The Mountain State, Almost Heaven, Wild and Wonderful, West Virginia has a few different reputations, all of which hint at the goods sandwiched inside this small state鈥檚 borders. And the state of adventure in West Virginia just seems to keep getting better with the addition of new public lands and fresh trail systems.

I recently spent three days driving through the mountains of West Virginia, combining the state鈥檚 newest adventures with some of its classics for the perfect summer road trip full of cold lakes, fast bike descents, waterfalls, and towering peaks that rise above the heat. The best part? This itinerary is short on miles, so you can spend less time in your car and more time on the trail and in the water. That鈥檚 the beauty of West Virginia; it packs a big punch in a limited footprint, with a lifetime of rugged terrain to explore in one of the smallest states in the country.

Follow my route for a weekend trip designed for summer fun鈥攅specially for those who want to be on their bike more than in the car.

Road Trip Odometer聽

Total Miles: 100
Duration: Three days
Highlights: Brand new singletrack, multiple lakes, lift-served bike park

Day One: Lake Day in Summerville State Park

New River Gorge National Park is the obvious draw to West Virginia these days (and I love it) but the first leg of this trip is focused just north of that impressive chasm on Summerville Lake, a 2,700-acre reservoir that has Caribbean-blue water and gray sandstone cliffs rising from its shores. It also sports a brand new state park, , that makes for the perfect basecamp for exploring the water and the surrounding trail systems.

The park opened this May and was created in part to protect a massive climbing crag with more than 200 established routes, most of which are bolted for sport climbing. There are also plenty of single pitch top rope options and boulders as well. The short Climbers Trail is worth exploring, even if you don鈥檛 wanna send any rock. It聽passes through a thick rhododendron forest before dropping into a boulder field with a small waterfall and delivers you to the base of a tall sandstone cliff on the edge of the lake. It鈥檚 a quiet cove, surrounded by cliffs that makes for a good place to swim.

Climbers should definitely bring their gear, though. Fall is prime climbing season in this area, but I found some cool shaded routes at this crag that you could climb during the summer, and spent some time working my way through a few easy boulder problems near the edge of the water. If聽you get too hot, you can always jump in the lake.

But the water is the real pull here, so grab your paddle board or kayak and head to Summersville Lake Wildlife Management Area鈥檚 Salmon Run Put In ($5 day use fee), just a mile up the road from the state park. has rentals if you don鈥檛 have your own boat (from $50). From Salmon Run, you can launch your boat and paddle a half-mile long protected cove with a no wake zone that has several small inlets with rock outcroppings that offer great places to swim. I found a bunch of different places to park and lounge without losing sight of the boat launch. If聽you鈥檙e looking for a bigger adventure, paddle a mile up the lake, hugging the line of cliffs on your left, until you reach Pirate鈥檚 Cove, a large sandstone alcove where a waterfall drops directly into the edge of the lake.

If you’d like to burn more calories, the makes for a fun, rolling run through a hardwood forest that delivers you to a quiet portion of the lake after two miles. On my run I saw wild blackberries and a handful of deer.

Where to Stay: Eventually, Summersville Lake State Park will have cabins and tree houses, but right now the park offers a mix of open RV sites and more secluded tent sites. The Overlook RV campground has plenty of amenities, even a coin-operated laundry room, and full hookups (from $82 a night), but I recommend grabbing a , which are tucked into a shaded grove and will give you immediate access to the Climber鈥檚 Trail (from $42 a night).

Where to Eat: The town of Summersville is sleepy, but I like downtown, which is a local hotspot with good wings and burgers. has really creative lattes and solid organic coffee. If you鈥檙e looking for more options, the lake is just 20 minutes north of Fayetteville, a bustling adventure town on the edge of New River Gorge.

Day Two: Backcountry Biking on Monday Lick Trails

Leave the lake and drive across the Gauley River through a quiet section of Monongahela National Forest. You鈥檙e heading to Marlinton and the brand new , but you should make time for a couple of detours. The 42-acre Summit Lake is tucked into the mountains and makes for a secluded paddle or spot to fish for bass. Or if you鈥檙e looking to stretch your legs, hike this聽short trail through the where a boardwalk traverses a high elevation wetland that supports wild cranberries. The surrounding forest has a Jurassic vibe to it with lush ferns, mosses and huge elephant ears sprouting from the wet earth below.

Just make sure you have enough energy for the 30 miles of purpose-built trails at Monday Lick, a trail system designed for mountain bikers on the edge of downtown Marlinton. It鈥檚 backcountry flow at its finest, with half a dozen trails beginning on a ridge and dropping in sinuous fashion down to the edge of 聽Greenbrier River. A gated gravel road climbs to the top of the system, making it relatively painless to knock out laps here. As for what to ride, I really like Lens Ridge, which is a big descent with big, sweeping berms that lead into beautiful sections of rock armoring, dropping more than 1,200 feet in five miles of pure joy. Messier is more of a cross country effort, playing out like a 2-mile long pump track full of rollers and optional jumps. is the signature trail, and it鈥檚 more technical than the others, dropping 1,000 feet of elevation in just three miles of tight bench cut singletrack with plenty of root gardens and off-camber rocks.

You could spend an entire day wearing yourself out on this system like I did. If you鈥檙e more interested in a pleasure cruise, you can pick up the paved at the same trailhead, which runs for 77 miles along the river between the small towns of Cass and North Caldwell.

Where to Stay: Head 28 miles up the mountain to the , on the edge of Snowshoe Resort鈥檚 mountain-top village, which has well-appointed one-bedroom suites with plenty of room to stretch out and easy access to the bike lift (from $168 a night).

Where to Eat: Don鈥檛 leave Marlinton without getting a meal at , an old-school drive-thru that has awesome smash burgers and milkshakes. When you make it up to Snowshoe鈥檚 village, head to the for a good selection of local beers and hearty entrees.

Day Three: Downhill Day at Snowshoe Mountain

is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It鈥檚聽crazy to think I鈥檝e been skiing this mountain for almost half of that existence. In the last several years, Snowshoe has become as much of a destination during the summer as it is in winter thanks to its ever-expanding downhill bike park (day from $45). This mountain now boasts one of the best in the east, hosting two UCI World Cup events in recent years. There are 40 trails to choose from, traversing a mountain that drops 1,500 feet in vertical from top to bottom. I鈥檓 not a huge downhill biker, but there鈥檚 something for every level of rider. On my most recent day on the hill, I saw groups of armor-clad dudes sending big jumps, and families cruising down mellow green trails. I found a happy medium in the middle, focusing on the bevy of intermediate trails that drop from the mountaintop village down to the edge of Shaver鈥檚 Lake.

If you want the most open terrain, show up on a weekend when lifts on both sides of the mountain (the Basin and Western Territory) are running. Western Territory has the hardest trails, but the Basin has more variety. I really like Dream Weaver, a double track blue trail with pumpy rollers and optional B lines if you want to get rad. On the Western Territory side, which has its own lift, check out Skyline that聽takes you deep into the evergreen forest away from the ski slopes.

The thing about lift-served mountain biking is it鈥檚 easy to convince yourself to do one more lap, but this is just a weekend trip. If uou鈥檙e like me, you have work tomorrow, so you save some energy for the drive home. Make聽sure you have enough time to take a swim in and maybe grab聽a cold beverage and burger at the Boat House, at the bottom of the lift, before heading back into the real world.

Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 national parks columnist, but he loves a good road trip most of all. He recently wrote about the art of survival and the best swimming holes in our national parks.

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Bikepacking might be the perfect adventure. Ride bikes, sleep outside. It鈥檚 like bike touring, only dirtier since you鈥檙e camping and carrying all your gear on your bike, as opposed to staying in lodges and relying on your credit card for sustenance. I鈥檝e been bikepacking for almost 20 years now, and continue to be entranced by its charm. Pedaling into the wilderness gives you a chance to experience more of the landscape than when you鈥檙e powered by foot. In some cases, you can get further away from civilization.

A few years ago, a bikepacking trip through Idaho became one of my favorite adventures. I linked together a handful of different backcountry hot springs while traversing some of the state鈥檚 most rugged singletrack, pedaling more than 70 miles. I wouldn鈥檛 have been able to cover half of that distance in that amount of time on foot.

Here are seven of the best bikepacking routes in America, some of which I鈥檝e pedaled myself, while a few others remain firmly affixed to the top of my to-do list.

1. Singletrack and Waterfalls, Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina聽

Distance: 64 miles
Duration: Two to three days
Highlights: Singletrack descents, backcountry streams

With roughly 300 miles of singletrack and twice that distance in gravel roads, in North Carolina allows you to create all kinds of loop options.聽I recommend starting your journey at The Hub, a bike shop and beer garden at the entrance of Pisgah National Forest on 276, so you can get any last minute provisions you might need before you leave and finish the adventure with a beer when you鈥檙e done. Also, you can incorporate some of the forest鈥檚 signature singletrack, waterfalls, and swimming holes.

Follow the route of the mountain-bike race and you鈥檒l hit a highlight reel of the area鈥檚 singletrack over 64 miles of trail and gravel. There are plenty of options to extend or shorten the route, too, but this is a solid introduction to what the mountains have to offer and 64 miles is the perfect two- to three-day adventure. Pisgah鈥檚 singletrack is technical and the climbs are steep, so don鈥檛 overestimate your ability in this forest. For instance, this route gains more than 10,000 feet of climbing. As a rule, I tell people to double the amount of time they think it will take them to pedal a mile in these mountains.

is about as flowy as Pisgah gets, with fast berms and plenty of rollers, while Black Mountain is a long, technical descent that draws cyclists聽from all over the country. Bring a fly rod and you can fish tight mountain streams, like North Mills River. There are good swimming holes on Bradley Creek, adjacent to Yellow Gap Road, too.

