I always wanted a treehouse growing up. Who didnā€™t? Thereā€™s something magical about the idea of a tiny cabin, vaulted above the ground and surrounded by strong trees, where you could peek out the window and find yourself at eye level with birds and branches. I envisioned sleepovers in the backyard with friends and secret meetings where my siblings and I could look out over the neighborhood or watch squirrels scramble up close by.

While I never got that treehouse as a kid, I can rent one for the night now if I want. From a lookout tower with a wood-fired sauna in Idaho to a sleek cabin with volcano views in Washington to an architect-designed treehouse on a pond in New York, these nine grown-up-worthy treehouse vacation rentalsā€”which are all built to avoid harming the woods around themā€”will help fulfill your wildest childhood dreams.

Score Views of Mount Adams From This Modern Treehouse in the Columbia River Gorge

Location: White Salmon, Washington

Price: From $280 per night

Youā€™ll come for the view of 12,281-foot Mount Adams at sunset through the 18-foot-tall floor-to-ceiling windows in this modern, sleekly designed treehouse vacation rental, which sits in between three hearty Douglas firs near the town of White Salmon, Washington, across the Columbia River from Hood River, Oregon. This 500-square-foot pet-friendly cabin comes with minimalist Scandinavian furnishings and maximalist amenities, like an outdoor shower, on-the-ground fire pit, and coffee-making equipment of the highest Pacific Northwest-approved quality. Cell service and TVs donā€™t exist here. The place sleeps up to six in a private bedroom and an open sleeping loft equipped with two queen beds.

Donā€™t Miss: From here, ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š just 15 minutes from the in Hood River, a prime spot for mountain biking, and even closer to the windsurfing and kiteboarding that the Columbia River Gorge is famous for. Otherwise, hike to a waterfall like or and end the day with nachos and live music at , a localā€™s favorite pub in White Salmon.

Spare No Comforts in This Studio Treehouse in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains

Location: Travelers Rest, South Carolina

Price: From 379 per night

The small town of Travelers Rest, South Carolina, 25 minutes outside of Greenville, is as charming as it sounds. And this thoughtfully designed treehouse on a quiet 16-acre property in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains is the sweetest place to call home while ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š there. The studio-sized treehouse sleeps two in ultra-comfortable accommodations, complete with an outdoor shower on the back deck and yoga mats for morning stretching. At night, youā€™ll hear the resident owl, named Betty, hooting a welcome. This treehouse has a two-night minimum, is available for long-term stays, and intentionally doesnā€™t come with WiFi, though it does have cell service.

Donā€™t Miss: Youā€™re just 10 minutes from downtown Travelers Rest, where you can ride bikes along the , a 28-mile multi-use pathway. The hiking trails in are 20 minutes away, and thereā€™s wine tasting and an outdoor sculpture park at , five minutes down the road.

Sleep 40 Feet Off the Ground in a Far-Out Lookout Tower in the Forested Midwest

Location: Bradleyville, Missouri

Price: From $295 per night

Youā€™ll drive two miles down a gravel road to reach this remote two-story lookout tower, which is located about 20 minutes outside the tiny outpost of Bradleyville, Missouri. (The nearest grocery store is 30 minutes away, so pack supplies.) This one-bedroom treehouse-style tower was built to resemble the historic fire lookout towers once used to spot fires in rural areas. Two such remaining towers still exist around the , 15 minutes away, which has 32 miles of hiking trails. This is the kind of Airbnb that comes with a welcome basket and a hand-written note from your hosts, making you feel right at home when you arrive. Put your belongings into a winch-operated luggage elevator while you climb the 40 stairs to the top level. Too windy? Thereā€™s a cellar storm shelter you can hide out in until the bad weather passes. Nice amenities include upgrades like plush bathrobes, a telescope for night stargazing, and a rock-lined hot tub. Plan to unplug: Thereā€™s no TV or WiFi.

Donā€™t Miss: About an hour from the tower, you can dine on farm-to-table ingredients or take a workshop on soap making or floral bouquets at in Ozark.

Take a Detour on Your Highway 1 Road Trip to Stay at This Magical Treehouse Along the Pacific Coast

Location: Watsonville, California

Price: From $696 per night

Youā€™ll park your car and meander on foot down a wooded pathway before arriving at this picturesque one-bedroom treehouse vacation rental, suspended in a grove of redwoods outside the town of Watsonville, California, known for its plethora of artichoke farms. The bathhouse at this treehouse has its own separate building, accessible via vaulted plank from the main cabin. The house comes stocked with board games and has sliver views of the Pacific Ocean from the wraparound deck. The popular beaches of Santa Cruz and Monterey arenā€™t far, or stay close and take a stroll on the sand dunes at .

Donā€™t Miss: Farm stands are abundant in the area. Buy an olallieberry pie or pick your own apples or strawberries at or stop into the shop for fresh artichokes or artichoke dips and sauces, depending on the season. Hike the five miles of woodland trails or spot sea otters by kayak on the wetland waterways of the . rents kayaks and leads guided tours.

Explore Glacier National Park from this A-Frame Treehouse Nearby

Location: Columbia Falls, Montana

Price: From $341 per night

You might never want to leave the comfortable confines of this two-bedroom A-frame cabin thatā€™s suspended in the trees 10 minutes outside Columbia Falls, Montana. That is, until you realize ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š just 30 minutes from the west entrance to Glacier National Park. This well-appointed treehouse is situated on a 5-acre forested property thatā€™s also home to a second neighboring treehouse, but both are positioned to preserve a sense of privacy. In the winter, ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š just 15 minutes from skiing at Whitefish Mountain Resort. In the summer, head to Whitefish Lake and the charming lakeside town of Whitefish or go for a scenic drive or hike in Glacier National Park.

Donā€™t Miss: During peak season from June through September, youā€™ll need a to drive Glacier National Parkā€™s famous Going to the Sun Road, but itā€™s worth it for the views along this scenic mountain roadway. In the warmer months, park at the Logan Pass trailhead to hike a section of the 11-mile , which goes point to point along the Continental Divide past the , a historic, romantic backcountry lodge within the national park.

Disconnect at this Architect-Designed Treehouse in the Catskills

Location: Woodstock, New York

Price: From $500 per night

This 500-square-foot tiny house is situated on a private wooded property 15 minutes from the town of Woodstock, New York. Designed by architect Antony Gibbons as a whimsical family escape for these Airbnb hosts, this unique, stilted, stand-alone cabin has massive windows that look out into the Catskill Mountains and to the on-site pond. The quarters are quaint: A lofted, open-air bedroom sleeps two. Pick up bagels and coffee at the in Woodstock to have on hand. In the winter, thereā€™s downhill skiing and an uphill policy at , a 30-minute drive away.

Donā€™t Miss: From spring to fall, tackle the 6-mile hike to the , which starts just up the road, or take the short but scenic walk to. There are plenty of lakes and swimming holes to jump into in the area, but why bother going anywhere else when you have a swimming pond in the backyard of your treehouse vacation rental? A wood-fired cedar hot tub awaits you on the edge of the pond. Thereā€™s no cell service or WiFi.

Enjoy a Wood-Fired Sauna at This Lookout Tower in Remote Backcountry

Location: Fernwood, Idaho

Price: From $271 per night

This structure wasnā€™t built to look like an old fire lookout towerā€”it actually is an old lookout tower. Originally built in 1959 atop a peak in eastern Washington, it was relocated to western Idaho in 1983 and completely remodeled as a year-round no-frills guest house in 2018. Itā€™s surrounded by 13 acres of forest land on Crystal Peak outside the tiny hamlet of Fernwood, Idaho. In the summer, you can drive to within 50 feet of the lookout, but youā€™ll need an all-wheel-drive car (the road in is pretty rugged); in the winter, youā€™ll need to ski tour, snowmobile, or catch a lift from the caretakerā€™s off-road vehicle for an additional fee. Thereā€™s no bathroom in the lookout; youā€™ll need to climb down the ladder to the ground level to use the outhouse.

Donā€™t Miss: Youā€™ll likely spend your days wandering around the hutā€”you can forage for huckleberries or morel mushroomsā€”then light up the wood-fired sauna, located on its own deck.

Bring Your Family to This Cozy Treehouse in the Foothills of the North Georgia Mountains

Location: Dahlonega, Georgia

Price: From $294 per night

You wouldnā€™t guess ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š just an hour north of Atlanta when you settle into this peaceful abode built around a massive oak tree. For families or groups, four people can sleep in bunks and a queen bed stacked in various nooks and this treehouse vacation rental comes with kidsā€™ books and toys if ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š bringing little ones. Thereā€™s a short nature trail out the door. Three other vacation rental cabins sit on the same 7-acre property, but theyā€™re well spaced apart from each other.

Donā€™t Miss: Downtown Dahlonega, a few minutes away, is listed on the National Historic Register as the site of one of Americaā€™s first gold rush towns. You can learn more about the areaā€™s history at the Visit the 729-foot high waterfall in or hike the 8-mile that connects to the 2,193-mile Appalachian Trail near its southern terminus at Springer Mountain.

Ski Sunday River from This Chalet in the Trees

Location: Woodstock, Maine

Price: From $470 per night

Youā€™ll sleep 20 feet off the ground in a 300-square-foot tiny house designed and built by The Treehouse Guys, made famous on a DIY Network show. This cabin, in Woodstock, which can sleep up to four in two small, lofted spaces, is surrounded by maple and hemlock trees and just 10 minutes from the town of Bethel, Maine. It comes stocked with a record player, a ukulele, and a hot tub. The hosts call this pad The Ski Haus for a reason: Skiing at is less than 15 minutes away and skiing and summertime lift-accessed mountain biking at is just five minutes away. Or donā€™t leave the grounds: You can reach seven miles of hiking and snowshoeing trails from this treehouse vacation rental within the surrounding 634-acre Bucks Ledge Community Forest.

Donā€™t Miss: Thereā€™s ice skating midwinter on North Pond, a short walk from the treehouse, or in the summer, the place comes with access to paddleboards and kayaks.

Megan Michelson is an award-winning journalist who covers travel and the outdoors for a wide range of publications, including ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų, from her home base in Tahoe City, California. She’s always dreamed of staying in a treehouseā€”even from childhoodā€”and can’t wait to hit up these spots on her 2025 vacation list. She’s recently written about the coolest off-grid Airbnb in Colorado, how this woman pulled off buying a one Euro home in Italy, and these 10 vacations that might even help you live longer.Ģż

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Baxter State Park is a busy place as the fall hiking season draws to a close. The energy in the park is invariably buzzing: families are getting in their last trips before school, leaf-peepers are making the pilgrimage to see the changing foliage, and Appalachian Trail thru-hikers are making their way to the summit of Katahdin. For years, restrictions around the ATā€™s northern terminus have caused the park to gain notoriety among thru-hikers. For some long-distance hikers bringing their journeys to a close, navigating the parkā€™s crowds and camping reservation system can feel uninviting at best, and like a downright stressful end to the trip of a lifetime at worst.

In 2015, tensions between thru-hikers and park administration came to a head when ultrarunner on the AT and celebrated with his team with a bottle of champagne on the summit of Katahdin. Officials him for consumption of alcohol inside the park, hiking with a group larger than 12, and littering (spraying champagne in the air). The incident kicked off a debate about the commercialization of the outdoors and the parkā€™s relationship with AT hikers.

A few weeks later, I made my way to the northern terminus feeling anxious about . Word on the trail was that the rangers were mad at the example Jurek had set for other long-distance hikers, and that they were strictly enforcing rules to fight back. At that time, Katahdin already had the reputation of being a logistical challenge for long-distance backpackers: standard campsites fill up months in advance, and the park has just one 12-person walkup shelter reserved for thru-hikers. As rangers were up in arms about the regulations, thru-hikers like myself felt entitled after traveling 2,200 miles to make it to Katahdin, and mightā€™ve even considered breaking the parkā€™s rules if the camping reservation process proved difficult to follow.

The scene I found upon my arrival was nothing like my nightmares. The Birches shelter, where thru-hikers can camp, was far from full. And it was actually really easy to follow the rules: My trail partner and I picked up permits for Katahdin before waking at 3 a.m. for a sunrise summit. At the time, my anxieties about finishing my hike at the northern terminus left me wondering how we got hereā€”and even whether there might be a place better-suited to handling the ATā€™s growing crowds. Katahdin could live without thru-hikers, but could thru-hikers live without Katahdin?

While Baxter State Park itself is home to hundreds of miles of trails, itā€™s best known for Mt. Katahdin, which sees the majority of traffic within the region. The park faces a unique challenge in that itā€™s not only the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, but itā€™s also held in a trust with very specific guidelines surrounding its management. The parkā€™s former owner, Percival P. Baxter, released it for public use in 1931 under an endowment that required limiting vehicle size and the number of campsites within the park. As a result, officials are not allowed to develop new campsites even as the park becomes more popular.

