On a late fall camping trip, my family and I were headed to Picacho State Recreation Area. The remote desert park is situated along a scenic 9-mile stretch of the Colorado River on the border of Mexico near Yuma, Arizona. We were trying to get there before sunset, going as fast as the 18-mile dirt road would let us. We were later than planned. A day earlier, a wildfire closed the desert highway, and we set up camp nearby to wait it out. When we finally arrived, it was golden hour, the sinking sun playing off jagged pinnacles of volcanic rock all around us. We were properly awed by the unexpected andesite formations ignited by the last light鈥攁lmost like we planned it.

California might have more stunning campgrounds than any other state. The area boasts the most national parks of any state (nine), 280 state parks with over 15,000 campsites, 840 miles of coastline, three distinct deserts, and mountain ranges with some of the highest peaks in the lower 48. A staggering number of visitors flock to see these wonders, which makes getting a campsite at high profile destinations (ahem, Yosemite) a competitive sport. The good news is that tons of incredible spots don鈥檛 involve the .

From my home in Los Angeles, my camping preference is for California鈥檚 deserts, where I can get off the grid and soak up the solitude. I dig desert camping so much that I even 鈥�Death Valley and Joshua Tree. But at some point, the deserts get too hot, and I head to the mountains or coast to keep up my four-season camping habit.

Below are some standout under-the-radar California campgrounds broken out by geography鈥攄esert, coast, and mountain. They range from free and dispersed, to supported, to sites with some serious amenities (hot tubs, what?). Pick any of these, and you鈥檒l be experiencing the state鈥檚 incredibly diverse landscape at its finest.

California’s Desert Camping听

Picacho Campground

Location: Picacho State Recreation Area, north of Yuma, Arizona

Located in California鈥檚 remote Colorado Desert, Picacho Campground is the main campground serving a stretch of the scenic lower Colorado River. The 54 campsites are huge and widely spaced, tucked amid striking ancient volcanic rock formations. For being so far out there, it鈥檚 surprisingly well-developed and maintained with concrete picnic tables, shade structures, fire pits, and bathrooms with solar showers.

Don鈥檛 Miss: Fishing for bass, catfish, and bluegill on the Colorado River. Take the short two-mile drive to Taylor Lake to see one of the river鈥檚 scenic backwater lakes. Hike the two-mile round-trip Stamp Mill Trail over volcanic hills for views of the river and mining ruins.

The Cost: $20 per night

Book It:

Kelso Dunes

Location: Mojave National Preserve

The dispersed sites at the Kelso Dunes sit on the edge of the largest dune field in the Mojave Desert. A jaw-rattling washboard road takes you past the official trailhead for the dunes (there鈥檚 no camping at the trailhead) to a collection of widely spaced campsites. Some have fire pits, and vault toilets are available. If you hear an eerie booming sound, that鈥檚 the singing sand; wind or footsteps trigger small avalanches and create deep vibrations.

Don鈥檛 Miss: You can technically climb the dunes anywhere, but there is an . Follow the three-mile round trip route to a high ridge where you will have sweeping views of, you guessed it, more dunes.

Pro Tip: If you are set on having a campfire, bring your own metal container in case you don鈥檛 get a site with a fire pit.

The Cost: Free

Book It:

Juniper Valley

Location: Weed, California

Awesome views are what make the sites at Juniper Valley a good pick. Two sites are perched in Northern California鈥檚 high desert near the Oregon border amid widely scattered Ponderosa pines, juniper, and manzanita. The lack of dense vegetation means that you have open views of a whole crew of impressive peaks in the Cascade Range鈥攕now-capped Mount Shasta, the distinctly shaped Haystack Butte, and Goosenest, an ancient volcano. The camping here is stripped down from the sparseness of the landscape to the amenities. Sites have a picnic table and access to potable water but no bathrooms or fire pits.

Don鈥檛 Miss: The crystal-clear night skies. Also, hiking in the nearby Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The four-mile out-and-back McCloud River Trail winds through a basalt lava rock canyon, passing three waterfalls with opportunities for summer swimming.

The Cost: $50 per night

听

The Inn at Benton Hot Springs

Location: Benton Hot Springs, California

Hot springs are the reason the picturesque almost ghost town of Benton continues to exist. The 13 campsites at the Inn at Benton Hot Springs are a unicorn, each with its own hot tub filled by the natural underground springs on the property. The 1,255 acre-ranch is operated in conjunction with the Eastern Sierra Land Trust to preserve the property from development. Most visitors don鈥檛 leave the campsites, opting to prune up in the tubs while meditating on the foothills of the White Mountains and grazing cows in the field next door. Bring everything you need. The closest town with supplies is Bishop, California, 40 minutes south.

Don鈥檛 Miss: The nearby Volcanic Tablelands, named for a cataclysmic volcanic eruption 750,000 years ago, draws rock climbers for its fantastic bouldering and desert rats for the austere landscape and petroglyph sites.

The Cost: $95 for two-person sites, $105 for three-person sites, plus $10 per night additional person

Book It: up to one year ahead of time; book early

Ricardo Campground

Location: Red Rock Canyon State Park

Campsites at Ricardo Campground are tucked under an unexpected crop of red sandstone cliffs in the northern Mojave Desert. The cliffs rise up out of nowhere along flat and Joshua tree studded desert Highway 14, like you temporarily hallucinated Utah. Most people cut through it on the way to the Sierra Nevada Mountains or Death Valley, but it鈥檚 easy to access from Los Angeles, and a beautiful destination in the fall when temps are lovely.

Don鈥檛 Miss: Hike a series of short trails, including the Red Cliffs Trail and Hagen Canyon Nature Trail to get close to the fluted formations. Venture out on off-road adventures to nearby ghost towns and mining camps including the Burro Schmidt Tunnel, a .5-mile tunnel hand-dug through solid granite.

The Cost: $25 per night

Book It: . Sites can fill by Thursday night or Friday morning in the spring, fall, and on holiday weekends.

Blair Valley

Location: Anza Borrego Desert State Park

The largest state park in California, the Anza Borrego Desert State Park has badlands, palm oases, mountain peaks, and waterfalls all accessed by miles of unpaved roads and hiking trails. It also has 12 campgrounds and tons of open camping. Of all the options, Blair Valley is my go-to for a secluded base camp to explore the park. Primitive sites are scattered along low rocky hills ringing a wide valley. In wet years, this is a hotspot for spring wildflower viewing. There is a vault toilet near the entrance, and some of the campsites have fire pits.

Don鈥檛 Miss: Anza Borrego is a certified dark sky park, and Blair Valley is one of the best places in the park for stargazing. There are also a few short, interesting hikes that leave from the campground. A 2-mile round trip trail up the face of Ghost Mountain (Yaquitepec) leads to 360-degree views and the ruins of a 1930s adobe homestead. You can also check out pictograph panels and ancient grinding stones by following the trail signs at the end of the valley.

The Cost: Free

Book It:

California’s Coastal Camping

Jedediah Smith Campground

Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

The Northern California coast is dotted with a long strand of redwood parks, with the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park at the top, near the Oregon border. The campground setting has a primeval feel, situated in dense old growth forest along the scenic Smith River, where banana slugs frolic (okay, maybe move slowly and strangely). There are 89 sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and animal-proof lockers.

Don鈥檛 Miss: Hiking through lush rainforest on the park鈥檚 20 miles of trails. Try the 5-mile , which goes through redwood forest, periodically opening up to views of the Smith River. Or opt to drive the historic Howland Hill Road. The Smith River is good for fishing and kayaking.

