Even after living in northern Arizona for 15 years, this landscape never gets old to me. Just carefully choose the time and place of your next visit to avoid the crowds.
The post Sedona Might Be Overtouristed, but I Still Don鈥檛 Think It鈥檚 Overrated appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>I first laid eyes on Sedona after surviving a sleepless night of food poisoning in nearby Flagstaff, Arizona.
Thank goodness I鈥檇 never driven the Oak Creek Canyon before, or I might鈥檝e skipped the trip entirely. No one who hurls their guts up the previous night would knowingly agree to ride in a 12-passenger van hugging the cliffside of this narrow two-lane road, navigating hairpin turns on switchbacks that drop more than 2,500 feet into Red Rock Country.
But as a first-timer, visiting the area for an adult running camp and eager to check out this famous adventure mecca, I went along. Somehow, despite a super sick stomach, l still fell in love with the place.
Make no mistake鈥攐n less nauseating days, the hour-long journey on Route 89A between the alpine forest of Flagstaff and the sandstone desert of Sedona is iconic. Awe-inspiring, even.
Now, after 15 years living in Flagstaff, that commute is one I savor. Until I relocated to Arizona, I had been a life-long East Coaster. But after visiting this slice of high desert (and subsequently moving here), my appreciation and fondness for the Southwest鈥檚 geological diversity, and that of Sedona鈥檚 upper Sonoran Desert region has only deepened.
Every time I head down that canyon, I marvel at its beauty. I love taking visitors and watching their reactions to first glimpses of giant red rock formations that suddenly replace the canopy of oak trees and ponderosa pines. I imagine it鈥檚 akin to landing on Mars鈥攐therworldly. Perhaps that鈥檚 why Sedona attracts such a strong enclave of New Age spiritual devotees searching for metaphysical energy in the allegedly sprinkled throughout its buttes and spires.
If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.
It鈥檚 true. Sedona is a playground for all kinds of people, with interests as wide-ranging as fortune telling, aura reading, and crystal healing to mountain biking, hiking, climbing, and trail running. It welcomes the luxury spa vacationers, culinary aficionados, and jeep tour enthusiasts, too.
I fall somewhere in the middle. I won鈥檛 lie鈥擨鈥檝e visited a fortune teller or two over the years. I also eat dinner at Sedona鈥檚 , the kind of Mexican meal I don鈥檛 mind making reservations for 60 days in advance (at least!). Sometimes it鈥檚 fun to hit the local running store, , or just relax in one of the many coffee shops with tranquil garden seating. For the quintessential experience, I often end up at , billed as 鈥渁 sanctuary where each being can nurture their authenticity.鈥�
But most often Sedona is my wintertime weekend trail running refuge鈥攚hen the snow dumps in Flagstaff, I鈥檓 guaranteed a clear path, warmer temperatures (averaging around 60 degrees), and sunshine in the red rock valley below. I love a good 鈥渨intertime double鈥�: a morning run, hike, or ride in Sedona wearing shorts and a t-shirt, followed by afternoon powder turns at back home. Few places in the world hold such a mix of outdoor activities available in one day during the doldrums of February, and I love that about where I live.
In recent years, however, Sedona鈥檚 storyline has taken an unfortunate (though not unwarranted) hit. Just like many areas that saw a surge of visitors seeking outdoor adventure during COVID, Sedona鈥檚 popularity鈥攚hich was already quite high鈥攕oared further. Influencers, along with their Instagram and TikTok followings, 鈥攁 double-edged sword for a place where 3 million visitors per year contribute to a $1 billion tourism industry, according to the .
More than a third of Sedona’s homes have become short-term rentals, and the city government and other local agencies have become of visitors鈥攁nd how to infuse education on respectful public land use.
After all, we are all just guests to this place, originally inhabited by the Sinagua people who came here around 900 A.D. I applaud how the people who manage the city and the public land are helping its diversity of users enjoy the area in myriad ways. From my perspective, there are a few things every visitor should know to maximize their Sedona experience.
To fully enjoy Sedona, you have to choose your time and activities carefully. I鈥檓 saying avoid spring break (most of March) at all costs, and plan your outdoor pursuits for early mornings (arrive at trailheads by 7 A.M. at the latest) year-round to dodge flocks of people. If you鈥檙e a real morning person like I am, you can get started even earlier for cooler temperatures during the summer swelter. The traffic, parking, and crowded trails on the most popular routes quickly become a turnoff if you鈥檙e desperately seeking solitude in nature.
The downtown area is a genuine tourist trap. Unless you鈥檙e looking for souvenirs or a cartoonish taste of the old wild west, you can skip the main drag, save for Wildflower, a local chain good for family-friendly breakfast and lunch where you鈥檒l find reasonably priced meals with a terrific red rock view. (Bonus points for identifying from the patio.) But Sedona is at its best when you go off the beaten path.
Most locals won鈥檛 divulge those lesser-known destinations, however. In discussing places that my friends and I like to go in Sedona for a beer or a quick bite to eat or a trail run, most of them either decided against sharing at all, or their suggestions came with the caveat: 鈥渄on鈥檛 tell anybody I said this, but鈥︹€�
I get it. During the pandemic at the end of 2020, I headed to my friends鈥� house in Sedona for a day hike鈥攁nd along the way it appeared that the rest of America had the same idea. The fight for parking at the nearby trailheads was bananas鈥攃rowds rivaling Disney World during winter break.
Thankfully we could just exit out their backyard gate to a series of established, but unnamed trails鈥攐nes I wouldn鈥檛 have found on my own. On our hike, new-to-me perspectives of the famous and in the distance were stunning鈥攁nd as I took out my phone to capture a shot, my friend jokingly threatened to push me off the ledge of our undisclosed location above (the 鈥渟cenic byway鈥�) if I dared to geotag the photo on social media. Of course, I鈥檇 never do such a thing. For Northern Arizonans, sharing isn鈥檛 always caring.
Which is all to say, I鈥檇 tell you where to hike or run, but then I鈥檇 have to move far, far away from here. What I will say is that any trail on the outskirts of town that is rated as 鈥渟trenuous,鈥� includes a healthy amount of vertical gain, or is higher mileage than the routes topping travel blogs and Trip Advisor, will likely yield a more serene experience. You know which apps to use ( and have options), and doing your own research to head farther afield is best.
As much as we regulars would like to hoard our Sedona secrets, I still applaud the efforts of local agencies to help ensure that visitors can continue to enjoy the area, too. I鈥檓 an advocate for making such a majestic corner of the U.S. accessible to all鈥攊t鈥檚 an immense privilege that it鈥檚 so close to my home. Angst-alleviating initiatives include to trailheads and the , which asks visitors to agree to nine ways to help preserve Red Rock Country鈥檚 natural beauty, like not forging your own trails and packing out your trash. No. 4 is my personal favorite: 鈥淚 won鈥檛 risk life or limb (human or sapling) for more likes. I won鈥檛 get killed for a killer photo.鈥�
It鈥檚 understandable that all of us who call tourist destinations home would want to keep a few spots to ourselves, I also recognize that none of us own these places. They鈥檙e meant to be explored and enjoyed. So, here are a few of my hot spots for those who are new to Sedona.
Camping in Sedona takes a lot of planning ahead, I鈥檓 told. I haven鈥檛 gone camping in Sedona myself, mostly because I live so close by and my visits tend to be on the spontaneous side. Free dispersed camping is available in the western part of town, and it fills up quickly, as do the campgrounds that require reservations, which are mostly located along Oak Creek on 89A. The options around Oak Creek are cooler during the summer, next to the water, and heavily shaded by the forest. The dispersed campgrounds, though fully exposed to the sun, offer some of the best views of the red rocks and canyons you can find.
The best way to find a spot is to visit and you can also try Hipcamp.
If you鈥檝e never hiked around Sedona, pick one of these three options for a taste of the town鈥檚 best trails.
If you鈥檙e an avid trail runner, don鈥檛 miss these three spots with stunning panoramic views.
To be sure, we live at a time where the deluge of information available to us all can make us jaded. When it seems like 鈥渆verybody鈥� is going to Sedona and posting every detail of their adventures, our natural instinct is to declare that this special place is overrated. But that denies the region of its magic.
I was recently reminded of what Sedona can do for the spirit when I took a day off work and headed down 89A for the afternoon with a friend. We stopped at one of my favorite spots, , on the way into town, a lovely counter-service restaurant with lush, shaded outdoor seating on the east side of Oak Creek. Then we drove out to , a strenuous-rated hike that requires some rock scrambling and the ability to power up nearly 2,000 feet of elevation in a short 2.5 miles to earn an exhilarating view of fantastical red rock formations.
The only thing that would鈥檝e made my day more complete? A dip in the Oak Creek to cool off. A chance to swim in a natural body of water is a true treat for most Arizonans鈥攅specially me. I have plenty of fond memories of post-run cannonballs at , 10 or 12 years ago when it was less visited. Now, of course, it鈥檚 not so much a secluded swimming hole. Nature鈥檚 ice bath is usually worth it in my book, though.
Sedona has been dubbed the 鈥渕ost mystical place鈥� in America by travel experts and spiritual visitors alike. And it might be. What I do know is that it offers one of the most valuable opportunities for renewed astonishment at the world around me. It may not be a hidden gem (spoiler alert: ), but it鈥檚 a place that offers outdoor access that鈥檚 unrivaled by most other places on the planet.
Here鈥檚 my takeaway: It took 350 million years to form those red rocks. It鈥檚 no wonder people want to see them. Sedona is many things, but in my book, overrated will never be one of them.
Want more of 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 travel stories?听.
Erin Strout is a journalist and author based in Flagstaff, Arizona, who writes about health, fitness, and Olympic sports. She likes to focus on the big issues women face as athletes and humans who want to perform and feel their best. She still loves visiting Sedona every chance she gets.听
The post Sedona Might Be Overtouristed, but I Still Don鈥檛 Think It鈥檚 Overrated appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>Go beyond the beaten path with an uncommon adventurer who uses his 2025 Toyota 4Runner to creatively map the country鈥檚 most wild and wondrous locations
The post Your Window to the Wild appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>The post Your Window to the Wild appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>An executive order triggers the finish-line fight for this historic Phoenix climbing area
The post Will Oak Flat Soon Become a 1,000-Foot-Deep Crater? appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>Update: On May 27, 2025, the Supreme Court denied Apache Stronghold鈥檚 appeal, allowing the land transfer to proceed as scheduled.听This is a developing story and will be updated as more details are announced.
When Jack Colavita, a high school English teacher in Scottsdale, Arizona, gets out of school at 3 p.m., he typically heads straight for the boulders.
Specifically, he drives 65 miles east to Queen Creek Canyon, drags his crashpads out to classic Oak Flat problems such as听Scatterbrain听(V6-7) or听贰惫辞濒耻迟颈辞苍听(V7-), and works powerful moves on the volcanic, pocketed rock that Tommy Caldwell听听to 鈥渢he mouths of tiny piranhas.鈥�
Oak Flat, a sub-area of Queen Creek Canyon, is a world-class climbing area with more than 2,500 routes and boulders within easy access of the fifth-largest American city. From 1989 to 2004, it hosted the听听(PBC, eventually renamed the Phoenix Boulder Blast), which attracted up to 600 competitors each year, including teenage prodigies Caldwell, Beth Rodden, Katie Brown, and Chris Sharma.
Erik Murdock, PhD, who now works as the deputy director of policy and government affairs for Access Fund, remembers one particularly exciting PBC in 1996: 鈥淚 spotted Chris Sharma on a warm up. Then, he spent the entire comp trying the open project because if he sent it, he won.鈥� That afternoon, Sharma, who was 14 years old at the time, sent the problem and took first place.
Today, Oak Flat is still a go-to spot for Phoenix locals looking to squeeze in a few hours of climbing after school or work. 鈥淔or a local area less than two hours away, Oak Flat is the only place where you can really spend a day and not break a hold,鈥� says Colavita, who leads climbing trips through his school鈥檚 outdoors program. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the place where kids are able to go for a day with parents鈥� permission.鈥�
However, after a two-decade-long legal battle, Arizona climbers are steeling themselves for the potential destruction of most of the boulders and hundreds of routes in Oak Flat area.
