President Trump just took a significant step toward opening a roadless stretch of Alaskan wilderness to mining. In an announced Monday, October 6, the president approved the Ambler Road Project, a proposed 211-mile industrial access road to allow mining of minerals, including copper, cobalt, and gold.

The new road will run through the second-largest protected area in the National Park Service (NPS) system. Extending west from Dalton Highway, a 414-mile road system that runs north of Fairbanks to Deadhorse on the Arctic Ocean coast, the road will culminate in Alaska鈥檚 remote Ambler Mining District. Most of this ecosystem has remained virtually unchanged by human contact.

鈥淭his is no ordinary road鈥攊t鈥檚 an industrial corridor through intact forests and Alaskan landscapes long enough to connect Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia. Moreover, it would divide the migration route of the Western Arctic Caribou Herd, causing irreversible damage,鈥� said Athan Manuel, director of the Sierra Club’s Lands Protection Program, in a .

Gates of the Arctic is one of eight official national parks in Alaska,听encompassing more than 8.5 million acres, making it the second largest in the U.S. after the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, also in Alaska. There are no roads into the park, so visitors must fly in a small aircraft often equipped with floats or tundra tires. Because there are no trails into the park, river crossings are also necessary for those hoping to hike in, according to the .

Caribou in the Gates of the Arctic undergo one of the largest migrations in Alaska through the Central Brooks Range to the north slope every summer, and south in the winter. For Alaskans who live a subsistence lifestyle, the National Park Service says 鈥渃aribou are a lifeline.鈥�

鈥淭hey are a main subsistence food source for Native residents in Arctic Alaska. Many of these subsistence users identify themselves as “caribou people,” revealing just how deeply rooted caribou are in the history, traditions, and psyche of the people in this region,鈥� NPS on its website.

, the White House said the road will enable access to previously mined minerals and spur the economy of the Last Frontier state. In addition to approving the project, the Whtie House also made the federal government a ten percent shareholder of Trilogy Metals, the mining company. Alaskan Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski have the reopening of the project.

The gravel road and mining project was approved in Trump鈥檚 first term in 2020, but was put on hold after conservation groups sued the administration, citing environmental concerns. The Biden administration later blocked the project after an analysis found future development would threaten caribou, other wildlife, and Alaska Native groups that rely on subsistence hunting and fishing.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will next be required to conduct environmental analysis and review. Because the permit was previously denied, the BLM will also need to provide a different interpretation of the proposal for approval.

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Two people drove themselves to a nearby emergency room after being attacked by a brown bear while hiking along the two-mile Exit Glacier Trail in Seward, Alaska.

, the incident happened on Wednesday, September 24.

Alaska State Troopers say they received a report from a local hospital just after 9 P.M., after the duo was admitted to the emergency room.

鈥淏oth individuals had to fight off the bear and sustained non-life-threatening injuries,鈥� wrote .

The incident occurred within the boundaries of Kenai Fjords National Park, renowned for its glaciers and diverse wildlife.

There is no cell service in Kenai Fjords National Park. Following the attack, the two hikers, who reportedly suffered non-life-threatening injuries, were in stable condition.

Officials told 国产吃瓜黑料 that local biologists and Alaska Wildlife Troopers returned to the area the following day to find DNA evidence that could be used to identify the bear, but were unable to find any, Jeff Selinger, management coordinator with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, told 国产吃瓜黑料 in an email. Authorities do not know what prompted the attack.

Following the attack, the Kenai Fjords National Park Superintendent and local Alaska State Troopers and surrounding areas. It’s unclear when the trails will reopen to the public.

鈥淭his incident remains under investigation in collaboration with Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Department of Fish and Game. There are no further details to share at this time,鈥� wrote the National Park Service in a .

In an interview with the Kenai Peninsula public radio station , Selinger said that determining the motivation of a bear attack helps to inform how authorities handle a bear if it鈥檚 caught.

鈥淥ne of the big things we try to determine, and you know, it’s not always possible, is whether it was a defensive attack by the bear, for example, a sow protecting cubs, or if it’s a predatory attack, where you know the bear is attacking the person you know looking at them as鈥攖o consume them,鈥� he told KDLL.

In a defensive attack, for example, authorities may hang signs to warn people of a potentially violent animal. In some rare instances, the bear may be euthanized.

The Exit Glacier area is home to a network of trails that lead to views of the glacier. Bears and moose frequently inhabit the and wildlife officials remind visitors always to practice bear safety.

鈥淏别 to help avoid surprise bear encounters. Kenai Fjords National Park recommends carrying bear spray and knowing how to use it,鈥� wrote NPS.

The most accessible glacier on the Kenai Peninsula, Exit Glacier is the only part of Kenai Fjords National Park where visitors can drive to the trailhead鈥攁nd only during the summer.

Bears are typically most active in the fall months when they undergo hyperphagia, consuming an enormous amount of calories in preparation for their winter hibernation.

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The battle of the chonk is back, and Alaska’s Fat Bear Week is officially in full swing.

Hundreds of thousands of fish have returned to the salmon runs of Alaska鈥檚 Katmai National Park and Preserve to spawn, and with them, the fat bears. For weeks now, the region鈥檚 brown bears have been gorging on salmon in the Brooks River, packing on the pounds as they compete for the title of fattest bear鈥攁n honor that comes with social media fame.

Fat Bear Week, a March Madness-style contest that pits a dozen of the state鈥檚 beloved brown bears against one another in single-elimination brackets, is now in its eleventh year. Over that time, it has grown from a cheeky one-day event created by a former park ranger to a global sensation, with thousands of people from around the world monitoring the live camera streams beaming out the bears from the Brooks River and Brook Falls.

More than one million people voted in last year鈥檚 contest for the bear they thought had succeeded in putting on the most weight鈥攇enerally a best guess from before and after images since there is no final weigh-in. This year鈥檚 ursine champion will be crowned on September 30.

Salmon numbers along the Brooks River are especially high this year, organizers say, surpassing anything seen in recent memory. With the bears already displaying an impressive heft, the National Park Service and decided to kick things off a few weeks ahead of the contest鈥檚 usual October timing.

Although around 100 bears arrive at Brooks River every year to fatten up, only 11 are featured in the 2025 Fat Bear Week. A few fan favorites have already returned to the limelight, including 2023 and 2024 winner Grazer鈥攖he first mother bear to ever win the contest who is now raising her third litter.

Last year鈥檚 1,200-pound runner-up, Chunk, is also back. He turned up to the river in June with a broken jaw, suggesting he had been injured in a fight with another bear. That might make him less competitive this year, but so far, park staff say he has adjusted his behavior to avoid other large males, and learned to eat salmon without the full use of his mandible.

Notably absent is Otis,听a four-time winner famous for his fishing strategy of patiently sitting on the shore of the Brooks River to scoop up fish, rather than hunting in the water. But Otis is鈥攐r was鈥攏earing the age of 30, the end of a bear鈥檚 lifespan in the wild. He also failed to turn up to Brooks River last year, causing rangers to speculate he may have already passed.

Still, there are plenty of chubby newcomers in the mix this year, ranging from young males to single females battling for the bulge.

Vying for the honor of being named the chonkiest bear is about much more than stardom for these bruins. Fat means survival. And in this arena, Katmai鈥檚 bears are better at bulking up than almost anyone else.

Why Bears Feast Every Fall

When the bears arrive at Alaska鈥檚 salmon springs in early August, they are entering a physiological state known by scientists as 鈥攁 frenzied period of gathering food and gorging before the long, cold winter arrives. Scarfing down as many calories as possible allows the bears to survive hibernation when they won鈥檛 eat for months.