The Cost: $35 per night

Book It: Reserve here; available up to six months ahead of time

Jug Handle Creek Farm

Location: Caspar, California

As if its location on the edge of Mendocino鈥檚 famously wild and rocky coast was not enough, Jug Handle Creek Farm has 33 acres of fir forest and meadow as well as its own native plant nursery, community gardens, and nature trails. The farm is actually a nonprofit nature center supporting nature restoration projects in Mendocino County and offering onsite educational programs for kids. There are 11 private campsites situated across the property in a forest or meadow.

Don鈥檛 Miss: A wooden staircase from the farm leads down to scenic coves with tidepools at Jug Handle State Reserve. Be on the lookout for Harbor seals.

The Cost: from $40 per night

听

Freedog Farms at Cactus Flower Ranch

Location: Buellton, California

Freedog Farms is one of my favorite Hipcamp sites, a good resource for unique camping. At the ranch, optimally situated between Central Coast wine country and its beaches, campsites are terraced into 43 acres of rugged hills with incredible views.

Goats, chickens, and dogs run freely throughout the property, hence the name. There are also two vintage trailers where you can stay the night. Even if you are tent camping, the level of amenities automatically upgrades you to glamping status. The features include a central area with a barn for gathering, a firepit, cold dunk tank cowboy pools, hammocks, and a hot outdoor shower. This is a great spot for large groups and families with lots to do and plenty of space for the kids to roam. The owners always have projects in the works and, if they have time, they will give you a tour to go along with your welcome drink.

Don鈥檛 Miss: Have a beach day at nearby Gaviota, Refugio, or El Capitan beaches. Also, do the short hike in Nojoqui Falls Park to an 80-foot waterfall. Afterwards, the Folded Hills Winery Farmstead has a great spot for a picnic.

The Cost: $75 base rate for one person, plus $50 per person, per night; Ages 3-13 costs $10 per person, per night and those under 3 are free

听

Jalama Beach

Location: Jalama Beach County Park

The thing that makes this particular beach so special is seclusion. Jalama Road leaves the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and winds 14 miles through coastal hills to reach the rocky, windswept beach. Plus, the camping here is at beach level, a rarity along California鈥檚 dramatic, bluff-lined coast, with all 107 campsites beachfront or overlooking the ocean. The campground feels like a small village with hot showers, restrooms, water, and a general store with sundries, supplies, breakfast and a 鈥淛alama burger鈥� that people swear by. In addition to the tent and RV sites, the park offers seven cabins.

Don鈥檛 Miss: Jalama Beach for swimming, surfing, whale-watching, birdwatching, and surf fishing.

The Cost: $35 per night standard sites; $50 per night beachfront partial hook-up sites

Book It: Reserve here; reservations available six months in advance

California’s Mountain Camping

Mill Creek Resort

Location: Community of Mill Creek, south of Lassen Volcanic National Park

Mill Creek Resort makes a good base camp for visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park, located 11 miles north. The collection of accommodations, set on 12 acres of cedars and pines, is based around the historic 1930s Mill Creek Lodge. A wooded campground has tent and RV camping, vintage cabins, glamping tents, and retro trailer and RV rentals.

Don鈥檛 Miss: Lassen Volcanic National Park for its steaming fumaroles, idyllic meadows, clear mountain lakes, and volcanoes. Drive the park鈥檚 main road and then choose one of many hikes. Try the 3-mile Bumpass Hell trail past bubbling mud pots or hike the 2.8-mile round trip path from Hat Lake to Paradise Meadows, where you will want to twirl and sing 鈥淭he hills are alive!鈥澨�

The Cost: Camping May through October, cabins year-round, from $28 per night tent sites, from $48 per night RV sites, from $90 glamping tents, trailers, RVs, and cabins

听听

Green Creek Campground

Location: Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, south of Bridgeport

Green Creek has 21 sites tucked into an aspen grove along the banks of the scenic waterway known for excellent fishing. The combination of first-come, first-served sites and the 11-mile unpaved road to the area can make getting a spot feel daunting, but if you鈥檙e willing to chance it, the campground is a gem. On a trip this past Labor Day Weekend, we showed up mid-Friday afternoon and landed a campsite, but they were all full by evening. Group sites are directly along the creek and can be reserved. If the campground is full, you can post up at one of the backcountry sites along Green Creek Road. Strictly no fires are allowed at these sites.

Don鈥檛 Miss: A moderate trail from the campsite heads into the Hoover Wilderness for a six-mile round trip hike through aspen groves to alpine Green Lake. Or change course entirely and head back out to CA-395 to visit Mono Lake, a high desert lake where limestone spires rise from the water to create a hauntingly beautiful sight with opportunities for swimming, hiking, and kayaking.

The Cost: $22 per night, $75 and $100 per night for group sites (25 and 50 people)

Book It: , late April to early October

Rock Creek Lake Campground

Location: Inyo National Forest, northwest of Bishop, California

The forest service leaves a wheelbarrow in the parking area so you can haul gear across Rock Creek to the 28 campsites, tucked into aspen and pine forest at 9,600 feet. It鈥檚 surrounded by the gorgeous John Muir Wilderness, known for granite peaks, creeks, and alpine lakes. Make sure to use the provided bear boxes and keep a bear-safe camp. On my last trip, a surprise visitor showed up at night, enticed by a neighbor鈥檚 buffet of un-stored food and drink.

Don鈥檛 Miss: Fishing and kayaking or canoeing the lake. on the other side of the lake, has kayak and canoe rentals (as well as a small store and breakfast). Trailheads for miles of spectacular hiking begin along Rock Creek Lake Road. Hike the 8-mile round-trip trail through Little Lakes Valley to several alpine lakes and meadows for one of the most scenic and popular trails in the area. For a little more solitude, check out the moderate nine-mile hike to Hilton Lakes.

The Cost: $35 per night

Book It: available six months in advance, May through September

Jenna Blough听is an avid camper and fan of western deserts. She is the author of three Moon travel guides to California including and Moon Joshua Tree and Palm Springs. When she鈥檚 not planning her next camping adventure, you will find her hiking a canyon or driving a dirt road, because that鈥檚 where all the good stuff is. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter and never gets tired of exploring the Golden State.

The post The 12 Best Campgrounds in California to Ditch the Crowds 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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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.

Joshua Tree National Park is my favorite desert landscape. There鈥檚 something magical about its collection of tan, monzogranite boulders, craggy peaks and hidden oases with lush palms and cool pools. I鈥檝e spent countless days in the park, knocking out short hikes close to paved roads, and rambling for hours off trail through a maze of rocks, canyons, and cacti. The park might be most famous for its rock climbing (the bouldering, in particular, is world class), but I鈥檇 argue it鈥檚 a hiker鈥檚 dream with endless opportunities to explore two unique desert landscapes within its borders; the low, flat, and hot Colorado Desert in the eastern section of the park, and the high elevation, mountainous Mojave Desert to the west.

The majority of the 800,000-acre park is designated Wilderness and free of established trails, and while I鈥檝e had a lot of fun 鈥渂ushwhacking鈥� my way across slices of this desert landscape, I鈥檓 going to stick with established trails to keep it easy. (There are plenty.) If you鈥檙e interested in a long off-trail journey, check out the local suggestion for a area of the park in this Backpacker story.