Where to camp: (from $35 a night) is a developed campground site along the river of the same name and is located near the start and finish of this route, but there are plenty of primitive, free campsites throughout the forest, especially on the gravel Yellow Gap Road, which helps form the backbone of this route.

2. Flint Hills Trail State Park, Kansas

Distance: 96 miles point to point
Duration: Overnight or more
Highlights: Tallgrass prairie and farmland

When it鈥檚 finished, the will run 118 miles off-road from Osawatomie to Herington, making it one of the longest rail trails in the country. The last 20 miles or so are still a work in progress, but bikepackers can zero in on the 96 miles that are open from Osawatomie to Council Grove, offering a crushed limestone path that gets you away from traffic while passing through the largest expanse of tall grass prairie still standing in the U.S. The trail is open to bikes, foot traffic,聽and equestrians, so you might share space with the occasional horse.

The route only gains 1,880 feet along its entire length, so you can cover a lot of miles quickly, but you could also take your time and explore the small towns and rivers along the way. In fact, you can treat this as a civilized version of bikepacking, pedaling from coffee shop to ice cream shop.

The terrain is mostly farmland and rolling hills, but you can expect to pedal across several bridges, cruise along the Marais Des Cygnes River, which has the occasional bluff to shake up the view, and even pass a cave that outlaw Jesse James supposedly used as a hideout. There are inns, bike shops, restaurants, and campgrounds as it cruises through ten聽small towns, making this one of the most beginner friendly bikepacking routes in the country.

Where to camp: is roughly in the middle of the trail, offering great camping and access to the 4,000-acre reservoir. There are more than 240 sites to choose from in half a dozen different loops. Try to score a primitive site in the Waucondah Primitive Campground near the marina ($21 per night).

3. Olympic 国产吃瓜黑料 Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington聽

Distance: 65-mile out and back
Duration: Overnight
Highlights: Old growth forests and Lake Crescent

Another ongoing recreation path, Washington state’s聽Olympic Discovery Trail will be a cyclist鈥檚 dream one day. When it鈥檚 finished, the rail-grade trail will run for 130 miles from Port Townsend to the coast along the northern flank of the Olympic Peninsula. It鈥檚 currently about half done but bikepackers can enjoy the fully completed , a 25-mile singletrack alternative to the main path between the Elwha River and Lake Crescent. Combine it with the 11-mile , and you have a scenic 66-mile out and back in and around Olympic National Park. The terrain could double as the Forest Moon of Endor, the home planet of the Ewoks in Star Wars, with giant old growth evergreens, moss-covered everything and fields of tall ferns covering the forest floor. The route also skims the northern shore of Lake Crescent, an 11-mile long lake surrounded by green peaks within Olympic National Park.

The route is a mix of paved rail trail (Spruce Railroad Trail) and buff single and double track (Olympic 国产吃瓜黑料 Trail), ideal for either a hard tail mountain bike or gravel bike with fat tires. I rode the Olympic 国产吃瓜黑料 Trail and some adjacent gravel and paved roads on a gravel bike while camping聽nearby, but it鈥檚 an ideal route for bikepacking with two developed campgrounds on the edge of Lake Crescent. If you hit it during the summer, you can even take a cool lake plunge; there鈥檚 a bridge over an inlet on Lake Crescent that makes for a cold, refreshing plunge that locals call the Devil鈥檚 Punchbowl.

Where to stay: is a National Park Service campground with 84 tent sites on the western edge of Lake Crescent ($24 a night). You鈥檒l need reservations between May 15 and September 15 (which can be tough to get) but it鈥檚 first come/first serve outside of that window.

4. Idaho Hot Springs Route, Boise National Forest, Idaho

Distance: 70-mile loop
Duration: 3-4 days
Highlights: Hot springs!

The 国产吃瓜黑料 Cycling Association is a nonprofit that develops safe, long-distance bicycling journeys all across the country. The majority of these routes are paved, but they have made a few exceptions such as . This 518.5-mile loop through central Idaho has access to over 50 hot springs, and has two path options鈥攐ne that traverses dirt roads and another that travels via lonely singletrack.

Several years ago, I rode a 70-mile loop that combined a piece of the main route and a singletrack option around the tiny towns of Featherville and Atlanta. It was a hard three to four days of riding, but each night ended with a soak in a backcountry pool of 100-plus degree water. You can recreate my adventure by combining the main route through Featherville with the , which passes through the historic and tiny mining outpost of Atlanta.

Much of the route follows the Middle Fork of the Boise River and Willow Creek, both of which are gorgeous backcountry streams. The terrain is tough, with long gravel road climbs and sinuous singletrack. Climbing to the top of Decker Creek Summit (8,800-foot tall) is a beast of an endeavor that involved a lot of hike-a-bike for me and my partners. But the 10-mile long downhill that followed is one of the longest and most enjoyable descents of my entire life. You鈥檒l also have the chance to soak in several hot springs along the way. My favorite? Chattanooga Hot Springs, near the mining outpost of Atlanta, features a piping hot waterfall tumbling over a tan cliff into a shallow pool at its base.

Don鈥檛 attempt pedaling this route without buying both the Main Route and Singletrack Option maps from 鈥攏ot only will you be supporting a worthy nonprofit, but the maps will give you the best beta available with information about the various hot springs, general stores and terrain challenges throughout the adventure.

Where to stay: You鈥檒l be choosing your own primitive campsites along this route, which travels within Boise National Forest. Choose a site with an established fire ring, and plan to pitch your tent along the rivers, which will give you the best chance of flat terrain.

5. Coconino Loop, Coconino National Forest, Arizona聽

Distance: 240 miles
Duration: Seven days
Highlights: Slick rock, canyons galore

The is 240 miles of singletrack and dirt roads through the canyons and peaks of Northern Arizona, combining some of the best trails and most spectacular terrain around Flagstaff and Sedona. It鈥檚 a difficult loop that hosts a bikepacking stage race that鈥檚 part of the burly , but serious mountain bikers should definitely put this route on their to-do list. Yes, you鈥檒l climb 28,000 feet during your journey, but half of the route is made up of some of Arizona鈥檚 best singletrack, from the fast, flowy descent on the Arizona Trail into Flagstaff to the grippy slick rock that surrounds Sedona.

Go-getters will knock out this massive loop in four days during the stage race, but it鈥檚 best suited for a week-long epic, which will also give you time to hang out in Flagstaff and Sedona. The terrain is tough and you鈥檙e tackling serious elevation in the desert, so slower is probably better. The hike-a-bike up Mingus Mountain, which climbs 4,000 feet in 10 miles, is legendary. Don鈥檛 do this ride in the summer, as it鈥檚 too damn hot. But fall is perfect, and be sure to have the capacity to carry enough water for each day on the trail, especially if you鈥檙e taking your time between the towns, as finding fresh water in the desert can be tough.

Where to stay: There鈥檚 primitive camping throughout the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests throughout much of this route, but you鈥檒l also have the chance to snag a hotel room or two, like the (from $100 a night), in the small town of Williams, which sits on Route 66.

6. The Maah Daah Hey Trail, North Dakota聽

Distance: 100 miles
Duration: Four days
Highlights: Badlands scenery, remote terrain

The badlands of North Dakota earned their name ages ago, first by the Native Americans who lived in the region, and then by the European explorers that stumbled upon the landscape of canyons and buttes after traveling across the benign midwestern plains. I understand the hyperbolic nomenclature; I wouldn鈥檛 want to settle here either after passing through acres of fertile grasslands. But we have mountain bikes now, and pedaling through the gorges and cliffs created by ages of erosion sounds like a blast. And that鈥檚 exactly what you鈥檒l get to do if you bikepack the 100-mile section of the 聽between the north and south units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

The mostly singletrack route drops into deep creek drainages and climbs to the top of a multitude of聽buttes with moments of respite that offer long-range grassland views and the occasional stand of aspens for shade. Bighorn sheep and elk have been reintroduced to the area, so keep your eye out for wildlife.

Logistically, the Maah Daah Hey is pretty straightfoward: Multiple trailheads and access points give you the chance to create a distance and duration that suits your schedule, and there are established campgrounds with drinking water and safe places to pitch a tent throughout. While there鈥檚 water and camping to be found throughout, you鈥檙e in the middle of a complex of public lands so don鈥檛 expect any gas stations or restaurants along this route. You鈥檒l need to bring all your gear and food with you. Offshoots of the trail allow you to create loops and check out nearby points of interest, like the Ice Caves, which are large overhangs in sandstone cliffs that have been known to hold ice into summer.

Go during the fall, which will make the stream crossings easier because of lower water. Or the summer when it鈥檚 warm enough that you鈥檒l look forward to the deeper stream crossings.

Where to stay: There are nine along the Maah Daah Hey Trail, spaced roughly about 25 miles apart. Magpie Campground ($10 per night, first come-first serve) has good shade and is close to the Ice Caves Trail, so you can ditch your bags and pedal without all the weight for that excursion. Regardless of which campground you choose, the night skies in this area are reported to be legendary.

7. Kokopelli Trail, BLM, Colorado and Utah聽

Distance: 145 miles
Duration: Three days or more
Highlights: Canyons and the Colorado River

It鈥檚 hard to say what is the ultimate O.G. bikepacking route, but the , which runs from Fruita, Colorado, to Moab, Utah, is definitely in the conversation. It鈥檚 a classic, old–school route that combines mostly dirt road with some spicy singletrack through a mix of sandstone canyons and dusty plateaus along the Colorado River. There are moments of brilliant singletrack, particularly at the beginning near Fruita where the trails are buff, and the end near Moab where big slickrock and singletrack descents are earned, but mostly you鈥檙e pedaling lonely dirt roads with grand views of the La Sal Mountains on the horizon and the Colorado River below. While I鈥檝e never ridden the Kokopelli from end to end, I鈥檝e ridden bikes in this area multiple times and I鈥檓 always blown away by the scenery.