Many species like to load up on calories when food is plentiful in the late summer and early fall. It鈥檚 what drives squirrels to collect nuts and urban black bears to rummage through garbage with increased vigor.

鈥淪ome animals store food as food, like squirrels and chipmunks and pikas. But others store it as fat. And that鈥檚 what bears are specialized to do,鈥� says bear biologist , who has spent more than 40 years studying grizzlies in British Columbia. “They鈥檝e got to make hay when the sun shines. A bear can store a season of abundant food in fat.鈥�

In Alaska, though, everything is ramped up a notch.

鈥淏别ars on salmon streams have that enormous pulse of energy and protein that indeed allows them to max out their intake and fat storage capability,鈥� says , director of research at Washington State University鈥檚 Bear Center, who studies the nutritional requirements of bears.

While Kodiak brown bears and polar bears are larger than Katmai鈥檚 brown bears, bear in the park听gain the most weight proportionally in a concentrated period of time. During the peak of the salmon runs, a single bear will eat between 10 and 40 salmon per day, or about 112 pounds of salmon, explains Robbins. That would be equivalent to a human consuming around 30 pounds of salmon every day.

An adult male bear can therefore easily go from around 700 pounds at the start of the fishing season to toppling more than 1,200 pounds.

Part of the appeal of Fat Bear Week is that its contestants are roughly on equal footing. There are no men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 finals to split up the bruins. Male bears are nearly twice the size of females, but both can rapidly balloon up from their individual starting weights.

Over the past decade, three winners have been female鈥擥razer, Beadnose,听and Holly鈥攁nd two have been male鈥擮tis and 747.

鈥淎ll brown bears try to max out their intake and weight gain in the fall,鈥� says Robbins. 鈥淭his is driven evolutionarily by the fact that the largest males do most of the breeding, and the fattest females have the highest probability of producing surviving cubs.鈥�

Still, some female bears can hit the glass ceiling of Alaska鈥檚 salmon streams, missing out on the best fishing positions. Past research has found that females with cubs due to the risk of an aggressive male bear killing her young. In turn, those females tend to be significantly lighter and have a harder time in winter.

鈥淭he big dominant males hog the best sites,鈥� says McLellan. 鈥淪ometimes you鈥檙e watching them and you get mad at these guys because they are so fat, and catching so many fish, and the moms with cubs are having a hard time getting enough.鈥�

During Hibernation, Bears Lose Up To 40 Percent of Their Body Weight

Following the blubber blowout, Alaska鈥檚 fat bears will retreat from the spotlight to their winter dens, tucked into hillsides or under hollowed-out trees of Katmai. Here, they鈥檒l enter a deep, sleep-like state that runs from around late October to April.

During hibernation, bears lose an enormous amount of body weight. The bear鈥檚 heart rate drops. Its metabolic rate slows. It takes just one breath every minute. The bear does not eat, drink or defecate during this time. To sustain itself, the animal burns off stored fat. Its body recycles urea and other nitrogenous wastes into proteins to stave off muscle loss. By the end of hibernation, the bruin will have lost nearly a third of its body weight, without sacrificing muscle or bone density鈥攁 feat not possible in most other species.

Expectant females will wake around January or February to give birth in the den, caring for the cubs until they emerge later in spring for the green-up. Female bears experience a unique reproductive phenomenon known as “delayed implantation.” After mating, the fertilized embryo remains dormant and will only implant on the female鈥檚 uterine wall once she has accumulated enough body fat, about 20 percent, to get her and the pregnancy through hibernation and the cub-rearing stage.

If she doesn鈥檛 gain enough weight, her body reabsorbs the embryo. This allows for natural crowd control during bad food years.

鈥淔atter females produce cubs earlier and they produce either more milk or better quality milk,鈥� says Robbins. 鈥淭he combination of these two things means that cubs born to fatter females have longer to grow in the den before they emerge, they grow faster, and therefore they are larger when they come out of the den and are better able to stay with their mother.鈥�

Coming out of the den bigger and fatter than other bears also makes spring foraging easier, says McLellan, because the bears can stick closer to home.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 often the time when males kill cubs,鈥� he says. 鈥淚f females can stay in a remote basin and not eat much through May and June, then her cubs will do well. But if she鈥檚 skinny and she has to go down where the food is best, then she takes the risk that others might kill her cubs.鈥�

Can’t get enough of fat bears? An听excellent way to pick your bear for each day of the bracket is to try to figure out which one speaks to you the most鈥攖he real you, if you were a bear lucky enough to live in the salmon-rich waters of Katmai. We鈥檝e made that process easier by building a quiz to help you determine your match.

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With 鈥攐ur highest of holidays honoring husky brown bears preparing for hibernation鈥� finally upon us, many of us ursid admirers dream of Alaskan brown bears gorging on salmon with a beautiful waterfall as a backdrop. That certainly describes , widely considered to be the bruin-viewing capital of the world, but there鈥檚 also a little-known alternative off the coast of Juneau that offers similar scenery and bear action, with only a fraction of the visitors.

Throughout summer and into the early days of autumn, brown bears congregate in streams and rivers along the Alaskan coast to feast on the returning salmon. Perhaps the most famous spot is Brooks Falls, where millions watch a popular , while thousands of others make a pilgrimage to the famous spot themselves.

鈥淚t was a surreal experience,鈥� says Bay Area resident Guang Yang, who visited Brooks Falls in 2021 with his wife Lu Fan. 鈥淚 saw around 15 bears at the falls and actually ran into two on the trail from just a couple of feet away. I stepped into the bushes to hide myself and they just passed by. Seeing them up close, in their natural habitat, is hard to beat.鈥�

鈥淭he closest comparison to this experience is an African safari,鈥� Des Moines resident Ojas Gokhale says. 鈥淵ou’re as close as one can get to a wild animal in a controlled, yet natural, environment. We were close enough to hear the bears breathing, walking on the same trails they used. I never felt scared鈥� maybe I should have鈥攂ut my adrenaline was pumping every time a bear got close. There’s a primitive instinct that makes you feel alert, aware, and in awe when you encounter such powerful animals in their home.鈥�

But with Brooks Falls鈥� immense popularity comes challenges. Visitors cram in shoulder to shoulder with other visitors on the viewing platforms, all angling for that iconic shot of a salmon leaping into a waiting bear鈥檚 mouth. During the busiest times of the day, rangers are forced to cycle visitors from the front of the viewing platform to the back every 15-30 minutes, so everyone gets a turn. Day trips can be pricey, and you鈥檙e not guaranteed to get a date matching up with your vacation plans.

An Uncrowded Alternative to Brook Falls, ‘The Bear-Viewing Capital of the World’

There are, however, alternatives to Brooks Falls. The heaviest concentration of brown bears in the world is found on a trio of islands that鈥檚 only a 20-minute float plane ride from Juneau. Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof Islands average about a bear a square mile. Known by the native Tling铆t people as Kootznoowoo鈥攚hich translates to “fortress of the bears” in English鈥擜dmiralty Island alone is home to more than 1,600 brown bears, roughly the combined.听 allows 24 visitors or fewer a day to its Pack Creek viewing area, .

But on nearby Chichagof Island, there鈥檚 another, somewhat secret spot offering even closer glimpses at bears鈥� daily lives. Called Waterfall Creek by the handful of guide companies that make the 20-minute float plane trek during the salmon run, it may be the best alternative to Brooks Falls to see truly wild brown bears. Like Brooks Falls and Pack Creek, visitors can only reach it by boat or plane. Unlike those two spots, it鈥檚 completely wild, with no designated viewing areas or rangers to keep you safe.

I鈥檝e been obsessed with brown bears for much of my life, but things really got kickstarted when I visited Katmai National Park for the first time more than seven years ago. Since then, I鈥檝e had dozens of bear encounters throughout North America and even got certified as a bear guide. So of course, I had to experience this new spot for myself.

