The 50 Best Adventures in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada
40. Run the Grand Canyon from Rim to Rim to Rim
Five million people visit Grand Canyon National Park annually, but to truly know the span of the Big Ditch, you should run across it in one mega day. From South to North Rims and back, I’m talking 44 miles, 20,000 feet of elevation change, and a geologic journey that spans 1.8 billion years. I set out one spring morning at 4:38 A.M. via the South Kaibab Trailhead and finished at 6:09 P.M. at the Bright Angel Trailhead. Not gonna lie, it was grueling. And I trained for four months. But traversing this gorgeous natural landscape in 15-plus hours was something I’ll never ever forget. —Will Taylor
41. Attend Mountainfilm in Colorado
I’ve been to Mountainfilm, the granddaddy of American outdoor-film fests, many times. Held Memorial Day weekend in Telluride, it draws some 4,000 people eager to immerse themselves with more than 100 documentaries on everything from adventure to social issues, and to hang out with esteemed guests and speakers like Jimmy Chin, Kris Tompkins, Tommy Caldwell, Cheryl Strayed, and Pattie Gonia. This year for the first time, short films shown here will qualify for Academy Awards. Three pro tips: bring a blanket for nighttime screenings outdoors, reserve your spot at events well beforehand, and stay at the awesome local campground ($30), which you can walk to. Kicking off summer in Telluride is a joy: hiking the Jud Wiebe Trail above town, with verdant views; getting in a quick boulder sesh at Society Turn; or just ambling down Main Street and seeing so many folks from the outdoor world. Passes from $210 —A.O.
42. Hike the AT Through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina
Seventy-two miles of the AT run through the nation’s most visited park. My preferred stretch is a shortened version that’s as beautiful and remote as it is challenging. It begins on the western side of Fontana Lake, in Tennessee, and ascends 7,000 feet over 32 miles, topping out at Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome), which straddles the North Carolina state line. Stop at the Shuckstack Fire Tower and count off its 78 steps to the top for an incredible view of Fontana’s sinuous blue fingers seeping into the green ridges below. As for timing, I should say October when the foliage is popping, but I like summer, when I can detour to swimming holes. —G.A.
43. Camp with the Kids at Yosemite National Park in California
The first time I hiked to the top of 317- foot Vernal Fall, my daughter was a toddler in a backpack. Now she’s ten and climbs the five-mile Mist Trail herself. If you pitch a tent in Upper Pines Campground, which enjoys views of El Capitan and Half Dome, it’s a quick bike ride from your site to the trailhead. Or escape the crowds by heading to the high-country Tuolumne Meadows Campground, which will reopen in June after a major renovation; half the sites there are held for walk-up campers. Reservations open five months ahead at 7 A.M. Pacific Time and sell out in minutes, so be on it. Both campsites $36 —Megan Michelson
44. Go Crabbing with Tia in South Carolina
Catching what you eat in a city is a rare thing. Which is what makes the Casual Crabbing with Tia experience worth seeking out on a trip to Charleston. Tia Clark pivoted from a hospitality-industry career to teaching locals and visitors alike to crab sustainably, something connected to her Gullah Geechee culture. When my daughters and I—who have zero crabbing knowledge—spent a morning with her on the water, she made us feel like pros. We later took our bounty to the Charleston Crab House, where it was steamed and tossed with Old Bay, and we ate it with our hands and the requisite bibs. $125 —K.S.
45. Kayak the Sea of Cortez, Baja California Sur
Last December, my wife and two teenagers decided to bring in the New Year with a trip to Isla Espíritu Santo, a Unesco Biosphere Reserve. We booked four nights with locally based Todos Santos Eco Adventures and had a ball swimming with sea lions, kayaking among devil rays, snorkeling with sea turtles, exploring island coves, rambling to promontories with views of turquoise bays, and stargazing beneath some of Mexico’s darkest skies. From $395, including glamping accommodations, meals, equipment, and guided hikes —Fiachra Stokes
46. Bikepack the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route
This route parallels the Continental Divide for some 2,700 miles between the U.S.- Mexico border and Banff, Canada. I did it northbound—the increasingly preferred direction, given seasonal wildfire concerns—starting in June and making my way over mostly lonely dirt roads and through breathtaking scenery over 45 days. The riding isn’t technical, but the elements, 149,000 feet of elevation gain, poor cell service, and sheer length make for a serious undertaking. The real beauty of this endeavor, though, is making it whatever you need it to be: a test of endurance, a travel odyssey, a personal vision quest. You’ll return changed in ways you won’t expect. —Bryan Rogala
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