If you’re asking yourself where you should go on vacation this year, you’re not alone. And there鈥檚 no shortage of 鈥渨here to go鈥� lists this time of year鈥攃ompeting compendiums of new hotels and resorts, trendy neighborhoods, and cultural hotspots to check out in the year ahead.

This is not that list. Not exactly, anyways.

As adventure addicts, we wanted to craft a roster of amazing destinations where you can get outdoors, camp, paddle, surf, hike, and crush some dynamic singletrack. Our overriding parameters determining what made the cut was simple: what鈥檚 cool and fresh in the world outside?

The answer? Plenty.

Here鈥檚 Where to Go on Vacation in 2025, If You’re Into These Outdoor Pursuits

Every one of these destinations promises an amazing adventure, whether that鈥檚 carving down a fresh-cut ski run, tackling a section of a new thru-hiking terrain, or releasing turtles on the beaches of Mexico. These trips all come with good food, great vistas, and unforgettable cultural experiences. And yes, a few even have luxe places to crash at night, too.

Many of these destinations are in the beginning phases of executing ambitious goals, and we included them to offer a glimpse of what鈥檚 to come. Others are perennial favorites that have simply been overlooked by online-influencer culture and thus remain indelibly cool in real life. In other words, we鈥檙e offering up some new options and some classic standbys. We also included both domestic and international destinations for each type of adventure, in case you鈥檙e feeling particularly wanderlusty (or a staycation).

Together, they prove, once again, that there鈥檚 no shortage of fun to have outside. Here鈥檚 where to travel in 2025 if you鈥檙e up for it.

1. Long Walks (or Runs)

Stay Domestic: Cross Texas Trail, Texas

Beginning this year, Texas will get its own thru-hiking epic, the new Cross Texas Trail, a proposed 1,500-mile-long haul that stretches from the Louisiana border in the east, near the town of Orange, to El Paso in the west. Among the many highlights of the planned xTx, as it is known: panoramic views of Hill Country, the rugged peaks of Big Bend Ranch State Park, East Texas barbecue joints, the crystal-clear Devil鈥檚 River, and the highest point in Texas, Guadalupe Peak, at 8,751 feet.

The trail, designed for hikers, bikers, and equestrians, is a work in progress, but the route features a mix of singletrack and paved and gravel backcountry public roads. You can ride much of the route now, but the nonprofit behind the xTx鈥攍ed by bike advocate, former community design consultant, and state representative Charlie Gandy鈥攊s currently working on access to some private ranch land so that riders can more easily enter some sections of state and national parks. In the future, there could even be trailheads equipped with picnic areas, water stations, and campsites, but for now, it鈥檚 all a self-supported, DIY affair. The trail has a long way to go to match the history of the Appalachian Trail or the sheer beauty of the Pacific Crest Trail, but it could be one of the best, if longest, ways to experience the hardscrabble charm of the Lone Star State.

Go Abroad: Palmilhar Portugal, Portugal

Portugal is about to get its own version of Spain鈥檚 Camino de Santiago, a new 3,000-kilometer (1,850 miles) loop trail that is being billed as the world鈥檚 longest circular hiking route. The trail, called (or 鈥淲alking Portugal鈥�, in English), will eventually pass through over 100 off-the-beaten-path attractions around the country, from windmills and vineyards outside Lisbon to mountain peaks in the north. Most of the trail is still under construction, but initial sections opened last summer, and new routes are being added regularly throughout 2025. While mostly a hiking trail, Palmilhar Portugal will have some sections open to cyclists, too. The team behind Palmihar Portugal plans to launch an app later this year, , that will help visitors look up information about the route and the services along the way, including places to stay, restaurants, and points of interest.

2. Fat-Tire and Mountain-Biking Fun

Stay Domestic: Killington Bike Park, Vermont

In the fall of 2024, , in Vermont’s Green Mountains, was purchased by a passionate group of local investors who promised big changes to New England鈥檚 iconic ski area, including a in capital improvements over the next two seasons. Those upgrades include an expansion to its already impressive bike park, with 30 miles of lift-accessed mountain-biking trails.

Beginning in 2025, the park will get a new trail, accessed by the Ramshead Express Quad, and other improvements are in the works. The new trail (dubbed Ramshead, construction on which starts this spring) will start at the top of the lift and snake down the mountain for more than two miles. Even without the new upgrades, the bike park is one of the best in the East, with features like berms, tabletops, and bridges that cater to intermediate and advanced riders alike. Its signature trail, 鈥�,鈥� is a steep, technical descent with rock gardens and big jumps, but there are plenty of smoother trails for beginner downhillers, too. (One-day passes begin at $65.) Off the trails, Killington鈥檚 base area is buzzing with its new enhancements on the horizon, and everything points to this year being the start of upgraded riding to come for Killington.

Go Abroad: Mogo Trails Project, Australia

Like many areas rich in adventure bona fides鈥擝ritish Columbia, South Africa, New Zealand鈥擜ustralia is investing heavily in new trails for mountain bike aficionados, and one the largest ongoing projects is , in New South Wales.

The expansive trail network, roughly four hours south of Sydney, is being developed near the town of Mogo, a tiny outpost adjacent to the area鈥檚 temperate rainforests.听 Mogo Trails is being designed for various skill levels, from beginners to advanced riders, with a mix of park-style gravity trails with jumps and cross-country trails.

Currently, there are about 70km of singletrack ready for riders, with a total of 130km planned to be completed in 2025 and beyond. Finished trails are listed on, along with descriptions of each one. If you鈥檙e coming from Sydney, you鈥檒l need to book lodging nearby. Batemans Bay, a version of an Oregon beach town Down Under, has excellent options, including , an upscale motel that also offers easy access to surf breaks just down the beach. (From $140 per night.) The much larger town of Canberra, the capital of Australia, is two hours away. Other nearby mountain bike trails, like the new Narooma Trails, which opened in 2023, are making the area a legitimate international destination for MTB enthusiasts.

3. Fresh Piste

Stay Domestic: Deer Valley Resort, Utah

Over the next few years, Park City鈥檚 Deer Valley Resort is undergoing a , with a new base village, 100 new trails on 2,600 acres of fresh terrain, and more than 10 new lifts to access it all, including a 10-passenger gondola. When it鈥檚 all said and done, the resort will double in size to over 5,700 acres, making it one of the ten largest ski resorts in the United States.

The transformation is already under way. Debuting for the 2024鈥�2025 season are three new chairlifts, 300 acres of terrain, and freshly cut trails leading to the new East Village. When it鈥檚 complete, the East Village will offer the same level of premium service that Deer Valley has become known for, with restaurants, retail shops, and an ice-skating facility, among other facilities. Of course, for day skiers, perhaps the biggest draw of the new East Village is that it鈥檚 located on U.S. Route 40, which allows you to avoid driving through the heart of Park City itself, often crowded with traffic.

For now, the brand-new , with 381 guest rooms and suites, anchors the East Village, and it鈥檚 the only place to stay on that side of the resort. (From $270 per night.) But the hotel has more than enough amenities to keep you comfortable, including a restaurant and bar, a downstairs speakeasy-style lounge, a coffeeshop, a heated outdoor pool, three hot tubs, and a partnership with Ski Butlers to offer white-glove ski valet service when suiting up for the day. There鈥檚 even a , a High Tea service but instead of tea and hand sandwiches, you get hot chocolate paired with s鈥檓ores cookies, chocolate snowballs, and other baked goods.

Go Abroad: Andermatt Ski Area, Switzerland

Unknown to most Americans, the combined ski resorts of , an hour and a half south of Zurich, is poised to become one of Europe鈥檚 premier ski destinations. Over the last handful of years, more than $2 billion has been invested in upgrades, with ten new lifts that allowed you to ski all three by accessing any one of them. Combined, the resorts have more than 100 miles of trails.

The historic village of Andermatt, with cobblestone streets and a very Swiss vibe, has also been undergoing a series of renovations to accommodate the influx of skiers. This winter, for example, it unveiled a brand-new shopping and dining district featuring 35 stores and 10 restaurants. The resort is also on track to become carbon neutral by 2030, a hugely ambitious goal for such a large operation.