On April 17, the U.S. Forest Service released a 60-day advance听听of its publication of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Oak Flat鈥攁 document that will trigger the transfer of 2,422 acres of the Oak Flat area to Resolution Copper,听听by the British-Australian company Rio Tinto and Australian company BHP. While Resolution Copper currently operates around many Oak Flat crags, if this land transfer occurs, it intends to expand its mining operation to include 鈥減anel caving鈥� which would eventually result in a ground crater up to 1.8 miles wide and 1,115 feet deep, according to the听. This mining technique is considered a cost-effective way to access targeted copper reserves, but it will cause,听, the 鈥渓argest-ever loss of climbing on America鈥檚 public lands.鈥� One 2017听听concluded that 1,114 boulders鈥攎ore than 97% of the boulders in the greater Queen Creek area鈥攁s well as 149 sport routes and 38 trad routes will be affected by permanent closures in three crags: Euro Dog Valley, The Mine, and Oak Flat itself.
Climbers have long been engaged in the听听over Oak Flat, but the growing immediacy of the Forest Service鈥檚 land transfer has hit hard.
鈥淭he litigation has looked pretty pessimistic since about two years ago,鈥� says Colavita. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a weird vibe. People are pulling out their investments with their time and their energy in the area. We can always see the mine looming above us like the Eye of Sauron or something.鈥�
This 60-day warning from the federal government represents the culmination of a long, well-documented legal and public relations battle for control of Oak Flat.
For nearly 20 years, Resolution Copper has sought permission to mine an estimated 40 billion pounds of copper beneath Queen Creek Canyon, which sits squarely within Arizona鈥檚 鈥淐opper Triangle鈥� east of Phoenix.
Starting in 2005, U.S. Senators for Arizona John McCain and Jeff Flake, who supported the copper mine鈥檚 expansion, attempted to pass a land swap that would give 2,422 acres of Tonto National Forest land, including the entire Oak Flat area, to Resolution Copper. In exchange, the U.S. Forest Service would receive 5,459 acres of the mining company鈥檚 private land in Arizona. McCain predicted that the mining project would create as many as 4,000 jobs and contribute 鈥渢ens of billions of dollars鈥� in economic activity over the life of the mine.
For centuries, the San Carlos Apache tribe, which calls the area Chi鈥檆hil Bi艂dagoteel, has used it as a sacred site for conducting religious rituals, such as coming-of-age ceremonies, as well as gathering water and medicinal plants. A former historic preservation officer for the neighboring White Mountain Apache Tribe,听 John Welch, has called the area 鈥渢he best set of Apache archaeological sites ever documented, full stop,鈥� and in 2016 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 鈥淚鈥檝e been out there [to climb] and driven around the corner and seen an Indigenous ceremony happening,鈥� says Colavita. 鈥淓ven without any of the copper mine stuff going on, there would still be a deference: This is sacred Indigenous land before this is climbing land.鈥�
After trying and failing for years to pass the land swap as its own bill, in December 2014, McCain and Flake performed a legislative sleight of hand that, while common in Congress, was widely criticized as undemocratic. In a last-minute 鈥渕idnight rider,鈥� the pair slipped the听听into a 1,600-page, must-pass听听that President Obama signed that month. The new federal law required the U.S. Forest Service to perform a three-step process: (1) publishing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the land transfer, (2) collecting public comments to incorporate the final version, and (3) officially handing the land titles to Resolution Copper within 60 days of publishing the Final EIS, whatever it may contain.
The first step occurred in August 2019, when the Forest Service released a 1,400-page听. The following 90-day public comment period鈥攕tep two鈥攗ltimately received more than 29,000 comments by hand, mail, email, web form, or verbally at public meetings. On January 15, 2021, five days before an administration turnover, the Forest Service triggered the third step by releasing the听. But on March 1, the Biden administration ordered the Forest Service to withdraw its statement on the grounds that more time was needed to understand the concerns raised by the Apache tribe and other stakeholders.
In an explicit change of policy, on March 20, 2025, the Trump administration released an听听titled 鈥淚mmediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production鈥� that directed all heads of agencies involved in mineral production to expedite approvals for projects awaiting permits. Shortly afterward, on April 17, the Forest Service announced their intention to re-publish the Final Resolution Copper EIS鈥攖he new step three鈥攁s early as June 16. When that happens, unless an organization such as Access Fund听听the Final EIS for inadequately addressing concerns with the Draft EIS, Oak Flat would officially belong to Resolution Copper within two months. After the land transfer, everyday Arizonans would only have access to the area until the mining company deems it unsafe for the public.
On May 9, a federal district judge in Phoenix halted the land transfer until the Supreme Court made a decision on whether to take on听Apache Stronghold v. United States, which challenged the Forest Service鈥檚 right to destroy sacred land in Oak Flat.听听is a nonprofit advocacy organization that represents the San Carlos Apache. However, on May 27, the Supreme Court听听Apache Stronghold鈥檚 appeal, with Justices Gorsuch and Thomas听.
Without further legal challenges, the Final EIS will be released as early as June 16. The land swap will occur within two months after its release.
If the land swap proceeds, Phoenix鈥檚 growing climbing community will have hundreds fewer routes and boulders to help indoor climbers transition to the outdoors.
Before Sierra Blair was a Team USA climber, a World Cup competitor, or a Pan American Bouldering Champion, she was a nine-year-old kid who followed her climbing coach and teammates to Oak Flat. It was there, in the desert riparian hills just an hour-and-a-half drive from her gym, that Blair learned how to lead climb. 鈥淚 remember walking by听The Hulk听as a kid,鈥� she says, referencing the V11 boulder. 鈥淭hat thing looked crazy. The holds were so small, but it was somehow in my head on a list of boulders I wanted to do at some point.鈥�
After focusing on indoor competition climbing for 14 years, Blair decided in 2023 to switch up her focus to the outdoors. At Oak Flat, she stumbled into another classic,听Pyramid听(V10), and nearly flashed it. 鈥淎t the time, I was recovering from an injury and didn鈥檛 know how hard I could climb, so it was this cool confidence boost for me,鈥� she said. Next on her list:听The Hulk, from her childhood tick list, which she put down in two quick weekends.
Over the next two years, Blair鈥檚 interest in climbing the volcanic rock formations would connect her directly to the legacy of the Phoenix Bouldering Contest. During the 2002 or 2003 competition, Chris Sharma first sent a 14-foot overhang called听Captain Hook听(V12), but since then, a crucial hold had broken off. In spite of the broken hold, Blair made the second ascent in March 2024, opting to keep the original grade. 鈥淚 thought it was impossible, especially with the break, and I was excited to get the boulder done in a few sessions,鈥� she told听. 鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely a very proud line at Oak Flat.鈥�
Watch Blair send Double D Low, another V12 at Oak Flat:
Sharp pockets and comp-style moves make Oak Flat 鈥渁 moonboarder鈥檚 dream,鈥� says Blair. 鈥淭he grades are a little sandbagged, but you get used to the sandbag and then your skin just becomes indestructible anywhere else,鈥� she says. 鈥淎fter I鈥檝e been climbing all season [at Oak Flat], you could stab me in the skin and nothing would happen. My skin could take it.鈥� She says that she鈥檚 done the majority of her outdoor climbing there and emphasizes that Oak Flat has something for all ability levels.
Colavita thinks that Oak Flat has the potential to turn even more indoor competition climbers into outdoor crushers. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen firsthand how these kids can go out there and crush, especially in a place like Oak Flat, which has savage but straightforward movement,鈥� says the schoolteacher.
He adds that he鈥檚 seen many kids in Phoenix getting into climbing through indoor competition, and doesn鈥檛 want them to lose out on the beauty of the outdoors. 鈥淚f Oak Flat doesn鈥檛 exist and it keeps getting hotter in this city, it鈥檚 going to go from being a great outdoor climbing location to one where it鈥檚 nearly impossible.鈥�
Protecting the popular gym-to-crag area from the mine, he argues, is 鈥渉ow you keep the tradition of [Phoenix] climbing about being outside鈥攁bout respect and reverence for the planet.鈥�
The post Will Oak Flat Soon Become a 1,000-Foot-Deep Crater? appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>These tiny hamlets, with less than 6,000 locals, provide the perfect blend of quaint vibes and outdoor fun
The post The Top 9 Small 国产吃瓜黑料 Towns in the U.S. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>Bigger is not always better. While we spend plenty of time oohing and ahhing over larger mountain towns like Boulder or Chattanooga, there are dozens of smaller hamlets with fewer than 6,000 full-time residents that offer the right combo of amenities and quick access to some of the best spots for outdoor recreation in the country. Here are my favorite small adventure towns across the United States, from minuscule hiking and climbing outposts to bustling ski towns.
Population: 2,730
Bethel is the kind of town that makes you consider relocating. Tucked into Western Maine鈥檚 Lakes and Mountains region, the village itself is super walkable with an eclectic array of restaurants, while being surrounded by public land, from the peaks that make up the expansive White Mountain National Forest to the less-intimidating Community Forest trails accessed directly from town.
The slow-moving Androscoggin River passes through the village (prime tubing in the summer) and an ever-growing is attracting more and more mountain bikers.
Oh, and Bethel is flanked by two ski resorts. is the larger of the two, with more than 2,000 feet of vertical and 750 acres of terrain (not to mention a couple of heated lifts), while is the mom-and-pop ski hill we all wish we had in our backyard, with $39 lift tickets every day, a friendly uphill policy, and a solid mix of terrain to keep it interesting.
Most people come to Bethel to ski Sunday River. If you鈥檙e looking for a challenge, head to Oz, a zone loaded with steep double black runs, or take Lollapalooza to Blind Ambition, an expansive gladed run on the edge of Jordan Bowl. Bring your mountain bike during the summer. Mt. Abram has lift-served terrain, but you can hit a number of trails directly from the edge of town. is a fun, flowy three-mile loop in the center of the Bethel Village Trails on the south side of the village.
has a genius cocktail menu, as well as a seafood chowder that hits just right on a cold winter night. If you鈥檙e looking for something more casual, has burgers and a rotating New England IPA on tap.
The will put you on the southern edge of the village, within walking distance of restaurants, and direct access to some of the town鈥檚 most loved mountain bike trails (from $126 per night).
Population: 5,230 or 745
Quite simply, Stowe is the East Coast鈥檚 best ski town, especially this winter as Stowe Mountain Resort has enjoyed 329 inches of snow (and counting) at the time I鈥檓 writing this article, and then you have the New England charm of the village itself, with its steeples, covered bridges, and brick federal architectural style. And all of this sits in the shadow of the massive Mount Mansfield State Forest and Smugglers鈥� Notch State Park.
Not cool enough yet? How about an aggressive and progressive local population that鈥檚 worked to preserve more than for public use while building out a growing system of singletrack and nordic trails that can be accessed straight from town. Is Stowe still a sleepy hamlet tucked into the hills? Yes and no. The village still feels small, but it can be expensive, and it can get crowded, but that鈥檚 the proverbial price you pay for being the best ski town on the East Coast.
In the winter, you鈥檙e obviously skiing Stowe, which is one of the East鈥檚 best resorts, with more than 2,000 vertical feet of drop, and 653 skiable acres split between two mountains: Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak.When the snow melts, combine a slice of the and the for an eight-mile loop that climbs the 4,393-foot Mount Mansfield via a 2,000-foot climb that includes some ladders and scrambling before reaching the treeless summit, where you can see the surrounding Green Mountains and the White Mountains in New Hampshire.
Mountain bikers should pedal the Stowe Recreation Trail, a six-mile paved path along the What River, to access , Stowe鈥檚 signature trail network with 12 miles of purpose-built singletrack. Make sure you hit the mile-long Florence, considered by many the best flow trail in the northeast. And listen, everyone should make a point to visit Stowe during fall, when the weather is crisp and the hardwoods are popping off in a barrage of reds, yellows, and golds.
is incredibly hip, incredibly good, and incredibly crowded, but get on the waitlist and when it鈥檚 your chance, order the Vermont cheddar fritters and their smash burger and listen to the DJ spinning from a wall of vinyl. And if you鈥檙e in Vermont, you have to stop by the and pick up a four pack of the beer that put the brewery on the map, Heady Topper.
Stowe has resorts attached to the ski hill and quaint bed and breakfasts, but check out the new cabins and lodge rooms at a few miles outside of town, with direct access to Stowe鈥檚 Recreation Path. The lodge has its own bar, pool, and hot tub and a grassy lawn overlooking the West Branch of the Little River (from $151 per night).
