Tamara Pogue is a member of the Board of County Commissioners in Summit County, Colorado. Her primary focus is finding community-based solutions to workforce housing challenges and maintaining affordability for working families in our mountain community.听

When Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) proposed selling off millions of acres of public lands across 11 western states, he falsely claimed it would help solve the West’s affordable housing crisis.

It took about a minute to realize how unserious Senator Lee鈥檚 proposal actually was. It wasn鈥檛 about housing. In fact, there were no provisions for affordability, and worse, no guardrails to prevent the country鈥檚 wildest peaks and breathtaking vistas from being sold to the highest bidder.

But now that the political whiplash has subsided, and听 from the Senate鈥檚 sweeping reconciliation bill, the question remains: Could public land be used to house听people?

To be sure, the vast majority of our public lands aren鈥檛 suitable for housing. They aren鈥檛 near a town. They lack road access and basic infrastructure, like water and sewer. In fact, most of these lands are being used at their highest and best purpose: for wildlife habitat and public recreation鈥攖he entire point of 鈥淎merica鈥檚 best idea.”

There is, however, another idea for housing on public lands that鈥檚 already being put to work today.

In 2018, the bipartisan Farm Bill signed by President Trump, enabled the long-term leasing of Forest Service (USFS) administrative sites to entities like the one I help manage听as a key to addressing the west鈥檚 housing crisis.

These 鈥渁dmin sites鈥� aren鈥檛 the wild and scenic places where we play鈥攊n fact, you鈥檝e likely driven by them without giving them a second glance. They鈥檙e boneyards for equipment, with old buildings that sometimes serve as housing for Forest Service wildland firefighters, or they even sit empty.

Summit County, Colorado, signed a lease on a USFS administrative site near the town of Dillon back in 2023. This parcel, located across the street from the town, and just a mile from a major grocery store, is now the site of a development that will contain up to 162 units of housing for critical USFS firefighters, rangers, and other workers in the county.

The land has been surveyed, the utilities are available, and the buildings have been designed鈥攁ll without the need to sacrifice, or wantonly sell, any of the amazing public lands we听here in Colorado’s high country cherish and welcome millions each year to enjoy.

Repurposing these sites through legislation that already exists is a model built on a partnership with the USFS, and one that keeps whole what makes our economy run and our people thrive. Now, we need the current Administration and new USFS leadership to continue to collaborate with us to see this project through to completion.

There鈥檚 a silver lining to the justified panic over the sale of public lands. It shines a bright light on an important conversation about housing and public lands that my fellow commissioners and I, along with our friends at the Forest Service, are eager to share. It also offers D.C. policymakers a chance to advance housing solutions that the public can actually get behind.

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crews around the country have had their hands full this summer, and humans aren鈥檛 the only ones requiring aid.

According to , volunteer rescuers across Colorado responded to at least four missions during June to save dogs. The circumstances varied, from hikers bringing their furry friends on multi-day backpacking trips to taking them up 14,000-foot peaks, but in every case, sheer exhaustion was the primary cause.

Search and rescue organizations have varying policies regarding rescuing canines. There are examples of rescuers going above and beyond to save dogs in danger, but other outfits explicitly state that they will not accept rescue calls involving dogs. Some organizations, like (PCSAR), will respond to calls to rescue dogs in the wilderness if their location is known, but will not search for missing animals.

鈥淎s the weather warms up, we鈥檙e seeing more hikers and their four-legged fur children on the trails鈥攁nd we love it! But please remember: Search and Rescue teams are here to help people in emergencies, not to carry out tired, dehydrated, or injured dogs,” PCSAR wrote on its Facebook page. “Especially when these types of pup emergencies can be prevented.”

According to听The Vail Daily,听SAR teams will not deploy a helicopter for a dog rescue in the backcountry.

The most recent incident occurred on June 24, when a pair of hikers three days into a backpacking trip in the Lost Creek Wilderness called PCSAR to report that their dog was lying down and refusing to hike further. Five rescuers hiked into the wilderness, loaded the dog into a litter, and hauled it out. The mission took ten hours to complete.

Daniel Knudsen, PCSAR鈥檚 field director, told The Vail Daily that every time the rescuers tried to see if the dog could walk on her own, 鈥測ou could immediately see her legs quivering, the muscles exhausted.鈥� He added that the animal鈥檚 鈥減aws were very likely going to blister, and need some time to heal.鈥�

Another dog rescue mission occurred on June 21, after a husband and wife called PCSAR for help with their dog, who had become exhausted during a backpacking trip. The husband attempted to carry the 80-pound dog back to the trailhead. Rescuers needed to help the dog and husband.