I met guide Matt Brodsky in downtown Juneau along with four other guests before driving to the airport鈥檚 float plane runway, where we boarded a de Havilland Beaver for our 20-minute flight to Waterfall Creek. It was low tide when we touched down on the eastern coast of Chichagof Island; that was by design, according to Wild Coast Excursions owner Peter Nave.

鈥淎rriving at low tide, we have more land to use when hiking to our viewing spot and gives the bears more room to walk around us,鈥� Nave says.

We hiked about a quarter-mile, dodging the occasional pile of scat and watching an adolescent bear ramble along the opposite shore. Staying low and quiet, we made our way to a sandy knoll around the size of a living room, where two rough-hewn benches sat. This would be our bear-watching spot for the next three hours.

The main area where bears congregate at Waterfall Creek is not quite the size of a football field. In addition to the bear we saw during our hike in, we spied about a dozen other bears, including two mamas with a pair of cubs each. It was fascinating to see the interactions between the bears, particularly the mamas trying to keep their cubs safe and fed. They would give some bears a wide birth, while other interactions resulted in stare-offs and the occasional warning snarl. On several occasions, we watched a mama catch a pink salmon, only for one of her cubs to snatch it away and gorge on it themselves. Every now and then I鈥檇 glance over to one of my fellow travelers compatriots to see if they had the same awestruck, goofy grin as me.

There were so many salmon flooding the creek, the bears seemingly only had to stick their massive paws into the water to scoop up another catch. When their stomachs were full, the bears would plod into the woods, sometimes walking past less than 10 yards away from our group. One bear was so close, I could see the blood and fish remnants hanging from its muzzle. Luckily, the bears have been habituated to humans over the years and are so full of fish, we鈥檙e incredibly safe.

Waterfall Creek: Wild Bear Viewing Without the Crowds

Hundreds of people a day visit Brooks Falls; during my visit to Waterfall Creek, there were less than 10. That鈥檚 pretty typical, according to both Nave and Yang, who visited Waterfall Creek earlier this year.

鈥淏rooks Falls provides better viewpoints with the bridge, the trails and the observation deck, [whereas] Waterfall Creek was just really raw, with little trace of human activity and just the three of us with the bears,鈥� Yang says.

During my visit, my group shared the tiny beach with an unguided couple who had likely come from a yacht docked off the island coast. While our guided group tried to stay as low-key as possible, the couple were constantly moving, dragging their tripod in every direction for better photographs and annoying some nearby bears. Eventually Brodsky had a quiet chat with the pair, pleading with them to be more inconspicuous. Nave says that鈥檚 a typical problem at the spot, adding that because the state-owned land isn鈥檛 staffed, it鈥檚 left to guides to police “bad behavior.” It鈥檚 not unusual for some annoyed bears to abandon the creek for days at a time after a bad encounter.

That鈥檚 one of the main reasons why the guide companies try to keep Waterfall Creek鈥檚 location somewhat of a secret from the masses, Nave says. Only a few companies run guided tours there, while a few small cruise ships will send in small zodiacs to watch from the water. There鈥檚 no permit or guide requirement, so virtually anyone with a boat or a sea plane can just show up.

鈥淲e鈥檙e sensitive to the area鈥檚 fragility,鈥� Nave says. 鈥淭his is truly a wild, magical place and we feel like we鈥檙e the guardians of it.鈥�

After more than three hours of watching the bears, it was time to meet our returning float plane. I offered a mild protest, pleading for just a few more minutes like a tween wanting to finish their video game before bedtime. Brodsky offered to leave me there overnight, which I strongly considered, until he reminded me that our spot would be underwater during high tide in several hours. Next time, I鈥檒l bring a snorkel.

Best Time to Go

I opted to go with , but there are at least two other companies that offer guided day trips to Waterfall Creek. Expect to pay about $1,000 per person for a half-day visit.

Waterfall Creek tours typically run late July to early September. Pack Creek trips typically begin in June and run until early- to mid-September.

Safety Tips to Keep in Mind

Unless you have a great deal of experience with Alaskan brown bears, don鈥檛 attempt an unguided visit to Chichagof Island.

Listen to your guide. Most are trained to read bear behavior and can warn you before an unsafe situation unfolds. They鈥檒l also be armed with bear spray, just in case.

Make a little noise (casual conversation is perfect) on the hike in and out; keep quiet and inconspicuous after reaching your viewing spot.

Don鈥檛 carry any food or food-scented products such as like flavored lip balm when visiting.

Guides carry bear spray, but according to Brodsky, he鈥檚 never had to use it.

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To get to Glacier Bay National Park, you have to fly or swim. Measuring more than 5,000 square miles, the Southeastern Alaska park is only accessible by air or water, and visitors typically arrive in the area by boat from the tiny nearby town of Gustavus, just outside of Alaska鈥檚 capital city, Juneau.

Alaska has just documented a 鈥渂rand new鈥� island in Glacier Bay National Park after floodwater from the nearby Alsek Glacier surrounded a landmass known as Prow Knob.

At nearly 15 miles long, the Alsek Glacier in the park once encompassed the 5-square-mile Prow Knob. However, warming temperatures and increased glacial melt have caused freshwater to replace glacial ice, contributing to the growth of Alsek Lake around the strip of land.

NASA taken between 1984 and 2025 that show how far ice has retreated throughout the decades. In the early 20th century, the glacier ended about 3 miles from Prow Knob. Ice continued to melt throughout the century, and by 1984, the eastern side of Prow Knob had its first documented lakeshore. In August, the lakeshore expanded around the entire perimeter of Prow Knob.

Glaciers rely on snowpack to form and be maintained. As snow falls in the mountains, it compacts into ice and eventually slides downhill鈥攂ut more and more glaciers around the world are melting away. The National Park Service writes that centuries ago, an 鈥渆normous glacier, several miles wide and several thousand feet thick, covered most of Glacier Bay National Park.鈥� In the last 250 years, this glacier has retreated 65 miles to form Glacier Bay. Most of the are smaller pieces of the enormous glacier that once filled the region.

Alsek Glacier is just one example showing how glaciers are thinning. In August, residents of Juneau, Alaska, received evacuation warnings after glacial floodwater broke through a dam of glacial ice at Mendenhall Glacier. The , with the peak water level reaching nearly 16 feet.

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When Ben Weissenbach first landed in Anchorage in the summer of 2018, he considered himself pretty much invincible. Nothing could touch him; there was no situation he couldn鈥檛 charm, reason, or muscle his way out of. Looking back now, Weissenbach calls that feeling 鈥減ure hubris,鈥� the kind of confidence that shows up in your swagger when you鈥檙e a 20-something kid from Los Angeles for whom everything just seems to go right. That was before Alaska got ahold of him鈥攁nd turned his worldview upside-down.

This odyssey is the subject of Weissenbach鈥檚 new book: . It鈥檚 a spirited adventure tale complete with hair-raising bear encounters, weeks-long expeditions alongside grizzled ecologists, and late nights spent weighing the fate of the world around a guttering fire. But it鈥檚 also a profoundly thoughtful look at the way we all live our day-to-day lives鈥攁nd what our tech-saturated world could leave us missing.

The Allure of Alaska

When Weissenbach first planned his trip to Alaska in 2018, he never intended to get a book deal out of it. Mostly, he was just looking for an excuse to travel.

Like many young people, Weissenbach had been drawn to the far north by the romance of classic adventure tales鈥攕tories by the likes of Jack London, John Krakauer, and John McPhee. And though he鈥檇 only ever spent a handful of days in a tent, he managed to convince his school, Princeton University, to send him to Alaska for a research project on climate change. It was a trip for which he was entirely unprepared.