Population: 713
Sitting at 9,300 feet in elevation, Silverton is a former gold and silver mining town that has found new life as a basecamp for outdoor adventure, thanks to the surrounding San Juan Mountains鈥攁 hotbed of skiing in the winter and alpine adventure in the summer. If you鈥檙e standing in downtown Silverton, you鈥檙e within and 15 miles of seven of Colorado鈥檚 14,000-foot summits.
The entire town is a National Historic Landmark with buildings erected in the late 1800s that still retain their Wild West vibe. Greene Street, the main road through the heart of town, is the only paved street in the municipality. I鈥檝e visited Silverton during the winter, on my way to ski the backcountry terrain in the San Juan mountains, but I鈥檓 dying to get back in the summer and early fall to check out the growing network of mountain bike trails and see the aspens surrounding town turn gold.
Experience the best of the San Juans in summer by hiking the , located in the Weminuche Wilderness of the San Juan National Forest. The eight-mile out and back passes through meadows packed with wildflowers before delivering you to a trio of high-alpine lakes that are known to house rainbow, cutthroat, and brook trout. The hike tops out at 12,000 feet in elevation, but you can climb higher by picking up the Continental Divide Trail above the lakes.
The local bike club, the Silverton Singletrack Society, is in the process of building out 30 miles of singletrack in a system called that you can pedal to from town. The first six-mile loop has just opened, offering a steep climb before releasing you to a 1,000-foot, flowy descent.
If you have the skillset, I highly recommend skiing , which is like no other ski 鈥渞esort鈥� in the country. A single chairlift rises from a warming hut, from the top you can skin out to a cornucopia of backcountry lines, all of which demand expert-level skiing. If that鈥檚 not enough terrain, Silverton Mountain also offers heli-bumps from the top of the chairlift.
has great IPAs as well as a full menu, from cauliflower tacos to pizzas loaded with sausage and bacon.
The has 15 modern rooms in a multi-story building that once housed a gas station, ballroom, and lodge hall. The hotel sits in the heart of downtown and every booking comes with a $10 drink credit in the lobby bar (private rooms from $176 per night; bunks in the 10-bed bunk room from $75 per night).
Population: 1,110听
Highlands, which is one of the highest incorporated towns east of the Mississippi (elevation: 4,118 feet), has been a mountain escape since the late 1800s, originally attracting wealthy travelers who flocked to the village for its clean air and pristine surroundings.
People today show up for the same reasons, and Highlands has grown into a cultural hub of the mountains, with a surprisingly robust art and culinary scene given its small footprint. Main Street is bustling with shops, galleries and restaurants, while the surrounding Nantahala National Forest offers fast access to hiking trails, mountain lakes, and waterfalls.
Hiking Whiteside Mountain, a 4,903-foot peak named after the sheer, granite face that rises to its summit, is the must-do adventure close to town. The two-mile forms a loop that delivers you to the edge of this 700-foot cliff, one of the tallest in the eastern U.S.
You can actually drive your car behind Bridal Veil Falls, just outside of town, but for a more adventurous waterfall, head to Bust Your Butt Falls, a swimming hole just off Highway 64 on the Cullasaja River with a jumping rock and natural water slide at the base of the falls.
You can鈥檛 turn around without stumbling into another fancy (and pricey) restaurant in Highlands, but I like for its to-go sandwiches and snacks that hit the spot on big hikes.
Highlands has no shortage of high-end hotels and resorts, but I like the new , a 14-room motel that was recently renovated into a boutique stay where each room has its own typewriter and turntable with record collection (from $189 per night).
Population: 5,200听
You can鈥檛 beat Kanab鈥檚 location. Tucked into the desert of southern Utah, just north of the Arizona border, Kanab sits within striking distance of some of the Southwest鈥檚 most iconic landscapes. Bryce Canyon National Park is an hour north, Zion National Park is 45 minutes west. If you鈥檙e looking to take a dip, Lake Powell is an hour east, and drive two hours south and you鈥檒l hit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
The town itself is steeped in Hollywood history, as more than 200 Westerns were filmed in the canyons around town. Kanab itself has a bit of a Moab vibe (think adobe buildings and streets sprawling through the desert floor) but it鈥檚 far sleepier than its gateway cousin. And the food scene? Surprisingly impressive.
So many parks, so little time. For something unique, head to where you can sand-board the 75-foot tall dunes, made of grains of quartz coated with iron oxide, giving them a pink hew. You can rent sand boards or sleds from the at the park ($25 per board).
Hike Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch, considered the longest slot canyon in America. The is the fastest way into the gorge, a 3.4-mile round trip that delivers you to the canyon. From there, you can explore up or down the canyon to your heart鈥檚 content. The gulch is in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. You鈥檒l need a for the day hike.
Buckskin Gulch is more than 12 miles long, and 200 feet deep at its low point. The walls are never wider than 20 feet during its entire length.
Kanab is a legitimate foodie destination with a handful of restaurants that punch above the weight of a town this size. If you鈥檙e looking for a memorable dinner, head to , where the menu revolves around a series of small plates, from foraged local mushrooms to chili-rubbed beef sourced just across the border in Arizona.
There are plenty of hotels around town, but spend the night at , a glamping resort with geodesic domes that have king beds, their own kitchenette, and massive windows overlooking the red rock cliffs (from $170 per night).
Population: 789
Start in Tucson, then head an hour south (almost to the Mexican border) and you鈥檒l find tiny Patagonia, a former mining town that鈥檚 just starting to transition into a bonafide adventure town. This one-street village is surrounded by 10,000-foot peaks, and sits within striking distance of two state parks鈥擯atagonia Lake and Sonoita Creek. But the real draw here is the myriad of gravel roads that extend from main street into the surrounding hills, traversing an endless sea of desert grassland.
You鈥檒l hear both Spanish and English spoken throughout town, which also sports the tell-tale signs of a modern mountain outpost (like at the coffee bar with weekend food trucks), but is still hanging onto its blue-collar roots (and rooms are still relatively cheap).
The 800-mile long Arizona National Scenic Trail, which runs the length of the state, can be found just outside of town. Head south for a meandering hike through rolling grasslands, or north and you鈥檒l tackle the Santa Rita Mountains, where steep climbs and granite peaks await.
But you鈥檙e probably here for the gravel riding, too. The options are endless, and the terrain is rolling instead of grueling, so plan for big-mile days. Start with the 30-mile Alto Ghost Town ride, which climbs through a series of canyons on its way to the ruins of a former mining camp. The undulating grasslands turn gold in the fall but form mesmerizing, shimmering waves regardless of when you ride through them. has rentals (from $125 per day).
The has build-your-own pizzas, margaritas, and classy oil portraits of The King, while brews coffee in the morning, beer in the afternoon, and hosts rotating food trucks on weekends.
Grab a spot in the nine-room hotel, which sits on main street within walking distance of everything, and has dedicated bike storage (from $125 per night).
Population 200听
There鈥檚 small, and then there鈥檚 Mazama, a hamlet in central Washington鈥檚 Methow Valley that has less than 200 year-round residents and a 鈥渄owntown鈥� that鈥檚 nothing more than a handful of businesses situated around a junction where two roads meet. But Mazama has everything you need鈥攆ood, beer, supplies, and a place to sleep.
More importantly, the town is surrounded by the , the largest network of nordic ski trails in the country (120 miles), all of which were created and maintained by a non-profit, also called . During the summer, there鈥檚 whitewater rafting on the Methow River, and trad and sport climbing on the Goat Wall, a 1,500-foot tall cliff overlooking the valley. Need more? Mazama is a gateway to North Cascades National Park, which has more glaciers than any park in the lower 48, and also happens to be one of the least visited parks in the country, with under 17,000 visitors last year.
State Road 20, a.k.a. North Cascades Highway, closes from Mazama into the park during the winter, but come summer, the two-lane offers a beautiful 90-minute drive west over Washington Pass. The of the park offers the easiest access to Mazama. There, you鈥檒l find three reservoirs of differing shades of milky blue. Grab a canoe ($75 a day) from and explore the lake, which is surrounded by steep, green mountains. Or hike the 3.5-mile to a prominent point overlooking Diablo Lake.
If you make the trek during winter, cross country skiing is the ticket. There are 120 miles of nordic trails throughout the valley, all of which are groomed nightly. Crazy right? Mazama has its own trailhead, where you can kick and glide along the 11-mile , which has minimal gain but big-valley views.
There aren鈥檛 a lot of options, but the has to-go sandwiches and snacks and is the best example of what a modern general store can be. The has a taproom and patio with views of Goat Peak, not to mention craft beer, rice bowls, and even sushi.
The has lodge rooms within walking distance of the Public House (from $182 per night).
Population 2,900听
In the 1800s, the New River Gorge area attracted lumberjacks and coal miners, as the river canyon was rich in both resources. Now, it attracts hikers, boaters, and climbers, and the New River Gorge has become one of America鈥檚 newest national parks.
The small town of Fayetteville has stood witness to it all, evolving into a world-class gateway community with a historic downtown square, and just enough in the way of restaurants and shops to keep visitors and locals satiated. Fayetteville still retains that sleepy, small town vibe, but just beyond the city鈥檚 borders lies some of the best outdoor recreation in the East, starting with the whitewater rafting and world-class climbing inside the New River Gorge. There鈥檚 also mellow paddling on Summersville Lake, mountain biking on the Arrowhead Trails, a hand-carved system built by Boy Scouts, and more whitewater action on the nearby Gauley River.
Most people show up to raft the , which runs for 53 miles through the heart of the 1,000-foot deep canyon. The river is typically broken down into two day-long runs. The Upper New is more family friendly, with 13 miles of class I-III rapids, while the Lower New has big hits that reach class IV plus.
The whitewater is exciting, but the climbing is actually better, with more than 1,500 established routes along the sandstone walls that loom over the river below. And that doesn鈥檛 even include the growing number of bouldering problems found in the gorge. The climbing isn鈥檛 easy (grades top out at ) but will put you on the right route if you鈥檙e looking for a guide (starting at $130 per person).
Fayetteville鈥檚 downtown square sports a handful of restaurants. Operating out of a former church just off the square, has been the town鈥檚 go-to for breakfast and lunch for decades. If you ride a couple of hot laps on the flowy , make sure to stop by the for a cold beer and a brat (or taco) served al-fresco in their beer garden.
The New River Gorge supports several adventure outposts, where you can find cheap campsites or luxury cabins. I like , which has options spread across a 350-acre campus with its own restaurants, a pool, and a stunning view of the gorge itself (covered platform tent sites start at $49 per night).
Population: 4,066听
The obvious draw to McCall is the skiing. The small town sits in the Cuddy and Salmon River Mountains of Idaho, collecting 300 inches of snow a year, with quick access to three ski resorts, Tamarack Resort, Brundage Mountain, and the aptly named Little Ski Hill, which has night skiing and just a T-bar for a lift.
But then you also have Payette Lake, a 5,000-acre beauty surrounded by green peaks and full of trout that have been beckoning anglers since the 1800s. Not to mention, whitewater rafting on the Middle Fork and Main Fork of the Salmon, and a growing portfolio of mountain bike trails, as well as ample hiking trails in Payette National Forest and Ponderosa State Park. Begin stacking all of these attributes up and it becomes obvious that the draw to McCall is鈥�everything.
Many will argue that has the best powder in Idaho, so skiers should head there during a winter visit. The mountain has almost 2,000 acres of front-side terrain to explore, but it鈥檚 the 18,000 acres of backcountry that you can access via the resort鈥檚 that are the real gem here (starting at $575).
Bring your bike in the summer as McCall is rapidly becoming a , earning a Silver Ride Center designation from IMBA, with a diverse suite of trails that鈥檚 rapidly approaching 500 miles large. Head straight for , a golf course resort that鈥檚 gone all-in on mountain biking with 17 miles of fast, flowy descents, some of which are packed with wooden features, all accessed via easy-to-climb fire roads or shuttle ($30 per rider).
McCall is a bustling adventure town with plenty of options for a good meal, but has award-winning lagers to go along with their fried wild salmon and chips.
takes modern Scandinavian-inspired design and puts it into a 1970s-era motel built with local timber. And the rooms walk out onto an expansive lawn with games and fire pits (from $131 per night).