Leah Beck, the Maine Regional Manager for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), told me that in 2015, officials realized they needed to come up with a plan to balance thru-hikersā€™ and visitorsā€™ needs with park regulations. While 2015 was the most notable example of the strain between hikers and rangers in the parkā€™s history, every year, a few hikers set a poor example in Baxter State Park by doing things like ā€œstealth campingā€ in undesignated areas and otherwise ignoring the rules.

One of the ways that officials have monitored unruly hikers is by crowdsourcing information both in Maine and south of the region. Baxter State Park, Search and Rescue members, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy regularly work together to create awareness about big groups of hikers or known rebels who are headed to Katahdin. Since a monthly meeting was established to address these issues, ā€œwe hear very few reports of any summit behavior issues,ā€ said Beck.

In addition to regularly discussing community and hiker concerns in the region, an ATC ranger is stationed at Abol Bridgeā€”the gateway into ā€”to assist hikers looking to find camping. Itā€™s often easier than many thru-hikers imagine, since the thru-hiker shelter seldom fills up. When it does, rangers help hikers find other legal camping options in or near the park

ā€œItā€™s actually less common than people think for the Birches to be full and for them not to have additional sites at Katahdin Stream or another campground,ā€ said Beck.

Baxter State Park Ranger Bruce White told me that nearly 3,000 thru-hikers came through the park in 2022 compared to about 2,000 in 2015. Yet the parkā€™s rules and regulations remain largely the same.

ā€œAs far as restrictions, there really arenā€™t a whole lot other than we do require them to be in designated campsites,ā€ he said. ā€œā€¦.But I think thereā€™s a little animosity. People feel that they wonā€™t get a site in Baxter Park. And in August that is a possibility.ā€

Occasionally, the park receives really big groups of thru-hikers, which causes another technical strain on the trail since group sizes are limited to 12 people within the park. Adhering to this regulation forces officials and hikers to collaborate to ensure that the park remains within its legal trust limits.

White added that since 2015, the nearby town of Monson has also made it much easier for hikers to shuttle to and from the park, with several privately-owned businesses like offering rides to reduce the stress of finding a camp spot in park bounds. Still, since Baxter State Park cannot legally change campsites and permits issued to accommodate growing traffic, if hiker numbers keep growing, there will come a point when it will have to turn people away with more regularity.

Interestingly, Katahdin wasnā€™t always the end point of the AT. When the idea of the Appalachian Trail was born, according to Beck, the original maps Benton MacKaye drew designated Mt. Washington as the northern terminus, with potential extensions or ā€œbranch trails.ā€ One of those branches became the 330-mile route between Mt. Washington and Katahdin that hikers tackle today. It wasnā€™t until four years after that early map that Katahdin was labeled as the northern terminus, and the designation became official in 1928. As of 2024, Mt. Washington is the only northern terminus aside from Katahdin to ever formally be considered.

A benefit of considering an alternate terminus is that there may be fewer camping and summiting restrictions in place, which could alleviate some of the stress of finishing the trail. The ATC suggests that moving the northern terminus to a location with fewer legal limitations could resolve some of the camping and usage issues of Baxter State Park, but wouldnā€™t solve problems related to hiker behavior.

ā€œMoving the terminus to an area with different management mandates will likely have no impact on the behavior of the very small percentage of AT hikers causing the problem,ā€ said Beck. ā€œThere could be fewer restrictions for them to bump up against, depending on where the terminus moves, but the problem behavior will still exist.ā€

Despite recognizing some of the benefits of an alternative northern terminus, neither the ATC nor Baxter State Park currently has plans in place to advocate for such a monumental change. Doing so would involve obtaining trail rights in areas where they donā€™t already exist, and working with private landowners to acquire access in non-public areas.

Thru-hikersā€™ anxieties remain high during peak season and in October, when the park seasonally closes Mt. Katahdin to hiker traffic. Even in optimal conditions, climbing Katahdin involves light bouldering, lugging yourself up iron rungs, and tackling extremely steep terrain. When winter comes, those conditions are generally considered to be unsafe for hikers by Baxter State Park.

Even if authorities decide that a change as drastic as moving the terminus is eventually necessary, that point would be years away at least. The number of hikers on the AT has held steady or even dropped since Covid, suggesting that nothing needs to change yet. But growing interest in one of Americaā€™s most beautiful and difficult trails could flip the narrative.

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We get itā€”not everyone wants to pitch a tent and forego showers when visiting our public lands. And honestly, because of a recent boom in new national-park lodging, you donā€™t have to. In 2020, I moved into my minivan and traveled to nearly every park in the U.S., penning dispatches about them for ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų. When I wasnā€™t catnapping in the back of my vehicle, I occasionally splurged on fun motels and lodges in gateway towns.

Whether ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š headed to the rust red maw of the Grand Canyon or the wooded summits of Great Smoky Mountains, loads of new hotels and glamping retreats are popping up to meet the demands of park visitors, whose numbers have exploded since the pandemic. From retro-futuristic roadside motels to Dolly Parton-themed resorts and remodeled national-park lodges, thereā€™s a little something for everyone on this list.

1. Ofland Escalante

Closest national park: Bryce Canyon, Utah

Best for: Chic glamping, tiny homes, post-hike hot tubs

With its modernist cabins, spa-inspired bathhouses, and food truck that serves up Americana fare (like meatloaf patty melts and cornbread French toast), this newer outpost on Southern Utahā€™s stunning Highway 12 just rebranded and added deluxe cabins in 2024 and is a true outdoor-loverā€™s paradise. Situated a mere ten minutes from Hole in the Rock Road, the washboard byway leading to many of Grand Staircase Escalanteā€™s top slot canyons, is the ultimate, pet-friendly base camp for exploring the Beehive Stateā€™s red-rock country.

An hourā€™s drive delivers you to the colorful hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, while a 90-minute car ride gets you up to my personal Utah fave, Capitol Reef. In the evening, enjoy a steamy outdoor shower, followed by a drive-in movie with free popcorn at Oflandā€™s own big-screen theater, or plop into the propertyā€™s pool and hot tub before enjoying the snap, crackle, and pop of your personal fire pit. If itā€™s not too hot, spend an afternoon clambering around in Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons.

2. Populus Hotel

Closest national park: Rocky Mountain, Colorado

Best for: Eco-friendly amenities, luxe dining, nearby art museums

Set in downtown Denver, a stoneā€™s throw from the State Capitol, the Denver Art Museum, and Civic Center Park, is making history in 2024 as the nationā€™s first carbon-positive hotel. It has been designed from the ground up to utilize solar and wind power, highlight locally sourced ingredients from Colorado in each of its dining concepts, and closely monitor all emissions so that remaining carbon is balanced out by supporting projects that capture carbon elsewhere. The hotel has already planted over 70,000 trees (and counting).

A stay at Populus is ideal for the Denver-bound traveler who wants to experience the best of two worlds: city-focused creature comforts with the option to hike amidst the Rocky Mountain National Park tundra or scramble up . With the Wild Basin entrance roughly 66 miles away, itā€™s an easy day trip to the park. Rooms here are jaw-droppingly gorgeous and themed after the stateā€™s famous aspen trees, with ultra-soft earth-toned bedding, natural forest sounds in the elevators, and eyelet-shaped windows overlooking the Denver skyline.

Chow down on post-hike grub with dreamy sunset views at the on-site rooftop restaurant Stellar Jay or enjoy fresh, seasonal Colorado fare at the downstairs restaurant Pasque, both helmed by executive chef Ian Wortham.

3. The Pathmaker Hotel

Closest national park: Acadia, Maine

Best for: Exploring downtown Bar Harbor, ocean strolls, simple elegance

With a primo location in downtown Bar Harbor, two blocks from the Bar Island Trail, whale-watching tours and the delicious, creamy rolls at Stewman’s Lobster Pound, opens in late 2024. Featuring suites, double queen, and classic king-sized rooms decorated in elegant neutral tones, this hotel also offers kitchenettes with mini-fridges and microwaves. Whatā€™s even better is that breakfast is included, making it easy to start your morning hike up neighboring or a stroll around Sieur de Montsā€™ historic gardens with a full belly.

Itā€™s also worth noting that Acadia is home to 45 miles of crushed-stone carriage roads, which are all bike- and dog-friendly. Rent a bicycle at Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop, a five-minute walk from the hotelā€™s front door, and spend a day zipping around the park without your car before relaxing with a pot of tea and freshly made popovers at Jordan Pond Houseā€“it was one of my favorite things I did on my giant parks road trip.

4. The Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa

Closest national park: Grand Teton, Wyoming

Best for: Spa getaways, Jackson ski and hiking trips, luxury mountain vibes

Just remodeled and reopened in early July, following a devastating 2019 fire, this Jackson Hole favorite is back and better than ever. rooms and suites boast a bit of a chic hunting-lodge feel, complete with stone fireplaces, tufted headboards, and the occasional pop of cowboy-themed art.

Fly fish in the Snake River, feel the leg burn on a hike up , or pop on over to the nearby National Elk Refuge for a . When ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š done exploring the toothy Teton Range, fill up on Idaho Trout Saltimbocca at the lodgeā€™s Wild Sage Restaurant, or indulge in a CBD-infused herbal sugar scrub at its Body Sage Spa. Either way, youā€™ll leave feeling full and rejuvenated.

5. Wildhaven Yosemite

Closest national park: Yosemite, California

Best for: Affordable glamping, Yosemite Valley exploration, communal hangs

is making waves this year as the newest glamping resort outside the Free Solo-famous Yosemite National Park. Situated 34 miles from the Arch Rock Entrance Station on 36 rugged acres of rolling Sierra Nevada foothills, the property offers 30 safari tents and 12 tiny cabins, well-appointed with amenities like fire pits and private decks.

A communal BBQ area boasts grills and shaded picnic tables, while glamping sites share communal bathrooms and showers. After a day of hiking and snapping photos of from Cookā€™s Meadow, recharge your electronics with electricity access in every tent.

Complimentary coffee and tea help start your day off, and every stay at Wildhaven includes access to on-site classes and events, like Yogasemite yoga classes and Sierra Cider tastings, for when ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š not huffing and puffing up Upper Yosemite Falls for those epic views. Looking for even more regional glamping news? A top national-park lodging purveyor, , has announced that itā€™s also opening a brand-new Yosemite location near Big Oak Flat in 2025.

6. Field Station Joshua Tree

Closest national park: Joshua Tree, California

Best for: Mountain bikers, large groups, pool hangouts

are designed with the intrepid outdoorsperson in mind. Bike racks for your hardtail are in every room, hooks for hanging packs are in ample supply, and an on-site gear shop makes it easy to grab any of the Ten Essentials you might have forgotten before speeding off and into the park, which is just 13 miles (a 20- to 25-minute drive) away by car. If ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š a diehard coffee drinker, youā€™ll be thrilled that the lodge has a small espresso bar, Little Station Coffee & Kitchen, which serves everything from cold brew to toasted bagels to start your morning out right.

Choose between standard king-bed rooms and double-queen bunk rooms (which sleep up to 10) and have plenty of space for your whole crew to spread out and save cash, then head on over to the North Entrance (itā€™s the closest one) of Joshua Tree and enjoy epic trails like the or bouldering along the formation-filled .

When ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š not adventuring in the park, donā€™t miss the Noah Purifoy Outdoor Museum in town, which exhibits loads of large-scale found-object art, like TVs and rubber tires.

7. Dollywoodā€™s HeartSong Lodge & Resort

Closest national park: Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee and North Carolina

Best for: Families, pool time, East Coast hikers

Opened in November 2023, seems tailor-made for families traveling with young kids. Even the hotelā€™s standard-issue rooms offer fun extras, like murphy beds, sleeper sofas, clothing-storage space, and mini fridges. Lovely mid-century modern furnishings combine with a massive stone fireplace in the four-story, atrium-style lobby, where guests can chill out when theyā€™re not splashing about in the large pool complex or dining at one of the lodgeā€™s four restaurant options.

Though the resort is clearly geared towards travelers heading into the Dollywood theme park (thereā€™s complimentary trolley service from the hotel), itā€™s also a brief 15-mile (20-minute) drive to Great Smoky Mountainsā€™ Sugarlands Visitor Center. From there, visitors can easily drive to the exceedingly popular , or gaze out at verdant, forested hills at Newfound Gap, which marks the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. Best of all, adjoining rooms and roomy family suites with cozy bunk beds make it easy for you and your loved ones to spend loads of time together, whether thatā€™s in the lodge or trekking to the parkā€™s many rushing waterfalls.

