My husband and I were four days into our week-long trip chasing hot springs in the Gila Wilderness and National Forest in southern New Mexico. Gray wolves had howled us to sleep each night, and one had even stared at us along a long, jeep road. We’d run, hiked, and overlanded the wooded roads and trails within America’s first designated wilderness. We hadn’t seen another person in two days.

But on our mission to find another remote hot spring, we’d gotten turned around. When I pulled out my phone to check the map, nothing would load. We were deep into the Gila’s 558,000 acres of rugged wilderness, with only a quarter tank of gas left in the truck. So we headed north, hoping we’d eventually hit State Road听159, which would bring us back to a main highway. Luckily, we did, but not before plenty of anxiety and bickering put a brief damper on our trip.

Gaia鈥檚 new overland map feature would have saved us a lot of guesswork and stress. (Gaia is owned by our parent company, 国产吃瓜黑料 Inc.) Designed specifically for vehicle-based adventures, it layers together everything from paved highways to rugged, unmaintained tracks鈥攁ll with data from , the U.S. Forest Service, and BLM. Road surfaces, seasonal closures, public land boundaries, and the next gas station or campsite are all right there. With the map鈥檚 color-coding, you can tell at a glance whether you鈥檙e headed for smooth gravel or unmaintained dirt, so you can plan accordingly before you鈥檙e too far off the grid.

Gaia’s overlanding and planning magic is apparent when you start stacking up different map layers. Want to see where motor vehicles are allowed? Turn on the Motor Vehicle Use Maps layer. Need to make sure you鈥檙e camping legally? Add the public and private land overlays. Curious about whether you鈥檒l have service to check in with family鈥攐r if there鈥檚 a wildfire in the area? Cellular coverage and fire activity layers have you covered. It鈥檚 the kind of contextual awareness that turns a nerve-racking drive into a stress-free adventure.

And when it comes time to plan, Gaia鈥檚 tools make it easy. The snap-to-trail routing feature automatically follows existing roads, while the freehand 鈥渇inger鈥� tool on Android lets you sketch your own line through the backcountry. Use the map legends and interactive map on the web to spotlight only what you need鈥攍ike water sources or campsites. Then, download everything for offline use before you lose signal. Once you鈥檙e out there, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration mean your map shows up on the dash, not just your phone. In other words: no more arguing about which turn to take when you鈥檙e 50 miles from the nearest town.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Why the Fascination with Sedona?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spring Break Is Not the Best Time to Visit Sedona

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

Avoid Downtown, but Grab Some Grub at Wildflower

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sedona Is Helping Us All Become Respectful Visitors

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

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

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

Camping in Sedona

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

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

Best Sedona Hikes

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

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

Best Sedona Trail Runs

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

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

Why Sedona Will Always Be Magical to Me

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

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

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

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

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

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

Summer running is difficult enough with the challenges of heat and humidity. The last thing you need is to be held back by running shorts that bunch, cling, chafe, or restrict your movement. The perfect running shorts should be so comfortable that you hardly notice them, while looking so good that others do. We tested over 40 pairs in the most sweltering conditions to find the best running shorts for you, whatever your style.

(Photo: Courtesy Black Diamond)

Best for Trail Running

Black Diamond Distance Short

Sizing: XS-3XL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Outstanding pockets
鈯� Water- and wind-resistant shell
鈯� Available in 5鈥� and 7鈥� inseam
鈯� Short drawstring can be difficult to tie
鈯� Could use a little more stretch

鈥淭he Black Diamond Distance shorts get everything right,鈥� one tester remarked. The pockets are the first thing that stood out. With four drop-in pockets and one large rear zippered pocket, these shorts impressed us with their copious, efficient carrying capacity while maintaining a comfortable fit suitable for the longest mountain days. We were able to easily carry an iPhone, enough fuel for a few hours, and an emergency shell without any discomfort.

Offered in five- and seven-inch inseams, the durable shell with a PFC-Free DWR sheds light moisture and resists snags and tears from bushwhacking and tumbles. Combined with a comfortable and supportive mesh brief liner, the tough exterior offered excellent protection against wet, chilly ridge winds when running in the high mountains.

One small quibble: a tester said he鈥檇 prefer a longer drawstring with a little bit of stretch to get a more secure fit around the waist when the pockets were loaded down.

Best 2-in-1

Ciele M DLYShort 5″ Long Brief

Sizing: XS-XXL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Incredibly soft and supportive liner
鈯� Available in long or short liner
鈯� Phone bounces in pocket

Ciele is best known for its performance running hats, but the brand nailed it with the DLYShort 5″. 鈥淭hese shorts feel deluxe!鈥� raved one tester.

The internal nylon and elastane liner is one of the softest and most comfortable we tested, offering excellent support and staying perfectly in place throughout the run. Even when drenched in sweat, it remained irritation-free. The shell is a lightweight, stretchy, recycled, woven fabric with a PFC-free DWR treatment. However, it feels much softer than other DWR-treated fabrics we tested. One tester called the short鈥檚 overall feel 鈥渙ut-of-this-world nice,鈥� while another praised its classy looks: 鈥淚鈥檝e gotten more compliments on group runs for these shorts than anything else in my running wardrobe.鈥�

The shorts offer three pockets, a rear zipper, a small internal stash pocket, and one integrated into the liner. While we could fit a phone in the rear pocket, it unfortunately bounced around quite a bit, and we found it best to reserve the pockets for smaller, lightweight items.

If you’re a fan of 2-in-1 shorts, these are well worth the investment. And if you鈥檙e not a fan of the long liner that extends past the 5-inch inseam of the shell, Ciele offers an option with a shorter one.

Best Half Tights

Adidas Adizero Control Running Short Leggings

Sizing: XS-2XL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Supportive fit
鈯� High-quality material
鈯� Thick fabric can run hot

There鈥檚 something uniquely satisfying about the feel of snug, supportive tights hugging your muscles. The Adidas Adizero Control Running Short Leggings, crafted from a relatively thick blend of 83 percent polyester and 17 percent elastane, delivers mild compression to your quads, glutes, and hamstrings, ensuring they stay engaged and protected during even the most intense runs.

Flexible, rubber-like (TPE) strips stretch across the major muscles to add additional support. The result is a tighter, more supportive fit than the other tights in this test. However, although you might expect them to feel restrictive, the material is surprisingly stretchy and flexible, allowing full range of motion. The downside is that they can feel too warm in hot conditions. But that听was one of our few complaints about these tights that otherwise made us feel fast and powerful.

What to Look For in Running Shorts

Running shorts vary in length, liners, pockets, fit, and fabric. You鈥檒l want a length that is short enough for full, unimpeded motion (the faster the run, the shorter and more split the shorts tend to be), but long enough to feel decent on the trail, road, or post-run coffee shop.

Liners range from soft, loose briefs to compression-shorts-like stretchy boxers鈥攐r none at all for those who prefer to wear their own underwear. Choosing between liners is a matter of personal taste, balancing breathability and range of motion with level of coverage and control.

Pockets need to be big and secure enough for whatever you want to carry: phone, keys, cards, gels. And pocket placement location is important to allow convenient access and avoid bouncing and chafing, as is the robustness of the waistband to prevent sagging when carrying anything heavy, like a phone.

When it comes to fit and fabric, as with all summer running gear, you want pieces that breathe, wick moisture, move naturally, delay stink, and don鈥檛 get in the way.

Here are some quick tips on buying the best summer gear without going broke:

• Look for high-quality synthetic fibers. Yes, our top picks include a few items with natural fibers. But for the most part, specially designed varieties of polyester, polyamide, nylon, and the like can handle summer running鈥檚 high sweat rates better than wool and cotton.
• Seek sun protection. Even if you run at dawn or dusk, or on shaded trails, sun damage can be insidious. Many shorts and tops come with a UPF coating. Running tan lines aren鈥檛 something to be proud of.
• Check for chafing. If you鈥檝e ever been rubbed raw by a rigid seam or sagging liner, you won鈥檛 want to repeat the experience. Abrasion accelerates when you鈥檙e drenched in sweat. Look for flat seams, unobtrusive logos, and other elements of construction that will minimize chafing.
• Go with the flow. Our picks in this review strike the right balance between being loose enough to allow cooling air flow but not so billowy that they impede normal running form.
• Banish bacteria. Many summer running items incorporate an anti-bacterial treatment that greatly reduces nasty odors setting up shop. These pieces not only can be worn many more times before needing to be washed, but also lessen your chance of developing a funky skin situation.
• Invest in quality. It can be tempting to think, 鈥淲hatever I run in is going to get soaked anyway, so I鈥檒l just buy the cheapest gear out there.鈥� Such reasoning quickly falls apart when, well, the item itself starts to fall apart because of constant exposure to sweat and frequent laundering. Fewer high-quality pieces that hold their form and don鈥檛 hold odors are better than more cheaply made gear that will start disintegrating in one summer.