For American skiers, it鈥檚 also become easier to shred: In 2022, Vail acquired majority ownership in the resort, which means that it鈥檚 now . With over 12 feet of average annual snowfall, a range of terrain鈥攆rom blue and yellow runs to steep couloirs and powder-filled bowls鈥擜ndermatt is one of the best resorts in all of Europe. And with a master plan mapped out for the next 30 years, now is the time to go, before the hordes descend.

4. Beach Vibes

Stay Domestic: Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

As part of North Carolina鈥檚 Outer Banks, Cape Hatteras is known for its expansive East-Coast beaches, world-class kiteboarding, and laid-back charm. It鈥檚 also now home to one of the more exciting Atlantic Coast lodging conversions in years: , a 14-room wellness-oriented hotel that faces Pamlico Sound, a vast expanse of shallow water good for both paddling and kiting. The hotel opened last year after owners bought a failed, two-story strip mall and transformed it into a chic hotel with suites designed by world-famous interior designer Jonathan Adler.

If that turns you off, don鈥檛 let it. The result is a quirky mashup of coastal kitsch and beach sophistication with a focus on outdoor recreation. There鈥檚 even an outdoor deck featuring cold plunges, a sauna, and a hot tub for relaxing in after a long day on the saltwater. (From $179 per night.) And its location, adjacent to the entire length of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore鈥攚here windswept dunes and unspoiled stretches of sand offer endless opportunities for surfing, fishing, and paddleboarding鈥攍eads to a perfect blend adventure and tranquility in one of the most celebrated beach destinations in the U.S.

Go Abroad: Nicaragua鈥檚 Pacific Coast

听 Nicaragua鈥檚 Pacific Coastline has long been considered one of the best stretches of remote coastline in Central America, with excellent surf breaks framed by undeveloped sand beaches and tropical forest. Now, thanks to an ongoing , it鈥檚 about to get much easier to access much of the coastline.

The country鈥檚 new Carratera Costanera Highway, or Emerald Coast Highway, will stretch more than 350 kilometers (217 miles) from the Gulf of Fonseca in the north to Playa El Naranjo in the south, making it smoother and safer to travel along the coastline. Construction has already , near San Juan del Sur, which is known as the country鈥檚 surf capital, because of its proximity to some of Nicaragua鈥檚 . Up and down the coastline, you鈥檒l find a variety of waves, from mellow beach breaks to beefy points, with consistent year-round swell (although the summer months remain the best).

The promise of easy access is already drawing development interest to the coastline and new tourist offerings, like the newly refreshed and reopened , which was the country鈥檚 first true luxury eco-resort when it opened in 2013. (From $776 per night.) The resort has direct walking access to a world-class surf break just off of its private beach. While funding is secured for the road construction, the pace of progress is nearly impossible to predict, so don鈥檛 expect to be driving down a long stretch of empty, freshly paved highway this year. (Also, the U.S. State Department has a for the country, in part because of the government’s arbitrary enforcement of laws, although like Costa Rica or Panama, Nicaragua is generally safe for tourists if you exercise caution). But if you want to experience the surf breaks before the rush on the rapidly developing coastline, now is the time to go.

5. Paddling Pristine Backcountry

Stay Domestic: Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota

In January 2023, the Biden administration helped ban mining and geothermal exploration on over 225,000 acres of land in the Superior National Forest, preserving the integrity of the Rainy River watershed and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in the process.

With President Trump in power again, however, advocates are once again worried that the BWCAW, one of the most pristine landscapes in the Lower 48, could return to becoming a political football. If so, it could be tossed back into the hands of the Chilean-owned mining conglomerate that has been seeking to open a copper-sulfide mine in the area for years. All of which is a good reason to explore the area now, to see firsthand just how special this landscape is.

Spanning over a million acres of North Woods forest dotted with thousands of lakes, this is a paddler鈥檚 paradise, with more than 1,200 miles of canoe routes and 2,000 campsites, most of which are paddle-in only. If you want a break from modern life and all its real-time annoyances and aggravations, the BWCAW has always been one of the best places to do it, and now you can show your tacit political support for the area simply by enjoying a weekend paddle through it.

Go Abroad: Pacuare River, Costa Rica

The Pacuare River, roughly 60 miles east of San Jos茅, is not only one of the best tropical rafting trips on the planet鈥攁nd by extension one of the best ways to experience Costa Rica鈥檚 wild side鈥攊t鈥檚 also 鈥渉ome鈥� to the perennial favorite . With 20 suites, a restaurant, and a spa set along the riverbank, the lodge has set an impossibly high standard for eco-luxury in the heart of the rainforest. (From $949 per night.)

The best part, however, is that arriving at Picuare requires getting on the water first. With no road into the property, guests float down the Pacuare鈥檚 class II鈥揤 rapids, through canyons and untouched jungle, and arrive via boat on the lodge’s front steps. Despite its remoteness, it鈥檚 full of amenities. Each suite has a range of luxuries like outdoor showers, spring-fed fountains, and plunge pools. The restaurant serves exceptionally high-quality, fresh ingredients and the spa has wellness programs that include open-air yoga sessions and treatments inspired by indigenous traditions. The surrounding forest is home to toucans, sloths, and howler monkeys, and non-river activities include guided rainforest hikes to see the wildlife, zip-lining, and visiting local Cab茅car communities. The lodge itself is worthy of a visit alone, but combined with its entrance theatrics鈥攁 float down the whitewater of Pacuare River鈥攖he experience may just offer the perfect balance of adventure and indulgences for a weekend jungle-induced rejuvenation. Pura vida indeed.

6. Camping (with Creature Comforts)

Stay Domestic: Yosemite, California

Outdoor-oriented hospitality group is expanding once again, this time to an 80-acre camp near Yosemite National Park. Ever since it started with a single glamping resort in West Yellowstone in 2012, the company has grown year over year to offer overnight access to some of America鈥檚 most iconic destinations, including Great Smoky Mountains, the Grand Canyon, and Moab (thanks to its luxury offshoot ULUM Moab).

is the company鈥檚 first foray into California, and it will feature the same safari-inspired tents鈥攚ith king-size beds, a private deck, and ensuite bathrooms鈥攖hat have made its 13 other locations so popular. There will also be regular activities in the camp, such as live music, morning yoga, and nightly fires with s鈥檓ores. (The seasonal camp runs from May 15 to October 27 in 2025, and rates start at $349 per night, meals not included.)

But perhaps the best reason to book a stay here while visiting Yosemite National Park is the easy access it affords. The camp is located just ten minutes from the west entrance to the park and, more importantly, across from a bus stop for the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS). Without a reservation in summer, you are no longer allowed to enter the park by car. So staying at Under Canvas Yosemite means you not only get all the amenities, but you also get easy, car-free access to the park.

Go Abroad: Playa Viva, Mexico

On a remote beach 35 miles south of Zihuatanejo lies one of the most ecologically sensitive, off-grid, wellness-focused resorts on the planet: . This is far from camping, but the 19 open-air treehouses and casitas, designed with bamboo and other sustainable woods, will make it feel as if you鈥檙e poaching a nap on the last stretch of perfect sand in all of Mexico.

Each room has unobstructed views of the beach, with nothing to be seen either direction besides palm trees, Pacific waves, and the occasional breaching whale. Set on 200 coastal acres, Playa Viva is home to a vibrant turtle sanctuary, a regenerative farm, and mangrove forest. The resort supports local communities through various initiatives and actively works to help restore surrounding ecosystems. Guests can even participate in activities like helping release baby sea turtles (during the fall hatching season).

The on-site restaurant even serves farm-to-table dishes that celebrate the region鈥檚 culinary heritage. Think fresh-caught seafood, handmade tortillas, and tropical fruits picked just steps from your casita. Daily beachside yoga classes and a variety of massage services round out the offerings. Again, you鈥檙e not exactly roughing it, but the resort is a world away in a wild, pristine corner of Mexico. (Summer low-season rates begin at $240 per night.)