On the same day, Lake County Search and Rescue aided a dog descending 14,433-foot Mount Elbert, Colorado鈥檚 highest peak.

Tips to Remember When Hiking With a Dog

The incidents are a sobering reminder to keep your furry friend鈥檚 capabilities in mind before heading out on the trail. Dogs don’t sweat like humans, instead they rely on panting to cool themselves down, which is far less efficient at high altitudes and under a hot sun. Remember the endurance paradox: your dog may be a sprinter at the park, but human beings are built for long-distances. Over a full day of hiking, even a moderately-fit human will out-perform the most athletic dog, which can make it easy to not realize the strain you鈥檙e putting your pet under. Watch for excessive panting, lagging behind, or stumbling.

A dog鈥檚 paws, while tough, aren鈥檛 nearly as burly as your hiking shoes, and they鈥檙e no match for miles of sharp scree or hot granite.

Keeping your dog safe and happy on an outdoor adventure is about more than just bringing extra water and snacks, too. Invest in a doggie first aid kit, dog booties or other paw protection, a collapsible water bowl, and a harness. Even if your dog is capable of walking off-leash around town, in the wilderness it鈥檚 a different story. Keeping them leashed up with a comfortable harness may prevent a sudden chase after wildlife, which could in turn lead to a fall, a frantic search, or a wild animal attack.

That said, even the most prepared adventurers鈥攖wo-legged and four-legged鈥攎ay need a rescue one day, and experts say that once things go south, it鈥檚 best to call emergency services as quickly as possible. In the same piece published by The Vail Daily, Anna DeBattiste of the Colorado Search and Rescue Association indicated that even if you aren鈥檛 sure whether the search and rescue outfit in your area will respond to a canine incident, it鈥檚 always best to call and see.

鈥淚f you cannot get your dog out of the backcountry on your own, call 911 and ask the question,鈥� DeBattiste told The Vail Daily. 鈥淲e love dogs, too, and we know that if we don鈥檛 rescue the dog, we may end up having to rescue the exhausted or injured owner later.鈥�

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Search teams using a helicopter hoisted two hikers off the summit of a Colorado fourteener after a lightning strike badly injured one of them on Thursday June 12. Rescuers believe the medevac mission may be the highest-altitude helicopter evacuation in state history.

In a Facebook post, Evergreen, Colorado鈥檚 wrote that it had received a message just before 5 P.M. on June 12 alerting them that two hikers had wandered off-route while attempting to ascend the Kelso Ridge route up 14,267-foot Torreys Peak.

Over the course of an hour, personnel from the team stayed on the phone with the hikers, talking them through regaining the trail and climbing to the summit, where they would be able to find their descent route. , Alpine Rescue Team public information officer Jake Smith said that the two men were on a road trip from New York, and that it 鈥淸didn鈥檛] sound like they had a ton of prior experience.鈥�

Eventually, the hikers successfully reached the top. While they were on the phone with rescuers, however, lightning struck the hikers, leaving one of them 鈥渦nresponsive.鈥� Alpine, working alongside Clear Creek EMS and Clear Creek Fire, immediately sent five ground teams totaling about 30 people up the mountain. Meanwhile, a Colorado National Guard Blackhawk helicopter ferried two technicians from Vail Mountain Rescue Group to the top of the peak, where they evacuated the stricken hiker by hoist at about 11 P.M. A small group from Alpine continued to the summit of Torreys to assist the second hiker, and the helicopter returned to evacuate them, the patient, and a remaining technician.

鈥淭his call illustrates how quickly situations change in Colorado鈥檚 high country, and the importance of having your ten essentials and being prepared for a lengthy evacuation,鈥� Alpine wrote. Officials have not shared the rescued hikers鈥� names.

The team told the AP that it believed Thursday鈥檚 helicopter rescue was the highest in Colorado history, beating a previous record of 13,700 feet.

Torreys and Grays are two of the most heavily trafficked fourteeners in Colorado. According to the Colorado Fourteeners Institute’s , between 20,000 to 25,000 hikers ascended the peaks during the 2023 season. Only two fourteeners logged more hiker ascents: Mount Bierstadt and Quandary Peak.

The peaks are located near the Bakerville exit on Interstate 70 and are located just 54 miles west of downtown Denver.

Grays Peak is also ascended by hikers following the Continental Divide Trail.

