USA outdoor trip recommendations?
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wrote on 29 Dec 2021, 15:15 last edited by Klaus
Our planned USA trip was cancelled two times due to COVID, but we hope to manage this summer. Originally, we wanted to explore the East Coast cities, but we've now decided to defer that trip a little and go for Mid- or West USA (or maybe Jasper/Banff) for an "outdoor" trip, including backcountry camping etc. We are planning for three weeks in July/August. We'll probably rent a car for most of the time, but would also like to do some family-compatible (2-3 days) backcountry trips in between.
Any suggestions for where to go? Are the famous national parks (Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon etc.) too crowded or too hot at that time of the year?
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wrote on 29 Dec 2021, 15:21 last edited by
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wrote on 29 Dec 2021, 15:27 last edited by Klaus
Ah, those links look quite helpful. Thanks!
The notion of a "permit" is mentioned a couple of times. Does one need an explicit permit for something?
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wrote on 29 Dec 2021, 15:30 last edited by
Oh, this permit stuff seems to be critical sometimes.
Mark your calendar for this critical date: For 2022, the first day you can apply for a permit will be Jan. 5. Submit your application promptly at 8 a.m. Mountain Time that day, because many campsites that are available in reserve, especially along the Teton Crest trail, get booked up for the entire summer very quickly, often within hours or even the first hour. Find more information at nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/bcres.htm.
This point cannot be overemphasized: Given the huge demand for reservations and the fact that they get booked up so quickly, there’s effectively just one day every year when you can reserve a permit for backpacking the Teton Crest Trail. Be prepared to apply on that first non-holiday Wednesday in January.
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wrote on 29 Dec 2021, 15:30 last edited by
There's some outdoors-ey stuff in the Midwest, but nothing will compare with the West.
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wrote on 29 Dec 2021, 16:54 last edited by
@mik said in USA outdoor trip recommendations?:
https://thebigoutside.com/the-10-best-national-park-backpacking-trips/
I noted that the trips described on your links and also on many other websites are described in rather vague terms. In particular, I don't see maps or the like. Are these usually fixed trips with signs along the way, or does one get maps in a different way (maybe by paying something), or am I missing something?
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wrote on 29 Dec 2021, 17:04 last edited by
You do not want to be south of the Mason-Dixon in July and August.
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wrote on 29 Dec 2021, 17:17 last edited by
Florida Keys
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wrote on 29 Dec 2021, 19:04 last edited by
My two pfennings? Go to banff jasper and the Canadian Rockies.
A tad colder, less people. But spectacular.
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My two pfennings? Go to banff jasper and the Canadian Rockies.
A tad colder, less people. But spectacular.
wrote on 29 Dec 2021, 19:11 last edited by George K@bachophile said in USA outdoor trip recommendations?:
My two pfennings (sic)? Go to banff jasper and the Canadian Rockies.
Agreed.
A tad colder, less people. But spectacular.
And the people are probably a bit more polite.
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wrote on 29 Dec 2021, 20:35 last edited by
Grand Canyon, Yellowstone … those two are the obvious ones.
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My two pfennings? Go to banff jasper and the Canadian Rockies.
A tad colder, less people. But spectacular.
wrote on 29 Dec 2021, 23:21 last edited by@bachophile said in USA outdoor trip recommendations?:
My two pfennings? Go to banff jasper and the Canadian Rockies.
A tad colder, less people. But spectacular.
Yup - been there and agree it is a great alternative.
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wrote on 30 Dec 2021, 00:39 last edited by
Klaus, are you looking for backpacking or camping? Two VERY different things in the US. In some of the more famous parks, the less accessible but famous camping spots will fill up very quickly, but there will still be plenty of “base camp” camping spots available if you are strictly looking for day hikes…
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@bachophile said in USA outdoor trip recommendations?:
My two pfennings? Go to banff jasper and the Canadian Rockies.
A tad colder, less people. But spectacular.
Yup - been there and agree it is a great alternative.
wrote on 30 Dec 2021, 13:05 last edited by@kluurs said in USA outdoor trip recommendations?:
@bachophile said in USA outdoor trip recommendations?:
My two pfennings? Go to banff jasper and the Canadian Rockies.
A tad colder, less people. But spectacular.
Yup - been there and agree it is a great alternative.
It is, but we have actually been to Jasper/Banff a couple of years ago already, so this time we want to explore something new. Also, the idea was to avoid the crowds by going backpacking. Usually, most Americans can be counted on to not go anywhere where they can't go by car ...
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Klaus, are you looking for backpacking or camping? Two VERY different things in the US. In some of the more famous parks, the less accessible but famous camping spots will fill up very quickly, but there will still be plenty of “base camp” camping spots available if you are strictly looking for day hikes…
wrote on 30 Dec 2021, 13:07 last edited by@lufins-dad said in USA outdoor trip recommendations?:
Klaus, are you looking for backpacking or camping? Two VERY different things in the US. In some of the more famous parks, the less accessible but famous camping spots will fill up very quickly, but there will still be plenty of “base camp” camping spots available if you are strictly looking for day hikes…
Backpacking. We've been camping in the US before, so I know what that is about. The way I understood it, backpacking involves hiking to places not accessible by car, and you either spend the night wherever you want or on very loosely structured camping places with basically no infrastructure.