7. Wildlife Encounters

Stay Domestic: American Prairie Reserve, Montana

When it was established in 2004, 鈥攁 private, nonprofit effort to create the largest wildlife reserve in the continental U.S. at three million acres鈥攕eemed like nothing more than a pipe dream. But the group has steadily managed to acquire an impressive amount of land on Montana鈥檚 Northern Great Plains in their effort to reestablish a functioning ecosystem that supports free-roaming wildlife.

In December, APR , which brings their total to over half a million acres of deeded land and leased public property. Thanks to all the efforts over the years, the reserve is now home to a wealth of iconic wildlife, including herds of bison, elk, and pronghorn. It also contains some of the most remote areas of the lower-48 states, with a diverse landscape鈥攆rom sagebrush plains to riparian areas to the steep hills of the Missouri Breaks鈥攖hat offers visitors the chance to see wildlife in their natural habitat.

The APR鈥檚 National Discovery Center has excellent exhibits about the prairie ecosystem, and is the best place to learn about the reserve鈥檚 hiking, biking, and camping opportunities, especially considering that it continues to expand its offerings, which includes interpretive programs. But as a quick-start option, one of the best ways to experience the wildlife is by camping at , located four miles north of the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge on the rolling shortgrass prairie. (RV sites are $19 per night and tent sites are $13.) Here, you鈥檙e almost certain to see plains bison and pronghorn roaming past prairie dog towns and get a much deeper connection to one of the most overlooked landscapes in the U.S. The American Prairie Reserve isn鈥檛 just a trip, it鈥檚 a chance to witness (and participate in) conservation history in the making.

Go Abroad: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, British Columbia

Tucked into a Pacific Ocean inlet on Vancouver Island鈥檚 wild west coast, is perhaps the most luxurious gateway to British Columbia鈥檚 wildlife-rich temperate rainforest. It may also be the best way to see the area’s charismatic, iconic species, from black bears and eagles to whales and otters.

The lodge鈥檚 25 canvas tents, which are lavishly appointed with specially made furnishings, king-sized beds, and wood-burning stoves, offer guests the perfect blend of off-grid seclusion and high-end comfort. (From $3,300 per night.)

Meals focus on hyper-local, foraged ingredients crafted into exquisite dishes. Committed to sustainability, the seasonal lodge operates with an extremely light footprint, relying on renewable energy to power the camp. It also supports local First Nations communities through cultural exchange programs and eco-tourism partnerships. All of which makes staying here feeling as if you鈥檙e part of a very lucky family.

But the real reason to come are the wildlife excursions, which includes hiking or horseback rides in the forest to see and sea kayaking outings on the inlet, where it鈥檚 common to spot whales, porpoises, seals, and sea lions. And this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to the lodge鈥檚 eco-adventure program. For those seeking a communion with nature that has more than a dash of indulgence, Clayoquot offers an unforgettable escape into the wild heart of British Columbia.

Ryan Krogh is a writer and editor who lives in Austin, Texas. Among the dozens of destinations that he traveled to in 2024, including Iceland, England, and a road trip through Mexico鈥檚 highlands, his favorite was a weekend fly-fishing trip to the Texas Coast. In 2025, he鈥檚 hoping to see Nicaragua and Portugal for the first time, which is why they鈥檙e included here, but he also has plans to explore the new 鈥淕ulf of America鈥� coast, whatever that is. He has recently written about the world’s best airports with cool outdoor spaces, the beginner’s guide to carry-on luggage, and the most dog-friendly beaches in the U.S.

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There are a lot of ways to experience the depth of a wild landscape: hiking, horseback riding, biking, off-roading. But none offer the same elegance and simplicity as paddling. Which is fortunate, because paddling also happens to be the best way to indulge in the vast solitude of the (BWCAW). With more than 1,200 miles of routes and 2,000-plus designated wilderness campsites, each trip itinerary is customizable to suit your experience level and outdoor interests.

The bountiful adventure opportunities are part of what Cassidy Ritter of loves about the area. She鈥檚 an expert on the BWCAW and enjoys facilitating trips for guests so they can make their own special connections with the land (and water). To help us better understand the seemingly mystical draw the BWCAW has on all who experience it and how to plan a trip, Ritter shared her valuable insights.

国产吃瓜黑料: Why is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness such a remarkable place for paddlers and outdoor enthusiasts?听

Cassidy Ritter: There are so many reasons, but I will stick to a couple of my favorites. The first will come as no surprise: the sheer remoteness of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It鈥檚 a solitude you can only understand once you鈥檙e here. Imagine a space so quiet you can hear the wings of a bird flapping overhead all while looking at the pristine untouched lands that surround you. These things are unmatched by any of the traveling I have done.

And for such a remote area, it鈥檚 . I wholeheartedly believe that this wilderness area has something to offer to everyone regardless of experience level. For master canoeists, there are challenging routes that travel through many lakes鈥攚here you are the only person for miles. But there are also peaceful wilderness campsites that are a quick 30-to-40-minute paddle from an entry point. With some basic outdoor knowledge, anyone can experience the BWCAW and build up to more technical routes.

Do you have any planning tips for first-time visitors?

There are a lot of details to sort through before a BWCAW trip, so start planning early. This will also help you secure your ideal route and launch date, as each entry point has a limited number of permits available per day. the last Wednesday of January every year.

Packing Tip: Wool socks, no matter the time of year, are one of my favorite comfort items. There鈥檚 nothing quite like putting on a pair of dry wool socks when you get to the campsite after a long day of paddling.

How do you recommend paddlers unfamiliar with Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness choose between different route options?

Choosing a route is such a fun part of planning. There are a few initial questions I like to ask people who are planning trips to help identify the best route:

1. What kind of experience are you looking for? Some groups are looking to catch a million fish, and some are looking for as many waterfall views as possible.
2. What鈥檚 your ideal daily mileage and trip length? Longer routes often involve more portages, but regardless of length, each route is stunning. Think about your group鈥檚 level of fitness and how many portages you鈥檙e prepared to navigate. Portages involve carrying your boat and gear between bodies of water鈥攁 challenging maneuver for some groups.
3. What lake sizes do you prefer? I like to ask this question because some lakes are very small, which means more portages. Opting for larger lakes will result in more paddling and fewer portages.

A great planning resource is the . This will help you visualize routes and look at mileage, campsites, portages, and so much more so you have a better idea of what your days in the wilderness will look like.

Timing can play a huge role in route planning. For example, June is best for fishing; July and August are best for warm weather and swimming; September is best for cool evenings and fewer people.

Camping is great, but canoe camping is even better. What are some of your favorite things about multiday adventures in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness?

Canoe camping is its own category altogether. It is a type of camping that really lets you hone some of your wilderness skills and feel at ease with the simplicity of it all. Plus, when you travel by canoe, you have the cargo space to bring luxury items into the wilderness. Humans are drawn to water, and there is a certain peace that comes from being on and around the water. The BWCAW is the absolute best way to experience that level of peace.

My favorite parts about canoe camping stem from being on the water. It feels like home to me in so many ways. There can be challenging days, but I appreciate those moments because they become some of my favorite stories to tell. I enjoy the freshness of the air, the quality time spent with my favorite people in a place without modern conveniences, the loons swimming past my camp, and waking up in the morning to the sounds of the water pushing up against the shoreline.

What can surprise first-time visitors about the area?

Something that surprises a lot of our groups is how quiet it truly is in the wilderness. It鈥檚 something that can鈥檛 be described鈥攜ou have to experience it for yourself. The ease of accessibility to such vast solitude also leaves a lasting impression on adventurers. The area comprises 1,090,000 acres and includes more than 1,100 lakes to paddle and portage鈥攖hat鈥檚 a lot of room to roam, and there are countless ways to explore.

The Boundary Waters is also an . Going outside at night will offer you the most amazing night-sky experiences you have ever had.

Explore Minnesota is dedicated to promoting tourism and livability in Minnesota. Visit to find travel inspiration and things to do, subscribe to, or download. Get even more by following Explore Minnesota on ,,,, and. Explore Minnesota travel counselors are ready to provide personalized travel planning seven days a week by calling 888-VISITMN or by.

