With the weather heating up, it’s time to plan your next summer adventure. If land is in your blood, you’ve been waiting all winter to get back outdoors and enjoy nature. There is something about full-blown summer that can’t be beat. From the saturated, fresh smells of a forest in full bloom to the beautiful colors of scenery contrasting against each other, summer can truly be the best time to explore the land. Here are five outdoor summer adventures for land lovers that you won’t want to miss.
Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
About 7,700 years ago, the great Mount Mazama collapsed during a volcanic eruption. Nestled deep in the resulting caldera is Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States. People travel from across the country to see the famous clear blue water. You can swim in the lake (accessible by the Cleetwood Cove Trail), but be warned the water can be icy despite it being summer.
By day, take in the stunning views and keep your eyes peeled for elk, bobcats, black bears, bald eagles, and more. At night, the clear skies make for incredible stargazing.
Pro-tip: Be sure to check the national park’s webcam before heading out for your trip to make sure fog won’t be in the way of your views.
Acadia National Park, Maine
Acadia National Park is a hiker’s paradise. There are dozens of forest, lake, and summit trails that vary from gentle hikes to day-long expeditions.
If hiking isn’t your style, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy Acadia. The park offers tidepooling, horseback riding, swimming, boating, bike tours, and more. If you wait out summer, in the fall you can enjoy some of the most stunning foliage in the country.
Pro-tip: As Acadia becomes more and more popular, traffic has gotten increasingly worse. To avoid traffic and spending hours finding parking, park outside of the park and use the Island Explorer shuttle. It has dozens of stops around the park and is an excellent way to get around.
Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee – North Carolina
This stunning national park spans two states – we think it might be because it would be too much beauty for one state to handle. With 522,427 acres, there is no shortage of sights to see and things to do.
These mountains are the perfect place for nature lovers. The Great Smoky Mountains are well-known for their diversity of plant and animal life, including over 1,500 types of wildflowers. You can expect to see coyotes, elk, salamanders (The Great Smoky Mountains have been called the Salamander Capital of the World for the incredible variety of salamanders that live here), snakes, and black bears.
Pro-tip: While black bear are much more scared of you than you are of them, you should still take these precautions to stay on the safe side.
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
A word of warning: they aren’t called the Badlands for nothing. The weather can be anywhere between 116 degrees and – 40 degrees and can change on a dime. The humidity and a lack of shade can make it feel even hotter than it already is. If you have a low tolerance for heat, consider going in June, when the average temperature ranges from 83-56 degrees.
If you can handle the heat, you are in for a fantastic adventure. The Badlands are a maze of canyons, spires, and rock formations like you’ve never seen before. Wildlife such as bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and bison roam around the Badlands freely.S
Sliding Rock, North Carolina
If you want to cool down after the Badlands, this is the perfect spot to do so. Slide down the sixty-foot sloping rock into an eight-foot deep pool. This all-natural waterslide is a great place to take the family. This popular spot does tend to get crowded, especially on hot days, so try to get there early to avoid lines.
America is home to some of the best outdoor summer adventures in the world. From swimming to hiking to just enjoying the great outdoors, there are endless ways to enjoy land this summer.
For the true land lovers out there, we suggest looking to invest in your own piece of land for unlimited summer adventures! Make sure to Find A Land Consultant with the specialized expertise needed to maximize your investment and find just the right property.