How We Test

• Number of testers: 10
• Number of shorts tested: 40+
• Number of miles run in testing: 4,500+
• Highest testing temperature: 97 Fahrenheit

Our testing team ranged across the U.S.鈥攆rom coastal Maine and western Maryland to central Wisconsin, the high plains of Nebraska, the urban bake sites of Chicago and Houston, and out to Santa Barbara on the California coast, plus, for good measure, the running hub of Eugene, Oregon. All are dedicated runners with average weekly mileage ranging from low 20s to mid 70s. Some have been running for 30 or more years and can compare today鈥檚 running apparel to previous attempts to keep runners cool in the summer.

We focused on a subjective combination of moisture management, comfort, versatility, value, and looks to answer a simple question: Of all the apparel you logged summer miles in, which would you be most likely to recommend to fellow runners?

Meet Our Lead Testers

Cory Smith

Cory Smith, a former Division One runner at Villanova University, has been running since the mid-1990s. With over a decade of experience testing and reviewing running apparel and shoes for publications like 国产吃瓜黑料 and Runner鈥檚 World, he continues to compete as a masters athlete, boasting a personal best of 4:31 in the mile. He consistently logs 30 to 40 miles per week over roads, trails and on the track.

A 13.25km trail race Cory Smith ran while testing running shorts. (Gaia GPS is owned by 国产吃瓜黑料 Inc.)

Scott Douglas

Scott Douglas says he鈥檚 run more than 130,000 miles since starting as a teen in the 1970s, and has always loved how daily runs undergird and elevate the rest of his life. and a writer/editor about fitness, he sweats like crazy despite living in Maine.

The post The Best Running Shorts for Men (2025) appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The national parks of Utah usually steal the thunder, but don鈥檛 forget about its state parks. Utah has 46 state parks, and there are some serious gems among them. I鈥檝e rounded up nine of my favorites, ranked.

I do want to add a disclaimer that, while I’ve visited every park on this list, I haven鈥檛 gotten a chance to visit all the state parks in Utah yet. A few on the top of my list are Goblin Valley, Dead Horse Point (where I would love to go mountain biking), and our state鈥檚 newest park: Utahraptor. Established in 2021, will stage its grand opening this spring. Visitors can explore an area where more than 5,500 dinosaur bones have been found, including those of the park鈥檚 namesake. The park also has a new campground and trails for hiking, mountain biking, and off-roading鈥攁nd preserves the historic site of a former Japanese internment camp.

But back to the state parks on this list鈥攆or each park, I鈥檝e shared my favorite adventure, the best time of year to go, and some local tips for maximizing your time. While individual park fees vary, if you plan to visit more than five or six state parks in the next 12 months and you鈥檙e a Utah resident, it makes sense to purchase a ($125). Finally, all of Utah’s state park reservations can be made through the site up to four months in advance.

9. Great Salt Lake State Park, Magna

Specs: 162 acres, with access to the 1,000,000+ acre lake

Best For: Boating, wandering, learning, bird watching

While not the most idyllic environment, the Great Salt Lake is a defining feature of the state of Utah and this is the perfect place to learn about it. The mostly consists of the marina, shoreline, a campground, and a short trail. If you鈥檙e interested in learning more about this bizarre, saline environment, the visitor鈥檚 center here is the best place to start.

The Best 国产吃瓜黑料 in Great Salt Lake State Park

Rent a tandem kayak at the marina through (from $40 for two hours) and paddle out to explore the biggest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. Bring binoculars and see how many birds you can spot. Millions of birds visit the lake each year to feast on brine flies鈥攎ore on that below.

When to Go

The park is open year-round, but it鈥檚 most pleasant in the fall. hatch from April and stick around through November. Mid-spring can be a particularly nasty and unpleasant time to be on the lake or its shores due to the bugs. Call ahead to check on the fly status.

Local Pointers for Great Salt Lake State Park

The nearby historic Saltair is just a couple miles from the park (a five-minute drive) and is a strange and interesting site to check out. First built in 1893, the recreational building has been the victim of fire and flooding over the years, with several reconstruction efforts over the years as a result. Today, it mainly serves as a .

8. Anasazi State Park Museum, Boulder

Specs: 6 acres

Best For: Learning

This is not your ordinary state park鈥攊t鈥檚 actually a museum located on the historic site of what was once a large Ancestral Puebloan village. Puebloans lived on these lands from 1050 to 1200 C.E. At , you can tour remnants of the original site, explore a replica of an ancient dwelling, and see artifacts excavated from the site itself. The museum is located in tiny, quirky Boulder, one of the gateway towns to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

The Best 国产吃瓜黑料 in Anasazi State Park Museum

While the artifacts inside the museum are interesting, I most enjoyed walking around the original site and the replica of a kiva. I visited on a cold November day and it was fascinating to imagine living in this landscape in a round, subterranean structure year-round, staying warm by fire.

When to Go

You won鈥檛 want to travel all the way to Boulder, Utah, for this museum鈥攎ost likely, you鈥檒l be tacking it on to a trip to Grand Staircase-Escalante. While the museum is open year-round, the best times of year to explore the national monument are early fall and mid to late-spring.

Local Pointers for Anasazi State Park Museum

This museum is within spitting distance of , a James Beard-nominated restaurant, and in my opinion, the best in Utah. Open seasonally (usually mid-March through early November), the grill is a mandatory stop for breakfast or dinner. The grill is located at the Boulder Mountain Lodge, if you鈥檙e looking for accommodations in the area, too.

7. Jordanelle State Park, Park City

Specs: 6,704 Acres

Best For: Beaching, boating, fishing, grilling, camping

Utah鈥檚 Wasatch Back鈥攖he backside of the Wasatch Mountains鈥攈as a number of reservoirs that are managed as state parks with high-quality fishing, boating, and beaching. Echo, Deer Creek, and Rockport are all fine options, but by far the largest and most developed in terms of infrastructure is the Jordanelle. With three separate recreational areas and 363,000 acre feet of water, this reservoir offers a beach-like experience with plenty of opportunities for every stripe of boater, from jet skiing to SUPing.

has three separate entrance areas. Hailstone is the main marina and by far the most developed with cabanas, pavilions, several campground options, and even cabins for overnight rentals. While Hailstone makes sense if you鈥檝e got a big crew, my favorite area is Rock Cliff near Heber, with a nature center, a boardwalk through wetlands, and trails. There鈥檚 also the quieter Ross Creek entrance, with cabanas, a non-motorized boat ramp, and a perimeter trailhead. But if sand and boating are your main objectives, Hailstone is the place to be.

The Best 国产吃瓜黑料 in Jordanelle State Park

SUPing is my favorite way to experience this massive reservoir. On a hot day, it鈥檚 a fun way to cool off and you can get on the water without waiting in a line of boats. You can bring your own SUP, kayak, or other boat to take out on the Jordanelle. Or you can rent a kayak, SUP, jet ski, or boat from the marina at the Hailstone area through (pontoons start at $499 for four hours; kayaks start at $30 for one hour; full pricing and reservations available online).

When to Go

Summer is the time to be at the Jordanelle. In spring or fall, temperatures might be favorable, or it might be snowing鈥攜ou never know. The park is great year-round for hiking and peaceful waterside walks, but if you鈥檙e coming for the watersports and the beach vibes, peak summer will be prime fun.

Local Pointers for Jordanelle State Park

While there is a plethora of camping options at the Jordanelle, these sites book up months in advance. Reservations open up four months in advance of any given date, so set a reminder for yourself to make reservations on your calendar. Or use a site like to snag a campsite when someone cancels. Also consider what type of camping experience you want鈥攖he Jordanelle offers RV campgrounds, tent-only campgrounds, group campgrounds, and the hike-in Phostan Bay Campground. There are also five cabins available to rent as well as three cottages that sleep up to eight. If you鈥檙e only coming for the day, but want a cabana, you should听reserve that well in advance, too.

6. Wasatch Mountain State Park, Midway

Specs: 21,592 Acres

Best For: Hiking, mountain biking, golfing, cross-country skiing, camping

This state park is practically in my backyard (20 minutes away), so it definitely makes the list of my favorites. Within the park, you鈥檒l find campgrounds, endless trails, the Wasatch Mountain Golf Course, and the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, which was used during the 2002 Winter Olympics.

