚 Wasatch Back鈥攖he backside of the Wasatch Mountains鈥攈as a number of reservoirs that are managed as state parks with high-quality fishing, boating, and beaching. Echo, Deer Creek, and Rockport are all fine options, but by far the largest and most developed in terms of infrastructure is the Jordanelle. With three separate recreational areas and 363,000 acre feet of water, this reservoir offers a beach-like experience with plenty of opportunities for every stripe of boater, from jet skiing to SUPing.

has three separate entrance areas. Hailstone is the main marina and by far the most developed with cabanas, pavilions, several campground options, and even cabins for overnight rentals. While Hailstone makes sense if you鈥檝e got a big crew, my favorite area is Rock Cliff near Heber, with a nature center, a boardwalk through wetlands, and trails. There鈥檚 also the quieter Ross Creek entrance, with cabanas, a non-motorized boat ramp, and a perimeter trailhead. But if sand and boating are your main objectives, Hailstone is the place to be.

The Best 国产吃瓜黑料 in Jordanelle State Park

SUPing is my favorite way to experience this massive reservoir. On a hot day, it鈥檚 a fun way to cool off and you can get on the water without waiting in a line of boats. You can bring your own SUP, kayak, or other boat to take out on the Jordanelle. Or you can rent a kayak, SUP, jet ski, or boat from the marina at the Hailstone area through (pontoons start at $499 for four hours; kayaks start at $30 for one hour; full pricing and reservations available online).

When to Go

Summer is the time to be at the Jordanelle. In spring or fall, temperatures might be favorable, or it might be snowing鈥攜ou never know. The park is great year-round for hiking and peaceful waterside walks, but if you鈥檙e coming for the watersports and the beach vibes, peak summer will be prime fun.

Local Pointers for Jordanelle State Park

While there is a plethora of camping options at the Jordanelle, these sites book up months in advance. Reservations open up four months in advance of any given date, so set a reminder for yourself to make reservations on your calendar. Or use a site like to snag a campsite when someone cancels. Also consider what type of camping experience you want鈥攖he Jordanelle offers RV campgrounds, tent-only campgrounds, group campgrounds, and the hike-in Phostan Bay Campground. There are also five cabins available to rent as well as three cottages that sleep up to eight. If you鈥檙e only coming for the day, but want a cabana, you should听reserve that well in advance, too.

6. Wasatch Mountain State Park, Midway

Specs: 21,592 Acres

Best For: Hiking, mountain biking, golfing, cross-country skiing, camping

This state park is practically in my backyard (20 minutes away), so it definitely makes the list of my favorites. Within the park, you鈥檒l find campgrounds, endless trails, the Wasatch Mountain Golf Course, and the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, which was used during the 2002 Winter Olympics.

The Best 国产吃瓜黑料 in Wasatch Mountain State Park

More often than not, I go to to mountain bike, usually to ride the relatively new , which tours aspen groves and fields of wildflowers. You can ride this trail as an out-and-back鈥攃limbing up some 2,400 feet, then descending back the way you came鈥攂ut most ride it as a downhill shuttle, since the climb is a grind. WOW isn鈥檛 the only ride in the park鈥攖he Dutch Hollow trails are flowy, fun and there鈥檚 plenty of road riding, too. Trail Forks has a helpful map of the riding .

When to Go

Summer is my favorite time of year to hit the trails at Wasatch Mountain State Park. Rarely do temperatures sore too hot for me to tolerate. Fall, when the foliage is popping off, is also an incredible season to hike or bike in the park. In winter, you can explore the extensive groomed cross-country skiing and tubing of Soldier Hollow. Spring is the least ideal, since trails are likely to be snow-covered or muddy.

Local Pointers for Wasatch Mountain State Park

The gateway town to this state park is Midway, which bills itself as a Little Switzerland. There are a few awesome restaurants worth checking out in town, including Lola鈥檚 Street Kitchen and Midway Mercantile. You can also have a post-ride or post-hike soak at the Homestead Crater, a 65-feet deep hot spring.

5. Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, near Kanab

Specs: 3,700 Acres

Best For: Wandering, ATVing, camping

You鈥檒l think you made a wrong turn on the long, narrow, dusty road that leads to . This massive dune deposit formed from Navajo sandstone rock that eroded millions of years ago. Like Great Sand Dunes in Colorado鈥攐ne of my favorite national parks鈥攖his state park is a beautiful place to roam, explore, and spend a night under a starry sky.