8. Flamingo Lodge

Closest national park: Everglades, Florida

Best for: Birders, paddlers, Tropical Florida ambiance

Initially opened in the 1960s as part of the National Park Serviceā€™s retro-futuristic Mission 66 Project, Flamingo Lodge was forced to shut its doors in 2005, after suffering extensive damage from Hurricane Wilma, when storm surges swelled up to nine feet. Thankfully, , which is named after the distinctive pink birds that once migrated to the area in droves, before plume-hunters nearly poached them out of existence, has been fully rebuilt and reopened in October 2023.

Itā€™s the only non-camping, non-houseboat option for accommodations inside the parklodging available inside Everglades National Park, and given the parkā€™s enormous acreage (at 1.5 million acres, it is roughly twice the size of Yosemite), creates a welcome bastion for beachgoers exploring the stateā€™s coastal prairie and boaters enjoying the sunshine and warm, tropical air of the Florida Bay.

Inside the lodgeā€™s four eco-friendly container buildings are 24 spacious guest rooms, ranging from studios to two-bedroom suites, in clean neutral hues with the occasional pop of tropical jewel tones. Also onsite are a restaurant serving organic, locally sourced cuisine (think breakfast burritos and pineapple pulled-pork sandwiches) and a marina, where visitors can rent anything from bicycles to double kayaks and pontoon boats. Spend a day cycling the and keep your eyes peeled for huge herons.

9. Americana Motor Hotel

Closest national park: Grand Canyon, Arizona

Best for: Travelers with dogs, EV road trips, hipster pool scene

Thereā€™s so much to love about the Jetsonsā€™-style that itā€™s hard to fit it all into a single paragraph, but weā€™ll do our darndest. Set in the northern Arizona city of Flagstaff, one hour from the Grand Canyon and 90 minutes from Petrified Forest, this vintage-style motor lodge should check every box on your Route 66 daydream list. First of all, there are EV chargers aplenty, free morning coffee, and communal fire pits with outdoor hang space.

But this site truly goes above and beyond the standard-issue motel amenities by offering loaner telescopes for optimized night-sky viewing, year-round heated pool, and a fenced-in ā€œbarkyardā€ with a dedicated dog-wash station to rinse off your muddy trail pooch. Theyā€™ve even got free hotel bicycles for those wishing to take a spin around Flagstaff.

The interiors of the rooms are just as fabulous as the resortā€™s exterior, with space-age dĆ©cor (think astronaut sculptures and galaxy wall art), walk-in showers, and disco balls. Hungry? After a trek down to or a stroll along the Grand Canyonā€™s South Rim, fill up at the Americanaā€™s Pacific Mexican seafood truck, Baja Mar, which dishes out badass shrimp ceviche and battered fish tacos to hungry hikers.

Emily Pennington is a freelance journalist specializing in outdoor adventure and national parks. Sheā€™s traveled to public lands on all seven continents and visited all 63 U.S. national parks. Her book, , was released in 2023. This year, sheā€™s getting more acquainted with her new backyard, Rocky Mountain National Park.

The post The Best New Hotels with Easy Access to U.S. National Parks appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

What is a national monument, anyway? Thatā€™s what I kept asking myself as I rode a mountain bike down a rocky trail on sedimentary layers in the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument. I was rapidly approaching a lower point on the northern rim of the canyon, which is more than a mile deep at some sections. I stopped 2,000 feet above the bottom of the gorge and watched the Colorado River curve through steep cliffs.

The scenery is stunning, the landscape hugeā€¦so how is it different than a national park? Turns out, not all that much, at least from a visitorā€™s standpoint. Most national monuments protect vast landscapes of environmental, cultural, or scenic importance. Ditto national parks.

The real difference is how theyā€™re created: national parks are voted into place by Congress, national monuments are designated by presidents via the Antiquities Act. With monuments thereā€™s less red tape, but sometimes more drama (see Bears Ears, below). Also, while many national monuments are managed by the park service, some are managed by the U.S. Forest Service and others are run by the Bureau of Land Management.

There are 133 national monuments scattered across the U.S., usually no less magnificent than their more famous national-park cousins. Sometimes they have fewer amenities (many lack visitor centers, some have no paved roads), and most of them have fewer crowds. Traveling more than 100 miles around last May, I never saw anyone outside of my own group. That would not have been the case in Grand Canyon National Park. Meanwhile the adventure was just as epic.

Iā€™ve gathered 11 of the greatest national monuments in the country, from green mountains on the East Coast to canyons full of cliff dwellings in the Southwest, to fields of wildflowers on the West Coast. Most of these monuments arenā€™t famous, but all deserve to be on your bucket list.

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Maine

Katahdin Woods and Waters encompasses 87,563 acres of remote mountains, rivers, and backcountry ponds in northern Maine, sustaining healthy populations of moose and black bears. The monument sits to the east of Baxter State Park, where the Appalachian Trail finishes on top of 5,269-foot Mount Katahdin.

While this neighbor park hosts the last, most difficult gasp of the ā€œA.T.,ā€ Katahdin Woods and Waters has 30 miles of the (a northerly variant that begins here and extends through New Brunswick, Quebec, and a ferry route to Newfoundland), along with a tumultuous portion of the East Branch of the Penobscot River, which flows for 25 miles south through the monument, dropping more than 200 feet in its first 10 miles in a series of waterfalls. Cross-country skiing is popular during the winter; hiking rules in the summer.

ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: If you want a quick taste of the monument, the 17-mile Katahdin Loop Road offers short hikes and grand scenic overlooks. But to truly experience Katahdin Woods and Waters, tackle the 10-mile round-trip hike to the summit of via a portion of the Appalachian Trail. Youā€™ll have to ford the thigh-deep Wassataquoik Stream and climb almost 1,600 feet, but 360-degree views and a historic fire tower reward you at the 1,942-foot summit. The monument is primitive, without a lot of developed facilities (nor any flush toilets). There are , but you need reservations.

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah

Sandwiched between Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon, gets its name from the series of plateaus that descend between those two massive and scenic ditches. Not to be outdone by its more famous neighbors, which cover 36,000 and 1.2 million acres respectively, Grand Staircase is nearly 1.9 million acres of colorful sandstone canyons, cliffs, and arches.

ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: Connecting in the Dry Fork area of Grand Staircase-Escalante makes for the perfect entry into this unique terrain. Itā€™s a three-mile loop, but plan on a whole afternoon exploring the narrow red- and purple-walled gulches. Some of the passages in Spooky get tight, and there is mandatory scrambling, but no technical climbing is required. If you want to explore more technical canyons, has been guiding canyoneering trips in the monument for more than two decades, and offers a rotating roster of full-day adventures packed with rappels (from $225 per person).

Bears Ears National Monument, Utah

Named after twin buttes rising from the desert floor of Southeastern Utah, has seen more than its share of debate since it was established by President Obama in 2016. The 1.36-million-acre monument is a place of scenic glory and cultural significance: massive red rock cliffs and canyons abound, and a bevy of Native American historical artifacts, from cliff dwellings to pictographs, have been found here.

Today, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, Ute Indian Tribe, and Zuni Tribe all participate in stewardship of Bears Ears as a sacred place. In 2022, the Biden administration signed an agreement that gives those five tribes input into management of the area, and the five Tribes of the Bears Ears Commission (the Commission) and federal agencies released a this year. As for recreation, the Indian Creek Unit, in the northern section of Bears Ears, is a mecca for climbers, who come for the seemingly endless number of cracks in the red rock cliffs. Hikers and bikers follow trails and view artifacts across the region.

ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: Bears Ears holds world-class climbing. Sadly, Iā€™ve never climbed in the area (itā€™s on my list), but Iā€™ve bike-packed through the monument and was awestruck by the sheer volume of towering rock. There are thousands of climbing routes, though not many for beginners. Supercrack Buttress has a high percentage of classic climbs, including the historic Supercrack of the Desert, a sustained and strenuous 5.10+. Consider a full-day guided climbing adventure in Indian Creek with the Moab-based (from $220 per person).

To see some of the cultural artifacts within Bears Ears, hike an easy through Mule Canyon where the payoff is access to a series of cliff dwellings tucked into a sandstone overhang. The most notable home has been dubbed ā€œhouse on fire,ā€ because of the fire-red-toned rock that forms its ceiling. The hike itself is relatively flat as it traverses the dry gorge, with some optional scrambling up sandstone slopes at the end.

There are three designated campgrounds in Indian Creek, all first-come, first-served ($15 a night). has 10 sites tucked into mushroom-shaped outcroppings. Always bring plenty of water; thereā€™s no potable water at any of the established campgrounds.

Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming

Created by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, was the first national monument in the country, and itā€™s still one of the most distinctive. The center of the monument is Devils Tower, a solitary butte rising almost 900 feet from the prairie. The monument is not large, at just 1,346 acres, and there are only five hiking trails within the designated area, and all can be combined for a full day of hiking. Tackling only the will give you a good sense of the landscape, as it delivers views of the massive tower and the more serene Belle Fourche River Valley.

ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: Climbers have been drawn to Devils Tower for many decades. Parallel cracks divide the formation into large hexagonal columns, and create a variety of crack and corner climbs for experienced traditional climbers. Routes range from 5.7 to 5.13. Durrance, a 500-foot, six-pitch 5.7, is widely considered the easiest way to the summit. Register your climb at the trailhead to Tower Trail, the approach to the monolith, and heed the June voluntary climbing closure, which was implemented out of respect for Native American tribes associated with the tower, which perform ceremonies at the tower during the month. has 46 first-come, first-served sites under cottonwood trees ($20 per night).

Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado and Utah

preserves 210,000 acres of western Colorado and eastern Utah, where the mighty Green and Yampa rivers converge, creating 2,500-foot-deep canyons. Within the monument are whitewater rapids, red rock canyons, dinosaur fossils encased in rock, and 1,000-year-old petroglyphs and pictographs left by the Fremont people. You can get a sense of the monument by car; Harpers Corner Road is a 32-mile one-way scenic road with views of the Green and Yampa rivers.

If you have a 4WD, peel off the paved road and head to the Echo Park area, the monumentā€™s signature landscape where the Yampa flows into the Green and the conjoined river wraps around the massive Steamboat Rock. Thereā€™s a picnic table if you just want to take in the view, or you can camp (see below).

ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: Raft the Green River through the heart of the monument. The classic run starts at the Gates of Lodore in Colorado and ends at the Split Mountain Campground in Utah. Itā€™s a class III trip, appropriate for families. runs four-day trips with catered meals (from $1,499 per adult). There are six established campgrounds, all of which are located on either the Green or Yampa rivers, within the monument. has a small campground with 22 sites, first-come, first-served ($10 per site).

Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, Arizona

While Grand Canyon National Park encompasses arguably the most dramatic swath of ā€œthe great ditch,ā€ the lays claim to more than 1 million acres in northern Arizona, including the less crowded and still awe-inspiring northern stretch of the Grand Canyon. The terrain is a mix of Mojave desert, ponderosa pine forest, broad plateaus, and deep canyons.

Just traveling through the monument is an adventure, as there are no paved roads, only 4WD routes and hiking trails. Donā€™t come looking for a visitor center or developed campgrounds. Youā€™re on your own. I spent a few days driving ATVs, biking, trail running, and camping in and around this monument and was amazed at the views and solitude.

The roads in this monument are rough. This is legitimate 4×4 terrain, so always bring spare tires, and if ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š not comfortable with that sort of travel, this may not be the monument for you. There are others!

ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: If you have a high-clearance 4WD, Grand Canyon-Parashant offers nearly limitless options. Try the 80-mile trek to , which passes through ponderosa pine forest and fields of grazing cattle on its way to a three-sided perch on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, with views of Sanup Plateau, Burnt Canyon, and Surprise Canyon. The dirt road turns to clay as it approaches the Grand Canyon, which can be impassable after a heavy rain. There are a number of primitive campsites along the rim of the canyon; only pitch a tent in sites with existing fire rings.

There arenā€™t a lot of designated hiking trails within the monument, but check out the six-mile out-and-back up , which leads to a doozy of a view of the Grand Canyon. The trail follows an old roadbed up the side of the 7,072-foot peak crossing over chunky, volcano rock towards the summit. On a clear day you can see Mt. Charleston, outside of Las Vegas, on the horizon, as well as the western end of the Grand Canyon.

Colorado National Monument, Colorado

High on the Colorado Plateau, near Grand Junction, the 20,533-acre could be considered a mini Grand Canyon, as the red rock canyons the monument encompasses are full of towers and rock formations, like the puffy-looking Coke Ovens pinnacles. You can glimpse much of the monument from the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive, which runs along the edge of the canyon with near-constant high views.

ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: Climbing Independence Monument, a sandstone spire that rises 450 feet from the heart of the canyon, might be the signature adventure in the monument. A number of different routes ascend the tower, most of them four to five pitches, followed by a double rappel to descend. The 5.8 Ottoā€™s Route is the classic line. leads day trips up Independence (from $375 for the first climber). has 80 sites, with half first-come, first-served, while the other half can be reserved in advance ($22 a night).