The Best 国产吃瓜黑料 in Wasatch Mountain State Park

More often than not, I go to to mountain bike, usually to ride the relatively new , which tours aspen groves and fields of wildflowers. You can ride this trail as an out-and-back鈥攃limbing up some 2,400 feet, then descending back the way you came鈥攂ut most ride it as a downhill shuttle, since the climb is a grind. WOW isn鈥檛 the only ride in the park鈥攖he Dutch Hollow trails are flowy, fun and there鈥檚 plenty of road riding, too. Trail Forks has a helpful map of the riding .

When to Go

Summer is my favorite time of year to hit the trails at Wasatch Mountain State Park. Rarely do temperatures sore too hot for me to tolerate. Fall, when the foliage is popping off, is also an incredible season to hike or bike in the park. In winter, you can explore the extensive groomed cross-country skiing and tubing of Soldier Hollow. Spring is the least ideal, since trails are likely to be snow-covered or muddy.

Local Pointers for Wasatch Mountain State Park

The gateway town to this state park is Midway, which bills itself as a Little Switzerland. There are a few awesome restaurants worth checking out in town, including Lola鈥檚 Street Kitchen and Midway Mercantile. You can also have a post-ride or post-hike soak at the Homestead Crater, a 65-feet deep hot spring.

5. Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, near Kanab

Specs: 3,700 Acres

Best For: Wandering, ATVing, camping

You鈥檒l think you made a wrong turn on the long, narrow, dusty road that leads to . This massive dune deposit formed from Navajo sandstone rock that eroded millions of years ago. Like Great Sand Dunes in Colorado鈥攐ne of my favorite national parks鈥攖his state park is a beautiful place to roam, explore, and spend a night under a starry sky.

The Best 国产吃瓜黑料 in Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

I鈥檓 not a motorized sports person, so I won’t tell you that an ATV is the best way to explore this park. For some, that may indeed be the most fun option. But I believe the best way to take in this serene and stunning landscape is on foot. Pick a point in the distance and hike to it. Grunt up hills, then rollick back down them. Spread out a blanket and read a book. Become one with the sand. You do you at the dunes.

When to Go

While the park is open year-round, this is the desert and there is no shade. It follows that the best seasons for the park are spring and fall, when you鈥檒l find moderate temperatures. In summer, you鈥檒l only be able to tolerate the heat early in the morning or at dusk. Don鈥檛 get caught out in the dunes barefoot and burn the bottoms of your feet. Winter can also be a smart time to explore this state park, when the moderate crowds thin even further. But you鈥檒l want to hike with shoes and it may be pretty chilly to camp.

No matter which season you go in, with the limited shade, be sure to bring plenty of water and sun protection, including sunscreen and UPF apparel.

Finally, as the name suggests, sunrise and sunset are spectacular times to behold the dunes blushing coral pink鈥攁nother reason to consider camping here for a night or two. But be sure to in advance.

Local Pointers for Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

There is also good hiking and scenic driving surrounding the park. One cool and easily accessible stop off Sand Springs Road is the South Fork Indian Canyon Pictograph Site. Just a short hike from the parking area, this rock art features several figures, including twins.

4. Kodachrome Basin State Park, Cannonville

Specs: 2,240 Acres

Best For: Hiking, camping, horseback riding

This quiet, off-the-beaten-path state park is known for its 67 pillars鈥攕and pipes, in geologic terms鈥攖hat rise out of the desert landscape like geologic sentinels. makes for a nice add-on to a trip to nearby Bryce or the northwestern edge of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

The Best 国产吃瓜黑料 in Kodachrome Basin State Park

This little state park offers three campgrounds as peaceful as they are scenic. All reservations can be made , and if you鈥檙e going on the weekend from spring through fall, book four months in advance (or as early as possible). With plenty of easily accessible, family-friendly trails nearby, it鈥檚 easy to hike around the sand pipes right from your campsite, too.

When to Go

Spring or fall are the best seasons to visit this state park. Summer can get quite hot, and winter, surprisingly cold.

Local Pointers for Kodachrome Basin State Park

If you鈥檙e more of a glamper than a camper, stay at nearby (from $250 per night) just a ten-minute drive from Kodachrome Basin. The glamping domes let you stargaze from bed and come equipped with firepits and grills so you鈥檒l feel like you鈥檙e camping, but still get to sleep in a real bed and have a bathroom. Or check out the Clear Sky Resorts domes in nearby Cannonville (from $300 per night), which are a 15-minute drive from Kodachrome Basin.

3. Bear Lake State Park, Garden City

Specs: 7,400 Acres

Best For: Water sports, swimming, beaching, camping

Spanning 20 miles from southern Idaho into northern Utah, is a massive body of water formed around 30,000 years ago by earthquakes. It鈥檚 known for its striking blue hue and named for the black bears that dwell in the woods nearby. When I posted photos of Bear Lake, friends asked what ocean I had visited鈥攕o if you鈥檙e looking for the seashore in Utah, this is as close as you鈥檒l get.

The Best 国产吃瓜黑料 in Bear Lake State Park

Even though the lake was quite choppy on the weekend I visited Bear Lake鈥攚e had to convince the marina to let us go out, since my friend was an experienced boat captain鈥攚e still had the best time. Despite the听strong winds, sailing on those turquoise waters with hills and mountains surrounding us was a blast. The tubing was a bit like hurtling through a supersonic wind tunnel, but fun all the same.

When to Go

If you want to get in the water and bask in the beach vibes, summer is the time to go鈥攂ut it鈥檚 also when it鈥檚 most crowded. Flocks of boaters and campers descend during this season, so you鈥檒l want to and plan your trip four months in advance. If you don鈥檛 care about swimming and sun, the park is open year-round and the lake is just as dreamy to behold on a stroll through the sand in February as it is in August.

Local Pointers for Bear Lake State Park

While there is plenty of camping at Bear Lake鈥攖hough reservations fill up fast鈥攖hey are far from the most scenic or idyllic campsites in Utah. The appeal is the proximity to the shoreline, not the campsites themselves. They are quite developed and there鈥檚 not much separating you from other parties. It sort of felt like camping in a public park.

Bear Lake is also known for its locally grown raspberries, so refuel after a day on the water with a raspberry milkshake or other treat.

2. Snow Canyon State Park, Ivins

Specs: 7,400 Acres

Best For: Hiking, mountain biking, climbing, camping

Generally speaking, I am not a fan of St. George. It鈥檚 congested, a golfing hub (in a place with a water shortage), and feels like someone decided to stack as many strip malls and chain restaurants as they could in the middle of the desert. I also find it pretty disgraceful that the word 鈥淒ixie鈥� continues to stay past its welcome in this area, including in the name of the convention center and a nearby national forest.

But one reason to come to (or at least through) St. George is . The landscape rivals what you鈥檒l find in Utah鈥檚 national parks, but with much less hype.

The Best 国产吃瓜黑料 in Snow Canyon State Park

The takes you through sandy washes and over red rock scrambles to a cave with a keyhole-shaped opening and sweeping views. At 4.4 miles total, it鈥檚 also easily doable in a half day鈥攐r easy to sneak in at dawn or dusk if you鈥檙e visiting from late spring through early fall when the weather is super hot.

When to Go

Early/mid-spring and late fall are the best times to visit Snow Canyon. If you don鈥檛 mind hiking in a puffy jacket, winter is also an awesome time to get your desert fix with no crowds. In summer, it gets extremely hot, so only pre-sunrise or post-sunset adventures should be undertaken.

Local Pointers for Snow Canyon State Park

I鈥檓 a bit biased as the editor-in-chief of , but I鈥檝e had my sights set on the for a while. I鈥檝e only visited the park once鈥攚ith some friends who don鈥檛 climb鈥攂ut I would love to return. If you climb, it鈥檚 definitely worth bringing your gear and sampling the sport and trad routes on sandstone. Moderate climbers will love the Island in the Sky Traverse (5.3, trad), but there are plenty of harder routes in the 5.12 neighborhood for climbers who want more of a challenge. You can also book a local guide through (from $410 per person for a half-day climbing trip, but as little as $130 per person if you have a larger group) if you鈥檙e climbing curious, but don鈥檛 have the gear or knowledge yet.

1. Antelope Island State Park, Syracuse

Specs: 28,000 Acres

Best For: Hiking, biking, camping, wildlife viewing, stargazing

The largest island in the Great Salt Lake, offers an eclectic mix of wildlife, ranching history, and trails. As far as outdoor adventures go, it鈥檚 a great spot for hiking, trail running, road cycling, mountain biking, and camping.