Population: 5,249听
At first glance, Bigfork is a lake town, sitting on the edge of the massive Flathead Lake, which has 200 square miles of water and 185 miles of shoreline. And it has plenty of kayaking and fishing for those that are water inclined. But it鈥檚 also a hiking town, with quick access to the Bob Marshall Wilderness, the Flathead National Forest, and numerous state parks.
Want a little adrenaline? Bigfork is also the basecamp for whitewater adventures on the Middle Fork and North Fork of the Flathead River. Oh, and Bigfork is just an hour from the West Glacier entrance to Glacier National Park. So is Bigfork a lake town? Yes, but it鈥檚 also so much more.
Head to the of Flathead National Forest, a 15,000-acre tract within the Bob Marshall Wilderness featuring more than 20 alpine lakes. Hike a 6.6-mile loop combining the (#717) and the Picnic Lakes Trail to the rocky summit of the 7,000-foot Mount Aeneas, where you鈥檒l find views of the Jewel Basin lakes below, and the ridges of Glacier National Park on the horizon. You鈥檒l occasionally find mountain goats on the summit too. Bring a flyrod and try to land one of the cutthroat or rainbow trout that thrive in the Picnic Lakes on the back end of the loop.
Flathead Lake has six state parks that protect its shoreline and the islands in the middle of the water. Paddle two miles across the lake from the boat launch in Dayton, Montana, to , a 2,165-acre state park in the middle of the lake that鈥檚 only accessible by boat. Instead of cars, you鈥檒l see feral horses and bighorn sheep. has kayak and paddleboard rentals (starting at $40).
has views of the lake, 16 beers on tap, and a large pub-food menu that includes a burger topped with jalape帽o poppers. So, yeah. Yum.
is an all-inclusive dude ranch on 2,000 acres running along the shores of Flathead Lake. You鈥檒l get access to the property鈥檚 15-mile private mountain bike trail system, canoes, hikes, and horseback rides to backcountry breakfast (starting at $5,103 a week). If you鈥檙e looking for less of a financial commitment, has cabins and Airstreams, all of which come with private access to the lake (from $210 per night).
Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 national parks columnist. He鈥檚 been lucky enough to live in a few of America鈥檚 most fun (and expensive) adventure towns, and recently wrote about the country鈥檚 best mountain towns. He also recently wrote about the best national parks for spring break trips.听
The post The Top 9 Small 国产吃瓜黑料 Towns in the U.S. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>The 鈥楲os Angeles Times鈥� recently shed light on freight train robberies that targeted Nike sneakers. Two security experts explain the world of cargo theft.
The post Experts Break Down the $2 Million Nike Train Heists appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>It’s like the logline for a Hollywood action movie: Deep in the Mojave desert, a team of outlaws boards a freight train and then pulls off a daring heist, making off with millions of dollars worth of limited-edition sneakers.听
Well, maybe not the last part.
But reality is sometimes weirder than fiction, and that’s the case with the recent story about train robberies in the Southwest. On February 23, the about ten train heists that occurred between March 2024 and January 2025 in California and Arizona. Thieves boarded freight trains operated by BNSF Railways, cut open the locks to shipping containers, and then tossed cargo off the side, where follow vehicles scooped up the loot.
In all but one of the incidents, the criminals stole limited-edition Nike sneakers, and the combined value of the thefts totaled approximately $2 million. During one heist, which occurred on January 13, the crew took 1,985 pairs of unreleased shoes, the Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4, which sneaker website听
Lawmen eventually caught up with the alleged bad guys. According to the LA Times story, federal agents executed search warrants, raided storage units, and even chased the crooks along dusty dirt roads. that at more than 60 individuals face federal charges related to the train heists. In one heist, , authorities chased down the culprits and found that they were both teenagers.听According to the LA Times, 11 people were arrested after the January 13 heist. The alleged criminals and are now awaiting trial.
This whole ordeal may sounds familiar. Back in October,听国产吃瓜黑料 published Scott Yorko’s investigative story The Great Bedrock Clog Heist about the 2023 theft of 5,364 pairs of shoes from outdoor brand Bedrock Sandals. During that heist, robbers stole the truck carrying a new shipment of unreleased shoes and then attempted to sell them online.
Yorko’s piece, and the recent听LA Times story, both shine a light on the vulnerability of America’s freight transportation industry, which is how our favorite outdoor gear makes its way from factory to retail. It turns out that the items that we all love鈥攜es, including our favorite footwear鈥攁re routinely being stolen from trucks and trains and then sold on the black market. The Times referenced a report from the Association of American Railroads, a trade group representing freight train companies, stating that 65,000 railroad cargo thefts occurred in the U.S. in 2024, up 40 percent from 2023. Verisk CargoNet, a data analytics company that also monitors cargo theft, estimates that the number of cargo thefts in 2023 was up 59 percent from 2022.
“Everyone in this space has said it鈥檚 the worst it鈥檚 ever been in their entire 40-to-50-year careers,鈥� Jimmy Menges, national director at Marine Intelligence and Solutions, a private investigation firm, said in the 国产吃瓜黑料 story. 鈥淭here used to be a lot more dedicated cargo-theft task forces in the FBI and local law enforcement, but they鈥檝e been disbanded.鈥�
I recently phoned up two experts in the world of cargo theft to discuss the LA Times story: Keith Lewis, the vice president of operations for Verisk CargoNet, and Glenn Master, the director of asset protection and security for trucking company McLane. Both men have worked in the business of cargo protection鈥攁nd investigating cargo heists鈥攆or several decades. They shared their thoughts the differences between the Bedrock Sandals and Nike heists, how companies attempt to recoup their lost goods, and how theft like these impact customers like you and me.
Two years after the Bedrock Sandals heist, there’s still a lingering debate amongst employees and security experts as to whether the specialty shoes were targeted by the thieves, or whether the bad guys simply stole a truck and lucked into the loot.
But my security experts both agree that in the case of the stolen Nikes, the crooks knew what they wanted. Both Master and Lewis said that, based on the by law enforcement, the train thieves were not just breaking into containers at random.
Cargo trains are sometimes a mile or two long, and they can carry hundreds of metal shipping containers, all loaded with different products. But the thieves stole high-dollar Nike sneakers in nine of the ten heists.
“That’s not a coincidence,” Lewis said. “And there are probably a dozen different ways to find out where it’s loaded on the train.”
View this post on Instagram
Lewis said that cargo thieves can learn about the placement of products on a train through savvy online research. Or sometimes, they pay off people working at warehouses or with shipping companies to pass along information about where specific cargo is located. I reached out to BNSF Railway听about this, and the company sent me the following statement:
“BNSF has robust security protocols, and our police department is focused on preventing these incidents on our network. We work hard to protect our customers’ freight from pickup to delivery and have security measures in place to help ensure these goods arrive safely. We are working with federal, state, local, and tribal police departments to coordinate our approach to disrupting criminal activity and arresting offenders.”
Once thieves know the location of cargo, they board the train when it’s stopped. Due to the size of freight trains, security guards can’t patrol the entire vehicle, Lewis said. And train drivers are unarmed. Once crooks find the shipping containers, they cut the locks off with grinders or bolt cutters. Then, they toss the cargo to the ground, hide it in the underbrush, and wait for a follow car to pick it up.
“This isn’t a situation where the train is going 50 miles per hour,” Master told me. “If you have 10 to 15 people walking along the train with bolt cutters to just cut the latch and start unloading a container, it becomes a numbers game. If you have 30 minutes, you can start searching containers until you find the Nike shoes.”
The 2023 clog heist had a major impact on Bedrock Sandals. The Montana-based company had just nine employees when the theft occurred. The new clogs were a hot item, and when the truck was stolen, Bedrock Sandals was unable to immediately fulfill orders for them. The company had to wait several months for the next shipment to arrive.
The company’s director of operations, Matt McAdow, had to deal with the misfortune himself: he texted with a suspect asking to have the cargo returned,听and also contacted law enforcement and insurance once it was clear that the sandals weren’t coming back. When the stolen clogs began appearing on eBay and other online resellers, McAdow had to reach out directly, asking them to remove the merchandise.
Lewis has seen this situation play out before.听“At a mom-and-pop company, you’re waiting by the phone for a miracle to happen,” Lewis said.听 “At a big company, they know that a miracle isn’t going to happen unless they’re part of it.”
Master and Lewis told me the process is far different at a major international company. Big manufacturers regularly deal with theft, and many employ their own security experts who work to prevent robberies and investigate crimes after they happen.
View this post on Instagram
“Big companies may have their own investigations unit鈥攁fter a caper like this they are going to do the heavy lifting from an investigation standpoint to find the bad guys and see who did what,” he said. “Sometimes they can bring the investigation to law enforcement in a white box with a bow on top.”
I reached out to a Nike spokesperson for this story multiple times but did not get a response. According to听The LA Times听report and a piece by , the train heists in California and Arizona were foiled by a combination of federal and local police working alongside BNSF security. Authorities hid GPS trackers in the Nike shoes and used the devices to locate a box truck carrying the stolen cargo.
Master said that corporate investigation units have become increasingly important as law enforcement units across the country have shrunk in the post-COVID years. These days, most detectives have enormous case loads, which delay investigations around theft. Corporate investigators can help an investigation move along quickly, even when law enforcement is bogged down.
Master said that McLane’s security unit recently had to investigate a string of cigarette heists. The robberies took place in multiple different municipalities, he said, and the different law enforcement offices struggled with a lack of jurisdictional communication.
“It took us working with these other companies’ security departments to come up with a plan to put GPS trackers in boxes,” he said. “After a year we were able to go to the state police and say ‘here is your investigation’ and they got the warrants to arrest people.”
Despite the differences in the heists, Master and Lewis agreed that the stolen cargo was likely headed to the same place: offshore marketplaces.
“When you’re dealing with local thieves doing smash-and-grab jobs, you’ll find the stuff in bodegas and at swap meets, but that’s more general product,” Master said. “When the product is targeted, like the latest iPhones or shoes, a lot of times they already have a buyer overseas.”
Thieves are usually hired by a middle man鈥攁 person called a “fence”鈥攚ho then negotiates a price with the offshore buyer, Master said. Once on foreign soil, the shoes are then sold through the black market to customers around the world.
Stolen cargo in the United States is first sent to port cities where it sits in warehouses awaiting transport overseas in shipping containers. If investigators can get to it before it’s packed, it can be salvaged.
“The moment the stuff gets put into the cargo container, it’s gone forever,” Master said. “The probability of recovery becomes extremely limited.”
Both Bedrock Sandals and Nike were able to save some inventory before it went overseas. Investigators eventually located the remaining Bedrock Sandals clogs in a warehouse in Los Angeles. In the case of the stolen Nikes, investigators raided several private residences and storage units and found hundreds of pairs of shoes.
Is there any end in sight to the problem of cargo theft in the United States? Both Master and Lewis expressed doubts. America’s supply chain for retail goods has too many weak points, they said, and crooks will always find ways to break in.
Plus, cost-cutting innovations and the subcontracting out of various jobs within the supply chain means that manufacturers don’t always know who is in charge of their product at various points in the journey from factory to retail location.
“Companies just hand it off to the supply chain and it’s someone else’s problem now,” Master said. “You hope the stuff gets there, and if they’re missing a palette, they know they will be made whole by insurance.”
Companies can pay for added security in the form of armed guards, heavy-duty locks, and specialty transport. But this infrastructure is expensive, and it often slows down the speed at which goods reach their final destination. Most companies, Lewis said, are willing to take the risk.
“If you’re shipping a few million bucks worth of goods it probably makes sense to send it with surface escorts for safety,” Lewis said. “But everything adds cost and slows down the supply chain. People want to move freight at the speed of light.”
Manufacturers pay insurance companies to help defer costs in the case of break-ins and theft. But these crimes are far from victimless. Lewis said the mounting costs of insurance, security measures, and internal investigators all ends up being paid by one group.
“It’s the customer,” he said. “That’s the real victim.”
