Picture this: a winter wonderland with miles of snowy trails that are perfect for winter hiking and nordic skiing, skies full of stars and colorful auroras, and cozy lodges (or winter camping if you’re feeling adventurous). This is winter in Québec, a giant outdoor playground with endless opportunities for adventure. Whether you’re looking to get your adrenaline pumping, relax in world-class lodges, ice-skate on frozen lakes, or, more likely, all of the above, these are some of the best things to do during .

1. Skiing in Parc National de la Gaspésie

in is home to 25 mountains over 3,300 feet high, with spectacular views from every vantage point. The Mont-Albert sector, in the majestic Chic-Choc Mountains, receives more than 9.8 feet of snow annually on average, which means plenty of snow for winter activities all season. There’s something for every level: snowshoeing on trails ranging from one to 11 miles, plus nordic skiing on a variety of short and long trails, some with warming huts and shelters for spending the night.

Skiers can also enjoy backcountry skiing, telemarking, snowboarding, or splitboarding in four ski areas featuring snowfields and glades. The park also offers winter camping, rustic huts, and cozy cabins, as well as accommodations in Gîte du Mont-Albert, a magnificent lodge in the heart of the park.

2. Village-to-Village Ski Touring in the Laurentians

Explore the lakes, forests, and mountain valleys of Quebec’s vast Laurentian region the traditional way: on a multi-day Nordic skiing tour, traveling from village to village. As North America’s largest network of off-piste trails (totaling more than 500 miles), features three main routes that range from 6 to 12 miles per day.

Guide services can connect charming accommodation, arranging meals and luggage transport along the way. Or, take a self-guided adventure and discover the historic ski hotels, chalets, cafes, and microbreweries that highlight this series of scenic backcountry corridors.

3. Embrace Wild Winter in the Outaouais Region

Immerse yourself in the winter season. The year-round resort provides a versatile adventure base on the banks of the Poisson-Blanc Reservoir (about an hour north of Gatineau-Ottawa). Lodging options vary from winter campsites and rustic cottages, to cozy micro-refuges and larger chalets. Enjoy the surrounding forest on backcountry trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or hok skis (which provide a mix between the two), then return to resort fun with the on-site skating rink and tube slide.

4. Backcountry Skiing the Traversée de Charlevoix

covers 79 miles of mountainous wilderness in the heart of the Charlevoix biosphere region. If you’re up for a challenge, try a three-to-eight-day self-guided nordic or backcountry skiing tour through the boreal forest while admiring sweeping panoramas that are unique to Québec.

The tour is meant for self-sufficient advanced skiers, with opportunities to traverse from December through March. Expect days covering nine to 12 miles with 10,800 feet of total elevation gain. Accommodation is in picturesque log cabins with the option of having food transported at chalets during your stay. Experience even more winter activities offered by .

5. Nordic Skiing with Aventure Rose-des-Vents

is a friendly, unpretentious youth hostel in the region. A new offering this winter is guided nordic skiing. This immersive experience is a chance to discover the best-kept secrets of the north shore of the Saguenay as you ski through some of the most beautiful fir and yellow birch forests in Québec. Equipment rental is available onsite.

The hostel also offers access to ice fishing in huts on the Saguenay Fjord, plus an onsite café that regularly features live music. Guests have access to a fully equipped communal kitchen, as well as warm common areas stocked with books and board games.

6. Winter Camping in Parc National de la Mauricie

is the only national park between Montréal and Québec City, with 150 lakes on more than 200 square miles of protected land. Onsite accommodation in oTENTik tents keeps you immersed in nature with a touch of comfort. The tents feature woodstoves inside and outside, barbecue grills, beds, dishes, and everything you need for a comfortable stay. Prefer to rough it? Winter tent camping is also permitted at the Rivière-à-la-Pêche campground, and backcountry camping is allowed near cross-country ski trails.

The park is an ideal playground for cross-country skiing enthusiasts: it features 50 miles of cross-country ski trails in the heart of a protected natural area. Enjoy a well-marked network of trails for both classic and skate skiing, along with heated rest stops every three miles or so. For those who prefer winter hiking or snowshoeing, eight marked trails stretch over 34 miles. Authentic Québec is a destination of choice in winter.

7. Snowshoeing and Stargazing in the Mont-Mégantic Dark-Sky Reserve

One of the snowiest spots in southern Québec is , which offers more than 37 miles of alpine trails with sweeping views. The 6.6-mile hike to the top of Mont Mégantic follows the road to the ASTROLab observatory at the 3,645-foot summit. Since the road is closed in the winter, the only way up is to snowshoe. You can rent snowshoes at the park entrance. Along the way, you’ll see Whoville-like trees encrusted with ice and snow. The park was the first designated dark-sky reserve in the world, so it’s no surprise nighttime views are particularly stunning. Sign up for a Winter Astronomy Evening at the ASTROLab, which includes a presentation about the James Webb Space Telescope and a guided star walk.

For unique lodging in the area, the yurts at Hébergement aux Cinq Sens are located in Piopolis, on ancestral Native land. It offers year-round accommodation in traditional Mongolian yurts, each named after a sense (see, touch, smell, taste, and hear). Several other outdoor activities are available in the region.

8. Snowshoe Through Phantom Forests

In , winter is more than a season: it’s an invitation to explore a rich, biodiverse region. It’s one that offers unique—even paranormal—adventures, notably in Vallée des Fantômes. The wind-protected valley’s unique microclimate encases fir trees with inordinate amounts of snow (20-plus feet a winter), creating ghostly forests of “phantom� figures to explore on 50-plus miles of marked backcountry snowshoeing trails.

9. Ice Climbing in Parc National d’Aiguebelle

Parc national d’Aiguebelle, in Québec’s ´¡²ú¾±³Ù¾±²ú¾±-°Õé³¾¾±²õ³¦²¹³¾¾±²Ô²µ³Ü±ð region, offers access to nearly every winter sport in the book, including snowshoeing, skiing, kicksledding, skishoeing, snow tubing, fat biking, and more. As the locals say, tout au même endroit (it’s all in one place). The park is also known for views, moose sightings, traces of the last ice age, lava flows, and rocks that are 2.7 billion years old.

But ice climbing is undoubtedly the most unique activity you can enjoy here. Ice-climbing routes in the park are certified by the Québec Mountain and Climbing Federation. Experienced climbers who already have gear and know-how can explore on their own, but the park is also a great place to learn the sport: introductory climbing packages are available through Camp de Base Abitibi. True nature awaits you in .