The Best 国产吃瓜黑料 at Antelope Island

One of the coolest aspects of visiting Antelope Island is the unique wildlife that abounds there. While the island is named for the resident pronghorn antelope, the most well-known fauna around are bison. Somewhere between 550 and 700 bison live on the island and can be frequently seen grazing the island鈥檚 shores. Every October, viewers can observe the annual , which consolidates the herds and provides health screenings. Birdwatching is also a popular activity, since the island attracts over 250 species along their migration pathways.

When to Go

Antelope Island is open year-round, though in mid-spring, midges hatch and make a visit absolutely miserable. While these nasty biting midges can be present from spring through fall, they鈥檙e usually tolerable after their annual spring resurgence. Call ahead to check on midge conditions.

Antelope Island also doesn鈥檛 see a lot of snow and visiting during the less crowded winter months is a nice, quieter way to experience this state park.

Local Pointers for Antelope Island State Park

While no one besides the animals call Antelope Island home these days, a few Latter-day Saints settlers did move there and built a ranch in 1848. Now a preserved historic site, the is a fun stop on your Antelope Island tour. The park sometimes hosts ghost tours of this allegedly haunted ranch in fall, aka spooky season. Another cool event to check out is one of the on dark nights, from spring through fall, which pair perfectly with a night camping on the island.

is the editor-in-chief of Climbing Magazine and the author of four Moon travel guides to Utah, including and . She has lived in Utah for eight years and has been exploring its beautiful public lands for far longer. While she lives just outside the Uinta Mountains, she is a desert person at heart who would always rather be climbing or riding her mountain bike over some red rock under the sun.

The post The 9 Best Utah State Parks, Ranked appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The clock had not yet struck 2 p.m. in Harlem, and my daily step count was higher than it鈥檇 been in months. My eyelids were heavy, my hips were creaking in protest, and my legs were no longer useful. And there were still ten听miles to go.

Just a few hours ago, I was giddy at the prospect of walking the entire 32-mile perimeter of Manhattan in one day via route. (Shorewalkers, a local non-profit, hosts the Saunter on the first Saturday of May each year to raise money for promoting and preserving the city鈥檚 waterfront.)

Though I鈥檇 missed the registration deadline, the opportunity to spend the entire day outside exploring new parts of my city was too tempting to pass up. So, I decided to follow the route on my own schedule and rope a friend into doing it with me. We chose a mutually convenient place to meet up鈥攁 Starbucks near the southern tip of the island鈥攁nd took our first steps into the dewy spring morning.

We were both feeling confident about our fitness levels heading into the walkabout. My friend was fresh off thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, and I鈥檇 been running about 30 miles a week in preparation for the New York City Marathon in the fall. Equipped with coffee and a can-do attitude, I figured, I run all the time鈥攈ow hard can a long walk be?

Cue the narrator of my life: Harder than she thinks.

What It鈥檚 Like to Walk the Perimeter of Manhattan in a Day

I (perhaps naively) let my walking buddy set the pace for the morning, and we started our journey up the West Side Highway walking path at roughly 18 minutes per mile. It was fast enough to feel challenging, and my hip flexors and glutes started to fire up within the first hour.

When I connected with run coach after my walk, she wasn鈥檛 surprised to hear about this early burn. 鈥淲alking works generally the same muscle groups as running,鈥� Dorset, a 21-time marathoner and the first woman from Trinidad to complete all six major world marathons, tells me. When you walk, she explains, 鈥測ou鈥檙e priming those muscles to get ready for longer distances and added speed.鈥�

Rather than dwelling on the pain or the number of miles still to go, I tried to set my sights on our surroundings. I noticed features of the greenway I鈥檇 usually whiz right by: the daffodils reaching towards the sun, the trumpet-shaped bluebells in a fleeting symphony, the Eastern Redbud trees reawakening after a long winter. The more I focused my attention outward, the less anxiety I carried within.

As I later learned from , the assistant professor of epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health, this wasn鈥檛 a coincidence. Jimenez explains that walks in parks (even urban ones) have been shown to have a on heart rate, sympathetic nerve activity, and other stress biomarkers. She is currently researching whether certain types of landscaping (shrubs, flowers, trees, etc.) seem to be more restorative than others. But for now, it鈥檚 safe to say that reveling in any green environment reduces stress levels.

Equipped with coffee and a can-do attitude, I figured, I run all the time鈥攈ow hard can a long walk be?

And revel I did. Buoyed by a sampling of NYC鈥檚 and 1,300 native plant species, I made it past the Little Red Lighthouse under the George Washington Bridge, through the shelter of the nearly 100-year-old Inspiration Point rest stop, and between the canopy of Inwood Hill Park to reach the tippy top of Manhattan鈥攁ll in about four hours.

Next, it was over to Harlem, where my legs really started to speak to me with some level of profanity. Again, I focused on putting one foot in front of the other and tuning into the sights of the neighborhood. The cultural melting pot was bursting with street vendors, musicians, and seemingly all the energy in the world. I greedily soaked it up.

By the time my walking buddy and I made our way back downtown via the East River path, the end of the trek was in sight, and the worst of the self-doubt had passed. A few friends joined to keep us company, and we spent the afternoon chatting, slowing our pace, and sneaking inland for a beer break or two.

Somewhere along the way, I realized the many facets of longer-distance walking. It can be both challenging and restorative, social and solitary. Clearly, the act was more versatile than I鈥檇 given it credit for. I wondered how it might help me have a more joyful, injury-free, and productive training cycle for the NYC marathon.

By 9 p.m., we had circled back to the unassuming Starbucks from which we started.

After 12 hours, 42 minutes, and 32.89 miles, our ultra-distance urban hike was complete. That night, I waddled home sore, exhausted, and eager to walk my way to a more successful marathon.

How Walking Can Make You a Better Runner

I figured that walking 30-plus miles in a day wasn鈥檛 something I could (or should) keep up with during the height of marathon season. But what distance would complement my training? And how would I know when to walk and when to run?

I brought these questions to Dorset, who affirmed that longer walks are a valuable training and recovery tool for runners鈥攁nd not just for the obvious reasons.

Beyond activating your muscles and improving , walking holds a distinctly mental appeal. As any runner knows, there are days when running is the last thing you want to do. When those happen, walking can be a more achievable way to get miles in and stay accountable to your goals.

鈥淔or whatever reason, going on your run can feel too intimidating sometimes,鈥� Dorset says, noting that she often feels this way during particularly long or difficult workweeks. 鈥淏ut people are more used to walking, especially in cities like New York. It鈥檚 not as overwhelming.鈥�

While walking can feel easier and more achievable than running鈥攅specially during periods of heightened stress鈥攊t鈥檚 still valuable exercise. 鈥淚t will still be physical motion, and it will still be time on your feet,鈥� Dorset says.

Active recovery techniques like walking can also help and (DOMS) following a tough workout. Plus, it may help prevent injuries as you build up mileage.

鈥淪ometimes if you do a long run one day and sit a lot the next day, things really tighten up,鈥� Dorset says. 鈥淚f you go for a nice walk instead, that helps get things loose again. You鈥檙e going to have a lower chance of incurring injury if your muscles are less tight and stiff.鈥�

In practice, this may look like swapping a 40-minute recovery run with a walk that takes roughly double the time (80 minutes). While individual needs vary, Dorset advises that most people shouldn鈥檛 walk for more than three-and-a-half hours at a time during training鈥攁 guideline similar to the limit for running before a marathon.

Pro Tips for Your Next Long Walk

If you鈥檙e looking to incorporate more long walks into your routine, Dorset has some additional tips:

• Warm up your feet and ankles beforehand: try rotating your ankles to make circles and/or the letters of the alphabet to ward off stiffness once you get moving.
• Bring plenty of fuel: this means water! Plus, Dorset likes to use walks as low-stakes opportunities to test out new hydration and energy gels she may use during races.
• Pack light: avoid bags or backpacks that will throw off your mechanics.
• Invest in a comfortable pair of sneakers: my feet were miraculously blister-free after 62,804 steps around Manhattan in my cushy .
• Stay engaged: keep your arms pumping and your core online during training walks. Seek out hills, steps, or bridges to add some more intensity.

Slowing Down to Speed Up

During previous training cycles, I used recovery days to go on short runs, lift weights, or hop on a bike. This go-round, I prioritized walking, seeking out paths that brought me to new neighborhoods, hilly landscapes, and good friends. When I couldn鈥檛 decide where to go, I鈥檇 look at a map and choose a green space to visit, designing my route around calming canopies.

After 12 hours, 42 minutes, and 32.89 miles, our ultra-distance urban hike was complete.

I鈥檓 pleased to report that I made it through training injury-free and finished the NYC Marathon with a 19-minute personal record. While I can鈥檛 say that this all comes down to my walking routine, I do think it helped me better manage the physical and mental strain of training.