The post Experts Break Down the $2 Million Nike Train Heists appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>From Arizona's canyons to Utah's buttes and beyond, our national parks columnist shares the most adventurous Southwest road-trip itineraries
The post The 7 Best Road Trips in the Southwest appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>The Southwest always seems to me like a bit of a fever dream. The country鈥檚 deepest canyons, wildest buttes, and broadest deserts spread here from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean, offering a landscape so unlike any other in the country, you might think you鈥檝e left earth altogether. It is a hot, inhospitable territory that demands respect, but it is also outrageously beautiful, with rock outcroppings that seem painted in shades of red and white, blooming cacti, and shifting dunes that undulate like waves onto the horizon.
The easiest and most efficient way to explore the Southwest is by car, bouncing from one breathtaking adventure to the next, so I鈥檝e created seven different road-trip itineraries, one in each state of this stunning slice of our nation. I鈥檝e driven the majority of these routes, while the remaining few are on my list of dream adventures. And each of these has something for everyone鈥攂eaches, sand dunes, cliffs, rivers, hikes, bike rides, fishing holes, and more.
Set your playlist, and pack the sunscreen. Here are the seven best road trips in the Southwest.
Distance: 175 Miles
Duration: 3 days
The obvious, and most common, road trip from Vegas would be to beeline straight for the Grand Canyon, but you do not want to overlook the suite of public lands that rings Sin City. The fun begins just 20 miles west of downtown Las Vegas at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, a 195,000-acre park that is internationally known for its multi-pitch rock climbing, though my epic adventures here have been of other types.
My favorite way to explore Red Rock is by road bike, pedaling the 13-mile Scenic Drive through the heart of the park. The road has one-way traffic and a big shoulder, so there鈥檚 plenty of room, and you鈥檒l have both long-range and up-close views of the surrounding red sandstone cliffs and canyons. has bike rentals (from $40 a day). If you show up in the summer, do your adventures early in the morning before the heat gets unbearable.
Next skirt around the south side of Las Vegas for 70 miles to Lake Mead National Recreation Area, home to the massive Hoover Dam. I like Lake Mohave, a shallow, narrow reservoir below Hoover that follows the original path of the Colorado River through a series of canyons. If you鈥檙e looking for a full-day (or multi-day) adventure, paddle a piece of the 30-mile Black Canyon National Water Trail, which begins at the base of the dam and ends in Arizona, passing beaches, hot springs, and side canyons.
Only boaters with commercial licenses can launch below the dam, so hook up with , which offers DIY rentals and shuttles or guided trips throughout the water trail. Or for a quicker adventure, drive directly to Willow Beach, and paddle two miles upstream to Emerald Cave, a narrow side canyon with clear, shallow water below 75-foot sandstone walls (tours from $139 per person; rentals from $80 per boat).
has tent sites and RV sites in the hills above the sandy beach from $45 a night.
Driving north, you can stop at Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada鈥檚 largest state park at 46,000 acres, where red and pink sandstone cliffs and canyons fill the valley, the walls popping out of the tan, scrubby dirt. Catch the area at sunset and you could think the whole valley is on fire. The park is full of short, scenic trails for hikers. The 3.3-mile loop takes in iconic features, from a narrow slot canyon to the sinuous Fire Wave, where the striped sandstone seems to flow like water.
Snag a campsite at one of the two from $10.
Distance: 125 miles
Duration: 3 days
It鈥檚 tempting to try to hit all of Utah鈥檚 national parks in a single trip, but you鈥檇 have to cover more than 1,000 miles and spend more time in your vehicle than on the trails. Instead, focus on this slice of Utah by driving the 122-mile Scenic Byway 12, which connects Bryce Canyon National Park with Capitol Reef National Park, hitting Grand Escalante National Monument in the middle. I drove this route last fall and was in constant awe of its beauty and diversity, as we cruised through sandstone tunnels at one point, then climbed to an aspen forest at another.
Pick up Highway 12 in the small town of Panguitch, about 50 miles east from Interstate 12, and keep driving east to Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce, known for its hoodoos (sandstone spires that rise from the valley floor) is one of the country鈥檚 smallest national parks at just 35,835 acres, which means you can see a lot in a short amount of time. Combine Queen鈥檚 Garden Trail with Navajo Loop Trail for a that begins on the rim of the canyon, then drops into the belly, passing hoodoos, arches, and tall cliffs.
Heading north, Highway 12 moves through the heart of the massive Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, a 1.9-million-acre park with expanses of slick rock and sandstone canyons stretching all the way to the horizon. I was lucky enough to spend a couple of days in the monument, scrambling down slot canyons and bushwhacking through the heart of a broad canyon before reaching the lush Escalante River. It鈥檚 beautiful but unforgiving terrain that delivers plenty of solitude. Drive the unimproved dirt Hole-in-the-Rock Road (high-clearance two-wheel drive vehicles are usually OK) 33 miles south to the Dry Fork Slots to hike a through Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons, where the passage narrows to about a foot wide at certain points, and scrambling is mandatory. Too adventurous? Try hiking to , a 6.5-mile loop through a smooth canyon that ends at a 124-foot waterfall.
There鈥檚 plenty of camping and lodging around the town of Escalante. , inside the monument, offers seven primitive sites ($10 a night) with no frills. Or go upscale and snag a cabin or Airstream at , a camping-and-cabin resort with a drive-in movie theater, pool, and food truck (cabins from $175 a night).
Driving 65 miles further north on Highway 12, you鈥檒l climb Boulder Mountain through Dixie National Forest before hitting the town of Torrey and Capitol Reef National Park. Here, you鈥檒l find historic fruit orchards, sandstone domes, and more canyons than you could ever hope to explore. Start your journey with , a 3.4-mile out-and-back that crosses broad sections of slickrock before ending at a 125-foot-wide natural arch. Or hook up with and go canyoneering, dropping into the belly of narrow canyons deep inside the park ($300 for the first person).
For a longer adventure, check out our sister publication’s “.”
Distance: 310 miles
Duration: 3-5 days
Colorado offers a ton of incredible scenery, and this particular road trip takes you from the desert canyons of Colorado National Monument to the high alpine terrain of Rocky Mountain National Park. The diversity of adventure is off the charts, too, with opportunities for sandstone-heavy hikes, big mountain-bike descents, and whitewater rafting.
Start near the western border of the state, at Colorado National Monument, a 20,000-acre park with sheer cliffs and vertigo-inducing sandstone towers. Just driving the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive is worth the price of admission, with near-constant views of the canyon below, including of the massive Independence Monument, a 450-foot tall sandstone pillar.
But you鈥檒l definitely want to get out of your car and explore this monument by foot. The Devil鈥檚 Kitchen is an easy, 1.2-mile out-and-back that gives you the chance to scramble over boulders and explore narrow sandstone channels. Get up close to Independence Monument on the , a 5.2-mile point-to-point that meanders past some of the monument鈥檚 most recognizable rock formations, including the set of rounded pillars dubbed the Coke Ovens and a tower known as the Kissing Couple, because it looks like two people entwined.
After exploring the monument, head east for 25 miles to the town of Palisade, where you can tackle a piece of the , a 32-mile mostly downhill piece of singletrack that drops 6,000 feet off the rim of the Grand Mesa into the edge of downtown. The trail has multiple access points, so you don鈥檛 have to bite off the entire distance. has shuttles and rentals starting in March (check then for prices).
Head 75 miles northeast to Glenwood Springs to spend the night at , which has van-life sites on the Colorado River (from $112 a night) as well as glamping tents and cabins (from $179 a night). You can book a half-day on the Colorado, which includes the 1.5-mile-long class III Shoshone Rapids (from $75 per person), or just soak in one of the 17 different pools at , where each tub is tailored to a different temperature (from $44 per person).
When you鈥檙e refreshed, or worn out, drive northeast for 125 miles through to Rocky Mountain National Park, one of the most popular national parks in the country (4.1 million visitors in 2023). Don鈥檛 worry, most of those visitors enter through the Estes Park side, while you鈥檒l access the park on the much-less crowded Grand Lake entrance. I remember, on a trip with my kids, seeing a moose in the valley near Grand Lake and marveling that we were the only people on the trail at the time.
Head to the for a choose-your-own-adventure sort of hike. For a short jaunt that packs a big punch, hike the three-mile out-and-back Green Mountain Trail up to Big Meadow, which in the summer is full of wildflowers and hosts the occasional moose. Or if you really want to get after it, combine the Green Mountain Trail, Tonahutu Creek Trail, and Hayach Lakes Trail for a 17-mile out-and-back that culminates at Hayach Lake, a natural pool that sits at 11,000 feet in elevation in the shadow of the craggy Nakai Peak. Turn it into an overnight if you like, choosing among multiple backcountry campsites along the way ($36 fee for a ).
For a longer adventure, check out our sister publication’s “.”
Distance: 250 miles
Duration: 3-5 days
Texas is big, so you need to narrow your focus for a road trip here, because getting from point A to point B can sometimes take you all day. This particular route starts with some urban exploration in San Antonio and ends on one of the longest undeveloped beaches in the country. In between are quiet swamps, beach campsites, and plenty of paddle trails.
San Antonio might not seem like the perfect place to start an adventure trip, but the city鈥檚 15-mile River Walk, expanded in the late 1990s, has served as an inspiration for other similar projects ever since and it鈥檚 still one of the coolest urban bike rides you can do. Five miles of the path cruise through downtown, but the best biking is just south of town in the , an eight-mile linear park that connects historic missions, grasslands, and wildflower meadows, all protected as the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park.
After spinning around San Antonio, drive east towards the Gulf of Mexico, making a pitstop at Palmetto State Park鈥攁 small stretch just 25 miles east of San Antonio, that鈥檚 home to the sort of tropical jungle you鈥檙e more likely to find in Florida鈥攃omplete with dwarf palmettos blanketing the forest floor. If you bring your own boat or paddleboard, you can slide along the languid San Marcos River, or explore Palmetto鈥檚 small Oxbow Lake. Hiking trails lead through swampy marshes with light-green water filling the forest floor. If you鈥檙e not in a hurry, pitch a tent in the park鈥檚 ($12 a night) before heading to the beach.
Head south on Highway 183 to Mustang Island State Park, which separates Corpus Christi Bay from the Gulf of Mexico. The park protects five miles of Gulf-facing coastline, and has 50 drive-up where you can pitch a tent on the beach ($13 a night, first-come, first-served).
The beach is the obvious draw here. The Gulf is typically calm and warm, although some people are known to surf during hurricane swells. But the park also has more than 20 miles of marked paddling trails that traverse the western edge of the island, weave through islands in Corpus Christi Bay, and offer shallow water for fishing for redfish and speckled trout. runs daily guided trips (from $90 for two people) and rentals (from $50).
If you need more beach (and who doesn鈥檛?) scoot 15 miles down the coast to Padre Island National Seashore. If you have a 4WD vehicle, you can down-island for up to 60 miles until you leave the crowds behind. The national seashore is a hot spot for birding, with 380 different species reported, thanks to the island鈥檚 location on a major migration route. Look for the endangered piping plover or the super colorful painted bunting.
Distance: 275 miles
Duration: 3-5 days
I haven鈥檛 spent enough time in New Mexico. Or seen enough of it. The last time I was there, on a fly-fishing trip, I couldn鈥檛 bring myself to leave the Taos area. So many fish, so many green chili dishes. But I regret my solitary focus, because the state has much to offer. This particular road trip delivers a variety of adventure and landscapes that I鈥檓 convinced only New Mexico has.
The trip begins with a bang by rafting a tumultuous section of the Rio Grande, just 30 miles southwest of Taos. Different run options offer a variety of adventure, but the classic is a 17-mile portion through the Rio Grande Gorge, also dubbed the Taos Box because it is walled by black basalt cliffs. The trip brings a full day of whitewater action, with a six-mile section of non-stop class II and III rapids known as The Racecourse. If the weather is warm enough, you can swim in a few pools along the way, and good guides will point out petroglyphs on the rock walls. Book your trip with and you鈥檒l get hot fajitas for a riverside lunch (from $110 per person).
Spend the night at the wellness retreat of Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort and Spa, where the natural springs feature arsenic, Lithia, soda, and iron, all minerals thought to have healing properties (from $239 a night).