Pro Advice for Hiking in Joshua Tree

My advice for trekking through Joshua Tree: Don鈥檛 overlook the nature trails. Normally, I avoid hiking routes that are less than a couple of miles long because they鈥檙e the most crowded in any given national park, but the easy 鈥渘ature trails鈥� inside Joshua Tree travel through the park鈥檚 most interesting terrain, delivering you to boulder gardens, patches of wildflowers, and Joshua trees galore. And given the rocky nature of Joshua Tree, a 1-mile loop through a field of boulders can offer a day鈥檚 worth of scrambling potential. So tack one of these nature trails onto the end of your adventure, or better yet, spend an entire day driving around the park, knocking off 2-mile loops and out-and-backs until your legs quit.

And remember that you鈥檙e in the desert here. People visit in the summer (I鈥檝e done it myself) but expect triple digit temps, so plan your adventures for early morning or evening and carry plenty of water. Fall and spring are more civilized seasons, as the temps rarely exceed the 80s.

Find Cheap Flights to Joshua Tree

By Far and Away, Here Are the Best Hikes in Joshua Tree

It鈥檚 hard to pick 鈥渢he best鈥� trails in any park, because it鈥檚 a subjective concept. The truth is, I really like hard trails where there鈥檚 a high probability of getting lost, and Joshua Tree has plenty of those. But scrambling through the desert while rationing your last drops of water isn鈥檛 everyone鈥檚 bag, so I鈥檝e cast a wide net in curating my list below, considering a variety of abilities and interests. With that in mind, here are hands-down the 11 best hiking trails inside Joshua Tree National Park.

Arch Rock Trail

Distance: 1.4 miles
Why I Love It: It鈥檚 an easy hike to cool rocks with lots of optional scrambling.

One of the most popular trails in Joshua Tree, is a flat and easy 1.4-mile lollipop loop that crescendos at a small natural arch. Most of the trail to the arch is a straight forward, sandy walk through the desert, but I still like this hike because the area surrounding the arch is loaded with sandstone boulders and canals. It鈥檚 like an all-rock playground for scramblers and explorers.

Hidden Valley Trail

Distance: 1 mile
Why I Love It: It might be the coolest 鈥渘ature trail鈥� in this park.

You want to see some rocks? This 1-mile has stones galore, as it circles through a flat expanse of land enclosed in a ring of massive boulders forming imposing tan walls. It鈥檚 a flat cruise, with full 鈥渘ature trail鈥� status, complete with interpretive signage about the plants and animals that inhabit the Mojave Desert landscape, but it offers a short highlight reel of the terrain, including Joshua Trees, cactus, and often climbers sending the rock walls throughout the valley.

Split Rock Loop

Distance: 2 miles
Why I Love It: Lots of wildflowers in season, big rocks, and the chance to add on mileage.

This easy, wanders through clusters of tan, sandstone boulders, the most famous of which is Split Rock, a 20-foot tall, rounded boulder with a sinuous fissure right through its heart. The trail is also a great place to see wildflowers, including the orange desert mariposa lily, blooming in April and May, and the bright red desert paintbrush, in summer. You can combine this hike with Skull Rock Loop (see below) for a nearly 3.5-mile loop from the same trailhead.

Skull Rock Trail

Distance: 1.8 miles
Why I Love It: The namesake rock is cool, but the real fun happens on optional rock scrambles deeper on the trail.

This boulder, which does indeed look like a skull, might be the most iconic feature inside the park (you might find a line of people waiting for photos with the boulder on busy days). That skull is also visible from the main park road, so you鈥檙e not on this hike for the rock. You tackle it because this gives you a chance to explore so many other sandstone features as it passes through the Jumbo Rocks area of the park, cruising through tight canals and giving you the opportunity to scramble to the top of countless boulders. The whole area reminds me of the terrain from the Saturday-morning live action series from my childhood, 鈥淟and of the Lost.鈥�

Ryan Mountain

Distance: 3 miles
Why I Love It: It鈥檚 a steep climb to a big-time view.

People might not automatically associate Joshua Tree with towering peaks with sweeping views, but delivers just that, rising to 5,456 feet in the center of the park. The 3-mile out and back is tough, gaining more than 1,000 feet to the summit. It鈥檚 a broad peak, with views in every direction taking in taller peaks beyond the park, including the 10,000-foot San Jacinto and 11,000-foot San Gorgonio, the highest peaks in the region. A pile of stones marks the true summit.

FortyNine Palms Oasis Trail

Distance: 3 miles
Why I Love It: It leads to an actual oasis!

Yep, this is a legit oasis in the middle of the desert. The hike is moderate, climbing 300 feet over a ridge before descending into a desert canyon, which directs water into an oasis that supports surprisingly lush flora, including the eponymous palm trees. As you might imagine, the oasis attracts all kinds of animals, even bighorn sheep. Just don鈥檛 try to take a swim; the park asks you to stay out of the oasis to protect the habitat and the wildlife that depend on it. In fact, during the summer (from August to October) the trail is closed entirely to protect the sheep herds that rely on the surface water that can be found in the oasis.

Panorama Loop Trail

Distance: 6.5 miles
Why I Love It: It鈥檚 a longer trek that gets you away from the crowds.

Much of this , which begins on the edge of Black Rock Canyon Campground, has you climbing and descending the 4,000 and 5,000-foot ridges of the Little San Bernardino Mountains, where you鈥檒l find long range views of the 11,000-foot peaks within the Sand to Snow National Monument just outside the park, as well as the mountains inside the Mojave National Preserve. But you鈥檒l also hike through a dense grove of Joshua Trees, and enjoy it all without the crowds; this trail receives less hikers than many others inside the park because it鈥檚 difficult (more than 1,200 feet of gain) and just note there are no boulders that look like faces along the path.

California Riding and Hiking Trail

Distance: 37.5 miles (point to point)
Why I Love It: The challenge and the solitude of this long trail are enticing.

This is as close as you can get to a Joshua Tree thru-hike on a maintained path, as the forms a 37.5-mile horseshoe from Black Rock Canyon Campground, on the northwestern edge of the park, to the northern entrance of the park, traversing a valley on the edge of the Little San Bernardino Mountains through the heart of the park. Multiple access points and side trails allow you to go after pieces of the CRHT, but if you want to hike end to end, most people take at least two long days, staying at Ryan Mountain Campground as their overnight ($20, up to six months in advance). You鈥檒l get solitude, long range views into the park, and more Joshua Trees than you could possibly count. Bring water, or stash water caches beforehand, as there鈥檚 no water along the route.

Boy Scout Trail

Distance: 16 miles
Why I Love It: Mandatory scrambling, groves of Joshua Trees, and cool canyons await the hardy.

This is popular as an overnight backpack (get a and only camp in designated areas) that begins with an open desert landscape speckled with Joshua Trees before dropping into the Wonderland of Rocks, an area full of cliffs, canyons, and domes. The trail continues to descend into Indian Cove and will drop more than 1,000 feet before it鈥檚 over, so plan ahead for that climb back to your car. There鈥檚 some mandatory scrambling through the Wonderland area, and much of the descent and ascent is over sandy terrain, so it鈥檚 not an easy hike by any means, but the terrain is varied as you鈥檒l travel over broad desert, through slot canyons, and over boulders as you access the park鈥檚 remote backcountry.

Mastodon Peak

Distance: 3 miles
Why I Love It: This short trail has a lot of diversity, from groves of palm trees to historic relics.

This could be one of the best short loops in the park, as the passes through a spring supporting an oasis before climbing to the top of the peak for a view of the southern portion of the park. Follow the Lost Palm Springs Trail from the Cottonwood Springs Oasis parking lot through the aforementioned spring where tall palms and wildflowers bloom. Once you branch off onto the Mastodon Peak Loop, you鈥檙e in for some stair climbing and switchbacks before an optional, but fun, scramble delivers you to the true summit. It鈥檚 a 360-degree view from the top, taking in much of the park and the surrounding mountain ranges. You鈥檒l also pass the remnants of a gold mine that was in operation until the 1970s.