鈥淚n a lot of ways I had grown up experiencing the world through a screen. I think that鈥檚 true of a lot of kids my age,鈥� Weissenbach told 国产吃瓜黑料. 鈥淚 was part of the first generation to go through adolescence with front-facing cameras and social media. What was going on online often felt as real鈥攊f not more real鈥攖han whatever social interactions we were having in person.鈥� He grew up with the sense that the 鈥渞eal world鈥� was always somewhere else, a glossy, glowing image just out of reach. Weissenbach hopped on that plane to Alaska in part hoping to find it.

Unplugging鈥擝ig Time

What he discovered was a land that鈥檚 at once as raw and wild as it鈥檚 ever been鈥攁nd more impacted by human activity than any other corner of the planet. Despite its remoteness, Alaska faces some of the worst effects of climate change on earth. The experience opened Weissenbach鈥檚 eyes to both the harsh reality of a warming world and the inexorable joy that comes from unplugging, slowing down, and paying attention to the rhythms of the earth.

鈥淚 realized I had let technology invade my life so entirely that I didn鈥檛 know how to experience the world without it,鈥� he says. During his first days off-grid, he felt out of place and disoriented. But as the weeks ticked by, he sank into a deeper presence鈥攁nd discovered he was able to pay attention and see the world in ways he never imagined possible.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really hard to understand how different your mind can be when you鈥檙e off your phone and away from the internet for eleven weeks at a time,鈥� Weissenbach says. 鈥淢ost of us haven鈥檛 experienced that since we were toddlers. I was amazed at how different the texture of my mind was.鈥�

The experience changed the way Weissenbach sees our planet, and the way he sees his own habits. Of course, none of that wisdom was easily won.听

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Update:听On Wednesday, June 4, rangers at Denali National Park located and recovered the body of Alex Chiu, 41, of Seattle, Washington. In a statement from the park, officials said Chiu fell approximately 3,000 vertical feet from the West Buttress Route. His body has been transferred to the Alaska state medical examiner.听

A ski mountaineer is missing on Alaska鈥檚 20,310-foot Denali.

According to a , the 41-year-old skier, who hails from Washington State but has yet to be identified publicly, took a long, unroped fall on Monday, June 2, while on the West Buttress, the mountain鈥檚 standard route.

It was unclear if the missing climber鈥攚ho was on Denali with two companions鈥攚as climbing or descending the mountain when he fell, but the accident occurred at a location known as Squirrel Hill. The series of steep, windswept slopes which are frequently icy, are located at approximately 12,500 feet on the peak’s West Buttress.

According to the release, the skier fell off of this steep section and slid down and out of sight towards Peters Glacier, 鈥渁n exposed rocky and serac covered 3000-foot face.鈥� It鈥檚 unknown how far the climber ultimately fell, but when his partners rappelled down the face, they could neither see nor hear their fallen companion.

With no sign of their missing partner, the two survivors alerted search and rescue, and then descended the West Buttress route to Camp I at 7,800ft. As of Tuesday, June 3, the NPS reported that both ground and air search and rescue efforts for the missing climber were delayed 鈥渄ue to high winds and snow.鈥�

Denali (recently federally designated as Mount McKinley by the Trump Administration), is North America鈥檚 highest mountain, and one of the Seven Summits. The peak鈥檚 climbing season traditionally lasts from late April to early July, and this year roughly 1,000 climbers have secured permits to attempt the peak (a number that has been consistent year-on-year since the coronavirus pandemic). Nearly half of these permitted climbers are on the mountain currently.

Although the West Buttress is considered the easiest and most accessible route on Denali鈥攁nd is the route chosen by over 90 percent of Denali hopefuls鈥攊t still entails a variety of hazards, including navigating crevasse-filled glaciers, climbing steep snow and ice slopes up 40 degrees, and surmounting a technical headwall rising from 14,200 to 16,200 feet, which is typically protected by fixed ropes. The average expedition up and down the mountain takes nearly three weeks.

The published by the NPS, reported that of the 1,001 climbers who set foot on the mountain, 34 patients were assessed by mountaineering rangers and patrol volunteers, and 25 of these were eventually evacuated. Three of these climbers died on the mountain, two from long falls, and a third from exposure after becoming stuck in a snow cave near the summit.

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

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

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

Columbia River Gorge, Oregon and Washington

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

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

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

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

Anywhere on the Appalachian Trail

Why now: America鈥檚 legendary offers practically endless section-hiking opportunities come summer, and this year thethe nonprofit devoted to protecting and managing the trail, celebrates its centennial. Festivities are planned along the trail鈥檚 entire length, including in popular AT communities like Harrisonburg, Virginia (), and Hot Springs, North Carolina (May 2-3). But the primary event听is the ATC鈥檚 in Washington, D.C., on June 11, which is bringing together long-time supporters, partner organizations, and public officials to raise funds to protect the , the world鈥檚 longest hiking-only trail.

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

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

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

Big Sky, Montana

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

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

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

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

Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

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

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

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

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

The Erie Canal, New York

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

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

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

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

Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

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

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

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

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

Sonoma County, California

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

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

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

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

Denver, Colorado

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

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

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

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

Nantucket, Massachusetts

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

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

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

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

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska

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

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

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

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

Chattanooga, Tennessee

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

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

Pro tip: 听For traditional climbers, the in Prentice-Cooper State Forest is widely considered one of the best climbing areas in the country.

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

Maui, Hawaii

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

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

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

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

Boise, Idaho

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

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

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

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

Traverse City, Michigan

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

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

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

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

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

The post The Best Summer Weekend Trips of 2025 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Don鈥檛 get me wrong, I love a good campsite. But sometimes after a big day of adventure, I crave the comfort and ease of a great hotel with a friendly staff, farm-to-table meals, gear rentals, and maybe even a sauna and cold plunge. Both in the U.S. and abroad, a plethora of brands are catering to guests who love the outdoors, such as glamping masters Under Canvas and community-centric LOGE camps.

But we all have limited vacation time and need to pick our getaway stays thoughtfully. As someone who’s on the road half the year, I can assure you that these are worth traveling for.

The newest outposts that excite me most are popping up in perfect locations, from the doorsteps of popular national parks听 to some urban gems bringing nature indoors with innovative biophilic design. Here鈥檚 my hotel hot list for 2025.

Snow Peak Campfield Long Beach

Long Beach, Washington

I鈥檝e long been a fan of the Japanese gear company , not only for its design-minded outdoor equipment, but also the creative ways it brings its brand to life. For example, the company flagship in Portland, Oregon, features an excellent, wood-fire-focused Japanese restaurant, Tabiki.

Across Japan you can stay overnight at 13 Snow Peak campgrounds, but last summer the company debuted its on Washington鈥檚 rugged Long Beach Peninsula, 110 miles west of Portland near the mouth of the Columbia River. The 25-acre site鈥攏o surprise鈥攆eels like an outdoor concept store, showcasing Snow Peak products like folding chairs and fire pits. Book one of 48 campsites and bring your own gear (or rent theirs), or glamp it up in spacious tent suites or minimalist wooden Jyubako cabins (the latter for up to two adults and two kids) designed by Japanese starchitect Kengo Kuma.

The area is full of adventure options, like kayaking Willapa Bay and hiking in Cape Disappointment State Park. My plan is to visit this winter specifically to enjoy long soaking sessions in the camp鈥檚 onsen-inspired .