Looking back, I see that my circumnavigating Manhattan left me with a valuable gift that went well beyond getting the fodder for a great story to tell anyone who would listen. The experience taught me that slowing down doesn鈥檛 mean falling behind.

鈥淭here is no shame in walking,鈥� says Dorset. 鈥淎nd using walking as a tool doesn鈥檛 make you any less of a runner.鈥�

The post How a 32-Mile Walk Around Manhattan Made Me a Better Runner appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

America鈥檚 national parks are known for their vast tracts of unspoiled wilderness, and we love celebrating the trails that take you deep into the backcountry听of these iconic landscapes. But sometimes, the best views in our national parks can be enjoyed from the comfort of your car. Here are the eight best national park scenic roads.

1. Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Trail Ridge Road carves a 48-mile path through the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park, connecting the gateway towns听of Estes Park and Grand Lake. It鈥檚 one of the highest paved roads in the country, with a peak elevation of 12,183 feet at the Gore Range Overlook. The two-lane blacktop is a stiff challenge for cyclists (I always see a few on this road when I鈥檓 in the park) as it climbs more than 4,000 feet in just 12 miles, but it鈥檚 a convenient way for the rest of us to enjoy a high alpine environment; roughly eight miles of the road cruises above tree line with expansive views in either direction. Given the altitude, snowfall means the road is typically only open from late May to early October. I drove the road in July with my family one year, and we marveled at the amount of snow that was still piled up at the pass.

Best View听

The Gore Range Overlook (at mile 19.3 if you鈥檙e coming from Estes Park) sits near the crest of the road with long range views to the west of the Never Summer Mountains. Gaze down from the parking lot and you鈥檒l see small ponds scattered across the tundra. To the east, you can see Longs Peak, one of Colorado鈥檚 most famous 14ers.

Get Out of Your Car

If you drive the entire road, you鈥檒l have more than a dozen opportunities for short hikes. Make sure you explore from the Alpine Visitor Center. It鈥檚 usually not as crowded as Alpine Ridge, which also begins at the visitor center, but takes you through the high alpine tundra with views of the Never Summer Mountains in the distance and the Cache de la Poudre River below. You鈥檒l hit a forest of spruce and firs after two miles, which is where most people turn around. If you go all the way to Milner Pass, it鈥檚 an eight-mile out and back, dropping 1,000 feet on its way to the pass. Keep an eye out for pikas and marmots along the way.

Reservations

You need a to enter Rocky Mountain National Park during the summer, but if you鈥檙e only planning to stick to Trail Ridge Road and not visit the super popular Bear Lakes Corridor, then reservations are easier to get and only necessary between 9 and 2. So even if you don鈥檛 plan ahead, you could start your drive early and catch the sunrise, or start in the afternoon and enjoy the sunset.

2. Chain of Craters Road, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii听

You should drive this road now, while you can, because there鈥檚 no guarantee that the pavement will exist in the future. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, on the Big Island, encompasses several active volcanoes that have altered the landscape and the two-lane scenic highway multiple times in the last century. Currently, Chain of Craters Road is just shy of 19 miles long, traveling from the top of Kilauea Volcano to the Holei Sea Arch, which hangs over the Pacific Ocean. The road used to carry on past the arch, but that portion of the highway has been swallowed by lava. That鈥檚 what makes this road different from most others in the national park system; you get the opportunity to see the lava that created the Hawaiian islands up close and personal, as the road cruises by several active volcanic craters and the remnants of their outbursts.

Best View

Most of the pullouts along the road offer expansive views of lava fields in various stages of existence. The newer ones will be dark, rolling fields void of life, but the older lava flows will have vegetation and trees sprouting from the creases. The best view comes at the end of the road, when you can take a short walk to see the Holei Sea Arch, a tall, skinny window in a lava-rock cliff that formed over time as the Pacific Ocean slowly eroded the center of the rock.

Get Out of Your Car

There are a handful of hiking opportunities along the Chain of Craters Road. You can even hike what鈥檚 left of the former road beyond the current turn-around point at Holei Sea Arch. If you want a short hike, the .7-mile will take you on a boardwalk through an old lava field to a vast collection of petroglyphs that were carved into the lava more than 500 years ago.

Reservations

No reservations required. Entrance fee is $30 per vehicle.

3. Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia听

Skyline Drive runs 105 miles through the center of Shenandoah National Park, following the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Consider this road a compressed version of the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway, which connects Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks. You can do the road in half a day, but a campground and at the halfway mark make this the perfect two-day adventure. The two-lane road crests at 3,680 feet and offers 75 pullouts with views that extend deep into the mountains and down to the Shenandoah Valley below. Timing your visit during the fall, when the hardwoods in the surrounding mountains are popping with color, makes Skyline Drive a bucket list experience. Biking Skyline from end to end is one of the most memorable centuries on the East Coast. The road is open year round, but will occasionally be closed during the winter because of snow. Check the before you start your trip.

Best View

There are overlooks every couple of miles along Skyline, but the views really stack up around the midpoint as the road reaches its highest elevations. Spitler Knob Overlook, at milepost 48.1, looks west, taking in the Shenandoah River below and the mountains that divide Virginia and West Virginia on the horizon. The sunset from here is stunning, too.

Get Out of Your Car

Head for the highest point in the park by hiking the to the 4,049-foot Hawksbill Summit. The 2.1-mile out and back begins at milepost 46.5, and ends at an observation platform on top of Hawksbill with a 360-degree view of the mountains and surrounding Piedmont.

Reservations

No reservations required. Entrance fee is $30 per vehicle.

4. Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park, Montana听

Yeah, this road is crowded, with parking lots along its path notoriously filling up by 10 A.M., but there鈥檚 a reason. Going-to-the-Sun Road, which bisects Glacier National Park while connecting the small gateway communities of West Glacier and St. Mary, might be the most scenic two-lane blacktop in the entire national park system. The 50-mile-long point to point highway delivers views of glaciated peaks, backcountry lakes, and the occasional waterfall, not to mention a great chance to see mountain goats. The road is an engineering feat as well鈥攊t took workers two decades to complete, with builders boring a number of tunnels into the cliffs. Going-to-the-Sun is only open to vehicles during the summer (typically from mid June to mid October), and there鈥檚 a brief hiker/biker season in May when human-powered traffic can access the road after it鈥檚 been plowed, but before the gates are open to cars.

Best View

Logan Pass is the most popular destination on the road, thanks to the visitor center and multiple trailheads there, but the Jackson Glacier Overlook has the sweetest view, as it gives you the best chance to see a glacier from the comfort of your car.

Get Out of Your Car

Going-to-the-Sun provides access to some of Glacier鈥檚 most iconic hikes and landscapes, so you could spend a full week knocking out trails without ever venturing beyond the road鈥檚 corridor. The 2.8-mile is a classic. You won鈥檛 have the trail to yourself (it鈥檚 one of the most popular hikes in the park) but the terrain you鈥檒l experience is iconic Glacier, passing through meadows full of wildflowers in the summer before it听reaches a vantage point overlooking a high alpine lake nestled at the base of the granite-rimmed Bearhat Mountain. Turn back or double your mileage by following the trail to the edge of the lake itself.

Reservations

You need for the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road from June 13 to September 28, between the hours of 7 A.M. and 3 P.M. Show up before or after that daily window if you want to drive the road but can鈥檛 score a reservation.

5. Crater Lake Rim Drive, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon听

Crater Lake is a sight to behold. The 13,148-acre pool is the deepest lake in the United States, fed entirely by rain and snowmelt, and completely encompassed by the rim of a volcanic crater that was formed more than 7,000 years ago during an eruption. And it鈥檚 all set within the backdrop of Oregon鈥檚 Cascade Mountain Range. The 33-mile Rim Drive gives you a chance to see this lake and the crater from every angle as it forms a paved, two-lane path around the entire scene. There are 30 overlooks along the way, most of which offer a good view of the bright blue water and Wizard Island, a cinder cone island rising 775 feet above the surface of the lake. One of the coolest features of the road is that it was built to disappear into the landscape, so that you can鈥檛 see it as you鈥檙e looking out over the lake. Like many of the scenic park roads built in the 1920s and 30s, Rim Drive has tight curves and very little shoulder, so drive cautiously and watch out for cyclists. Crater Lake National Park gets an average of 41 feet of snow a year, so the road closes for winter, typically from November 1 to June 1.

Best View

Watchman Overlook, 6.5 miles from the visitor center, has one of the best views of the lake, particularly at sunset as it faces west. There鈥檚 also a short, mile-long Watchman Peak Trail that leads to a fire lookout tower with a 360-degree view of the lake, crater, and surrounding Cascade Mountains.

