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