Price:听Campsites from $77, tent suites from $119, and Jyubako cabins from $219

Populus

Denver

may be downtown, but the property鈥檚 biophilic design is meant to make guests feel as if they鈥檝e entered a large grove of aspens (Populus tremuloides), with 365 eye-shaped windows that allow light to filter in. The nature immersion continues at every step: the front desk is crafted from fallen cottonwood trees, the soundtrack of birdsong recorded in nearby Estes Park plays in the elevators, and the lobby bar is adorned with hanging reishi mushroom skins.

The hotel opened in October as the nation鈥檚 first carbon-positive hotel. It boasts 100 percent renewable-energy, eco-friendly materials, like low-carbon concrete and leather made from reishi mushrooms, and a biodigester that composts all of its food waste, which is then returned to local farmers. Moreover, the property plants a spruce tree in Colorado for every night booked.

Its sustainable initiatives convinced me to stay, and the friendly service, stellar farm-focused food, outpost of Little Owl Coffee, and welcoming coworking space and gym have given me many reasons to return. The Populus also overlooks Civic Center Park, where the 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival and Summit will take place from May 30 to June 1, and ticket holders get special deals on rooms booked here through .

Price:听From $299

Under Canvas Yosemite

Near Groveland, California

Scoring camping reservations in Yosemite can feel like winning the lottery. Don鈥檛 want to gamble? Treat yourself to a cushy stay at the new , slated to debut May 15 with 71 tents just ten minutes from the park鈥檚 west entrance on Route 120.

The upscale glamping brand is known for hotel-worthy touches like West Elm furnishings in its spacious safari tents and daily programming that might include yoga classes or nightly s鈥檓ores sessions. This 85-acre site is no exception.

You don鈥檛 even have to deal with the stress of taking your car into the park itself鈥攖his Under Canvas location is across from a Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) stop with regular park service to three major destinations.

Return at day鈥檚 end to a menu of California cuisine served beneath soaring black oaks and live music by the campfire. Families will love the El Capitan Suite鈥� two connecting tents, each with ensuite bathrooms; it can sleep up to six people.

Price: From $319

Firefall Ranch at Yosemite

Near Groveland, California

The Yosemite area has never had more choice for boutique accommodations, and this is another property on Route 120 I鈥檓 eager to recommend. The 300-acre opened last summer and is made for the active crowd. You can look forward to a spacious saltwater pool (complete with shave-ice service), forest disc golf, bouldering, and beach volleyball.

Pick up picnic supplies at the on-site general store or dine at the casual tavern or more ambitious restaurant, YOVA, which features dishes like salmon and caviar and boar chops, complimented by an impressive wine list.

For families, roomy accommodations include 55 standalone one- and two-bedroom cottages or three-bedroom villas with private decks and indoor-outdoor gas fireplaces.

Fun fact: this property was a stop on the original stagecoach route to Yosemite in the 1870s.

Price: From $650

Yellowstone Peaks Hotel

Island Park, Idaho

Wyoming and Montana are most often associated with America鈥檚 first national park. But 1 percent of Yellowstone鈥檚 2.2 million acres lies within Idaho (an underrated state for adventure, in my humble opinion). The park鈥檚 west entrance is just 30 minutes away from the small town of Island Park, which听 recently welcomed the family-owned .

The property鈥檚 19 Scandi-inspired accommodations are the epitome of cabin porn. Each A-frame cabin can accommodate up to six guests and has its own cedar-wood-fired soaking tub. There鈥檚 also a communal area with saunas and cold plunges.

While proximity to the park may lure you here, its location across the street from the fly-fishing mecca that is Henry鈥檚 Fork River will appeal to anglers. Nearby but off-the-radar attractions include the Caribbean-esque Wade Lake and the 114-foot-tall cascades of Mesa Falls.

Price: From $440 per night, two-night minimum

Cascada

Portland, Oregon

Portland is home to plenty of nature fixes, but the newest is the underground thermal-springs experience at the recently opened, 100-room (pronounced cascade) hotel in the Alberta Arts District. The Conservatory, the heart of the thermal-springs area, was designed by landscape experts, including members of the Portland Botanical Garden, and features a with a 25-foot-tall living wall and rare flora planted throughout the space.

Soak and socialize in the mineral-infused vitality pool, or complete a sauna, steam, and ice-bath hydrotherapy circuit in the silent sanctuary space. If you鈥檙e passing through the city en route to a wilderness adventure, you can still enjoy a soak, but you鈥檒l need a reservation ($100 for two and a half hours). You can feel good about knowing that Cascada is committed to using ethically sourced spa products.听Rounding things out are an excellent restaurant, Terra Mae, that fuses the flavors of Portugal and Japan (think: tonkatsu and linguica croquettes), as well as zero-waste kitchen practices.

Guest rooms feature kitchenettes, balconies, and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Price: From $299

Edgecamp Pamlico Station

Outer Banks, North Carolina

One of my goals this year is to improve my kiteboarding skills, and I can鈥檛 imagine a better place to get back on the water than the Outer Banks. With steady winds, an abundance of sandy beaches, and calm, shallow sounds, it lives up to its nickname as the kiteboarding capital of the East Coast.

Professional kiteboarder Rita Arnaus takes off in Pamlico Sound. (Video: Courtesy Edgecamp Pamlico Station)

Thanks to the recent debut of , a 14-suite boutique hotel at Edgecamp Sporting Club on windswept Hatteras Island, travelers finally have a stylish base that offers everything from an on-site kiteboarding school with equipment rentals and lessons to a wellness deck boasting a sauna, cold plunge, and hot tub.

I love that the suites feel like residences, each with a full kitchen, washer and dryer, living room, wood-burning fireplace, and work desk. And after a day of kiting, you鈥檒l appreciate having in-room amenities like a Therabody massage gun and foam roller at your disposal.

Price: From $189

Trailborn Grand Canyon

Williams, Arizona

I鈥檓 embarrassed to admit that, for as much traveling as I do, I still haven鈥檛 visited the Grand Canyon. I really have no excuse now that , a new outdoorsy-focused hotel brand, is opening its fourth location in the town of Williams. The 96-room hotel is just down the road from the Grand Canyon Railway, the train that deposits visitors at the South Rim entrance of the national park.

Trailborn has partnered with hiking outfitter to run guided excursions in the park, like a private day hike along the challenging, eight-mile round-trip听 ($600) or a group excursion that takes in the South Rim鈥檚 greatest hits, like the ($340).

On property, a saloon-style Camp Hall hosts free concerts, movies, and bingo nights, and for $35 families can have their room transformed into a camping-inspired slumber party. This spring the property will open Miss Kitty鈥檚 steakhouse and bar.

Price: From $175

Check availability on Expedia.com

The Wildbirch Hotel

Anchorage, Alaska

For years I viewed Anchorage as nothing more than a gateway to epic wilderness adventures. When a cancelled flight stranded me in the city for 24 hours, I discovered that, actually, Anchorage was a destination in its own right, home to seriously great restaurants, a cool urban-arts scene, and a 500-plus-mile trail network that connects some 200 green spaces.

In听 April, the city will get its first true boutique hotel when the opens in the Mushing District. The 252-room property will showcase works by local craftspeople, such as carved topographic maps that double as headboards, and an art collection curated by the nearby Anchorage Museum. An on-site brewery, outdoor decks with fire pits, and sweeping views of Mount Susitna and Knik Arm are sure to attract just as many locals as visitors.

With the world-class salmon fishing of Ship Creek steps away and guest rooms that overlook the ceremonial starting line of the Iditarod sled-dog race, held each March, you can鈥檛 ask for a better address.

Price: From $199

LOGE

St. George, Utah

During the height of the pandemic, I rooted for a few fledgling brands. , which is pronounced 鈥渓odge鈥� and stands for Live 国产吃瓜黑料, Go Explore, is one of them. The original LOGE Camp launched in 2017 in coastal Westport, Washington, and I loved its adult-summer-camp vibes and affordability.

