Water Activities
ArchiveDrive the Big Island loop in Hawaii鈥攁nd make time for long hiking or paddling trips, plus awe-inspiring face time with volcanoes, manta rays, and starry skies.
A Southern Colorado loop where you can rough it in a yurt and throw one back in Durango.
Start in the Grand Canyon and wander up to Moab, Utah, with some moonlit camping and excellent mountain biking along the way.
The route from Jackson, Wyoming, to Glacier National Park, Montana packs in five national parks and plenty of watering holes.
This Olympic Peninsula loop in Washington is a water-lover's dream鈥攖ake your pick of waterfalls, rivers, beaches, and lakes. And don't forget the seafood.
On March 28th, 2014, the Morelos Dam on the Arizona/Mexico border was opened, and a "pulse flow" released—an experiment in ecological restoration. It worked: For the first time in 16 years, the Colorado River ran free all the way to the Sea of Cortez. Intending to paddle the river to its natural terminus, writer Rowan Jacobsen and photographer Pete McBride assembled a crew they dubbed "Team Delta Force." Their goal was to complete the first ever standup paddleboard (SUP) descent of the Colorado. This gallery highlights their historic journey, and you can read about the entire journey in 国产吃瓜黑料's July issue.
Seven men want to share a few thousand pieces of gear with the world. And they need your help.
It's been more than 50 years since the Colorado River regularly reached the sea. But this spring, the U.S. and Mexico let the water storm through its natural delta for a grand experiment in ecological restoration. As the dam gates opened, a small band of river rats caught a once-in-a-lifetime ride.
National parks are America's greatest recreational asset. Now an overdue movement will make them even better.
These images, from some of 国产吃瓜黑料's favorite photographers, will make you want to pack your bags and get lost in adventure.
Dream all you want about your adventure bucket list, but isn't it better to get right out there and start ticking off boxes? Let these trips be your inspiration鈥攐r your exact blueprint.
Fun for the whole family doesn't have to mean boring for you. These high-adrenaline festivals will keep everyone going all day.
If you鈥檙e looking for the seclusion of a private beach with the affordability of a state park, but want to do more than kick off your flip-flops and sunbathe, these are the five Florida beaches for you.
Shane Niemeyer started exercising in prison after hitting rock-bottom. We talked to him about his path to become a regular Ironman competitor who's now gunning for a spot at the World Championships in Kona.
Day scuba diving offers the Grand Central Station view of a reef or wreck, bustling in a Technicolor blaze. But reefs hardly close for business when the sun sets. There鈥檚 something inherently mysterious about venturing into the deep with only a dive light and a sense of adventure. Here鈥檚 where…
Because who doesn't want a portable sauna, right?
Europe has a secret. It's called Albania鈥攁 Maryland-size playground of rugged peaks, emerald seas, and ripping rivers. The only catch? It's really poor, graft is rampant, and there's little environmental regulation. Pack your bribe money for a warts-and-all jaunt through the wildest post-Communist state on earth.
Perth was thrust into the public consciousness recently for being the home base of the search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in the Indian Ocean. But this city of 1.7 million people with a Mediterranean climate on the remote southwestern corner of Australia has hardly been a secret…
The most wholesome flip-flops in the world?
Yes, sun hats are one of the most effective ways to prevent skin cancer. But did you know they can also keep the heat from zapping your energy? During my decade as a raft guide, I found I was much more energetic at the end of the day when I…
How light do you want to go? Unlike backpacking, which values economy above all else, multi-day canoe trips can bear more weight depending on the length of the journey and how badly you want filet mignon that first night. I go to the Boundary Waters each May…
Black-water rafting sounds dark and mysterious, right? It is. Sort of. Black-water rafting is essentially cave tubing, and it involves climbing, rappelling, and floating subterranean rivers鈥攂oth freely (in the safety position, feet downstream) or in inner tubes. Black water rafting the Waitomo Caves in New Zealand. New Zealand’s聽…
Winner: Bend, Oregon. Runner-Up: Bah铆a Concepc铆on, Mexico.
Take a break from winter in a mineral bath that will soothe your soul.
Like many fools, Abe Streep spends a lot of time and too much money trying to feel the pull of fish. But he recently learned that you can have just as much fun on the water without hooks.
If you want to lounge on an empty beach for hours, consider one of these trips.
Called the purest form of climbing, deep-water soloing (DWS) is free rock climbing practiced on sea cliffs, lakeside ledges, or climbing walls above pools. In deep-water soloing, water serves as the safety net. In deep-water soloing, water is your safety net. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an exciting type of climbing; usually you can鈥檛…
Pro paddler Rush Sturges dishes tips on making dazzling adventure films
What鈥檚 a niche adventure photographer to do when social media and technology create the perfect environment for copycats? In the case of North Shore wave photographer Clark Little, put down the coffee, assess the mayhem, and then dive right in.
Inside the mind and training habits of the fastest woman in Kona history
Budding explorer Sonya Baumstein becomes the first person to SUP across the Bering Strait
5 stories by our editors about near-death experiences and how they survived.
The secret to aging well? Work hard, fish harder.
Jordan Hanssen and three friends were more than three-quarters of the way through a 3,700-nautical-mile row across the Atlantic Ocean when two rogue waves flipped their boat and left them fighting for their lives.