A number of short hikes begin at Rim Rock Drive. is my favorite, as the 1.5-mile out and back leads through some impressive sandstone outcroppings, including the Devils Kitchen, a large natural opening surrounded by towering upright boulders.

Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness, Alaska

is quintessential Alaska: 2.2 million acres of rainforest, coastal cliffs, and narrow fjords where glacier-carved rock walls rise 3,000 feet from the sea. In this monument, part of the Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska, waterfalls drop directly into the bay, while backcountry lakes and streams are surrounded by thick vegetation. Most people experience Misty Fjords via a scenic flight or boat cruise from nearby Ketchikan, but kayakers have free rein.

ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: Kayaking is the best way to explore this monument, with its complex shores and many secluded coves. The Behm Canal, a natural channel of calm water carved by glaciers, slices through the heart of Misty Fjords like a highway for boaters. On the east end of the canal, Walker Cove and Punchbowl Cove, where 3,000-foot granite walls rise from the edges of the water, are popular boater destinations with day hikes leading from rocky beaches.

Punchbowl Lake Trail is a two-mile out and back that climbs through the rainforest to a small lake with its own granite walls forming a ring around it. runs a six-day guided kayaking trip into Misty Fjords that will have you paddling up to 12 miles a day, hiking to interior lakes, and camping on remote beaches ($1,800 per person).

Thirteen public-use scattered across the monument can be reserved in advance (from $45 a night), as can four first-come, first-served shelters. Punchbowl Lake Shelter, in Punchbowl Cove, might be the best of the lot, as itsits on the edge of a small lake, with access to a canoe.

Carrizo Plain National Monument, California

No cliffs, no caves, no canyonsā€¦ is just a massive expanse of rolling grassland, 15 miles wide and 50 miles long, butting up against the 3,000- to 4,000-foot Temblor Mountains in Southern California. This stretch might sound ho-hum until you realize that the vast prairie is absolutely popping with colorful wildflowers in the spring.

The Nature Conservancy, which worked to protect the Carrizo Plain, acquiring the land and partnering with the BLM and California Department of Fish and Game to manage it, compares the landscape to that of the Serengeti because itā€™s home to Californiaā€™s highest concentration of threatened and endangered species, including the pronghorn antelope and San Joaquin kit fox. The centerpiece of the monument is Soda Lake, a normally dry alkali lake bed that occasionally fills with water after heavy rains andĀ  shimmers white with deposits of sulfates and carbonates after that water has evaporated. It looks like a circle of baking soda surrounded by tall grasses and wildflowers.

(Photo: Courtesy Gaia GPS)

ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: Soda Lake sits near the north entrance of the monument, and you can see it via the 2.1-mile Overlook Hill Trail. But for a real sense of the scope of these plains, bring your gravel bike and pedal a big loop through the rolling hills past the remnants of former ranches, and look for elk and antelope on the prairie. Show up in spring and you may be greeted by colorful fields of poppies, goldfields, and white and yellow tidy tips that stretch toward the horizon. Traffic is minimal, and you can put together a variety of different rides. A great one is a 60-mile all-day adventure on mixed surfaces, combining Elkhorn Road, Panorama Road, Soda Lake Road, and Simmler Road, covering the heart of the monument and with views of Soda Lake.

Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico

Protecting the traditional lands of roughly 23 tribal nations, is worth visiting from a cultural perspective alone. But the landscape is also remarkable, as the 33,677-acre monument is packed with mesas, canyons and a federally designated wilderness with 70 miles of backcountry hiking. Ancient culture and dramatic terrain mesh in the monumentā€™s cliff dwellings, homes that the Ancestral Pueblo people built directly into the sides of rock walls.

ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: Take your time and explore the archeological sites in Bandelier. The 1.4-mile winds through a series of small alcoves carved in the soft rock walls that you can access via ladders, and into the ruins of large stone houses. From the Pueblo Loop, tack on a one-mile out-and-back side trip to the Alcove House, a massive carved niche that was once home to 25 people. You can reach it by climbing a series of steps and ladders.

(Photo: Courtesy Gaia GPS)

has 57 campsites, 16 of which are first-come, first-served, while the rest can be reserved up to six months in advance ($20 per site).

San Juan Islands National Monument, Washington

Not to be confused with the San Juan Islands National Historic Park, the protects 1,000 acres of the Puget Sound islands, covering a contrasting mix of green-forested coves, sheer bluffs, rocky beaches, and lighthouses, all managed by the BLM and scattered throughout the larger 450-island San Juan archipelago adjacent to the Canadian border.

ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: The monument is scattered throughout the Puget Sound, so you need a boat to do it justice. Itā€™s tough to decide where to focus your energy in the San Juans, but Patos Island should be on your itinerary. This 200-acre spit of land is managed by the BLM in conjunction with Washington State Parks, and has beaches, hiking trails, a historic lighthouse, and established (from $12 a night). Itā€™s also the northernmost point in the Lower 48.

If you want to explore more of the monument, offers a variety of kayak tours throughout the San Juan Islands. Check out their five-day expedition that features amping on small islands and peeping at orcas from the belly of a boat (from $1,199 per person).

How to Be a Conscientious Traveler

National monuments often lack the same infrastructure as national parks, which means they may not have the staff on-site to help with questions, clean up campsites, or offer guidance. Itā€™s super important to practice principles in these monuments, and be aware of the cultural importance of the landscape. Many of these properties encompass the historical territory of Native Peoples and contain artifacts that are important to their heritage. Be kind and respectful, leave what you find, and whenever you have the opportunity, use local guides and purchase items from local shops.

Graham Averill is ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų magazineā€™s national parks columnist. In his opinion, national monuments represent the best of Americaā€™s public lands: with all the beauty of national parks, but none of the crowds.

For more by Graham Averill, see:

The 5 Best National Park Road Trips in the U.S.

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

And the 11 Least Visited National Parks Areā€¦

The 10 Best Backpacking Trails in Our National Parks

The post Put These Beautiful National Monuments on Your Must-See List appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

The hike was hot and brutal. My wife and I started on the edge of Sabana de la Mar, a village in the Dominican Republic, after breakfast and drove our rental car until the road ended. Then we navigated patchwork farms until dipping into the jungle and heading toward the coast. Liz and I were young and unprepared, so we ran out of food and water almost immediately, eating mangoes from trees and trying to crack coconuts in our thirst.

Our goal was an isolated beach with a two-stool, open-air bar that you could only reach by boat or hike. We were tired of crowded resorts and wanted something serene. We didn’t find a boat so we hiked. And hiked. And hiked. The bar was closed when we got there, but we had the beach to ourselves: a quarter-moon sliver of sand flanked by tall palms, the Samana Bay stretched out before us.

Sometimes I want to stand on a beach or outcropping or mountaintop and know that the nearest McDonaldā€™s is days away. But just because a destination is far-flung doesnā€™t mean you actually want to go there.

For example, the farthest-away spot in the United States is Saint Matthew Island, which is technically part of Alaska, but located in the Bering Sea more than 180 miles from the nearest human settlement, halfway to Siberia. You have to take a 24-hour ship ride to reach the island, which is battered by storms and shrouded in fog. Oh, and itā€™s cold. Iā€™m sure Saint Matthew has its charms, but I can think of more pleasant remote places to vacation.

So, I started looking into destinations across the globe that occupy that sweet spot of ā€œremoteā€ and ā€œattractive.ā€ Thereā€™s a variety of landscapes on this list, from dunes to hot springs, so itā€™s not just tropical atolls,Ā although theyā€™re in here, too.

Here are 11 far-flung places worth the endeavor to see them. These spots are just the beginning. Itā€™s a great big world out there. While this is bucket-list stuff, damn, itā€™s fun to dream.

1. Remote Tropical Island

Lord Howe Island, Australia

Traveling to a remote island doesnā€™t always mean you have to enter survival mode. is a volcanic remnant in the Tasman Sea, roughly 320 miles east of New South Wales, Australia. Itā€™s remote, sure, but it also has some pretty plush digs, and a small population (roughly 350 people) living on the northern tip of the island opens apartments and small lodges to travelers.

The south end of the island is comprised of primeval forest, isolated beaches, volcanic crags, and towering peaks. The island is only seven miles long and 1.25 miles wide, but roughly 70 percent of that mass is protected as a Permanent Park Preserve. Moreover, locals limit the number of tourists, not allowing more than 400 on the island on any given day.

While ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š on-island, spend your time snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters of Nedā€™s Beach, where sand leads to a coral reef teeming with mullet and kingfish. Arrange with your lodge host for a guide to take you on the three-mile trek to the top of Mount Gower. Itā€™s an all-day adventure that has you scrambling up volcanic rock and hiking through the lush interior forest. The summit rises 2,870 feet above sea level, punctuating the south end of the island.

Or, book a to Ballā€™s Pyramid, the largest sea stack in the world, rising 1,807 feet from the ocean roughly 14 miles south of Lord Howe. There, youā€™ll see turtles, wahoo, and the rare Ballina Angelfish. Trips and rates are determined once ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š on island, but you can book single-dive excursions to other sites for $160 per person.

How to Get There: A limited number of commercial flights reach Lord Howe from Sydney. Itā€™s a two-hour flight. Accommodations are scarce on the island (there are only 400 beds in total), so book your lodging at the same time as your flight. has relatively affordable rates (from $300 a night). If ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š looking to splurge, stay at the , which has nine suites with views of both the Pacific Ocean and Mount Gower (starting at $1,900).

2. Remote Hike

Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, Iceland

The is one of the most isolated areas in Iceland, enveloping a 220-square-mile chunk of the Westfjords, a peninsula on the northern tip of the country where towering cliffs meet deep fjords. Uninhabited since the 1950s, the reserve is blossoming from an environmental perspective; since the last residents left, and with a hunting ban now in place, local species like the Arctic Fox thrive, while seals flock to the rocks against the water.

The beaches are a mix of sand and smooth stones, while ferns and wildflowers dominate the slopes up to the cliffs, with icefields above and waterfalls that drop straight into the sea. Hornbjarg, a massive buttress that rises 534 meters from the Arctic Ocean, looking like a cresting wave, is the biggest draw for hikers. The starts on the gray-sand beach on Hornvik Bay where most people are dropped off (see below) and climbs 3,500 feet up the side of the cliffs.

How to Get There: Itā€™s a four-hour drive from Reykjavik to Isafjordur, the capital of the Westfjords, from which you charter a boat across the Bay of Hornvik, or arrange for a guide service to take you across. Arriving at the reserve, ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š on foot, as there are no roads or infrastructure. offers daily boat rides across the bay, guided hiking trips, and multi-day camping excursions into Hornstrandir (from $375 per person).

3. Remote Ruins

Rio Bec, Mexico

The , in the state of Campeche at the base of the Yucatan, Mexico, is known for its Maya archaeological sites. Here, the great ancient city of Calakmul has more than 6,000 documented structures, some towering over the surrounding jungle. You can take organized tours of these and other ruins along with thousands of other tourists every year.

Rio Bec, however, is a lesser-known Maya city tucked more deeply into the jungle of the same reserve that gets a fraction of the visitors. The ruins are so remote, and the jungle so dense, that an entire section of the structures was lost for more than 60 years after the original site discovery in 1912. Put in the extra effort (see below) to come here and youā€™ll likely have the site to yourself as you climb the steps of stone pyramids stretching 50 feet high, built around 700 A.D.

Some of the buildings have crumbled, while others still boast the skyward-reaching twin towers indicative of the Rio Bec architectural style, unusual in that it serves no practical purpose other than to make a building look more grand. Faux steps going nowhere are even carved into the tower walls. The jungle surrounding the stone structures is full of howler monkeys, jaguars, and wild pigs, and reaching the site is half the adventure.

How to Get There: Fly into the city of Campeche (thereā€™s an international airport) and drive 300 kilometers to Xpujil, the largest town near the Biosphere Reserve. Thatā€™s the easy part. No roads lead to Rio Bec, and most tour operators eschew expeditions to the site, as it requires an approach of 15 kilometers (about ten miles) on narrow, difficult trails. Your best option is meeting up with the local guide , who takes small groups into the jungle on ATVs and motorcycles ($450 for two people, in cash).

4. Remote Hot Springs

Uunartoq Hot Springs, Greenland

The Inuit word ā€œUunartoqā€ translates to ā€œthe hot place,ā€ appropriate for this natural spring on an uninhabited island in the middle of a fjord in southern Greenland. While the island has never been permanently settled, legend says that Vikings visited this steaming pool more than 1,000 years ago.

Aside from the addition of a small wooden structure built as a changing room, the springs are the same primitive, rock-dammed pool they have been for centuries. Unlike most hot springs in Greenland (most of which are actually too hot to soak in), the water of Uunartoq is heated not by volcanic activity but by friction, as layers of the earthā€™s crust rub against each other, warming the water and sending it up to the surface.

