It’s only been four months since the federal government laid off 5 percent of the workforce in our national parks and offered to buy out nearly a thousand more employee contracts. The layoffs have sparked fears about crowding and reduced services in parks. But they’ve also triggered a tremendous wave of support: In response to the layoffs, nature lovers on both sides of the political spectrum have rallied to step up for wilderness areas.

Some public lands nonprofits, like the National Park Trust, have reported double to triple the amount of inquiries this year from hikers interested in volunteering to maintain the trails they love to frequent. The regular flood of summer tourists isn’t slowing down, either. Places like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite expect to see that surpass 2024’s record stats.

Traveling to a national park during peak season, especially if it’s your first time, can be overwhelming. Amid all the changes this year, it’s extra important to have your strategies dialed. To better equip you, editors at 国产吃瓜黑料 have rallied to offer their most helpful tips for navigating parks with ease.

Click here to explore the new rules for visiting national parks.

Tips for Navigating Peak Season in National Parks

• Greet everyone you pass on the trail. It might be crowded, and you might get stuck behind a slow party. But a “Hey, howdy. Nice day, ain’t it?” does wonders in reminding folks that we’re all out here for the same reason, and we’re all in it together.
  – Corey Buhay, Interim Managing Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料
• Don鈥檛 be that guy blaring music on the trails鈥攐r in camp. There鈥檚 nothing more annoying than finally lying down in your tent after a long day of hiking and adventuring and hearing everyone else鈥檚 conversations all night. Be respectful of your fellow campers, and their need for shut-eye, and abide by the quiet time rules (usually around 10 pm to 6 am). This goes for turning off music and keeping lights to a minimum.
  – Kathleen Rellihan, Travel and Culture Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料
• Always cut your tent capacity in half for longer stays. For example, if a tent fits six, plan on piling three people in comfortably.
  – Emilee Coblentz, Packages Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料
• Learn to love dawn patrol. Waking up early isn’t easy, but if you can be on-trail before sunrise you’ll beat the crowds, beat the heat, and get the sun’s first rays all to yourself. There’s really no better way to experience a national park鈥攅specially during summertime.
  – Corey Buhay, Interim Managing Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料
• Connect with friends and family before you depart for inspiration. The national parks have been backdrops for stunning photos for years. Check in with friends and family before you head out to see if any of your loved ones have any well loved photos from their time in the parks. You can try to recreate them, or send a postcard back. National Parks are a special place for so many, so let the people in your life know you鈥檙e thinking of them when you visit.
  – Jamie Aranoff, Digital Editor, SKI
• Plan on purchasing trekking poles for children under 10 no matter the difficulty level of the trails you plan to hike. This added support for kids helps on busy trail days.
  – Emilee Coblentz, Packages Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料
• Go beyond the ‘Gram. You might show up to a national park with a tick list of marquee views, but if it’s a busy day, you might have a way more fun鈥攁nd adventurous鈥攅xperience if you leave the bucket-list spots to the crowds. Pop into a visitor center and ask a ranger for their favorite off-the-beaten-path trail. You’ll probably find a view that rivals anything you’ve seen on the internet鈥攁nd you’ll have it all to yourself.
  – Corey Buhay, Interim Managing Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料
• Keep wet wipes in your pack if exploring with kids. Bathrooms will have lines and sometimes there just isn’t enough time. Plan for pee. Lots of it.
  – Emilee Coblentz, Packages Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

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Here鈥檚 the hypothetical scenario: You find yourself alone in the backcountry without any supplies. No tent, no sleeping bag, no food. How long do you think you could survive? That鈥檚 the basic premise of Alone, a reality TV show that pits contestants against each other to see who can thrive the longest in the backcountry using only their wits.

It’s not that far-fetched of a scenario. Dozens of hikers get lost in the woods without the proper gear every year. That’s聽a nightmare scenario for most of us because the average weekend warrior doesn鈥檛 have a clue how to survive without DoorDash and synthetic down layers.

I speak from experience. I鈥檝e spent more than 20 years making a living as an adventure journalist, and most of that time was spent completely ignorant of the key survival skills contestants practice聽on shows like Alone. But then I enrolled in a seven-day primitive skills course with (BOSS), which has run multi-day survival courses in the desert surrounding tiny Boulder, Utah, since the 鈥�60s. The lessons changed my life.

I spent a week hiking through high alpine forests and arid canyons, foraging for food, building shelters, and finding water with the guidance of some of the most experienced survivalists in the country; BOSS has more Alone alumni on its staff than any other primitive skills center in operation. I learned some cool skills, like how to start a friction fire and how to stay warm with pine cones and pine needles. But the most important thing I took away from the course is the knowledge聽that the hypothetical survival situation that haunts many of us isn鈥檛 necessarily a nightmare if you handle the situation correctly.

鈥淏efore I started taking courses at BOSS, I was terrified of getting lost in the woods,鈥� says Jay Carson, BOSS鈥檚 executive director, who self-identified as a hapless weekend warrior before finding BOSS. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 not worried about that situation anymore, because I know I鈥檒l be fine if I spend a night or more out there without any gear. That knowledge has opened up a whole new world of adventure for me and my family.鈥�

Carson is a staunch advocate for average adventurers learning the survival skills shown on Alone. These skills can give a person the confidence necessary to navigate a survival situation with a calm head.

鈥淭he worst thing you can do when you suddenly realize you鈥檙e lost, or hurt, is panic,鈥� Carson says. 鈥淯nfortunately, that鈥檚 exactly what most people do in those situations.鈥�

Getting lost is the most likely mishap you’ll encounter as an outdoor recreationist. During the last 20 years, I鈥檝e been lost more times than I鈥檇 like to admit. Twice, I was so lost that spending the night in the backcountry without any gear or food was a real possibility.

While staying calm when you realize you鈥檙e lost in such situations will help you survive, it’s better to have solid navigational skills so 聽you never get lost in the first place.

鈥淭he ability to read a map, I mean really read a map, is the key skill that everyone who enjoys the outdoors should learn,鈥� Carson says. Day-length navigation courses courses, which are offered聽 by outdoor centers all over the country, teach you how to orient the map using a compass, how to read contour lines, and how to translate the landscape around you to the paper map.

鈥�Feeling competent with a map allows you to go to places other people aren鈥檛 going,鈥� Carson says. 鈥淏eing able to read your map means you can cut off the trail into a backcountry zone and make your way back to the parking lot safely. That鈥檚 what a solid map class will get you. You can go places where everyone else is not.鈥� Of course, before you do so, make sure off-trail travel is permitted in the land you’re on.

As we move into summer, when our national parks are at their busiest, many folks naturally want to get away from the crowds. The good news is many of our national parks have vast backcountry zones where off-trail travel is not only allowed, but encouraged鈥攁s long as you have the skills necessary to enjoy the wilderness safely.

Looking to put your survival skills to the test? Here are four national parks where you can travel off-trail鈥攁nd at least pretend like you鈥檙e a contestant on Alone.

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

The 244,000-acre Badlands National Park offers a mix of towering rock spires and buttes surrounding verdant prairie. It鈥檚 also a paradise for backcountry exploration because, instead of an extensive trail system, Badlands operates under an 鈥渙pen hike鈥� policy, which means you can hike and camp anywhere throughout the park, as long as you don鈥檛 set up a tent within a half-mile of established roads and trails.

The North Unit of the park offers the most straightforward backcountry routes. Go deep into the Sage Creek Wilderness, where tall cliffs flank one of the largest intact mixed grass prairies in聽 the U.S. You can create a 20-plus-mile loop around the wilderness area by following game trails across washes, through tall grass, and up and over mesas聽with long-range views. And you鈥檙e guaranteed to see more bison than humans in this area (just be sure to keep your distance). The daytime hiking is great, but the clear views of the Milky Way at night are transcendent.

Use Sage Creek Campground as your basecamp. It鈥檚 a free, first come/first served facility with 22 sites. There are pit toilets but no water, so be sure to fill up at Ben Reifel Visitor Center. No permits are necessary for camping in the backcountry, but you do need to register your trip at the backcountry registers located at several points throughout the park.

Denali National Park, Alaska聽

If you鈥檙e going to visit Denali National Park, there鈥檚 a good chance you鈥檒l be hiking off-trail. The park is roughly the size of Massachusetts but only has a few established paths within its borders. Instead, the park encourages experienced visitors to forge their own paths across the tundra. Fortunately, the tree line in Denali stops at 3,000 feet in elevation. That open landscape makes off-trail travel less intimidating, as you can hike for miles without losing sight of big landmarks. The park鈥檚 bus system also makes it easy to shuttle point-to-point day hikes.

Visitors can drive the first 15 miles of Denali Park Road from the entrance. Beyond that, you have to take the shuttle bus. The road is closed for the foreseeable future at mile 43 because of a landslide. That gives you roughly 30 miles of road to use as your trailhead when choosing your off-trail adventure. Check out the Jenny Creek backcountry zone (Unit 3), which is accessible via the Savage River Bus between the park headquarters and the Savage River. The unit is comprised of brush-covered flats and rolling hills at the base of extensive systems of ridges, which give you the chance for extended ridgeline walks with 360-degree views of the park. Start your hike anywhere along the Park Road between the Headquarters and mile 8. Just pick a spot that has the least amount of brush and head toward the nearest ridge. Keep an eye out for moose, too.

offers half-day guided hikes that are completely off trail and travel through the forested lower elevations of the park if you want to go with an expert (from $199).

Canyonlands National Park, Utah聽

The appropriately named Canyonlands National Park protects roughly 340,000 acres of gorges, buttes, and plateaus created by the Colorado River and its tributaries. While there are some frontcountry facilities, Canyonlands is predominantly a backcountry park divided into three zones: the Needles District, Maze District, and Island in the Sky District. Head to the Maze District for the most primitive routes and highest sense of solitude. It鈥檚 the most remote district of Canyonlands. Even the dirt roads are a challenge; they鈥檙e 4WD-only and can take hours to navigate safely. It鈥檚 not a place you visit lightly or quickly, so plan on spending more time than you think you鈥檒l need to get from point A to point B. There are established routes that are typically marked with cairns, but they鈥檙e tough to follow, so route-finding skills are key.

Before you settle on a route, double-check that it’s not an established canyoneering line, which will require specialized gear.

If you want the fastest way into the Maze District, catch a up the Colorado River and get dropped off in the thick of the backcountry at Spanish Bottom, and begin your hike from the edge of the river hiking your way up the various non-technical canyons ($295 per person round trip).

Whether you drive into the Maze or catch a boat, bring a paper map as GPS units are known to fail inside this part of the park. You鈥檒l need a , which you can get up to four months in advance ($36 reservation fee, $5 per person). Double-check timing; you don’t want to be visiting canyonlands during monsoon/flash flood season.

Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado聽

Great Sand Dunes National Park is carved out of Colorado鈥檚 San Isabel National Forest, protecting a 30-square-mile dune field with certain ridges rising more than 700 feet above the surrounding sands. It鈥檚 a slice of the Sahara Desert in the heart of Colorado, and the dunes are completely trail-free. Instead of established paths, visitors are encouraged to trek across the dunes on their own. You can even rent聽sleds or snowboard-like sand boards to slide down the faces of the steeper dunes.

