Explore lonely desert roads, venture deep into Utah's red-rock country, or head for the high alpine of the Rocky Mountains

From California's sheer cliffs to Oregon's craggy mountains, the west coast of the U.S. is home to some of the planet's most stunning scenery. Here's how to see the best of it.

From winding canyon roads and vast desert straightaways to historic routes and serene oceanside drives, the U.S. is home to some of the most awe-inspiring roads in the world. So e compiled 25 of the best byways—each loaded with joy-inducing adventure, scenery, and history.

From expert tips to gear recommendations to trail inspiration, we teamed up with Swedish gearmaker Fjällräven to help you make the most of your time in nature

Whether you’re looking to explore mountains, canyons, beaches—or all three—these RV trips have something for every kind of adventurer

Alaska’s Kobuk Valley National Park is an overlooked gem. It offers up the great caribou migration, stargazing and miles of solitude, and massive dunes you’d expect to find in the Sahara. This is the 40th stop on our 62 Parks Traveler's quest to visit every national park in the U.S.

What started as a fun personal challenge turned into a three-year van-life journey that pushed our writer to explore the most remote coasts in the United States

Think hotels with bike washing stations and retreats with spin classes, all located near miles of empty singletrack

Take a break from NPS crowds by visiting these lesser-known designations, which we chose based on spectacular scenery, great hiking trails, and unique features.

A day in Austin, Texas never disappoints—and L. Renee can prove it.

Watch as photographer and storyteller L. Renee explores the region’s historic, cultural, and outdoor hubs.

Our writer and her partner were about to embark on a longtime plan when their relationship abruptly ended. Despite her fears of doing it alone, she’s hitting the road—it was always her fantasy to be realized, anyway.

After her prestigious corporate job nearly destroyed her, Melinda Spooner found her path forward by getting way, way out there

These listings are as close to the park entrances as you can get

At the most recently declared national park, the adventure starts and ends with the 1,000-foot-deep New River Gorge. The 73,000-acre stretch of rugged canyon in West Virginia is home to Class IV+ whitewater rafting, some of the best rock climbing on the eastern seaboard, purpose-built singletrack, and more than 100 miles of hiking trails that capture this dramatic part of the country.

Thanks to the rise of engineered parks, it’s now easier than ever to learn to surf a wave in a kayak

From paved city paths to mountain-peak trails, there’s something for every kind of runner in Texas

How to tackle Chilean Patagonia’s Dientes de Navarino, the most unpredictable trek in the world

On a backpacking trip through Utah’s Buckskin Gulch with ultralight gear legend Glen Van Peski, our writer learns about the Crotch Pot, an Oscar-winning actor’s anti-snoring technique, and that there’s a whole lot of shit you don’t need when you’re on the trail 1,000 miles from home

We found the best places to pitch your tent in all 50 states, so you don’t have to.

The nonprofit Native Skywatchers has spent more than a decade collecting and preserving Indigenous star knowledge. Now organizations like NASA and the NPS are joining the movement.

Getting lost teaches me mindfulness, even when I’m terrified

A bevy of mapping apps exist to track and plan trips for different outdoor activities. Here’s the best one for running, cycling, hiking, backpacking, climbing, and skiing.

When President Biden needs a break from Putin and Mitch McConnell, he vacations on the Delmarva Peninsula, a blend of mid-Atlantic beauty, quirky accents, and tasty treasures from soil and sea. I grew up in the heart of it. Hear my song to this glorious land.

Gates of the Arctic in northern Alaska is one of the last truly wild national parks. There are no roads or trails, and the park boasts the stunning Brooks Range, six wild and scenic rivers, and gets fewer than 3,000 visitors a year. Our 62 Parks columnist was awestruck by her 39th stop on her quest to visit every national park in the U.S.

Introducing Outside+, a whole new way to feed your outdoor passions

More than 3,000 people attempt to walk the entire Appalachian Trail every year. Only about a quarter of them succeed. This intel from an AT thru-hiker provides key information to help you tackle and complete the 2,193-mile trek from Georgia to Maine.

Crowds, lines, and permits. Here’s how to visit a park this summer without melting down.

Katmai, in southern Alaska, is one of the few places where you can safely get up close and personal with a brown bear while it’s feeding—a life-list event says our 62 Parks Traveler about the 38th stop on her quest to visit every national park in the U.S.

Drawing parallels with the Galápagos Islands, this marine wonderland is a similarly diverse treasure found just off the Southern California coast, home to 2,000-plus species, some 150 of which can be found nowhere else

Photographer James Barkman has been living in his 1976 VW Westfalia van for seven years. The lessons he’s learned can help you on your long-weekend road trip, too.

A new wave of companies disrupting private-plane travel have made it more accessible to hop on a small chartered flight to regional destinations that are closer to outdoor playgrounds than any large airport

From a baobab-filled outcropping in the middle of Botswana’s Makgadikgadi salt pans to an adventure hot spot in Iraqi Kurdistan, plan a trip to these bold destinations to earn some major adventure travel cred

Fun, easy-to-pull-off adventures within a couple hours of the Mile High City

Been to the Centennial State before and looking to go deeper? Check out these northern Colorado adventures.