The springs are usually between 98 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or about the temperature of a welcoming hot tub. Soak in the pool and savor the views of the iceberg-choked bay and the rocky peaks that define southern Greenland. There is no lodging on the island, but ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š welcome to camp. Keep an eye out for the resplendent northern lights.

How to Get There: Fly into the international airport at Narsarsuaq, then catch either a flight or boat to the town of Qaqortoq, the gateway to Uunartoq. A number of operators in town offer boats and tours to the springs. Itā€™s a 1.5-hour ride across the Qaqortoq Fjord, which is full of icebergs and where you may see the occasional humpback whale. offers a half-day trip from June to September ($375 per person). The company also guides trips to the nearby Greenland Ice Cap and multi-day hikes through South Greenland that have you spending nights on local sheep farms (starting at $140 per person).

5. Remote Lookout Tower

Three Fingers Lookout, Washington

Lookout towers are by definition remote, but Three Fingers takes the concept up a notch, sitting on the summit of in the heart of Boulder River Wilderness. It requires technical climbing to approach, so you need the equipment and know-how. Built in 1933 using dynamite to blast off a section of the rocky peak, the structure is so significant that itā€™s on the National Register of Historic Places.

The journey to the tower is awesome but to be taken seriously. Hike for six miles through a dense forest and amid subalpine meadows to Tin Pan Gap, where the technical climbing begins. Youā€™ll need ice axes, crampons, rope, harnesses, and route-finding capabilities to negotiate snowfields and a glacier, scramble up rocky pitches, and finally climb a series of vertical ladders to the lookout on the south peak of Three Fingers Mountain.

The lookout tower sits at 6,854 feet and sleeps three or four peopleā€”first come, first served. The views extend deep into Boulder River wilderness, and youā€™ll be able to spot the 6,865-foot Whitehorse Mountain to the north and 5,437-foot Liberty Mountain to the south. Goat Flat, five miles from the trailhead, is a ridge-top meadow that makes an excellent campsite if you canā€™t score a night in the lookout.

How to Get There: Granite Falls, Washington, is the closest town. The shortest route to the tower is from the trailhead for Trail 641, the , at the end of Tupso Pass Road (FS41). Itā€™s a 15-mile out-and-back trek into Boulder River Wilderness, with almost 4,200 feet of elevation gain. If you want a longer trip, check the Washington Trail Association website for the status of Tupso Pass Road, which was washed out at the time of publication and would add eight miles of gravel road walking. You can also take this .

6. Remote Whitewater

Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho

You want the middle of nowhere? The , in Idaho, is that and then some. The wilderness comprises 2.3 million acres, making it one of the largest roadless areas in the lower 48 (only Death Valley Wilderness is bigger). With two major whitewater riversā€”the Salmon and the Middle Fork of the Salmonā€”flowing through the Frank Church, the best way to explore this vastness is by raft.

Letā€™s focus on the Middle Fork, which slices through the heart of the roadless area for 104 miles, from its source at the confluence of Bear Valley and Marsh Creeks to its convergence with the Salmon. Many consider this to be the best river trip in the country, thanks to the scenery (the waterway rolls through a landscape full of 10,000-foot peaks, vertical cliffs, and thick Douglas fir) and the adrenaline rush (100 rapids, from class III to class IV, in 100 miles).

Thousands of people paddle the Middle Fork every summer. Fortunately, the river is managed for its wilderness quality, with only seven group launches allowed per day during the summer and a 30-person max for commercial trips. During the week-long trip, youā€™ll camp on the beaches, see Native American artifacts like petroglyphs and pottery left by the Nez Perce and Shoshone-Bannock tribes, and soak in hot springs.

The most out-there youā€™ll feel is 80 miles into the trip, paddling into Impassable Canyon, a narrow, steep-walled gorge packed with big rapids. Shortly after entering the canyon, eddy out and take a quick side hike to Veil Falls, a waterfall that drops into a cave-like amphitheater.

How to Get There: Most boaters and commercial trips put in at Indian Creek and take out at Cache Bar, after the rivers converge. offers six-day trips on the whole river ($3,599 per person) with catered meals. If you want to lead your own group, apply for a , to be assigned via a random lottery ($6 reservation fee and $4 per person per day recreation fee). Applications for lottery permits to raft between May 28 and September 3 are accepted from December 1 to January 31, with results announced on February 14.

7. Remote Hike

100-Mile Wilderness, Maine

The 2,000-mile Appalachian Trail is legendary, but itā€™s not exactly remote, considering that it crosses roads and dips into towns along the Appalachian chain up the East Coast. The section, in Maine, is an entirely different story, however, offering a stretch of trail interrupted only by the occasional forest road and fishing camp/hiker lodge.

Hike this piece of the A.T. from highway 15 to Abol Bridge in Baxter State Park if you want a bit of solitude, but be prepared to work for it. The route typically takes 10 days and features more than 20,000 feet of elevation gain up and over the Barren-Chairback and Whitecap Mountain Ranges. Youā€™ll ford rivers and traverse ankle-turning scree. You can filter water along the way, but will need to carry your food, so count on a heavy pack, too.

Cranberry bogs and isolated ponds punctuate the landscape of dense pine and hardwood forest, and you can see Lake Onawa from the rocky peak of Barren Mountain. As for fauna, you may well spot moose as you hike. You can add another 14 miles to the hike to tack on Katahdin (5,268 feet), Maineā€™s highest peak and the official end of the A.T.

How to Get There: Itā€™s easy to reach the southern end of the 100-Mile Wilderness; itā€™s located off highway 15 in Monson. But traversing the truly remote stretches of the A.T. through this stretch of wilderness is up to your legs and lungs. July is the best month, as the black flies have mostly disappeared and the north-bound thru-hikers havenā€™t showed up yet. in Monson offers shuttles and can arrange for food drops to lighten your load. The 100-Mile Wilderness isnā€™t completely devoid of civilization; the Appalachian Mountain Club operates a few lodges in the area, but you wonā€™t see them from the trail.

8. Remote Surf Break

Santa Rosa Island, Channel Islands National Park, California

Channel Islands National Park protects five islands off the coast of Southern California, and all offer the kind of remote setting many of us crave after spending time in a generally populous region. While coming here is an effort, the 53,000-acre Santa Rosa Island promises secluded backcountry beach campsites on soft patches of sand tucked into coves and surrounded by cliffs and sea caves, with wilderness-style surfing where youā€™ll never have to wait in a lineup for a wave.

The only access is via boat. If you take the ferry operated by Island Packers (see below), youā€™ll be dropped off at a pier in Becherā€™s Bay. Just 1.5 miles from the pier is the 15-site Water Canyon Campground, with drinking water and shelter from the sun. There are even flush toilets. You could feasibly base out of here and day-hike to various beaches on the southern coast of Santa Rosa, where the surfing is the most consistent in summer. Water Canyon also has its own beach that extends from the pier to East Point for several miles during low tide.

But the best surfing is further south, as the coast picks up south-southwestern swells during the summer. There are breaks along the beaches starting at East Point and moving south down the coast. After a drop-off at the pier (see below), follow Coastal Road south from the pier for several miles through grassland and Torrey Pines until it wraps around East Point. This means carrying your surfboard and camping gear. Youā€™ll see small beaches along the rugged coast that are open for camping between August 15 and December 31. Look for the high-tide line to determine which beach is safe for camping (and then pitch your tent way above that mark). Larger beaches are just another mile down the coast.

Santa Rosa offers loads of other adventures as well. The water is surprisingly clear compared to what you find off the mainland, so snorkeling is primo, with reefs and kelp forests hiding abalone and lobsters. And thereā€™s no light pollution, so the night sky is popping.

How to Get There: If you have a friend with a boat, call in a favor, as you could cruise the 40 miles from SoCal to Santa Rosa and surf one of these remote breaks without needing to camp. Otherwise, catch a ferry with (from $45 per person, one way) and get dropped off at Becherā€™s Bay and start hiking. Make sure you have a in advance (from $15 per night), because youā€™ll need that to reserve a spot on the ferry.

9. Remote Safari

Mount Nkungwe, Tanzania

Africa is brimming with remote places, but , in the western edge of Tanzania, has a special mix of isolation, exceptional wildlife, and beauty. There are no roads within the 632-square-mile park, so all travel is on foot, and Mahale occupies a peninsula jutting into the massive Lake Tanganyika, one of the largest lakes in the world, so the only way to reach it is by plane or a day-long boat ride.

The park was established in 1985 to protect the worldā€™s largest known population of chimpanzees, which today are thriving at 1,000-strong. Itā€™s also one of the few places in the world where chimps and leopards share the same terrain. The parkā€™s landscape quickly shifts from white sandy beaches on the shore of Tanganyika to dense forest and steep mountain slopes cloaked in mist.

Reaching the park alone is a feat, but if you really want to tick off a far-removed spot, climb Mount Nkungwe (8,077 feet), the tallest mountain inside the parkā€™s borders. Itā€™s a grueling 10-day hike, requiring that you go up and over two sub-peaks and gaining more than 6,000 feet in elevation to reach the summit. Most hikers break the trip up into three days, camping along the way. The views from the top are astoundingā€”you can see all of the Mahale Mountains and Lake Tanganyika belowā€”but the summit isnā€™t the real highlight of this journey. In addition to chimpanzees, youā€™ll have the chance to see elephants, giraffes, and buffalo, not to mention the red colobus monkeys that live in the higher elevations of the park.

How to Get There: The fastest way to reach Mahale Mountains National Park is by plane, but most people arrive by boat. Itā€™s easy to charter a boat from the town of Kigoma, and speedboats make the journey in four hours. , a six-tent luxury property on the white sands of Tanganyika, is the most popular place to stay, especially since a family of chimps lives in the jungle nearby (from $2,250 a night during high season between June and September, all inclusive). Published fees to enter the park are $40 per person, but reports from some previous visitors indicate the price fluctuates. All hikes require accompaniment by a ranger. Reach out to the directly for timing, fees, and other information.

10. Remote Dunes

Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Park, Saskatchewan, Canada

The Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Park covers 62 miles of sand dunes in far north Saskatchewan. These are the most northerly sand dunes on the planetā€”a slice of the Sahara in the midst of Canadaā€™s boreal forest. But unlike the Sahara, Athabasca, which is flanked by a large lake and dissected by three rivers, has plenty of fresh water.

You can only reach the dunes by float plane or boat, and there are no services within the park. No roads, no cell service, no rangers or structures, so be prepared to take care of yourself in a wilderness setting. Head to the William River Dune field, where the longest, largest dunes are. Land on the shore of Thomson Bay and hike west across the smaller Thomson Bay Dune Field for four miles to the Williams River. If the waterā€™s low enough, you can wade over to explore the largest dunes in the park. You can within the park from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

How to Get There: Stony Rapids, on the eastern edge of Lake Athabasca, is the closest gateway town, though 90 miles east of the dunes. It has a float-plane base, making chartering a plane easy (but not cheap). Fly to Thomson Bay and start hiking west. offers a guided six-day backpacking adventure that includes the flight into the park from Fort McMurray ($3,900 per person).

11. Remote Mountain Peak

Mount Khuiten, Mongolia

A trip up Mount Khuiten (14,350 feet), the tallest peak in Mongolia, presents experiences in both solitude and culture. Khuiten sits in the heart of Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, which preserves 6,362 square miles of lakes, glaciers, and snow-capped mountains in western Mongolia. Altai is one of those places where you want to have a good map and a local guide, because if you get lost here, you could end up in either China or Russia (the park shares a border with both countries). This is a dream trip but a demanding one, so be experienced and prepared, and arrive fit and with top-flight warm gear. See below for intel on finding a guide.

The park encompasses groupings of petroglyphs and burial sites that illustrate the development of Mongolian nomadic culture over a 12,000-year time period, earning the area status. You have the chance to see some of these petroglyphs on the multi-day journey to the summit of Khuiten. Youā€™ll also see modern-day nomadic culture, as the road into the park passes communities in traditional yurts.

As for the approach, the 10-mile trek from the edge of the park to basecamp ends at the 8.5-mile-wide Potanin Glacier, with camels to carry your gear. Most people climb the smaller sister mountain, Malchin Peak, to acclimatize to the altitude before navigating the crevasses of Potanin Glacier to High Camp on the edge of Khuiten. The final push to the top of Mount Khuiten is 3,000 feet up steep, snow-covered slopes requiring crampons, ice axes, and ropework. The view from the snow-capped summit encompasses all of the Altai Mountains as you gaze down on three countries: Mongolia, China, and Russia.

How to Get There: Fly into UlaanBaatar, Mongolia, and take a domestic puddle jumper to the village of Olgii, on the edge of the park. From there, itā€™s a six-hour drive over rough roads to the ranger station just inside the park. Next ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š on foot for days, depending on how much you want to acclimate, before your summit bid. The trek requires mountaineering skills and local knowledge, so hire a guide. is a trekking company owned by locals that offers a variety of expeditions on and around Khuiten (from $2,600 per person).