Barker Dam Trail

Distance: 1.1 miles
Why I Love It: This easy trail leads to super cool rock art created by the original occupants of this land.

This easy, has the boulders and Joshua Trees that you might expect, but also visits a rock art site and a historic dam that was built by early ranchers, so you get a look at the human history of the park as well. The rock art consists of a collection of petroglyphs and pictographs found inside a small cave next to the trail. And of course, there鈥檚 a small pond trapped by the dam, collecting water, although the depth of water depends entirely on the amount of rain the area receives.

Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 Online鈥檚 national-parks columnist. He loves hiking in Joshua Tree and tries to get back to the park every chance he gets. He also recently wrote about the most beautiful towns in the southeast听and the听best ways to get outside in West Virginia, as well as an on-the-ground account of听what it was like to survive Hurricane Helene听in Asheville, and why he absolutely regrets not听visiting Capitol Reef National Park sooner.

The post The 11 Best Hikes in Joshua Tree National Park appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Golf gets a bad rap. The sport has a reputation for being too expensive and too resource-intensive, which are true in some cases. There are private clubs so expensive you need to be a billionaire to join, and courses where the landscape was bulldozed to make way for overwatered and overfertilized fairways.

But not every golf course is that way.

A movement is afoot to make golf more accessible and sustainable. How do I know? I鈥檓 an avid golfer. I play twice a week, mostly on public courses that are cheap and built over repurposed farmland. Affordable golf is actually easy to find, but better yet is the sustainability movement that鈥檚 creeping into destination courses.

鈥淭he golf industry has made tremendous strides in the area of sustainability over the past 20 to 30 years,鈥� says Frank LaVardera, director of environmental programs in golf for , which operates America鈥檚 first and most comprehensive green-golf-course certification program. 鈥淭raditional courses use a significant amount of water and chemicals, but many courses are reducing their amount of managed turf鈥濃�攖he manicured lawns that require so much water and fertilizer鈥斺�渁nd creating native areas that require less water, while enhancing wildlife habitat.鈥�

What an Eco-Conscious Golf Course Means

Audubon International鈥檚 certification process can take years, and requires evaluation of a course鈥檚 impact on wildlife habitat, water quality and conservation, pest management, and energy efficiency. In turn, eco-minded course managers reduce the amount of turf, use recycled gray water to irrigate, emphasize walking over use of gas-powered carts, and create wildlife habitats with natural grasses and trees that attract birds, bees, and even the occasional bear. Since 2001, when the program was introduced, Audubon鈥檚 Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf has grown to include more than 2,000 certified courses in the U.S. and beyond.

The timing of this sustainability movement couldn鈥檛 be better, as America has rediscovered its love of golf. According to the (NGF), 3.4 million new people played golf in America last year. Each of the past 10 years saw more than 2 million beginners, with the past four topping 3 million.

Golf’s Changing Demographics

The that since the pandemic era, women and people of color have been flocking to the game; the biggest demographic jump has come from traditionally under-represented populations, with the number of Asian, Black and Hispanic golfers rising by 43 percent in the last five years. Of the 26 million people who play golf recreationally, 23 percent are people of color and 26 percent are women.

The demographic makeup of the Professional Golf Association (PGA) is still skewed (80 percent of pro golfers are white), but the game is changing from the ground up as recreational players trend toward being younger and more diverse. The most sought-after clothing brands in the sport, like Malbon and Eastside Golf, bring streetwear aesthetics to the golf industry, while many prolific and successful golfers on social media are women and people of color. If you鈥檙e not following on Instagram, you should be.

Part of the issue with diversifying the outdoors is access. There were 480 ski resorts in operation last year, with most of them located in remote, mountainous regions. Compare that to the 16,000+ golf courses scattered all over the country. I live in a southeastern mountain town that is not known for its golf, but I can play on any of 10 courses situated within half an hour of my home. There are three courses within three miles of downtown, and I play on two of them for under $20 a round. A program called enables members aged 18 and under to play any of its 2,133 enrolled courses across the U.S. for just $5 a round.

My 15-year-old son is a YOC member, and able to play half a dozen courses within 10 miles of our home. He and I can walk nine holes of golf for $20 combined, $35 if we want to play 18.

Why I Love Golf

As for the argument that golf shouldn鈥檛 be considered an outdoor sport because of its environmental impact, most things we do leave footprints. I鈥檝e been a dedicated skier since age 12, and I don鈥檛 love the fact that the ski industry has gotten cartoonishly expensive and is resource-intensive, especially in water use. But I do love skiing. I have the same relationship with golf. It鈥檚 not perfect, but I love it.

This surprises people because I make a living writing about adventure sports, and I have the scars and expensive-gear habit to prove it. People assume golf and surfing or mountain biking are a world apart, but look closely in my garage and you鈥檒l see a set of golf clubs tucked between my mountain bike and longboard.

When I play, I always walk, carry my bag, and try not to focus too much on my score. It鈥檚 a slow, meditative walk in the woods. I like the challenge of golf as well. I recently picked the sport up again after a 20-year-hiatus, and I鈥檓 consumed with the pursuit of getting better, but I also know that I鈥檒l never master golf. No matter how good I get at hitting a little white ball in the air, there will always be room for improvement.

Golf is cerebral and thought-provoking in a way that the other fast-paced sports I love are not. The game is 99.99 percent mental, allowing me to see how my thoughts impact my actions. Golf is a chance to clear your head and be outside.

Fortunately, there are certain destinations where golf and adventure go hand in hand. Some of the most sustainable golf courses in America are located in places that could be on any adventure-traveler鈥檚 radar, so you can play 18 holes one afternoon and go mountain biking or surfing the next morning.

Here are nine of the wildest, most sustainable golf courses in the world, each paired with a local adventure to round out the perfect weekend.

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

1. Bear Trace, Harrison, Tennessee

Fee: Starting at $41 for 18 holes

Even if you鈥檙e not a golfer, you know the name of Jack Nicklaus, one of the game鈥檚 most famous professionals. Not only was Nicklaus a legendary golfer, he was also a designer, creating courses all over the country, including this 18-hole masterpiece sits in the 1200-acre Harrison Bay State Park, 20 miles outside of Chattanooga. In the last two decades, managers have addressed every aspect of the course to minimize its impact, converting the greens from bentgrass to a less-thirsty Bermudagrass, removing 50 acres of turf to cede that area to natural grasses, and eliminating irrigation beyond the greens. The place has also purchased all-electric maintenance equipment, and installed mallard nesting tubes, wood duck boxes, and feeders for bluebirds and wild turkey.

As a result, as of 2008, Bear Trace is a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, and restored the wildlife habitat to the point where the course was home to a pair of nesting bald eagles for a decade.

Nearby 国产吃瓜黑料: Paddling on in Harrison Bay State Park makes for a fun afternoon (paddle boards are $8 an hour through the park). If you鈥檙e looking for something more adventurous, , 45 miles west of the state park, offers trips (from $50 per person) on class III-IV whitewater full of play spots and wave trains that formed the 1996 Olympic whitewater course.

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2. Big Cedar Lodge, Ridgedale, Missouri

Fees: 听Starting from $80 for the 13-hole short course

OK, is a behemoth. The brainchild of Johnny Morris, the founder of Bass Pro Shops, the 4,600-acre retreat features five distinct public golf courses, all set amid a dramatic Ozark Mountains backdrop, with routing that regularly nears ancient limestone cliffs. In recent years, Big Cedar Lodge has become one of the country鈥檚 top golf destinations, regarded as the best public golf in the Midwest.