There are camp or RV sites, or choose from a variety of room configurations. All the gear and amenities you could wish for are available to rent, from Traeger grills to Wave Bandit and Lib Tech surfboards. The brand launched similar concepts in mountain towns in the Pacific Northwest, and I鈥檓 stoked to see it expanding into the Southwest in 2025. I鈥檝e marked my calendar for early February, when LOGE St. George starts taking bookings for its April opening.

The hotel will be a sweet base camp less than two miles southwest from the heart of the city. Perks include a hot tub, pool, and mountain-bike rentals, and the trails of nearby Zion National Park and Snow Canyon State Park are a short drive away.

Later this year, LOGE will open a handful of East Coast properties. Host towns include Asheville, North Carolina; the Catskills of New York; Mount Snow, Vermont; and Southport, Maine.

Price: From $137

Foreign Properties I Have My Eye On

The Caribbean and Mexico

Salterra Resort and Spa

On February 15, American Airlines will introduce direct flights twice a week from Miami to South Caicos in the Turks and Caicos. Around the same time, this up-and-coming island will welcome , a sustainably minded hotel that will offer adventures like kiteboarding, bonefishing, kayaking, and diving. But it doesn鈥檛 come cheap.

Price: From $1,300

Hotel Humano

I鈥檝e been plotting a surf mission to Puerto Escondido and am hoping to base myself at the new , located steps from famous Zicatela Beach (a.k.a. the Mexican Pipeline).

Price: From $190

Amet

On a recent trip to Cabo San Lucas, a guide clued me in to , an intimate new nature retreat in the town of Santiago on Baja鈥檚 Central Cape. You can choose between suites or glamping tents, and excursions range from hikes to nearby hot springs to ATV drives to waterfalls.

Price: From $315

Argentina

Glamping Los Palmares

El Impenetrable National Park in northern Argentina is a wilderness mecca, home to giant anteaters and jaguars, as well as a swath of Gran Chaco, one of the world鈥檚 fastest disappearing forests.听 recently opened on the park鈥檚 northern border with just four tents overlooking the Bermejo River.

Price: From $359, all-inclusive

Finland

Kotona Manor

If you鈥檝e jumped on the cool-cation travel trend, you should have Finland on your travel list and in particular. The family-owned, 11-suite waterfront property will听 debut in the Lakeland region this summer. Seasonal activities range from bear watching to snowmobiling and sailing.

Price: From $1,530

Madagascar

Voaara

One of my favorite far-flung places is Madagascar, and not just for the mind-boggling amount of biodiversity but also for the amazing, crowd-free adventures, like kiteboarding, freediving, snorkeling, and hiking. I visited last December and got a sneak peek at the newly opened , a barefoot luxe hotel on idyllic Isle St. Marie, just off the country鈥檚 northeast coast. Guests can snorkel the vibrant house reefs, whale-watch with the resident marine biologist from June to September, and learn to wing foil with pro surfer Willow Hardy.

Price: $1,230

Jen Murphy is an 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine correspondent and frequent contributor to 国产吃瓜黑料 Online. (Most recently, she wrote a guide to maximizing winter fun in Colorado鈥檚 mountain towns and reviewed the best compression socks for long-haul flights.) Murphy has been lucky enough to stay in some of the world鈥檚 best hotels, both rustic and luxe, and believes that warm service truly makes a stay.

The post 16 New Outdoor-国产吃瓜黑料 Hotels We Can鈥檛 Wait to Visit appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Many of America鈥檚 63 national parks charge an entrance fee, usually $30-$35 per vehicle or $15 if you鈥檙e walking or on a bike. Or you can get an for just $80. The fee covers you for seven days, and the money goes to a good cause: according to the NPS, 80 percent is used within the park, helping to improve trails, campsites, and roads, and 20 percent goes to other park sites. And there are six or so .

You can also have a national-park experience for free another way, by visiting one of the 20 national parks that don鈥檛 charge an entrance fee ever. Come and go as you please without dropping a dime. Many of them are among our least-visited national parks, which means you might have these landscapes to yourself.

These are the 20 national parks that are free to visit every day. If you’re wondering whether these are good ones, they鈥檙e not鈥攖hey鈥檙e great ones.

1. Biscayne National Park, Florida

A coastal park located in south Florida where the mainland transitions to the Keys, Biscayne National Park is a collection of islands, mangroves, coral reefs, and open water that鈥檚 largely inaccessible except by boat. While entering the park doesn鈥檛 cost a thing, if you鈥檙e bringing a boat and want to anchor at certain areas, expect a $25 docking fee on weekends and holidays.

Best Time to Visit: Summer is hot and buggy (with temps in the 90s and mosquitoes), and hurricanes are possible in the fall. Shoot for winter, when temps hover in the mid 70s and the storms and bugs are dormant.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料: Biscayne Bay is known for its shipwrecks, and the Mandalay, a schooner that sank in the 鈥�60s, is one of the top sites, as the hull sits in shallow enough water to be seen by snorkelers as well as divers. This wreck is part of the which includes five others. Don鈥檛 want to spend your time underwater? Head to Boca Chita Key, also part of the park, a 32-acre island with camping ($25 a night, first-come, first-served), hiking, and a lighthouse. The half-mile trail that circumnavigates the small island leads to its beaches.

2. Channel Islands National Park, California

Channel Islands National Park encompasses five rugged islands in the Pacific Ocean about 30 miles off the coast of Los Angeles. If you ever wondered what Southern California would look like without the development and traffic, this is it. The park is full of remote beaches, steep cliffs, expansive meadows, and pristine forests.

Best Time to Visit: Summer, as the water and air temps are both in the 70s, a little cooler than most of Southern California but still warm, so you can make the most of those beaches scattered throughout the park.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料: I hit Channel Islands last summer as part of a seven-day adventure cruise, but the easiest way (compared to arriving via seaplane or private boat) to reach the park is by ferry, with (day trips from $96). Get dropped off on Santa Rosa Island and hike the 12-mile out-and-back to Skunk Point, a prominent peninsula with sand dunes and cliffs jutting into the Pacific. You鈥檒l pass rare Torrey pines, a gnarled-looking, wind-twisted type of tree only found on the Channel Islands and in La Jolla on the mainland, and have copious views of the ocean and island along the way.

Or book a sea-kayaking tour with and paddle to sea caves and gaze at natural rock arches (from $145 per person).

3. Congaree National Park, South Carolina

You could say Congaree National Park is a swamp, and you wouldn鈥檛 be wrong, but the word doesn鈥檛 do the place justice. The 26,692-acre Congaree holds the largest intact old-growth bottom-wood forest in the South, boasting trophy-sized loblolly pines and cypress that rise straight from the water. The same forest has one of the tallest canopies in the eastern United States, with an average tree height of more than 100 feet.

Best Time to Visit: Avoid summer because of the sweltering heat and bugs. Winter and spring are fine, but you might as well show up in the fall when the weather is perfect, the rivers are full from seasonal rains, and the hardwoods, like tupelos and sweet gums, are popping with color.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料: Most of the fun in Congaree is water-based, so bring a canoe or paddle board and slowly make your way through the , a 15-mile marked 鈥減ath鈥� that winds through old-growth cypress. The current is mellow enough to paddle up or downstream, so you don鈥檛 need a shuttle.

4. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

An oasis of public land sandwiched between the bustling cities of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley holds 33,000 acres of forest and historic farmland surrounding the Cuyahoga River. What the park lacks in towering peaks or grand vistas, it makes up for in waterways, waterfalls, and cultural significance; you can ride your bike beside the Ohio and Erie Canal, which connected the Ohio River with Lake Erie, key to the country鈥檚 western expansion during the early 1800s.

