The health benefits of spending time in nature have been well documented. Now comes the latest research: experiencing awe is even better. Awe is an emotion we feel when we encounter something vast and mysterious, something that defies expectations and shakes us out of the ordinary. And it turns out that awe can cause feelings of greater belonging, generosity, and humility. Not bad for experiencing things like waterfalls, wildflowers, slot canyons, glaciers, rainbows, and more. For the dog days of summer, here are eight refreshing spots that will cool you off and deliver a big dose of awe.
Alamere Falls, California
The beach is great, the ocean is great, waterfalls are great鈥攑ut them all together and you get Alamere Falls, which sets a new bar for natural greatness. This 40-foot cascade tumbles over a shale cliff directly onto the beach inside , Northern California鈥檚 premier coastal preserve. Even better: you鈥檒l have to get moving to reach Alamere Falls. It鈥檚 located at Wildcat Beach, a 13-mile round-trip hike deep inside the park.
Blue Lakes, Colorado
This trio of powder-blue glacial lakes is tucked into Colorado鈥檚 , hiding beneath the 14,150-foot Mount Sneffels. Of the three backcountry ponds, Upper Blue Lake is the most scenic, with a granite cirque forming the pool鈥檚 backdrop. The water is cold, but you鈥檒l work up a sweat by hiking 4.1 miles on the Blue Lakes Trail to get there. Hit it during summer and wildflowers will dominate the slopes around the lake, doubling the awe meter of this alpine wonderland.
Little River Falls, Alabama
When the Alabama summer heats up, head straight to , a river-cut gorge full of sandstone cliffs, deep pools, and shady hardwood forest. Little River Falls is at the center of that preserve, cascading 45 vertical feet from the clifftop. It鈥檚 a sight to see, but swimming in the canyon is even better. Hike the .75-mile Little Falls Trail to reach the base of the falls, where you鈥檒l find a series of pools, including a popular swimming hole at the bottom of Little Falls.
Cumberland Falls, Kentucky
isn鈥檛 about the swimming鈥攊t鈥檚 about the magic. The 60-foot-tall, 125-foot-wide waterfall is visually stunning in every season, forming a horseshoe as it drops over a rock shelf. For the most awe-inspiring sight, catch this waterfall at night during a full moon for a chance to see a 鈥渕oonbow,鈥 where the moonlight catches in the mist from the falls, turning a kaleidoscope of colors that鈥檚 magical in the darkness.
Diana鈥檚 Baths, New Hampshire
Consider the summer playground every child dreams about. In New Hampshire鈥檚 White Mountain National Forest, the Lucy Brook River has worn down the bedrock into a series of smooth slides, cascades, and plunge pools. The water is typically shallow, and no falls is taller than 12 feet鈥攑erfect for scrambling up rocks looking for your own private whirlpool for soaking and feeling like a kid again.
Blue Hole, Texas
The Texas Hill Country has plenty of splendor, but nothing here is more picturesque (and refreshing) than , a natural swimming pool along Cypress Creek surrounded by old-growth cypress trees. You might find a rope swing or a branch to jump from, or you might just want to lounge in a tube and gaze at the trees. Just make reservations to swim before you show up, as it鈥檚 a popular destination.
Ichetucknee Springs, Florida
Florida has more than 700 natural springs, where chilled water bubbles directly out of the earth, and might be the most beautiful. Eight springs combine to form the Ichetucknee River, much of which is protected by Ichetucknee Springs State Park. Visitors can tube or kayak the river or snorkel the blue hole, where the water is a tropical emerald blue.
Meadow Run Slide, Pennsylvania
Before Meadow Run Creek joins the Lower Youghiogheny River, it carves a sinuous luge through smooth sandstone. It took the creek an estimated 300 million years to create this phenomenon, but the wait was worth it as this is one of the in the country. You鈥檒l be buzzing with awe and adrenaline after a ride on the natural slide, which empties into a safe pool inside Ohiopyle State Park.
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