How to Be a Conscientious Visitor

Keep in mind some basic rules when ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š traveling to these far-flung locales. Follow Leave No Trace principles, taking everything you brought to the destination back home when you leave. Respect local cultures and customs, and learn about whose land ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š on. Whenever possible, stay in a lodge where the money goes directly to local entrepreneurs, and use local guides and services. Buy something if you can afford it. Always protect the wildlife and natural environment, which means keeping your distance and minimizing your impact.

Graham Averill is ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų magazineā€™s national parks columnist. If he has to choose between a remote beach and a remote mountaintop, itā€™s going to be sand and surf every time.

For more by Graham Averill, see:

7 Most Adventurous Ways to See the Total EclipseĀ of 2024

The 6 Most Adventurous Train Trips in North America

The Best Budget Airlinesā€”and ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Locales They Go To

The post 11 Remote Destinations That Are Definitely Worth the Effort to Visit appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

Monday, April 8, 2024, will be an epic day, when a total eclipse passes over North America. The moon will completely block out the sun, turning day to night across a wide swath of the United States from Texas to Maine. All of us in the nation, wherever weā€™re located, will experience at least a partial eclipse. If ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š in Southern California, the moon will blot out about half of the sun; in Washington State, about 30 percent; and in the mountains of North Carolina, roughly 80 percent.

Total Solar Eclipse 2024: The Path of Totality

If ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š situated directly beneath the celestial event, in the path of totalityā€”which diagonals from Northern Mexico into Texas, up through to Maine, and out over Canadaā€”youā€™ll get the full experience. See the here (use link to download NASAā€™s interactive map).

ā€œA total eclipse is other-worldly,ā€ says Tyler Nordgren, an astronomer and Dark Sky Ambassador for the National Park Service. ā€œThe sky will get dark, colors in the landscape will change. During totality, youā€™ll go from daytime to night, the brightest stars turn out, and the sun turns into a black hole in space. The heavens literally align above you.ā€

An annular eclipse passed over the western United States last October, and in 2017 some of us got to experience a total eclipse (my kids and I watched from a beach in South Carolina), but this impending eclipse will be even more dramatic, promising twice as large an area of totality as in 2017, because the moon is closer to earth and will cast a larger shadow.

Nordgrenā€™s advice for choosing a spot to watch? ā€œGo some place you actually want to visit, because if you get clouded out, ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š somewhere cool.

ā€œEven with socked-in skies,ā€ he adds, ā€œyouā€™ll notice things getting darker, and then it will be dark as night. Youā€™ll experience a truly bizarre day.ā€

Weā€™ve picked seven badass places with fun things to do to make the most of your viewing opportunity. Just don’t forget your protective eyewear.

How to See the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse in ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų-Worthy Ways

1. From a Ski Resort: Jay Peak, Vermont

For a party, look no further than Jay Peak and their , which will feature live music from Pink Talking Fish as they perform the Pink Floyd album Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety. You can expect about four minutes of total darkness during the peak of the event. The lifts will be running before the eclipse starts at 2 P.M., but will stop for the duration of the event. Scenic tram rides to the top of the mountain are booked solid, but to avoid crowds anyways, catch one of the last chairs and ski to a quiet spot on the mountain.

Jay isnā€™t the only resort stoked on the eclipse. Saddleback Mountain, in Maine, will roll its end-of-the-season festivities straight into a that day. Whiteface in upstate New York, also Stowe, Sugarbush, and Mad River in Vermont, and Loon and Cannon Mountains in New Hampshire are all planning watch parties, too.

2.ĢżĀ  From a Canoe: Buffalo National River, Arkansas

The Buffalo National Riverā€”the first ever designated in Americaā€”flows freely across the state of Arkansas for 135 miles, and the majority will be within the path of totality. You can expect roughly 3:30 minutes of total darkness within the park. The Buffalo National River is also a designated International Dark Sky Park, where in the days leading up to the eclipse rangers and astronomy experts will lead various interpretive night-sky programs with the chance to view constellations through telescopes.

For the event, we suggest you ditch the crowds by heading into the backcountry via canoe. The Upper Buffalo is the most scenic area of the river, with 200-500-foot bluffs rising directly from the water. The paddle is generally mellow, but some class I rapids keep things interesting. You can choose from a 10-mile day trip from the Ponca put-in to Kyles Landing, or do an overnight or multi-day, pulling off at gravel sandbars to set up . Or go crazy and try to knock out the entire 135 miles in a 10-day trip. Backcountry camping permits are free, and the has rentals (from $75 a day).

3. From Among Ancient Earthworks: Mounds State Park, Indiana

isnā€™t the most adventurous state parkā€”itā€™s only 290 acres and most of the trails are crushed gravel and boardwalksā€”but itā€™s a cultural hotspot protecting 10 awe-inspiring earthworks along the White River built by the pre-Columbian Adena and Hopewell cultures. Historians believe that the largest of the mounds, the Great Mound, dates back to around 160 B.C. and that the mounds were used for community gatherings, religious ceremonies, and, yes, viewing astronomical alignments.

Savor that history by showing up to witness 3:42 seconds of total darkness as the eclipse passes over the park in the afternoon. You can watch from beside the Great Mound or by one of the other earthworks, or hike trail #5, a 2.5-mile loop that weaves around the park, past various mounds and along the banks of the White River. Bring your fishing gear, or grab what you need from nearby , and be prepared to cast, as the trail accesses the river in several points; the White is known for its smallmouth bass fishing.

4. From a National Forest: Garden of the Gods, Illinois

The whole 289,000-acre Shawnee National Forest sits within the path of totality, but the most dramatic spot for viewing has to be , a swath of sandstone outcroppings and cliffs that may be 320 million years old, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The .25-mile Observation Trail wanders through the heart of the Garden of the Gods outcroppings and to the top of tall bluffs with long-range views of the Shawnee Hills. These bluffs make a perfect perch for viewing the eclipse, which will hover over the area for 3:27 minutes of total darkness.

Pharaoh Campground has 12 first-come, first-served sites ($10 a night), but you better show up a few days early to snag a site before everyone else does. If you want more solitude, wander into Garden of the Gods Wilderness via the , which forms a 1.6-mile lollipop loop through a pine forest with bluff-top overlooks, caves, and rock formations.

5. From a Tube: Garner State Park, Texas

Not only did a chunk of Texas experience the path of totality during the annular eclipse in October but the state will score it again. Moreover, among all the U.S. states in Aprilā€™s eclipse path, this one has the for prime viewing. Weather data from the last 28 years predicts just a 30 percent chance of cloud cover.

, in Texas Hill Country, sits in the path of totality and will experience 4:30 minutes of complete darkness. The park itself protects 1,774 acres of hills, forest, and bluffs as well as 2.9 miles of the aptly named Frio River. (Yes, that means ā€œcoldā€.) Youā€™ll find plenty of trails to hike, but the real gem of this park is tubing the Frio as it winds around the campgrounds and below the tan sandstone cliffs (the rents tubes for $10 each, per day). Tubing the stretch through the park takes a few hours, with a number of small rapids and the occasional swimming hole. Put in by noon (totality will start at 1:30 P.M.) and take your time.

6. From an Olympic Site: Adirondack Park, New York

At six million acres, upstate New Yorkā€™s Adirondack Park is the largest publicly protected landscape in the lower 48. And most of that park will be within the path of totality. While the region is typically cloudy in April, on Nordgrenā€™s advice, weā€™re sending you here as a beautiful, adventurous place, whatever the weather. You can see the eclipse from a variety of vantage points inside the park, and Lake Placid is hosting a watch party at the Olympic Center. Theyā€™re opening the speed-skating oval with views of the famous Olympic ski jumps and the Adirondacksā€™ High Peaks Wilderness Area. (An earlier version of this article suggested a mountain hike, but area groups are asking visitors to avoid the backcountry out of caution over potential winter conditions in April and given that mud season can lead to ecological damage from hiking. See other options

7. From a Surfboard:Ā Mazatlan, Mexico

The moon will cast a shadow over Mexico and the eastern edge of Canada as well as the U.S. While the chances of clear skies lessen as the eclipse moves north and into Canada, Mexico in early April presents the best chance for clear skies along the entire path of totality, with an 80 percent chance of sun during the day of the eclipse. But keep in mind the U.S. government has issued a for Mazatlan because of the presence of drug cartels in the area. Itā€™s the same level of advisory (more information here) that the government has issued for Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta, and Baja.

Check out Mazatlan, a colonial-era beach town north of the popular Puerto Vallarta that is actually the first location in North America where you can view the total eclipse. Itā€™s a legitimate surf destination with beaches facing multiple directions, picking up solid swells year round. Rucos, north of town, offers reliable surf spread across four miles of beach, though youā€™ll need a 4×4 vehicle to reach it. Or, to keep things simple, walk from Mazatlanā€™s Centro Historico, a revamped historic district in the heart of town, to Playa Olas Altas to surf a beginner-friendly beach break. has lessons (from $50 a person) and rentals ($25 per day).

Now that we’ve given you the best places to see the solar eclipse in 2024, plot out your adventure and make the most of this celestial event. The next total eclipse wonā€™t cross the lower 48 for 20 years.

Graham Averill is ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų magazineā€™s national parks columnist. He can never remember the names of the constellations in the sky, but loves a good eclipse and has fond memories of the 2017 event, which he watched with his family during a beach vacation.Ģż

For more by Graham Averill:

The 6 Most Adventurous Train Trips in North America

The 10 Best Backpacking Trails in Our National Parks

The Worst National Park Reviews of the Year

The post 7 Most Adventurous Ways to See the Total EclipseĀ of 2024 appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

Northeast skiers just havenā€™t been able to catch a break the last couple of years. During the dry 2022-23 season, meager snowfall delayed openings at ski areas across the region and even forced Vermontā€™s Mad River Glen to for a while in the heart of the ski season. This winter got off to a much stronger start, with cold temperatures making it possible for resorts to start snowmaking and lay a base for in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts.

This week, New Englandā€™s early season bounty is being literally washed away by heavy rainfall and severe flooding. A number of , including Sunday River, Smugglers Notch, and Sugarloaf, had to suspend operations. Jay Peak Resort in Vermont, which is sometimes spared the weather woes that affect the broader region thanks to a , posted on social media on December 18 that lifts were closed, saying even they ā€œcould not escape this sloppy sogfest.ā€

 

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Of course, Mondayā€™s storm that extended far beyond the ski hills on the east coast. At least by rising water and falling trees when 2-4 inches of rain fell in 24 hours, and many communities will spend the coming months repairing the floodwatersā€™ destruction.

Andrew Drummond just sent me this video of Jackson Falls, NH

Wtf

ā€” The Out of Collective (@outofpodcast)

Even after fresh flakes replace the snow swept away in the deluge, some ski areas will continue to feel the impact of Mondayā€™s storm. It before power is restored everywhere in the region, and it will take time to rebuild the infrastructure damaged by flooding (like this destroyed road to Sugarbush).

Sunday River closed with people stranded due to flooding. Sugarloaf closed as well, and this is the road that leads to it. So tough to see heading into peak ski season
Credit: Carrabassett Valley PD

ā€” Christian Bridges (@ChristianWGME)

The rain has already eased off in most of New England, and slightly colder temperatures are in for later this week. Longer term, thereā€™s probably more wet weather in store for the northeast. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association predicts that this winter will be rainier than usual, with the possibility of more short, intense storms.

The post Floods in New England Have Shut Down These Ski Resorts appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

The leaves are past their peak where I live in western New Hampshire, and fall festivals have mostly come and gone, but that doesnā€™t mean the autumn road-tripping season is over. Thatā€™s especially true if your goal is finding ingredientsā€”and inspirationā€”for your Thanksgiving and holiday feasts.

Plenty of New England farms, vineyards, and dairies are still going strong. And heading out on an adventurous pre-holiday sojourn comes with big outdoor benefits: uncrowded trails and beaches, swell perfect for surfing, and scenic roadways waiting to be explored after you score your bounty. Hereā€™s a state-by-state breakdown of the best places to visit on such a quest.

Where to Find Cheese in Vermont

The tiny town of Salisbury (population 1,200) straddles a sweet spot between the Green Mountains to the east and the agricultural Champlain Valley to the west. Itā€™s a picturesque setting for , a cheese-making operation run by Hannah Sessions and Greg Bernhardt, who were just 23 years old when they began transforming an old dairy-cow operation near where Sessions grew up into one suitable for goats. Some 150 goats later, the place isĀ  known for its terrific fresh chĆØvres (my go-to is the herb-crusted variety) as well as bloomy rind and hard cheeses, some made with milk from the cows next door. Call ahead to book a tour ($20), and plan to load up on the goods at their self-serve farmstand.