The Best 国产吃瓜黑料 in Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

I鈥檓 not a motorized sports person, so I won’t tell you that an ATV is the best way to explore this park. For some, that may indeed be the most fun option. But I believe the best way to take in this serene and stunning landscape is on foot. Pick a point in the distance and hike to it. Grunt up hills, then rollick back down them. Spread out a blanket and read a book. Become one with the sand. You do you at the dunes.

When to Go

While the park is open year-round, this is the desert and there is no shade. It follows that the best seasons for the park are spring and fall, when you鈥檒l find moderate temperatures. In summer, you鈥檒l only be able to tolerate the heat early in the morning or at dusk. Don鈥檛 get caught out in the dunes barefoot and burn the bottoms of your feet. Winter can also be a smart time to explore this state park, when the moderate crowds thin even further. But you鈥檒l want to hike with shoes and it may be pretty chilly to camp.

No matter which season you go in, with the limited shade, be sure to bring plenty of water and sun protection, including sunscreen and UPF apparel.

Finally, as the name suggests, sunrise and sunset are spectacular times to behold the dunes blushing coral pink鈥攁nother reason to consider camping here for a night or two. But be sure to in advance.

Local Pointers for Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

There is also good hiking and scenic driving surrounding the park. One cool and easily accessible stop off Sand Springs Road is the South Fork Indian Canyon Pictograph Site. Just a short hike from the parking area, this rock art features several figures, including twins.

4. Kodachrome Basin State Park, Cannonville

Specs: 2,240 Acres

Best For: Hiking, camping, horseback riding

This quiet, off-the-beaten-path state park is known for its 67 pillars鈥攕and pipes, in geologic terms鈥攖hat rise out of the desert landscape like geologic sentinels. makes for a nice add-on to a trip to nearby Bryce or the northwestern edge of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

The Best 国产吃瓜黑料 in Kodachrome Basin State Park

This little state park offers three campgrounds as peaceful as they are scenic. All reservations can be made , and if you鈥檙e going on the weekend from spring through fall, book four months in advance (or as early as possible). With plenty of easily accessible, family-friendly trails nearby, it鈥檚 easy to hike around the sand pipes right from your campsite, too.

When to Go

Spring or fall are the best seasons to visit this state park. Summer can get quite hot, and winter, surprisingly cold.

Local Pointers for Kodachrome Basin State Park

If you鈥檙e more of a glamper than a camper, stay at nearby (from $250 per night) just a ten-minute drive from Kodachrome Basin. The glamping domes let you stargaze from bed and come equipped with firepits and grills so you鈥檒l feel like you鈥檙e camping, but still get to sleep in a real bed and have a bathroom. Or check out the Clear Sky Resorts domes in nearby Cannonville (from $300 per night), which are a 15-minute drive from Kodachrome Basin.

3. Bear Lake State Park, Garden City

Specs: 7,400 Acres

Best For: Water sports, swimming, beaching, camping

Spanning 20 miles from southern Idaho into northern Utah, is a massive body of water formed around 30,000 years ago by earthquakes. It鈥檚 known for its striking blue hue and named for the black bears that dwell in the woods nearby. When I posted photos of Bear Lake, friends asked what ocean I had visited鈥攕o if you鈥檙e looking for the seashore in Utah, this is as close as you鈥檒l get.

The Best 国产吃瓜黑料 in Bear Lake State Park

Even though the lake was quite choppy on the weekend I visited Bear Lake鈥攚e had to convince the marina to let us go out, since my friend was an experienced boat captain鈥攚e still had the best time. Despite the听strong winds, sailing on those turquoise waters with hills and mountains surrounding us was a blast. The tubing was a bit like hurtling through a supersonic wind tunnel, but fun all the same.

When to Go

If you want to get in the water and bask in the beach vibes, summer is the time to go鈥攂ut it鈥檚 also when it鈥檚 most crowded. Flocks of boaters and campers descend during this season, so you鈥檒l want to and plan your trip four months in advance. If you don鈥檛 care about swimming and sun, the park is open year-round and the lake is just as dreamy to behold on a stroll through the sand in February as it is in August.