Most hikers head towards the highest hump on the first ridge from the parking lot and call it a day. But if you want a real adventure, make a beeline for Hidden Dune, which at 741 feet, is the tallest dune in North America.聽It鈥檚 a seven-mile round trip hike from the Dunes Parking Lot, and you won鈥檛 be able to see the sandy peak until you鈥檝e reached its base (thus the name), so be sure to use its GPS coordinates to navigate (37.775916, -105.531912). Also, mark your starting location too; the wind and shifting sands could obscure your footprints, so you鈥檒l need to set a pin to retrace the steps to your car.

Time your trip right and you can splash through Medano Creek, a seasonal stream that forms a border to the dune field. The park service updates the current conditions of the creek on their . Be sure to wear closed-toed聽shoes and long pants when exploring the dunes, as the sand can reach triple-digit聽temps in the summer.

Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 national parks columnist. He has no desire to compete on the show Alone, but he鈥檚 very proud of the shelter he learned how to build during the survival course at BOSS. He recently wrote a guide to visiting overcrowded and underfunded national parks this summer.聽

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I first laid eyes on Sedona after surviving a sleepless night of food poisoning in nearby Flagstaff, Arizona.

Thank goodness I鈥檇 never driven the Oak Creek Canyon before, or I might鈥檝e skipped the trip entirely. No one who hurls their guts up the previous night would knowingly agree to ride in a 12-passenger van hugging the cliffside of this narrow two-lane road, navigating hairpin turns on switchbacks that drop more than 2,500 feet into Red Rock Country.

But as a first-timer, visiting the area for an adult running camp and eager to check out this famous adventure mecca, I went along. Somehow, despite a super sick stomach, l still fell in love with the place.

Make no mistake鈥攐n less nauseating days, the hour-long journey on Route 89A between the alpine forest of Flagstaff and the sandstone desert of Sedona is iconic. Awe-inspiring, even.

Now, after 15 years living in Flagstaff, that commute is one I savor. Until I relocated to Arizona, I had been a life-long East Coaster. But after visiting this slice of high desert (and subsequently moving here), my appreciation and fondness for the Southwest鈥檚 geological diversity, and that of Sedona鈥檚 upper Sonoran Desert region has only deepened.

Every time I head down that canyon, I marvel at its beauty. I love taking visitors and watching their reactions to first glimpses of giant red rock formations that suddenly replace the canopy of oak trees and ponderosa pines. I imagine it鈥檚 akin to landing on Mars鈥攐therworldly. Perhaps that鈥檚 why Sedona attracts such a strong enclave of New Age spiritual devotees searching for metaphysical energy in the allegedly sprinkled throughout its buttes and spires.

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Why the Fascination with Sedona?

It鈥檚 true. Sedona is a playground for all kinds of people, with interests as wide-ranging as fortune telling, aura reading, and crystal healing to mountain biking, hiking, climbing, and trail running. It welcomes the luxury spa vacationers, culinary aficionados, and jeep tour enthusiasts, too.

I fall somewhere in the middle. I won鈥檛 lie鈥擨鈥檝e visited a fortune teller or two over the years. I also eat dinner at Sedona鈥檚 , the kind of Mexican meal I don鈥檛 mind making reservations for 60 days in advance (at least!). Sometimes it鈥檚 fun to hit the local running store, , or just relax in one of the many coffee shops with tranquil garden seating. For the quintessential experience, I often end up at , billed as 鈥渁 sanctuary where each being can nurture their authenticity.鈥�

But most often Sedona is my wintertime weekend trail running refuge鈥攚hen the snow dumps in Flagstaff, I鈥檓 guaranteed a clear path, warmer temperatures (averaging around 60 degrees), and sunshine in the red rock valley below. I love a good 鈥渨intertime double鈥�: a morning run, hike, or ride in Sedona wearing shorts and a t-shirt, followed by afternoon powder turns at back home. Few places in the world hold such a mix of outdoor activities available in one day during the doldrums of February, and I love that about where I live.

Yes, Sedona Is Crowded, but I Don鈥檛 Let That Stop Me from Visiting

In recent years, however, Sedona鈥檚 storyline has taken an unfortunate (though not unwarranted) hit. Just like many areas that saw a surge of visitors seeking outdoor adventure during COVID, Sedona鈥檚 popularity鈥攚hich was already quite high鈥攕oared further. Influencers, along with their Instagram and TikTok followings, 鈥攁 double-edged sword for a place where 3 million visitors per year contribute to a $1 billion tourism industry, according to the .

More than a third of Sedona’s homes have become short-term rentals, and the city government and other local agencies have become of visitors鈥攁nd how to infuse education on respectful public land use.

After all, we are all just guests to this place, originally inhabited by the Sinagua people who came here around 900 A.D. I applaud how the people who manage the city and the public land are helping its diversity of users enjoy the area in myriad ways. From my perspective, there are a few things every visitor should know to maximize their Sedona experience.

Spring Break Is Not the Best Time to Visit Sedona

To fully enjoy Sedona, you have to choose your time and activities carefully. I鈥檓 saying avoid spring break (most of March) at all costs, and plan your outdoor pursuits for early mornings (arrive at trailheads by 7 A.M. at the latest) year-round to dodge flocks of people. If you鈥檙e a real morning person like I am, you can get started even earlier for cooler temperatures during the summer swelter. The traffic, parking, and crowded trails on the most popular routes quickly become a turnoff if you鈥檙e desperately seeking solitude in nature.

Avoid Downtown, but Grab Some Grub at Wildflower

The downtown area is a genuine tourist trap. Unless you鈥檙e looking for souvenirs or a cartoonish taste of the old wild west, you can skip the main drag, save for Wildflower, a local chain good for family-friendly breakfast and lunch where you鈥檒l find reasonably priced meals with a terrific red rock view. (Bonus points for identifying from the patio.) But Sedona is at its best when you go off the beaten path.

For Less Crowded Trails, Hit the Outskirts to Go Higher and Farther

Most locals won鈥檛 divulge those lesser-known destinations, however. In discussing places that my friends and I like to go in Sedona for a beer or a quick bite to eat or a trail run, most of them either decided against sharing at all, or their suggestions came with the caveat: 鈥渄on鈥檛 tell anybody I said this, but鈥︹��

I get it. During the pandemic at the end of 2020, I headed to my friends鈥� house in Sedona for a day hike鈥攁nd along the way it appeared that the rest of America had the same idea. The fight for parking at the nearby trailheads was bananas鈥攃rowds rivaling Disney World during winter break.

Thankfully we could just exit out their backyard gate to a series of established, but unnamed trails鈥攐nes I wouldn鈥檛 have found on my own. On our hike, new-to-me perspectives of the famous and in the distance were stunning鈥攁nd as I took out my phone to capture a shot, my friend jokingly threatened to push me off the ledge of our undisclosed location above (the 鈥渟cenic byway鈥�) if I dared to geotag the photo on social media. Of course, I鈥檇 never do such a thing. For Northern Arizonans, sharing isn鈥檛 always caring.

Which is all to say, I鈥檇 tell you where to hike or run, but then I鈥檇 have to move far, far away from here. What I will say is that any trail on the outskirts of town that is rated as 鈥渟trenuous,鈥� includes a healthy amount of vertical gain, or is higher mileage than the routes topping travel blogs and Trip Advisor, will likely yield a more serene experience. You know which apps to use ( and have options), and doing your own research to head farther afield is best.

Sedona Is Helping Us All Become Respectful Visitors

As much as we regulars would like to hoard our Sedona secrets, I still applaud the efforts of local agencies to help ensure that visitors can continue to enjoy the area, too. I鈥檓 an advocate for making such a majestic corner of the U.S. accessible to all鈥攊t鈥檚 an immense privilege that it鈥檚 so close to my home. Angst-alleviating initiatives include to trailheads and the , which asks visitors to agree to nine ways to help preserve Red Rock Country鈥檚 natural beauty, like not forging your own trails and packing out your trash. No. 4 is my personal favorite: 鈥淚 won鈥檛 risk life or limb (human or sapling) for more likes. I won鈥檛 get killed for a killer photo.鈥�

My Recommendations for Best Outdoor 国产吃瓜黑料 in Sedona

It鈥檚 understandable that all of us who call tourist destinations home would want to keep a few spots to ourselves, I also recognize that none of us own these places. They鈥檙e meant to be explored and enjoyed. So, here are a few of my hot spots for those who are new to Sedona.

Camping in Sedona

Camping in Sedona takes a lot of planning ahead, I鈥檓 told. I haven鈥檛 gone camping in Sedona myself, mostly because I live so close by and my visits tend to be on the spontaneous side. Free dispersed camping is available in the western part of town, and it fills up quickly, as do the campgrounds that require reservations, which are mostly located along Oak Creek on 89A. The options around Oak Creek are cooler during the summer, next to the water, and heavily shaded by the forest. The dispersed campgrounds, though fully exposed to the sun, offer some of the best views of the red rocks and canyons you can find.

The best way to find a spot is to visit and you can also try Hipcamp.

Best Sedona Hikes

If you鈥檝e never hiked around Sedona, pick one of these three options for a taste of the town鈥檚 best trails.

• : This one is a bit outside of Sedona, on the other side of I-17, but worth the detour. Go early to beat the crowds inevitably seeking relief in the cool creek at the Crack, which comes at the end of the 3.5-mile trail. It鈥檚 a popular place to hang out and, for those who dare, jump off the cliffs into the water.
• : This is one of those 鈥渟trenuous鈥� paths that takes you up 2,000 feet in a bit less than 2.5 miles. The panoramic views extend the whole way up to Flagstaff鈥攜ou can see the beloved San Francisco Peaks from the top.
• : About two miles north of Sedona, is Wilson Mountain, which packs about 2,300 feet of climbing into the first mile. Keep going鈥攜ou鈥檙e rewarded along the way with hundreds of miles of views that include Oak Creek Canyon, Coffee Pot Rock, Capitol Butte, and the Verde Valley.

Best Sedona Trail Runs

If you鈥檙e an avid trail runner, don鈥檛 miss these three spots with stunning panoramic views.

• : Start at the Baldwin Trailhead and run along the Buddha Beach to the Templeton Trail at the base of Cathedral Rock. You鈥檒l get a bit of everything on this one (make it an out-and-back or create a loop with your Gaia or Trailforks app)鈥攃ruise along the creek, climb sandstone ridges, and see the iconic Cathedral Rock, too.
• : Start from the Old Munds Wagon Road Trailhead off of Schnebly Hill Road, follow Old Munds Wagon Trail to the Cow Pies, forking left, to the Hangover Trail, one of the most scenic routes along the slickrock you can find.
• : This is an old standby and a popular place for visitors, so beware that the trailhead parking at the Bell Rock Trailhead might be tight. However, it鈥檚 the quintessential Sedona vista鈥攍ike a postcard from the southwest. Follow the Big Park Loops signs for a four mile circumnavigation of the butte.