10. Backcountry Skiing Along Hudson Bay in Parc National Tursujuq

Head north for a off the beaten path in , the largest national park in Québec. On a guided adventure, you’ll explore the eastern coast of Hudson Bay, winding between cuesta mountains, over plateaus and giant frozen lakes, and through breathtaking landscapes on skis, with the occasional help of snowshoes and snowmobiles. Discover a vast territory that was occupied by nomadic peoples for more than 3,000 years. Here, you’ll get to know the Inuit in their homeland in the nearby tight-knit Indigenous community of Umiujaq.​ One of the most unique parts of the trip is the immersion in Inuit culture. Visitors get the chance to share the Inuit way of life and learn about ancestral traditions and knowledge.

The nine-day itinerary includes all equipment, round-trip flights from Montréal, and all meals, lodging, and transportation. Dates for 2023 run from February through March.

mission is to promote the destination. We are proud to highlight this magnificent land, its creative culture, and authentic experiences, and to encourage people from near or far to discover Québec as never before. It’s a place you will fall in love with at first sight or change your’s by saying you have to come back again.

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Take a detour to discover the road less traveled—you’ll never go back. Not only will you find solitude and adventure, taking a detour often means a more responsible path forward, dispersing our impact by seeking new destinations. Sometimes all it takes is the right guide.

Our feature collection of Detour Guides across the U.S. starts with Sam Haverstock in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Utilizing a Toyota Tacoma, he accesses an off-road area of Western Montana that’s a world away from Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road. Haverstock guides chef and friend Ranga Perera, launching on a section of the Middle Fork Flathead River that’s overlooked by most park visitors. Follow the duo packraft and fly-fish on clear, empty waters, then read more guidance below to adventures in and near the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Go deeper with the full video, more Detour Guides presented by Toyota Trucks, plus the trails and the trucks to get you to the wildest corners of our country.

Meet Sam Haverstock. At 18, he signed up for a Grand Canyon guiding course to conquer his biggest fear: whitewater rafting. “The first two weeks were about the most terrifying two weeks of my life,� he says. By the end of the 26-day trip, he had learned how to read a rapid and found a new calling. A year later, Haverstock relocated to Montana with dreams of a wilder life.

That was 2007. He’s been in West Glacier ever since, managing Wild River ¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏs and guiding everything from family floats to six-day wilderness expeditions into the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Haverstock’s life revolves around the Flathead River drainage, where wild and scenic rivers flow undammed from Canada.

It’s a rare combination: great access, world-class trout fishing, and plenty of whitewater. Haverstock’s advice for visitors: “Think about what scares you a little, then go do it. You can usually find that in any direction you throw a stone out here.�

Go Beyond Glacier

Fish the Middle Fork of the Flathead

Sam’s top pick for a single day: a full-day fly-fishing trip high on the Middle Fork Flathead, floating about ten miles through boulder gardens and searching for Montana’s state fish, the black-spotted westslope cutthroat trout. The best months are usually July and August, when the water warms enough for dry-fly-fishing but the cutthroat are still hungry after the long, cold spring.

Paddle Middle Fork Whitewater

For legitimate rapids, hit the Middle Fork Flathead in May and June during high water for Class II–III runs. “If you want to bring the whole family, come in July and August,� Haverstock says. The North Fork offers similar conditions but runs from the Canadian border. Both are wild and scenic rivers with no dams.

Hike Apgar Mountain Lookout

Right in West Glacier proper, this 3.5-mile climb gains nearly 1,900 feet to reach a 1929 fire lookout tower with postcard views of Lake McDonald and the surrounding peaks. The trail passes through burn areas from massive wildfires, now sprinkled with young lodgepole pines and wildflowers. Start early, since most of the route is exposed on south-facing slopes.

Deeper Detour to Great Northern Mountain

At 8,705 feet, this is the highest peak in the Flathead Range and the tallest summit in the Bob Marshall Wilderness proper. “One of the most magical peaks out there,� Haverstock says. From below, the mountain looks impossibly steep, but there’s a hiking route that gets you to the top in a day. The summit offers views into Glacier National Park, the Great Bear Wilderness, and hundreds of peaks across northwest Montana.

Read more on Haverstock’s tips on how to handle Glacier-country waters.

For generations, Toyota has built durable legends destined for greatness: Tacoma, 4Runner, Land Cruiser, Sequoia and Tundra. Whether you’re conquering off-road trails, hauling heavy loads, or seeking confident versatility, there’s that’s just right for you.

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Apps make it easy to map our own cycling routes, but there’s something special about pedaling along a rail-trail. The new PBS documentary, From Rails to Trails, follows the 60-year fight to convert these once-forgotten train lines into peaceful, car-free corridors that allow us to move at the pace of our thoughts and soak up the scenery one pedal stroke at a time.

I fell for rail-trails during the pandemic when I started logging miles on Virginia’s 45-mile , which I can pick up near my house. Before long, I was ready for something bigger: the 150-mile thatÌýstretches from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland, and forms part of the ambitious , a cross-country route that will one day connect Washington, D.C., to Seattle.

Rail-trails are more than bike paths. They’re connections between towns, travelers, and a bygone age of steam and steel. What’s more, pedaling through a century-old tunnel or across a weathered trestle bridge captures the quiet joy of self-propelled travel.

From the newly completed Adirondack Rail Trail to the ever-popular Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, these are seven of our top rail-trails to ride across the U.S.

Elroy-Sparta State Trail, Wisconsin

32.5 miles: Elroy to Sparta

Opened in 1965, the was the first completed rail-trail conversion. It paved the way for thousands more across the country, which today total more than 25,000 miles. This crushed limestone path winds through wetlands, farmlands, and wooded ridges, connecting five bike-friendly small towns along its 32.5-mile route.

Bring a headlamp to walk your bike through three 1870s railroad tunnels, each hand-dug by crews armed with little more than picks and shovels. Between Norwalk and Sparta, the longest tunnel stretches nearly three-quarters of a mile. Cool air swirls and dripping water echoes off the stone walls. In Kendall, the restored depot serves as the trail headquarters and houses a small railroad museum filled with historic photos and artifacts.

Don’t miss: About halfway along the trail, Norwalk makes a great lunch stop. Try Bailey’s Diner for tacos and tostadas. In Wilton, swing by the Hitchin’ Post for classic bar burgers and local brews.

Pro tip: A $5 daily or $25 annual state trail pass is required for cyclists 16 and older. Also, keep in mind that tunnels close each year from November 1 to April 30.

