Get Outside on Your Next Trip
Most good trips have one outdoor day in them. These are the trails, drives, and parks worth planning around, sorted by how you like to spend a day.
Hiking
Camelback Mountain, Echo Canyon
The signature Phoenix summit hike: 1,200 feet of gain with handrail sections.
Bear Lake Corridor
Five alpine lakes stacked along one trail system in Rocky Mountain NP.
Hocking Hills State Park
Gorges, waterfalls, and recessed caves an hour southeast of Columbus.
Biking
Chicago Lakefront Trail
18 car-free miles along Lake Michigan, the best urban ride in the Midwest.
Grand Rounds Scenic Byway
A 50 mile loop of connected parkways through the whole city.
Camping
Indiana Dunes Camping
Dunewood Campground puts a national park 90 minutes from the Loop.
National Parks
Rocky Mountain National Park
Timed-entry reservations run late May through October; book the moment they open.
Scenic Drives
Natchez Trace Parkway
444 miles of no-billboard, no-truck parkway starting south of Nashville.
Peak to Peak Highway
Colorado's oldest scenic byway, best between Estes Park and Nederland.
Outdoor Experiences
Sedona Red Rock Experiences
Jeep tours, Cathedral Rock, and stargazing two hours north of Phoenix.
/The Modern Rutter may earn a commission when readers book, subscribe, or buy through some links on this page, at no additional cost to the reader. Not every brand we cover has an affiliate relationship, and affiliate compensation does not determine our recommendations. Full disclosure.
Outdoor guides
Outdoor Guide to Phoenix
Three desert preserves inside the city, plus the day trips worth the drive.
Best Hiking Trails Near Denver
Front Range trails sorted by how far you are willing to drive.
AllTrails Alternatives
What to use when the default trail app is not the right tool.
Best Hiking Apps
The trail apps worth installing before a trip.
AllTrails Review
Is the paid plan worth it for a traveler?