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Base camp might be my favorite two words in the English language. Base camp is where you stage the next excursion, or refuel with a bowl of stew, or a beer. You rest and recover there. If you鈥檙e lucky, you can slip into a hot tub or cold spring, because base camps don’t always have to be a tent or in the back of your truck. Sometimes, base camp can be a lodge with soft sheets and a chef.

I鈥檝e gathered a handful of my personal favorite adventure lodges and picked a few more destination hotels and chalets on my bucket list. Some of them are high-end and听 worthy of a splurge, while others are downright affordable. All of them are chosen specifically for their locations and adventures they offer, putting visitors within reach of dramatic landscapes while providing gear, know-how, and sometimes in-house guides. Because occasionally it鈥檚 nice not to have to plan everything yourself.

The Gravel House Hotel, Patagonia, Arizona

You may not have heard of Patagonia, Arizona, a tiny town of 800-ish sitting at the base of the Patagonia Mountains, near the Mexico border. Much of the surrounding land is protected by the Coronado National Forest, which houses a chunk of the 700-mile Arizona Trail, while a lifetime of gravel rides begin and end in the two-block downtown.

is a collection of homes and a small hotel with nine rooms and a communal kitchen, all in the heart of town. The hotel is owned by cycling guide and chef Zander Ault, who you can hire to whip up regional delicacies like green chile stew and carne asada tacos. He and his team can also lead you on day rides through plains of shimmering grass flanked by the 7,000-foot Patagonias, which were capped with snow when I was there last spring. I loved the riding, which had me pedaling firm gravel through narrow canyons to historic ruins and across broad grasslands to the Mexican border before returning to town for a cold beer.

The 国产吃瓜黑料: You can hike or mountain bike a slice of the Arizona Trail, but the gravel is the magic here. I鈥檝e stayed at The Gravel House, spending three days exploring the lonely roads of the area, and want to return to it and the landscape. Elevation gain is moderate, so you can cover a lot of ground exploring canyons and prairies that butt up against the border with Mexico, just 18 miles away. Check out the ride, which climbs to the ruins of a mining camp from 1933.

Logistics: Rooms start at $135 per night, with chef services and guiding extra. Guided day rides start at $295 per person and include high-end Pivot bike rentals.

Sol Mountain Lodge, Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada

At 3.855 million square miles, Canada is a big place鈥攁mong the world鈥檚 countries, only Russia is bigger鈥攕o no lodge can put you within striking distance of everything that our neighbors to the north offer. But , south of one of Canada鈥檚 great destination towns, Revelstoke, brings you into the thick of the Monashee Mountains, which are blanketed with powder in winter and host hundreds of miles of trails in summer. Sol Mountain provides backcountry skiers access to the Monashees鈥� alpine bowls and steep chutes during chilly months (the lodge is owned and operated by certified members of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides), and the rest of the year mountain bikers and hikers can explore the high alpine singletrack.

The lodge is off-grid, with all of the power generated on-site by micro-hydro electricity, but sustainable doesn鈥檛 mean uncomfortable.The place has private rooms, a gear room, full kitchen, and a bar stocked with local craft beers. There鈥檚 also a small library with books and games as well as guitars, a box drum, and a mandolin, if you鈥檙e musically inclined. There鈥檚 even a wood-fired sauna.

The 国产吃瓜黑料: The lodge shares a border with Monashee Provincial Park, and the owner/operators have built a trail system that extends from the lodge into the park, with permits to lead ski, biking, and hiking trips throughout. Mountain bikers are going to want to ride loads of , but the five-mile Infinity and Beyond Loop is a must. The purpose-built trail has it all鈥攔idgetop views of the Provincial Park and the Gold Range Mountains, lots of rock features, and a thrilling downhill back to the lodge. All rides end with a dip in Sol Lake, on Sol Lodge鈥檚 property, where the owners will stash a six pack by shore to keep it cold for you.

Logistics: In winter, you have to fly into the lodge (helicopter rides from Kelowna International Airport are included in the cost of a winter trip); stays require a five- or six-night trip (from $3250 Canadian per person) and include guides. But in the summer, you can make the 55-kilometer (34-mile) drive from Revelstoke on 4WD forest roads. Summer rates are per day, and catered trips (all meals included), start at $350 per person per night, two-night minimum.

Paradise Lodge, the Rogue River, Oregon

Once on site, you can enjoy hiking trails that start on the property, swimming holes, and paddling the class IV Rogue. The lodge sits on Paradise Bar, a long, unusually calm stretch of the Rogue that鈥檚 perfect for fishing for steelhead trout or salmon. In-house chefs create family-style meals served in a low-key dining room, while an expansive deck overlooks the river. There鈥檚 a disc-golf course, too.

The 国产吃瓜黑料: Trails start on the grounds, following the Rogue River and exploring the smaller Paradise Creek. There鈥檚 an easy quarter-mile hike to Paradise Falls and back to get started, but you鈥檙e here for the Rogue. The classic adventure is a multi-day, 32-mile trip through the Rogue Canyon. runs a trip where guests camp riverside on the first night and spend the second in the lodge. The run is a mix of class III-IV drops and swimming holes, culminating with the class IV Blossom Bar, just a half-mile upstream from the lodge (trips from $1,225 per person, including lodging).

Logistics: Hike-in options start at $215 a night per person, including breakfast, dinner, and a sack lunch. You can also raft into the lodge for $205 per person per night, but must make your own arrangements, through local outfitters including and . To raft the Rogue on your own, you need permits from the BLM for any dates between May 15 to October 15. Most commercial trips run in July and August.

Gunflint Lodge, Grand Marais, Minnesota

Tucked onto the southern shore of Gunflint Lake, near the Canadian border, has been hosting adventurers since 1925. The property sits on the edge of the million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, allowing boaters to explore the myriad paddle trails by day and come home to hot meals and a sauna by night.

The lodge consists of 25 private cabins spread across the shore of Gunflint Lake, with a main lodge and dining area, two floating docks, and a shop for the in-house outfitters. Most of the cabins have stone fireplaces, saunas, and hot tubs. The night sky is vibrant with stars, as this is one of the largest Dark Sky Sanctuaries in the world, and the lodge is far enough north that you may even experience the northern lights. Hiking trails on the property lead to the top of cliffs with epic views of Gunflint Lake and the surrounding Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The resort guides offer daily trips into the Boundary Waters on foot and canoe. In the winter, it鈥檚 all about ice fishing and cross-country skiing. Come summer, you鈥檙e hunting for smallmouth bass in Gunflint Lake and canoeing into the Boundary Waters on day trips.

The 国产吃瓜黑料: Retrace the path of early fur traders by paddling a piece of the Voyageurs Route across Gunflint Lake through a narrow inlet into Magnetic Lake, crossing into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness proper. This mixed route of lake and river paddling, with a few short portages, has you tracing the edge of the United States as you travel north, seeing waterfalls, historic chalets, and maybe a moose from the hull of your boat. Guided trips for lodge guests are $125 per person.

Logistics: Gunflint Lodge is a six-hour drive north from Minneapolis. You can book a cabin (from $300 a night, two-night minimum) only, or an all-inclusive package that includes the cabin, all your meals, access to canoes, and one guided adventure per day (from $1279 per person for four nights).

Red Mountain Alpine Lodge, Red Mountain Pass, Colorado

Want a taste of the Alps right here in the U.S.? Book a couple of nights in , a luxurious A-Frame 鈥渉ut鈥� perched at 11,000 feet on Red Mountain Pass in the San Juan Mountains above Ouray, with gorgeous high-alpine hikes and backcountry skiing right out the door. A few winters ago, I spent some days skiing the terrain outside the lodge, and was just about as impressed with the digs inside the lodge as the powder.

The lodge has three private rooms and 10 semi-private loft spaces above the expansive living room, which is warmed by a wood-burning stove set in front of floor-to-ceiling windows. A shot ski hangs above the dining room for apres shenanigans. 国产吃瓜黑料s abound, from endless jeep roads to the via ferrata in Telluride in warmer months. But it鈥檚 mainly about backcountry skiing in the winter and high-alpine trekking in the summer.