Ten minutes south, Moosalamoo National Recreation Area beckons with 70 miles of spectacular multi-use backcountry trails. For a fun, flowy ten-mile mountain-bike ride, park at the Minnie Baker Trailhead and follow the singletrack up to Chandler Ridge before looping back on the ferny flats of Leicester Hollow.

Unwind later over a hard cider at Woodchuck Cidery, a production facility and taproom in Middlebury, 15 miles north. Then head east into Ripton to overnight in one of seven two-bedroom (from $237)ā€”request one with a fire pitā€”off a forested dirt road about five miles fromĀ  the poetā€™s summer home.

Craft Spirits and Farmed Mushrooms in New Hampshire

To me (and I suspect a lot of other travelers), Tamworth was always that little town you zipped through while driving north to hike in the Mount Washington Valley. Maybe you slowed for the famous vista of bald-topped Mount Chocorua, but you didnā€™t linger: the Presidential Range awaited.

It turns out Tamworth is well worth a stop, thanks in part to Steve Grasse, the creative mind behind Hendrickā€™s Gin, whoā€™s made it his mission to help revitalize the historic village where he owns a home. Grasseā€™s , set in a barnlike building on the Swift River, crafts wildly innovative spirits with New Hampshire ingredients such as beets and balsam buds, as well as more palate-jolting elements including invasive green crabs and beaver-gland extract. Tastings and cocktail workshops are held in the Grasse-owned Lyceum, a restored 19th-century store on Main Street. The gatherings are good prep for making what could be your new signature Thanksgiving or holiday drink.

Continue the happy mad-scientist vibe up the road at the , where mycologist Eric Milligan cultivates gorgeous blemish-free fungiā€”meaty black pearls, luminescent blue oysters, shaggy lionā€™s manes, and moreā€”in high-tech grow rooms. You can buy both fresh and dried mushrooms there, and for the fungi-curious, free tours are offered on Sundays or by appointment.

Bring your hiking shoes along and get your steps in at the nearby Big Pines Natural Area. The 2.4-mile loop through massive old-growth eastern pines and hemlocks up to the 1,270-foot summit of Great Hill; there you can climb the 35-foot-tall fire tower, a 1934 Civilian Conservations Corps project, with magnificent views for miles.

Unpack your bags that night at (from $205), a traditional bed-and-breakfast in a restored 1851 blacksmith shop, with a working cider press.

The Best Oysters in Maine

Midcoast Maine is oyster country; most of the stateā€™s production comes from its cool bays, estuaries, and inlets, where big shell-tumbling tides foster deeply cupped bivalves. Though most farm tours end by mid-October, John Herrigel of the , located in West Point, a fishing village near the tip of the rugged Phippsburg peninsula, is game to run boat trips as long as the weather cooperates. The two-hour experience includes visiting his small offshore farm to learn about the growing process (and slurp a few oysters right out of the water), then motoring back to the dockside Base Camp for private shucking lessons. The outing (from $250) includes a dozen oysters. Alternatively, you can order deliveries from Herrigel and the other Midcoast growers who are part of the co-op he runs; the goods will arrive when ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š ready to stuff your bird.

Donā€™t miss Popham Beach, a beautiful three-mile-long sweep of broad, firm sand at the island-studded mouth of the Kennebec River. Horses are allowed on the beach in the fall; book a two-hour guided ride with (from $175).

Another coastal option is a visit to Bath and the Maine Maritime Museum, 15 miles north, to admire its working boat-building exhibit and collection of 140 historic small crafts. If you havenā€™t had your fill of oysters yet, hit the waterfront , run by sisters, one of whom also operates an oyster farm. Bluet, a dry wild-blueberry sparkler crafted in Maine by a Napa-trained winemaker is a worthy accompaniment to your dinner, not to mention a good gift for a Thanksgiving-day host.

From Bath, turn south on Highway 127 onto Georgetown Island. Book a night at the woodsy ($125), a two-bedroom log cabin not far from Reid State Park, where you can surf, birdwatch, and explore the tide pools and sand dunes.

Where to Find Cranberries in Massachusetts

When you find your way down the narrow drive to in the Mid-Cape village of Dennis, ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š in the cradle of cranberry cultivation. Here in the early 1800s, close to Cape Cod Bay, a retired sea captain named Henry Hall discovered that the wild cranberries on his land produced more fruit after theyā€™d been covered by storm-blown sand. The practice of covering bogs caught on, and the berry went on to become the stateā€™s most important crop.

In 1911, a Ā Hall descendant sold one of his bogs to Annie Walkerā€™s grandfather, and today, on certain fall weekends, Walker gives historical tours of the restored bog she works with antique equipment. You can buy fresh, dry-harvested berries out of her museum-like shop.

Cape Codā€™s sandy, well-drained soil is also prime terroir for turnips. Eastham, on the Outer Cape, celebrates its namesake heirloom variety, the Eastham turnip, with an annual festival before Thanksgiving (this year scheduled for Saturday, November 18). If you canā€™t make it, youā€™ll find the unusually large, sweet root veggies for sale at the Orleans Farmersā€™ Market, just three and a half miles away, on Saturday mornings.

A popular area for fishing, biking, and exploration is Brewsterā€™s 1,900-acre Nickerson State Park. Walk through scrub pine and oak to Cliff Pond; the large, glacially formed kettle pond and seven others in the park are stocked with trout. Or pedal an eight-mile paved path that connects to the 26-mile-long Cape Cod Rail Trail. Call it a day at the nearby (from $329) an antique Georgian-style mansion within walking distance of the broad tidal flats of Breakwater Beach.

The Best Apples for Pies in Connecticut

You know those carnival-like farms that feature a corn maze, zombie laser tag, a petting zoo, and you-pick orchards of apples? isnā€™t one of those. Six years ago, owner James Wargo planted 4,000 trees on the side of a drumlin in rural Southbury with the intention of creating a simple, no-frills country orchard. His 31 varieties of apples include hard-to-find antiques like Esopus Spitzenburg (Thomas Jeffersonā€™s favorite) and the 16th-century Calville Blanc dā€™Hiver, favored by bakers for classic tarte Tatin and pies. The pick-your-own season runs through the first weekend of November, or buy apples in the open-air farm stand through the end of the month.

Youā€™re farm-bound for your next stop, too, but not for produce. Drive 18 miles north to on the grounds of a working farm high in the stateā€™s northwestern Litchfield Hills. Wander among the planted hops and farm animals, tour the brewing operation on Saturday afternoons, then hit the tasting room to sample two-ounce flights of signature brews like Sweatpants pale ale and Awkward Hug IPA, made with locally sourced ingredients.

Some of the Appalachian Trailā€™s least daunting terrain is nearby along the Housatonic River (park just north of where River Road intersects with North Kent Number 1 Road). Youā€™ll likely have company from birders on your walk or run, because the area serves as an important migration corridor.

IfĀ  ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š looking to stay somewhere local, the downtown (from $475) are a good choice within walking distance of shops, restaurants and galleries. Ask to be put up in the restored 1800s boxcar.

Wine and Vineyards to Explore in Rhode Island

Down a long dirt road five miles from the mansions and marinas of Newport, youā€™ll find the peaceful , a producer of estate-grown wines. Set on land that slopes to the Sakonnet River, the winery was once a 19th-century gentlemanā€™s farm. Its stick-style stableā€”now the tasting roomā€”and Gothic main house are on the National Register of Historic Places. Sip samples by the fire pits, listen to live jazz on Saturday afternoons, and take home some bottles, like the 2022 Greenvale Select Chardonnay and 2021 Meritage, both of which will pair nicely with your turkey.

Pick up pumpkins and decorative gourds at the post-and-beam market just two and a half miles south, then continue on to Newport and saddle up for an equally sweet ride in a town where cycling has been popular since the Victorian era. Rent a cruiser from and head out on the classic 13-mile Ocean Loop that passes the palatial Gilded Age homes of Bellevue Avenue as well as the Atlantic shoreline, or cycle east to Sachuest Point Wildlife Refuge. Viewing platforms there let you spy on the big flocks of harlequin ducks that arrive in November. Overnight at the (from $200) a colorful hotel three blocks from Newportā€™s harbor.

Journalist and lifelong New Englander Meg Lukens Noonan grew up in suburban Boston, went to college in Vermont, and now livesā€”and hosts Thanksgivingā€”in Hanover, New Hampshire.

For more Thanksgiving food and fun inspiration, check out Steven Rinella’s story on how to cook a turkey over a campfire.

The post A Delicious New England Road Trip appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

The last time a total solar eclipse was visible in America, in 2017, I watched it from atop a small butte on BLM land west of Lander, Wyoming. The scene couldnā€™t have been more surreal: a handful of friends and strangers and I stood in the axis of the earthā€™s umbral shadow as the moon crossed the sunā€™s path, an event that lasted for less than two minutes from my vantage point. I stared at the coronaā€”the wispy outer layer of the sunā€™s atmosphere, not visible at any other time.

The eclipse was a bewildering experience, because it incorporated elements Iā€™d known my whole lifeā€” the sun, the moon, light on a landscapeā€”and yet felt so entirely new that I imagined myself to be on another planet, or perhaps in another dimension.

No photo or video footage can do this phenomenon justice. Telescopic shots of the eclipsed sun look like digital art. Wide-angle images capture only one static moment of a dynamic progression that elicits new astonishment with each change, from the sunset light in every direction to the confusion of insects and wildlife as night descends in the middle of the day, to each singular phase: the , , and totalityā€”that moment when the sun is fully obscured, the corona is visible and you can take in the sunā€™s prominences, or loops of plasma rising from the sunā€™s surface.

So find your most difficult-to-impress friend (or maybe ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š the skeptic) and place them beneath this show of shows come April 8ā€”and start looking now for prime dark-sky viewing destinations, because, as weā€™ve seen with this fallā€™s annular eclipse, the best spots book up fastā€”and I guarantee they will involuntarily gasp in awe. I was so transfixed that I immediately identified as an eclipsophile, and made plans to watch the next total eclipse, which as fate would have it, fell on my 40th birthday. On July 2, 2019, I watched it from a Buddhist temple in Chileā€™s Valle de Elqui, and it was no less glorious the second time:

Why Is a Total Solar Eclipse in the U.S. So Special?

When the total solar eclipse crossed America from coast to coast in August 2017, touching 14 states during its 70-mile-long path of totality, it whet the appetite of a nation that hadnā€™t seen a total eclipse so widely viewed since one crossed the country in 1918. This spring, 32 million people living in the are poised to experience the event, which will be visible in North America beginning in the Mexican state of Sinaloa before continuing its spectacle all the way east to the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The next one won’t happen until 2044.

Many who witnessed the phenomenon in 2017ā€”as well as those who missed outā€”will be making pilgrimages to the path. Adding to the hype is the annular eclipse crossing the Southwest on October 14, the first since 2012. (In an annular eclipse, the moon passes directly between the earth and the sun but doesnā€™t fully cover the sun, a startling effect coined the ā€œ.ā€)

Aprilā€™s total eclipse will also last longerā€”a maximum of 4 minutes 28 secondsā€”than the one in August 2017ā€” a maximum of 2 minutes 41 seconds. (While a total solar eclipse is visible anywhere within the path of totality, the speed of the moonā€™s shadow varies depending on location; points along the very center of the path will enjoy the longest viewing times, .) Complicating matters, however, is the fact that weather in April is cloudier and rainier than August, making the selection of an ideal viewing location more challenging. But as it is the last eclipse to touch the lower 48 until 2044, many people, including me, will go to great lengths to make the effort.

Where Are the Best Places to See the Total Solar Eclipse?

indicates that Mexico will offer the clearest skies for the event, with Texas the likely runner-up. Pair historical cloudiness info with and you can stake out a sweet spot for successful viewing within the path of totality at many places along the route of the umbral shadow.

I personally wouldnā€™t make travel plans anywhere north of Missouri, based on the probability of cloud cover. (According to Weather Spark, for example, .) This means that as much as I would love to see an eclipse on my home turf in the Northeast, Iā€™ll be heading to Mexico or Texas. Live up north and canā€™t travel far? Take a gamble on lodging reservations and hope for good weather, or day-trip to the path of totality if you live within a reasonable distance.

No matter where you decide to watch from, just know that you likely wonā€™t be able to find affordable last-minute accommodations. In fact, lodging for April 6 through April 9 in most locations along the path of totality is already difficult to come by.

Here are my top seven picks to view the eclipse along its route.