Lightning is a common occurrence on Colorado鈥檚 fourteeners, especially during the summer monsoon season. On its website, the notes that most of its volunteer projects begin with an alpine start to minimize the risk of thunderstorms.

In Colorado, as in most U.S. states, search and rescue is free of charge and staffed mostly by highly-skilled volunteers who pay for most or all of their own training, equipment, and transportation. Hikers from both Colorado and out of state can support Alpine and other Colorado rescue teams by purchasing a , which runs $5 for one year or $20 for five. Those funds go toward reimbursing county sheriffs and volunteer teams themselves for the cost of rescues.

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There鈥檚 a new plan in Washington D.C. to auction off public lands, and this one involves millions of acres spread across nearly a dozen Western states.

The latest stipulation would require the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to sell off roughly 3 million acres by 2030.

On Tuesday, June 10, this plan was added to the draft legislation of President Donald Trump鈥檚 tax and spending megabill by the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the U.S. Senate.

This sprawling piece of legislation, called 鈥淥ne Big, Beautiful Bill Act,鈥� passed the House of Representatives in early June, and is currently under debate in the Senate.

Sources told听The New York Times that two Republican lawmakers鈥擬ike Lee of Utah and Steve Daines of Montana鈥攚orked closely to decide on the plan.

Previous plans to sell off public lands have been met with public outcry. An earlier version of the Big, Beautiful Bill Act included a smaller selloff proposal, suggesting the liquidation of nearly 500,000 acres of public land in Nevada and Utah.

This provision was axed before the bill passed the House of Representatives, after backlash from the House鈥檚 Public Lands Caucus, a bipartisan group led by New Mexico Democrat Gabe Vasquez and Montana Republican and former interior secretary Ryan Zinke. Zinke called the measure his 鈥淪an Juan Hill.鈥� He has previously told 国产吃瓜黑料:听鈥淭he idea that you鈥檙e going to sell public land to get out of debt is folly.鈥�

This latest鈥攁nd substantially larger鈥攍and sale proposal was announced by Lee, who is the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Specifically, the reconciliation bill鈥檚 language dictates that 鈥渘ot less than 0.50 percent and not more than 0.75 percent鈥� of all BLM land be sold to the private sector, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior. Identical language and percentages dictate the sale of National Forest land as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture.

The BLM manages 245 million total acres, and the the Forest Service manages 193 million acres. Under the plan’s rules, up to 3.29 million acres of public lands would be placed on the auctioning block.

Lawmakers have said the sale of public lands would raise funds for the federal government and clear land for housing development. The plan would put public lands in 11 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Zinke鈥檚 state, Montana, is the only Western state excluded from this updated proposal.

The that national parks, national monuments, and designated wilderness areas would be exempt from auction, and land near existing population centers would be prioritized. The bill also mandates that any public land sales must occur solely for 鈥渇or the development of housing or to address associated community needs,鈥� but it leaves the definition of these 鈥渁ssociated community needs鈥� up to the Secretaries concerned.

鈥淪enate Republicans have finally said the quiet part out loud,鈥� said , the ranking Democrat on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. 鈥淭hey want to put millions of acres of our public lands up in a fire sale, destroy the investments that have created thousands of manufacturing and clean energy jobs 鈥� including in their home states, and obliterate programs that lower energy costs for everyday Americans.鈥�

The plan received immediate criticism from nonprofit groups and organizations that work in conservation and outdoor recreation.

鈥淲hat some may see as a barren lot on a map on a Senator鈥檚 desk may actually be where a community hikes after work, rides their ATV, or teaches their kids how to hunt turkey or ride a bike,” reads a statement from Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, a lobbying group for the outdoor recreation industry. “And once these treasured places are sold to private industry, they are gone forever, and in the case of this proposal, can be used for any purpose after ten years.”

David Willms, associate vice president for public lands at the National Wildlife Federation, called the plan “orders of magnitude worse than what the House proposed last month.”

鈥淢andating the fire sale of up to two-and-a-half million acres of public land violates more than a century of land stewardship, threatens wildlife and clean water, runs directly against widespread public opinion, and will not begin to solve either the budget crisis or the affordable housing crisis,” he said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

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

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

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

Denali National Park, Alaska听

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

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

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

Canyonlands National Park, Utah听

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

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

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

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

Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado听

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

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

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

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

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On Thursday, June 5, rescuers in Southern Colorado boarded a helicopter and flew high into the Sangre de Cristo range of the Rocky Mountains.

They plucked a hiker off the southwest flanks of 14,055-foot Mount Lindsey, one of three Colorado fourteeners clustered at the southern edge of the range.