Big Cedar Lodge was the first golf resort in the world to receive Audubon International鈥檚 highest certification, the Signature Sanctuary status, given for all five of its courses. Water conservation and improving wildlife habitat are priorities, with more than 75 percent organic fertilizer used, while chemical runoff and water use are addressed through a water-recycling program with reclamation ponds, as well as moisture meters embedded in the ground to help minimize watering in general.

One of Johnny Morris鈥� founding principles is the notion of connecting people and the outdoors. On several holes his courses put the golfer between towering limestone cliffs, and, extra cool, those who play Big Cedar Lodge鈥檚 Buffalo Ridge course can spy herds of bison that roam and feed on the natural-grass prairies surrounding the fairways.

Nearby 国产吃瓜黑料: You could spend your entire weekend playing different courses at Big Cedar Lodge, but bring your mountain bike, too. The resort is on the edge of , which has 11 miles of cross-country trails in a stacked-loop system that hugs the shoreline of Table Rock Lake. Or you could hit the gravity-minded , which has 10 trails and a pump track and skills area. The place has something for everyone, from the kid who鈥檚 just learning how to brake, to the adult who thinks he鈥檚 a kid sending gaps (day passes start at $45).

3. Streamsong Golf Resort, Bowling Green, Florida

Fees: Starting at $249 for 18 holes

This massive golf retreat 60 miles east of Tampa wins my vote for best use of scarred land. built its courses on 16,000 acres of land that was previously used for a phosphate strip mine. After the mining ended, sand dunes took over, and course designers used all of that bumpy elevation to create a whimsical playground where fairways wind through grassy mounds and small ponds.

Course designers used compost in the soil before grassing to reduce the need for fertilization, and limited the acreage of maintained turf, opting instead for natural grasses and dunes beyond the fairways. The resort has a water-treatment facility that captures rainwater, and reuses it for irrigation. Streamsong features three 18-hole courses, and a short course, called The Chain, that has no set tee boxes or suggested pars. This short course is a 鈥渃hoose your own adventure鈥� sort of experience.

Nearby 国产吃瓜黑料: You can keep the reclaimed land theme rolling by driving 25 miles west to , 7,714 acres of surprisingly hilly terrain on a former phosphate mine, with more than 20 miles of mountain biking and hiking trails through a forest and alongside lakes and the banks of the Alafia River. Streamsong wasn鈥檛 impacted much by Hurricane Milton when it hit October 9, both because the courses were designed to manage water and the place had few trees for high winds to damage. But much of this area of Florida was devastated by the storm, so check with surrounding businesses and parks before exploring the area.

4. Chambers Bay, University Place, Washington

Fees: Starting at $85 for 18 holes

This 18-hole course is links-style, meaning that like Scotland’s St. Andrews, believed to be the oldest course in the world, it has little to no manipulation of the land, resulting in rugged terrain, with many dunes covered in tall grasses. Similarly set on a craggy shoreline of Washington, it might also be the pinnacle of sustainable design. was built on reclaimed mine land, turning a former gravel pit into a championship course that now enhances the landscape. Designers shaped the course with native plants and wildflowers like douglas iris, and sodded with drought-resistant fescue grass species.

The fairways are irrigated with recycled gray water and fertilized with treated bio-waste from the county鈥檚 wastewater plant. Chambers Bay doesn鈥檛 have golf carts; it鈥檚 a walking-only facility. (Some courses in the U.S. require golfers to use carts on weekends to maintain a quick pace of play.) Maybe the best part is that Chambers Bay is a municipal course, with affordable fees. It鈥檚 also located within a county park with trails adjacent to the links and coast, so you don鈥檛 have to play golf to enjoy the scenery.

Nearby 国产吃瓜黑料: Chambers Creek Regional Park, which is home to the golf course, is a 930-acre preserve with two miles of shoreline and more than five miles of paved trails with views of Puget Sound. You should also drive 50 miles east to Mount Rainier National Park, where you can hike the 5.5-mile loop on , bagging copious views of the eponymous 14,411-foot active volcano in all its glaciated glory.

5. Black Desert Resort, Ivins, Utah

Fees: Starting at $300 for 18 holes

A 19-hole course that opened in May 2023, was built from the ground up with the surrounding environment in mind. The entire property is only 600 acres, with just 75 acres of turf, all irrigated with non-potable gray water, and the fairways are made from a drought-tolerant bentgrass species that needs less maintenance and fertilizer than many other common turf grasses. Almost 70 percent of the grounds are dedicated as protected open space, and sustainability was a factor throughout the property鈥檚 design, from having a low-voltage power infrastructure for the resort to using an irrigation system in a grid, where each section can be adjusted individually.

The coolest aspect of the course is that it鈥檚 become a haven for endangered fish species. The property managers partnered with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to relocate 400 Virgin River Chub, a kind of rare minnow, to the lakes on the golf course, so they can live and breed in a stable environment. The course itself is gorgeous, running through fields of black lava rocks with views of the surrounding red cliffs.

Nearby 国产吃瓜黑料: Long-term plans for Black Desert include building several miles of hiking trails. Moreover, the resort sits nine miles north of St. George, just an hour (48 miles) west of Zion National Park. If it鈥檚 your first time to Zion, snag a ($3 plus a $6 registration fee) and hike , a 5.5-mile out-and-back that involves a bit of scrambling and ridgeline traversing and might just lead to one of the most iconic photo sites in our national-park system.

To dig deeper into the park, consider trekking through , a slot canyon where the walls of Zion Canyon rise 1,000 feet up while pinching to 30 feet wide at certain points. You鈥檒l be hiking through the river, so be prepared to get wet. The shortest route is a 9.5-mile out and back from the Temple of Sinawava, a red-walled natural amphitheater, to Big Spring, which is as far as you can go without a permit, but hits some of the skinniest portions of the gorge. Just don鈥檛 attempt it when there鈥檚 rain in the as flash floods are common and fatalities have occurred. Save it for a stellar day.

6. The Mountain Course at Spruce Peak, Stowe, Vermont

Fees: Starting at $165 for 18, and you need to stay at The Lodge at Spruce Peak to play (rooms start at $249).

Surrounded by 2,000 acres of preserved land, the rambles along the flank of the mountain it is named for, with views of the adjacent Mount Mansfield, Vermont鈥檚 tallest peak, to boot. Spruce Peak, which sits at the base of Stowe Mountain Resort, was designed with the environment in mind, input from Audubon International, and a focus on preserving local black-bear populations by routing around their preferred habitat of beech trees. Designers also created buffers around streams and ponds to protect water quality, and planted a mix of native flowers and grasses, like milkweed and false sunflower, around tee boxes.

Peregrine Lake serves as a water feature for golfers to admire and avoid, but also a reservoir capturing rainwater that is used to feed snowmaking operations at Stowe Mountain Resort. Course management hosts an annual field trip to teach a local fifth-grade class about the elements of water quality.

The course fits into the greater ecosystem of the Spruce Peak community, a resort and residential property at the base of Stowe Mountain Resort that was built around eco-sensitive principles like a property-wide composting program and a renewable energy program that provides more than 50 percent of its power.