Why Sedona Will Always Be Magical to Me

To be sure, we live at a time where the deluge of information available to us all can make us jaded. When it seems like 鈥渆verybody鈥� is going to Sedona and posting every detail of their adventures, our natural instinct is to declare that this special place is overrated. But that denies the region of its magic.

I was recently reminded of what Sedona can do for the spirit when I took a day off work and headed down 89A for the afternoon with a friend. We stopped at one of my favorite spots, , on the way into town, a lovely counter-service restaurant with lush, shaded outdoor seating on the east side of Oak Creek. Then we drove out to , a strenuous-rated hike that requires some rock scrambling and the ability to power up nearly 2,000 feet of elevation in a short 2.5 miles to earn an exhilarating view of fantastical red rock formations.

The only thing that would鈥檝e made my day more complete? A dip in the Oak Creek to cool off. A chance to swim in a natural body of water is a true treat for most Arizonans鈥攅specially me. I have plenty of fond memories of post-run cannonballs at , 10 or 12 years ago when it was less visited. Now, of course, it鈥檚 not so much a secluded swimming hole. Nature鈥檚 ice bath is usually worth it in my book, though.

Sedona has been dubbed the 鈥渕ost mystical place鈥� in America by travel experts and spiritual visitors alike. And it might be. What I do know is that it offers one of the most valuable opportunities for renewed astonishment at the world around me. It may not be a hidden gem (spoiler alert: ), but it鈥檚 a place that offers outdoor access that鈥檚 unrivaled by most other places on the planet.

Here鈥檚 my takeaway: It took 350 million years to form those red rocks. It鈥檚 no wonder people want to see them. Sedona is many things, but in my book, overrated will never be one of them.

Want more of 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 travel stories?聽.

Erin Strout is a journalist and author based in Flagstaff, Arizona, who writes about health, fitness, and Olympic sports. She likes to focus on the big issues women face as athletes and humans who want to perform and feel their best. She still loves visiting Sedona every chance she gets.聽

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First it was the moon, then it was cloudy, then it rained. I鈥檇 been waiting five days for the Oregon skies to light up. Then around 10:30 on a cold April night, the clouds lifted, and the constellations swung into view. Auriga was already rising in the west, with its brightest star, Capella, gleaming against the black. Leo was directly above me in one direction, the Big Dipper in the other. To the east hung the bright orange star Arcturus.

My daughter and I were in Lake County, Oregon, a region that is savage but lovely, with sagebrush, juniper, and bunch grasses, and several fish and wildlife areas. There are hot springs, 300 species of birds鈥攁nd world-class dark skies.

Lake County is the westernmost of Oregon’s three southeastern counties. The entire parcel of real estate is called the Oregon Outback, or its 鈥渆mpty quarter鈥� because of the sparse population, vast ranges, and high deserts. When we arrived in the area for several days last month, snow still covered the ground down to about 3,000 feet, so high-altitude hiking was out. Instead, we settled for a scramble in an up-to 70-foot-deep ravine aptly named near Christmas Valley, in the northern part of the county. Nighttimes we looked at the skies鈥攐r tried to.

If a group of avid astronomers have their way, the combined 11.4 million acres (17,187 square miles) in these counties will become a , a designation for visual quality and remoteness. Pending approval by the Tucson-based nonprofit International Dark Sky Association (IDSA), the area would become the largest officially recognized stargazing sanctuary in the world.

鈥淲hat we are doing is preserving the best [dark skies] left in the lower 48,鈥� said Bob Hackett, executive director of Travel Southern Oregon. The group has submitted a 160-page application to the IDSA for this tract in Oregon to join 17 other locations around the world as official sanctuaries, but many local, state, and federal agencies must sign on first.

Thanks to the social distancing of recent years, stargazing has exploded in popularity even though as much as 80 percent of all Americans have never seen a star-filled sky, according to astronomy.com.

鈥淲e are passionate about this,鈥� said Bill Kowalik, a retired geologist who chairs the IDSA鈥檚 Oregon chapter. 鈥漈he first time you see the Milky Way, you don鈥檛 forget it.鈥�

Stargazing is best when there鈥檚 a new moon or during meteor showers, such as the Perseids, a prolific annual display associated with the comet Swift鈥揟uttle, which appears to originate from the constellation Perseus. This year the Perseids should be best seen from July 17 to August 24, peaking around August 13. Another prominent shower, the Delta Aquarids, whose point of origin or radiant is the constellation Aquarius, will peak around July 29 to 30. Together, the two displays should be a good show.

The state鈥檚 darkest-sky site, Kowalik said, is in the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge just outside of Lakeview, a town near the California state line. Southern Oregon is smack in the middle of the upcoming annular solar eclipse on October 14. Be aware: savvy travelers are already snapping up lodgings from Crater Lake National Park to the town of Burns, in the Oregon Outback.

Here are nine other great places to see thousands of stars, planets, star clusters, meteors, man-made satellites, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Milky Way.

1. Dark Sky Reserve, Central Idaho

滨诲补丑辞鈥檚 lies north of the Sun Valley Resort in Ketchum, in the south-central part of the state, a region where you can also hike, fish, go kayaking and paddleboarding, and view waterfalls. From Ketchum, drive up Idaho state Route 75 through the Wood River Valley. (Fees at the multiple campgrounds in the area range from $18-$24 per night; look for a list). A few miles up the road is the Sawtooth National Recreation Area visitor center, which has bathrooms open 24 hours to accommodate stargazers. About 23 miles further is Galena Lodge, with a hippie vibe and a restaurant with backcountry yurts ($125-$165). Just after that you鈥檒l find the Bethine and Frank Church Lookout at 8,700 feet, the most accessible viewing platform in the Reserve.

Stargazing has gotten so popular in those parts that Boise State University, with the help of a $1 million grant from NASA, has an astronomer-in-residence program. This summer, two astronomers will do lectures and stage star parties and meteor-watching gigs in Ketchum and Stanley, a small town 30 miles to the north of the overlook. , a rustic hotel near Stanley with stellar sky views, will host several activities.

2. Great Basin National Park, East-Central Nevada

One of the most remote national parks, this one offers hiking and backpacking trails, caves and wildlife viewing, and a whole lot of stars to see. High elevation, low humidity, and a desert climate that fosters clear skies all contribute to a marvelous show. Designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2016, it hosts an Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights from Memorial Day to Labor Day and an annual astronomy festival (September 14 to 16 this year). There鈥檚 even a run by the Nevada Northern Railway from Ely, 60 miles to the west, to take city dwellers out into the high steppe to look at stars under the guidance of national park rangers.

Campsites are scattered about the national park; my favorite was at Upper Lehman Campground, 7,500 feet elevation, with a nearby creek and tons of aspens. nearby cost $20 per night. Restaurant and lodging options are scarce in the nearby hamlet of Baker; to go the motel route, reserve space at the tiny months in advance. Rooms there average $97 a night; RV spaces are $35.

3. Cape Lookout National Seashore, Eastern North Carolina

This seashore has three barrier islands鈥擭orth Core Banks, South Core Banks, and Shackleford Banks鈥攚ith minimal light pollution. Access is by ferry. There are wild horses to see, birding, a lighthouse to ascend (207 steps), swimming (but no lifeguards) and fishing, and a visitor center on Harker鈥檚 Island, where the Crystal Coast Stargazers has public events. This is the only IDSA-certified site on the Eastern seaboard. Primitive is allowed on all three of the islands from March-November, but a $50 beach driving permit is required if you wish to park nearby. on South Core Banks rent for $100-$150/night. Think very rustic; and also that what you take in, you must take out, as there鈥檚 no trash pick-up there.

4. Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, Southwestern Texas

This massive piece of real estate encompasses 15,000 square miles of wilderness, a haven for hiking and backpacking, in western Texas and northern Mexico. Within the Reserve are several locations that offer telescopes and guided stargazing programs. The , which is 190 miles east of El Paso in Fort Davis, has star parties Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights, and special viewing nights.

In the tiny town of Marathon in south Texas are two observatory-grade reflector telescopes in an observatory 150 feet behind the (room rates range from $100-$150). Weather permitting, there are nightly. This middle-of-nowhere motel has become a big draw for astrophotographers. Closer to the Texas side of the Reserve are , at $14/night, and the ($170-$210/night) plus at $42/night.

5. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Northeastern Minnesota

This million-acre wilderness west of Duluth was designated a Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2020. The spot is known for , often lasting several days, in the Superior National Forest for families and specialty groups, and for great hiking, trail running, and fishing. For stargazing, winter is actually a good time to visit, as there are more hours of darkness, fewer bugs, and the opportunity to dogsled. In warmer months, try the , which is free. , at the entry point for the wilderness, costs $20-$24.

6. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, North-Central Maine

Located in north-central Maine, the 87,564-acre Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument has some of the darkest skies east of the Mississippi. Biking, hiking, climbing, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing as well as stargazing take place here under the watchful eye of Mount Katahdin, at 5,262 feet the highest peak in the state.

As one of the newer national monuments, this one is sparse in amenities and has little signage. There is an annual night every September. Fees are $8/night at the near Stacyville, Maine.

7. Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge, Northwest Montana

One of the newest Dark Sky Sanctuaries (named last October) is this refuge with 9,225 acres, known for wildlife viewing and as a foraging and nesting habitat for migratory birds as well as its hiking trails. The sparsely populated state has a number of and a second Dark Sky Sanctuary at Medicine Rocks State Park, in Ekalaka, eastern Montana. The refuge offers camping within its boundaries. Try the nearby at $20/night. at the second sanctuary range from $4-$34.

8. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Western Colorado

This striking 2,000-foot gorge near the town of Montrose, parts of which only receive 33 minutes of sun each day, has excellent star viewing. The main activity is trout fishing and hiking, although the routes are strenuous to the point where to hike the primitive trails and scrambles. Above the floor are multipitch technical rock climbs requiring extensive experience to negotiate. Visitors peering down from the rims can also see the gorge鈥檚 steep spires, hence its nickname as a 鈥渧ertical wilderness.鈥� There is near both rims at $16/night, and a local group of astronomers stages an annual Astro Fest at the park each September.

9. Watoga State Park, Calvin Price State Forest, and Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park, Eastern West Virginia

This patch of real estate in east-central West Virginia forms a combined 19,859 acres. Although barely a five-hour drive from the Washington D.C. suburbs, the area is enveloped in enough national forest land to allow extra-clear skies, along with lots of hiking and mountain biking trails, swimming and fishing. Lodging options include in Marlinton, where cabins start at $127/night, and two campgrounds: Beaver Creek and Riverside, starting at $50/night.