Keep heading southwest to , a super volcano that erupted 1.2 million years ago, creating a 14-mile-wide circular depression that has evolved into a lush basin full of creeks and meadows. Think of Valles Caldera as a mini Yellowstone, complete with hot springs, wildlife-viewing opportunities, and broad grasslands. A large elk population calls the caldera home (look for them in the meadows during early morning and evening), and keep an eye out as well for prairie dogs and coyotes. The Valle Grande Exploration Trail is a short, .8-mile walk through a prairie to a manmade pond that served as a watering hole when the area was a private cattle ranch. The South Mountain Trail is a bit more involved, taking you four miles up a narrow valley and to the top of South Mountain, where you鈥檒l enjoy a view of the entire basin.
You鈥檒l only be 20 miles west of Bandelier National Monument, which protects 33,000 acres of canyons and mesa that were the Ancestral Puebloans鈥� home until 1550. They used blocks of soft volcanic rock to build homes at the bases of cliffs, carving additional rooms into the walls themselves. Hike the 1.4-mile Pueblo Loop Trail to see some of these archeological sites first hand. You鈥檒l even get to climb ladders into some of the rooms carved into the side of cliffs. Grab a campsite at the monument鈥檚 ($20 a night, reserve up to six months in advance).
It鈥檒l add some mileage, but you need to cap this road trip off with a walk on the moon, or at least, as close as most of us will ever come to walking on the moon. The , in northwestern New Mexico, are loaded with some of the strangest rock formations you will ever see, with cap stones and some massive cliffs actually in the shapes of manta rays, all rising from rolling taupe shale hills. The Bisti Badlands are part of the BLM鈥檚 60-square-mile Bisti/De-Na-Zen Wilderness Area, which has no formal trails or paved roads. The De-Na-Zin parking area, off county road 7500, will give you access to the dry Bisti Wash, which you can hike into the heart of the badlands to see all of the weirdness for yourself.
Distance: 250
Duration: 3-5 days
I spent most of my youth believing Arizona was a desert wasteland, but in recent years I鈥檝e had the chance to turn that around with some of the state鈥檚 wonderful signature adventures. Yes, much of Arizona is desert, but it is no wasteland. It鈥檚 a vibrant landscape full of life and adventure. I鈥檝e driven ATVs across the desert, biked lonely gravel roads near the border of Mexico, and ridden a mountain bike into a cactus on the outskirts of Scottsdale. In short, I love Arizona, and as much fun as I鈥檝e had in that state, I still have so much to discover. The following road trip meanders through Northern Arizona, beginning in Grand Canyon and connecting a few waypoints that I still need to tick off my bucket list.
You could argue that all adventure trips in Arizona need to feature Grand Canyon National Park, and I wouldn鈥檛 disagree, so we鈥檙e hitting that 6,000-foot-deep ditch first. Also, Grand Canyon Village is just 1.5 hours from Flagstaff, so it鈥檚 a logical first stop. Is the Grand Canyon crowded? Yes. But the vast majority of visitors stick to a few scenic overlooks. The last time I was at the South Rim, I lost the crowds after hiking about a mile on the . But you鈥檙e going to do a lot of hiking on this road trip, so consider biking The Hermit Road, which hugs the south rim of the canyon for seven miles from the village, offering copious views along the way. The best part? It鈥檚 closed to private vehicles from March through November. rents cruisers (from $30).
Try to get a room at , an iconic national park lodge if there ever was one (from $391 starting in March). Or snag a coveted site at , which is first-come, first- served.
Heading north for 130 miles, you鈥檒l hit the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, a 280,000-acre geological wonder of buttes, canyons, and cliffs that tends to get overshadowed by its grand neighbor. Still, you may have seen photos of the swirling pink and tan sandstone layers of rock in the Coyote Buttes known as The Wave. It鈥檚 a stunning scenic reward that requires a tough hike through the desert. Accessing the Coyote Buttes requires a ($6). Grab one four months in advance, or try your luck with the daily lottery.
If you can鈥檛 score a permit, try hiking the 1.2-mile out-and-back through White Pocket. There are no marked or maintained trails in the monument, but cairns will guide you through more wavy sandstone features. Wherever you hike, look towards the sky for the endangered California Condor, which are hatched and released in the monument each year. And bring (or rent) a 4WD vehicle, as there are no paved roads inside the monument. Grab a site at the BLM鈥檚 , which views a cluster of sand-white buttes ($12 per site, first come/first serve).
Roughly 100 miles east, near the border of Utah, sits the 91,696-acre , a broad valley where 1,000-foot-tall sandstone towers rise abruptly from the earth. You can see some of the most iconic features, the Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte, from the visitor center, but you鈥檒l want to hike the Wildcat Trail, a four-mile loop that wraps around the West and East Mitten Buttes. It鈥檚 the only self-guided trail open within the park, so to explore any more requires hiring a local Navajo guide with . A number of operators run auto tours of the 17-mile scenic loop road within the park, but consider booking a stargazing tour, also with Monument Valley Tribal Tours, that focuses on nighttime photography, framing the buttes within the context of the Milky Way and surrounding stars (from $95).
Distance: 300 miles
Duration: 4-5 days
Because this is a collection of road trips through the Southwest, I鈥檓 focusing on Southern California, as the terrain in the area is more complementary to the Southwest vibe than, say, that of California鈥檚 Redwood National Park or Yosemite Valley.
This trip starts on the coast and ends with the dunes in the Mojave Desert, so there鈥檚 plenty of sand along the way, as well as big rocks, desert camping, and hiking. Keep the L.A. fires in mind when you鈥檙e traveling to Southern California. Hopefully the worst of that fire will be in the rearview by the time you make this trip, and while this route steers clear of the burn areas, the disaster has impacted residents throughout the region. Be considerate.
California鈥檚 coast is loaded with state parks, but San Onofre State Beach has a rugged character that鈥檚 hard to match, with cliffs rising directly from the beach and whales and dolphins often spotted in the water. If you fancy yourself a worthy surfer, you can paddle into the lineup at the world-famous Trestles break on the north end of the park, which has been ground zero for Southern California鈥檚 surfing culture since the 1940s. The park offers beginner breaks, too. In fact, San Onofre has one of the more gentle waves in Southern California. offers beginner lessons at the San Onofre Bluffs Beach, which is flanked by 100-foot cliffs (from $100 per person).
Try to score a site at the (reserve up to six months in advance, starting at $45 a night) or San Mateo Camp, a couple of miles inland.
Leave the beach and head east, making a pit stop at the sleeper destination Anza-Borrego Desert State Wilderness, an often overlooked member of California鈥檚 crowded public-lands portfolio. The park is packed with palm oases, slot canyons, and after a wet winter, fields of wildflowers. Stretch your legs on the , a three-mile out and back that begins near the park鈥檚 visitor center and climbs up a canyon, ending at an overlook of a palm oasis (currently recovering from a previous wildfire) with a seasonal waterfall.
Continuing east for 60 miles, and you鈥檒l wrap around the Salton Sea to hit Joshua Tree National Park鈥檚 southern entrance (if you鈥檙e tired or showing up late, look for free campsites on BLM land between I-10 and the park鈥檚 entrance). Spring is a great time to visit the park, as the temperatures are manageable, and the local cacti and Joshua Trees for which the park is named could still be sprouting flowers. Lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails. The easy 1.4-mile is a no-brainer loop that delivers you to a natural arch, with plenty of opportunity to scramble on sandstone boulders along the way. For a bird鈥檚-eye view of the park, climb the 5,456-foot Ryan Mountain via its and for a vista stretching clear to the 11,000-foot San Gorgonio Mountain. I tried running to the top of Ryan Mountain the last time I was in the park, but the 1,000-foot elevation gain got the better of me.
Aside from the BLM land near the south entrance, the park has six with sites you can reserve up to six months in advance. They鈥檙e all good.
Still want more desert? Great, because you鈥檙e heading 70 miles north of Joshua Tree into the heart of the Mojave National Preserve, 1.6 million acres of dunes, cliffs, and cactus that somehow only gets half a million visitors a year. You have to hike the , a 45-square-mile expanse that will have you thinking you鈥檙e in the Sahara. The popular three-mile Kelso Dunes Trail will take you to the top of the tallest mound, which rises 650 feet.
Also, the easy, mile-long Lava Tube Trail provides access to an actual lava tube, where the sun pours in through a 鈥渟ky light鈥� in the stone. Wherever you explore, keep an eye out for the desert tortoise, a threatened species that lives in the Mojave鈥檚 valleys and moves slowly through the heat. The preserve has three developed campgrounds. Try to reserve a spot at , which has potable water ($25 per night).
Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 national-parks columnist. He鈥檚 been in love with road trips since he read Jack Kerouac鈥檚 On the Road at age 17. His longest road trip to date was a month-long romp through the Southwest with his wife and twin then four-year-olds. Recently, he wrote about bucket-list golf courses, the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park, and the nine national parks that will need timed-entry reservations this year. One of the weirdest places he鈥檚 ever slept for a story was a renovated lookout tower in the middle of the ocean.
The post The 7 Best Road Trips in the Southwest appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>Chef Eduardo Garcia refuels Southern Arizona trail crews with an impromptu breakfast surprise, giving back to the organizations that maintain our corridors of adventure
The post Cooking Up Trail Karma on the Arizona Trail appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>Outdoor chef extraordinaire rises bright and early to bring Trail Karma into Southern Arizona鈥檚 rugged Santa Catalina Mountains. Utilizing a 2025 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, Garcia refuels some of the 听finest crews with a steaming gourmet surprise at an impromptu trailhead breakfast. The hearty early-morning surprise kicks off some needed maintenance efforts on the Arizona National Scenic Trail.
Click to learn more about Trail Karma, with , launching on our partner mapping platform now with Toyota鈥檚 sponsorship of 20 standout trails across the U.S.鈥攎atching donations to these key trail-maintenance organizations up to $100K.
Join the cause, donate and discover classic trails (and open new ones) by supporting the local nonprofits that care for these crucial corridors.
For generations, Toyota has built durable legends destined for greatness. Whether you鈥檙e conquering off-road trails, hauling heavy loads,听 or seeking the versatility of an SUV, there鈥檚 that鈥檚 just right for you.
The post Cooking Up Trail Karma on the Arizona Trail appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>I found big adventure and warm weather in these national-park units spread across the Southeast and Southwest
The post These Are the 7 Best National Parks to Visit for Spring Break appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>Planning spring break is high pressure. You only get a one-week respite from school or work, and the timing, late March or early April, makes it tough to find a location with consistently good weather. Those months could offer spring ski conditions or prime surf weather鈥攐r not.
More than a few times, I鈥檝e had to pivot at the last minute, having thought it would be warm enough for family surfing on the Outer Banks for spring break and then found temperatures in the low 50s. We moved our vacation further south.
Yes, south is the operative word. So relax, because I鈥檝e found seven national-park units in the Southeast and Southwest that offer gorgeous landscapes, many days鈥� worth of adventures, and just-about-guaranteed warm weather for the perfect spring break trip.
Cumberland Island is wild. The largest barrier island off the coast of Georgia, Cumberland is a 17-mile-long, 36,000-acre swath of pristine beaches, tall dunes, maritime forests, fresh lakes, and marshy canals. Even though the Carnegie family once owned the island, and descendants still have some private property, Cumberland protects almost 10,000 acres of federally designated wilderness. The only way to reach the island is by a 45-minute ($20 one way) or private boat, and once you鈥檙e there the only way to get around is by foot or bike on hiking trails and 50 miles of sandy roads.
The island has no stores, so bring everything you鈥檒l need, and be prepared to pack it all back out. You鈥檒l see some ruins from a Victorian-era mansion built in 1884 as a winter home for Thomas Carnegie, as well as the remnants of a freedmen鈥檚 community of former slaves. You may spot members of the colony of feral horses that still roam the island, which are likely descendants of the horses brought over by the British during the War of 1812.
As for beaches, Cumberland offers 15 miles of undeveloped sand and dunes facing the Atlantic. For solitude, keep heading north away from the docks until you reach a patch of sand that鈥檚 too far for day-trippers to claim. It鈥檚 tough to find this much raw beach on the East Coast, so soak it in. The Atlantic is rough, but fine for swimming. Stay out of the marshes on the west side of the island, as they鈥檙e popular hangouts for alligators.
Where to Stay: is an all-inclusive hotel operating in one of the Carnegies鈥� former vacation homes (from $895 a night), but most visitors . Sea Camp has bathrooms and showers and allows fires (from $22 a night). Stafford Beach is more remote, requiring a three-mile hike from the docks, and it, too, has bathrooms with showers (from $12 a night). Book your spot early, up to six months in advance.