Nearby 国产吃瓜黑料: You鈥檙e close to Stowe, a town renowned for its ski culture (and beer). Sadly, ski season and golf season don鈥檛 overlap. But don鈥檛 fret; during the warmer months, there is plenty of hiking, fly fishing, and climbing nearby. Do it on your own or if you want a guide, Spruce Peak Resort offers hiking and fly fishing adventures. If you鈥檙e into climbing, runs trips on the granite walls around the Stowe area, from top-roping routes suitable for beginners to multi-pitch cliffs that will please experienced trad climbers (from $250 per person).

Check flights to Stowe, Vermont

7. Bandon Dunes, Bandon, Oregon

Fees: From $50 for the par 3 courses

has become one of the most coveted golf destinations in America, with seven public courses spread throughout the 2,525-acre coastal resort. All seven courses have earned Audubon International Sanctuary status, too, as the designers have kept Oregon鈥檚 coastal beauty and environmental harmony in mind throughout the process, from construction to management.

The course looks wild, thanks largely to the use of native plants and grasses, including the threatened silver phacelia, outside of the fairways, while for the turf on those mowed areas Bandon Dunes uses fescue, a type of grass that requires less fertilizer than others. And when fertilizer is applied, it鈥檚 organic and used sparingly. Roughly 85 percent of the resort鈥檚 energy is supplied by renewable resources, with more solar panels still to be installed throughout the property. The maintenance department has moved to electric-powered equipment.

Most of the resort鈥檚 landscape holds native plants that require no irrigation, but with six courses, roughly 600 acres that need to be watered. The resort鈥檚 own wastewater-management system supplies non-potable gray water for the job, recycling roughly 50,000 gallons of water daily.

One of the courses, Bandon Preserve, puts net proceeds directly to local conservation projects in Oregon鈥檚 southern coast through a , which has helped restore salmon fisheries and funded mountain bike trails. Bandon Dunes is working towards the lofty goal of becoming a completely carbon neutral resort.

Nearby 国产吃瓜黑料: Bandon Dunes sits on Oregon鈥檚 southern coast, which is a multi-sport adventurer鈥檚 dream, with miles of singletrack and wild beaches punctuated by dramatic sea stacks. Go for a trail run at , where several miles of trail wind through a pine forest and access five miles of hard-packed beach.

The surfing is good too, with beach breaks found throughout this part of the coast. Head north for 25 miles to Coos Bay, where the bluffs of Yoakam Head hang over the breaks, which have something for all levels of surfers. Beginners should head to Bastendorff Beach for a wide, sandy-bottom break with a cool backdrop of rocky headlands. The water temperature is cold year round, but winter brings the most consistent waves, so in that case pack a thick wetsuit.

8. The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Fees: Starting at $110 for 18 holes

The a resort five miles south of Colorado Springs, is home to two of the most respected golf courses in the U.S., designed by legends Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones and hosting marquee tournaments like multiple U.S. Amateurs, U.S. Women鈥檚 Opens, and U.S. Senior Opens. At 6,250 feet in elevation, the course was the highest in America when it first opened in 1918, and several holes feature views of Pikes Peak.

The place has become significantly more eco-friendly with age. Managers have replaced more than 50 acres of turf with native grasses and wildflowers, and use gray water to irrigate the fairways and greens. Mulching mowers return grass clippings back to the soil, and the property uses no pesticides Over the years the resort has added bird-nesting boxes and habitats for bees and butterflies. All of the carts are electric, and otherwise the place promotes walking and its caddy program. Resort chefs harvest honey from the property鈥檚 own hives, and source meat from the Wagyu beef raised on the ranch. Even the resort鈥檚 cooking grease is recycled into biodiesel.

The Broadmoor participates in one of the most heartwarming recycling programs I鈥檝e ever heard of: all of their spent tennis balls are donated to local senior-citizen facilities to be used on the ends of walkers and canes.

Nearby 国产吃瓜黑料: Colorado Springs offers so much to do. The 14,115-foot Pikes Peak, with trailheads six miles from town, has to be the most accessible fourteener in the U.S.; you can drive your car or take a train to the summit, but I say earn it by hiking the ($20-$37 parking fee, depending on day of week), a 13-mile one way trek that gains more than 7,000 feet on its way to the top. Don鈥檛 worry, you can take the down from the summit ($30). Or go explore the iconic red sandstone fins that rise from the center of Garden of the Gods Park. operates half and full day trips for all abilities (starting at $221).

9. Rising Sun Golf Course, Emigrant, Montana

Fee: Greens fees are included in the cost of your stay (one week minimum, and you must contact the for pricing).

It鈥檚 hard to beat Rising Sun鈥檚 location. The 18-hole course sits on the 17,000-acre Mountain Sky Ranch, within the aptly named Paradise Valley and with near-constant views of the surrounding Absaroka and Gallatin Mountains. This is the biggest splurge on this list, and for most, a once-in-a-lifetime situation at best, but the rest of us can dream, right?

Rising Sun is not an easy course to play, thanks to its remote location and the fact that tee times go only to guests of the ranch, but you couldn鈥檛 ask for a more beautiful setting, and the Rising Sun was the first course in Montana to be designated an Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary. The course was built on a hayfield with an emphasis on maintaining as much natural habitat as possible, converting dry pastures to prairie grass, and maintaining native plant buffers along bodies of water.

Course managers also installed bird-nest boxes to encourage multi-species nesting, and have put in bat houses. They regularly consult with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks on issues concerning elk and Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout. Aided by a dry, cold environment, course managers use no pesticides for the turf and greens, and they鈥檝e limited water usage by keeping the irrigated acreage to only 52 acres, almost a third of the average 18 hole course in America. Maintenance crews regularly monitor the quality of water in the course ponds as well as Big Creek.

Nearby 国产吃瓜黑料: Mountain Sky Ranch is an adventure-minded 鈥渄ude ranch鈥� with a host of activities located on property. The resort also offers guided horseback tours in Yellowstone National Park, with an entrance just 30 miles south. But I say to pair a round of golf here with some fly fishing. If you鈥檙e new to the sport, Mountain Sky has a trout pond where pros can teach you the nuances of casting, but if you can hit the ground running, head to nearby Big Creek, which is loaded with cutthroat and rainbow trout. Or sign up for a of the iconic Yellowstone River, which offers opportunities for long, wide open casts that just might net a cutthroat or brown. (From $595)

Nearby 国产吃瓜黑料: Mountain Sky Ranch is an adventure-minded 鈥渄ude ranch鈥� with a host of activities located on property. The resort also offers guided horseback tours in Yellowstone National Park, with an entrance just 30 miles south. But I say to pair a round of golf here with some fly fishing. If you鈥檙e new to the sport, Mountain Sky has a trout pond where pros can teach you the nuances of casting, but if you can hit the ground running, head to nearby Big Creek, which is loaded with cutthroat and rainbow trout. Or sign up for a of the iconic Yellowstone River, which offers opportunities for long, wide open casts that just might net a cutthroat or brown (from $595).

Check flights to Bozeman, Montana

Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 national parks columnist and an avid golfer who is dying to play every course on this list. Follow his golf shenanigans on Instagram at @the_amateur_golf. Graham recently wrote 鈥�This Is What It鈥檚 Like to Live in Asheville After Hurricane Helene鈥� and answered some questions about it while standing in line at FEMA offices. He has also recently written 鈥�9 Most Underrated National Parks for Incredible Fall Foliage,鈥� 鈥�8 Surf Towns Where You Can Learn the Sport and the Culture,鈥� and 鈥�The 9 Most Fun 国产吃瓜黑料 Lodges in North America.鈥�

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Leaf peep like a pro with Gaia GPS.

You reach the trailhead after a long drive and begin marching into the woods in search of those brilliant fall colors that arrive each year with the first chill. Then, a depressing reality greets you: the trees are already skeletal, their leaves crumpled on the ground. Yep, you mistimed your fall foliage adventure.

