Living in a city can be great, but it often comes with a lot of negative tradeoffs — especially for lovers of the outdoors. Cities can be claustrophobic, dirty, and lacking in the kind of nature that is essential to many people’s happiness and well-being.
Luckily, not all American cities lack natural resources. For anyone who wants the best of the urban experience without sacrificing access to nature and outdoor recreation, we put together this list of the best outdoors cities in the country.
LAS VEGAS, NV
A lot of people might be familiar with Las Vegas more for its neon lights and gambling than its outdoor attractions, but the city is surrounded by some seriously amazing resources that make it one of the best cities for outdoor activities in America.
With a staggering 21.9 acres of public land for each resident within a 60-minute drive and many desert and mountains around its metro area — among them, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management – Vegas is a major destination for rock climbers and outdoors lovers of all stripes, regardless of how much time they do — or do not — spend at the casino.
MINNEAPOLIS & ST. PAUL, MN
Along with the best bicycle system in the country — the city has 400 miles of paved bike trails — Minneapolis additionally has a formidable public park system, a lot of hiking, and great kayaking options care of the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers. That’s not to even mention the many lakes in and around the area.
Along with its sister city, Minneapolis has a multitude of options for lovers of the outdoors to enjoy. 98 percent of St. Paul residents and 96 percent of Minneapolis residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, and both cities were included in a top 50 list of cities in the Urban Outdoor Access Analysis. No doubt, it’s one of the best outdoors cities in the Midwest.
PORTLAND, OR
Residents of Portland have access to all kinds of natural splendor, from massive evergreen forests to majestic mountains. Without even leaving the city, you can visit the 5,000 acres of green forest space known as Forest Park, while a short trip outside of town allows you to access the 11,250-foot Mount Hood, which comes with an achievable summit and a ton of trails and ski zones.
Even closer to Portland rests the Columbia River Gorge, an area that is home to a large amount of hiking and biking trails along with some seriously jaw-dropping waterfalls. An additional high level of environmental sustainability helps to make Portland one of the most outdoorsy cities on the West Coast.
ASPEN, CO
For year-round fun in the Rocky Mountains, it would be difficult to top Aspen. Ski lovers will relish three different choices for ski mountains — there is Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, and Aspen Highlands – while the Maroon Bells peaks are perfect for summer fun and exploration.
If you make it out to the Maroon Bells, be sure to snap a picture while you are there: the Bells are, after all, the most photographed mountains in North America. They offer some of the best views in the entire state of Colorado.
BOISE, ID
With proximity to both mountains and desert, Boise has approximately 130 miles of trails only slightly removed from the city proper. On top of that, the city is also home to the Boise River. The river moves through downtown and is considered to be one of the region’s best bodies of water for canoeing.
For more outdoor adventure, all you have to do is travel an hour outside of Boise, where you will encounter three whitewater rivers and hundreds of miles of high-desert trails, all in the Owyhee Canyonlands, which calls itself the last great unprotected expanse of the American West.
JACKSON HOLE, WY
Jackson Hole holds no seasonal boundaries, making it one of the best cities for outdoor activity in the United States. Winter means skiing at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and the spring is perfect for road running and biking in the National Elk Refuge, in addition to all sorts of trail sports.
That leads us to summer, where hiking, camping, and climbing reign supreme — you can also get on the Snake River and engage in a bit of flatwater paddling. Last but not least, the fall brings with it majestic color changes, seen most notably in the golden Aspens that rest along Jenny Lake. There is no shortage of beauty in Jackson Hole.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT
Though it is probably best known for winter sports — and its pristine snow powder – Salt Lake City is in reality an all-season outdoors utopia. In one SLC day, you could mountain bike, ski, and then cap everything off with a great meal. The surrounding Wasatch Mountains are home to plenty of trails and ski resorts that in part make this all possible.
Then there is the Great Salt Lake. Famous for being the saltiest lake in the Western Hemisphere, it is also a great place for birdwatchers and the home of the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats. All of this action at the Great Salt Lake is free and open every single day.
PORTLAND, ME
The East Coast Portland is just as much of an outdoors heaven as the Oregonian city of the same name that we discussed earlier. With easy access to both Casco Bay and Maine’s 3000-plus lakes, the city revolves around water and provides several ways to explore outdoors.
Casco Bay holds a large number of islands; the larger ones can be accessed by ferries, and you can reach the others using a sailboat, kayak, or standup paddleboard. Portland is especially beautiful in the autumn, where you can take fall foliage boat tours along the coast and avail yourself of the many trails made especially for hikers and bikers alike. It’s a salty paradise.
JUNEAU, AK
When it comes to state capitals with serious outdoor sights, Juneau is second to none. The city offers singular attractions and outdoor destinations that would be hard to match in any of the lower 48 states — it’s one of the best outdoor cities, period. One of Juneau’s major attractions is the Mendenhall Glacier – the glacier exists within city limits and can be explored via guided tours onto the ice.
For those who want to go high-country hiking, there is the Mt. Roberts Tramway or trails in Point Bridget State Park on Berner’s Bay. The latter lets you amble through the waterside rainforest and even go salmon fishing or seal watching.
HONOLULU, HAWAII
Honolulu is Hawaii’s largest city; it is also close enough to a ton of world-class outdoors destinations to make it an ideal spot for nature lovers of all stripes. A quick drive along the coast will get you to Hanauma Bay, which is good for snorkeling and has a protected reef and turquoise waters that make it a perfect fit for all skill levels of the activity.
The city is also home to the two-mile-long Waikiki Beach, a legendary stretch of beach perfect for surfing and hanging out alike. Hiking fans don’t have to travel far to get access to the Manoa Falls Trail, the forested trails on Pu’u Ohi’a (Mt. Tantalus), and the crater of Diamond Head. Simply put, Honolulu a tropical paradise that encourages its residents to spend as much time outdoors as possible.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
San Francisco might just be the perfect marriage of urban sophistication and nature. Golden Gate Park – an area that also comprises the San Francisco Botanical Garden and Conservatory of Flowers – is famous for being the largest cultivated urban green space in America, and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area includes almost 20 different ecosystems with more than 2,000 species of plant and animals.
Additionally, there is The Presidio, a quirky national park that is home to a bunch of attractions and family activities. A quick trip to any number of destinations in the larger Bay Area also provides tons of chances for outdoor fun: whether you are biking the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito or hiking Lands End, there is a lot of fun to be had within the general proximity of San Francisco.
SEATTLE, WA
The large protected system of interconnected waterways, bays, inlets, and rivers known as the Puget Sound region is only one of many great natural destinations in this Pacific Northwestern city — it can be navigated by paddle boating, sailing, or even via whale watching tour boats.
There is also Discovery Park – the largest city park in Seattle. The park contains two miles of tidal beaches, sea cliffs, and unforgettable wildlife. To add to all of that, there is also of course the massive Mount Rainer, which looms in the background of the city and provides great options for hiking, climbing, cycling, and beyond. Taken together, Seattle is one of the most outdoorsy cities in the country.
The post 12 of the Best Outdoor Cities in America appeared first on BXBK | Urban Outdoor Survival Magazine.