Plus: Where to Stay in the Oregon Outback

Places include: , a lovely spot 25 miles southeast of Burns with RV spaces ($40), tent sites ($35), teepees ($145), rooms and cabins ($99-$185), and the Bullgate campground ($10) in the in Summer Lake, a tiny community at 4,150 feet elevation, encircled by the 3,000-foot escarpment of Winter Ridge. About 20 miles down the road, has RV sites ($25/night), cabins ($130-$230), and a five-acre dry camping field ($25/night). If you ascend further to the antelope refuge at 6,188 feet, try the free in Plush. We stayed at the ($75-$165), overlooking our own private pond, and watched the skies with our eyes only, no telescope.

Tips on Smart Stargazing

It鈥檚 easy to get turned around in the dark. (In March a woman in Death Valley National Park spent the night outside and was found by rangers at daybreak after she left her group to fetch something from the parking lot.) Be careful out there.

-Stay with your group.

-Bring a flashlight or headlamp with red light and extra batteries. Red light helps you navigate while preserving your night vision.

-Bring warm clothes.

-A mapping app like will trace your route out to a viewpoint so you can return the same way and not worry about losing the trail or overshooting your vehicle.

-Trekking poles are a great idea for stability when hiking in the dark.

-Let someone know where you are going and an estimated return time.

See also our list of top stargazing apps here.

Note that to your smartphone, using the settings in your iPhone or, for Androids, via the Twilight app.

Julia Duin lives in the Seattle area, and thinks her state of Washington has some of the best wilderness areas in the lower 48. She only began serious hiking in her 40s, when she took a job in Washington, D.C, and discovered the amazing trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway. She has skied since she was a teenager, and her proudest outdoor accomplishment is an 800-mile bike ride from the D.C. area to Lexington, Kentucky.

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Some people hear that Great Smoky Mountains is America鈥檚 most-visited national park and think it鈥檚 a reason to stay away. The opposite is true. There鈥檚 a reason it鈥檚 so popular: This spectacular wilderness is packed with diverse ecosystems, plants, and animals鈥攁nd it鈥檚 easy to avoid the crowds if you know where to look.

What will you find? In the park鈥檚 higher elevations, peregrine falcons soar over 6,000-plus-foot Appalachian peaks, and blooming rhododendrons decorate mountaintop balds. Waterfalls careen from rocky points, feeding streams full of salamanders and native brook trout. The lowland hardwood forests provide wild habitat for black bears, saw-whet owls, and elk. The Smokies are a beloved refuge for hundreds of species鈥攈ikers included.

How do we ensure it stays that way for generations to come? Support and protect the park. That鈥檚 why is celebrating Great Smoky Mountains this spring. The brewery is featuring a of its flagship Pale Ale dedicated to four national parks, Great Smoky Mountains included. (The other three are Big Bend, Yellowstone, and Yosemite.) The beer hasn鈥檛 changed, but the artful limited-edition packaging shines a spotlight on these iconic parks.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is backing that up with a donation to the to support wildlife and habitat conservation. 鈥淥ur national parks are a jewel that we need to preserve,鈥� Sierra Nevada founder Ken Grossman says. 鈥淐onnection to nature is really critical. I think it鈥檚 our legacy to preserve those places forever.鈥�

Amie Engerbretson, professional skier and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. ambassador, agrees. 鈥淭he national parks are where you see the very best that Mother Nature has to offer,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd they鈥檙e so accessible, it makes it possible for all people to see some of the coolest places in the world.鈥�

With so many options on the table and 848 miles of trails, it can be hard to decide exactly where to spend your time in the park. Plan the perfect trip with this guide to the Smokies鈥� can鈥檛-miss spots to hike, camp, explore, and 鈥渃heers!鈥� a day well spent.

Best Waterfall Hike

Deep Creek Waterfalls Loop

This quiet day hike in the lush jams three cascades into just 2.4 miles: dramatic 90-foot Juney Whank Falls, flowy 25-foot Indian Creek Falls, and lacy 60-foot Tom Branch Falls. Start on the steep Juney Whank Falls Trail, then connect to Deep Creek Horse Trail, Deep Creek Trail, and Indian Creek Trail to reach waterfall number two. Loop back on Deep Creek Trail to reach Tom Branch Falls and continue on to the trailhead. Hot-weather tip: Carry a tube to the first two falls (plenty of rentals are available nearby), then hop into Deep Creek and float past Tom Branch Falls en route to the takeout near the park boundary.

Pale Ale moment: Back at the trailhead, head to the picnic area and dip your toes in Deep Creek while you savor an ice-cold Sierra Nevada.

Best Overlook

Charlies Bunion

Sample the famed Appalachian Trail to reach this big-view overlook. Starting from the nearly mile-high Newfound Gap, follow the AT east through the spruce-fir forest, enjoying plenty of mountain views along the way. There鈥檚 no mistaking at mile four: Grab a perch on the rocky knob and revel in the panorama of peaks and valleys radiating beneath your boots. If you鈥檙e not in the mood to share this justifiably popular overlook, hit the trail early or in late afternoon, or target the off-season.

Pale Ale moment: Head back down the mountain to Collins Creek Picnic Area, a shady refuge along a burbling creek perfect for sipping.

Best Peak Hike

Mount LeConte

Five different trails lead to LeConte鈥檚 6,593-foot summit, the park鈥檚 third-highest peak. Our money is on the ten-mile round-trip Alum Cave Trail, with highlights including a hike-through rock arch, the cliffy overhang of Alum Cave Bluffs, and narrow ledges to traverse (equipped with metal cables to grab for stability). Up top, spin-around views of the park await.

Pale Ale moment: Say 鈥淐heers!鈥� from the rocking chair on your cabin鈥檚 porch at the rustic , the only hotel in the park (typically open March to November).

Best Overnight

Gregory Bald

The Smokies鈥� 鈥渂alds,鈥� or open, grassy mountainside meadows, are botanical wonderlands when the flame azaleas bloom鈥攁nd gorgeous viewpoints when they鈥檙e not. Rangers keep in its historically open state with string trimmers and a lawnmower, one of only two such maintained spots in the park. Researchers think the wide-open balds were created by grazing animals, first by mastodons and woolly mammoths, and later by deer and elk. Several trails will get you there, but the 6.8-mile one-way Wolf Ridge Trail from the Twentymile area is less traveled than the rest.

Pale Ale moment: Raise a toast from backcountry campsite 13, which lets you bunk right on the bald.

Best Bike Ride

Cades Cove Loop Road

Truth #1: Cades Cove is an idyllic valley filled with wildlife, historic buildings and cemeteries, and wildflowers. Truth #2: It can be a total mob scene, with backed-up traffic. Truth #3: You can beat the crowds鈥攁nd enjoy a world-class bike ride on the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road鈥攂y visiting on in summer. Hop on your favorite two-wheeler (Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are OK; bike rentals available on site) and cruise the rolling route, allowing time to stop and explore spots like Cable Mill and John Oliver Cabin.

Pale Ale moment: Go for a creekside table at either Abrahms or Green Branch creek, both of which border the area, in Cades Cove Picnic Area at the loop鈥檚 start.

Best Campground

Balsam Mountain Campground

Campsites in the Smokies tend to be verdant, peaceful, and, in summer, wicked hot and humid. Not so up at 5,310 feet at , which enjoys a much cooler climate. The flat Balsam Mountain Nature Trail, a 1.2-mile out-and-back, leaves right from the campground and makes for a nice leg stretcher.

Pale Ale moment: Snag one of this quiet campground鈥檚 43 sites, gather 鈥檙ound the campfire, and toast your good sense to be here.

Note: It鈥檚 always smart to check the for current conditions before your trip. And when planning a Pale Ale moment of your own, check the park鈥檚 .

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., founded by Ken Grossman in 1980, is a pioneer in craft brewing. With breweries in California and North Carolina, it鈥檚 known for quality ingredients, innovation, and sustainability. Popular beers include Pale Ale, Hazy Little Thing, and Torpedo. Learn more at .

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Yosemite National Park is many things, but subtle ain鈥檛 one of them. This gem of a park straddling the crest of California鈥檚 Sierra Nevada hits you over the head with its scenic grandeur. Yosemite鈥檚 towering granite domes, thousand-foot-tall waterfalls, wildflower-dotted meadows, and skyscraping sequoias are the stuff of national park dreams. And even though it鈥檚 one of the country鈥檚 most popular parks, Yosemite鈥檚 vast wilderness holds plenty of quiet escapes.

Count among Yosemite鈥檚 biggest fans. This spring, the brewery is featuring a of its flagship Pale Ale dedicated to four national parks, Yosemite included. (The other three are Big Bend, Great Smoky Mountains, and Yellowstone.)

The beer hasn鈥檛 changed, but the artful limited-edition packaging shines a spotlight on these iconic parks. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is backing that up with a donation to the to support wildlife and habitat conservation. 鈥淥ur national parks are a jewel that we need to preserve,鈥� brewery founder Ken Grossman says. 鈥淐onnection to nature is really critical. I think it鈥檚 our legacy to preserve those places forever.鈥�

Amie Engerbretson, professional skier and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. ambassador, agrees. 鈥淭he national parks are where you see the very best that Mother Nature has to offer,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd they鈥檙e so accessible, it makes it possible for all people to see some of the coolest places in the world.鈥�

With 1,200 square miles and more than 750 miles of trail, it can be hard to decide exactly where to spend your time in this park. Here鈥檚 our guide to Yosemite鈥檚 can鈥檛-miss spots to hike, camp, explore, and 鈥渃heers!鈥� a day well spent.

Best Alpine Lake Hike

Cathedral Lakes

Tuolumne Meadows, a mountain-ringed meadow at 8,600 feet, is the picture of high-country heaven and the jumping-off point for superlative hikes to lofty lakes and peaks. This seven-mile round trip to a pair of is Engerbretson鈥檚 top pick to see a lesser-visited, bigger-views area. Hop on the John Muir Trail and start gently climbing southwest. When the trail forks, head right to Lower Cathedral Lake for views of Cathedral, Echo, and Tressider Peaks reflected in the water. Make it a double by taking the .8-mile side trip to Upper Cathedral Lake on the way back.

Pale Ale moment: Post up at a quiet spot at , near where you started, and you might wonder why you went anywhere at all.

Best Yosemite Valley Day Hike

Mist Trail鈥揓MT Loop

This route tracing the Merced River past two huge waterfalls is no secret鈥攏othing this beautiful could be. But like many iconic hikes, it鈥檚 totally worth doing鈥攋ust start at sunrise to avoid the conga line. For an unforgettable 8.5-mile loop, hoof it a mile along the to the first major viewpoint at the Vernal Falls Footbridge. If you think the 317-foot waterfall is impressive now, just wait until you continue 600 steps up to the top. (This section is steep and can be wet and slippery.) Press on to the even larger Nevada Fall, a 594-foot tumbler, before looping back down to the valley via the John Muir Trail, which offers views of Half Dome and Liberty Cap en route.

Pale Ale moment: Nothing beats El Cap Meadow, where you can spot climbers on the face of El Capitan or just cool your feet in the Merced River, ice-cold Pale Ale in hand.