There鈥檚 a new method to find peak fall colors, and it could help you decide whether or not to trek to your favorite grove of trees. Our 国产吃瓜黑料 Inc. colleagues at Gaia GPS now have access to satellite images from the United States Geological Survey and the European Space Agency, and the pictures capture the reds, oranges, and yellows of fall foliage. Here鈥檚 how these recent satellite images can help you plan your next leaf-peeping adventure.

Where to Start: the Fall Foliage Prediction Map

Start your planning with the on SmokyMountains.com. Created by David Angotti and Wes Melton, this map uses meteorological data to forecast when the colors will build, peak, and then drop. The page will give you a general idea of when the leaves in your area will be turning. You can use the scroll bar at the bottom of the map to see when colors are slated to peak in the region you plan to visit.

Next: Find Your Location on Gaia GPS

To plan your route, either visit Gaia GPS online or open the smartphone app. You will need a to access the satellite imagery. Gaia鈥檚 default is the worldwide topographic map, and you can scroll across the screen to find the region you plan to visit.

Once you鈥檝e honed in on your destination, click on the Layers tab on the left side of the screen. You can search through a variety of imaging layers offered by Gaia GPS in the Layers tab. Add the 鈥淔resh Sat – Recent鈥� and 鈥淔resh Sat- Cloudfree鈥� options to your active layers. Both layers are composed of images taken from as recently as today or over the past two weeks by the two satellites.

Look for Colors

The images provided by the two satellites have a lower resolution than those from Gaia鈥檚 normal satellite imagery鈥攁pproximately 10 to 15 meters per pixel. So you won鈥檛 be able to zoom in to see minute details like road surface or individual clumps of trees. But the images will clearly show swaths of yellow, orange, and brown on the screen. For even higher quality sat imagery, check out Gaia GPS’s .

Make sure to look at the date stamp on the image鈥攊t will be in red block text in the bottom left-hand corner of the tile. This is when the image was snapped. Some images are as recent as the same day, others may be a few days older.

If the area is obscured by cloud cover, search the Fresh Sat – Cloud Free layer. While this layer may not be as up to date as the Fresh Sat – Recent layer, it will have cloudless images of the area.

Drop a Waypoint and Plot a Route

Locate the best colors on the map. Then, click on the 鈥渨aypoint鈥� icon in the right-hand toolbar, and drag the red icon to the specific point on the map. Drop the icon and then customize your waypoint with a name and an emoji symbol. Don鈥檛 forget to save your waypoints.

Then, back in the layers tab, click on the Fresh Sat – Recent scroll bar and move it all the way to the left. This action will make Gaia鈥檚 worldwide topo map appear. You can now use the route tool in the right toolbar to plot a hiking, biking, or driving route to your waypoint. No matter your transportation choice, the route tool will automatically snap to the optimum roadway or network of trails.

Download Your Route

If you鈥檙e heading to an area with poor or no cell service, be sure to in the Gaia GPS app before you depart. That way, you can navigate to and from your waypoint, even if you are off the grid. Downloading a map requires a Gaia GPS premium membership.

Allow for Some Flexibility

Because some of the satellite images may be a few days old, take note of the timestamp on each image and use your own judgement on the progression of the leaf colors. If the trees in your area go from green to orange to red, and the image is a few days old, then prioritize orange areas over the red ones. If the leaves are already brown, save yourself the drive鈥攁nd start plotting next year鈥檚 leaf adventure.

Gaia GPS is a part of 国产吃瓜黑料 Inc., the same company that owns 国产吃瓜黑料. 听

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This article was first published by Gaia GPS. To get more of its exclusive content and entire map catalog, sign up to become a .

Autumn鈥檚 rainbow hues and cooler temps beg to be enjoyed from camp. With ten million new campers in the U.S. last year, the catch is finding where to go. Our suggestion? Ditch the fees and crowds entirely and camp for free, and without a reservation, on public land.

Public lands provide a trove of dispersed camping options. Dispersed camping simply means camping outside of a designated campground. This includes everything from pulling your car up to a fire pit on the side of a forest service road to cowboy camping next to the trail on your backpacking trip. Dispersed campsites don鈥檛 include the typical amenities of a campground, such as running water, bathrooms, and a camp host. But they do generally afford more privacy and seclusion. Plus, you can find a dispersed campsite at the last minute, and it won鈥檛 cost you a penny.

Once you鈥檙e prepared from safety and comfort perspectives, dispersed camping can provide a relaxing getaway for even the biggest procrastinator. There鈥檚 just one hitch: you can鈥檛 camp anywhere you wish. That鈥檚 where a mapping and navigation tool like Gaia GPS comes in, which can help you easily find BLM, USFS, state, and locally-managed lands that allow dispersed camping. Here鈥檚 how.

How to See Public Land in Gaia GPS

Dispersed camping is permitted on many public lands outside of designated campgrounds. Discover these places by checking out from your computer, or by using the Gaia GPS app on your phone. From Gaia GPS鈥檚 exhaustive catalog of maps, these are our favorites for viewing public land:

Gaia Topo

Gaia GPS鈥檚 flagship map, Gaia Topo color codes public lands based on type. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land accounts for 248 million acres of public land. That鈥檚 over ten percent of American soil. Recognize BLM land by its yellow shading in Gaia Topo. Be on the lookout for BLM land especially when you鈥檙e traveling out west, where most of it is located.

Zoom in on BLM land to see the field office that manages that parcel of land. When you zoom into state and locally managed land, you鈥檒l see if it鈥檚 state trust land, state forest, or another publicly accessible state-managed land area.

National Forest Land and other locally managed lands are shaded in hues of green. State parks are shaded in red. While more prevalent out West, these types of public land can be found around the country. Check out the for a full list of color-coded public lands in the map.

Public and Private Land Maps

Few things can spoil a weekend getaway like getting caught trespassing. Double-check you鈥檙e in the clear with the and maps. The Public Land map shows public land areas shaded in green. The Private Land map illustrates private land boundaries in yellow. Cross-reference these map layers to be safe.

USFS 2016

If you鈥檙e looking for campsites on National Forest land, get an even deeper view into the landscape with the map. USFS 2016 provides full, detailed topographic coverage of all 172 national forests and grasslands in the U.S. It鈥檚 the most up-to-date rasterized map available from the U.S. Forest Service, and includes labeled trails, roads, and vegetation shading to make scouting a campsite even easier. Take note of road names so you can tell your friends where to join you.

How to Find Dispersed Camping on Public Land

Dispersed campsites tend to be in undeveloped areas, yet right along county and forest service roads. These sites are usually accessible for car camping yet feel remote.

To find dispersed campsites, look for BLM, National Forest Land, and other federally managed land with access roads in less established areas. Chances are you will find a place to camp. Dispersed campsites are usually marked by a fire ring. Check the , call the field office, or inquire at the ranger鈥檚 station to make sure dispersed camping is allowed in the area.

Choose a pre-existing campsite if possible, and camp at least 200 feet away from water sources. If you find a campsite you love, save it on the map by .

Of course, leave no trace rules apply to dispersed camping. Pick up your garbage, and follow all rules and regulations. Only build a fire if it鈥檚 permitted in the area during that time. Check the local county or state website to see if a fire ban is in place.

To ensure you can navigate and find a campsite even if you drive out of cell service, download your map for offline use. Gaia Topo鈥檚 tiny file size makes this easy to do without taking up too much storage space on your phone. In fact, you can to be safe.