There are only a few carefree summers in your life. Don鈥檛 waste them interning at law firms鈥攐pt for one of these adventure-packed seasonal gigs instead.
There are only a few carefree summers in your life. Don鈥檛 waste them interning at law firms鈥攐pt for one of these adventure-packed seasonal gigs instead.
There are only a few carefree summers in your life. Don鈥檛 waste them interning at law firms鈥攐pt for one of these adventure-packed seasonal gigs instead.
There are only a few carefree summers in your life. Don鈥檛 waste them interning at law firms鈥攐pt for one of these adventure-packed seasonal gigs instead.
What are the coolest and most unexpected uses of duct tape in the outdoor world?
Finding gear in my size is impossible. What are the best products for bigger guys?
Everything you need to plan the perfect Grand Canyon summer escape
Surf icon Dave Kalama is still riding 60-foot waves and winning Stand-UP-颅paddleboarding races two years shy of his 50th birthday. What鈥檚 his secret? Stephanie Pearson enlists at the waterman鈥檚 颅legendary North Shore camp, where he serves up nonnegotiable commandments for lifelong 颅fitness鈥攁nd lots and lots of crunches.
If you ever find yourself submerged in icy waters, follow these tips
These sports aren't necessarily deadly, but they certainly instill an imminent sense of death鈥攚hich is what makes them so thrilling and why we can't look away.
Where can I swim, and is it going to kill me?
Dams removed from Western rivers get the lion share of attention, but nearly 100 dams have been removed from waterways in Northeast since 1991.
Hyper-Specialized SUPs are taking over the market. Are they a new trend or simply a fad?
Sometimes, it takes a little storm to show us how resilient we really are
The family that learns to chillax correctly will be much safer on or near water. Here are some easy tips.
Folding kayaks have traditionally been unwieldy and heavy, mainly because of the rib systems that are used to create the integrity of the boat. Not Oru's.
The Key log, a nearly 12-foot-long, 60-pound synthetic log designed for rolling, is without a doubt one of the coolest products we've seen.
When the Great Recession hit, young people found a million different ways to cope with their battered job prospects. Alex and Nick Kleeman found the best way, scraping together enough cash to buy a 32-foot sailboat, then plunging into the Pacific for the adventure of their lives. So what if they didn鈥檛 know how to sail?
A professional freediver is training athletes to get more oxygen with every breath
The options can be daunting, so we've narrowed it down to five trips you shouldn't miss.
The helicopter ride to a luxury resort was undeniably sweet. But for Peter Heller, the greatest thing about New Zealand鈥檚 South Island was kayaking down a surly river with an old paddling buddy, in a country that鈥檚 still unbelievably pristine.
The world鈥檚 most accomplished blind adventurer has jumped out of airplanes, mountain-biked Leadville, and summited Everest. But nothing has proven to be as challenging as his current goal: to solo-kayak the Grand Canyon.
Why should kids have all the fun? At Vermont鈥檚 Tyler Place Family Camp, adults can paddle, take tennis lessons, and carve out their own slice of summer vacation alongside the children.
Norway has everything the alps does鈥攖owering mountains, five-star restaurants, loads of culture. You also get fjords, glaciers, epic whitewater, and a few thousand polar bears.
The best whitewater gear for kids
We gave a former corporate lawyer $10,000 to fund his back-of-the-napkin plan to sea kayak from Minnesota to Florida. He made it all the way鈥攖hen he turned around and started paddling home. Here's why.
Childhood is the perfect time to solidify your kids' love of the outdoors. These camps are here to help.
What do rock-climbing heart transplant patients, Somali pirate hunters, and arctic cowboys have in common? All could be found on the big screen at this year鈥檚 Tribeca Film Festival. Of this year鈥檚 217 films, these seven outdoor-focused picks were a cut above.
I鈥檓 not a cruiser or a yachtie, but I love getting a good look at the land from the water when I travel. Can you recommend some memorable鈥揳nd affordable鈥損ublic ferry rides in North America?
Mined, dammed, and sucked dry: The annual list of of the country's most endangered waterways is out鈥攁nd it isn't pretty.
After spending the winter dreaming about fly-fishing, I'm itching to get back out on the river. What are the best waders for early-season fish-stalking?
Two men who are changing the way the adventure world works
Travel to these destinations for tons of open space鈥攁nd it's all yours
My New Year's Resolution for 2013 was to learn to kiteboard, but I don't know where to start. Help!
Can't wait for the weather to warm up? With balmy temperatures year-round, miles of world-class trails, and a laid-back, kid-friendly atmosphere, L.A.'s southern neighbor has you covered.
I want to go water skiing on spring break. Got any tips on how to prepare so I can stay up for longer than a minute and don鈥檛 hurt myself?
To raise adventurous children, as Laura's father learned when she and Guppy set sail, means that someday, you have to let them go
When he isn't guiding world-renowned photographers, psychologists, and Hollywood acting coaches, Chris Dombrowski is writing. We caught up with him on the occasion of his new book.
Where can I find a cheap private island?
Costa rica is basically one giant, overrun eco-resort, right? Not here.
In 1900, Chicagoans remade their city鈥檚 namesake river. Then they let it go to hell.