The 国产吃瓜黑料: The skiing is epic, but I want to hit Red Mountain Alpine Lodge in the summer. The hut is a key component to the , a guided five-day hike that traverses the 10,000- to 13,000-foot-tall San Juans, hitting alpine lakes and with nights spent in three different huts along the way. Or you could just base at Red Alpine and do your own day hikes. The above-treeline, off-trail routes are endless and the lodge staff can point you in the direction of Red Mountain #3, a 12,877-foot peak with 360-degree views of the Red Group. Or you could bring a gravel bike and knock out the , which hits 12,000-foot peaks and backcountry waterfalls along a high-alpine dirt road.

Logistics: Loft spaces start at $289 per person, which includes breakfast, trail lunch, and dinner. Guided adventures are add ons, but the lodge is owned by , so the process is seamless.

Mulberry Gap, Ellijay, Georgia

Sitting 90 minutes north of Atlanta, in the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest, was designed with mountain bikers in mind, giving front-door access to more than 150 miles of single track through the mountains of North Georgia. This rustic lodge offers a collection of cabins, from basic rooms with access to communal showers, to plush multi-bedroom buildings with private baths. There is also a communal barn with games and, last time I was there, a tricycle for silly races, plus a family-style restaurant, a small gear-and-beer shop, hot tubs, and an onsite pump track and jump line.

I鈥檝e spent a few weekends riding bikes with Mulberry as my basecamp, and love the juxtaposition of a full day on hard, steep singletrack and a return to a smoked brisket in the restaurant, a cold beer and a hot tub. It hits just right.

The 国产吃瓜黑料: Mulberry Gap sits next to the Pinhoti Trail, a long-distance mountain-bike trail that spans the length of Georgia. And there鈥檚 twice as much gravel if that鈥檚 what you鈥檙e into. If you鈥檙e only going to experience one ride, let it be the , which combines a piece of the Pinhoti Trail with Bear Creek. It鈥檚 a mix of gravel and single track, with lots of loose rock descents, waterfalls, creek crossings, and a little bit of flow.

Logistics: Cabins start at $140 a night, midweek; prices vary for size. Weekends are minimum two-night stays. Meals are extra, as are shuttles (from $12 per person).

Johnstone Wilderness Lodge, Seward, Alaska

Johnstone Bay is wild. The inlet sits on the southeast coast of the Kenai Peninsula, 30 miles south of Seward with the Church Mountains rising steeply from the edge of the water. This collection of gray, rocky beaches, steep green mountains, and blue/white glaciers and icefields is only accessible by air (you鈥檒l have to get dropped off by helicopter or float plane) or sea. has three chalets that sit in the middle of all that action, with walk-out beach access, surf breaks galore (yes, Alaska has surfing, and it can be really good), and the massive Excelsior Glacier waiting for you to explore. The lodge itself is a collection of three chalets built by hand over three years. All are surrounded by dense forest and face the beach, where bonfires are the nightly entertainment.

The 国产吃瓜黑料: Jordan Pond, owner of the lodge, fell in love with Johnstone Bay because of the surfing, and if you鈥檙e hardy enough to handle the cold water, he can deliver you to the goods: a beach break along three miles of isolated beach. Swells can produce big, heavy waves. It鈥檚 also a deep bay, so you鈥檒l occasionally see humpback whales hanging out beyond the breakers. Pond will also guide you in a Zodiac, navigating icebergs to Excelsior Glacier, which covers a broad valley as it flows from the Sargent Icefield down to the edge of the water.

Logistics: You can for summer (June 1 to October 30) starting at $1,575 per person (three-night minimum), which includes three meals a day plus snacks, use of kayaks, and guiding for the various adventures surrounding the lodge, from surfing to hiking and kayaking. You鈥檒l have to from the Seward airport (prices depend on number of people and weight of gear). Boating to the place is possible, but helicopter access is much easier.

Field Station, Moab, Utah

You hardly need another reason to visit the historic desert town of Moab, but definitely sweetens the deal. The new hotel, which opened in April, 2023, sits at the bases of both Arches and Canyonlands national parks, which are full of sandstone rock formations and classic desert hikes, offering a mix of accommodations from van-life sites to spacious hotel rooms that sleep up to eight, all centered around communal spaces, such as a pool and hot tub, beer garden, and cafe.

Field Station鈥檚 a one-stop shop for exploring the surrounding landscape, with on-site equipment rentals and professional guiding partners, and , on hand to lead you on mountain biking, canyoneering, and climbing trips. The place often offers pop-up skills tutorials where you can learn things such as survivalist skills or how to patch a flat tire, and live music around the fire pits. I want to go here: Moab is great, but it would be even better with a pool.

The 国产吃瓜黑料: The problem with Field Station (and Moab in general) is choosing how to spend your time. Do you hike in Arches? Mountain bike on the area鈥檚 famous slickrock single track, which has been attracting fat-tire enthusiasts for decades? Climb desert towers and cliffs? Or raft the Colorado River? We say call in sick and extend your stay to do it all. But if you have to choose just one caper, sign up for a guided tour of the , which has 30 miles of dusty, sandstone-heavy single track with optional big descents and rock drops.

Logistics: Room rates start at $127. Van-life sites start at $29 and include access to all of the hotel鈥檚 amenities, including showers.

Surfhouse, Encinitas, California

California has no shortage of hotels with quick access to celebrated surf breaks, but makes your SoCal surf trip effortless with a combo of proximity and amenities. The eight-room motel is located in Encinitas, just a block from the beach and within a quick drive of dozens of world-class waves, including the iconic Swamis. Each room is crafted to represent a different local break. Small touches like an outdoor shower and in-house surf rentals go a long way, and the services include staff pros that can give lessons or even guide you through the local goods, helping you avoid any trouble (like upsetting crusty local surfers). You can even hire a photographer to hop in the water with you to document your trip.

The 国产吃瓜黑料: If you鈥檙e a beginner surfer, book a lesson with a Surfhouse pro and learn at a friendly beach break like Moonlight State Beach. If you have some experience, hire a (rates vary depending on break and number of surfers) who can tailor the experience to your skill level, putting you on the right wave that鈥檚 not only ideal for your ability, but is all-but-guaranteed to avoid the crowds. Or just pedal one of the hotel鈥檚 complimentary beach cruisers and roll from taco stand to beach to taco stand.

Logistics: Rooms start at $260 per night. Guides and lessons are extra. Surfhouse also has a rental van decked out with all of the amenities you need for the ultimate SoCal surf road trip (from $250 a day).

Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 Magazine鈥檚 national-parks columnist. He鈥檚 always loved the idea of a basecamp, but as he鈥檚 gotten older, he likes them to have swimming pools, saunas, and cocktail bars. Has he gotten soft? He prefers the term 鈥渨ise.鈥�

For more by this author:

The 9 Best Gateway Towns to U.S. National Parks

The 8 Most Adventurous States in America. Number 1 Is 鈥�

And the 11 Least Visited National Parks Are鈥�

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. Dark Sky Reserve, Central Idaho

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

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

2. Great Basin National Park, East-Central Nevada

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

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

3. Cape Lookout National Seashore, Eastern North Carolina

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

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

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

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

5. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Northeastern Minnesota

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

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

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

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

7. Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge, Northwest Montana

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

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

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

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

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

Plus: Where to Stay in the Oregon Outback

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

Tips on Smart Stargazing

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

-Stay with your group.

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

-Bring warm clothes.

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

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

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

See also our list of top stargazing apps here.

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

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

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When Scott Pirsig鈥檚 close friend Bob Sturtz suffered a stroke deep in Minnesota鈥檚 Boundary Waters, Pirsig had no choice but to leave him in the wilderness and make a desperate sprint to get help. The two men had been on an early-spring canoeing adventure when Sturtz started acting strangely: it started with a headache, then he became disoriented, lost control of his hands, and stopped speaking. Pirsig鈥檚 only choice was zip him into a sleeping bag and beg him to stay put while he raced off into the fog to contact first responders. In this replay from our Science of Survival series, we hear the story of a harrowing scenario in the woods wild and an enduring friendship.听听

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A controversial mining project near Minnesota鈥檚 Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness may be dead after the Biden administration on Wednesday.