This is remote backcountry, so you need to be totally self-sufficient. Bring plenty of water (a lot of cyclists聽will cache water along the route) and a filter in case you need to pull from the Colorado River. There鈥檚 no food either, so pack what you want to eat. Plan this ride for spring or fall to make the most of mild weather. It would be near suicidal to attempt this big of a ride in the summer.

Finishing an epic adventure in the town of Moab is always fun, especially when the crescendo of the adventure includes ripping down the , an 11-mile technical descent with聽drops and epic views into the Castle Valley. There鈥檚 no shame in walking pieces of this trail, especially with a loaded down bike.

Where to stay: The majority of the route passes through Bureau of Land Management terrain, so you鈥檒l have a mix of primitive, backcountry sites and established campgrounds throughout. , after you enter Utah, has half a dozen first-come-first-served sites on the Colorado River ($20 a night).

Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 national parks columnist. Bikepacking is hands down his favorite adventure and is constantly planning his next route. He recently wrote about the best swimming holes in our national parks.

The post 7 of the Best Bikepacking Trips Across the U.S. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Summer is here. In the southern Appalachian Mountains, that means triple-digit temperatures, humidity that does crazy things to my hair, and the constant search for cool swimming holes to battle the heat. It鈥檚 a season that demands a certain kind of footwear. Instead of a clunky, full-leather boot, I need summer hiking shoes that breathe like Wim Hof and can handle constant stream crossings and maybe even the occasional cold plunge into a deep, backcountry pool.

I鈥檝e been on a perpetual hunt for the perfect summer hiking shoe for the last decade, and this spring I committed to finding my match, testing several pairs of highly rated hikers designed for hot temperatures and intentionally leaving sandals out of my search. I spent the last month wearing these hiking shoes on backpacking trips, day hikes, waterfall hunts, and a few speed treks. Throughout the process, I found four contenders that rose above the rest, each designed for a specific situation and now on my regular rotation throughout the summer.

My 4 Favorite Summer Hiking Shoes

Best Overall Summer Hiker: Astral Nosobo聽

This is it. The Astral Nosobo. Hands down, it鈥檚 my favorite summer hiking shoe, and the shoe that I reach for on most occasions, whether I鈥檓 traipsing around town for coffee or heading into the mountains for an eight-mile suffer fest. Astral is known for making water-centric footwear, and is often the shoe of choice for kayakers and paddle boarders that are constantly in and out of the water. I鈥檝e worn several models over the last decade and love them for river-based adventures. I usually wouldn鈥檛 choose them as my hiking shoes though, as they lack the support and cushion I desperately need. But the Nosobo is a true hiking shoe (with a skate-shoe aesthetic) that just happens to be comfortable around the water.

Watch: Astral Nosobo Review

The Nosobo is built on a zero-drop platform, which I鈥檓 typically hesitant to wear because I need as much cushion as possible under my feet, but Astral鈥檚 take on zero drop isn鈥檛 about minimalism. They simply created a level footbed with 20mm of cushion under the entire foot. The result is a smooth, comfortable ride that doesn鈥檛 make me feel like I鈥檓 wearing heels, which is a downside of all of the max cushion running shoes I鈥檓 addicted to.

Beneath that cushion is Astral鈥檚 proprietary G.15 rubber outsole, which was designed to handle river rocks and is the grippiest sole I鈥檝e ever tested. The upper is made from 85 percent recycled nylon and is super breathable and quick to dry, even if you decide to take these shoes for a swim like I did. Astral adopted a wider toe box for the Nosobo, which I like, but they kept their signature locking heel and secure mid foot design. Put it all together and you have a really secure shoe that doesn鈥檛 slip regardless of the situation, but also a wide, stable platform in uneven terrain.

Astral offers replaceable footbeds for the Nosobo, so if you wear them for several months and notice some of the spring and cushion has dissipated, you can slip in a brand new midsole and enjoy that new-shoe bounce again. I haven鈥檛 reached that point yet after two months, but I like the idea of replacing the midsole as opposed to buying a new pair of shoes.

I鈥檝e worn the Nosobo on hikes, rafting trips, date nights, and even to do some deep water solo adventures at the . These shoes perform really well in a variety of situations, but they鈥檝e become my go-to footwear for the summer for one simple reason: They鈥檙e comfortable. The Nosobo is the kind of shoe that I forget to take off when I get home at the end of the day and put my feet up to watch a game. They鈥檙e so comfortable, I literally forget I鈥檓 wearing them, and that鈥檚 the highest compliment I can give a pair of shoes.

Best for Backpacking: Teva Grandview Max Vent聽

At first glance, the Grandview Max Vent looks like your standard bulky hiking boot, but this shoe was built for summer. Yes, the high-top style offers plenty of support for hikers carrying a heavy pack, and Teva鈥檚 Universal Heel Lock System doubles down on that support by keeping your foot in place even on steep terrain. But instead of a burly build, the Grandview Max Vent has a super breathable mesh upper that鈥檚 built on top of a plush, max-cushion midsole to provide bounce even when you hit double digit miles on the trail.

The mesh material means these shoes aren鈥檛 waterproof, but they do dry pretty quickly if they happen to get wet. I wore the Grandview Max Vent on an overnight backpacking trip and several longer day hikes in Pisgah National Forest, and was really impressed with the wide toe box and supple cushion underfoot, both of which combined for a very comfortable long-haul boot. I don鈥檛 typically love high-top hikers, but the mesh construction kept me from feeling claustrophobic in the summer heat. These boots are breezy and comfortable enough that they鈥檝e become my top choice for backpacking trips.

Best for Swimming Hole Hikes: Hoka Hopara聽

Hikes in the southern Appalachians are a wet affair because the mountains are full of rivers and streams, and the trails often cross these bodies of water. While I like the idea of a hiking sandal, I need the full protection of a shoe because there鈥檚 nothing worse than kicking a rock or root while wearing an open-toe shoe. The Hopara gives you the freedom of a sandal but the protection of a shoe with an upper that fully covers the toes but plenty of cutouts to help drain water. It鈥檚 not a revolutionary design, but it works when you鈥檙e in and out of water while covering longer miles.

They were comfortable out of the box, much like the brand鈥檚 running shoes, and I didn鈥檛 have any issues with hot spots while hiking without socks. Hoka gave the sandal its signature plush midsole as well as a super grippy outsole with aggressive lugs so it can handle the trail regardless of how technical the terrain becomes. I wore the Hopara on several hikes while hunting waterfalls and swimming holes, and I was impressed with how secure they felt thanks to the lace system that cinches down easily. Also cool: They didn鈥檛 weigh me down while swimming in rivers. The Hopara has been my go-to shoe for waterfall and swimming hole adventures so far this summer.

Best for Fast Hikes: Merrell Speed Arc Surge BOA聽

There鈥檚 no getting around that the Speed Arc Surge BOA is expensive. But Merrell loaded this shoe with all kinds of cutting edge tech, all designed to help you move fast on the trail. The most notable features are the midsole with a nylon plate sandwiched between two layers of foam designed to maximize energy return, and the two-point BOA fit system that allows you to dial in the fit (literally, there are dials) on the fly.

You might expect all of that foam underfoot to give you a soft, max cushion ride, but that鈥檚 not the case with the Speed Arc Surge BOA. Sure, it鈥檚 a comfortable shoe, but it鈥檚 more springy than plush, which is exactly what you want if you鈥檙e trying to cover a lot of miles fast. The BOA fit system works beautifully, giving you a secure fit that you can micro adjust without creating any hot spots.

But what I love most about this shoe is the sock-like upper, which slips on easily and molds snugly around the top of your foot. The best word I can use to describe the feeling is 鈥渃ozy.鈥� Fun fact: Merrell uses threads of Kevlar in that upper to maximize durability. But be warned: The Speed Arc Surge BOA does not have an understated design, so people will notice your kicks. Several other hikers commented on the look of my shoes as we passed along the trail during my testing period. My daughter says they look like 鈥渕oon boots.鈥� Fair enough.

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New to Backpacking? This Pack is Preloaded with All the Gear You Need.

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Think our national park units are only good for hiking and scenic drives? Think again. The array of protected landscapes throughout the national park system house some of the most pristine, jaw-dropping gorgeous swimming holes in the entire country. Think waterfalls with deep plunge pools and ice-cold backcountry lakes.

I’d be remiss to not include a note about safety. Like all of the adventures we cover at 国产吃瓜黑料, swimming in the wild comes with some inherent risks. Currents can be swift, obstacles can be hidden under the surface of the water, and there could be parasites or in that inviting blue pool. Test the waters before you jump from any height by swimming through the landing zone first, feeling for rocks. Scout the eddies where you can safely swim to if there鈥檚 a current, and try to keep your mouth closed when plunging under water to keep any water-born creatures out. If you have an open wound, just hang out on the shore and enjoy the sun鈥攃uts are an invitation to infection.

This summer, consider packing your bathing suit on your next national park trip. Here are nine of the best swimming holes in our national park system.

1. Muir Rock, Kings Canyon National Park, California聽

The Park: Kings Canyon doesn鈥檛 have the recognition of other, more famous units in our park system, but it has the terrain to go toe-to-toe with any national park in the country. Think towering granite cliffs and peaks, massive old growth forests, and one of the deepest canyons in the U.S. Kings Canyon is more than 8,000 feet deep at one point, and rock walls typically rise 4,000 feet above the valley floor inside the park.