Get Out of the Car

You鈥檒l get plenty of vista views of the lake from above, but is the only legal trail you can take down to the water鈥檚 edge. Find the trailhead on the East Rim Drive, 4.5 miles from where North Entrance Road intersects with West Rim Drive. It鈥檚 a steep, 1.1-mile sandy path from the road to the lake, dropping 700 feet before hitting the boulder-laden shore. Yes, you can take a dip in the water, but it鈥檚 cold, averaging 57 degrees in the summer.

Reservations

Crater Lake National Park doesn鈥檛 require reservations, but there is a $30 per vehicle entrance fee.

6. White Rim Road, Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Canyonlands National Park鈥檚 White Rim Road isn鈥檛 like others on this list. Instead of a paved highway, is a 100-mile four-wheel drive route through the backcountry of Canyonlands, forming a loop around the park鈥檚 Island in the Sky district. It鈥檚 a two-day adventure, at minimum, requiring a high-clearance 4WD vehicle, as well as solid navigational and backcountry skills. But if you have the chops, there鈥檚 no better way to see the park than driving (or mountain biking, if you are so inclined) White Rim Road. Named for the pale slickrock that dominates much of the road鈥檚 terrain, the driving is a mix of sandy washes, rough rocky stretches and the aforementioned slickrock, which will occasionally take you to the edge of canyons. It鈥檚 a two-way road, but most people drive it clockwise. No matter which you go, it should only be attempted by overland veterans and always keep an eyee out for oncoming vehicles, hikers, and bikers. You鈥檒l see towering buttes and monoliths as you drive along the Green River and switchback your way up and down the edges of deep gorges.

Best View

You鈥檒l see some amazing scenery throughout the entirety of this road, but Monument Basin, roughly 30 miles into the drive if you鈥檙e moving clockwise, will give you the chance to park above beauitful canyons and snag an Instagram-worthy shot. Inside the basin below, you鈥檒l see countless red sandstone spires rising from the valley floor.

Get Out of Your Car

The is a 3.4-mile out and back that leaves White Rim Road at mile 65 and meanders across the slickrock to the ruins of a stone structure built by the indigenous people that inhabited the area hundreds of years ago. From the ruin, you鈥檒l have a grand view of the Green River below, with its lush banks standing in contrast to the red desert on either side.

Reservations

Any overnight along White Rim requires a . You can apply for a permit up to four months in advance of your trip ($36 permit fee, plus a $5 per person, per night camping fee), and designated campsites are scattered along the route.

7. Grand Loop, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho

驰别濒濒辞飞蝉迟辞苍别鈥檚 Grand Loop isn鈥檛 a single road, but a combination of two-lane roads that form a 145-mile figure eight through the heart of the park. You can do the entire figure eight or just tackle the upper or lower loop. If you attempt to drive the entire Grand Loop, it will be an all-day adventure. Some visitors even break it up into two full days, knocking up the Upper Loop on day one and Lower Loop on the second day. Drive the entire Grand Loop and you鈥檒l hit most of the highlights in America鈥檚 oldest national park, with a chance to stop at geothermal wonders like Mammoth Hot Springs, Old Faithful, and Grand Prismatic Spring, while also being able to take quick detours to iconic landscapes, like the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and the Lamar Valley, a broad grassland bisected by the Lamar River that attracts big game like bison and grizzly bears. If you have a snowmobile, you can explore the Grand Loop during winter, otherwise you鈥檒l have to plan your trip between May and the end of October, when the road is cleared of snow. And be prepared for the occasional 鈥渂ison jam,鈥� when cars stop to watch the locals.

Best View

Artist Point Overlook, a detour off of the Upper Grand Loop on the South Rim Drive, provides the best view of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, which is 20 miles long and more than 1,000 feet deep. From this overlook, you get a great view of the canyon鈥檚 Lower Falls, a tumultuous 300-foot waterfall flanked by steep rock walls.

Get Out of Your Car

The seven-mile out and back from 听delivers views of the park鈥檚 most iconic landscapes, with vistas of the rim of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Hayden Valley (a primo wildlife watching spot), and Yellowstone Lake. On a clear day from the lookout tower on top of Mount Washburn, you can see straight into the Grand Tetons, too. You鈥檒l be following an old stage coach road on this hike, so there鈥檚 even a bit of Wild West culture thrown in for good measure.

Reservations

No vehicle reservations needed. Entrance fee is $35 per vehicle.

8. Park Loop Road, Acadia National Park, Maine

础肠补诲颈补鈥檚 Park Loop is the quintessential national park scenic drive: it鈥檚 short, gorgeous, and provides access to the park鈥檚 most popular destinations. The 27-mile one-way loop traverses the eastern flank of 础肠补诲颈补鈥檚 Mount Desert Island skipping from freshwater ponds to beaches and cliffs, delivering some of Maine鈥檚 most iconic coastal views along the way. Acadia gets three million visitors a year, so the road gets congested, but you can still complete the loop in just a few hours. Take your time though, as Park Loop provides access to short trails and beaches that could keep you entertained for days. If you get a timed entry permit, you can tack on the three-mile too, which rises 1,530 feet straight out of the ocean, offering long range views of the Atlantic.

Best View

Dramatic views are a near constant along Park Loop, but Otter Cliff stands out above the rest, literally and figuratively. Otter Cliff is 110 feet tall, making it one of the tallest cliffs on the east coast. Spruce trees sprout from the top of the cliff, while a boulder-strewn beach can be seen below. Hit the cliff during the summer and there鈥檚 a good chance you鈥檒l see multiple species of whales in the water.

Get Out of Your Car

Make a stop at Sand Beach, where you can take a swim if you鈥檙e brave enough to handle the Atlantic鈥檚 frigid temperatures, lounge and walk the , an easy stroll that accesses a variety of views of the Atlantic and Mount Desert Island鈥檚 coastline. The path will also take you to Thunder Hole, an inlet carved into the cliffs where incoming waves create a thunderous echo.

Reservations

You don鈥檛 need reservations to enter Acadia or drive the Park Loop, but you will need them if you want to drive the summit road to the top of . Entrance fee to the park is $35 per vehicle.

Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 national park columnist. He loves a scenic road with an overlook as much as the next tourist and he recently wrote about the best road trips in the Southwest. He鈥檚 excited to plan his family鈥檚 next spring break trip, too.听

The post The 8 Best National Park Drives 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.

1. Nevada

Las Vegas to the Valley of Fire

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 developed campgrounds from $10.

2. Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park to Capitol Reef National Park

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 “.”

3. Colorado

Colorado National Monument to Rocky Mountain National Park

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. Palisade Cycles 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 “.”

4. Texas

San Antonio to the Gulf

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.

5. New Mexico

Taos to the Bisti Badlands

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.

6. Arizona

Grand Canyon to Monument Valley

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 El Tovar, 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).

7. California

So Cal Coast to Mojave Desert

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.

Ever come across an incredible hotel that stops you mid-scroll and makes you think, Wow, wouldn鈥檛 it be something to stay there? We do, too鈥攁ll the time. Welcome to Friday Fantasy, where we highlight amazing hotels, lodges, cabins, tents, campsites, and other places perched in perfect outdoor settings. Read on for the intel you need to book an upcoming adventure here. Or at least dream about it.

Why My Family and I Love the Suitree Experience Hotel

It was my 13-year-old son who first became obsessed with the idea of staying at a treehouse in Costa Rica. So, when I found online, I quickly called him over. We stared, mesmerized, at the website鈥檚 drone footage of the treehouses鈥� disc-like rooftops set in a verdant rainforest on a hillside amid the clouds.

These aren鈥檛 your typical treehouses. Suitree鈥檚 four individual podlike dwellings are propped up on 30-foot-high steel stilts to better survey the scenery, with winding staircases leading to 110-square-foot 鈥渞ooms.鈥� Additionally, two ground-level bungalows can accommodate two, while their elevated counterparts can sleep up to four. On-site common areas include a lookout platform (offering views of the surrounding tree-covered hills), four pools (one with a swim-up bar), and an open-air restaurant.

Suitree opened in 2018 in the northwestern province of Guanacaste, just six miles from the closest Pacific beach. Its Italian owner enlisted an architecture firm in the capital city of San Jos茅 for help in developing his idea: an immersive, canopied modern treehouse. (A note from the firm: Not a single tree was harmed in the making of this hotel.)