Illinois Prairie Path, Illinois

61 miles: Maywood to Aurora, Geneva, Batavia, and Elgin

The set the standard for suburban connectivity when it debuted in Chicago’s western suburbs in the mid-1960s. Today, its 61 miles of asphalt, crushed stone, and concrete link DuPage, Kane, and Cook Counties, serving as a reminder that you don’t need to leave the city to find open space and fresh air.

Start in Maywood on the main branch and follow the leafy route west to Wheaton where you can split off toward four westerly trailheads. Before branching out, stop at the Villa Park Historical Society, which operates a small museum and visitor center inside a restored depot. Along the way, take in sweeping prairies, shaded forests, and small-town streets lined with cafés and local shops.

Don’t miss: In Elmhurst, the Keith A Olson Prairie is a rare, thousand-year-old remnant of prairie preserved between two historic railroad lines.

Pro tip: Combine your bike ride with a Metra train trip for an easy car-free adventure into and out of Chicago’s western suburbs.

Island Line Trail, Vermont

13 miles: Burlington to South Hero

Few trails are as photogenic as Vermont’s . Starting on Burlington’s waterfront, this 13-mile route traces the shoreline before funneling riders onto the Colchester Causeway, a narrow, gravel path that stretches across Lake Champlain. Views of the Adirondacks to the west and the Green Mountains to the east, including Mount Mansfield, are simply spectacular.

Two and a half miles out, riders reach “the Cut,� a 200-foot gap bridged by the . A five-minute ferry ride deposits cyclists on South Hero Island. There, riders can sip wine at Snow Farm Vineyard or indulge in maple creemees and cider slushes at Allenholm Farm.

Don’t miss: Stop at Burlington’s lakefront parks. North Beach Park and Leddy Park boast sandy beaches, picnic areas, and snack bars perfect for a break from the bike.

Pro tip: The Island Line Bike Ferry operates from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The crossing is free, but donations are welcomed to keep this one-of-a-kind service up and running.

Flint Hills Trail, Kansas

118 miles: Osawatomie to Herington

Kansas may be famed for its wide-open plains, but the reveals a wilder, more varied side of the state. As in, rolling hills, limestone bluffs, and the largest remaining expanse of tallgrass prairie in North America. Spanning 118 miles, it’s Kansas’ longest rail-trail and a newly minted member of the Rails to Trails Conservancy’s Hall of Fame for 2025.

The rail-trail connects a dozen small towns and passes historic landmarks like the John Brown Museum State Historic Site where visitors can learn about the abolitionist’s efforts to make Kansas a free state, and Allegawaho Memorial Heritage Park, honoring the Kaw Nation. The trail traces nearly 100 miles of the Santa Fe National Historic Trail, a route that once carried traders, settlers, and dreamers westward during America’s frontier expansion.

Don’t miss: Ride in spring or early summer when Kansas prairies burst to life. It’s when hundreds of native wildflowers blanket the landscape beneath an endless blue sky.

Pro tip: Services are limited along the route. Carry extra water and snacks. Check trail conditions after heavy rain since the crushed-stone surface can soften.

Chief Ladiga and Silver Comet Trails, Alabama and Georgia

100 miles: Anniston, Alabama, to Smyrna, Georgia

Spanning two states and a century of rail history, the and connect to create one of the South’s most popular long-distance rides. The fully paved 100-mile route winds through pine forest, farmland, and the red-clay hills of Alabama’s Talladega National Forest before crossing into Georgia near the town of Cedartown.

In April 2025,ÌýChief Ladiga Trail completed a 6.5-mile extension into downtown Anniston, providing access to Amtrak and the Main Street district where riders can refuel at barbecue joints and breweries. With Alabama designating 2025 its official “Year of the Trails,â€� this rail-trail stands out as the centerpiece of a broader statewide initiative to connect all 67 counties by bike and foot.

Don’t miss: Snap photos beneath the arched gateway that marks the Alabama–Georgia border, a symbolic crossing that unites the two state trails.

Pro tip: Cedartown sits midway along the linked Silver Comet and Chief Ladiga Trails. Stop to grab a bite, spend the night, or explore the Cedartown Museum of Coca-Cola Memorabilia.

Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, Idaho

73 miles: Mullan to Plummer

Northern Idaho’s delivers one of the most scenic long-distance rides in the West. Stretching from Mullan to Plummer, this route follows a former rail line that once carried silver ore through Idaho’s rugged Silver Valley. Today, it’s a model of restoration and stewardship, a collaboration between the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and the State of Idaho.

Part of the Great American Rail-Trail, this section winds through the historic mining towns of Wallace and Kellogg. Along the forested route, there are 20 developed trailheads, as well as 20 scenic waysides with picnic tables or benches. There are restrooms at more than a dozen stops.

Don’t miss: The Chatcolet Bridge is a historic swing bridge turned pedestrian span that offers first-rate views of Lake Coeur D’Alene, Lake Chatcolet, and the St. Joe River Valley. And keep your eyes peeled for moose, especially between Medimont and Springston, where sightings are common between late-June and October.

Pro tip: Row ¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏs, with headquarters in Coeur d’Alene, offers 4 and 5-day guided .

Adirondack Rail Trail, New York

34 miles: Lake Placid to Tupper Lake

Completed in phases, the officially opened in full in October 2025, linking Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Tupper Lake in New York’s scenic Tri-Lakes region. This 34-mile route features mostly smooth crushed stone, with a two-mile paved stretch through Saranac Lake, and offers views of forests, wetlands, and mountains, including Mount Jo and the High Peaks.

Welcoming trail towns make perfect pit stops. In Saranac Lake, refuel with a latte from Origin Coffee Co. on Main Street or linger on the patio at Bitters & Bones, a brewpub known for its burgers and flatbreads. In Tupper Lake, check out the beautifully restored train depot, which is now the starting point for scenic rides aboard the Adirondack Railroad’s Tupper Lake Explorer.

Don’t miss: Pop into Lake Placid Olympic Museum for Winter Games history, including Team USA parade uniforms through the years and original footage of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.�

Pro tip: Shuttle services like and can drop you off at your starting point, making one-way rides easy and your adventure more flexible and scenic.

Erin Gifford began cycling rail-trails in 2020. She has completed several multi-day bikepacking trips on rail-trails, including the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage and the 57-mile New River Trail in Virginia.

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Walking along the flank of Medicine Mountain, I could see this wasn’t a typical hike in the Rockies. At over 9,500 feet in elevation, I was following a dirt track across a windswept ridgeline in the Bighorn Mountains of northern Wyoming. On the peak above, there was a bizarre spherical structure— an unmanned Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) radar station. Atop the bluffs in the hazy distance, I could just make out the wooden posts that encircled my enigmatic destination.