MazatlƔn, Mexico
Start Time of the Total Eclipse: 11:07 A.M. PST
Duration: 4 minutes 16 seconds

This Pacific coast resort town is arguably the best place to view the total eclipse of any location along the path of totality, based on median data over the past two decades, indicating only a 25 percent chance of cloudy skies. You can watch the event from the beach or while strolling the ³¾²¹±ōĆ©³¦“Ē²Ō, preferably in well-touristed areas like the Golden Zone and historic Old Town. The State Department has a ā€œDo Not Travelā€ advisory in place for the state of Sinaloa, due to violent crime and threat of kidnapping (check back for updates ); however, it does permit government employees to visit the city as long as they stay in the aforementioned tourist areas. Securing accommodation in those quarters might not be cheap, especially considering that the total eclipse also falls during the height of spring break and this destination remains among Mexicoā€™s most popular. Airbnbs in the greater MazatlĆ”n area are priced around $400 per night from April 6 to 9; in comparison, a room at the Courtyard by Marriott MazatlĆ”n Beach Resort currently runs for $1,800 during those dates.

Durango, Mexico
Start Time: 11:12 A.M. PST
Duration: 3 minutes 47 seconds

The dry air of this Mexican stateā€™s high desert equates to an ideal climate for eclipse viewingā€”something eclipsophiles are well aware of, as many accommodations in this preserved colonial city are already nearing capacity. This is another destination where you should heed State Department advisories (currently suggesting ā€œReconsider Travelā€). Stroll the Plaza de Armas, across from the iconic Catedral Basilica de Durango, which dates to 1695, enjoy dishes prepared with hyperlocal tornachiles, and seek out lodging in major tourist areas.

Kerrville, Texas
Start Time: 1:32 P.M. CT
Duration: 4 minutes 24 seconds

Hill Country arguably provides the best chance of clear skies in the U.S., and both the annular and solar eclipses will pass through this rolling ranchland. NASA has selected , 65 miles northwest of San Antonio, as one of three locations along the centerline of the eclipse path to set up shop. The free will feature scientist speakers, kids activities, a NASA live stream of the eclipse. Early April is also a great time to get outdoors in Kerrville: temperatures are in the seventies and the bluebonnets are beginning to bloom. Most Airbnbs in this area are currently running for more than $1,000 per night, so why not camp? The local KOA is already fully booked, but as of press time there were still tent and cabin sites available at the San Antonio KOA, starting at $70 and $160 per night, respectively.

Buffalo National River, Arkansas
Start Time: 1:34 P.M. CT
Duration: 4 minutes 2 seconds

The weather prospects in Arkansas are nearly as strong as those in Texas, so Iā€™d make a beeline to Buffalo National River, an International Dark Sky Park in the heart of the Ozarks, to watch the eclipse. Campsites in the park range from $16 to $20 per site per night and reservations for most sites open six months in advance. There are first-come, first-served sites as well. Check out this page, which lists accommodations that still have availability. In the run-up to the event, enjoy top-notch biking trails and hikes to waterfalls, such as And plan to celebrate in the nearby town of Leslie, which is hosting from April 4 to 8 with folk music, food, and a quilt show called ā€œSolar E Clips.ā€

Sandusky, Ohio
Start Time: 3:12 P.M. ET
Duration: 3 minutes 45 seconds

You might not expect a city on the Great Lakes to be a prime candidate for viewing the total eclipse at this time of year, but forecasters are bullish on Sandusky for the total eclipse, thanks to weather effects over Lakes Erie and Ontario that improve the clear-skies outlook by 15 percent compared to the surrounding area. Sandusky is an ideal , with many communities in the Shores and Islands region gearing up to host pre-eclipse festivities: gather with the masses at the Total Eclipse of Sundusky Festival on Jackson Pier; hop a ferry (unless the lake is frozen) from the village of Marblehead to for a quieter experience, hiking along its sandy beaches or on forested trails before the skies dim; or watch from the shore at Lakeside Chatauqua, a historic recreational community hosting a family-friendly eclipse event. Rooms at the Fountain Inn in Lakeside are booked, but cottages in town are expected to open soon. Camping will be quite chilly in Ohio in April, but the hardy can book cabins and tent sites at starting from $67 per night.

Lake Placid, New York
Start Time: 3:13 P.M. ET
Duration: 3 minutes 20 seconds

The Adirondacks will witness totality for the first time in recorded history, and the festive Olympic mountain town of Lake Placid will be ready with activities and amenities. I recommend watching the spectacle from one of the regionā€™s 46 high peaks. Expect full-on winter conditions at elevation, though, so if this peak experience is on your list, enlist a local guide service like . For more laid-back (but crowded) viewing, gather by the lakefront Midā€™s Park. Or venture west 30 miles to Tupper, whose is hosting an ellipse event, including a solar-powered silent disco, naturalist sessions, maple tasting and tours, and a community mural creation. The dog-friendly High Peaks Resort in downtown Lake Placid still has rooms available from $333 per night, or try the more economical for as low as $32 per night.

Rangeley, Maine
Start Time: 3:29 P.M. EST
Duration: 2 minutes 24 seconds

Rangeley is where Iā€™d be if I could guarantee clear skies. Unfortunately, cloudiness here could be as high as 90 percent, but if the sun gods grace this popular skiing destination, even this late in the season you might be able to get some turns in at Sugarloaf or Saddleback Mountains before the sun and moon do their thing.Ģż Or climb to one of the summits of the rugged, beautiful Bigelowsā€“4,145-foot West Peak and 4,088-foot Avery Peak, overlooking Flagstaff Lake, are two of my favorites. The hiking in the Carrabassett Valley is excellent, with nine peaks above 4,000 feet on the Appalachian Trail. If ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š not an experienced winter hiker, go with a . Hostel of Maine is popular, with rooms starting at $59 per night.

Tips and Tools That Will Enhance Your Experience

Given the changing spring weather, you may want to have a car and the time to pivot and drive to another nearby location with better weather if need be. Expect unique traffic and congestion even in the most rural of places, and plan to get to your selected viewing site as early as possible.

Book now. Many accommodations in towns within the path of totality are already sold out. If ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š up for a few days of camping, check out the website Hipcamp for more options.

An important note on safety: Never stare directly into the sun, ever, including during the partial eclipse which precedes and follows the total eclipse.Itā€™s only safe to look at the sun when it is completely eclipsed. I protect my eyes with which you can purchase .

Finally, if youā€™d like to take a deep dive, like I do, on this subject, there are several fantastic sites that will take you into the . To better help you plan where skies might be clearest in your area, for each day dating back a few years. NASA also has a trustworthy with fun facts, cool images and video footage, more safety information, and definitions of some of the many terms youā€™ll hear mentioned as the event draws close. And finally, this is the most functional such map out there; youā€™ll find yourself referring to it again and again.

Mardi Fuller has fanciful travel dreams for all the upcoming total solar eclipses worldwide, but sheā€™s living one celestial event at a time and has a hotel room booked in Dallas for the April event.

The post Traveling to See the Total Solar Eclipse? These Are the 7 Best Places. appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

Ever come across an incredible hotel that stops you mid-scroll and makes you think, Wow, wouldnā€™t it be something to stay there? We do, tooā€”all the time. Welcome to Friday Fantasy, where we highlight amazing hotels, lodges, cabins, tents, campsites, and other places perched in perfect outdoor settings. Read on for the intel you need to book an adventure here. Or at least dream about it.

Why We Love Debsconeag Lake Wilderness Camps

Youā€™ll know your vacation here is beginning when, at the end of a 25-mile dirt road, you move your drybags and wanigans into a 22-foot wood-and-canvas canoe and greet the staffer waiting to paddle you the mile up Fourth Debsconeag Lake (pronounced DEBS-con-egg or DEBS-con-eeg) to the (DLWC).

ā€œItā€™s a nice threshold,ā€ says Maine guide Greg Shute, who used to direct programs for the outdoor-education Chewonki Foundation, which owns the property, and now runs DLWC. ā€œIt really takes away the temptation to go back to the car.ā€ Not that youā€™ll want toā€”this comfortable off-grid scattering of five waterside cabins and two large yurts in the heart of the North Woods is a deeply, deeply quiet place to canoe, kayak, fish, swim, and hike.

In a region dominated by commercial timberlands, here you can still find mossy stands of huge primeval trees. The cabins dot the western shore of Fourth Debsconeag Lake, one of a chain of eight lakes (some say six lakes and two ponds) that flow into the West Branch of the Penobscot River. DLWC sits within the 42,000-acre Nahmakanta Public Reserve, which is abutted to the east by the Nature Conservancyā€™s 46,000-acre Debsconeag Lake Wilderness. So a stay at this quintessential Maine hideaway will just be you, the moose, the lynx, and a few fellow vacationers.

ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Intel

In the late 1800s, the journey to this destination entailed a train, horse-drawn buckboard wagon, and then canoe to 223-acre Fourth Debsconeag, where travelers would stay for weeks, hunting moose and woodland caribou and fishing for brook trout. Itā€™s no longer much of a draw to hunters but instead appeals to birders (camp staff contribute warbler-migration data to the Maine Breeding Bird Atlas), anglers, and hikers. From the camps, itā€™s a mile and a half to the Appalachian Trailā€”thru-hikers occasionally wander in to enjoy a clean bedā€”and innumerable other trails lead up to granite balds for views of 5,268-foot Mount Katahdin and out to ancient spruce and hemlock groves.

Most of all, this is canoeing country. Debsconeag means ā€œcarrying place,ā€ and portaging is part of the adventure. You can put in at camp and paddle from lake to lake for days or even weeks. For a great overnight, follow part of a Penobscot hunting route across the stunningly clear Fourth Debsconeag Lake, portaging and paddling over to Third and Second Debsconeag Lakes, and camping at the mouth of Big Minister Stream. Then double back and end day two with a hot pull-chain shower atĀ DLWCā€™sĀ Shower House. Whatever you have planned, the camp can lend binoculars, maps, and expert advice.

If ²ā“Ē³Üā€™r±š looking to stay closer to your cabin, there are hiking routes of all lengths, and DLWC keeps boats stashed at several nearby ponds for fishing or pure messing around. Brookies and lake trout are plentiful but savvy, so fisherfolk should get directions to the prime spots from Shute. ā€œIā€™ll give guests tips when theyā€™re here,ā€ he says pointedly.

Choice Cabins

The Point Camp cabin sleeps six, with a porch that overlooks water frequented by loons. Also notable is the Birch Camp, with overnight space for up to four and an interior thatā€™s an early-20th-century masterpiece of birchbark marquetry; oral history has it that the Wabanaki woman who lived in the cabin created the mosaics while her partner was off working his traplines. Wherever you sleep, itā€™s bound to be quiet: the campā€™s electricity is largely solar-powered (read: no diesel-generator racket), and few motorboats ply the lake. Also, thereā€™s no cell service anywhere on-site, and just enough internet bandwidth to check your email for emergencies but not nearly enough for doomscrolling. ā€œItā€™s kind of perfect this way,ā€ says Shute. Itā€™s possible to rent out the whole camp, including its industrial kitchen, for retreats and reunions of up to 24 people.

Eat and Drink

BYO food and drink. You can stock up in the towns of Greenville, two hours southwest, or Millinocket, 90 minutes southeast. Shute does serve morning coffee and tea, plus weekend baked goodies, at the main lodge, an airy gathering space with a woodstove, field guides, maps, and board games, where guests and staffers swap stories and trade intel. On the way in (and heck, on the way out too), stop at in Monson. Might as well close your eyes and point at its specials boardā€”everything there is amazing, not least the pulled-pork sandwiches.

When to Go

DLWC is open for reservations from the second week of May to mid-June, and from late July to Indigenous Peopleā€™s Day (October 9 this year, October 14 in 2024). Fishing is best early in the season and again in September. Birders should note that peregrine falcons start nesting in the cliffs in late April or so and remain with the chicks into August. The sugar maples in late September and October are a scarlet spectacle.

How to Get There

When you make your reservation, you might want to go over the directions in detail with a staff member. Shuteā€™s crew has taken care to mark all intersections with signs, starting as soon as the pavement ends at the junction of Route 11 and theĀ Jo Mary Road. The distance is drivable in a Pruis, easy with all-wheel drive. Or for an aerial experience, can fly you in on a floatplane from Ambajejus Lake, outside Millinocket ($110 per person each way with a two-passenger minimum).

Donā€™t Miss

Shute recommends spending a day hiking the Debsconeag Backcountry Loop, an eight-mile route around Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Debsconeag Lakes. Youā€™ll cross open ledges fuzzed with reindeer lichen and take in views of 3,645-foot White Cap Mountain, the Barren-Chairback Range, and Mount Katahdin.

Details

To book:

Price: From $140 per night

Address: 1094 Nahmakanta Stream Road
T1 R11 Piscataquis County
Nahmakanta Reserve, North Maine Woods, ME

When Gillian Burnes first moved to central Maine 21 years ago, sheā€™d tag along on her soon-to-be-husbandā€™s community organizing trips to the North Woods. Coming from New Mexico, she was alarmed by the bug life at first. But she grew to love the easygoing ruggedness of North Woods camp cultureā€”especially without the diesel generators.

The post At These North Woods Cabins in Maine, Quiet Is the Main Attraction appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.