Fairly unfamiliar with Costa Rica, I asked a friend who lives in the province about Suitree and Sardinal, the closest town. 鈥淚t鈥檚 where?鈥� He balked. 鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing out there.鈥�

I booked it for a night anyway. Although Sardinal is roughly eight miles from Playa Hermosa, winding dirt roads make travel slow鈥攁nd confusing. Apple Maps suggested we drive through a private horse pasture. Fortunately, we found another way without trespassing.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 part of the experience,鈥� says Nidia Bravo, a Costa Rican travel specialist who represents Suitree. While the property provides transfers from Liberia Guanacaste Airport, roughly 45 minutes away, guests with their own vehicle can make an adventure of their time here, just as we opted to.

We spent the morning playing in the ocean and trekking the trails in the shorefront town of Las Catalinas before heading toward Suitree. En route, we pulled off to enjoy a zip-lining adventure and monkey sanctuary. Had we foregone these detours, our drive from the coast would鈥檝e taken about 30 minutes.

Upon our arrival, a golf cart transported us and our luggage up a steep, narrow cobblestone path to the base of our magical treehouse, which struck me as a modern Ewok village. At ground level was a private swing sofa. Our winding staircase led to what seemed like a trap door in the center of the elevated pod. Once through the hatch, we stepped into a gorgeous teak interior. There was a king-size bed, a bunk-bed nook, a writing desk, and a seemingly hidden鈥攂ut spacious鈥攂athroom. Nearly the entire space was encased by floor-to-ceiling windows.

We made the most of our wraparound deck, which afforded 360-degree views of the valley, mountains, and treetops. I did my there. And one of us was usually perched on the deck with the room鈥檚 pair of high-powered binoculars, scanning the surrounding canopy in search of wildlife. I could鈥檝e stared out at the surrounding hills, listening to birdcalls and monkey howls for hours, but we had four bright blue pools to explore before dinner.

国产吃瓜黑料 Intel

While Guanacaste is known for surfing鈥攊ts 400-mile Gold Coast is home to popular beach breaks like Tamarindo and Playa Grande鈥攖he interior is where you鈥檒l find monkeys and sloths and birds (oh my!).

For an additional fee, Suitree staff will book all sorts of guided tours, from a horseback ride through a savannah, to a rainforest hike at the base of the Arenal volcano, to an all-day excursion of the colonial city of Grenada, Nicaragua, about a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Suitree. If we鈥檇 had more time, I would鈥檝e loved to try one of the many self-guided adventures available, including mountain biking and e-biking, hiking, and buggy rides into the jungle.

Instead, we floated in Suitree鈥檚 connected stone pools (at one point next to a resident iguana) and walked among hundreds of white and yellow butterflies. We laid out on the netting at the lookout while listening to the screeches of howler monkeys, and peered through binoculars in search of them and the other area residents: white-faced capuchin and squirrel monkeys, sloths, , , and 948 species of birds, many of them wonderfully colorful.

Various butterflies wing from bush to bush at Suitree Experience. Costa Rica is home to 1,500-plus butterfly species, and the rainier months between May and November are when more tend to be spotted. (Video: Courtesy Lisa Jhung)

My husband rose early and spotted red and blue tanagers in the adjacent tree canopy, along with an iridescent purple and green fellow that he identified as a spectacular motmot. Over coffee, I spent a solid 20 minutes staring through the binoculars at a brown spot on a faraway hillside to see if it moved鈥擨 was desperate to see a sloth. While I鈥檒l never know if I accomplished my mission that morning, I did see a variety of birds and fell in love with the fluttering butterflies who hovered so close that they seemed to be wanting to tell me something.

Each night, bright stars speckled the sky. I regret heading straight to bed instead of out on the deck to stargaze, but fell asleep happily to the jungle鈥檚 nocturnal noises.

Choice Treehouse

While the hotel accommodates various wants and needs, including a wheelchair-friendly bungalow, its four treehouses are the main attractions. Do you choose the one with a private jacuzzi? Or the one that overlooks the stone pools? Or the one with a newly installed private pool?

We picked the one with the pool view. (The treehouse with its own pool was completed after our stay, and, because I鈥檓 obsessed with water, that’s where we would have wound up.)

Eat and Drink

With no restaurants within easy walking distance, guests will inevitably gather for a meal at Suitree鈥檚 on-site restaurant, Taru. Its menu features fresh, locally sourced ingredients and dishes inspired by regional traditions.

We started dinner with fresh guacamole prepared tableside, followed by our entrees: a mahi-mahi with seasonal vegetables for my husband and myself, and osso buco with spaghetti al bronzo (a tomato jus) for the boys.

Breakfast is included with your stay, and my sons and I were thrilled when the friendly staff offered to serve us at the swim-up bar. (My husband, less obsessed with water, dined at a regular table.) We swam over to stone stools submerged in cool water and my sons ordered pancakes, while I indulged in incredibly fresh fruit, yogurt, and honey foam.

When to Go

Suitree closes for renovations each October, toward the end of the rainy, less-touristed months (typically May through November). Rain can make outdoor activities more challenging and travel along this area鈥檚 numerous dirt roads difficult, but it also keeps this country green and doesn鈥檛 often last all day, every day.

The dry season is December through April, when prices are highest and temperatures hottest.

We visited in June and experienced torrential rains for less than 3 days of our 12-day trip, mostly at night. High temperatures were in the eighties, with more than 80 percent humidity.

How to Get There

San Jos茅 International Airport is a four-hour drive from Suitree, but the closer option is the region鈥檚 Liberia airport. The hotel offers luxury transport to and from Liberia for $120 each way for up to four people. Alternatively, you can book a shuttle or a taxi.

Don鈥檛 Miss

There鈥檚 zip lining in Costa Rica, and then there鈥檚 extreme zip lining in Costa Rica. Sign up for the latter. My family and I had our extreme experience at in Artola, less than 30 minutes from Suitree, halfway to the Pacific coast (from $45). We also tacked on a walk through its monkey sanctuary (from $54).

Strapped into a full-body harness, each of us in a completely horizontal, prone position, we whirred through the jungle canopy on five different zip lines, the longest of which was a quarter-mile. I stretched my arms out to enhance the feeling of flying above the gorgeous landscape.

Details听

Price: From $294

Address: Guanacaste, Sardinal de Carrillo
Obandito, 50503, Costa Rica

To Book:

Raised near the coast of San Diego, but living a mountain life in Boulder, Colorado, Lisa Jhung finds every excuse to travel to a beach. That said, she found herself drawn to Costa Rica鈥檚 interior on this trip, wowed by its jungles, wildlife, and adventures. Jhung鈥檚 most recent articles for 国产吃瓜黑料 Online include a story on ways to make a family ski trips easier and the best winter running shoes.听

The post This Costa Rican Treehouse Hotel Elevated My Jungle-国产吃瓜黑料 Expectations 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.

1. Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia

Best for: Swimming, Camping, and Contemplating History

Average Temperatures in March and April: Highs from mid 70s to mid 80s

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.

2. Big Bend National Park, Texas

Best for: Hiking, Biking, Climbing, Canoeing, Stargazing

Average Temperatures in March and April: Low to high 70s

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).

3. Death Valley National Park, California

Best for Cycling, Hiking, Stargazing

Average Temps in March and April: Highs from 65 to 75

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).

4. White Sands National Park, New Mexico

Best for Hiking and Sand Sledding

Average Temperatures in March and April: 70 to 80

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.

5. Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida and Mississippi

Best for Island Hopping, Swimming, Surfing, Fishing, Birdwatching

Average Temperatures in March and April: Low to mid 70s

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.

6. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah and Arizona

Best for Boating, Swimming, Hiking

Average Temperatures in March and April: Highs from 60 to 69

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).

7. Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument, Arizona

Best for Overlanding, Hiking, and Seeking Solitude

Average Temperatures in March and April: High 50s to mid 60s

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.

Ever come across an incredible hotel that stops you mid-scroll and makes you think, Wow, wouldn鈥檛 it be something to stay there? We do, too鈥攁ll the time. Welcome to Friday Fantasy, where we highlight amazing hotels, lodges, cabins, tents, campsites, and other places perched in perfect outdoor settings. Read on for the intel you need to book an upcoming adventure here. Or at least dream about it.

Ten feet overhead in a desert canyon in Utah, a jammed log spanned the gully, left by a recent flash flood. In the next passage in Harris Wash in听Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, southern Utah, our group gazed up at a tangled brown stripe of debris from the same flood, adorning a green cottonwood tree like Spanish moss.

All our lives we marvel at nature鈥檚 power. Here we also appreciated the immovability of geology鈥攔ock walls鈥攁s our group of nine, all staying in the region at听the complex, at first walked and then arduously wormed through a narrowing slot canyon. When the sides pinched down to only a foot wide, my friend DeMarco Williams, athletic and deep-chested, said from two feet ahead, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if I can do this.鈥� He was pinned.