Some of our favorite challenging outings in the heart of Colorado’s high country

Elevate your next ­outdoor sleepover with these genius tricks

Wild, off-the-beaten-path outings in one of Colorado’s most rugged corners

Looking to progress in your sport? From deepwater soloing in Majorca to mountain biking in New Zealand, these trips will take you to the next level.

Whether you're new to off-roading or have been exploring for years, add these trail systems to your hit list

If you want a swath of stunning wilderness all to yourself, book a trip to Lake Clark, says our 62 Parks columnist of the 37th stop on her quest to visit all the parks in the U.S.

It’s finally time to take that beach vacation. You might as well post up right by the ocean.

Because there’s no better way to experience a national park than by sleeping in it

Fuel up for your next adventure with these deliciously portable bento boxes

You don’t have to head to Europe to hike to a backcountry chalet. Here are the most spectacular stateside options, ranging from rustic to full-service experiences.

All you need is a long weekend to get out, get lost, and find yourself again. From Asheville to Seattle, we’ve researched the best three-day wilderness trips within road-tripping distance from a city.

Mountaineers come to summit this Alaskan park’s namesake 20,310-foot peak, the highest in North America. Our 62 Parks columnist set out on a mountain bike to see the stunning terrain and bountiful wildlife during the 36th stop of her quest to visit every national park in the U.S.

From Maine to Alaska, we’ve done all the research for you to camp in style while visiting America’s best idea this summer

Make this summer all about exploring off-the-beaten-path adventures within a few hours of your home

The wild canyons and mountains of southern Utah have been around for over 2.6 billion years, and we want to protect them for a few billion more. This effort is known as Forever Mighty.

Utah’s national parks are iconic, but they’re just the tip of the adventure iceberg

Professional intel on the best crowd-free stargazing in one of the world's best night sky destinations

Expert recommendations for extended adventuring around each of southern Utah's Mighty 5 national parks

If you’re worried about how the current campsite and rental-car shortages are going to impact your summer travels, consider these options. We’ve rounded up our favorite companies in six cities, plus the itineraries to test them out on.

In New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont, local stewards have banded together to persuade private landowners to allow access to backcountry skiing, mountain biking, and other kinds of outdoor recreation

Plan a trip to this Alaskan treasure to explore vast glaciers and to see huge whales and a diverse array of other fauna, says our 62 Parks columnist about the 35th stop on her quest to see every U.S. national park

A wild place—and an American ideal—are heading for destruction. We can stop it now.

From surfing the coast of Maine to exploring slot canyons in Utah, these adventures will make the whole family happy

This is just the kickoff to a ten-year plan to protect more land, water, and wildlife

From miles of accessible trails to nearby boarding services to dog safety, these are the best (and worst) parks to visit with your best friend

Campgrounds at popular national parks started booking up six months ago, but don’t fret: these strategies will help you to find a great spot to pitch a tent all summer long

Start by figuring out the kinds of experiences you want to have, not where you want to go

From a trail in Isle Royale National Park with spectacular views to a hike that hits four 6,000-foot peaks in 30 miles, these are our favorite classic routes in the U.S.

Our country’s open spaces are a sanity-saving antidote for this writer

Your bucket list should go beyond national parks. This decision tree will help you find lesser known locations with half the crowds.

From Colorado’s second-largest state park to a midwestern tribal park, there are plenty of new wild spaces to plan to visit. Plus, Outside staffers share what they think our 64th national park should be.

Whether you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime splurge or a cozy canvas tent minutes from Lake Powell, there’s something for everyone at these newly opened stays

The weather is perfect. You get to do everything on your list. No one gets food poisoning or giardia or blisters.

Put this Alaska gem high on your bucket list for epic backpacking, rafting, and mountaineering, says our 62 Parks columnist about the 34th stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park

The upshot of only traveling domestically for the past year? We’ve gotten to know our 615 million acres of federal public lands better than ever. And with new parks and designations on the horizon, there will be even more ways to get off the beaten path for adventure.

This 76,000-acre wonderland is less a park and more a sandstone sculpture garden of sunset-hued arches and domes that look like they were carved by some alien magic. Here’s how to outsmart the crowds.

Key beta on snagging a ticket to your favorite park this year

With pandemic-fueled use on the rise, it’s a good thing trail builders have been busy opening new pathways for you to hike, run, and bike

Not much tops seeing the the massive glaciers and vast empty wilderness in Glacier Bay—that’s the verdict of our 62 Parks Traveler about the 33rd stop on her quest to visit every national park in the U.S.

Spun-out Teslas on snowy roads. Cabins bought for cash, sight unseen. A shoveling disaster. Locals bemoan the pandemic-induced migration of Bay Area residents to the mountains. But there are two sides to the Zoom-town story.

Anticipating even bigger crowds this summer than last, public-lands officials have been grappling with how to manage the masses. For many, that’s meant introducing permit systems. But is limiting access the only solution?

The best way to refuel after a perfect day of adventure? With your crew at one of these ideally located watering holes.

The Grand Canyon State’s namesake park is just the start—in every corner of Arizona, there are public lands and trails for every kind of adventurer. Use the map below to find your next Arizona adventure.