The decision, in the U.S. Court of Appeals, marks a significant victory for environmental groups who opposed the project. Ecologists and wildlife advocates have argued that proposed copper and nickel mines operated by the mining firm Twin Metals Minnesota听would contaminate the one-million-acre wildlife preserve.

鈥淭oday is a major win for Boundary Waters protection,鈥� said Becky Rom, national chair of the conservation group听, in a release. 鈥淭his action by the Biden administration re-establishes the long-standing legal consensus of five presidential administrations and marks a return of the rule of law. It also allows for science-based decision-making on where risky mining is inappropriate.鈥�

The legal fight over the project spanned decades and saw multiple reversals in policy.

Mineral leases first issued in 1966 were eventually purchased by Twin Metals Minnesota, a subsidiary of Chilean mining conglomerate Antofagasta, which in the early 2000s drilled millions of feet of core samples on the land. The project was halted in 2016 when the Obama administration denied Twin Metals鈥� application to renew the leases. But the Trump administration reversed that decision and renewed the leases just three years later.

U.S. interior secretary Deb Haaland said the Trump administration made a mistake in reinstating the leases.

鈥淲e must be consistent in how we apply lease terms to ensure that no lessee receives special treatment,鈥� Haaland said . 鈥淎fter careful legal review, we found the leases were improperly renewed in violation of applicable statutes and regulations, and we are taking action to cancel them.鈥�

No mines were ever built on the two leased parcels of land, one of which sits directly adjacent to the wilderness area and the other of which is located five miles from its border. The proposed mines would have tapped minerals that are in high demand for use in electric vehicles.

The mining project lacked popular support, and a 2020 by the Minneapolis Star Tribune听showed that 60 percent of registered voters in the state opposed building mines near the Boundary Waters, while just 22 percent supported such projects.

But labor groups were in favor, and Brian Hanson, chairman of Jobs for Minnesotans, that his group was 鈥渙utraged鈥� by the decision to stop the mining project.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the latest in a recent series of attacks on the accessibility of critical minerals, and people of northeast Minnesota, for that matter. It doesn鈥檛 make sense to make this kind of decision in the face of a country needing to deal with climate change and needing strategic minerals to do so,鈥� he said.

According to a statement issued by Twin Metals Minnesota, it plans to appeal the decision.

The Boundary Waters is one of the largest swaths of uninterrupted wilderness in the country and a popular destination for paddlers, hikers, and anglers. In a 2019 国产吃瓜黑料 feature听on the destination, written by Minnesota-based contributor Stephanie Pearson, explorer Paul Schurke expressed his love for the land and noted why it holds such a cherished place in the hearts of many:

鈥淵ou鈥檙e up close and personal every step of the way with the boreal forest, the pristine waters, the exquisite flora and fauna, and the endless shades of blue, green, and brown,鈥� Schurke said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 wilderness that鈥檚 accessible physically and emotionally to people of all ages.鈥�

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Welcome to What You Missed,听our daily digest of breaking news and topical perspectives from across the outdoor world. You can also get this news delivered to your email inbox six days a week by for the What You Missed newsletter.听

The U.S. government is stepping in to protect one of the country鈥檚 most popular wilderness areas from its own visitors.

On December 3, the Forest Service revealed plans to for Minnesota鈥檚 Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in 2022 after a surge in visits during the pandemic led to infrastructure and habitat damage, crowding, and congestion. The Boundary Waters, which extends for 150 miles along the U.S.-Canada border, is one of the largest areas of protected wilderness鈥攁nd uncut forest鈥攊n the country, with 1,175 lakes and more than 1,200 miles of canoe routes.

The Forest Service did not say how many total permits would be available next year, nor which entry points into the wilderness would be impacted.

Officials already issue permits for the Boundary Waters and limit group size to nine individuals. In 2020 approximately 166,000 total people visited the wilderness鈥攗p 16 percent from 2019鈥攁nd officials issued 30,000 total group permits, up from 25,000 the previous year. Visitation increased during the first months of 2021, but summer wildfires closed some sections of it and kept the crowds away.

This surge in popularity led to what the Forest Service 鈥渁n unacceptably high amount of resource damage.鈥� Visitors cut trees, littered, left campfires unattended, and improperly disposed of human waste. According to rangers, there was also an uptick in reports of illegal entry, crowding, disruptive noise levels, and oversize groups.

For years Boundary Waters rangers have dealt with overcrowding and damage. In early 2021, the Forest Service that visitors watch three instructional videos on Leave No Trace principles before obtaining a permit.

Overcrowding is the latest danger imperiling the Boundary Waters, which for years has also been from proposed sulfide-ore copper-mining operations on the edge of the wilderness. In November the federal government initiated a plan to ban all sulfide-ore copper mining in the region .

While the specter of mining may eventually pass, problems caused by visitors could continue. The Boundary Waters are not alone in battling overcrowding and abuse amid the pandemic. Public lands across the world saw an uptick in visits in 2020 and 2021, and land managers across the country have had to deal with issues arising from . Some land managers have opted to establish , while others have to help protect fragile ecosystems and cultural sites.

Cyclist Mark Cavendish Robbed at Knifepoint

One of the world鈥檚 most accomplished professional cyclists was recently the .

British sprinter Mark Cavendish revealed on his that he and his family were robbed at knifepoint at their home in Essex, England, on November 27. Cavendish had been recovering from broken bones suffered in a crash at the Ghent Six velodrome races in Belgium when the attack occurred. Four masked men forced their way into his house and threatened him, his wife, and his two children, before ransacking the rooms and stealing two wristwatches.

鈥淏ut far, far worse to be taken was the sense of security, safety, privacy and dignity that my young family and everybody else is entitled to in their own home,鈥� Cavendish wrote. 鈥淭he effect that this nightmare has had on my family is already heart-breakingly evident.鈥�

During the 2021 Tour de France, Cavendish won three stages and for all-time stage victories at the race, with 34.

Hot Water Fireworks

The Siberian town of Oymyakon is recognized as the on the planet. On December 1, temperatures plunged to -76 degrees, triggering a coveted snow day for schoolchildren. Two kids, Vera Shpneva and Sayaana Vinokurova, used the day to record what happens when hot water meets the frigid air.

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鈥�Five Women. One Wilderness. Zero Mansplaining.鈥� Author Maggie Shipstead spent six days exploring Alaska on a women-only expedition. Here鈥檚 what she found out. 国产吃瓜黑料

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The post What You Missed: Forest Services Limits Boundary Waters Entry Permits appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The climatic whiplash feels unbearable this week.

As we approach Labor Day weekend, the traditional end of summer, it seems like every corner of the country is in crisis mode, from flames in the Midwest and West听to flooding in the South. If you鈥檙e not directly experiencing it, I鈥檓 sure you know someone who is. I am frantically scrolling through the news and social media updates: one second I鈥檓 watching my brother鈥檚 best friend , his car filled with other people鈥檚 pets; the next I鈥檓 hearing about听a former听coworker shepherding her parents out of they鈥檝e lived in her whole life, rushing them away from the path of the fire.

So many of the disasters鈥攁nd it鈥檚 hard to call them 鈥渘atural disasters鈥� anymore鈥攁re record-breaking and defying historic norms in ghoulish ways. In California, 6,913 fires have already burned 1.76 million acres this year. The massive currently running along the south end of Lake Tahoe is only 18 percent contained, fueled by low humidity and high winds. It has burned 200,000 acres and threatened more than 34,000 homes, devastating a center of recreation and tourism at the height of its season.

Another iconic summer destination, Minnesota鈥檚 , located amid the usually lush Superior National Forest, is also shut down due to 听as multiple conflagrations converge. Homes have been torched, permit holders have been turned away, and outfitters of their peak business.