For years, I’ve been combing the nation, searching for clues of outdoor mysteries from the front-country to the backcountry. Thirty-five of the best stories about unexplained phenomena and baffling disappearances became the subject of my new book: . Further enigmas can be found elsewhere on public lands, including within state parks, recreational areas, and more.

From a half-million symmetrical lakes to a lost gold mine,Ìý these are seven of the most intriguing outdoor mysteries that I’ve come across you can unravel on the ground, too.

Who Built the Bighorn Medicine Wheel in Wyoming?

After walking a mile and a half through the highlands of Bighorn National Forest, I reached a tundra clearing. Here, thousands of limestone rocks were long ago arranged into a ring-like structure. This is the , a United States Forest Service (USFS)Ìýsite considered sacred by many Native American tribes. In this context, the term medicine essentially means spiritual. But what is the meaning and purpose behind the wheel’s design?

The Bighorn Medicine Wheel has a diameter of roughly 80 feet. Extending from a central rock cairn, there are 28 spokes, which seem to represent the number of days in a lunar month. Found around the perimeter ring, there are six additional cairns. One of these is set apart, at the end of the longest spoke, which seems to align with the summer solstice.

This is the southernmost example of several complex stone wheels found throughout the Rocky Mountains. Members of the Crow Tribe have said that when their ancestors migrated into the region 300-400 years ago, the Medicine Wheel was already here. As a result, its precise age, and who built it, remains a mystery.

How Long Will Nebraska’s Waterfalls Last?

Most outdoor travelers skip past Nebraska, but near the northern edge of the state, there’s a little-known oasis that reveals a conservation mystery. Hidden in a sunken valley beneath the rolling Great Plains, the protects 76 miles of flowing stream where you can paddle past a shocking number of waterfalls. There are over 230 spring-fed falls, in fact, many of them tumbling into the river from the southside bluffs. There’s a unique reason for that. Despite being found in a particularly arid part of the High Plains and Sandhills, the Niobrara Valley cuts several hundred feet into the porous sandstones containing the Ogalala Aquifer.

Spreading beneath eight states, the Ogalala is the largest groundwater formation in the U.S., an underground reservoir feeding much more than the Niobrara’s falls. Over the past century, widespread pumping for agricultural and domestic purposes has gradually depleted the aquifer. Despite ongoing conservation efforts, each year more water is extracted than can be naturally replenished through rain and snow.

As a result, no one knows how long the Ogalala Aquifer—and the Niobrara’s waterfalls—might last. Should this vital water source run dry, it could trigger an environmental crisis to rival the 1930s Dust Bowl.

If you want to better grasp the situation, head to , a popular paddling access and campground that’s home to Nebraska’s tallest waterfall at 63 feet. Here you can explore a river fed by an aquifer wrapped in a mystery, one that may or may not end in catastrophe.

Did Three Prisoners Survive an Escape from Alcatraz Island in 1962?

A few hours before midnight on June 11, 1962, three prisoners crawled through widened ventilation ducts, escaping from their cells at the U.S. Penitentiary on . Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin were convicted bank robbers who’d been preparing six months for this moment.

Under the cover of darkness, they made their way to the shoreline where they inflated a makeshift raft stitched together from stolen raincoats. Wearing homemade life jackets, and using plywood paddles, the prisoners pushed off into the San Francisco Bay. According to a fourth accomplice who stayed behind, their intended destination was Angel Island, two miles away, from where they would continue to the mainland. In a clever twist, they’d left behind dummy heads tucked into their bunks, which would give them a nine-hour head start before first count.

The dramatic escape triggered one of the largest manhunts in U.S. history, leading to widespread media coverage and a famous 1979 film starring Clint Eastwood. Though no bodies were ever found, the official investigation determined the trio had likely drowned in the frigid waters. But a series of clues would emerge suggesting the escapees may have survived.

Several days after the escape, some items were found floating near Angel Island, including a prisoner’s wallet, pieces of rubber, and a homemade paddle. One of their life jackets was found floating near Alcatraz, while another washed up on the Marin Headlands, outside the Golden Gate. But were these items scattered during a drowning or abandoned after a successful escape? Alleged sightings of the men would continue for decades. Eventually, even the escapees’ family would claim they’d been discreetly in contact over the years.

The infamous prison closed in 1963, but the mystery would linger long after Alcatraz became a national park site. Today, you can take a ferry from San Francisco to explore the island prison. Other ferries lead to , which has many hiking routes. Several trails converge at the summit of Mt. Livermore, offering excellent views of Alcatraz and the watery expanse the prisoners attempted to cross.

How Were a Half-Million Symmetrical Lakes Formed on the East Coast?

Stretching across the densely populated East Coast, from Northern Florida to Southern New Jersey, a half-millionÌýmysterious lake beds lie hidden in plain sight. For centuries, these so-called Carolina bays have baffled the occasional observer who noticed their unusually round profiles. But it wasn’t until the rise of aerial photography, in the early 20th century, when it became clear how strange they truly are.

Thousands of elliptical depressions pockmarked the sandy coastal plain. In black and white photos of the 1930s, the bays looked like craters on the moon. Some were bigger, some smaller. A few overlapped each other. Most were seasonally dry and filled with swampy vegetation. Many had been plowed for agriculture. Others, particularly in North Carolina, remained year-round lakes encircled by sandy rims. The most bizarre feature? Each was pointing roughly in the same direction, with their long axes running from northwest to southeast.

Today, the origin of the Carolina bays remains a geologic mystery. The prevailing theory is that, during prehistoric ice ages, changes in sea level and fierce winds created large sand dunes. Gradually, the elliptical lakes formed from prevailing winds and currents within the flattening dunes. An exciting alternative posits that the bays formed from a comet or meteor impact, but that scenario seems less likely, especially since other wind-oriented lakes have been found around the globe.

Some of the most intact Carolina bays are in Bladen County, ÌýNorth Carolina, including at . Established during the era of Jim Crow segregation, the park was designated for African Americans only. As a result of racist underfunding and limited development, two mysterious bays were ironically preserved. And, today, you can hike or paddle through this semi-wilderness.

What Was the Original Route of the Old Spanish Trail Across the Southwest?

If you’ve ever road-tripped around the famous red-rock canyons of the American Southwest, perhaps you’ve seen scattered markers for the . In use for several decades during the mid-1800s, this oft-forgotten and formidable trade route is quite different from other overland traces, such as the Oregon and California Trails, which were thoroughly documented.