Best View

Taft Point

Get a golden eagle-eye view of Yosemite Valley at Taft Point, a 7,500-foot outcropping that stands more than 3,000 feet above the valley floor. Taft is like its more famous neighbor, Glacier Point, but without the crowds (or guardrails). It also serves up one of the best sunset views in the park. Reach Taft Point on a mellow 2.2-mile hike (round trip) that starts on .

Pale Ale moment: The nearby , on Glacier Point Road, is the perfect spot for a pine-shaded happy hour. The campground is located at more than 7,000 feet elevation, so the season is short (mid-July to September). Sites are reservable two weeks before arrival and go fast.

Best Campground

North Pines Campground

Engerbretson recommends pitching a tent in Yosemite Valley for its spellbinding mountain views, and there鈥檚 no place better than this ponderosa pine鈥搒haded campground on the Merced River.

Pale Ale moment: Build a campfire (if ), pull up a camp chair, and you know the rest. Note:, like all Yosemite Valley campgrounds, is in high demand. Go for the the fall before your intended trip for a better shot at snagging a spot.

Best Big Trees Hike

Guardians Loop Trail

is where it鈥檚 at if you want to hike among the largest trees in the world. More than 500 mature sequoias grow here, some prominent enough to sport names like Famous Couple, Grizzly Giant, and Three Graces. Tour the goods on this 6.5-mile lollipop loop from the main trailhead to the upper grove.

Pale Ale moment: After the hike, choose a bench under a sequoia and enjoy feeling very, very small.

Best Peak Hike

North Dome

Want sweeping, dome-top views of Yosemite Valley without the vertigo (and permit logistics) of Half Dome? North Dome is your granite monolith. Half Dome鈥檚 slightly shorter northern cousin鈥�7,540 feet versus 8,839 feet鈥攐ffers a similar panorama with a close-up look at Half Dome itself and a walk-up approach, no cables required. Take the south through conifer forest to the airy dome, a 10.4-mile round trip.

Pale Ale moment: A day like this deserves a night to match. Reserve a site at , just a mile from the trailhead (open mid-July to mid-October).

Note: It鈥檚 always smart to check the before your trip for conditions and safety information, as well as where alcohol consumption is permitted.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., founded by Ken Grossman in 1980, is a pioneer in craft brewing. With breweries in California and North Carolina, it鈥檚 known for quality ingredients, innovation, and sustainability. Popular beers include Pale Ale, Hazy Little Thing, and Torpedo. Learn more at .

The post The Beer Drinker鈥檚 Guide to Yosemite appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Summer doesn鈥檛 officially kick off until June 20 at summer solstice. But let鈥檚 be honest: if you haven鈥檛 dialed in your summer plans by then, you’ll be behind everyone else already dialing in their plans.

To help you single out a few long weekend summer destinations, I put together a list of can鈥檛-miss trips that will satisfy just about everyone, no matter their preferences. This year, we鈥檙e focusing strictly on homegrown adventures鈥攆or a few reasons. First, the this year, because of their dislike of 鈥ou know who. This means fewer tourists in many of the country鈥檚 most popular spots, like national parks. It could also translate to cheaper bookings. What’s more,聽considering the seemingly intractable divide inside our own borders, there may be no better time to take a chance to reacquaint ourselves with our neighbors.

Now is the time to start planning your next outdoor adventure. Here’s our list of the best weekend summer trips to plan for in 2025. Consider this your guide to your greatest聽summer yet.

Columbia River Gorge, Oregon and Washington

Why now: Cutting through the Cascade Mountains for 80 miles, The Gorge, as it is known, is the in the U.S. It has it all, including the undisputed windsurfing capital of North America, Hood River. It鈥檚 also home to an increasing number of craft breweries, farm-to-table restaurants, boutique wineries, and all the other gastronomic offerings that helped make Portland, at the western end of the gorge, a foodie capital. In short, for a multisport destination in the heat of the summer, the Gorge is hard to beat.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: For hiking, , which reopened in 2021 after a 2017 fire, is one of the most popular trails in the area鈥攁nd with good reason. It courses through the temperate rainforest, past tall basalt cliffs, and over a narrow gorge 150 feet above the creek at High Falls. For mountain biking, , on the Oregon side of the gorge, offers everything from beginner to advanced cross-country rides. For water activities, Hood River serves as the obvious鈥攁nd best鈥攂ase area, with kitesurfing and kayak rentals and lessons available along the waterfront.

Pro tip: A is required for accessing many of the hiking areas in the national scenic area.

Where to stay: This spring, glamping company unveiled its new camp, set on a stunning 120-acre property in Washington鈥檚 White Salmon River Valley, with views of Mount Hood (from $229).

Anywhere on the Appalachian Trail

Why now: America鈥檚 legendary offers practically endless section-hiking opportunities come summer, and this year thethe nonprofit devoted to protecting and managing the trail, celebrates its centennial. Festivities are planned along the trail鈥檚 entire length, including in popular AT communities like Harrisonburg, Virginia (), and Hot Springs, North Carolina (). But the primary event聽is the ATC鈥檚 in Washington, D.C., on June 11, which is bringing together long-time supporters, partner organizations, and public officials to raise funds to protect the , the world鈥檚 longest hiking-only trail.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: For a weekend trip, the only practical way to hike the AT is to tackle sections, and the trail is intentionally routed away from towns, so camping is really the only option if you鈥檙e overnighting it. That is unless you decide to stay at a sort of base-camp town near your route鈥攁 place like Highlands, North Carolina, or Weston, Vermont. Highlands, roughly 30 minutes east of the AT and situated within the, is the quintessential southern mountain town, with stellar swimming, fishing, and paddling nearby. Weston, a small village on the east side of , is full of country charm and easy access to adventure opportunities, including four nearby ski resorts.

Pro tip: If you want to hike significant portions of the trail and avoid carrying a tent, the ATC has good recommendations for .

Where to stay: In Highlands, opt for the new , a 14-room boutique hotel full of Appalachian charm and adventure bonafides, not to mention a front porch that鈥檚 perfect for relaxing after a day鈥檚 hike (from $169). In Weston, it鈥檚 hard to beat the recently-opened , a 9-room retreat that鈥檚 owned by the family behind some of the world鈥檚 most iconic hotels, like New York City鈥檚 The Carlyle (from $450).

Big Sky, Montana

Why now: For years, Big Sky was basically a winter-only destination, in large part because the alpine valley didn鈥檛 offer much in the way of tourist infrastructure or nighttime fun. That鈥檚 all changed in recent years as the resort has attracted a raft of new and upgraded lodging options, including the upscale and the upcoming , which opens in November. Along with the lodging came new restaurants, coffee shops, and added amenities for year-round adventures. The combined effect has turned Big Sky into a legitimate year-round destination.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Staying in the valley means it鈥檚 easier to take advantage of the nearby adventure options, including fly-fishing on the Gallatin River, lift-accessed mountain-biking from the base village, and touring nearby Yellowstone National Park. One of the best day hikes in the area is the 5.4-mile out-and-back Lava Lake Trail, which ends at an alpine lake with stunning views of the Spanish Peaks.

Pro tip: It鈥檚 usually most convenient to stay in , slightly down valley from the ski area, because it offers walking access to great coffee shops like Blue Moon Bakery, the farmer鈥檚 market (every Wednesday night June through September), and good restaurants like The Rocks Tasting Room and Liquor Store.

Where to stay: , which opened in 2019, is in the heart of the town center and has 129 suite rooms with full kitchens, a living area, and a workspace (from $274).

Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

Why now: Wrightsville Beach, a tiny hamlet on a barrier island, has quietly emerged as a world-class water-sports capital with a few upgraded lodging options that make it worthy of a long weekend stay. There鈥檚 excellent surfing, SUPing, and lounging on five miles of wide, sandy beaches. Fishing is central to the culture here, as is surfing, and there are waves for riders of all levels, meaning it鈥檚 a great place for lessons and surf camps.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: With multiple waterways and miles of wild terrain, paddling is one of the most popular summertime activities at Wrightsville Beach. An excellent, if remote, paddling destination is , the largest undisturbed barrier island along North Carolina鈥檚 southern coast. The Reserve, as locals call it, is across the channel from Wrightsville Beach and can only be reached by boat. But once there, trails connect the bayside to the ocean, and hiking them is a good way to spot one of the island鈥檚 rarer bird species, like the American oystercatcher or the Least terns.

Pro tip: If you鈥檙e looking for nightlife and cultural activities, Wilmington, just 10 minutes away, is full of museums, boutique shops, and a historic downtown.

Where to stay: In January, outdoor-focused hotel brand opened , a reimagined beach resort set on 3.5 acres of oceanfront property. As one of few hotels on the East Coast with both beach and sound access, every room has a water view.

The Erie Canal, New York

Why now: This year marks the of the waterway that transformed the Eastern Seaboard, and yet few people even know where the canal is located. As it happens, it courses through 365 miles of amazing New York scenery鈥攔olling hills, winding river valleys, lush farmland, and historic towns鈥攆rom Lake Erie in the West to the Hudson River in the East. To commemorate the bicentennial, the state is holding a series of , many of which include recreational opportunities.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: The is full of outdoor adventures, including the , 450 miles of canals and interconnected lakes and rivers with more than 140 access points. There鈥檚 also an equally amazing bike path along the canal, the , with 360 miles of mostly pathway riding. For cyclists, it doesn鈥檛 get much better, or quainter, than this ride, with sections through the Finger Lakes region and Mohawk Valley.

Pro tip: One of the most unique experiences to be had on the water is kayaking through the Waterford Flight, a series of five locks that lift vessels from the Hudson River to the Mohawk River, bypassing Cohoes Falls, with a total gain of 169 feet in just over 1.5 miles.

Where to stay: The NYS Canal Corporation offers along the canal for hikers, bikers, and paddlers during the summer (fees vary on location). For access points and campsites, the state offers an excellent .

Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

Why now: This year, Voyageurs park, 218,000 acres of pristine lakes and North Woods forests, is celebrating its 聽 聽As part of the celebration, it鈥檚, where you can learn about the park鈥檚 landscapes and history. It鈥檚 also where you can pick up your permits when venturing into the park鈥檚 interior, which is exactly what you should do.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: The park is a patchwork of land, water, and wetlands, and paddling is a mandatory experience, as is camping. At night, the stars come out, and the occasional auroras. As a designated International Dark Sky Park, there is no light pollution to diminish the view. Voyageurs is famed for its campsites, and it has (and over 270 total) located shoreside. They all require a watercraft to get to, and they鈥檙e all great for experiencing the Milky Way.

Pro tip: One of the more unique experiences you can have in the park is sleeping on a . With the boat as your base camp, you can motor to remote coves and then use kayaks or a canoe to fish for walleyes and explore the area by manual, then return to an actual bed come nightfall.

Where to stay: There are various houseboat rental companies , but 360-square-mile Rainey Lake, on the border with Canada, is usually the best bet for a true wilderness experience while on a houseboat.

