Don’t go quietly in the twilight of summer. The U.S. offers opportunities for adventure in the great outdoors, from coast to coast, all year long. Check out some of these incredible excursions to top the summer off.
Awesome Treks, Climbs & Hikes
The late summer months are an excellent time to hit the mountains and get in deep with nature. Across the country, you’ll find some awesome hikes, climbs, and treks:
- Zion, Utah
- Yellowstone, Wyoming
- Yosemite, California
- Glacier Park, Montana
- Shenandoah Mountains, Virginia
- Grand Tetons, Wyoming
- Kaibab Trail at Grand Canyon, Arizona
- Red Rock, Nevada
Zion has plenty of spots for canyoneering, including the Narrows, but you could spend days pushing your limits throughout the entire unique playground. Get in touch with the extensive rock climbing history in Yosemite and come face to face with legendary rock faces. Half dome is a 16-mile trek to dig into the country’s most majestic natural setting.
At the Grand Tetons, check out the 14-mile hike around Cascade Canyon Trail to see the distant peaks trouncing the landscapes. Afterward, take on the peak itself, scrambling up with gear or no gear.
Catch the Last Summer Waves
Hang ten across the country for the summer top-off. Each coast in the contiguous states offers some awesome options.
- The Rockaways, New York
- Delaware Coastline
- Maine Coastline
- Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Outer Banks, North Carolina
- South Padre Island, Texas
- Santa Cruz, California
- Huntington Beach, California
- La Jolla, California
Delaware’s Dewey, Rehoboth Beach, Fenwick Island, and Bethany Beach all give some good East Coast waves. And every August there’s a Summer Vibes festival. The chilly waters of the Rockaways and along the coast of Maine are surfed year-round. On the West Coast, La Jolla gives the surfers with a bit more edge a place to challenge themselves.
Something Different
For more exploration across this fine nation, check out some of these niche adventures.
- Base Jumping in Twin Falls, Idaho
- Waterfall Rappelling in the White Mountains, New Hampshire
- Kayak 150 Islands around Isle Royale, Michigan
Base jumping in Idaho can be achieved in the late summer, either by going through a safety course or by jumping tandem. Either way, there’s nothing like the vertiginous exhilaration of looking down nearly 500 feet and consciously jumping off a bridge with no tether attached. For more height-fright thrills, go waterfall rappelling in the White Mountains and feel the rushing water as you control your descent.
Disconnect completely at one of the least visited national parks of the country, located in the remote north of Michigan. Isle Royale is surrounded by hundreds of small islands. Marvel the rugged beauty as you navigate the islands by kayak.
Get Far Out
If you have the time and the coin, why not take the summer frontier to its limits. Alaska is an incredible spot, especially in summer when the hours of sunlight give you longer days to get more acquainted with Mother Nature.
Anchorage sets you up near Chugach Park, with 280 miles of trails, snowmobiling, biking, and all the wildlife you could imagine. Kayak down Kenai Fjords or head into the incredible ice caves of Spencer Glacier.
Store More. Explore More.
Whatever you do with the last months of summer, you may need to lighten the load or get organized. StorQuest offers storage solutions for gear, vehicles, and any number of valuables so you can focus on making your next expedition awesome. Find a location, then make room for awesome®.