According to an update from Alamosa Volunteer Search and Rescue (AVSAR), the hiker, who has not been identified, “had fallen several hundred feet after a boulder gave way鈥� while ascending the mountain鈥檚 northwest ridge, one of the two standard routes to the summit.

The rescue attempt was mobilized shortly after noon, and a search and rescue helicopter managed to reach the fallen climber at 1:20 P.M. Rescuers had extracted the injured climber by 1:40, and determined that 鈥渢ransfer to a local hospital by EMS would be appropriate due to the nature of the injuries.鈥�

Mount Lindsey, located north of the town of Fort Garland is one of the southernmost Colorado fourteeners. It is also one of a handful of the famed peaks that sits on private land. While much of Mount Lindsey鈥檚 approach trail is within the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, the ridge and summit itself are part of billionaire Louis Moore Bacon鈥檚 Trinchera-Blanca Ranch, the largest privately owned ranch in Colorado.

Citing liability concerns, Bacon closed access to Lindsey in 2021, and reopened it to hikers until this March. The move came after a 2024 change to Colorado’s Recreational Use Statue, which reduced the liability burden on landowners who allow public recreational access on their property. The Colorado Fourteeners Institute, a nonprofit, was one of several groups that lobbied for the rule change.

Climbers hoping to ascend Lindsey target the peak from the northwest, either via a gully leading up the north face, or by scrambling along the crest of the northwest ridge. Both routes are identical until the final approach to the summit, and are rated Class III.

This means that, although not usually protected via a rope or any other climbing gear, the routes do involve some basic scrambling, and any mistake can be consequential. The northwest ridge route, in particular, entails high exposure and requires navigating a considerable quantity of loose rock.

One commenter on the AVSAR post, Joe Bartoletti, said he met the injured climber on the peak. 鈥淚 talked to him on his way down around 12,600/12,700 ft, he was ambulatory and it seemed like he would be able to continue on for a while,鈥� Bartoletti wrote. 鈥淚 went on towards the summit and figured I鈥檇 see him again on my way down if he weren鈥檛 able to continue on. Saw the helicopter fly in a while later and figured he was getting extricated.鈥�

While far less popular than well-known Colorado summits like Longs Peak and Pikes Peak, which can see as many as 15,000 to 25,000 hikers per year, Mount Lindsey has historically welcomed more hikers鈥攂etween 1,000 and 3,000 annually鈥攖han most of the other peaks in the Sangre de Cristo range.

This is due to its minimally technical route and relatively short trail: a little over eight miles round trip, with 3,500 feet of elevation gain. The mountain is often used by budding peakbaggers as a way to dip toes in the water before attempting the harder peaks in the range, such as those in the Blanca or Crestone group.

Per the stipulations of Mount Lindsey鈥檚 re-opening, all parties are required to sign an before any hike. There is also a sign with a QR code leading to the waiver at the trailhead, so hikers can sign their waiver on arrival, depending on cell reception. While hiking is allowed, other recreational activities, such as hunting, camping, motorized vehicles or wheeled transport, and aerial drones, are all restricted. The waiver also restricts climbers to either on the northwest ridge or gully route.

鈥淧lease remember that the restored climbing access to Mount Lindsey is a privilege that can be withdrawn if people do not follow the rules,鈥� wrote the Colorado Fourteener Initiative in an update on the re-opening. 鈥淏eing responsible climbers will help maintain access. Violating the rules certainly will send a poor signal, and may result in the peak being closed again.鈥�

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. Dark Sky Reserve, Central Idaho

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

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

2. Great Basin National Park, East-Central Nevada

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

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

3. Cape Lookout National Seashore, Eastern North Carolina

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

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

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

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

5. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Northeastern Minnesota

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

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

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

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

7. Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge, Northwest Montana

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

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

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

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

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

Plus: Where to Stay in the Oregon Outback

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

Tips on Smart Stargazing

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

-Stay with your group.

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

-Bring warm clothes.

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

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

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

See also our list of top stargazing apps here.

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

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

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On Wednesday, May 28, Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper stood alongside state congressman John Neguse near the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. The two lawmakers spoke about the ongoing fight to protect public lands and the federal agencies that oversee them.

Neguse, 41, recently introduced two bills鈥攃alled Protect Our Parks and Save Our Forests respectively鈥攖hat would reinstate the thousands of employees of the National Forest Service and National Park Service who were fired by the Trump Administration earlier this year.听Hickenlooper, 73, also introduced legislation this spring that would block the White House from selling public lands to decrease the national deficit.