In the soaked Southeast鈥攚here lives have been lost in 鈥攔esidents are still trying to flooding, power outages, and damage as the fallout from Hurricane Ida continues.

And California has closed 听until September 17, a听similar move being made across the country as the natural and human resources we鈥檝e counted on to sustain us there鈥攆rom river flows to wildland firefighters鈥攁re 听spread far too thin to be safe. Meanwhile, as we reported last month, toxic algal blooms have shut down hundreds of lakes, rivers, and beaches.

This is what Labor Day weekend looks like during a climate crisis: systems maxed out, multiple catastrophes converging, and everything unfolding on top of geopolitical and public-health crises. There鈥檚 too much to concentrate on, more time spent panicking than relaxing.

I鈥檓 sure I鈥檓 not telling you anything new, but doesn鈥檛 it finally feel like the line between being aware of what climate change could look like and experiencing the disastrous impacts of our inaction has become incredibly thin in real time? We鈥檝e known that the West鈥檚 megadrought is real, we鈥檝e known that tropical storms intensify , and we鈥檝e known that the ice sheets are shrinking and old growth is dying. But it鈥檚 still hard to concretely comprehend how bad the impacts are鈥攁nd what the destruction will truly feel like鈥攗ntil it鈥檚 in your lungs, chasing you out the door, and harming the people and places you love.

This summer is a snapshot of how our future could continue if we keep burning fossil fuels and neglecting the limits of our natural resources. The climate crisis is happening now. It is hitting historically marginalized areas the hardest, but rich people in expensive lakeside mansions can鈥檛 escape it either.

We are not even close to the end of fire or hurricane season. So what do we do, those of us not evacuating from flames and floods? Call all your representatives, demand we curtail fossil-fuel use, pressure the people in power, and look around your local community for opportunities to transition to a carbon free future.听Climate change is听everywhere, it鈥檚 affecting everything, and it鈥檚听only going to get worse if we don鈥檛 make changes now.

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You may think that a flatwater canoe trip is the car camping of backcountry boating. After all, they鈥檙e so… accessible. Pretty much everyone has paddled a canoe once or twice. What could be simpler than loading one up with a tent, seven backpacks, and a few coolers, paddling over to a nearby island, and lighting a really big fire? There are worse ways to spend a weekend.

But it鈥檚 also possible to approach a canoe trip more like a backpacking journey, covering ground as efficiently as possible in order to penetrate the deep wilderness. For reasons that I鈥檝e never quite managed to fathom, that鈥檚 the way I like to do it, and that鈥檚 what this column听is about: 100 percent pure opinion, unadulterated by objective facts or evidence, on听how to run a canoe trip if you鈥檙e the kind of person whose ideal vacation involves avoiding crowds, seeking robust but not gratuitous physical challenges, and听optimizing the details (i.e., the typical Sweat Science reader, as far as I can tell).

Most of my canoe travel has been in the rock-and-pine Canadian Shield terrain of my home province of Ontario. The landscape is pretty similar to what you鈥檇 find in Minnesota鈥檚 Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness: more lakes and portages than rivers and rapids. So the advice below isn鈥檛 about whitewater trips or truly remote exploration; it鈥檚 about optimizing your experience in relatively accessible wilderness canoe areas. And to a large degree, that means getting the portages, where you haul your boat and gear around rapids or between two lakes, right. Here are the key steps.

Tackle the Toughest Portages

It鈥檚 amazing how small a barrier it takes to filter out the crowds. Even with car camping, I鈥檝e found that sites with, say, a quarter-mile walk-in tend to be dramatically less crowded听than ones you can drive up to. The same applies in the backcountry, though on a different scale. On the map, look for areas that can only be accessed via a significant portage, ideally a mile听or more. That鈥檚 where you鈥檒l find solitude.

Last year, I took a mid-August trip with three friends to , one of the most popular canoe areas in the world, just a few hours from Toronto, a city of three听million at the heart of a larger urban area of about nine听million, at the absolute peak of its high season. We听only had four nights to get away, which meant we couldn鈥檛 simply outdistance the crowds. The solution: a 3.3-mile portage (5,305 meters)听between Bonfield and Dickson Lakes, one of the longest in the park. We didn鈥檛 merely accept the mega portage as a necessary evil; we planned our whole trip around getting to it. In doing so, we put a more or less insurmountable barrier between us and pretty much everyone else. We didn鈥檛 see another soul for three of the days.

Go Three to a Canoe

Here鈥檚 where things get controversial. Almost no one I know trips听with three people听to a canoe. It鈥檚 definitely not the way to go for whitewater, and even on flatwater it requires a slightly larger boat than the usual tandem craft. But if you鈥檙e going to follow rule number one and seek out tough portages, having three to a canoe can be a huge advantage. Hear me out.

In my experience, if you pack light, you can fit everything you need for three people into two big,听roughly听100-liter portage packs. 听($250)听are a good call for keeping clothes and sleeping bags safe, while听听($137 and up)听or even cheap options like the 听($81)听are fine for food (more on that below).听This means that on portages, two people each grab a bag and some paddles,听and the third person hoists the canoe. Nobody has to double back for an extra load (which is a complete nonstarter if you want to cover ground quickly), and nobody has to carry a pack and a canoe at the same time (which is feasible but not a lot of fun, particularly if you鈥檙e a wiry鈥擮K,听scrawny鈥�endurance athlete like me). If you go two to a canoe, you鈥檒l be picking from one of those lesser听options.

As an added bonus, with three decent paddlers in a boat, you can absolutely fly across the water. And just as importantly, if one paddler is weak or inexperienced, it鈥檚 less of a problem than with just two paddlers.

For the trip I did this summer in , also in Ontario, we had six adults in two rented canoes. The ultralight Kevlar models we used, 听($3,145) and 听($3,595), were 18.5 feet long, with three comfortable seats and plenty of room for two big packs, and weighed 48 pounds. That鈥檚 about nine pounds heavier than the 16-footers we would have rented for two people听but still way lighter than most canoes you come across.

Don鈥檛 Let Your Bags Touch the Ground

Here鈥檚 the platonic ideal of the portage: as you drift toward the landing, everyone stows loose gear, clips on water bottles, and so on. The moment听you land, two paddlers hop out, hoist the two packs and paddles, and hit the trail. The remaining paddler then hoists the canoe and follows. At the other end, the person carrying the canoe walks right into the water and sets it down, so the two pack carriers can lay their packs right into the boat. Everyone hops in, and you鈥檙e back on the water, at which point it鈥檚 a good (and less buggy)听time to snack.

Most of the time, portages will not (and probably should not) work out exactly like this. Sometimes you need a snack before the portage. Sometimes you need to pee. Sometimes there鈥檚 great scenery or wildlife you want to check out. Sometimes鈥攊f you鈥檙e embarking on a three-mile haul, say鈥攜ou need a break or a change of shoes. And I鈥檓 all in favor of short breaks and load switches as needed during portages,听as long as they鈥檙e done deliberately.

Otherwise, it鈥檚 really, really easy to spend 10 or 15 minutes milling around at the start and finish of every portage, and there are two problems with this. One:听even if you only have a half dozen portages in a given day, you鈥檙e still spending a couple of hours unloading and reloading. Two:听this is low-quality, unintentional time. Often the start and finish of portages happen in听dank, mosquito-infested wetlands that no one听enjoys. So you want to aim by default for the perfect portage in order to minimize wasted time, then deviate from it deliberately only when hunger or scenery or whatever calls for it.

And it鈥檚 not just about time. Picking up and putting down canoes and heavy packs are听the hardest parts of the portage. Why lift and deposit everything three or four times when you can do it once?

Pack Your Food in Empty Olive Tubs

To be totally honest, all that stuff you鈥檝e just read was merely a preamble for my most important and mind-blowing piece of advice. I initially pitched my editor an article entirely about olive tubs, but she (rightly) figured it might be a little too niche.听Buckle up.