The Swimming Hole: is a large, granite boulder hanging over the Kings River in the belly of the park鈥檚 canyon. It鈥檚 a long-standing tradition to jump from the rock into the deep pool of emerald green water below. It鈥檚 only a 15-foot drop, so I鈥檇 put this in the family-friendly category of leaps. The water is cold, though, and the canyon walls are steep, so show up mid-day if you want the most sun. A bit of local lore: Famed conservationist John Muir would often hang out on this rock and give speeches about the importance of the landscape to passers by enjoying the scenery.

How to Get There: Muir Rock is super easy to get to, as it sits near the parking lot at the end of Highway 180 in the heart of Kings Canyon. Simply take the short side trail from your parking space and you鈥檒l be plunging in no time. But you should take the time to hike to before you go swimming. Starting from the same parking lot, hike the eight miles round trip to this tumultuous waterfall that slides over a basin of granite. Stand at the bottom and feel the mist after the water crashes into the rock at the base of the falls.

2. Bass Lake, Point Reyes National Seashore, California聽

The Park: Point Reyes is best known for its beaches, as it protects 80 miles of rugged Northern California coast, where steep bluffs drop directly to the Pacific Ocean. It鈥檚 the only National Seashore on the West Coast and protects some of the most pristine coastal ecosystems in the country, from the species-rich tide pools to the cliff-top grasslands where endemic elk roam.

The Swimming Hole: While the beach is the main draw for most visitors, Point Reyes also has a trio of backcountry lakes, including the 7-acre Bass Lake, which is tucked into an evergreen forest within the seashore鈥檚 Philip Burton Wilderness. It鈥檚 a picture-perfect scene, as the bowl of water is tucked into a depression formed 10,000 years ago by a rock slide, and it has several secluded coves where you can float. Keep an eye out for a rope swing, which can sometimes be found hanging from a thick pine on the shore.

How to Get There: Part of the appeal of Bass Lake is the hike. It鈥檚 a three-mile trek on the from the Palomarin Trailhead, starting on the cliffs overlooking the ocean, but then moving inland through grassland and forest. Bass Lake also sits at about the halfway point along the Coast Trail to Alamere Falls, a 40-foot waterfall that drops directly over a cliff onto the beach.

3. Ely Creek Falls, Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado and Utah聽

The Park: Yes, Dinosaur National Monument, which protects 200,000 acres straddling Colorado and Utah, has plenty of dinosaur fossils to check out (there are more than 1,500 bones inside the park), but it also has a surprising amount of water. The Monument encompasses several canyons, many of which have active streams, and a gorgeous slice of the Green River.

The Swimming Hole: Ely Creek Falls is a small waterfall in the Jones Hole Creek Area of the monument, where Ely Creek is funneled into a notch inside a small canyon before dropping 15 vertical feet over a sandstone cliff. It鈥檚 a pretty scene, with evergreens sprouting from the upper shelf of the falls, and an ideal place to cool off after a good hike through the desert (see below). The pool at the bottom of the falls is shallow though, so you won鈥檛 be doing the backstroke. Consider this more of a backcountry shower.

How to Get There: Hike the Jones Hole Trail as it follows the creek through a canyon for four miles on its way to join the Green River. Jones Hole Creek itself offers pristine backcountry trout fishing in crystal clear pools with a rocky bottom, known for its brown and rainbow trout (there鈥檚 a fish hatchery upstream). You鈥檒l also have the chance to see pictographs and petroglyphs created by the Fremont people more than 1,000 years ago. Two miles into your hike, you鈥檒l hit Ely Creek as it meets Jones Creek. Head upstream for .25 miles and you鈥檒l hit Ely Creek Falls. You can also follow the Jones Creek Trail for the entire four miles to its junction with the Green River, where there鈥檚 a rocky beach where you can watch rafters cruise by.

4. Firehole Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho聽

The Park: Yellowstone National Park is arguably the most iconic unit in the entire park system. It was the country鈥檚 first, established by Ulysses S. Grant in 1872, and helped serve as a model for wide-scale environmental preservation across the world. Today, Yellowstone is probably best known for its thermal pools, with bizarre geysers that erupt at regular intervals and backcountry ponds that reach triple digits and present all the colors of the rainbow.

The Swimming Hole: Swimming in Yellowstone鈥檚 thermal features is illegal (and really dumb as most of them are too hot), but swimmers are welcome to jump in the Firehole River at the Firehole Canyon Swimming Area. It鈥檚 a gorgeous setting, as the river spreads out into a broad, deep pool flanked by a grassy bank and steep, granite walls. There are a handful of low-hanging boulders to jump from, too. Look downstream and you can see the river carve through a broad valley thick with a green forest. It gets crowded on warm weekends, so show up early to get a parking spot. Keep an eye on the park鈥檚 website for access. The swimming area is usually closed until mid-summer to allow the spring runoffs to pass through.

How to Get There: Firehole Canyon is easy to access. Drive the two-mile Firehole Canyon Drive off of the Grand Loop, which cruises along the Firehole River to an overlook of Firehole Falls, before hitting the parking area for Firehole Canyon.

5. Sandbeach Lake, Rocky Mountains National Park

The Park: Rocky Mountain National Park is 287,000 acres of high alpine beauty, with a landscape that features more than a hundred 11,000 foot peaks, five glaciers, and a bevy of high alpine lakes. Even the scenic road through the park, Trail Ridge Road, crests at more than 12,000 feet above sea level. Swimming is not necessarily your first instinct when you鈥檙e exploring high alpine terrain, but Colorado summers can get warm. And cold plunges are good for you, right?

The Swimming Hole: Visitors are actually allowed to swim in most lakes inside the park (except Bear Lake) as it鈥檚 just not that popular of an activity because many lakes are glacier and snowmelt fed. But if you鈥檙e looking to take a dip, head to , a 16.5-acre lake that sits at 10,320 feet that boasts a rare feature in the Rocky Mountains: a sandy beach. From the beach, you can see the 13,000-foot Mount Copeland rising from a curtain of evergreens on the other side of the lake. One thing to consider: leeches are common in Rocky Mountain National Park鈥檚 lakes. It doesn鈥檛 stop people from taking a dip, and they actually help keep the lakes clean. If you get a leech, gently pull it off your skin and place it back in the water.

How To Get There: Part of the joy of Sandbeach is its location deep in the backcountry of the park鈥檚 Wild Basin area. Beginning at the Sandbeach Lake Trailhead, hike and gain 2,000 feet on the trail of the same name through a ponderosa pine and aspen forest to reach the edge of the pond. There are backcountry campsites along the trail and at the lake if you want to make an overnight out of it ($36 fee).

6. Doubtful Lake, North Cascades National Park, Washington聽

The Park: North Cascades National Park is only a few hours from Seattle, but somehow it manages to be one of the least visited national parks in the country year after year. But don鈥檛 mistake the lack of crowds for a lack of beauty; North Cascades is stunning, with more than 300 glaciers spread across the jagged peaks of Washington鈥檚 high alpine. The towering peaks and glaciers have made the park a destination for hardy mountaineers for decades. Lakes, evergreen forests, and meadows full of flowers and berries fill in the lower elevations throughout the park.

The Swimming Hole: You want a cold plunge? Take a dip in Doubtful Lake, a pristine basin that sits at the bottom of Sahale Glacier that鈥檚 constantly being fed by melting ice water. From the edge of the lake, you鈥檒l see the granite Sahale Mountain (and its glacier) as it rises 3,000 feet from the water. Look higher up Sahale Mountain and you could spot a waterfall of melting snow. A small island can be found on the far side of the lake closest to Sahale Mountain, which seems like a natural destination for hardy swimmers. But it鈥檚 also okay to just dip a toe in the lake and enjoy the scenery.

How to Get There: Combine the with a short side trail to reach the lake. All in, you鈥檙e looking at a 10-mile out and back day hike. The views along the trail make every step worth the effort, even if you don鈥檛 want to take the plunge, as you鈥檒l be treated with rotating views of some of the most impressive peaks in the Northwest, including long range shots of Mount Baker. You can also watch for adorable pikas while hiking through scree fields and blueberries in the high alpine meadows during summer.

7. Little Falls, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Alabama

The Park: The Little River Canyon was made for swimming in the wild. The 11,000-acre preserve is home to a series of waterfalls and pools along the Little River, all of which are tucked into a deep, forested canyon through the center of Lookout Mountain, a broad plateau that occupies a corner of Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. There鈥檚 sandstone rock everywhere, in the form of boulders and bluffs, and there are hiking trails scattered throughout the preserve, but it鈥檚 the cold pools of water that attract most visitors, especially on hot, Southern summer afternoons.

The Swimming Hole: The 45-foot Little River Falls is the main attraction within the preserve, as the waterfall puts on quite a show as it drops over a sheer, vertical cliff into a pool below. I鈥檝e jumped from the top of this falls before, although it is highly discouraged by the national park service for obvious reasons. Instead, take a quick trail to the bottom of the falls to swim in one of the pools downstream. Little Falls (dubbed Hippie Hole by locals) is the most popular swimming hole. Here, the river drops over a much smaller sandstone shelf, the entire length of the river. The swimming hole is at the base of the shelf, encompassed by a sandstone alcove.

How to Get There: From the Canyon Mouth Day Use Parking Area lot at Little River Falls, take the Little Falls Trail for .75 miles down into the bottom of the gorge. The trail finishes with 137 stone steps (but who鈥檚 counting) to the edge of the water.

8. Steel Creek Campground, Buffalo National River, Arkansas聽

The Park: Our first National River, the Buffalo flows free for more than 130 miles through the Ozark Mountains, carving a canyon of limestone cliffs and steep, forested walls in its wake. The Buffalo is renowned for its multi-day, wilderness canoe opportunities.