Despite being an east-to-west route, the rugged iterations of the Old Spanish Trail careen hundreds of miles to the north and south. Plus, nobody knows exactly where it went. The reason is its enigmatic origin story. During the early 19th century, there were two Spanish-settled colonies on Mexico’s northern frontier. One was in Northern New Mexico, the other in Southern California. In between was an inhospitable and mostly unmapped desert.

In November 1829, a relatively unknown trader named Antonio Armijo led a sixty-person pack train west from Abiquiu, New Mexico. For three months, the party scouted out a path across the desert, frequently detouring around impassable canyons and mountains.

When Armijo’s caravan arrived at , near present-day Los Angeles, the inhabitants were surprised to see the party arrive from an unexpected direction. The traders exchanged woven textiles for mules and returned home in just two months, setting the stage for overland migration across the Southwest. Before vanishing from the historical record, Armijo submitted a confoundingly short report to the New Mexico governor. Basically, it’s just a daily list of campsites and water sources with no distances between.

Historians have long puzzled over Armijo’s journal, trying to decipher the particulars of his route. But it seems likely he passed near present-day highlights such as Monument Valley, southern Lake Powell, Zion National Park, and Lake Mead. So, next time you’re road-tripping through the labyrinths of canyon country, and you lose track of where you’re at, it’s no mystery why. It’s always been that way.

Is There a Lost Gold Mine in the Guadalupe Mountains of Texas?

The West is filled with legends about hidden treasures and lost gold mines. Some tales may be real, while most were probably invented, but both can lead you to new adventures. One example is the lost Sublett gold mine, said to be in the vicinity of in far west Texas.

As the story goes, was an itinerant frontiersman who worked for a westward-expanding railroad in the early 1880s, somewhere out in Apache country.HeÌýsupposedly stumbled across an abandoned Indian or Spanish mine. Sublett would periodically disappear for a few days or longer and return to town flush with gold nuggets. His secret mine was said to be somewhere west of the Pecos River, perhaps in the Guadalupe Mountains or Rustler Hills. Despite repeated attempts to track him to the source, the mine was never found, and Sublett took its location to his grave.

Lost mines are fun, but is there any truth here? The Guadalupe Mountains are an impressive range, rising abruptly over 3,000 feet from the desert floor. Challenging trails lead up to park highpoints like El Capitan and Guadalupe Peak, the tallest summit in Texas at 8,749 feet. Seeing limited visitors, the quiet park sure feels like a place to stumble across a hidden treasure, except for one thing.

The Guadalupe Mountains are the petrified remnants of an ancient reef. Its limestone formations yield plenty of fossils but no gold deposits. However, natural caves have been found in these mountains, including those at nearby . One version of the Sublett legend suggests he was actually visiting a hidden cache of gold relocated from somewhere else. At the very least, this mystery remains possible, making for the perfect trail talk while exploring an unexpected place.

What’s the Story Behind Florida’s Spite Highway?

After World War II, South Florida was booming. Hotels and homes stretched from Miami and down the sparkling Overseas Highway to the tip of Key West. During the 1950s and 60s, real estate developers went looking for new areas to build.

Between the city and Key Largo was one of the region’s last remaining sections of wild Atlantic coastline. So, plans were proposed to turn Biscayne Bay into another Miami Beach. A coral reef would be cut out for a deepwater port. Nearby would rise an oil refinery and powerplant. New causeways would connect mansions and resorts. In preparation, about a dozen landowners incorporated the so-called city of Islandia to develop the northernmost Elliot Key and surrounding islands.

By now, South Floridians were growing weary of the sprawl, and gradually a movement spread to protect Biscayne Bay as a national park. By 1968, designation seemed imminent in Washington D.C. Then the jilted city council of Islandia sent a wrecking crew to Elliot Key, where they illegally bulldozed the subtropical forest, creating a six-lane roadway down the centerline of the seven-mile island. Park opponents hoped the destruction might deter the conservationists. Instead, the supporters prevailed, and the forest re-grew. Islandia was sued and eventually disbanded.

Today, uniquely preserves more warm waters than land, being best known for snorkeling and boating. But running down the middle of Elliot Key is the park’s only hiking route, that passesÌýthrough an enigmatic tree tunnel with a disturbing backstory.

There always have been, and always will be, threats to public lands from competing interests and greedy developers. The Spite Highway Trail is a reminder of a pressing mystery, one that’s particularly relevant in our current moment: will wild places like the national parks survive?

For more outdoor mysteries that you can explore, check out Mike Bezemek’s new book:

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Big Sky isn’t just one of the best skiing destinations across Montana and the Mountain West. It’s one of the most aptly named places in America. Everything about it is immense.

And if you’re the kind of traveler and skier who likes big mountains that come with big comfort, the warm welcome you’ll receive at is as boundless as the sky and peaks above it. The Montage name has long been synonymous with luxury, and Montage Big Sky is no exception. This five-star mountainside resort has all the amenities, conveniences, and adventures you need to make the most of your time both on and off the slopes.

Ski

With over 5,800 acres of at its doorstep, Montage Big Sky makes it easy to focus on the slopes and forget the stress. The location is a true ski-in/ski-out experience, situated just steps from the Lewis & Clark lift, meaning you can get on and off the mountain seamlessly and avoid the busier lift traffic at the base. Don’t have your own gear? No problem. Montage’s on-site equipment outfitter, , can take care of everything you need. Their fleet of skis, boots, and bindings has every kind of on-piste and freeride setup you can dream of, along with private fittings, digital foot scanners, and biomechanics assessments that guarantee the ultimate experience on the snow. Compass also offers private ski lockers, meaning none of the usual schlepping your gear back and forth. And to make things even easier, check out Ìýwhere if you book ahead, you can enjoy a complimentary night and $200 in credit at Compass Sports.

And for those traveling with kids in tow, the is a godsend. The program gets your young Explorers geared up before escorting them to and from Big Sky Resorts’ ski school at the base area. The kids will be off on their adventure, and you’ll be free to explore your way, whether that means booking a private guide or instructor to meet you at the Montage or heading in early for après at Backcast, the mountainside gem of Montage Big Sky’s .

Stay

All of Montage’s are appointed with luxury amenities and sweeping views of the Spanish Peaks, so you can enjoy the grandeur of the landscape from the comfort of a stunning room, suite, or residence. And if you need a day off the slopes to rest and recover, the is your retreat. The 11,000-square-foot sanctuary features 12 treatment rooms, an indoor pool area, relaxation lounges, plunge pools, steam rooms, and more. The Peak Performance Recovery Massage is the Spa’s most popular offering for skiers; it includes stretching techniques and dynamic air compression to restore your muscles and increase circulation to help get you feeling rested and reset for another day on the snow.