Once you鈥檙e ready to hit the road, you can navigate to your next campsite right in Gaia GPS. Just tap on the campsite in the map, and then tap the 鈥渞oute to鈥� button. Turn-by-turn directions will take you there.

How to Get Gaia Topo

Access Gaia Topo and in the Gaia GPS app on both and . With Gaia Topo you can search for hikes in your area, record tracks in the field, and create a custom route on the map for free. Create a to save your routes and tracks so you can revisit them later.

You’ll need a to download maps that you can take offline with you in areas without cell service. A Premium Membership also gives you access to including the Public and Private Lands maps and USFS 2016.

Gaia GPS is a part of 国产吃瓜黑料 Inc., the same company that owns 国产吃瓜黑料.听

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In 1938, Wilfred Dexter and his wife, Polly, opened in Sugar Hill, New Hampshire. In those early days, during the Great Depression, Polly began charting the weather daily, as well as attendance at the restaurant. She recorded temperatures and snowfall, and in autumn, she indicated the week when fall foliage was at its peak. As was the case then and even today: leaf-peeping season always resulted in an uptick in business.

Eventually, Polly and Will鈥檚 daughter, Nancy, took over the restaurant and continued her mother鈥檚 tradition of recording the weather and the fall foliage. These days, Nancy鈥檚 daughter, Kathie C么t茅, runs it alongside her husband. Kathie still keeps diligent, hand-written records on graph paper of the climate and fall colors and the impact on their day-to-day number of day-to-day customers. (Kathie鈥檚 daughter, Emily, has finally started putting the data .)

鈥淭he weather doesn鈥檛 seem to make that big of a difference if customers come in or not. But when the leaves are changing colors, that鈥檚 our busiest season of the year,鈥� says 颁么迟茅.

Today those stacks of clipboards and binders of penciled-in spreadsheets remain one of the longest-standing records of peak season in New England. And scientists are turning to this data as part of continued study into how climate change is impacting its timing and quality.

鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at historical documents starting in the 1950s. Our data shows that peak fall foliage is getting a day later each decade,鈥� says Stephanie Spera, assistant professor of physical geography and environment at the University of Richmond in Virginia, who鈥檚 in the midst of a听 on how climate change will impact fall foliage in Maine鈥檚 Acadia National Park. (Spera is using the data from Polly鈥檚 notes as part of her study.) 鈥淚n the fifties, peak foliage was the first weekend of October, and now it is a week later, around the 12th or 13th of October, depending on where you are.鈥�

Warmer temperatures later in the fall mean the timing of the leaf-peeping season is shifting, but so is the brilliance of the colors. 鈥淲e鈥檒l see more bad years than in the past, with less consistently good colors, because of the various impacts of climate,鈥� says Andy Finton, landscape conservation director and forest ecologist for , who is based in Massachusetts. 鈥淲e鈥檒l see more yellows and browns, which can still be attractive, but fewer of those bright reds and oranges. Droughts provide less opportunities for the leaves to build up sugar, which is what gets turned into those brilliant fall colors.鈥�

Severe droughts can also lead to trees dropping their leaves before they even turn colors. The same thing can happen as a result of extreme precipitation: wind and rain events can strip trees of their leaves before the color changes.

鈥淒rought causes leaves to fall earlier, before they have a chance to develop orange and red colors, and warmer temperatures mean trees hold their leaves longer, when there is less daily sunlight,鈥� Finton says. 鈥淭hey therefore photosynthesize less and make less sugars, which are necessary for the red pigments.鈥�

Tree species are also migrating to different locations and elevations as a result of warmer temperatures. A听 published in Science showed a rapid shift of tree species moving to higher elevations and latitudes. The iconic sugar maple, for example, which needs colder temperatures, is shifting farther north and upslope.

The impact of the shift will affect tourism economies and businesses鈥攍ike Polly鈥檚 Pancake House鈥攖hat depend on leaf peepers. 鈥�If the quality and timing of the display is off, that鈥檚 a huge effect on the economy and communities,鈥� Finton says. 鈥淔rom an ecological standpoint, that鈥檚 putting more stress on trees and the species dependent on them. The timing has a compounding effect on the forest ecology.鈥�

But don鈥檛 despair if you still want to catch fall colors at their finest this year. 鈥淟eaf-peeping is not canceled,鈥� Finton says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 still going to be something special to see.鈥�

Most states maintain a fall-foliage tracker online. Spera recommends that as your best resource to determine when the peak colors will happen near you. Once your decide where you want to go, fire up online or through the smartphone app, select your region, and add the Fresh Sat鈥揜ecent and Fresh Sat鈥擟loudfree layers, which superimpose recent satellite images from the U.S. Geological Survey and European Space Agency to the map, showing you the highest concentrations of fall color. (Gaia GPS is owned by the same parent company as听国产吃瓜黑料, and听Gaia GPS Premium is now included with an听.)

鈥淕et out of the car and into the woods,鈥� Finton says. 鈥淪ometimes it鈥檚 the understory or underbrush that鈥檚 turning bright colors. If you open your expectations to the varieties that our forest provides, you can still find an amazing display.鈥�

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You鈥檙e on an adventure having the time of your life, until all of a sudden you鈥檙e lost. You can鈥檛 find the trail, and you don鈥檛 have cell service. Whether you鈥檙e skiing in a whiteout, hiking at night, or biking on new trails, we鈥檝e all experienced that moment of panic. That鈥檚 a large reason why Gaia GPS was born.

The backcountry navigation app has a feature to save you from hours of frantically trying to retrace your steps in vein. In fact, you can find out where you are in seconds, even when you can鈥檛 get a cell signal. All you have to do is pull out your phone, open Gaia GPS, and locate yourself on the map. Here鈥檚 how to do it.

Plan Ahead鈥擠ownload Maps for Offline Use

In order to locate yourself on the map, there is one catch. You must have your maps downloaded for offline use. Thankfully, is easy to do. You just need a听. Then you can download maps for the entire region that you鈥檙e traveling to, or even an .

Pro tip: Before you leave the trailhead, start so you leave a bread-crumb trail of your steps right on the map. That way you can always retrace your steps and find your way back.

Locate Yourself on the Map

Lost and have no clue where you are? You can find yourself on the map in seconds thanks to the . Simply open the Gaia GPS app, and tap the circular icon with the four compass points in the very center of the top toolbar in the app. The arrow icon (called the 鈥淢ap Arrow鈥�) now shows your exact position on the map. Zoom in or out and pan around the map to get a better sense of your bearings.

Pro tip: You can quickly see how far away you are from the trail or the trailhead. Simply tap your desired destination on the map, and a drawer will pop up on the bottom of the screen showing the distance to it.

Navigate Your Way Back

Once you鈥檝e located where you are on the map, you can use Gaia GPS to find your way back to familiar ground. If you are recording your tracks, hold your phone out in front of you and turn your body until the map arrow points in the direction of your breadcrumb trail. Start walking along your recorded track and your arrow should move right along with you.

If you鈥檙e not recording your tracks, don鈥檛 despair. Examine the map to find the trail, trailhead, or a particular feature on the map you鈥檇 like to reach. Once you鈥檝e pinpointed your destination, you can even onto the map for easy reference. Using the map arrow as a guide, work your way back.

Even when your phone is completely offline and in airplane mode, you can locate yourself on the map, create routes, create and edit waypoints to mark important spots like campsites and water sources, and record tracks and follow them back. You’ll never be lost again.

Gaia GPS is a part of 国产吃瓜黑料 Inc., the same company that owns 国产吃瓜黑料. to stay found on the trail, even without cell service.听

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