The Swimming Hole: The Buffalo River offers a number of swimming opportunities during its 135-mile journey through the mountains, although as a free flowing river, the water levels are dependent on rain. The most scenic pool might be at the base of Roark Bluff, a 200-foot-tall gray, limestone cliff that rises directly from the river鈥檚 edge. If the water level is right, you can wade across the river to a gravel sandbar that forms, where you can lounge and sun yourself at the base of the cliff. If you want more time on the river, consider from Steel Creek to Kyle鈥檚 Landing, an eight-mile stretch that is arguably the most scenic of the whole Buffalo thanks to the prevalence of cliffs.

How to Get There: Park at the campground or the canoe launch at Steel Creek and look for paths through the woods to the Buffalo River. Head to a bend in the river where the tall, gray Roark Bluff rises from the edge of the river. If you want to spend more than one day here, Steel Creek is a 40-site campground ( up to six months in advance; $20 per site). The sites aren鈥檛 terribly scenic鈥攖hey鈥檙e in a grassy field backing up to a hardwood forest鈥攂ut you can鈥檛 beat the location.

9. Midnight Hole, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee聽

The Park: Great Smoky Mountains National Park is moist. The 500,000-acre swath of the Southern Appalachians is borderline sub-tropical in its climate, with a high annual rainfall and hundreds of miles of streams and rivers. The mountainous park is hot and humid during the summer, and it鈥檚 packed with potential swimming holes, from rope swings on the edges of lakes to deep pools at the bottom of waterfalls.

The Swimming Hole: Midnight Hole is a favorite for my family because it鈥檚 relatively easy to get to (see the hike below) and delivers an ideal balance of scenery and adventure. Here, Big Creek tumbles over a ledge in the bedrock, dropping six feet into a deep hole. Local legend has it that the hole is so deep, nobody has ever touched the bottom. That鈥檚 not for a lack of trying; the waterfall is surrounded by tall, round boulders offering a variety of launching pads for leaping. The stream is crystal clear; bring goggles and you can see fish downstream of the popular pool.

How to Get There: The waterfall is located on the northern edge of the park, on the North Carolina side of the border. From the Big Creek Trailhead, follow the along the river for three miles until you see the falls on your left. It鈥檚 an easy hike on an old road grade.

Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 national parks columnist. He loves a good swimming hole. He recently wrote a guide to visiting overcrowded and underfunded national parks this summer.聽

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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

The post The Lessons I Learned in ‘Alone’ Survival School Could Keep You Alive appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

I remember my first backpacking trip. I was 19 years old and wanted to spend my spring break backpacking around North Georgia鈥檚 Cohutta Wilderness Area. I didn鈥檛 know I needed a sleeping pad to insulate me from the cold ground. I shivered through my first night and headed back to the dorm on day two. This was the 鈥�90s, before the advent of YouTube tutorials, so I didn鈥檛 know what I didn鈥檛 know.

For newbies, backpacking can be intimidating. You have to carry all of your gear on your back, go deep into the woods, and be completely self-sufficient several miles from the nearest fast food restaurant. If you鈥檝e never done it before, it can be a scary prospect. What gear will you need? How should you pack it?

Near Zero鈥檚 国产吃瓜黑料 Bundle and The Dean 60-liter pack are designed to take the guesswork out of backpacking by providing all of the gear you need for an overnight adventure in one affordable bundle. For $600, about the price of a good tent, the bundle聽 comes with ten pieces of gear, from the workhorse 60-liter pack down to a titanium spork. There鈥檚 a two-person tent made from 20-denier ripstop with a single-pole design, a 25-degree sleeping bag, and even an inflatable pillow. All of the gear comes pre-packed in The Dean when it鈥檚 shipped, so just add water and food, and you can hit the trail.

At a Glance: Near Zero 国产吃瓜黑料 Bundle

Pack Volume: 60 L
Pack Weight: 3.7 lbs
Total Weight: 13.5 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Comes with all the backpacking gear you need
鈯� Internal dividers and labels to help you pack
鈯� Included rain cover
鈯� Relatively heavy for a backpacking pack
鈯� Big for a backpacking pack

Testing the Near Zero 国产吃瓜黑料 Bundle

I spent two weeks testing out the system, setting up the gear in my backyard, and then using it all on an overnight 14-mile loop through Pisgah National Forest, and I was really impressed with Near Zero鈥檚 streamlined approach. If you鈥檙e already an experienced backpacker, you might find some of the aspects of The Dean and 国产吃瓜黑料 Bundle unnecessary, but it鈥檚 perfect for beginners.

The Dean simplifies packing with its built-in organizational dividers with specific spots dedicated to each piece of gear. Those spots are even labeled, so you know where to put your sleeping bag, tent, cookware, etc. You can buy The Dean separately ($199), and it will still come with those dividers and labels, but I highly recommend spending a little more to get the full 国产吃瓜黑料 Bundle. The ten pieces of included gear are quality items on par with what you can find in the mid-price range at your local outfitter.

That includes the , which has a single pole design with color coded tabs, making it easy to pitch even for first-timers. I like the three interior pockets sewn into the mesh for stashing items you need to keep handy. The sleeping bag and pad ( and) are both comfortable and lightweight, and the addition of the i is a nice touch. My favorite piece of gear is the 鈥攁 stainless steel, feather-weight burner that packs into the included stainless steel , leaving enough room to store a small canister of fuel inside the pot, too. If you were to buy those pieces of gear individually through Near Zero, you鈥檇 pay more than $1,000, and you could easily spend twice that much on similar gear at a traditional retail store.

All together, the bag and gear included in the bundle weigh less than 14 pounds, which isn鈥檛 an ultralight set up by any means, but it鈥檚 light enough to be manageable even for first time backpackers.

I hiked for seven miles each day of my trip with The Dean loaded down with gear, food, and water, and I was impressed with how comfortable the pack was on my back. I trekked through rough terrain, gaining 2,000 feet each day, rock hopping across streams, and shimmying beneath rhododendron tunnels, and The Dean never felt unwieldy or awkward. The shoulder and harness system are well padded without being over-engineered, and there are plenty of external pockets to stash things like snacks, keys, or your phone.

As I mentioned, the internal dividers are the big innovation in this pack, and I personally love the idea鈥攁 place for all your gear and all your gear in its place. Experienced backpackers might not appreciate this type of organization because they likely have their own system for packing gear. If that鈥檚 the case, you can remove the dividers and have a large, cavernous space to fill as you please. One of my favorite features of the pack are the two oversized water bottle sleeves on the sides, which are big enough to fit 32-ounce water bottles and other gear, too. I stuffed my map, GoPro, and tripod in those sleeves along with my water, and could reach everything without having to take the pack off my back.

Aside from the internal organization, The Dean has a pretty straightforward design with most of the details you鈥檇 expect from a good backpack, like a dedicated water bladder slot, built-in rain cover, and a frame that鈥檚 adjustable from 14 to 22 inches.

I only have minor complaints about The Dean. There are a couple of gear tabs on the outside of the pack that occasionally get in the way of the main compartment鈥檚 zipper. I also wish that it came in a smaller size. A 60-liter pack is large鈥擨 typically try to pare down my gear to fit inside a 45-liter pack. But The Dean and the 国产吃瓜黑料 Bundle are designed for beginners, and overpacking is a way that newbies comfort themselves before heading out into the big, bad wilderness, so I understand the larger size.

One thing to consider: If you鈥檙e backpacking in a place that requires a bear proof canister, you鈥檒l probably have to remove one or more of the dividers in this bag to make room for those cumbersome containers.

As for the other gear that comes with the 国产吃瓜黑料 Bundle, it鈥檚 all highly curated and exactly what someone new to backpacking should carry. The titanium spork is long enough to use with dehydrated meals, so you don鈥檛 get your fingers dirty from scraping the bottom of the pouch. The sleeping gear is the ideal balance of weight savings and comfort. The tent probably won鈥檛 last for years of abuse, but most tents don鈥檛. The only thing you鈥檒l need to add to this kit is some sort of water filtration device, otherwise, you鈥檙e good to go when this bundle arrives on your doorstep.

If you鈥檙e backpacking-curious and looking for a way to take the leap without making any gear-related mistakes, Near Zero鈥檚 国产吃瓜黑料 Bundle is essentially foolproof.

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The post The Near Zero 国产吃瓜黑料 Bundle Is the Perfect Gear Package for Beginner Backpackers appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

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.

The post The 7 Most Beautiful Coastal Hikes in the U.S. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

celebrated on June 1, is a day to care for, and get out and explore, our nation鈥檚 trails. We鈥檙e celebrating by featuring some of the most stunning routes in the U.S. and the reasons that make them so special. Since we can鈥檛 feature every beautiful path in the country, we looked for diversity in region and terrain.

Whether you鈥檙e in the Midwest, itching for a canyon-centric adventure, or on the coast looking for a trail that leads to an isolated beach, here are 12 of the best hikes in the country.

In The West

Best Volcano Hike

Kilauea Iki Trail: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

The U.S. has a shocking number of volcanoes scattered throughout the country, but Kilauea, in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, is the most active. In fact, it鈥檚 still erupting as I write this: a small eruption started in December 2024 and is still going strong, spewing lava up to 500 feet in the air from its main vent. Don鈥檛 worry, all of this action is happening in a closed section of the park you鈥檒l want to avoid. Instead, hike the , which travels through a rainforest before dropping into a crater and crossing a lava lake formed by an eruption in 1959. Some of the lava is still warm to touch and you can find vents emanating steam throughout the lake, which occurs when rain gathers in pools and boils.