Sonoma County, California

Why now: California鈥檚 Sonoma County, roughly an hour north of San Francisco, gets plenty of attention for its wineries but [[it]] often gets overlooked for its commitment to adventure. Case in point: This year is helping expand by that will help connect all of its protected land from the Russian River to the Pacific Ocean. In the future, the new land acquisition will feature hiking and mountain biking trails through ancient redwood forests. In the meantime, Sonoma still has plenty of hiking opportunities鈥� across the county鈥檚 park system.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Sonoma County has it all鈥攈iking in the redwood forests, paddling and tubing down the Russian River, even SUPing along the coast on Bodega Bay. It鈥檚 also become one of the best destinations in the state for road cycling, and one of the area鈥檚 more popular rides is a around Healdsburg, with rolling roads that go past many of the area鈥檚 wineries.

Pro tip: The town of Healdsburg has dozens of hotels, most of which cater to Bay Area folk coming up for wine tastings. Instead, book in Guerneville, a rustic hamlet on the shores of the Russian River surrounded by towering redwood trees.

Where to stay: , a glamping resort set in a redwood grove, opened this Memorial Day. It’s a welcoming mashup between a national park campground and a private Soho House-style members club (from $315).

Denver, Colorado

Why now: The Mile High City has always been a great jumping off point for Rocky Mountain fun, but it continues to evolve as a world-class urban adventure hub in itself. This year, the city bolsters that reputation with the . The private golf course, which closed up shop in 2018, is the largest addition to Denver鈥檚 park system in more than a century. on how to best use the site overall, but this summer the city will restore portions of it with native plant species and walking trails, even a dog park, until it finalizes how to reimagine the site overall.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Denver delivers more than 850 miles of paved, off-street biking and walking trails, including the slopestyle MTB course, dirt jumps, and pump tracks at . For paddlers, , at the intersection of Cherry Creek and the South Platte, is just minutes from downtown and has man-made kayak chutes for playboating.

Pro tip: Denver鈥檚 River North Arts District (RiNo) has transformed itself over the last decade into a world-class creative hub. It also offers easy access to the city鈥檚 many outdoor adventures, including walking access to the 32-mile long . Book here if you鈥檙e staying in town.

Where to stay: , a combination boutique hotel, artisan market hall, and creative hub, is a good base camp in RiNo, with sparse but comfortable rooms, and even a free beer at check-in (from $224 per night).

Nantucket, Massachusetts

Why now: This island, 26 miles off Cape Cod, is known more for its popped-collar crowd than its outdoor adventures, but it鈥檚 full of outdoor fun come summer鈥攆rom paddling in Nantucket Harbor to sailing on the open Atlantic. Until the last few years, the island鈥檚 hotels were fairly, well鈥tale. Not anymore. The historic underwent a massive refresh recently (from $645), as did the , which offer complimentary access to bicycles, fishing rods for kids, and shuttles to the beach (from $570 per night). So now there鈥檚 great adventures and great places to stay.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: One of the best ways to experience Nantucket’s rugged side is by hiking in the , over 1,100 acres of beach dunes covered with bayberry bushes, heather, and beach grass. There are 16 miles of over-sand vehicle routes, but walking on the eastern beaches offers an easy way to get a taste of the island鈥檚 remoteness.

Pro tip: The island鈥檚 windswept beaches and sharp points make landing a trophy striped bass, bluefish, or false albacore a real possibility. Many people even fly-fish for them from shore. Great Point, in the shadow of the , is one of the most popular areas for surfcasting. Book a guide at .

Where to stay: The 65-year-old , which reopened in May after a multi-year renovation from a down-and-out motel into a retro-chic hotel, has聽91 hotel rooms, a courtyard pool, and a new lobby, bar, and restaurant.

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Why now: Glacier Bay National Park, with its 3.3 million acres of mountains, glaciers, rainforest, and fjords, is celebrating 聽its centennial this year. Established as a , the park is as wild as it gets, with opportunities to witness calving glaciers, paddle in the same waters as puffins and whales, and hike through old-growth forests dripping with lichen and moss.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Getting on the water is essential if you want to experience the park鈥檚 true majesty鈥攚hether it鈥檚 a boat tour, kayaking in the fjords, river-rafting, or fishing in the bay.

Pro tip: The park鈥檚 glaciers, over 1,000 of them, are worth seeing up close, and the best way to do that is with a in the backcountry. Of course, if you want to stretch your legs on land, the relaxed are worthwhile.

Where to stay: Not many people stay overnight in the park, as most are visiting on cruise ships. But if you want to crash for a night or two inside Glacier Bay鈥檚 boundaries, the best option is the historic , in Bartlett Cove (from $274). The rooms are basic, but you鈥檙e right in the park itself, so you can explore on foot, plus the lodge offers a daily boat tour on its highspeed catamaran.

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Why now: In April, Chattanooga was named North America’s first National Park City for its commitment to integrating nature and urban life. The recognition was the final cherry on top of a long, dramatic transformation for a city that was one of the most polluted in the U.S.in the 1970s. Today, it鈥檚 a top outdoor destination.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Chattanooga, population 185,000, sits in the foothills of the Southern Appalachians, so outdoor adventures are never far. There鈥檚 kayaking and SUPing on the Tennessee River, which winds through downtown, and 100 miles of singletrack within 20 miles of town. This includes 92-acre , a wooded wilderness inside city limits with 6 miles of flowy singletrack. The area has also become a hotbed of rock climbing, and the most popular crag for out-of-towners is , a bouldering area 20 miles north of downtown with 400 problems on high quality sandstone.

Pro tip: 聽For traditional climbers, the in is widely considered one of the best climbing areas in the country.

Where to Stay: For those looking for a little comfort and access to Chattanooga鈥檚 cultural side, the (from $165) is an unpretentious but upscale hotel located in the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo district. The hotel even has renovated Pullman train carriages from the early 20th century that you can book for an overnight stay.

Maui, Hawaii

Why now: Since wildfires ravaged the island in the summer of 2023, Maui has labored mightily to recover. There is still much work to be done, but increasingly the island needs tourists to help it return to a sense of normalcy. The has gone so far as to say that 鈥渢he best way to support Maui is through travel.鈥�

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Hawaii may not be a top-of-mind destination come summer, but the temperatures are nearly perfect, ranging from the mid-70s to upper-80s. The rains have ceased, and the ocean is calmer, making way for more snorkeling and paddling opportunities. Hiking in Haleakal膩 National Park is still great. And all the amazing farm-to-table restaurants, empty stretches of sand, and vibrant towns鈥攍ike Wailuku, P膩驶ia, and Makawao, welcome fewer guests than in the high season.

Pro tip: To help encourage tourists to come back and visit meaningfully, the Hawai鈥檌 Tourism Authority created the , where people signing up for a dedicated volunteer opportunity can qualify for special discounts at participating hotels. A list of opportunities is available .

Where to stay: For a heavier dose of adrenaline, look toward the eastern, windward side of the island. It鈥檚 a remote, rugged, and lush landscape that鈥檚 full of waterfalls and vivid green hues. Hana is the main town on this side of the island, and one of the better upscale lodging options is the , a historic inn recently upgraded into a full-service resort with an off-the-grid vibe (from $450).

Boise, Idaho

Why now: 滨诲补丑辞鈥檚 capital has long been considered one of the mountain West鈥檚 most accessible outdoors hubs. Now an influx of investment dollars, along with coastal transplants since the pandemic, has helped turn downtown into a thriving locus of cultural, gastronomic, and commercial energy. New hotels, shops, and restaurants have added dynamism to a city that could often feel one-note. It鈥檚 ripe for a long weekend trip.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: The parallels the river for 25 miles right through the heart of the city, offering tree-lined paths for walking and biking. At the , just downstream of downtown, three engineered waves create one of the West鈥檚 great urban whitewater playgrounds. And the river also makes for great flatwater SUP outings come summer.

Pro tip: The city鈥檚 Ridge to Rivers Tail System, a vast network of over 190 miles worth of interconnected hiking and biking trails in the Boise Foothills, is getting two new trails. The 2.9-mile Curlew Connection Trail was completed last fall and construction on the 2-mile Sideshow Trail, a downhill-specific mountain bike trail, began this spring.

Where to stay: (from $171) is one of the newest and best entrants on the scene, with 122 rooms, a rooftop lounge called The Highlander, and the Baraboo Supper Club, a chophouse-style restaurant that feels more like a neighborhood joint.

Traverse City, Michigan

Why now: Traverse City, in northwest Michigan, is home to sandy beaches, award-winning vineyards, great restaurants, eight historic lighthouses, and . It鈥檚 also been on a bit of a development spree in the last few years, with a number of name brand hotels opening or breaking ground. The hotels鈥擣airfield by Marriott Inn & Suites, Hyatt House, etc.鈥攁re all standard fare, but together they demonstrate a bullish outlook investors have in the city鈥檚 year-round tourism potential.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Summer is the busiest time of year, and it鈥檚 hard to beat, with all of the classic Michigan adventures, like biking through wine country on the 17-mile . For water enthusiasts, there鈥檚 excellent sailing and paddling options on Lake Michigan, with plenty of rental kayaks along the waterfront.

Pro tip: One of the most popular trail networks in this area of the state is the , which is maintained for both summer and wintertime activities. The multi-use trail has a series of loops (3K, 5K, 10K, and 25K) that includes cross-country options through the hardwood forests for both serious mountain bikers and neophytes alike.

Where to stay: If you want to avoid the chain hotels, one of your best bets is , a 32-room boutique property set directly on the shores of the East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay (from $190). The rooms are simple but comfortable. Of course, the reason you鈥檙e staying here is not the room itself but the soft-sand beach below your balcony.

Ryan Krogh is a writer and editor based in Austin, Texas. He writes frequently about the outdoors and travel. This summer he has trips planned to Montana, Dominica, Costa Rica, and Paris, France. He also has plans to paddle on the Erie Canal in August, the only trip coinciding with this list of ideas, although he fully endorses all of these destinations based on previous adventures.聽聽

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Few venues let you admire the heavens like national parks鈥攑articularly during star parties. These events are exactly what they sound like: gatherings of dozens to thousands of night-sky enthusiasts, all focused on watching the cosmos.

National park star parties aren鈥檛 a new phenomenon, but they鈥檝e become particularly buzzed-about with the recent boom in astrotourism. Take Grand Canyon National Park. In 1991, the park partnered with the to host their first Grand Canyon Star Party. Now, the week-long summer celebration draws more than 1,000 nightly visitors for guided sky-watching, cultural storytelling, and astrophotography workshops. And it鈥檚 not the only park alluring travelers with astronomical awe.

National parks now host star parties across the country, with the bulk of events scheduled over the summer and early fall. That鈥檚 when the Milky Way is at its most dazzling; plus, warmer weather makes all-night fun more feasible.

Here are nine of the best national park star parties and astronomy festivals to bookmark for 2025, and a bonus nightscape celebration for early 2026.

