From New York to California, here are seven great outdoor American adventures to check out.
Photo © Getty Images/Fernando Espinosa
Road trip itineraries around the USA usually include Vegas, the Grand Canyon, New Orleans, New York City and Hollywood. But, if you're looking for something off the beaten track, here are some alternative destinations.
- Kayak Lake Yellowstone, Wyoming
- Canoeing the Lakes of the Adirondacks, New York
- Wreck-diving in Lake Superior, Minnesota
- The Maine Island Trail
- Petrified Forest National Park
- Havasu Falls, Arizona
- Mojave National Preserve, California
Kayak Lake Yellowstone, Wyoming
What better way to see Yellowstone’s natural phenomena than from the seat of a kayak? Yellowstone Lake is the largest freshwater lake above 7,000 ft (2,100m) in North America. The lake has steamed and simmered in a geothermal flux for thousands of years; steamy geysers burst at the water’s edge, mud pots bubble and hot springs sear. Enjoy a unique experience in this popular national park by paddling your way around Yellowstone Lake, taking in the volcanic forces that helped forge the American Rockies.
Check out O.A.R.S if you’re looking for a great operator to guide you around.
Canoeing the Lakes of the Adirondacks, New York
Adirondack National Park consists of six million acres that are a unique combination of one-half public and one-half private land. There are several designated wilderness areas and many wild forest areas that are very attractive to paddlers. The terrain is hilly and sometimes mountainous, yet the base is level enough to provide ideal canoeing waters. The scenery is superb, and mountain day hikes are possible from your paddling route.
Upstate New York will give you a whole new appreciation for the state, too many people stay in the city and never experience all the wonderful outdoors that New York has to offer.
Check out these great self-guided day trips from Canoe Outfitters.
Wreck-diving in Lake Superior, Minnesota
Wreck-diving might not come to mind in a place like Minnesota, situated in the middle of America. Believe it or not, Minnesota is also known as the land of 10,000 lakes, and in one or two of these lakes, you’ll find some pretty awesome wrecks to explore beneath the surface of the water.
The Ely, a 200ft (60m) wooden schooner, sank during a storm in
The Maine Island Trail, Maine
The Maine Island Trail is regarded as the top kayaking destination on the east coast and was the first coastal water trail created and protected in America. This 375mi (603km) water trail connects more than 200 islands, and across these islands, there are campsites you can reach by boat.
Check out the Maine Island Trail Association website to plan your visit.
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Visitors are drawn to this unusual park to see trees that turned to stone more than 200 million years ago, but this isn't the only attraction. Take a drive through the Painted Desert, a rainbow-striped landscape of eroded hills and grasslands. Hike the 1mi (1.6km) Blue Mesa loop trail to see the bluish clay of the hills. Stop at the visitor center to see fossils of prehistoric reptiles that roamed the area when it was once a humid, sub-tropical river basin, approximately 225 million years ago.
Plan your visit using the Petrified Forest National Park's website.
Havasu Falls, Arizona
The pictures of these falls are well known, but not so many actually make the effort to see it in person. It's an 8mi (12km) hike through the hot Arizona desert to get there. Start hiking at dawn, and watch out for the pack mules that come barreling around corners. Wear sturdy hiking shoes, pack lots of water and food, and don't forget your swimmers.
Plan your adventure by reading the Havasupai Tribe’s website carefully, and always check the weather reports before you go.
Mojave National Preserve, California
Halfway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Mojave National Preserve is a 1.6 million-acre park, with singing sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones, Joshua tree forests, and carpets of wildflowers. Exploring the canyons, mountains and mesas will reveal long-abandoned mines, homesteads, and rock-walled military outposts. Take a scenic drive through the park, go hiking, four-wheel driving, camping or horseback riding.
Learn more on the Mojave National Preserve website.
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1 Comment
Amazing places, I especially would love to get the opportunity to visit <br>Havasu Falls and Kayak Lake, they are the sort of places that excite me big time. <br>