Hickenlooper plans to speak at the in Denver, Colorado later on May 30. We recently caught up with him to discuss the current fight to protect public lands.

OUTSIDE: The American public has been told that protecting federal lands is preventing our country from achieving energy independence, blocking lucrative extraction industries, and preventing the creation of high-paying jobs for Americans.
Hickenlooper: There’s this notion that we need more real estate to drill on, and that our extraction industries are landlocked. They say there is an energy emergency. But if you look over the past six years鈥攁nd if you remove coal energy鈥攚e’ve produced more energy than any other country on the planet, and I’m not talking about per-capita, I’m talking total. We’re certainly not in an energy emergency. I have a fierce sense of urgency around climate change, but I also know that in some areas we do need more mines. I believe in protecting the public’s right to see what, exactly, is going to happen to a piece of land that’s going to be mined. Is there a mineral there that is going to help us create electric vehicles or build the electrical grid in a way that is going to address climate change? Well, maybe we do have to find a way to mine on that land? But with all that said, there are many lands鈥攁nd I include our National Parks here鈥攖hat, no matter how valuable that real estate could be for a mine, the scenic beauty and historic value to the American people is just too great for it to be dug up. I have a hard time seeing any place where public land should be treated as an asset to be bought and sold at the whims of the White House. It just doesn’t make sense.

Americans have been told that public land agencies like the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Forest Service are overstaffed, bloated, and inefficient.听
I really do believe that there are places in the federal government that are fat and inefficient, and when I ran for the mayor of Denver, that was my campaign message. I thought that nobody ever took the time to make a city function as efficiently as a small business. I wanted Denver to use less water, share our water rights and tax base with the suburban communities, and people said I’d never get elected by sharing the wealth of the voters in Denver. That was my whole pitch, and I won, I got two-thirds of the vote. We didn’t lay anybody off, though we did have a hiring freeze for a few years. But we used technology to compensate for fewer people, and I think you can argue that we provided more services for our citizens. That’s what DOGE should have done. But the notion that you’re going to cut 3,000 people from the Forest Service and thousands more from the Park Service and BLM, and somehow the country is going to be better off is just lunacy. The argument that you’ll lay everybody off at first and then look for what is broken and try to fix that is not the way government should work. For so many people who work for these agencies, this is ruining their lives. I’ve talked to government employees who were laid off, some have been rehired, they have little kids and had just moved to Colorado to work in the Forest Service. They’re asking me, “What are we going to do?” Why put people through that?

Recently, the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives succeeded in removing a plan to sell 500,000 acres of public land in Nevada and Utah from the 2025 Reconciliation spending bill. What can those who believe in protecting public lands learn from this?
Public feedback matters, and in this case it led to a widespread adoption of action. People who care about public lands used social media in a way they hadn’t done before. It wasn’t just the nonprofits and advocacy groups, it was grassroots dialogue that generated new points of view and new points of contention on the plan to sell off land. I read one online post that, and I’m paraphrasing, said 鈥淲here do we draw the line? If we start selling public lands and allow that constitutional violation to occur, then what’s next?鈥� I’ve now heard Republicans and Democrats talking about that point. We need to count on the grassroots commentary to generate those points and that language that people are going to repeat.

What political strategies will work in the fight to preserve public lands?
This is an all out war. I’m not someone who sits back and says, 鈥淲ell, let’s see what they do next.鈥� They’re doing it. It’s happening. So the most important thing we can do is let people know what is happening to public lands. Americans by and large support public lands. said that 75 percent of all Americans in the Mountain West region think that the government should not sell public lands to pay down the deficit. Yes, there are some places in mountain towns where small amounts of BLM land exist, and it could allow towns to build affordable housing for Park Service employees or firefighters or municipal employees. Those exceptions can go through the correct process. But the notion that we’re going to sell 500,000 acres of public land should make every person who loves public lands shudder. People who feel that way should get out there and show up at every town hall meeting, every public roundtable, and make yourself heard. We’re going to fight, we may be beaten, but we will rise and fight again. We’re going to lose a bunch of battles on this thing, but I think that if we rise and fight again, we are going to win.

This interview was edited for space听and clarity.

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There鈥檚 a certain magic that hits when the days get longer, the air feels lighter, and the soundtrack shifts to something more sun-soaked and whimsical.

For us at 国产吃瓜黑料, the 听is the official place to kick off that summer vibe in Denver, May 31-June 1. With live music, world-class speakers, gear demos, outdoor clinics, and a community of adventurers ready to celebrate all things outside, the festival is the ultimate signal that summer is on.