Best Time to Visit: It鈥檚 a four-season park (although winters can be cold and snowy), and I could make an argument for every season. Fall brings bright foliage, and spring is mild and uncrowded, but show up in summer and you can take advantage of the many farmers鈥� markets in and around the park. The Cuyahoga Valley is still a very active agricultural hub of the Midwest.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料: You have to bike at least a section of the , a 100-mile crushed-gravel trail that follows the Ohio and Erie Canal. Roughly 20 miles of the Towpath sit inside the park, passing through small towns and meadows full of wildflowers, like trillium and bloodroot, with deer and foxes along the way.

5. Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Want remote wilderness? Go to Alaska, then keep heading north into the Brooks Range, and you鈥檒l find Gates of the Arctic, a 13,000-square-mile expanse of mountains and river valleys north of the Arctic Circle. There are no roads in Gates of the Arctic, nor a visitor center or gift shop, nor even established trails. Just herds of caribou, the glow of the northern lights, and several federally designated Wild and Scenic Rivers winding through the tundra. 听

Best Time to Visit: Hands down, summer has the warmest temps, as well as rivers that are full from snowmelt and a landscape that comes alive as everything from wildflowers to grizzly bears makes the most of the sunshine. There鈥檚 plenty of that, too; you鈥檙e so far north, you can expect daylight for up to a month at a time in the summer.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料: Try, if you can, to see this park from the hull of a boat. Consider paddling the Noatak, a sinuous river that鈥檚 carved a broad valley through the Brooks Range. You鈥檇 plan for a 10-day canoe-camping trip, with mostly calm water and a few stretches of class II rapids on the 60-mile section inside the park. You鈥檒l float past meadows full of alpine sunflowers and snow buttercups, fish for arctic char, and keep an eye out for grizzlies, wolves, and Dall sheep ( from $8,900).

6. Gateway Arch National Park, Missouri

Gateway Arch isn鈥檛 like other national parks on this list. It鈥檚 an urban park, located in St. Louis, that was originally set aside to commemorate the cultural significance of our country鈥檚 push westward. It鈥檚 only 91 acres, tucked into the banks of the Mississippi River, and has the 630-foot Gateway Arch as its centerpiece. Fun fact: this is the tallest arch in the U.S. Inside the park are five miles of paved trails for walking and running along the Mississippi.

Best Time to Visit: Show up in fall or spring, when the weather is mild and the crowds are minimal.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料: Really, ride the tram to the top of the arch. The journey takes you through the structure鈥檚 hollow legs and ends at a viewing platform with a panorama of the Mississippi River and its many bridges below. The only catch? The ride will cost you $19.

7. Great Basin National Park, Nevada

It takes some effort to reach Great Basin National Park, in eastern Nevada roughly 285 miles north of Las Vegas, but once you鈥檙e there, you won鈥檛 need to contend with crowds. Only 140,000 people a year venture to Great Basin, compared to 14 million visitors for Great Smoky Mountains National Park听in 2023. Yet Great Basin has towering 13,000-foot peaks; groves of shimmering aspen as well as old-growth bristlecone pines, which are believed to be the oldest known tree species in the world; and a fascinating system of caves to explore.

Best Time to Visit: Much of the park can be inaccessible during winter, when the 12-mile Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, which ascends from 6,700 to 10,180 feet in elevation, is unplowed but open to skiers and snowshoers, and there are various other winter closures. So going between late spring and early fall is your best bet. Late summer will give you the best chance for snow-free trails.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料: The cave tours are popular, but I say hike to the top of 13,063-foot Wheeler Peak, where views of the Great Basin Desert, the only 鈥渃old鈥� desert in America鈥攖he precipitation comes from snow鈥攕tretch in every direction for 100 miles on a clear day. It鈥檚 a 6.1-mile that gains 3,000 feet, much of which is above tree line, so take it slowly if you鈥檙e coming from sea level. Interested in something milder? Hike the 2.7-mile , which brings you to the edges of Teresa and Stella Lakes, both pools surrounded by evergreens.

8. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee

This is the most popular national park in the country, with, as said above, some 14 million visitors annually. Fortunately, there are 500,000 acres of mountains in Great Smoky Mountains National Park听for all those people to explore, with more than 900 miles of trail that access 6,000-foot peaks, pristine trout streams, and historic farming valleys.

Best Time to Visit: There鈥檚 no bad time to hit GSMNP. The foliage goes nuts come fall, winter can bring snow and solitude, and spring is budding with renewed life鈥ut I like summer in the Smokies. Sure, some parts of the park are crowded, but the temperatures are perfect for splashing in the waterfalls and swimming holes.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料: Most visitors stick to the scenic Newfound Gap Road and its short nature trails, but I recommend hiking the 11-mile out-and-back up to LeConte Lodge, a backcountry inn on top of the 6,000-foot peak of the same name. Some sections of the trail are so exposed you use cables for safety, and you鈥檒l pass through Alum Cave, a rock overhang with a long-range view into the park. If you can鈥檛 score overnight reservations at the lodge, purchase a sack lunch from the kitchen for a picnic in some quiet spot with a view before heading back down to the trailhead.

9. Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas

An aerial view shows Hot Springs Bathhouse Row, Hot Springs National Park, Garland County, Arkansas, in summer amid the region’s green hills. Video courtesy Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism

Forget rugged cliffs or backcountry lakes. Hot Springs National Park protects a small town that was built on top of thermal springs that attracted travelers for centuries before the area ever became a national park. Today, you鈥檒l find two brick bathhouses for soaking your weary muscles and public fountains where you can fill a jug with natural spring water for drinking.

Best Time to Visit: The weather in the park is generally mild, so it鈥檚 a popular destination year round, but winter feels like the right time to sit in a tub of hot water.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料: Can relaxing be an adventure? Who cares? When in Hot Springs National Park, you sit in hot water. The Buckstaff Bathhouse has small private tubs, while the Quapaw Bathhouse has a series of larger, Roman-style pools for group bathing as well. A man-made steam cave captures the radiant heat from the 143-degree water (from $25 per person). You can also hike the trails here and are welcome to bike on any of the paved roads and the Pullman Trail.

10.听 Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Katmai National Park is surely best known for its live bear cams, where you can watch massive brown bears fish for salmon from the comfort of your office chair. But this 4-million-acre park in Southern Alaska is more than just an internet sensation; it鈥檚 a playground of lakes, rivers, and mountains, with an active volcano.

Best Time to Visit: Show up in July when the temps approach 70, and the brown bears are actively hunting for fish.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料: Try to get a campsite or lodge room at the float-plane accessible (make reservations starting January 5, $18 per campsite per night) on the edge of Naknek Lake, and hike the 1.2-mile out and back to Brooks Falls, where the park鈥檚 most popular bear cam catches grizzlies poking around the water for salmon. Don鈥檛 worry, the hike ends at an overlook a safe distance from the action.

11. Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

The heart of Kenai Fjords is the Harding Icefield, a 700-square-mile sheet of ice that has shaped Alaska鈥檚 Kenai Peninsula by leaving glaciers and carving fjords. Visitors to the park have 600,000 acres of fjords to paddle, many trails to hike, and innumerable icy crevices to explore, with 听options available.

Best Time to Visit: Technically, Kenai Fjords is open year round, but winters are cold and snowy, and the only way into the park is by fat bike, XC skis, or dogsled. Show up from June through August and the trails are open to hikers, the roads are clear, and wildlife is most visible, as animals actively look for food.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料: This is your chance to explore a glacier in all its shrinking glory. A paved road leads to the edge of Exit Glacier, which forms the tail end of the Harding Icefield. From here a system of trails explores the valley carved by the glacier, offering a variety of views. Hike the 8.2-mile out-and-back , a strenuous climb through cottonwood forests and meadows, then above a tree line ridge that stops at the edge of the massive expanse of ice.

12. Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska

Kobuk Valley is one of the least-visited units of the national-park system (just over 17,000 people made the trip in 2023), but that鈥檚 more a reflection of the park鈥檚 location north of the Arctic Circle than its landscape, which is a mix of rivers and sand dunes that are populated by a hell of a lot of caribou traveling along the Kobuk River. No roads lead into Kobuk Valley, so most visitors arrive via . The other option would be a very long paddle in.

Best Time to Visit: Shoot for June or July, when you鈥檒l enjoy nearly 24 hours of light every day, blooming wildflowers like the herbaceous locoweed, and temperatures in the mid 60s. Or show up in August when the caribou begin their migration through the park.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料: With no established trails or campgrounds inside the park, you need to be self-sufficient. Most people show up to camp in the 25-square-mile Great Kobuk Sand Dunes, or paddle and fish for salmon and whitefish along the 61 miles of the Kobuk River within the park鈥檚 borders. Either way, keep an eye out for caribou, which look like lean reindeer.

13. Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Much like Kobuk Valley, Lake Clark has no roads leading into the park and is typically accessed by small plane. But make the effort and you鈥檒l see 4 million acres of quintessential Alaskan terrain with 10,000-foot peaks, backcountry lakes, glaciers, and wild rivers, all about 100 miles southwest of Anchorage.

Best Time to Visit: It鈥檚 Alaska, so summer will give you the longest days and warmest weather of the year. The brown bears are active too, filling up on salmon running up the rivers, so it can be a once-in-a-lifetime thrill seeing them (from a safe distance).

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料: Catch a to Crescent Lake and spend your time on a boat, fishing for sockeye salmon, which fill the lake in July during their annual migration, or lake trout. Bring your binoculars too, as the lake is a hub for brown-bear activity during the summer.

14. Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

Most national parks wow you with what鈥檚 above ground, but Mammoth Cave鈥檚 secret sauce lies beneath the dirt; the park protects the largest cave system in the world, with more than 400 miles of mapped passages.

Best Time to Visit: Mammoth might be the truest year-round park in the system, as the temperature in the caves is a consistent 54 degrees through every season. But visit in the fall and the hardwoods above ground are bursting with color.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料: The landscape offers plenty to do above ground, from paddling the Green River to mountain biking the park鈥檚 20 miles of singletrack, but you鈥檙e here for the caves. The Historic Cave Tour is the classic introduction, a two-hour guided adventure that hits the biggest rooms and tight channels alike ($24 per person). Or if you鈥檙e feeling adventurous, sign up for a Wild Cave Tour and crawl through tight passages that lead to lesser-seen rooms over 5.5 miles of exploration ($79 per person).

15. National Park of American Samoa

Looking for something remote and tropical? American Samoa is a collection of seven islands located 2,600 miles south of Hawaii. National Park of American Samoa protects pieces of four of those islands, boasting tropical rainforests, steep peaks, remote beaches, and access to the surrounding ocean and coral reefs.

Best Time to Visit: It鈥檚 warm year round in American Samoa, but winter can be rainy. The dry season runs from June to September, offering the best chances of good weather for hiking and clear water for snorkeling.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料: Tutuila, the largest island of Samoa, is loaded with hiking trails that lead through rainforests to dramatic viewpoints over the coast. If I ever get to go, I鈥檓 visiting Ofu Island, which has a remote shoreline with pink sand that has been called the most beautiful beach in the world. The is amazing too, as the water is clear, the coral reefs are close to shore and packed with colorful fish, and the area hosts more than 950 species of fish.

16. New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, West Virginia

New River Gorge National Park packs an adventurous punch in its svelte 73,000 acres, protecting 53 miles of the class IV New River and the steep, rocky gorge around it. Rock climbing, mountain biking, whitewater rafting鈥ou can do it all inside this relatively small park.

Best Time to Visit: Summer brings the warmest weather for rafting, but if you鈥檙e looking to climb, show up in the fall when the humidity dissipates, temps drop, and the leaves pop.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料: It鈥檚 hard to pick just one here, but rafting the New has to top the list. The river drops 750 feet inside the park鈥檚 boundaries, unraveling in a series of III-IV wave trains, drops, and big pillows. A number of outfitters , from half-day milder water options to two-day overnight adventures.

17. North Cascades National Park, Washington

North Cascades might be close enough to Seattle for a day trip, but this landscape is a world removed from the bustling city, with high alpine terrain full of evergreen forests, craggy peaks, backcountry lakes, and more than 300 glaciers鈥搕he largest collection in any park outside of Alaska.

Best Time to Visit: Late June to late September has the most user-friendly weather and the best chances for snow-free trails.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料: Take on , a steep 9.4-mile hike from the edge of Ross Lake that passes through meadows toward sweeping views from a historic lookout tower that Jack Kerouac once lived in while working as a fire scout. On the horizon are the craggy, fin-like Hozomeen Peak and a portion of the Ross Lake National Recreation Area.

18. Virgin Islands National Park, Virgin Islands

Protecting two-thirds of the island of St. John, Virgin Islands National Park is packed with beaches, lush mountains, and tropical rainforests. Visitors will split their time between water activities, lounging on beaches, and hiking through the hills.

Best Time to Visit: Summer can be hot and rainy and fall brings hurricanes, but winter in the Virgin Islands is delightful, with temps in the 80s and minimal rainfall.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料: Explore Salomon and Honeymoon Bay, dueling white-sand beaches separated by a rocky point. Snorkelers have colonies of coral reefs teeming with tropical fish to explore. Or go for a swim in Brown Bay, from a beach that鈥檚 only accessible by boat or a 1.5-mile hike on Brown Bay Trail.

19. Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

Situated on the Canadian border in Northern Minnesota, the 218,055-acre Voyageurs National Park is known for its series of lakes interconnected by 60 miles of canoe trails. Moose and wolves thrive inside the park, which is also a good spot for seeing the northern lights.

Best Time to Visit: Visitor centers and tour operators open in June and the lakes are busiest in the summer, but September brings changing colors and fewer crowds. The season ends quickly, though, and October can feel more like winter than fall.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料: People visit Voyageurs to canoe and fish the lakes for walleye and northern pike. The larger lakes can be busy with motorboat traffic, but the smaller interior lakes are linked by a series of marked canoe trails and backcountry campsites. Paddle the 13-mile Chain of Lakes trail, which traverses four small lakes on the Kabetogama Peninsula via small creeks and short portages. Each lake has a campsite, and the park service stages boats for use by those with camping .

20. Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota

One of the oldest national parks in our system, established in 1903 by Theodore Roosevelt, the 33,000-acre Wind Cave protects a landscape in transition, where the Great Plains give way to the Black Hills. Above ground, the park boasts broad swaths of grassland occupied by herds of bison and elk, but underneath that bounty of wildlife are 143 miles of mapped cave passages.

Best time to Visit: Summer is hot and thunderstorms with hail are common, while winter brings snow and sub-freezing temps. Hit Wind Cave in the shoulder seasons (spring or fall) for mild weather and to see active wildlife.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料: The only way to explore the caves is on a . The Natural Entrance tour is a good family-friendly option, as visitors experience the winding opening of the cave system before exploring some of the larger interior passages, known for walls that look like honeycombs. If you want more of an adventure, sign up for the Wild Cave tour, which will have you crawling through smaller, undeveloped passages deep down in the system ($17 per person).

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 three free national parks. He recently wrote about the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park, his favorite mountain town, and the national park he chose as the most adventurous.

The post Entry to These 20 National Parks Won鈥檛 Cost You a Dime appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.