Explore

Like multi-adventure vacations? Montage Big Sky delivers, with plenty of ways to explore the stunning natural scenery outside the resort. Immerse yourself in Montana’s peaceful wilderness on a cross-country skiing or snowshoeing tour, or enjoy the pure fun of the resort’s tubing hills. Or, roam far and wide with winter horseback rides, wildlife tours in Yellowstone National Park, dog sledding treks, and snowmobile tours. The possibilities at Montage are as vast as the sky itself.

About Montage

is located within Big Sky’s 3,530-acre Spanish Peaks enclave and features a mountain modern design with aesthetics inspired by the natural setting and a timeless palette of materials including regional woods and stones. The resort is home to 139 guestrooms and suites and residences, thoughtfully situated across three distinct settings– The Lodge, Inn and Mountain Homes. The resort features five restaurants including signature restaurant Cortina; a recreation room with a bowling alley at Beartooth Pub & Rec; an outdoor swimming pool; Montage’s signature children’s program Paintbox; an 11,000-sq. ft Spa Montage featuring an indoor lap pool and fitness center; and 12,870 sq. ft. of some of the finest meeting and event space in the greater Rocky Mountain region. Montage Big Sky has unparalleled proximity to outdoor amenities, offering ski-in, ski-out access to Big Sky Resort’s 5,800 skiable acres, private guided tours of Yellowstone National Park, located less than an hour’s drive from the resort, and access to Spanish Peaks Mountain Club’s 18-hole Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course. Montage Big Sky is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ worldwide collection. For more information, follow @montagebigsky or visit.

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Don’t overlook one of Canada’s best natural overlooks. Just an hour’s drive northeast from Quebec City along the St. Lawrence River, the Laurentian Mountains rise dramatically from the water’s edge. There, the village of provides a gateway to the deeper Charlevoix region, designated as a UNESCO biosphere reserve for rich ecosystems that vary from coastal marshes to boreal forests. But adventure travelers will turn their immediate attention to , a resort packed with terrain surprises and stunning panoramic views, not to mention the highest vertical drop (2,526 feet) east of the Canadian Rockies, plus one of the largest annual snowfall totals (over 21 feet).

certainly benefitted from growing up with this massive (11,367 acres) playground as her backyard, “since the first day the ski lift was installed.â€� Maltais translated the resort’s steepest terrain into speed for snowboard-cross competitions—winning a bronze medal at the 2006 Turin Olympics and a silver medal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. After dominating the World Cup circuit and earning multiple titles, she cemented her legacy as one of the sport’s most successful athletes—though she is quick to credit her upbringing in a special corner of the north that she’s eager to share with other outdoor adventurers.

¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ: What’s your favorite memory of riding at Le Massif de Charlevoix?

Dominique Maltais: On storm days, holidays, and even on the official opening day, my parents allowed me to skip school to enjoy the first snow-covered slopes. Many kids from the village were there, skiing or snowboarding. At that time, snowboarding was not very popular, but I was one of the first in my village to have a complete snowboard setup. I even remember hiding our lunches in the forest under the snow so we could eat there at noon after a few morning runs. My passion grew year after year, and even at a young age, [Le Massif] already played an important role in my life.

With the resort now joining the Ikon Pass, what characteristics make Le Massif de Charlevoix stand out most?

Its breathtaking location right on the edge of the St. Lawrence River! Skiing down while feeling like you’re heading straight toward the water is a one-of-a-kind experience. The mountain also offers a wide variety of glades, giving skiers a natural and playful ride through the forest. Another highlight is , a mountaintop restaurant where local gastronomy meets a cozy atmosphere. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a refined meal while taking in panoramic views of the river and surrounding peaks. Altogether, it makes for a very different experience than the Rockies—more intimate, yet just as memorable

And where’s in relation to the ski hill?

Le Massif offers a wide range of lodging options. Having once owned a chalet at the summit, I have a special preference for the accommodations in that area. They are tucked away in the forest, offering incredible peace and quiet. Plus, being right at the top means that after a snowstorm, you can step outside and be on the first tracks within minutes. At the base, there are also convenient lodging options and a lively atmosphere with winter events, along with some favorite après-ski stops where you can relax and enjoy the friendly vibe.

We also heard there’s Canada’s first resort on the slopes? How does it add to experience?

Le Massif is home to the very first Club Med resort in Canada, located right at the base of the slopes. It’s a huge plus, offering an all-inclusive experience—lodging, dining, and activities—that appeals to both families and international visitors. The food highlights local Charlevoix flavors, and the staff is truly outstanding, always warm and attentive. I’m lucky to live just a few minutes away and to enjoy it with my kids a few times each year. It’s always a winning family experience that perfectly complements the unique vibe of Le Massif.

What about options outside of Le Massif?

Beyond the other hotels and inns in the village center, most of which are near the St. Lawrence River, there are some really unique lodging options that add to the overall experience. offers a full immersion in the forest—quiet, intimate, and perfect for disconnecting after a day on the slopes. on the other hand, provides a modern glamping experience with spectacular views of the St. Lawrence River. Both combine comfort with originality and truly highlight the natural beauty of the Charlevoix region. For anyone looking for something different from a traditional hotel, they are outstanding choices.

Do you have any favorite snowshoe and cross-country ski trails to take in those panoramic riverside views?

Without a doubt the . The trails feature beautifully maintained cross-country tracks in a truly unique setting, winding through dense forest with spectacular lookouts over the St. Lawrence River. For a former athlete like me, it’s also the perfect place to maintain strong cardio fitness during the winter season while combining training with the pure joy of being outdoors. It’s an experience that perfectly complements alpine skiing at Le Massif.

And is the village of ±Ê±ð³Ù¾±³Ù±ð-¸é¾±±¹¾±Ã¨°ù±ð-³§²¹¾±²Ô³Ù-¹ó°ù²¹²Ôç´Ç¾±²õ worth exploring?

Absolutely. It’s an authentic place, nestled between the mountains and the St. Lawrence River, with a truly unique natural charm. Visitors can discover its rich heritage, picturesque scenery, and a warm, welcoming community. The most iconic and popular spot is without a doubt the end of the pier, where you can enjoy incredible sunrises, take in the immensity of the mountains and the river, and watch ships pass by. It’s a must-see, whether in summer or winter. The village is also connected by a bike path that runs along the shoreline, making it a great way to explore the area with family or friends. For outdoor lovers, it’s also the perfect starting point to discover the shoreline, the trails, and of course, direct access to . This blend of history, culture, and nature makes Petite-Rivière a true reflection of the Charlevoix spirit.