As school lets out and mornings are made for trail runs, the evening stretches on endlessly with time for mountain bike rides, dinner outside, and catching the sun set around a campfire. It’s the season of s’mores, sleeping under the stars, and road trips.

This summer, get ready to take a long walk down a winding trail with this 听from none other than , the indie-pop duo known for weaving electronic pulses with organic emotion. Their live shows are electric鈥攊ntrospective and ecstatic all at once. And their music is the perfect bridge between the natural and the modern.

This playlist听is sure to set the mood for summer. It鈥檚 uniquely introspective and earthy. These tracks blend ambient soundscapes, folk, and meditative rhythms鈥攑erfect for slowing down and tuning in as you wander.

Track List:

1. eiko ishibashi – deer blood
2. tenzin choegyal – mountain
3. walt mcclements – a painted ship
4. hans reichel – could be nice too
5. m煤m – green grass of tunnel
6. cool maritime – temporal dryft
7. jeremiah chiu – seawater swell
8. autechre – altibzz
9. carlos ni帽o & photay – c u r r e n t
10. sam amidon – never
11. phil cook – i made a lover’s prayer
12. mary margaret o’hara – when you know why you’re happy

So get ready to get outside鈥攕ummer鈥檚 here. And if you’re in Denver, you can join us for the 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival in Civic Center Park May 31-June 1 where you can catch Sylvan Esso playing alongside headliner , , and Tickets are available .

The post 12 Songs to Wander in the Woods to This Summer from Sylvan Esso appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

I wasn鈥檛 introduced to the pleasures of lake life until my early 30s. Born and raised on the Jersey Shore, I was ocean obsessed. If the water didn鈥檛 have waves and leave me salt-kissed, I wasn鈥檛 interested. When I moved to Colorado 15 years ago, I was gripped by land-locked panic and started road-tripping to any body of water I could find. I soon discovered many of my favorite ocean sports (kitesurfing, paddleboarding, foiling) could be performed on lakes. And many of the lakes I visited were surrounded by wilderness trails that I could hike, bike, and run. Some shocked me with their Caribbean-esque beauty. Others awed me with their alpine backdrops.

While the jet-set flocks to Europe to see-and-be-seen on the glamorous shores of Lake Como, Italy, and Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, the adventure set heads to the U.S., where lake life is blissfully more rugged than refined. America is blessed with nearly 3 million lakes. Everyone knows Powell, Placid, and Tahoe (for good reason), so I won鈥檛 be redundant. And I鈥檒l urge you to read 国产吃瓜黑料 contributor Stephanie Pearson鈥檚 wonderful story on the overlooked playground of Lake Superior, which I have yet to visit. Based on my travels, these are nine lesser-known American lakes I highly recommend exploring this summer.

1. Bear Lake, Utah-Idaho Border

Why we love it: sparkling jewel is nicknamed the 鈥淐aribbean of the Rockies鈥� for its crystal-clear, turquoise waters, which owe their hue to an abundance of calcium carbonate deposits. At 20 miles long and 8 miles wide, the lake is almost perfectly split between Idaho and Utah. No longer a secret, its sandy shores can feel crowded in the peak of summer. But the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation purchased an additional 28 acres of land last March, adding 1,200 feet of shoreline to the west of the lake to ease congestion.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: On my first visit to Bear Lake, I spent my days paddleboarding, kayaking, and wake surfing off popular Rendezvous Beach at the south end of the lake. Rental companies and stock every imaginable toy from Sea-Doos to water trampolines. Over the border, ($20) two geothermal-heated pools are located right on North Beach and will warm you up after a windy day on the lake. Make time to explore beyond the shores. The surrounding area is home to fascinating caves, like 滨诲补丑辞鈥檚 Paris Ice Cave, which never completely melts, and fantastic hiking spots, like , near Logan, UT.

Base: Conestoga Ranch lets you channel your Oregon Trail fantasies and overnight in retrofitted covered wagons that sleep up to six people (from $236). Located on the edges of the west side of the lake in Garden City, UT, one of the area鈥檚 main hubs, this Old West-inspired glamping resort has complimentary cruiser bikes, an onsite general store, and one of the best restaurants in town (they can also make picnics).