Grand Canyon Star Party

June 21-28, 2025

There鈥檚 nothing like catching the cosmos above the Grand Canyon鈥檚 striated walls. Go all in on scenic stargazing with rangers, astronomers, and other guest experts at the this June. The event draws thousands of attendees with powerful telescopes, space presentations, Indigenous sky talks, and music designed to bring these vivid nightscapes to life. The festivities are spread across the North and South Rim visitor centers, and typically last until around 11 p.m. Attendance is free and open to the public, with park entrance starting at $35 per private vehicle.

Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival

June 26-28, 2025

See the hoodoos beneath the pinpricked heavens at the annual . This weekend-long event, which is free with park admission (starting at $35 per private vehicle), entertains visitors with astrophotography workshops, astronomical history sessions, expert-guided stargazing, and astronomy 101 talks. The final evening will bring a particularly spectacular show with Mars, the bright star Regulus, the crescent moon, and Mercury aligning in the western sky just after sunset. The Bryce Canyon National Park visitor center is the fest鈥檚 central gathering point, equipped with a telescope that鈥檚 available to the public from 10 p.m. to midnight both nights.

Badlands AstroFest

July 18-20, 2025

Stargazing among South Dakota鈥檚 striped buttes feels like sky-watching from outer space鈥攁nd a stop at the annual July only elevates the wonder. This three-day event, which takes place at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, offers planetarium activations, solar telescopes (watch for sunspots鈥攚here Earth鈥檚 dazzling aurora shows originate), and guided stargazing beneath Badlands National Park鈥檚 vast skies. Numerous speakers help illuminate both the myths and science of the celestial world. Better yet: It鈥檚 a free event; you鈥檒l just have to paypark entrance (from $30 per private vehicle).

Logan Pass Star Parties at Glacier National Park

July 25 and August 22, 2025

The Big Sky Astronomy Club hosts during the new moon at Glacier National Park each year. This summer鈥檚 events will lure astronomy enthusiasts to scenic Logan Pass, the highest point you can drive to in the park. The activities鈥攆rom watching distant galaxies and neighboring planets via telescopes (don鈥檛 miss Mars just above the western horizon) to dark-sky stargazing鈥攂egin at 10 p.m., but participants must arrive at the Logan Pass parking lot by 9:30 p.m. Tickets (from $5) are required and available the day before each star party in the ; park entrance starts at $35 per private vehicle.

Dakota Nights Astronomy Festival

August 22-23, 2025

Watch the stars swim above a sea of multi-hued rock and prairie grasses at Theodore Roosevelt National Park with the . This year鈥檚 event, scheduled for late August, will include expert astronomy speakers, guided sky-watching via telescopes and laser pointers (keep watch for Saturn on the eastern horizon after sunset), and night-sky storytelling, as well as hands-on activities like astro-inspired arts and crafts. It鈥檚 free to partake, although park entrance (starting at $30 per private vehicle) is required.

Voyageurs National Park Star Party

August 29-30, 2025

Close out the summer with waterfront sky-watching at the , which runs the Friday and Saturday of Labor Day weekend. The event, hosted by Voyageurs Conservancy and several other local partners, helps visitors appreciate this DarkSky Park鈥檚 pristine nightscapes. Not only is Voyageurs famous for its countless stars, but it鈥檚 also among the country鈥檚 best national parks for chasing the aurora. This star party welcomes park-goers with telescopes, laser-pointer constellation viewing, and storytelling about this wetlands ecosystem. Details remain to-be-determined for this year鈥檚 event, but most experiences are free. (Entrance to Voyageurs National Park is also free, although for camping, houseboats, and select tours.)

Can鈥檛 make it to the summer show? Bookmark another Voyageurs sky-appreciation event鈥斺�攆or winter astro adventuring come February.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon Dark Sky Festival

September 12-14, 2025

This September, scenic viewpoints and visitor centers across Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks will welcome stargazers with telescopes, eye-popping sky viewing, and star-themed activities. The festival is free (with park admission, starting at $35 per private vehicle) and is often lauded for its fun, beginner-friendly approach to astronomy. Visitors enjoy space-movie screenings, astro-inspired arts and crafts sessions, and immersive stargazing led by local experts. Session specifics for are still being finalized, but get ready for planet watching. This year鈥檚 dates are especially ideal for spotting Saturn; the ringed planet will rise in the southeast sky after sunset with Uranus, visible only by telescope, following behind it

Great Basin Astronomy Festival

September 18-20, 2025

See Saturn, the Pleiades star cluster, the Andromeda galaxy, and countless other interstellar bodies above Nevada鈥檚 aspen forests and sagebrush-scented foothills . The annual event is free, although reservations are required for several events, including telescope sessions. The astronomy get-together includes guest speakers from NASA, tours of the Great Basin Observatory, guided stargazing, and an 鈥渁rt in the dark鈥� night experience. It鈥檚 best to arrive early, because the event is first-come, first-served and reaches capacity once the Lehman Caves and Great Basin Visitor Center parking lots fill.

Joshua Tree Night Sky Festival

October 24-25, 2025

Each year, the Sky鈥檚 the Limit Nature Center and Observatory, located right outside Joshua Tree National Park鈥檚 North Station entrance, hosts a . The festival offers dark-sky stargazing and telescopes to spy on nearby Betelgeuse and Saturn鈥檚 rings, all with the stark desertscapes and dramatic silhouettes of Joshua Tree National Park as the backdrop. Tickets for this event, as well as fleshed-out event details, will be available this summer. Prices have not been announced, but tickets typically go on sale during early summer.

Death Valley Dark Sky Festival

Early 2026

The is another major NPS stargazing gathering鈥攁nd for good reason. Far from city lights, Death Valley鈥檚 night skies are some of the darkest in the U.S. And, since nighttime offers a respite from the park鈥檚 famous heat this is one of the best ways to experience the valley for the first time. The annual event, which typically takes place in late February or early March, features astronomy talks, astrophotography meetups, family-friendly sky-watching tours, and telescope viewing to spy on deep space. Dates for the 2026 event will be released in the fall of 2025; tickets are free, but park entrance is required (starting at $30 per private vehicle).

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Think the beach is just for lounging? Think again. I found seven gorgeous hikes that trace the coast, from quiet beach walks to heart-pounding cliff treks. Some of these trails are multi-day affairs, giving you the chance to disconnect for extended periods of time, while others are quick day hikes designed to get you away from the summer crowds. Pack the reef-safe sunscreen, but maybe leave that trashy beach read at home 鈥� it鈥檚 time to hit the coast.

Mountains to Sea Trail: Outer Banks, North Carolina

Distance: 82 miles聽

This is the dramatic finale of the 1,175-mile long Mountains to Sea Trail, which begins in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and ends at the Outer Banks, a string of barrier islands along the coast of North Carolina. Along the way, the trail hits the tallest mountains in the eastern U.S. and passes through rolling farms in the Piedmont, but the last 82 miles is predominantly a beach walk passing between tall, grass-covered dunes and the Atlantic Ocean.

This section of the starts in Ocracoke, which can only be reached by ferry, and does some island hopping through Cape Hatteras National Seashore. It鈥檚 a flat hike, although you鈥檒l have the chance to climb the 208-foot tall Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, and the final push ascends the 100-foot sand dunes of Jockey鈥檚 Ridge State Park. Beyond the coastal scenery, I like this hike because it oscillates between isolated beaches and vibrant towns, including the charming Ocracoke Village, which still retains its fishing hamlet charm. You鈥檒l also have the chance to surf, eat fresh seafood, and take flight (see below).

Best Campsite

Cape Hatteras National Seashore has four established campgrounds scattered throughout the islands. There are also plenty of hotels and cottages throughout the journey if you want to create your own inn to inn hike. But I like the tent sites at , which has a row of sites on each loop that are just inland of the dunes, so you鈥檙e blocked from the wind coming off the ocean but have easy walking access to the beach ($28/night).

What to Know Before You Go

You鈥檒l need to catch two to complete this route (from $5 per person), and while you鈥檒l spend most of your time on the beach, the MST moves away from the sand in a couple of spots, for a mix of singletrack and road walking.

Wildlife Watch

Legend has it that the 鈥淲ild Banker Ponies,鈥� a herd of that have been present in the Outer Banks since the first European settlers established homesites in the 1730s, are castaways from shipwrecks during the late 1600s. They used to roam free, but after the main highway was built in the 鈥�50s, the National Park Service moved them to a fenced-in pasture on Ocracoke to keep them safe from traffic.

Bring Your…Sense of 国产吃瓜黑料

A number of surf shops offer lessons and board rentals along this route, and Jockey鈥檚 Ridge State Park operates a where you can take flight from its tall dunes ($149 per person).

The Oregon Coast Trail, Oregon

Distance: Up to 425 miles

The (OCT) sounds too good to be true: More than 400 miles of hiking along the Pacific Northwest鈥檚 coastal headlands, bouncing between isolated beaches, cliff tops, dense rain forests and the occasional fishing village. It might be the perfect coastal long hike, and the only problem might be that you can鈥檛 get away for the month or more it takes to complete all of it end to end. Fortunately, you don鈥檛 have to thru hike the Oregon Coast Trail to enjoy its goods.

The OCT is broken into 10 sections of varying lengths, each of which can be knocked out in shorter multi-day stretches. What鈥檚 the best? Arguably , a 36 mile jaunt that begins at Oregon鈥檚 border with Washington, where the Columbia River divides the two states, then travels south through the beach of Fort Stevens State Park, where you鈥檒l see the historic Peter Iredale shipwreck before climbing to the top of Tillamook Head, a cliff that stands 1,200 feet above the Pacific. Hikers will also see the iconic Haystack Rock, a seastack rising from the surf, and get to hit the beach town of Cannon Beach before finishing the hike in Oswald West State Park.

Best Campsite

It鈥檚 hard to beat the three Adirondack-style hiker shelters on Tillamook Head, each of which has four first come, first serve bunks. You can pitch a tent in the area if the bunks are full. A short walk from the shelters to the edge of the cliff gives you a view of the Tillamook Lighthouse, which sits on a rock a mile offshore.

What to Know Before You Go

Some sections of beach, especially near the southern end of this section in Ecola State Park, can only be crossed at low tide, so check NOAA鈥檚 before starting your hike.聽 Also, if you try your hike in the spring, rivers might be too high from snow melt to ford.

Wildlife Watch

Keep an eye out for gray whales, which are headed north to Alaska along the coast during spring (from March to June).

Bring Your…Appetite

The fish doesn鈥檛 get any fresher than what you鈥檒l find in the coastal towns like Cannon Beach and Seaside, both of which have long-standing fishing traditions where boats provide restaurants with catch taken from the sea daily. is known for using line and hook methods (no nets) to catch the fish they sell. Fish and chips, with halibut or cod, depending what鈥檚 in season, are a staple.

Loop Trail, Santa Rosa Island: Channel Islands National Park, California

Distance: 7.5 miles

The Channel Islands, off the coast of Southern California, offer one of the most unique hiking experiences in the country. Five of the eight islands are protected as a national park and essentially offer a glimpse of what Southern California was like before development took over. I had the chance to visit the park on an expedition cruise, and Santa Rosa Island was the highlight thanks to its tall cliffs, endemic species, and hiking trails that are full of eye candy.