Any personal favorite stops that you’d recommend?

One of the best experiences is taking the train from ±Ê±ð³Ù¾±³Ù±ð-¸é¾±±¹¾±Ã¨°ù±ð-³§²¹¾±²Ô³Ù-¹ó°ù²¹²Ôç´Ç¾±²õ to visit Baie-Saint-Paul. The ride itself is beautiful, and it’s a unique way to discover the scenery. Once there, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Street is full of small shops, art galleries, and cozy cafés—it’s the perfect place for a stroll after a day outdoors. I also love Isle-aux-Coudres, accessible by a free ferry. Beyond its maritime landscapes and the cycling path that circles the island, it’s also an amazing spot for kiteboarding, with the St. Lawrence River offering ideal wind and water conditions.

What draws you back in the summer when the seasons change?ÌýÌý

What brings me back in the summer are, above all, my roots and my family, which are deeply tied to . It’s where I truly feel at home, in a community with a strong sense of fraternity and warmth. There’s direct access to the bike trails in summer and the ski slopes in winter, which makes an active lifestyle both easy and natural. The St. Lawrence River adds a unique energy to everyday life—its view changes almost daily, offering a living, ever-changing spectacle. I also love the Parc des Riverains, a gathering place where activities are held and where families and children love to spend time. It’s really my roots, the people, the nature, and the river’s energy that always draw me back to Petite-Rivière.

Nestled along a narrow 6 km stretch of the St. Lawrence River shoreline, the village of ±Ê±ð³Ù¾±³Ù±ð-¸é¾±±¹¾±Ã¨°ù±ð-³§²¹¾±²Ô³Ù-¹ó°ù²¹²Ôç´Ç¾±²õ showcases nature at its purest. From vast forests to steep summits, including the tourist and recreational mountain at , the gorgeous views will leave you awestruck. It’s the perfect way to be introduced to the splendor of the region.

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Rarely do we hear of skiing getting less expensive, so we can’t resist calling out great deals when they come across our desk. To kick off the ski season, a handful of resorts are selling crazy-inexpensive day tickets; we’re talking under $20 a pop. The only catch: You have to purchase online, in advance.

Granted, not a lot of terrain will be open at first, and it’ll be full-on early-season conditions, but if you live within spitting distance—or feel like taking a little road trip—it’s a nice way to celebrate the start of winter. Here are a handful of resorts making it worth your while to enjoy some early-season turns.

Arizona Snowbowl, Arizona

Just north of Flagstaff, Arizona Snowbowl is coming off its longest season ever, staying open for 185 days during the 2024-’25 winter. The resort is planning to open on Nov. 21, conditions permitting, and is boasting a series of upgrades, including new glades, more snowmaking, and better wifi connectivity. Best of all, Snowbowl’s demand-pricing structure, which it implemented in 2022-’23 during , has skiers now seeing ticket rates as low as $10. are sitting between $10-$17, while weekend rates range from $25-$40 right up until Christmas Day.

Purgatory Resort, Colorado

Way down in southern Colorado’s San Juans, Purgatory is kicking off the ski season with lift tickets from $9. (Which is a good thing, since you’re going to use all your gas money getting there.) Opening day is planned for Nov. 22 and lift tickets are going for $16. Midweek rates through the third week of December are sitting between $11 and $17, with weekend prices ranging from $18 to $35 before rising after Christmas. .

Brian Head, Utah

For almost the entire month of November, the most expensive lift ticket at Brian Head will go for $37—and on many days, it’s half that. The southern Utah ski area is scheduled to begin turning its lifts on Nov. 7—that’s a lot of cheap turns. The trend continues through most of December, with midweek rates between $14 and $23 through Dec. 20. But even during Christmas week, the advance ticket prices remain relatively low. For instance, a lift ticket for the day after Christmas, considered high-season holiday pricing in the ski industry, is only $66. .

Lee Canyon, Nevada

Lift tickets at small but mighty Lee Canyon, about 30 miles northwest of the Vegas Strip, dip as low as $10 in the weeks after its scheduled opening, which is Nov. 21. Midweek rates run from $10 up to $26 through mid-December, with weekend rates between $15 and $27. Most days, you even get a $10 resort credit to use on food and beverage or in the ski shop, bringing your lift ticket rate down to mere pennies. That’s pretty hard to beat. .

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The text landed like a cocktail of escapist passions stirred into one glorious, limestone-dusted glass. “Raft trip though epic canyons with ripping acoustic Dead cover band Sept. 6-9??â€�Ìý

Um … HELL YES? And so, with 25 other Deadheads (that’s Grateful Dead fanatics, for the youths), a team of guides, and our personal acoustic trio, Pickin’ on the Dead, I set off on the Green River for the four-day run through Dinosaur National Monument. The rafting trip is part of the RiverWonderGrass series from the outfitter .

The Gates of Lodore trip, as it’s known, will cover 44 miles through three dramatic gorges—Lodore, Whirlpool, and Split Mountain—and two dozen mostly mild rapids in this remote, geologic wonderland along the Colorado-Utah border. That is, if we ever shove off: Watching the guides struggle to distribute our obscene pile of gear and booze, I have doubts.

One could approach this as purely a party float. But to Adrift owner Scotty Stoughton, these trips “are about connection, about finding musicians who are OK hanging out with their fans, talking about life, going deep.� Stoughton, while innovative, is not alone. People have been making music on rivers for centuries, and other rafting outfitters, including and , also offer featured-artist trips.

Minutes after departing, we trade scrubby hills of sage, rabbitbrush, and juniper for soaring citadels of quartzite—some 600 million years old—that rise like batik tapestries from the clear currents of the Green.

I had volunteered for the front row in the lone six-person paddle raft, a craft smaller than the standard oar boats and carrying minimal gear. In doing so I failed to grasp that the 62-degree water, whipping wind, and shade from the canyon walls would leave me shivering like an idiot for most of the afternoon.

But I shouldn’t whine. American geologist and explorerÌýJohn Wesley Powell faced far steeper challenges when he made the first recorded run of this waterway in June 1869 during his legendary survey of the Colorado River system. Powell’s mettle is well documented, and all the more impressive because he faced those hardships without a live band.