2. Cave Run Lake, Kentucky

Why we love it: Almost completely surrounded by the northernmost section of the , this 8,270-acre lake is a mecca for anglers hunting muskellunge, known as the 鈥渇ish of 10,000 casts鈥� due to their elusive nature. It鈥檚 also a dream destination for boating, kayaking, sailing, and swimming and its shores are surrounded by hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: The town of Morehead is known as the Muskie Capital of the South. Hire Gregg Thomas at and try to hook a fish that tops the state record, just shy of 50 pounds. Tackle a stretch of the 300-mile Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail or trek the approximately six-mile out-and-back , which follows the shoreline and rewards hikers with an unbeatable view of Twin Knobs across the lake.

Base: On the south side of the lake, the has some 200 sites (from $31) spread out over 10 forested loops. Campers have access to a beach, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, plus a boat ramp and fishing dock. The site also has easy access to scenic, low-key hikes, like the 2.5-mile Twin Knobs Shoreline Trail and the 1.5-mile Knob Overlook Trail.

3. Lake Ouachita, Arkansas

Why we love it: The refreshing lack of shoreline development around Arkansas鈥檚 largest lake makes it still feel wild and untouched; it also boasts some of the cleanest waters in the country. Surrounded by 1.8 million acres of forest and sprinkled with 200-plus islands, you can find a patch of wilderness all to yourself, even in the height of summer.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Fishing outfitter can help you hook whopper stripers and bass. This is also one of the few lakes that allows spear fishing. Lake Ouachita State Park hugs the eastern shores and its marina rents all the equipment you might desire. Kayak the 16-mile . The first water-based interpretive trail included in the National Trails System features 12 exploration areas that shed light on the lake鈥檚 unique geological formations. You can also ogle many of these formations underwater while the lake鈥檚 30 dive spots.

Base: Lake Ouachita State Park has 93 campsites (from $16) and eight cabins (from $220), most overlooking the water. Or book a floating home from (from $3,000 for three days for up to 10 people).

4. Grand Lake, Colorado

Why we love it: Originally called Spirit Lake by the Ute Tribe, Colorado鈥檚 largest and deepest body of water is a Front Range gem in summer with its public beach, yacht club, and marinas. Hemmed in on three sides by Rocky Mountain National Park, the area offers countless land-based adventures. And the tiny town of Grand Lake oozes old-timey nostalgia.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Located steps from the historic downtown boardwalk, the Headwaters Marina rents pedal boats ($30 per hour), sports boats ($100 per hour), pontoons (from $140 per hour), and offers scenic, one-hour boat tours ($25). Family-operated is just in front of the marina and rents single and tandem kayaks (from $30 per hour). Rocky Mountain Park鈥檚 west entrance in Grand County is far less trafficked. The starts in town. It鈥檚 only .8 miles round-trip to reach the cascades. Continue another mile for awesome views of Mount Baldy and听 another 4.8 miles to reach Lone Pine Lake.

Base: Perched high above the water, has been welcoming guests since 1921. The cabins, originally purchased from the Sears Roebuck catalog, were recently renovated (from $185). It鈥檚 debatable which has the better sunset view: the porch swings or the hot tub and pool.

5. Green and Round Lakes, New York

Why we love it: These two mesmerizing jade-colored bodies of water form the heart of 1,955-acre Green Lakes State Park, located 10 miles east of Syracuse. Aquatic anomalies, both are meromictic鈥攁 rare condition where surface and deeper waters do not mix鈥攁nd contain calcium carbonate, which precipitates out of the water during late May to early June and settles to form white, reef-like structures on the shores. One of 28 National Natural Landmark sites in the U.S., Round Lake stands out for its border of old-growth forest (uncommon in the northeast).

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Green Lake, the larger of the two, has a sandy public beach with swimming access and a boat house that rents rowboats and kayaks (from $12 an hour). A network of showcase the park鈥檚 old-growth forests and gorges; birdwatching fanatics can try to .

Base: Green Lakes State Park Campgrounds has 137 campsites ($20-$39) and seven cabins ($115 per night, two-night minimum). Reservations can be made up to nine months in advance; non New York residents must pay a $5 fee. 听

6. Lake Jocassee, South Carolina

Why we love it: Nestled in the northwest corner of South Carolina, this fjord-like reservoir can only be accessed through Devils Fork State Park. Four Appalachian mountain rivers feed the lake, keeping its mirror-like waters remarkably clear and refreshingly cool. When I visited, I marveled at the solitude I found while angling for trout in a deep cove and paddleboarding past waterfalls that tumble into the lake.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Located just outside of the park, Jocassee Outdoor Center is your one-stop-shop for groceries, boat rentals (from $400 for four hours), and wakeboards, tubes, and other water toys ($45 each). rents single and tandem kayaks (from $50 per day) and also offers to the best waterfalls ($125 for six hours). The park鈥檚 towering waterfalls鈥攕ome of the highest in the eastern U.S.鈥攕teal the spotlight, but if you arrive in early spring, you might see pinkish-white Oconee Bells, one of America鈥檚 rarest wildflowers.