Ofland Escalante, two miles from the town of Escalante, is situated amid the landscape of the national monument and between two national parks. (Video: Eric Vega)

I had it easier, being smaller. As a climber, I鈥檝e been in squeeze chimneys before; they can be awful and claustrophobic, and you just want out, but have to make it happen.

DeMarco pressed on, and something gave, and he scraped through the constriction. I followed, ducking, and emerged into the light, where he waited smiling. At each obstacle, following canyoneering practices shown us by Rick Green, owner of the guiding outfit , one of us waited to help the next person.

This trip last August was to the treasure that is Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, where friends and I all stayed two nights at Ofland Escalante, an ideal, central base located within the national monument and two miles west of the pioneer town of the same name. (Harris Wash was some 25 miles from town, with much of the drive on a washboard road.)

Not everyone in our group loved our several-hour canyoneering experience. Some cried, and some half-laughed, half-cried. But no one will forget it.

Toward the end, having split into two groups (one with Amie Fortin of the same outfit), we all convened for lunch in a bowl among blunt buttresses that were once ancient sand dunes, the slickrock around us inscribed with fine criss-cross lines. Sage and grasses waved in the wind, with hardy pi帽on-juniper trees in clumps nearby. Paiute, Ute, and Navajo tribes once dwelled in this region. So did dinosaurs. We saw no one else all day.

As we all looped back out of the canyon, we scrambled a little, but much of the return was just a quiet, reverent walk through washes and passages. Tracing the undulating wind- and water-sculpted walls, I peered into natural niches like little altars, holding swirls of sediment.

The Lodge

Closed each winter but slated to reopen March 12, Ofland Escalante is located just off Highway 12. Opened in 2021 on the site of an old RV park and drive-in movie theater, the place was in recent years, per the website, a 鈥渓uxury RV park鈥� known as Yonder Escalante. In May 2023 the new owners added 鈥渄eluxe鈥� cabins, and last year renamed the place (鈥淥fland鈥� is for 鈥渙f the land鈥�). Ofland has varying services and prices, and brings people together in communal spaces.听

The place offers four types of accommodations. I bunked in a Deluxe Cabin, simple and boxy with floor-to-ceiling windows, able to sleep up to four people. Also available are vintage Airstreams, tiny cabins, and campsites.

The central common area draws visitors with a fire pit, picnic tables, complimentary hot drinks, and shelves of books, board games, and cards. Our crew brought over s鈥檓ores supplies from our rooms and gathered at the tables for spirited rounds of Uno.

On Ofland Escalante鈥檚 22-acre grounds, you can still enjoy the vintage outdoor 鈥渄rive-in鈥� theater, where you watch from inside one of nine in-situ classic cars. Other property diversions include a hot tub and swimming pool.

But the big deal is the place鈥檚 location amid the wonders of the Utah desert. The nearby town of Escalante is on the northern border of the 1.87-million-acre Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and just off the 123-mile-long U of scenic highway 12, which runs between Panguich, 67 miles west of the town, and Torrey, 65 miles north of it. Escalante sits between two national parks, about 50 miles east of Bryce Canyon and 67 southwest of Capitol Reef. Highway 12 links them all.

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Escalante (and Ofland Escalante) are in road-trip reach of five national parks, four state parks, another national monument, and the vast Dixie National Forest, all boasting a myriad of .

You鈥檙e also in the high-elevation desert here. The town of Escalante is set at 5,800 feet, and the surrounding area rises to about 8,600 feet, while reaches 9,000 feet. So ascend gradually and, while you are outside and exerting, pay attention to your water intake.

Escalante is famous for its slot canyons, and Excursions of Escalante can take you out, set up rappels, and use their guides鈥� situational experience to avoid dangerous floods. The outfitters gave us packs, helmets, and water bottles, but you should arrive wearing good trail shoes and clothes that take being abraded.

A little on-site commentary from a canyon in Harris Wash, the Utah desert (Video: Neil Tandy)

A Utah friend tells me that , a 6.7-mile out-and-back starting 19 miles northeast of Escalante, is her favorite hike ever. It has birdwatching鈥攆or hawks and ravens, and she once saw a condor鈥攁nd 鈥渁 little of everything鈥� else, from steep sections to sandy patches and a 125-foot waterfall.

For me, a dark-horse favorite was also . We hiked the Rainbow section (and added a few other loops), where we saw petrified wood in scattered chunks, from wastebasket- to coffee-table size, with hues of sulphur yellow and iron red but also deep blues and violet. The starts on an uphill past a tram-size balanced rock overlooking Wide Hollow Reservoir, where you can camp, swim, or .

Please do not pocket any pieces of petrified wood. Things in the desert are supposed to stay there. Besides, I’ve , and taking one only brings you ill luck.

Choice Rooms

My Deluxe Cabin鈥檚 outside shower was heaven. The water was plenty hot, and I could gaze out at the sky and the surrounding scrub-covered dun bluffs.

The Deluxe Cabins (from $259 per night) are the most cushy places, the only ones with private bathrooms and their own driveways. Each has a kitchenette and Wi-Fi, a deck with picnic table, and a queen bed and pull-out sofa such that it can sleep up to four. From the cabins it鈥檚 a five-minute walk to the main lodge. ADA cabins are available as well, and the lodge has golf carts for transport around the property.

Other options include vintage Airstreams ($175 per night), which sleep up to three people, and tiny cabins ($169), located just paces from the common area. The cabins have front decks and the Airstreams step out to picnic tables and fire pits. Both use shared bathrooms with amenities and open-air showers.

Ofland also has five campsites (from $99, per night). Each comes with a picnic table, grill, fire pit, filtered-water hookup, power, and bathroom access.

Eat and Drink

Pop over to the on-site food truck, prepare your own meals in your kitchenette, or go out for dinner at in the delightfully small and funky town of Escalante. 4th West offers 30 types of beers; burgers, paninis, and nice spicy tacos; a pool table, where my friends played half the night; and a nice local vibe. The evening was cool, so we skipped the outdoor seating, but in warm temps it would be wonderful to enjoy the view from there over dinner.

, 14 miles east of town and located within the national monument, is a magical-looking complex overlooking the startlingly green forest lining the Escalante River. It offers vegetarian-friendly Southwest fare, indoor and outdoor seating, and lodging.

Thirteen miles farther north is in the town of Boulder. The place, which has a devoted following, features ethically sourced ingredients and its own organic garden. The owners practice Buddhist principles and are committed to social responsibility.

At the end of Highway 12, in the town of Torrey, is the family-owned Wild Rabbit Cafe, with an on-site coffee roaster, and vegan and vegetarian options.

When to Go

Ofland Escalante is open mid-March through October. Spring and fall will have you cozying up around the fire pits, and maybe hitting the hot tub. Summer is bound to put you in the swimming pool. All indoor accommodations have heat and A/C.

How to Get There

The small Bryce Canyon Airport is just four miles north of Bryce Canyon National Park, 48 miles from Escalante. Most visitors fly into Salt Lake City and rent a car for the amazing 294-mile drive south and back with its section on Highway 12.

Don鈥檛 Miss

Hike to the 100 Hands Pictograph Panel, actually site of three major rock-art panels, via a family-friendly 1.2-mile round-trip off Highway 12, starting from the Escalante River Trailhead 14 miles east of Escalante. Ancient petroglyphs鈥攕heep, deer, a snake鈥攁re visible just five minutes along the trail. The trail contours up to an alcove where you see the 100 Hands (more like 160 Hands) panel, and beyond that is the Shaman and Hunter panel, with a bowhunting scene and collection of shaman figures wearing headpieces.

Forty miles beyond Escalante, stop and get out at the Homestead Overlook, at 9,600 feet elevation, to see the tableau of the Grand Staircase鈥揈scalante National Monument, the Kaiparowits Plateau, and the Waterpocket Fold of Capitol Reef National Park, with their oceanic deposits and sedimentary layers, red and gold desert against the bumpy skyline of the Henry Mountains. Descending, you pass the Fishaven Reservoir and may see some sandhill cranes, before winding through the treed hamlet of Boulder, volcanic rocks and basalt scattered along the roadway.

Details

Price: From $99

Address: 2020 UT-12
Escalante, UT 84726

Alison Osius is a senior editor in travel at 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine and 国产吃瓜黑料 Online. She is a longtime climber and a former editor at Climbing and Rock and Ice magazines. She’s recently written about seeing the Utah desert from a lodge made of glass sky domes; hiking the memorial Storm King Trail, scene of one of our country’s greatest firefighting tragedies; and how to approach traveling to altitude (which starts with: paying attention). Oh, and if you were wondering, here are 8 simple rules for visiting your friends in mountain and waterfront towns.

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