For our part, we’ve got some of the best musicians you’ve never heard of: Guitarist Tyler Grant, a national bluegrass flatpicking champion who doubles as a senior guide for Adrift (he took a test run on this river with Stoughton in 2020 and promptly enrolled in guide school. Bassist Adrian (Ace) Engfer could pass for a metal head with long sandy hair and a penchant for trucker’s caps, tank tops and jorts. Finally, mandolinist Michael Kirkpatrick is an ebullient outdoorsman with a brown curly shag, straw hat, and handlebar mustache.

Individually, they’ve produced numerous albums and played with some of the top jam-grass bands in the country. Together, their shared love of the Grateful Dead has earned them steady gigs, including at Stoughton’s WinterWonderGrass festival in Steamboat, Colorado.

The rest of us are what you’d expect to find on this $1,700 whimsy: mostly middle-aged hippie types who moonlight as lawyers, conservationists, psychologists, brewpub owners, consultants, parents and poet-philosophers.

Class III Disaster Falls and Jam Circles

Lunch on the first day provides our first adventure, with 30-knot winds flinging components of our build-your-own Greek salad wraps across a rocky beach. But things quickly improve: Tyler, who also serves as our resident historian and geologist, leads a hike up a steep ravine to Winnie’s Grotto, a towering chimney of auburn quartzite.

When I ask him how music might sound in this natural amphitheater, he and Ace lay down an a cappellaÌýduet of Where the Soul of Man Never Dies, a traditional gospelÌýhymn of deliverance by death, their sonorous harmonies rising like ghosts through the chasm.

From a boating perspective, the highlight of the afternoon is the Class III (rapids are ranked from I-V; and III includes higher, irregular waves) Disaster Falls, a series of ledges, rock gardens and wave trains so-named by Powell after he lost a supply-laden boat here. From a cold paddler’s perspective, the highlight comes one mile later, when we reach the first of our three idyllic camps, a grove of boxelders that recede, through a broad meadow, to sun-basted canyon walls.

Over beers and homemade guac, lead guide Joy McCreary circles us up and asks everyone to state the important stuff—name, hometown, and favorite Dead tune—an icebreaker that also gives the band a list to work from.

And when Pickin’ on the Dead opens the music three hours later with one such request, Uncle John’s Band, they showcase a Grateful Dead fluency that they’ll carry throughout the trip. As both a longtime fan (I’ve attended live shows since 1980) and guitarist, I can tell you this isn’t easy. Start with the fact that these guys have zero artificial amplification, and many of their selections—Shakedown Street, Help on the Way, Estimated Prophet and Terrapin Station, to name a few—rely, in their original forms, on pedal effects, reverb, electric keys and other conveniences of voltage.

To compensate, the three bring an energy, precision and fluidity you don’t hear in many jam circles. Tyler uses melodic foundations to launch exploratory journeys, with nods to his training in bluegrass and classical music. Michael’s mandolin is at times a flute, snare drum or synthesizer, and during a syncopated funk groove on Feel Like a Stranger, all three at once. But it’s Ace’s bass lines, tumbling through the melodies like time-worn river stones in a rapid, that make this experience possible. Without the bottom end, much of the flashy leadwork would be lost to the canyon winds.

At the best moments, the musical trialogue would transcend the individual parts, an auditory flower in bloom, echoing off the pre-Cambrian walls and rising, our collective spirit in tow, toward the starlight-limned canyon rims.

By day, we sluice along, ferried at a steady 1,650 cubic feet per second (a flow regulated by releases from the Flaming Gorge Dam),every bend in the river a portal to almost unfathomable natural beauty, the eons stacked in red, golden ochre, and streaks of pastel green. From camps, we hike along feeder streams, past herds of bighorn sheep, to petroglyphs and pictographs, swimming holes and waterfalls. From Tyler, we learn about old pioneers and older rocks, river health, and how a guy named Bus Hatch helped defeat plans for a dam at Echo Park that would have drowned much of this stunning, isolated country.

And, true to Stoughton’s vision, we connect. Over four days, I have memorable conversations with people I wouldn’t have met otherwise onÌýmortality, parenting, personal tragedies, and the power of ancestral memory.

Music Is the Unifying Force

Given the layers of self-selection here—river-loving Deadheads willing to camp off-grid for three nights, with a shared bucket for a toilet—this is unsurprising but, pardon the cliché, there really is something to untethering from our screens and routines, saturating in the literal sands and waters of time, and giving our fellow humans the attention we all deserve. Not to push it too far, but for a moment I find myself believing that, just maybe, Americans really could all get along.

Of course, the music is the unifying force, and it comes in waves: sets on the beach, around breakfast, atop a red-rock promontory high above the river and, on costume night, in a moonlit meadow, the band adorned in silver Zoltar body suits trippily illuminated by their red-light headlamps.

At one pit stop, guide Maggie Keyek asks that we spend the next two river miles in contemplative silence. She then reads a poem of hers, an ode to this elemental kingdom and “our true river weird selves,� in which she posits that time on the river changes us irrevocably, even if subtly.

A half hour later, as we drift beneath Steamboat Rock, a sheer wall of sandstone rising 300 feet above the water, the pluck of a mandolin string steals through the silence.

With Tyler standing at the oars, the band advances from the back of the pack, Ace and Michael on the bow playing Jimmy Cliff’s Sitting Here in Limbo. It’s almost ridiculous, a shroom-fueled notion overheard in a Dead show parking lot circa 1983: “And then the band will float into view, already playing a tune!â€� “¶Ù³Ü»å±ð!â€�

Somewhere in this ancient, meditative landscape, it occurs to me that river running and collaborative live music share a gene: both demand knowledge of the rules and a willingness to bend them, adherence to a plan, and the ability to chuck it.

“The music flows through you,� Tyler says, “just like the river. If you’re doing it right, you don’t really have a choice: You just go with the current.�

What to Know Before You Book a Music-Themed River Trip

No rafting experience needed for this guided trip, although it can help.ÌýPick music you know you enjoy; you’re going to hear a lot of it!

Leave your instrument at home. People are paying to hear the featured artists.

With most outfitters, these trips fall between roughing it and glamping. Expect to set up your own tent and manage your camp, although guides are typically willing to help. Most outfitters rent tents and sleeping bags, if needed.

Be ready to pitch in loading and unloading rafts, setting up communal areas, and helping things run smoothly. Successful group trips require agreeable group participation!

The bathroom, which consists of a portable toilet seat on a watertight container, is set up at each camp in a private, usually scenic spot. Don’t expect a bidet, but it’s actually quite pleasant.

With group meals and general closeness, personal hygiene is paramount. Never bypass a handwashing station—set-up each day by the guides.

How to Book: Adrift Dinosaur runs multi-day music-themed river trips from late May through mid-September. Details and booking at

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