Local Pointers for Bear Lake State Park

While there is plenty of camping at Bear Lake鈥攖hough reservations fill up fast鈥攖hey are far from the most scenic or idyllic campsites in Utah. The appeal is the proximity to the shoreline, not the campsites themselves. They are quite developed and there鈥檚 not much separating you from other parties. It sort of felt like camping in a public park.

Bear Lake is also known for its locally grown raspberries, so refuel after a day on the water with a raspberry milkshake or other treat.

2. Snow Canyon State Park, Ivins

Specs: 7,400 Acres

Best For: Hiking, mountain biking, climbing, camping

Generally speaking, I am not a fan of St. George. It鈥檚 congested, a golfing hub (in a place with a water shortage), and feels like someone decided to stack as many strip malls and chain restaurants as they could in the middle of the desert. I also find it pretty disgraceful that the word 鈥淒ixie鈥� continues to stay past its welcome in this area, including in the name of the convention center and a nearby national forest.

But one reason to come to (or at least through) St. George is . The landscape rivals what you鈥檒l find in Utah鈥檚 national parks, but with much less hype.

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The takes you through sandy washes and over red rock scrambles to a cave with a keyhole-shaped opening and sweeping views. At 4.4 miles total, it鈥檚 also easily doable in a half day鈥攐r easy to sneak in at dawn or dusk if you鈥檙e visiting from late spring through early fall when the weather is super hot.

When to Go

Early/mid-spring and late fall are the best times to visit Snow Canyon. If you don鈥檛 mind hiking in a puffy jacket, winter is also an awesome time to get your desert fix with no crowds. In summer, it gets extremely hot, so only pre-sunrise or post-sunset adventures should be undertaken.

Local Pointers for Snow Canyon State Park

I鈥檓 a bit biased as the editor-in-chief of , but I鈥檝e had my sights set on the for a while. I鈥檝e only visited the park once鈥攚ith some friends who don鈥檛 climb鈥攂ut I would love to return. If you climb, it鈥檚 definitely worth bringing your gear and sampling the sport and trad routes on sandstone. Moderate climbers will love the Island in the Sky Traverse (5.3, trad), but there are plenty of harder routes in the 5.12 neighborhood for climbers who want more of a challenge. You can also book a local guide through (from $410 per person for a half-day climbing trip, but as little as $130 per person if you have a larger group) if you鈥檙e climbing curious, but don鈥檛 have the gear or knowledge yet.

1. Antelope Island State Park, Syracuse

Specs: 28,000 Acres

Best For: Hiking, biking, camping, wildlife viewing, stargazing

The largest island in the Great Salt Lake, offers an eclectic mix of wildlife, ranching history, and trails. As far as outdoor adventures go, it鈥檚 a great spot for hiking, trail running, road cycling, mountain biking, and camping.

The Best 国产吃瓜黑料 at Antelope Island

One of the coolest aspects of visiting Antelope Island is the unique wildlife that abounds there. While the island is named for the resident pronghorn antelope, the most well-known fauna around are bison. Somewhere between 550 and 700 bison live on the island and can be frequently seen grazing the island鈥檚 shores. Every October, viewers can observe the annual , which consolidates the herds and provides health screenings. Birdwatching is also a popular activity, since the island attracts over 250 species along their migration pathways.

When to Go

Antelope Island is open year-round, though in mid-spring, midges hatch and make a visit absolutely miserable. While these nasty biting midges can be present from spring through fall, they鈥檙e usually tolerable after their annual spring resurgence. Call ahead to check on midge conditions.

Antelope Island also doesn鈥檛 see a lot of snow and visiting during the less crowded winter months is a nice, quieter way to experience this state park.

Local Pointers for Antelope Island State Park

While no one besides the animals call Antelope Island home these days, a few Latter-day Saints settlers did move there and built a ranch in 1848. Now a preserved historic site, the is a fun stop on your Antelope Island tour. The park sometimes hosts ghost tours of this allegedly haunted ranch in fall, aka spooky season. Another cool event to check out is one of the on dark nights, from spring through fall, which pair perfectly with a night camping on the island.

is the editor-in-chief of Climbing Magazine and the author of four Moon travel guides to Utah, including and . She has lived in Utah for eight years and has been exploring its beautiful public lands for far longer. While she lives just outside the Uinta Mountains, she is a desert person at heart who would always rather be climbing or riding her mountain bike over some red rock under the sun.

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