I like the 7.5-mile Loop Trail, which starts at the pier in Becher鈥檚 Bay, passes through a historic ranch with expansive grasslands, and climbs up to a grove of Torrey Pines overlooking the Pacific. From there, the hike drops back down to the edge of the cliffs above the ocean. On your way back to the pier, you can either hike a mix of the coastal road and singletrack that hugs the edge of the cliff, or drop down to the Water Canyon Beach and hike the two-mile long stretch of white sand back to the pier.

Best View

There鈥檚 no bad view along this hike, but the perspective from the grove of Torrey Pines gives you a broad field of vision that takes in the grasslands, cliffs, and Pacific that stretches on for eternity.

What to Know Before You Go

You鈥檒l need a boat to reach Santa Rosa, or you can hop a ride from , which runs a ferry from Ventura and drops off hikers, backpackers, and kayakers at the pier in Bechers Bay. There are three day trips to Santa Rosa a week (Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday/$95 per adult) or you could spend three days/two nights on Santa Rosa, and grab one of the 15 sites at the island鈥檚 small ($15 a night). Some of the beaches are open seasonally to primitive camping (check the national park鈥檚 website for the current closures when you鈥檙e planning your trip).

Wildlife Watch

The Channel Islands are considered the 鈥淕alapagos of North America鈥� because the islands evolved in isolation and have 23 . I saw a bunch of cool animals during my time on the islands, but the native fox was the cutest; at roughly the size of a house cat, it鈥檚 one of the smallest species of fox in the world. I was fortunate enough to see one in the shade of the Torrey Pines during my hike.

Bring Your鈥ove of History

The native Chumash thrived on Santa Cruz for 10,000 years, developing a society that was based on trade and a shell bead currency. Cultural sites can be found throughout the island, but you鈥檒l also find some native plants that the Chumash depended on, like the delicious lemonade berry, which tastes like鈥emonade.

Chapel Loop: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan聽

Distance: 10.5 miles

Think there鈥檚 no coast in the middle of the country? Think again. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore protects some of the wildest coastline in America, with miles of sandstone cliffs dropping to the water, isolated beaches, sand dunes, even waterfalls. It just happens that the coast we鈥檙e talking about is on Lake Superior. There are a lot of short hikes in the national lakeshore that lead to scenic views of the lake. The best of these has to be the 2-mile round trip from Miners Castle to Miners Beach, a mile long, narrow stretch of sand flanked by green, pine forest and cliffs.

For a bigger adventure, hike the 10.5-mile , which takes in the area鈥檚 history and scenic glory, as it passes multiple waterfalls tucked into the pine forest before tracing the edge of the cliff above Lake Superior where you鈥檒l cruise by the iconic outcroppings of Indian Head and Chapel Rock. Hikers will also have the chance to lounge and swim from two beaches, Mosquito Beach, which is flanked by sandstone cliffs, and Chapel Beach, which sits at the mouth of Chapel River with a view of Chapel Rock, a sandstone arch with a solitary pine tree perched on its expanse.

Best View

Lover鈥檚 Leap is a broad sandstone arch that stretches from the band of cliffs out into Lake Superior鈥檚 clear waters north of Mosquito Beach. You can see the arch from various points along the trail between Mosquito Beach and Miners Castle.

What to Know Before You Go

During the summer, the Chapel Loop parking lot fills quickly (often before 9 A.M.). Multiple trails leave from the parking lot, so hikers spread out throughout the park, but you鈥檒l need to be an early riser to get a space.

Wildlife Watch

The diversity of species in Pictured Rocks is impressive, ranging from the occasional moose to the gray wolf and bald eagle. Keep an eye out for the , a small, white shorebird that鈥檚 listed as endangered but is known to live within the national lakeshore. You鈥檒l likely see them hunting for food along the beaches.

Bring Your鈥ayak

The hiking in Pictured Rocks is great, but kayaking along the shoreline offers the best views of the sandstone arches and waterfalls that tumble into the water. Don鈥檛 have your own boat? offers tours where they launch from a larger boat offshore to cut down on the miles you need to paddle (from $99 per person).

Lost Coast Trail: Kings Range National Conservation Area, California聽

Distance: 25 miles

You can鈥檛 write about coastal hikes and not include this Northern California gem, which traverses 25 miles of cliffs, waterfalls, and black sand beaches through the managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Lost Coast earned its name because the wilderness area was too rugged for highway construction (elevations reach 4,000 feet just three miles from the ocean), so a 35-mile stretch of coast between the small towns of Shelter Cove and Petrolia, California was lost to development.

It has since become a hotspot for backpackers looking for secluded beaches and grand views. It鈥檚 become so popular the BLM has had to limit visitation; a caps use to 60 hikers per day between May 15 and September 15 and costs $6 per night as well as an additional $12 鈥渟pecial area fee鈥� per hiker. You can get permits three months in advance on a rolling basis. But if you score a permit, you鈥檒l have two to four days of mostly beach hiking with 100-foot-tall bluffs on one side and iconic California waves on the other. Beach camping, the occasional waterfall, and the chance to climb Punta Gorda Lighthouse, round out the highlights.

Best Campsite

There are no designated campgrounds, but the various creeks that meet the beach make popular campsites that will have reliable water. The Sea Lion Gulch site, at mile 4.5, sits on the edge of the bluff, offering big views of the beach below and Pacific beyond, but you鈥檒l likely deal with windy conditions. Big Creek, at mile 9.5, is the most popular campsite with sites at the mouth of a broad creek that travels through a narrow, fir-covered gorge before meeting the beach. You can choose from beach sites or forested sites away from the wind.

What to Know Before You Go

High tides create impassable zones on three sections the Lost Coast Trail, where the water swallows the thin beach until it retreats. Plan your hike according to the and time your trek across these beaches as the tide is retreating to give yourself the biggest window.

Wildlife Watch

are huge, weighing up to 8,000 pounds, and were once in danger of becoming extinct, but they鈥檝e found safe breeding ground on the isolated beaches of California鈥檚 Lost Coast. You鈥檒l see them throughout this journey, including a large colony that can often be found lounging in the sun near the Punta Gorda Lighthouse. During the summer, these animals come ashore to shed their outer layer of skin.

Bring Your鈥elephoto Lens

Your chance for cool wildlife photography is off the charts on the Lost Coast Trail, from deer grazing the grasslands to black bear and the aforementioned elephant seals. Bring a telephoto lens and keep your distance while you snap away.

Wilderness Trail and Beach: St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, Florida聽

Distance: Up to 12 miles

(that鈥檚 a mouthful!) protects 20 miles of Cape San Blas, a primitive peninsula that divides St. Joseph Bay from the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of mainland Florida. Head to the northern tip of the cape, which is protected as wilderness, and you鈥檒l get legitimate deserted island vibes, as the wilderness area has been undeveloped, giving you a sense of what Florida was like before the condos and theme parks. The six-mile passes through the center of the cape between gnarly pines and oaks, with optional trails to the Gulf side of the peninsula giving you the opportunity to create a loop hike (or out and back) of your choice where half of your mileage will be on sugary white sandy beach.

A beach access trail begins at the parking lot and another can be found three miles up the beach, making for an ideal six-mile loop. Tall dunes topped with sprouting sea grass line the interior of the beach throughout the hike, and the sand is so fine and powdery that it will squeak beneath your feet as you walk. Hurricane Michael split the peninsula in half in 2018, and damaged much of the park鈥檚 infrastructure, but the divide has been filled in and the wilderness area of the park has proved to be resilient, bouncing back to its former glory in the several years since the hurricane. Bring your bathing suit and beach supplies; there are no services in the wilderness area, and the Gulf water is warm and ripe for swimming and snorkeling.

Best Campsite

You can treat this hike as a day-long excursion, but the has 14 primitive campsites tucked into the dunes and palms. Site #14 sits at the end of the Wilderness Trail, on the water, in the shade of a handful of palm trees ($5 per night, per person).

What to Know Before You Go

You need a permit to explore the Wilderness area. You can pick one up at the state park鈥檚 ranger station on the day of your journey. Be sure to be back at your car and exiting the area an hour before sunset, a rule that helps protect the various nesting animals on the cape.

Wildlife Watch

My family and I camped at this state park for spring break one year, and we spent most of our nights battling a feisty raccoon who had plans for our cooler. But the park is brimming with more fun wildlife, including the snowy plover, an endangered migratory shore bird that nests on the peninsula.

Bring Your鈥addleboard

The state park has several kayak launches, giving you the chance to paddle the calm and clear waters of St. Joseph Bay or the Gulf of Mexico.

Gorham Mountain Loop: Acadia National Park, Maine聽

Distance: 3.5 miles聽

This captures some of the best terrain in Acadia National Park, allowing hikers to scramble up and over cliffs, hit a summit with long range views, and drop down to the edge of the Atlantic. The best part? Unlike summiting Cadillac Mountain, you don鈥檛 need to score a permit to hike Gorham Mountain. There鈥檚 a good mix of terrain too, from dense spruce and pine forest to cliffs and beaches. Be sure to tack on the .3-mile Cadillac Cliff side trail and you鈥檒l climb ladders and iron rungs up and over cliffs that were formed when sea levels were much higher than they are today.

From there, climb to the summit of the 525-foot Gorham Mountain, where you鈥檒l have a view of Cadillac Mountain on one side and the Atlantic on the other, before dropping down to the ocean, passing a freshwater pond along the way. Once you hit the coast, you can take a dip at Sand Beach before continuing on Ocean Path to the iconic Thunder Hole, a sea cave that catches waves from large swells creating a thunderous boom, before returning to the Gorham Mountain trailhead.

Best View

There are iconic Maine coastal views throughout much of this hike, but it鈥檚 hard to beat the all-encompassing view from the summit of Gorham Mountain, where you can see the rugged coastline below, including Sand Beach, and the Porcupine Islands rising from Frenchman Bay.

What to Know Before You Go

While you don鈥檛 need a permit to hike Gorham Mountain, the parking lot fills quickly, often by 9 A.M. on weekends, so start your hike early if you can. Or consider taking the park鈥檚 free shuttle, the , which you can pick up at various points throughout the park and neighboring communities.

Wildlife Watch

Acadia National Park is one of the best birding locations on the east coast, with more than 300 species identified inside the park. One of the most exciting species is the , which has rebounded from the edge of extinction and has been documented breeding and nesting on various cliffs inside Acacia. In the summer, you can see fledglings learning to fly near Cadillac Mountain.

Bring Your鈥athing Suit

Sand Beach, which is comprised of crushed shells, is the largest beach inside the park and a popular spot for swimming. Brace yourself for a cold plunge though, as water temps rarely hit the 60s, even in summer.

Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 national parks columnist. He likes any hike that ends at the beach. He recently wrote about the best small adventure towns in the U.S. and quiet destinations where you can escape the noise of modern life.

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