The 800,000-acre Big Bend National Park has been a spring-break destination for decades. My mother-in-law still talks fondly about spending college spring breaks camping there during the 1960s.
Late March and early April are the busiest times to visit the park. But 鈥渃rowded鈥� is a relative term; I hit the place a few years ago at the end of March and never felt overwhelmed or discouraged by other visitors, mainly because the park and its neighboring Big Bend Ranch State Park are so large. I hiked, rode my bike, camped, and enjoyed the 鈥淔ar West Texas鈥� vibe of it all.
The Big Bend landscape is straight out of a Western, with its vistas of canyons, the towering Chisos Mountains, and big stretches of rocky desert. It鈥檚 a great place to explore by boot, bike, or boat, an ideal multi-sport national-park trip.
Hikers should tackle the 5.5-mile out and back Window Trail, which descends 1,000 feet from the Chisos Trailhead, at 5,400 feet elevation, through Oak Creek Canyon to a sheer drop-off framed by towering cliffs. Be prepared (and take water) for the steady climb back to the trailhead. Depending on recent storms, there could be a small stream in the center of the canyon, but the trail is still navigable. Subject to changes in the water level, you can paddle a 20-mile section of the Rio Grande through Santa Elena Canyon, which narrows to 100 feet wide, with limestone cliffs blotting out the sun. The area has been in a drought for the last couple of years, so spring trips aren鈥檛 guaranteed, but check with for water levels and trip options (from $160 per person).
Rio Grande Angell Expeditions video by Taylor Reilly
Just outside the national park is , with its bounty of mountain biking, where you can pedal to a backcountry oasis and through a slope filled with sparkling gemstones. Regardless of what you do, at the end of the day you must soak in the historic hot springs that are carved out of the Rio Grande.
Where to Stay: Chisos Mountain Lodge inside the park has 72 rooms, a restaurant, and a general store (from $170 a night). has 60 sites up almost a mile high in elevation; make reservations up to six months in advance ($16 a night).
It would be borderline crazy to visit Death Valley National Park in the summertime, but in early spring, the temperatures are chef鈥檚-kiss perfect. Visitors in spring may also have the huge bonus of seeing the wildflowers pop off, particularly in the lower elevations, in fields of desert gold, poppies, and verbena. If you鈥檙e really into hitting the park during peak flower power, watch the rangers鈥� on which wildflowers are blooming throughout spring and summer.
Also cool: the park is home to one of the world鈥檚 rarest fish, the Devils Hole pupfish, an endangered species found only in a water cavern in Devils Hole here. The pupfish are visible during the annual spring migration as they move within the hole seeking warmth from direct sunlight. Scientists counted 191 of them last April, the highest count in 25 years.
You don鈥檛 need to be a cyclist to enjoy Death Valley鈥攖here are plenty of hiking trails鈥攂ut two wheels is a hell of a way to explore this landscape, with 785 miles of roads open to bikes. Cruise through otherworldly terrain like salt flats, expansive sand dunes, and red-rock formations, before climbing into mountains of up to 11,000 feet.
Artist鈥檚 Drive, a paved nine-mile one-way loop, is the park鈥檚 signature ride. It climbs from below sea level to 880 feet above it, offering views of the surrounding moon-like white sands and mountains on the horizon. At the crest, you鈥檒l be surrounded by pink and tan hills, which narrow to canyon-like proportions on the fun downhill to finish the loop. To give you a sense of the terrain, parts of the Star Wars franchise were filmed off this road.
Where to Stay: If you鈥檙e looking for nice digs, will put you in the heart of the action, and with a pool (from $507 a night). is the best developed campground in the park, with 136 sites on the valley floor and mountain views. Book up to six months in advance (from $30 a night).
One of the newest national parks (established in 2019), White Sands isn鈥檛 huge, just 175,000 acres, but it protects half of the world鈥檚 largest gypsum-crystal field. The dunes roll through the Tularosa Basin like bright white waves, creating a landscape unlike anything else on this planet. You can see the San Andres Mountains on the horizon beyond the park, but it鈥檚 the sloping dunes that will mesmerize you.
The eight-mile Dunes Drive scenic road delivers you into the center of the dunes from the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle, and the road also accesses the park鈥檚 five different hiking trails. The Dune Life Nature Trail is an easy one-mile loop that serves as a good intro to the landscape. But if you really want to dig into the dunes, hike the five-mile , which traces the edge of an ancient lake that has been replaced by the waves of dunes. You鈥檒l climb and descend 60-foot sandy mounds throughout.
If you can time it right, hit the park on a , when White Sands is open into the night, and ranger-led programs include guided hikes. And definitely bring a sled (or buy one in the park gift shop). The dunes at the are open to sledding, and the gypsum hills behave exactly like snow slopes.
Where to Stay: There is currently no camping inside the park: its backcountry campsites are closed for rehabilitation, with no timeline as to when they will be in service. The town of Alamogordo, 15 miles east of the park, has a variety of chain hotels.
A lot of people have discovered the Gulf Islands National Seashore. In 2023, visitation jumped 40 percent, from 5.7 million to 8.2 million people, making this unit the fifth-most-visited in the park service. People are showing up for the white-sand beaches on the mainland and for barrier islands that you can only reach by boat. The national seashore is made up of a series of parks, beaches, and islands, split between Florida and Mississippi, and all surrounded by clear, aqua-blue waters that are home to gopher tortoises, bottlenose dolphins, starfish, crabs鈥nd the 300 species of birds that migrate through the area.
The easiest island to reach is Ship, 12 miles off the coast and accessible by regular from Gulfport and Biloxi ($44 per person, round trip). Once you鈥檙e on the island, you can explore the historic fort, lounge on the beaches, or swim in the Gulf. The recreation area is fully developed with concessions and restrooms, so it鈥檚 a convenient getaway.
If you鈥檙e looking for something wilder, consider venturing to , an eight-mile-long barrier island protected as a federally designated Wilderness area, so there are no commercial ferries to the island and no facilities on the ground. But if you have your own boat or want to hire a charter (from $675 at ), you鈥檒l find an island ringed with sugar-white sand beaches and grassy dunes, while pine trees and lagoons pack the interior. Mind the occasional alligator.
Where to Stay: The campground, on the mainland near the town of Ocean Springs, sits inside a maritime forest, with marshes and fishing docks ($25 a night, book six months in advance). You鈥檙e also allowed to on the beach on a few of the barrier islands (Petit Bois, West Petit Bois, and Horn Island) inside the park, but stay off the dunes and any vegetation, don鈥檛 bring any mechanical devices (ie, no coolers with wheels), and be prepared for a true wilderness experience, as there are no facilities.
Glen Canyon protects the incredible 1.25 million acres of land and water where the Colorado River pours into Lake Powell. The blue water of the lake contrasts sharply with the red and pink sandstone walls that rise directly from the edge, and the lake has countless fingers and canyons to explore by boat.
The water levels of Powell are constantly shifting, and have generally been in decline the last 20 years. Check the park site鈥檚 to make sure the boat ramp or launch you have in mind is operational. The lake was low when I visited a few years ago on a biking and paddle trip, and we had to contend with some mud on the banks, but the place was no less stunning.
The Antelope Point ramp typically has the least boat traffic, so it鈥檚 conducive to use of kayaks or canoes. From there, you can head south on the lake for a mile and paddle into Antelope Canyon, a narrow slot canyon that鈥檚 also a no-wake (no motorboating) zone. Under normal water levels, you can follow the creek upstream for about a mile. offers rental kayaks (from $75 a day). You can also launch directly from the beaches at Lone Rock Beach and Stanton Creek and explore the lake surrounding those alcoves.
Off the water, an easy 1.25-mile hike leads to one of the overlooks at , where the Colorado River takes a drastic turn around a massive sandstone escarpment.
Where to Stay: All inside the recreation area are first-come, first-served. Lees Ferry Campground has 54 sites, potable water, and restrooms ($26 a night). Lone Rock Beach has primitive sites on a sandy beach right next to the water ($14 per night).
The Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument is primitive. This Northern Arizona park has no facilities, no campgrounds, and no paved roads. Instead, visitors are treated to the sights of 1 million acres of expansive plateaus, rugged canyons, and Mojave Desert, all traversed by a series of unimproved dirt roads and hiking trails. In other words, this monument is ideal for self-contained overlanding. I spent three days cruising Grand Canyon-Parashant in a side-by-side with a rooftop tent, while hiking and biking at various spots throughout, and was as mesmerized by the solitude as the grandeur of the landscape.
If you have a high-clearance 4WD vehicle, the monument is yours to explore. The park service details an 80-mile adventure to that cruises through a variety of terrain, from cattle fields to ponderosa forests, and ends on the north rim of the Grand Canyon. If you choose this route, you鈥檒l also have the chance to get out and stretch your legs on the Burnt Canyon Trail, an easy three-mile out-and-back on a grassy road bed that leads to a big view of the western edge of the Grand Canyon. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Mount Charleston, just outside of Las Vegas.
I took a roundabout, multi-day route to reach , with its long view into the Canyon, and an optional side hike down to the water. The last seven miles to Whitmore Point drop 1,500 feet over rocky, rutted terrain that was super fun to bomb on a mountain bike. The fastest way to this perch is a 50-mile traverse from Mount Trumbull Schoolhouse.
Where to Stay: Primitive camping is allowed throughout the monument, but if you鈥檙e looking for a bit of refinement in the midst of all this rugged adventure, the has hotel rooms and covered wagons on an inholding close to the northern rim of the Grand Canyon. It鈥檚 only accessible by a 70-mile dirt-road drive through the national monument or an airplane (the place has its own landing strip), but once you鈥檙e there, you鈥檒l be able to refuel your vehicle and have a damn fine dinner (starting at $172 a night).
Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 national-parks columnist. Every year, he agonizes over how to maximize his kids鈥� spring break, dragging them to campsites in Florida, beaches in South Carolina, and lakes all over the Southeast. He recently wrote about hiking in Joshua Tree National Park and his absolute favorite mountain town on the East Coast. His latest article is all about visiting national parks for free.
The post These Are the 7 Best National Parks to Visit for Spring Break appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>Our travel writers spent weekends at some fabulous places: a red-rock retreat, stargazing domes, and one of the national parks鈥� hardest-to-book cabins. Here鈥檚 where we鈥檙e sending our friends next year.
The post 7 Amazing Resorts in the U.S. and Canada That We鈥檇 Love to Return To appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>If there鈥檚 one travel thing I splurge on each year, it鈥檚 amazing hotel stays. I鈥檝e no regrets, because they so often make for a next-level vacation.
This year 国产吃瓜黑料 sent me and some of our other travel writers and editors to check out new, recently revamped, or iconic properties that have been on our radar. Talk about unique adventuring in gorgeous locations鈥攐ne is in a deep red-rock canyon, another in a secluded dark-sky area, and still another has its own private entrance to a national park.
These are the places that blew us away. We鈥檇 return to any of them again.
Price: From $400
Set amid the stupefying red-rock wonder that is Boynton Canyon, one of four major vortex sites in Sedona, my fall stay at Enchantment was emotional but also grounding. I hiked with one of the resort鈥檚 vortex experts, whose sage ceremony at a viewpoint overlooking the high-desert landscape made me feel lighter than I had in months. And my chakra-balancing treatment and sound bath at the guests-only Mii Amo spa were as fantastically spiritual and woo-woo as I hoped they鈥檇 be.
You could easily spend four days hiking or mountain-biking around Sedona. The property鈥檚 on-site Trail House is home to equipment and guides for both, and staff can organize far-flung excursions to the Grand Canyon in a helicopter and Prescott for climbing adventures, if your time and budget allow.
The resort鈥檚 Southwestern adobe architecture is designed to blend into the surrounding scenery, the indoor-outdoor restaurants are upscale but not stuffy, and the range of outdoor activities and classes is impressive: pop between its four pools, play tennis or pickleball, or sign up for yoga or . Staff are incredibly friendly, which is to be expected at destination resorts, but one thing that really stood out for me.
Of all the trips I took in 2024, my memories of this property have stayed with me most. And since my review came out, I鈥檝e received feedback from other guests who shared similarly moving experiences at Enchantment. It鈥檚 that powerful a place.