Base: The park operates 20 cozy, one- and two-bedroom 鈥渧illas鈥濃�攆ully-furnished cabins with screened porches and waterfront views; all require a two-night minimum and some require a full week (from $275 per night). Campers can choose from 59 RV and tent sites, reserved online (from $32). For total seclusion, reserve one of the 25 sites in the park鈥檚 boat-in campground (from $40).

7. Lake McConaughy, Nebraska

Why we love it: The azul waters of Lake Mac appear like a reverie amid Nebraska鈥檚 corn fields. If it weren鈥檛 for the John Deere tractors dotting the talcum shores, you鈥檇 think you were in the Turks & Caicos. The state鈥檚 largest reservoir, located within the , is a 3.5-hour drive east of Denver. It鈥檚 one of my favorite summer 鈥渂each鈥� escapes for camping on the sand, wake surfing, paddling, sailing, and kite surfing.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: The lake鈥檚 gateway town, Ogallala, is 20 minutes from the water. Make a pit-stop for supplies and a Nebraska-raised beef burger from excellent, locally-owned restaurant . rents ski boats and pontoons ($225 for two hours) as well as jet skis ($180 for two hours). offers rentals and instruction ($25 for two hours). Birdwatchers should bring their binos. The lake is home to some . Fishing enthusiasts descend here in July to compete in the .

Base: are required during peak season, May 20 through September 10. Non site-specific beach camping in 17 designated areas can be reserved 30 days in advance (from $20). Reservations for the five non-beach campgrounds can be made 180 days in advance (from $15). Last summer, I couldn鈥檛 score a site, but I was able to get a lakefront tent pitched ($33) on two-mile stretch of private shoreline. The recently renovated resort also has RV hookups (from $40) and motel-style rooms and cabins (from $124), plus kayak rentals, a general store, and a great restaurant that regularly hosts live music.

8. Clear Lake, Oregon

Why we love it: Boasting over 100 feet of underwater visibility, Clear Lake lives up to its name. This shimmering beauty was formed more than 3,000 years ago when a volcanic lava flow dammed the McKenzie River. A ghostly sunken forest lies beneath its cold, crystalline waters. Bounded by the Willamette National Forest, it鈥檚 a paradise for hiking and mountain biking.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: It鈥檚 of the best freshwater diving spots in the U.S. because it鈥檚 so clear and bottom-lined with ancient, petrified trees. Pack your 5 mill wetsuit (at least) as the water temperature averages 37 degrees Fahrenheit. You can rent gear and get intel at or in Bend. Get the lay of the land by hiking the 4.8-mile Clear Lake Loop Trail. The legendary is a must for mountain bikers, with 26 miles of singletrack winding through lava fields and old-growth forest along the eastern section of the lake. rents mountain bikes (from $55 per day) and offers shuttles ($35).

Base: The on the eastern shore has 34 campsites, plus a boat ramp and fish cleaning station for anglers (from $33). On the lake鈥檚 north edge, Clear Water Resort has yurts (from $90) and cabins (from $80) and rents glass-bottom tandem kayaks ($25 per hour).

9. Lake Willoughby, Vermont

Why we love it: Sandwiched between the fjord-like peaks of Mounts Pisgah and Hor in the Northeast Kingdom, this glacial-carved lake is often referred to as America鈥檚 Lucerne. Its translucent waters stretch five miles long and one-mile wide, making it ideal for paddling, boating, and wild swimming.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Earn your dunk after hiking the semi- strenuous, highly scenic 4.8-mile, out-and-back Mount Pisgah North Trail or biking the of Willoughby State Forest. The lake鈥檚 calm waters are a pleasure to paddle (see equipment deets below).

Base: is a little haven on the north shore (from $219). Ten log cabins each have two bedrooms, full kitchens, and porches (cabins 2-6 have the best lake views) and Clyde River Recreation delivers kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes right to the property (from $35 a day). On the south shores, Willoughby State Forest offers . If you need amenities, has RV Hook-Ups (from $52), tent sites (from $41), and cabins (from $81), equipment rentals, and a seriously good cafe that serves breakfast all day.

Jen Murphy is a regular 国产吃瓜黑料 contributor and converted lake lover. She has plans to spend a week at Caspian Lake in Vermont this summer.

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