Logistics: The entrance fee to Hawaii Volcanoes is $30 per vehicle. Expect traffic delays over the next two years as the park works to remove damaged buildings and enhance the road for better vehicle flow. Check the for updates. The USGS runs a webcam with a of the current eruption. If you鈥檙e in the park, you can see the activity from the Uekahuna overlook on Crater Rim Drive West and from the Kilauea Overlook.

Best Hike to a Beach

Shi Shi Beach and Point of Arches: Olympic National Park and Makah Tribal Land, Washington

Olympic National Park boasts some dramatic coastal landscapes, and Shi Shi Beach might be the most famous thanks to its bevy of sea stacks. This eight-mile starts in a sitka spruce forest on boardwalks before hitting switchbacks down to the beach itself. Look west and you鈥檒l see the Pacific Ocean spreading before you and the park鈥檚 iconic sea stacks rising from the tide. The beach itself ain鈥檛 bad either, with bone-white driftwood and tide pools full of sea creatures. You鈥檒l be tempted to stop here, but keep hiking south along the beach for 1.3 miles to hit Point of Arches, a mile-long cluster of sea stacks dotting the breaks just off the sand.

Logistics: If you鈥檙e knocking this hike in a day, you don鈥檛 need permits, but you do need the $20 Makah Recreation Pass, which you can purchase or in person at the New Bay Marina or Museum.

Best Hike to a Technical Summit聽

Grand Teton: Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Archeological evidence suggests that the 13,776-foot, craggy Grand Teton has been luring climbers to its summit inside what is now Grand Teton National Park long before Europeans showed up. The mountain鈥檚 striking, trapezoidal shape is still the focus of hundreds of summit bids every summer. The hike and technical climb is a 14-mile roundtrip effort, gaining 7,000 feet in total elevation. If you鈥檙e going to reach the tippy top of Grand Teton, you鈥檒l need technical climbing skills, the right gear, and preferably a guide. Some people do it in a day, but it鈥檚 better as a weekend adventure, which allows you to spend at least one night at the high elevation base camp for the final summit push. The 5.4 Owen Spalding Route is the classic, and easiest, ascent. But listen, even if you鈥檙e not interested in the technical climb, you should still do this hike, which rises from the Lupine Meadows Trailhead to the Lower Saddle for a 12-mile out and back. From the saddle, you鈥檒l have close-range views of glaciers and long-range views of Garnet Canyon and the Alaska Basin below.

Logistics: Entrance fee to the park is $35 per vehicle. If you鈥檙e doing the full summit and plan on spending the night at one of the saddles, you鈥檒l need a backcountry ($20). Book a four-day trip with (from $2,100 per person).

Best Slot Canyon Hike聽

Zebra Slot Canyon: Grand-Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Choosing one slot canyon is a daunting task, but Zebra wins because of its gorgeous pink and tan striped walls and narrow passageways, which are as tight as 10-inches wide at some points. Also, it鈥檚 not a technical canyon to traverse, so you shouldn鈥檛 need climbing gear. You鈥檒l still need to scramble and squeeze your way through portions of this 5.2-mile , but make yourself skinny and you鈥檒l be standing in the heart of a narrow gorge with pink and white striped walls rising 100 feet on either side of you. The hike starts by traversing a sandy, scrubby wash before meandering through a broad canyon with pink walls. Once you reach Zebra Canyon proper, the going gets narrow and you鈥檒l likely find pools of water on the floor, so bring water-friendly shoes.

Logistics: There鈥檚 no entrance fee to Grand Staircase-Escalante, and you don鈥檛 need a permit to hike Zebra Canyon, but you should stop into the to ask about the water levels within the canyon.

In The East

Best Hike to see Fall Foliage

Burrows Trail to Camel鈥檚 Hump: Vermont

Vermont was essentially created for fall foliage, as the forest that blankets the 4,000-foot peaks throughout the state transitions into a kaleidoscope of colors starting in September. You can鈥檛 walk to get a pumpkin spice latte in the state without witnessing the show, but I say make the trek up Camel鈥檚 Hump, Vermont鈥檚 third highest peak, which offers dramatic 360-degree views that take in all of the lush canopy below as well as Lake Champlain to the west and the White Mountains of New Hampshire to the east. The 4.7-mile out and back on gets you to the summit the fastest with much of the time under the colorful canopy that you鈥檙e here to marvel.

Logistics: This hike sits inside , which was carved out of the Green Mountains National Forest, but there are no entrance fees or permits required. The trailhead parking area fills up fast on weekends, especially during peak foliage season, so show up early in the morning.

Best Ridgeline Hike聽

Rocky Peak Ridge, High Peaks Wilderness: Adirondacks, New York

You want mountaintop views and rocky exposure? Head to the High Peaks Wilderness of Adirondack Park. This 13-mile out and back on the climbs a series of smaller summits on its way to 4,420-foot Rocky Peak, gaining more than 5,000 feet all together. You鈥檒l get long range views from the various rocky summits, making this feel like a true ridgeline jaunt, but you鈥檒l also descend to saddles giving you a chance to take a rest at Mary Louise Pond toward the end of the adventure. A lot of people make it an overnighter, but it鈥檚 a doable day hike for go-getters. The view from Rocky Peak Ridge is true alpine glory, with boulders strewn through a high-alpine meadow covering the treeless peak. Hit it during the summer, and you鈥檒l be able to forage your way through Blueberry Cobbles, a hillside that鈥檚 covered in wild fruit bushes near the trailhead.

Logistics: There are no permits or entry fees for day hikes in the High Peaks Wilderness, but you should definitely bring a hiking partner or, at the very least, tell someone where you鈥檙e going and when you鈥檒l be back.

Best Trail to See a Gigantic Waterfall

Rainbow Falls Trail: Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina聽

I鈥檇 argue that Rainbow Falls is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the Southern Appalachians, period. The entire Horsepasture River plummets over the side of a sheer, granite cliff, dropping 150 feet straight into a deep pool. Time it right after heavy summer storms and the volume of the waterfall is thunderous. Follow the for two miles along the bustling Horsepasture River, a drop and pool creek with plenty of swimming hole potential, until you reach the base of Rainbow Falls. There鈥檚 good swimming at the base of the falls, just don鈥檛 try to climb the cliff or wade at the top of the waterfall, as visitors have died doing those very things.

Logistics: Rainbow Falls is located in Pisgah National Forest, but the trailhead is located inside . There are no fees for visiting the park or falls. Bring your swimsuit and water shoes or sandals because you鈥檙e going to want to swim.

Best Hike to See Natural Arches in the East聽

Auxier Ridge Trail: Red River Gorge, Kentucky聽

Kentucky鈥檚 Red River Gorge is a vast canyon system inside that鈥檚 best known for its sport climbing, but the gorge has more than 100 natural arches, the highest concentration of such rock outcroppings east of the Rockies. This isn鈥檛 the desert landscape you might expect though, as the forest is lush and green with sandstone arches stretching out from the canopy. Most of the arches are scattered throughout the area鈥檚 29,000 acres. Focus your attention on the 2.5-mile , and you鈥檒l see the towering Courthouse Rock, which rises from the forest like a courthouse looming over the town square. You can also take side hikes to half a dozen arches, including the aptly-named Double Arch, where a smaller arch is stacked inside a larger arch.

Logistics: Red River Gorge is relatively primitive. Some trails are marked, while un-signed social trails lead to hidden goodies like , a large natural bridge on the edge of a cliff. You don鈥檛 need permits and there are no entrance fees.

[[In The]] Midwest聽

Best Cliff Hike in the Midwest聽

Big Bluff: Buffalo National River, Arkansas

I like any trail that comes with the caveat 鈥渘ot recommended for children.鈥� Not because I don鈥檛 like hiking with kids, but because this usually means there will be cliff-top exposure, and that means beautiful views. Such is the case with the , a half-mile-long steep climb on a narrow ledge to the edge of Big Bluff, a sandstone cliff that dominates a dramatic bend in the Buffalo River. Big Bluff lives up to its name, rising 550 feet from the valley and delivering a long range view of the sinuous waterway below. In fact, it鈥檚 the tallest sheer cliff between the Rockies and the Appalachians. Big Bluff is also known for its scrappy juniper trees, which are estimated to be 800 years old. Most of the hike is actually on the Centerpoint Trail, which follows an old wagon road as it drops 1,300 feet to the river over 2.5 miles. All in, it鈥檚 a 6-mile out and back with roughly 2,000 feet of climbing.

Logistics: There鈥檚 no entrance fee to the . I鈥檓 not kidding about the exposure on this hike. It鈥檚 not for the faint of heart, so be prepared and be careful.

Best Canyon Hike

Starved Rock State Park, Illinois

At first glance, you鈥檇 think the Illinois River would be the central attraction to ; the large body of water seems to dominate the landscape after all. But it鈥檚 the small canyons that feed the large river that hikers seem to love. More than a dozen narrow and lush gorges have been carved on the southern side of the river, giving hikers an enticing labyrinth of rock to explore via 13 miles of established trail.

If you鈥檙e moving at a fast pace, you can explore every canyon in the park in a day, but focus on French Canyon, which has a narrows section reminiscent of Utah, but with more greenery, and Wildcat Canyon, which has vertical walls and an 80 foot waterfall that runs after a rain. Take a map and spend an afternoon creating your own loop through the maze of canyons.

Logistics: Most hikes begin at the Visitor鈥檚 Center. Grab a map. There are a lot of short trails throughout the park that you鈥檒l have to connect to create a larger hike. All state parks in Illinois are free to enter.