A little over a decade ago, I started going on trips organized by a friend of a friend named Mike Wilson. Mike is a consummate organizer, and I emulate a whole bunch of elements from his playbook. But the single most important innovation he鈥檚 come听up with is to pack food in empty 听from a Greek deli. The tubs are made of a strong, lightweight plastic, much like the听听you get from outfitters, only smaller. They鈥檙e waterproof, which makes them good for whitewater trips, too. And here鈥檚 the part that proves the cosmos intends canoeists to use olive tubs: four of them, stacked two by two, fit perfectly in a standard,听roughly听100-plus-liter portage pack. There is absolutely no wasted space. It was meant to be.

Mike鈥檚 method for packing four tubs, which can easily fit food for three people for a week, is to label them B (for breakfast), L (for lunch), D (for dinner), and S (for snacks). There鈥檚 some flexibility, of course. If you鈥檙e packing light, you can fit a stove,听fuel, and some other gear in one of the tubs, especially once you鈥檝e eaten a bit听of the food. And by the end of a trip, one听tub听will likely be reserved for garbage. For this year鈥檚 trip, with six people for five nights, I took six tubs, with the upper half of the second food pack reserved for bulkier equipment, like a big cooking pot.

I love that everything isn鈥檛 just thrown in willy-nilly. It鈥檚听easier to find what you鈥檙e looking for when you only have to hunt through one olive tub. I no longer have to worry about squashing softer foods. I also don鈥檛 worry about rodents gnawing through a pack to get at food at more heavily traveled campsites. And once they鈥檙e in that portage pack, the tubs are way more comfortable to carry than food barrels or a soft pack with everything tossed in haphazardly.

One of the reasons I鈥檓 so excited about this is that, after years of borrowing Mike鈥檚 tubs, I finally got my own this summer. And听from the same place Mike did: Scheffler鈥檚 Deli in Toronto鈥檚 St. Lawrence Market. I don鈥檛 have any specific sources in other cities, but I鈥檝e noticed several other Greek delis using them, and another friend of mine got some from a Greek restaurant. They鈥檙e out there if you look. I happened to email Scheffler鈥檚 right before they were going to be disposing of some, and they put aside eight empties for me. It took some work to wash out the olive smell (one round of dish detergent, one round of baking soda), but I got it done, and I鈥檓 thrilled.

The details: my tubs held . I鈥檝e also seen the same tubs advertised as 听(about 26.5 pounds), so it may depend on the type of olive. They have a square base, which is important for optimal packing. Some of the ones my other friend听got were round, which wastes space. I鈥檒l finish by saying this: when I was searching for empty tubs, I saw that for 67 Canadian dollars ($50).听If Scheffler鈥檚 hadn鈥檛 hooked me up with empties, I鈥檇 be eating three meals of olives a day right now鈥攁nd for the rest of the year鈥攚ith no regrets.

So there you have it. You might look at these tips and think, Man, a canoe trip with that guy sounds like a complete nightmare. It鈥檚 supposed to be a vacation!听Or you might not. If it鈥檚 the latter, I hope this advice helps听you get a little farther from the madding crowd. Good luck, and (don鈥檛 take this personally) let鈥檚 hope we don鈥檛 see each out there.

For more Sweat Science, join me on and , sign up for the , and check out my book .

The post Here鈥檚 How to Execute the Perfect Canoe Portage appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

I want you to consider three recent developments at the Department of the Interior, and ask what direction you think they point.听

1. BLM鈥檚 New 鈥榋ealot鈥�

I鈥檓 unsure of how to put this politely, so this is how听The Washington Post :

鈥淚nterior Secretary David Bernhardt last month听听William Perry Pendley, an anti-government zealot who has not been Senate-approved for any position, to lead the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which oversees one-tenth of the nation鈥檚 land.鈥�

Pendley is an outspoken advocate for the mass sell-off of public land, and until this appointment, was widely considered a fringe voice鈥攊magine if Cliven Bundy was a lawyer, instead of a rancher. Opinions range from Pendley being听鈥溾�澨齮o lead the BLM, to听also being 鈥�.鈥澨齊ather than put such a character in front of the Senate for a legally-mandated confirmation hearing, Bernhardt instead appointed听Pendley to be only an acting听director. Jon Tester, a senator from Montana , 鈥淎n end run around the Senate鈥檚 responsibility to oversee and confirm federal leadership positions.鈥�

Wednesday, Pendley announced that he鈥檇 recuse himself from 57 businesses, local governments, and private individuals he鈥檚 represented in the past. 鈥淚 understand that preserving a culture of ethical compliance within the BLM begins with me,鈥� he wrote in an email to staff announcing the 17-page list of interest groups he says he intends to avoid working with for the next two years.听

The sincerity of that effort seems laughable, given Bernhardt鈥檚 own troubled past with honoring such recusals, and the fact that Pendley has already taken official action as acting director to benefit clients .听

2. Moving BLM Management to听Colorado

The Trump administration is of BLM headquarters from Washington D.C., to Grand Junction, Colorado, as an attempt to relocate the agency closer to the western lands it鈥檚 charged with managing. But no one, not even top administration personel appear to believe that.听

鈥淣ow, it鈥檚 nearly impossible to fire a federal worker,鈥� began acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, during . 鈥淚 know that because a lot of them work for me. And I鈥檝e tried. And you can鈥檛 do it. But simply saying to the people, you know what, we鈥檙e going to take you outside the bubble, outside the Beltway, outside this liberal haven and move you out into the real part of the country, and they quit. What a wonderful way to streamline government and do what we haven鈥檛 been able to do for a long time.鈥�

As for the rhetoric around moving BLM staff closer to the western lands they鈥檙e responsible for: of the BLM鈥檚 10,000 staff already live in the regions where the听land they manage is located. Only a couple hundred agency employees are based in Washington, where their jobs are to interface with the rest of the federal government. Forcing those employees to relocate simply appears to be an effort to remove institutional knowledge from the BLM, and hide its decision making process from oversight.听

鈥淭his plan is so radical that we question whether it was studied or analyzed by non-political budget analysts or organizational experts and whether career BLM senior management were involved or consulted,鈥� wrote a group of retired BLM employees in in August. 鈥淭he breakup of the Washington office structure will promote parochial, local interests, over the national interests in the management of public lands.鈥澨�

And all that was before it was discovered that听听and other oil industry businesses.听

3. DOI鈥檚 New Solicitor General

At the Department of the Interior, it鈥檚 the Solicitor鈥檚 job to advise and represent the Secretary of the Interior in legal matters听and听oversee the department鈥檚 ethical investigations and its Freedom of Information Act disclosures, among other duties. The Senate Daniel Jorjani to the position, with .听

Jorjani, who came to DOI both the Charles Koch Institute听and Charles Koch Foundation, faced , during Senate testimony in May, over his role in restricting FOIA disclosures at the agency. , a public lands advocacy group, Jorjani has led efforts at DOI to restrict FOIA transparency, slowing and potentially withholding the release of documents the public requests, shifting the process from a governmental function听to a political one.听

Jorjani is also responsible for writing that reversed a departmental ruling听and renewed copper and nickel mining leases for a Chilean company on the outskirts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. As a fun aside, the owners of that mining company Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner in Washington D.C.听

In 2018, Jorjani , 鈥淎t the end of the day our job is to protect the Secretary [of the Interior].鈥�

In of Wednesday鈥檚 confirmation hearing, Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon said, 鈥淚f Mr.听Jorjani听is confirmed, the person who will be in charge of ethics at the Interior Department told colleagues his job was to protect a crook.鈥�

So, the largest public land management agency is now led by an anti-public land zealot who鈥檚 already mixing the business of his agency with that of his former clients. That agency鈥檚 offices are being relocated to a building shared with oil companies.听And, the person charged with oversight of all this is now a political operative poached from the oil industry. And all that is taking place against the backdrop of scandal-plagued Interior Secretary, who presided over the rollback of the Endangered Species Act. Where does all this point?听

Look at what鈥檚 already happening to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. There, reduced ESA protections for听the polar bear, what looks like deliberate suppression of the public鈥檚 voice, and an usurpation of the democratic process combined to allow BLM to open the formerly-protected wilderness to drilling for the first time. Could something like this happen to public lands near you?

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