Most outdoor enthusiasts know hiking the Appalachian National Trail and exploring the Grand Canyon. While these are bucket list and life-changing adventures, there are many other adventure options that are just as exciting. Whether you want to backpack, rock climb , paddle, or bike, below we’ve got 7 of America’s most underrated outdoor adventures for you to consider.
1. Backpacking on the Red Meadow Pass loop
Explore Glacier National Park on this cycling loop in northern Montana.
Location: Whitefish, Montana, within Glacier National Park
Difficulty level: Medium
Estimated time: 3-4 days
Details: This more than 160-kilometer route passes through the beautiful countryside of northern Montana and includes a longer stretch in Glacier National Park. The loop starts and ends in Whitefish, and there are a variety of free and easily accessible camping spots available for cyclists who plan to spend 2-4 days completing the route. Mountainous vistas, difficult climbs and blazing descents define this easy and easy ride. Most of the loop is composed of uniform dirt roads and roads suitable for four-wheel drive vehicles, with a few short sections of paved roads.
2. Boating on the Northern Forest Canoe Route
Locations: New York, Vermont, Quebec, New Hampshire, Maine
Difficulty level: Hard
Estimated time: 50-60 days
Details: The Northern Forest Canoe Trail is a canoe route of approximately 1,190 kilometers. Although the complete experience is not required, the entire route from Old Forge, New York to Fort Kent, Maine is undoubtedly an adventure worth adding to the bucket list. The waterway consists of 13 sections, passing through a variety of developed and rural areas, and has dedicated infrastructure to facilitate planning and navigation by challengers. Paddlers are advised to try different sections of the route, and maps and planning tools are now available to help you explore all distances along the route.
3. Explore Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
You'll find incredible beauty around every corner of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Location: Escalante, Utah
Difficulty level: Easy to Hard
Estimated time: Please plan at least 3-4 days to explore
Details: What else can’t be done here? National monuments are like the less famous cousins of national parks, and Grand Staircase-Escalante is one of the most extensive and stunning. There are several visitor centers and numerous hiking trails covering a variety of landscapes, from deserts and sandstone canyons to coniferous forests. Here, you can have all kinds of adventures without any restrictions, whether it's camping, backpacking, biking or touring. Coyote Valley and Peek-a-Boo/Spooky Slot Valley are the more well-known attractions in the monument area, but in order to avoid the crowds you may encounter, you can also go for an overnight backpacking trip on the Escalante River, or to Aquarius Mountain biking on the Plateau (Plateau of Aquarius).
4. Hiking on the Pinhoti Trail
Location: Alabama and Georgia
Difficulty level: Medium
Estimated time: 4 weeks
Details: This approximately 550-kilometer trail cuts through the southern Appalachian Mountains, but it doesn't get nearly as much traffic as the Appalachian National Trail. The Pinhoti Trail can be used as a stand-alone adventure or as a warm-up for a longer, full hike. Although the Pinhoti Trail has a deep jungle and remote feel, hikers never stray too far from the road, and spending a month in the woods can truly ground your mind.
5. Bouldering in Moe's Valley
Moe's Valley, located outside of St. George, Utah, is a treasure for outdoor enthusiasts who love bouldering.
Location: St. George, Utah
Difficulty level: Easy to Hard
Estimated time: Please stay here for at least 4 days...there are many boulders to climb here
Details: Compared with other bouldering areas (such as Bishop and Joe's Valley), Moe's Valley in southern Utah does not have as many tourist footprints and is therefore not as crowded, but the boulders here are enough for climbers to have fun at once. Nearly 200 bouldering routes with difficulty levels from V1 to V13 will make your climb feel smooth and natural, and your landing points will be clean and tidy. This series of sandstone boulders encompasses a variety of climbing styles, from steep and powerful overhangs on giant pits to technical, multi-fold walls to smooth, smooth slabs.
6. Ocean kayaking on the Maine Island route
Location: Maine
Difficulty level: Moderate to Hard
Estimated time: 1 month
Details: The approximately 600-kilometer Maine Island Trail stretches from the border of New Hampshire and Maine to Canada, with various islands and campsites connected in between, allowing boating enthusiasts to explore all of Maine’s rugged and beautiful coastline. . The route can be explored on an overnight or week-long trip, spread out over multiple years, or done in one go – it doesn’t matter. Conveniently located, you can hit the trail just about anywhere along the Maine coast. There are hundreds of coastal islands connected by the route. With the permission of the private island owners, tourists can enter for camping or leisure.
7. Cycling and sightseeing on the Lewis and Clark route
Following the route of Lewis and Clark's Journey Through the American West, you'll see some of the most beautiful places in the United States, including Missoula, Montana.
Location: Hartford, Illinois, to Seaside, Oregon
Difficulty level: Hard
Estimated time: 2.5-3 months
Details: As a cycling method that is closer to human habitation than long-distance cycling, cycling sightseeing allows tourists to spend most of their time traveling on the road without entering the countryside. This route, clearly marked on the map, follows the path taken by Lewis and Clark during their western expedition and is as close as possible to the route they took in their original exploration of America's waterways. This cycling route is about 5,700 kilometers in length and is suitable for those who are brave enough to challenge and have perseverance. The terrain along the way is rugged and some sections will undoubtedly be difficult to ride. This route can also be cycled in sections and consists of 8 main sections, as well as several alternative sections.
Matcha writes for Gregory Mountain Products.