Best Prairie Hike聽

Sheyenne National Grassland, North Dakota

Are prairies beautiful? Hell yes. Especially if all you鈥檝e ever known is mountains or coast. There鈥檚 something fascinating about being able to see for a hundred miles in any direction, and the Sheyenne National Grassland might be the best of our prairies, as it protects 135,000 acres of sand dunes and tall grass in southern North Dakota. The National Grassland also hosts a 30-mile section of the North Country National Scenic Trail, which runs for more than 4,000 miles from Vermont to North Dakota. The hiking is easy, but you鈥檙e not here for a challenge. You鈥檙e here for the expansive field of view that only the midwest can offer. Much of the hiking is flat with shimmering waves of grass all the way to the horizon in every direction. Head to the West Trailhead of the for a 6.5-mile section that runs between two highways, passing through tall grass, wildflowers in the summer, and the occasional grove of trees.

Logistics: Show up in the middle of summer for the best weather and best wildflowers. There鈥檚 no entrance fee to the National Grassland.

Best Backcountry Lake Hike聽

Secret/Blackstone Loop, Boundary Waters Canoe Area聽

I know, the Boundary Waters are for canoeing, and you鈥檙e not wrong, but there are also hiking trails that connect many of the backcountry lakes. Granted, most of those trails are multi-day endeavors for the hardy looking to navigate the wilderness. But there鈥檚 also the four-mile near Ely, which is a rarity in the Boundary Waters in that it is short, signed, and easy to follow. Bonus: It takes in four different lakes on its figure-eight journey through a pine forest. The hiking is mostly flat, and you鈥檒l walk right to the grassy edge of Blackstone Lake if you want to take a dip, as well as scamper to rocky overlooks of Ennis Lake. In addition to walking along the banks of Secret, Blackstone, and Ennis Lakes, you鈥檒l also find a small, unnamed pond along the way. Blackstone, the first lake you鈥檒l reach on the hike, is arguably the highlight of the trip as it鈥檚 water is clear and ideal for swimming, or paddling if you want to lug a craft of some sort with you.

Logistics: This is a straightforward day hike, but all visitors must get a ($16 per adult) when entering Boundary Waters Canoe Area. You can snag them in advance or at the self-serve kiosks at entry points. The forest maintains a quota system to limit the number of people inside the Boundary Waters, so it鈥檚 smart to make a reservation in advance ($6 reservation fee).

Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 national-parks columnist. Based in Asheville, North Carolina, he is fortunate enough to live within a few hours of many world-class hikes. He recently wrote about the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park, his favorite mountain town, and the the most adventurous national park.

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It鈥檚 going to be harder than ever to pitch your tent inside a national park this summer. Scoring a campsite at our popular parks is difficult during any stretch of warmer months, when parks see a surge in visitation. And the Trump-mandated National Park Service layoffs are adding an extra wrinkle to many summer travel plans. Some park units have had to delay the release of their campground reservations, while others are choosing to keep certain campgrounds closed for the summer due to staffing issues. In other words, if you don鈥檛 already have a reservation for a campsite in a national park,聽you probably aren鈥檛 going to get one.

Have no fear. I鈥檝e been in your shoes multiple times, rolling into national parks in search of a legal spot to pitch my tent, only to be turned away because every campground was fully booked. What I鈥檝e learned over the years is that the campgrounds inside national parks aren鈥檛 the only camping options available. Many of our park units are surrounded by national forest and BLM land, which often offer less crowded campgrounds, many of which are first come/first serve.

The rise of platforms like Hipcamp has resulted in many private landowners welcoming campers to their farms and ranches near parks. So if you鈥檙e hoping to explore some of our popular national parks this summer, you have more camping options than you may聽realize.

I鈥檝e consulted with the folks at Hipcamp, begged for secrets from other adventurers, and compiled some of my own favorite campsites to create this list of the best campgrounds near the most popular national parks in the country.

Yosemite National Park, California

Summer in Yosemite National Park is amazing. The waterfalls, the perfect weather, the picture-perfect granite domes.It’s so incredible that聽it can feel as if聽 all of America has descended on the valley to witness the beauty. All of Yosemite鈥檚 require a reservation during the summer, and those spots are snagged fast. Reservations are being released late this year because of the staffing issues, so there鈥檚 still a chance you could snag a campsite for fall (reservations for September 15 to October 14 are being released on June 15), but if you want to hit Yosemite during the summer, you鈥檒l need to camp elsewhere.

Evergreen Lodge: Groveland, California聽

is a full-on outdoor resort with historic cabins, a general store, onsite adventure guides and a campus full of lawn games like bocce and ping pong. It also has a campground full of brand new for 2025 glamping tents (from $210 a night), each of which comes with full access to the resort amenities, from the salt water swimming pool to the nightly s鈥檓ores around the campfire.聽The best part? It鈥檚 located just one mile from Yosemite鈥檚 less-crowded Hetch Hetchy entrance in the northwest corner of the park. From there, it鈥檚 a little over an hour to Yosemite Valley, but you don鈥檛 have to venture that far to experience the park. Hetch Hetchy is loaded with hikes, lakes, and waterfalls. If you鈥檙e up for an adventure, hike the 13-mile out and back to , which wraps around the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, in the shadow of Hetch Hetchy Dome, before ending at a long series of cascades through a narrow gorge just upstream of the eastern edge of the manmade lake.

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McCabe Flat Campground, BLM Land聽

The BLM operates three established campgrounds on the Merced River off of Highway 140 near the western edge of Yosemite, all of which are first come first serve. is the best, with just 11 sites and access to a sandy beach and deep swimming hole on the river. Obviously, bring your swimmies and sunscreen.

Yellowstone National Park, Montana

Ah, Yellowstone鈥eysers, wildlife, and some of the most popular (read: hard to book) campgrounds in the entire national park system. Fortunately, Yellowstone is flanked by Custer Gallatin National Forest, which operates 14 campgrounds within 35 miles of the park. Add to that the bevy of privately owned campgrounds in the direct vicinity of Yellowstone, and you have plenty of options for bedding down this summer.

Canyon Campground, Custer Gallatin National Forest聽

Most of the forest service campgrounds near Yellowstone require reservations, which are released six months in advance, so you might have a hard time scoring one of those sites at this point. But has 17 sites (just $10 a night) are first come/first serve, and they sit near the Yellowstone River just 16 miles from the north entrance to the park. It鈥檚 not fancy (there are no showers, no hookups, but many of the sites are surrounded by large boulders, and you can鈥檛 beat the convenience or price. Get there midweek if you want to score a spot.

Camp Steelhead: West Yellowstone, Idaho聽

The privately-owned sits on two acres with three sites tucked into the pines, all of which are RV and van-life friendly. There鈥檚 plenty of space to spread out if you鈥檙e with a group (each site sleeps up to 12), and a trail on an old railroad grade begins on the property that delivers a view of the Buffalo River. The small campground has a porta-potty, water and electrical hookups, and it鈥檚 just 30 minutes to the West Yellowstone Entrance (from $85 a night).

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming聽

Jackson and Grand Teton National Park can feel like a zoo during the summer, particularly if you鈥檙e looking to pitch a tent in the. Reservations fill fast because of the scenery (the campground has loops on the picture-perfect Jenny Lake with the Tetons looming large in the background) as well as the fact that it鈥檚 the only campground in the park that doesn鈥檛 allow RVs and generators, so it鈥檚 a bit quieter. I just checked the availability for Jenny Lake and there鈥檚 exactly one site available on a random Tuesday night in July, so check out these options instead.

Mike Harris Campground, Targhee National Forest聽

Caribou-Targhee National Forest has four campgrounds in the Teton Basin Ranger District, just west of Grand Teton National Park, not to mention miles of dirt roads with established (and free) dispersed campsites to choose from. The wins based on its location: it鈥檚 situated on the Teton Pass, a few miles from Victor, Idaho, and just 22 miles from the Granite Canyon Entrance to the park, near Teton Village, and 20 miles from downtown Jackson. It鈥檚 a small campground, just 12 sites, half of which you can reserve six months in advance, the other half are first come/first serve. I like having some first come/first serve options, especially if you can get there mid-week, but get this; the last time I checked, there are still plenty of reservable sites available throughout the summer. The sites are tucked into a forest of lodgepole pines and Douglas firs with plenty of privacy, and you鈥檒l have access to Trail Creek, which has healthy populations of cutthroat and brook trout. Spots are just $17 a night.

Ranchita Corazon of the Tetons: Teton, Idaho聽

How about boondocking on a two-acre horse farm with an unobstructed view of the Tetons? That鈥檚 what you get when you book with , which has a single spot for RVs and van lifers complete with water and electricity. There鈥檚 even a sauna on the property. The farm sits near the Idaho/Wyoming border, under an hour from the Jenny Lake Visitor Center. Spots start at $70 a night.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Rocky Mountain National Park had more than 4 million visitors last year, making it the fifth most visited park in the country. That鈥檚 nothing new, as it has been a perennial favorite for more than a decade. I tried grabbing a campsite at the last minute several years ago, and ended up pitching a tent in a Yogi Bear鈥檚 Jellystone Campground well outside of the park. My kids enjoyed the campground鈥檚 putt putt course, but it wasn鈥檛 the serene campsite I envisioned.

Olive Ridge Campground, Roosevelt National Forest聽

There are plenty of developed RV-friendy campgrounds on the Estes Park side of the park (see my Jellystone story above), but if you鈥檙e looking for a more primitive and serene experience (read: no putt putt courses), head to inside Roosevelt National Forest, near the southeastern corner of the park. The 56 sites (from $29 a night) are surrounded by aspens and ponderosa pines, and half of them are first come/first serve. You鈥檙e close to the Wild Basin area of the park, with fast access to the , an 8.7-mile out and back to a backcountry lake sitting at 10,000 feet at the base of 13,916-foot Mount Meeker. And it鈥檚 just 14 miles south of the main entrance to the park in Estes Park. Take note if you鈥檙e going later in the summer, Olive Ridge is going to close for renovations on August 17 .