What I鈥檇 do differently if I returned: I wanted to head to one of the pools late at night and float around staring up at the stars, since Sedona is a Dark Sky Community. But the hiking and spa treatments had me fairly worn out by day鈥檚 end鈥攁nd sleeping soundly through the night.
Price: From $525
When Alison Osius visited this new Clear Sky Resort in August, she was ready to spend hours admiring the starry skies鈥攖he main draw for guests who look forward to gazing up at the firmament from their own geodesic dome. Unfortunately, it rained during her short stay.
But Osius didn鈥檛 let bad weather dampen her exploration of Bryce Canyon National Park, just a 20-minute drive from the property. She motored around the park with a fourth-generation guide, hitting highlights like Natural Arch and the Bryce Amphitheater, both beautifully shrouded in mist, and got a hoot out of hearing about local escapades of legendary outlaw Butch Cassidy. Eventually, the clouds did clear and she was able to hike the 1.8-mile .
Clear Sky has some unique amenities, including a robot concierge who offers outdoor-recreation beta, a caf茅 with a gleaming boomerang-shaped bar, fire pits and cornhole, and stargazing tours. The domes themselves are fun, futuristic, and encourage group visits. Osius was surprised to learn that one has a dance floor, disco ball, and flashing lights.
Off-site, she was won over by the barbecue in a joint called in the town of Tropic, and loved the live cowboy music at in Bryce Canyon City. Her vacation gave her different viewpoints of the West and an appreciation of this area鈥檚 otherworldly landcapes, which include the greatest concentration of hoodoos in the world.
What Osius would do differently if she returned: A second visit would ideally happen when the stars were out and shining, said Osius, though she did think it was cool to watch rivulets of rain run down her dome. And the next time, she鈥檇 stay longer and hike way more in Bryce Canyon.
Price: From $299
I鈥檝e visited several outdoor-adjacent properties in the Bay Area over the years, but none within a state park. The experience felt like a sophisticated, laid-back,听 improved version of summer camp. Lodge at Marconi is a newly remodeled, 45-acre property that spans from the water鈥檚 edge of eastern Tomales Bay鈥攁n hour鈥檚 drive north of San Francisco on Highway 1鈥攖o bluffs with incredible views westward to Point Reyes National Seashore and north to the Pacific Ocean.
The weekend I was in town, the property was hosting an indoor-outdoor wedding as well as young couples there with their toddlers and dogs, day-trippers picnicking beneath shady oaks, and friends using it as a base camp for a local foodie tour. Come dusk, everyone gathered around the massive communal fire pit and hung out for hours, occasionally popping into the on-site store for a bottle of regional wine.
This is a fantastic place to do some wildlife- and bird-watching. Wild turkeys were running around while I was there, and I spent 15 minutes one morning looking down at a huge school of fish feasting on bugs in the bay. Tule elk wander Point Reyes and elephant seals laze on its beaches. Bring your best binoculars.
One of the best things about Marconi, though, is its quick access to fantastic eating in these parts. The waterfront Marshall Store is just a mile away, the must-visit Hog Island Oyster Company a mile farther (take the tour and then have lunch), and, after that, Nick鈥檚 Cove, where I love to have a casual seafood dinner and drink. This trip I also wandered around the town of Point Reyes Station, eight miles south, where I discovered buffalo-milk soft serve and a sandwich shop with 18 gooey melts. Delicious, both.
What I鈥檇 do differently if I returned: The next time, I鈥檓 bringing my girlfriends, renting out Marconi鈥檚 spacious A-frame cabin, and enjoying an evening at its cute new little cocktail bar and restaurant, Mable鈥檚, which I missed because it opened two weeks after my visit.
Price: From $213.50 for two people
It鈥檚 really hard to get a reservation to Phantom Ranch, a group of historic cabins and dorms at the floor of the Grand Canyon, and you have to try for one 15 months in advance. But Stephanie Vermillion lucked out and snagged a last-minute winter opening. Her review of the property offers tips to scoring a stay there, too.
If you are able to book Phantom Ranch, you also have to be prepared to get there. Vermillion chose the easier route down, from the South Rim: a seven-mile (one-way) zigzagging descent via the South Kaibab Trail that you have to then ascend after check-out. Pack light鈥攏o need to bring food, because you can pay for hot meals at the ranch鈥攁nd take your trekking poles. It鈥檚 about a vertical mile of elevation gain each way.
Worth it, said Vermillion, to stay in the stone cabins designed by renowned architect Mary Jane Colter. And to amble along the mightly Colorado River; if you have more than one night at the property, Vermillion suggests hiking the to Phantom Overlook. It鈥檚 nine miles round-trip but you鈥檒l see parts of the canyon seldom explored by visitors.
What Vermillion would do differently if she returned: I鈥檇 go lighter on the camera gear I brought鈥攖he weight of two cameras and a bulky tripod made the tough uphill return trip even more challenging.
Price: From $1,165 for two people
We鈥檙e recommending this ghost-town hot-springs resort, because it鈥檚 a secluded slice of the Wild West where you can not only soak to your heart鈥檚 content but also fish for trout, hike and bike the Rockies, and dine at a saloon. Writer Emily Pennington said it was the best wellness retreat she鈥檇 ever been to.
Dunton is located in southwestern Colorado, about 30 miles from beautiful Telluride. In the late 1800s it was a mining settlement, and Butch Cassidy actually scratched his name into the bar, which you can pony up to while you鈥檙e visiting. The 15 log cabins are cozy and encircle the wooden bathhouse home to a pool with rich mineral waters and decorated with a hammock and a small fireplace. When Pennington visited in March, the snow was coming down and the hot springs were just the respite she was looking for.
As anyone who lives in Colorado can tell you, March does not mark the end of winter. Pennington took a cat-ski ride up to Dunton Meadows and spent a few hours snowshoeing (the resort loans out gear). The next morning she took a yoga class. She made use of her room鈥檚 clawfoot tub. And she and the other five guests there at the time ate incredible meals, including blue-corn johnnycakes and house-cured bacon for breakfast, a hearty Mexican posole and tostadas for lunch, and a multi-course dinner that featured bison one evening. The whole experience was something she鈥檇 looked forward to for months鈥攁nd it did not disappoint.
What Pennington would do differently if she returned: As an avid hiker, Pennington loves the idea of exploring the stunning San Juan Mountains in the summer months. And that steamy, historic hot-spring building would look even more tantalizing after a thigh-busting trek, she said.
Price: From $343
Western Vancouver Island is a known storm-watching destination, and 国产吃瓜黑料 travel columnist Jen Murphy had to experience it firsthand herself. So we sent her to Nami Project, a collection of suites that overlook the ocean, to watch the winter swells roll in from her room鈥檚 floor-to-ceiling windows.
But the views were too stunning for staying holed up inside. Murphy donned rain gear and set out to explore neighboring , hiking amid the tall Sitka spruce on a trail that hugs the coast. During the wildest storms, you can watch 20-foot-high waves crash into the coast. After braving the elements, Nami Project鈥檚 cedar hot tubs, sauna, and heated floors felt pretty great.
Tide-pooling, surfing, and hiking through the rainforest are popular activities year-round, and in the warmer months, you can rent a bike and pedal the 15 miles up to Tofino. Murphy, who is a foodie, also raved about the area fare, especially the hyperlocal tasting menu at the restaurant .
What Murphy would do differently if she returned: Witness the world’s largest gray-whale migration while soaking from her room鈥檚 hot tub. As many as 20,000 whales can be spotted swimming offshore beginning in February.
Price: From $875, all-inclusive
Graham Averill and his wife spent a few glorious days holing up at The Swag and hiking from its 250-acre premises directly into Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a perk that offers your own private entrance to a lesser visited corner of America鈥檚 most visited national park.
The couple, who visited in late summer, spent an afternoon trekking through rhododendron tunnels and past a waterfall, topping out at a knob with valley views. Averill also did some trail running along a 5,500-foot ridge with spectacular panoramas to the distant Black Mountains. There were lawn games and a pool, and Averill鈥檚 room had a fireplace and an outdoor shower. Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton were in regular rotation on the house playlist.
Needless to say, you can work up an appetite here, and the reward is getting to indulge in home cooking. Averill couldn鈥檛 get enough of the grilled pigeon. And the iced tea. And the smoked Old Fashioneds. And the chocolate-chip pie served with ice cream. 鈥淓very course set in front of me was the best thing I鈥檇 ever had, until the next course came out and it became the best thing I鈥檇 ever had,鈥� he wrote.
The experience鈥攖he scenery, the proximity to the park, the opening drive from parking to the property in an electric Volvo XC90鈥攚as top-notch from start to finish. 鈥淚magine if your grandmother had generational wealth, exceptional taste, and lived to spoil you鈥攖hat鈥檚 what a stay at The Swag feels like,鈥� he said.
What Averill would do differently if he returned: The Swag鈥檚 super complex wooden jigsaw puzzle baffled Averill on his last visit, and he鈥檇 like to spend more time sipping cocktails in front of the fireplace while trying to put it together.
Tasha听Zemke is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 managing editor and a member of the 国产吃瓜黑料 Online travel team. She still has yet to satiate her wanderlust, and next year she鈥檚 most looking forward to attending Mountainfilm, in what her colleague called Colorado鈥檚 most beautiful town; hiking with friends in Ireland; and kayaking off Baja Sur, Mexico.
The post 7 Amazing Resorts in the U.S. and Canada That We鈥檇 Love to Return To appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>Nick Fowler and Georgia Porter set FKTs on the trail by wildly different methods
The post A Tale of Two Records on the Arizona Trail appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>If you want to set a fastest known time on the 817-mile Arizona Trail, you have to start fast. At least, that鈥檚 what both Nick Fowler and Georgia Porter proved this fall.
On October 28, they independently set out from the Utah-Arizona border and started their trek south with the goal of setting a record. While Fowler was traveling in a self-supported style and Porter enlisted a crew, the two shared numerous commonalities beyond the same start date, chosen to capitalize on the ideal fall weather.
Each exceeded record-setting pace over the first few days on the . Both ended up sleep deprived, with immense foot pain, and practically hobbling to the finish line at the U.S.-Mexico border. And both completed their attempt with a record: Fowler with a self-supported Arizona Trail FKT of 12 days, 17 hours, and 33 minutes鈥攖he overall record on the trail. And Porter with a women鈥檚 supported Arizona Trail FKT of 16 days, 22 hours, and 6 minutes.
But dig into their approaches, and it鈥檚 clear that even with similar goals in mind, no two FKT setters think alike.
Fowler didn鈥檛 run or sleep much in the lead-up to his FKT attempt. Since setting the self-supported FKT on the Pacific Crest Trail last summer, Fowler had his sights set on Arizona. He had already done the AZT in 30 days in the spring of 2023, prior to his PCT attempt. He knew he wanted to shoot for the record in the fall, and started working out what he鈥檇 have to do to achieve it. But in early September, less than two months before Fowler鈥檚 attempt, a new priority came into his life: Canyon, his new son.
鈥淢y training program was calf raises in the kitchen while holding my son,鈥� Fowler says. 鈥淎nd then when I go in the living room, holding my son, I would do single leg squats.鈥�
With a new baby in tow, Fowler didn鈥檛 get in quite as many pre-trail miles as he鈥檇 hoped. A couple weeks before starting the AZT, he headed out to Arkansas for an attempt at a 70-mile day on the Ozark Highlands Trail, but 鈥渋t absolutely kicked my butt 43 miles in.鈥� Nonetheless, he showed up to the Utah-Arizona border and set out feeling confident that his training from the summer, which included an FKT on the 425-mile Oregon Coast Trail, would carry him through.
鈥淏y day two, I was puking my guts out crossing the Grand Canyon, curled up in the fetal position, being passed by hikers in flip-flops, and I slowed down to two-hour miles,鈥� Fowler says. 鈥淎nd I quit.鈥�
About 100 miles in, on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Fowler turned off his tracker. He caught a hitch to Flagstaff, feeling defeated. But after a night of rest, he realized all was not lost.
鈥淚 was like, maybe I can still do this,鈥� Fowler says. 鈥淓verything鈥檚 already in place. I鈥檓 already here. And if I鈥檓 spending time away from Canyon, it鈥檚 gotta be something.鈥�
RELATED:
The post A Tale of Two Records on the Arizona Trail appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>