Arapaho Valley Ranch: Granby, Colorado聽

Most visitors hit Rocky Mountain from the Estes Park side, but , which has cabins, RV hookups, and tent sites, sits on the quieter western side of the park in Granby, within an hour鈥檚 drive of the Rocky Mountain鈥檚 Kawuneeche Visitor Center. The 100-acre ranch has a small lake for paddling and fishing as well as a slice of the South Fork Colorado River. There鈥檚 a hiking trail onsite that leads to an overlook of the Colorado River headwaters. Tent sites start at $85 a night.

Acadia National Park, Maine

Camping inside of Acadia is more limited than most national parks, as there are only a couple of established campgrounds on Mount Desert Island, the main region of the park that attracts most visitors, and there are no backcountry options for the adventurous. To be honest, there aren鈥檛 a lot of tent camping options outside of the park either, as Acadia is flanked by the Atlantic on one side and mostly privately owned land on the other. Like so many national parks, most of the private campgrounds near Acadia cater mostly to RVs, but we did find this one gem that should be on your radar if you have plans to hit Acadia this summer.

HTR Acadia聽

may as well be inside Acadia National Park, as its 10-acre campus is located on the Somes Sound, which splits Mount Desert Island in half. From HTR, it鈥檚 a 15 minute drive to downtown Bar Harbor, giving you fast access to Acadia highlights like Cadillac Mountain, Sand Beach, and the . Choose from 25 tent and RV sites starting at $69 a night, some of which are actually on Somes Sound. Cool fact: Somes Sound is the only fjord on the East Coast聽of the U.S. The water reaches depths of 175 feet and the mountains on either side rise 850 feet directly from the water. Bring a kayak or paddle board; private boat docks on the campground allow you to launch into the sound and explore.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: North Carolina and Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited park in the country, attracting more than 14 million people in 2024. Booking a site inside the park can feel like winning the lottery, and the odds of winning decreased significantly this summer as the park is not opening several of their campgrounds due to a lack of staffing. The good news? The camping options just beyond the park鈥檚 borders might be even better than what you find inside the park.

Tsali Recreation Area, Nantahala National Forest聽

The 42-site campground at isn鈥檛 fancy (no glamping tents here), but you can鈥檛 beat the location. It sits on the shores of Lake Fontana, which forms the southwestern border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From Tsali, you鈥檙e a 15 minute drive from Bryson City, one of the park鈥檚 more laid-back gateway towns, where you can hit the trails of the area of the park, which is known for its waterfalls. This is one of my go-to campgrounds because it鈥檚 just over an hour from my home and has direct access to 30 miles of mountain bike trails in Nantahala National Forest, as well as Lake Fontana, which is one of my favorite places to paddle in search of rope swings. So bring your kayak or SUP and mountain bike. Spots are $20 a night.

Smoky Mountains Mangalitsa River Ranch: Waynesville, North Carolina聽

Choose your level of comfort at , a 95-acre farm (complete with horses and pigs!) near Waynesville, NC, on the eastern edge of Great Smoky Mountains. The ranch has cabins, glamping tents on platforms overlooking the river, and 10 primitive tent sites that either offer mountain views or river access. Bring your fly rod, becausePigeon River runs through the property. There鈥檚 even a fresh spring providing drinking water. Mangalitsa River Ranch is an hour from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, where you can see elk gather in the meadows most evenings. You鈥檙e聽even closer to the Big Creek Area of the park (about 30 minutes) where you can hike Mount Sterling Trail, a 5.3-mile out and back that ends at a historic fire lookout above 5,000 feet in elevation.

Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 national parks columnist. He鈥檚 found himself inside a national park without a campsite on too many occasions, some times with small children and a disappointed wife in tow. He recently wrote about his love for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the perfect sleeping platform that allows you to camp in the back of your car.聽聽

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Chattanooga is not like other cities. While some towns can boast about being close to the outdoors, adventure is seamlessly woven through the fabric of this city, from the Tennessee River that wraps around downtown to the towering cliffs and lush mountains that rise from the edge of its neighborhoods.

鈥淎 lot of cities are gateways to the outdoors, but with Chattanooga, it鈥檚 all right here within the city limits,鈥� says Brian Smith, communications director for Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors. 鈥淵ou can be mountain biking and hiking or kayaking or climbing within the city limits, and then go directly to a restaurant downtown. It鈥檚 amazing.鈥� That means a long weekend in Chattanooga can feel like a week of fun and adventure鈥攜ou can simply do more when you鈥檙e not spending hours driving between activities, amenities, and lodging.

Thanks to its unparalleled access to nature and the outdoor culture that pervades the city, Chattanooga recently earned the distinction of being North America鈥檚 first , a new designation that celebrates communities that protect their natural resources for generations to come. It鈥檚 a global movement celebrating a community-driven approach to conservation and the values, places, and culture that can make urban centers uniquely livable.

Ready to discover Chattanooga for yourself? Use this guide to plan the perfect three-day weekend in one of America鈥檚 most adventurous cities.

Day 1

Biking/Walking/Running

You could spend all weekend exploring the 16-plus-mile , a paved pedestrian and bike path that runs along the southern banks of the Tennessee River from Chickamauga Lake through downtown to the Incline Railway. If you want to explore the entire path, check out a bike from one of 鈥檚 public bike stations, which are scattered along the path. (Running is also a great way to see a big chunk of the route.) The Riverwalk is mostly flat, with gorgeous views of the Tennessee River and plenty of opportunities for refueling at a variety of restaurants. ( has great lattes!) If you want to walk a shorter section, the two-mile stretch from Battery Place to Ross鈥檚 Landing cruises through downtown. You鈥檒l pass by the Bluff View Arts District, which has sculpture gardens and unique architecture; the Hunter Museum (check out the view from the backside of the museum overlooking the river); and the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge.

Climbing

Stop for lunch at the 鈥攖he oysters are a staple, but you also can鈥檛 go wrong with the roasted chicken sandwich. Next, head to the northern edge of Lookout Mountain, where , a 100-foot-tall sandstone cliff within Point Park鈥攑art of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park鈥攈as been attracting rock climbers for decades. You鈥檒l find a mix of traditional and top-rope routes, all of which offer stunning views of the Tennessee River Valley below. Even if you鈥檙e not a climber, the mile-long access trail is a beautiful hike.

Eating

For dinner, head to Chattanooga鈥檚 Southside neighborhood, which has one of the most vibrant food scenes in the South. has wood-fired pizzas and sandwiches. Check out the 2 AM Burger, which has eggs and hash browns smashed into the situation. If you鈥檙e looking for something more refined, offers hand-crafted Italian dishes like gnocchi with local chicken and mushrooms.

Listening

Stay in the neighborhood and wander over to , where local bands occasionally play on the stage and you can always find an incredible selection of vinyl.

Day 2

Mountain Biking

Fat tire fans have plenty of trails to choose from. The trail system is world class, with 30 miles of fast, flowy singletrack just 15 minutes from downtown. Most of the trails are for intermediate or advanced riders, with plenty of rocks and root gardens and some steep climbs. Want something even closer? Ride , a seven-mile system of singletrack on the edge of downtown that鈥檚 loaded with easier trails.

Caving

If you鈥檙e not interested in pedaling, go subterranean with a tour of , where miles of caves wind beneath the surface. You can take it easy with a guided stroll through the Crystal Palace, where the rooms are larger but still packed with stalagmites and stalactites, or get dirty on a Wild Cave Tour that will have you squeezing through tight channels and sliding down muddy chutes.

Paddling

Grab lunch at , in the eclectic North Shore Neighborhood, then rest your legs and kayak the downtown stretch of the Tennessee River.

You can rent kayaks or standup paddleboards at , near Coolidge Park, and paddle the broad Tennessee beneath downtown Chattanooga鈥檚 four bridges. The river is slow enough to travel in both directions, so you can choose your mileage and create an out-and-back through town, ogling the tall, gray cliffs that rise from the water beneath the Hunter Art Museum. Look for great blue herons and other waterfowl as you paddle a circle around McClellan Island, a sanctuary managed by the Audubon Society.

Eating

For dinner, head back into downtown, which has undergone a foodie revival in recent years. offers classic cocktails and thoughtful takes on comfort food like chicken schnitzel and beet ravioli. , at the base of the Walnut Street Bridge, takes Appalachian cuisine upscale with standout dishes like their chicken pot pie and bone-in pork chop.

Spectating

If you hit the schedule right, catch a baseball game at AT&T Field, home to the , a AA affiliate team for the Cincinnati Reds.

Day 3

Bouldering

Ready to squeeze in one more quick adventure before heading out of town? Check out , a bouldering area next to Chattanooga鈥檚 St. Elmo neighborhood that offers the closest climbing to downtown. You鈥檒l find roughly 30 boulders scattered throughout the area, with something for beginners and hard chargers alike.

Splurging

Spent from bouldering or not, make sure you grab a scoop (or two) of handcrafted ice cream from . They have all the traditional flavors, plus rotating options like Blueberry Lookout Lavender.

Hiking

Get one last look of the Tennessee River Valley from the top of , which played a pivotal role in the Civil War. Today, it鈥檚 the jumping-off point for the Cumberland Trail and other hiking trails within the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. Hike a 2.9-mile section of the beginning at Signal Point, passing waterfalls and unique rock formations along the way before hitting Edwards Point, which offers a long-range view of the Tennessee River Gorge below.

Chattanooga Tourism Co. is the official destination marketing organization for Chattanooga, Tennessee. Dedicated to promoting visitation and showcasing the city’s unique attractions, vibrant culture, and outdoor adventures, Chattanooga Tourism Co. works to inspire travel and enhance the visitor experience. For more information and to plan your Chattanooga getaway, please visit .

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