The Appalachian Mountains are a timeless symbol of America’s natural beauty. This mountain range is also one of the oldest on Earth, according to Encyclopædia Britannica. Within this majestic region, you can find a subrange known as the Great Smoky Mountains. People from the southeastern United States are probably familiar with the wonders found throughout these two incredible mountain destinations. If you weren’t lucky enough to grow up with all that untouched wilderness in your backyard, here’s what you should know about sightseeing in the Appalachian and Smoky Mountains. In the photo guide below, tourists and adventurers can find a list of the area’s best spots. People who are curious to learn more can also check out this guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
If you’ve ever trekked up a mountain, you know how rewarding (and challenging) it can be. There’s nothing quite like using your own two feet to reach new heights. The journey gets even more exciting when you’re scaling a mountain range known for its gorgeous scenery.
In North America, you can find several massive mountain ranges. From the Rocky Mountains and Cascade Range to the Appalachian Mountains and Alaska Range, there are miles of mountainous terrain to explore. Get inspired for your next mountain getaway or climbing trip with this list of the 10 most scenic mountains in the United States. You can also find the country’s best mountain climbing destinations here.
Shenandoah National Park gives adventurers endless options for hours of exploration. Visitors can sightsee at picturesque overlooks, spot adorable animals grazing in the meadows, learn about local history, hike to gorgeous waterfalls, and so much more. All of these options can make planning a trip to the park a little overwhelming. Ease that stress by focusing on one of the region’s top attractions. This fall, see the best of Shenandoah at Old Rag Mountain.
Old Rag Mountain is for everyone from hikers and climbers to photographers and drivers. Several trails weave through the ridges, and a scenic drive nearby offers excellent views of the mountain. Discover even more about Old Rag with this list of travel tips and trail info.
It’s hard to sleep in when you’re staying in a hotel overlooking one of Japan’s most beautiful lakes. Especially in summer, when the sun rises around 4:30 a.m. and brings shifting colors, jumping fish, and diving osprey.
Lake Shikaribetsu is the highest-altitude lake in Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido. Tucked up in the Daisetsuzan mountain range, it was formed by a volcanic eruption damming the Yanbetsu River approximately 30,000 years ago.
In addition to being a prime recreational area within Daisetsuzan National Park, the lake also attracts fans of “Spirited Away.” Its lake-bottom railroad tracks resemble those from the wildly popular 2001 anime movie. There was never actually a railroad going into the lake, though. Instead, the tracks help bring sightseeing boats ashore before the winter freeze.
Utah’s highest mountain range has adventures in store for all kinds of travelers. In the Uinta Mountains, you can find challenging climbs, stunning hikes, and even a few quality fishing holes. Get the most out of your next trip to the area with this guide to the region’s top attractions.
What kinds of landscapes can you expect to find in the Uinta Mountains? Aside from the obvious, this range offers everything from tranquil lakes to grassy meadows. See it all on a scenic drive or kayaking trip through the area. Or, get a bird’s-eye view by climbing up the mountains. Can’t decide which activity you want to try first? Preview the fun with this photo guide of awesome sights and things to do in the Uinta Mountains.
Have you ever packed your lunch for a hike based on its weight rather than its deliciousness? There’s no need to scrimp on gourmet fixings when you have a llama to carry your picnic basket for you. A llama hike and picnic is just one experience Brush Creek Ranch in Wyoming offers its guests. Plus, there’s a herd of darling goats. You can book a pasture goat walk where you’ll stroll through a pasture while Alpine, Nubian, and Nigerian Dwarf goats cavort around you.
Where is this magical land of goats and llamas? Brush Creek Ranch is located at the North Platte River Valley of south-central Wyoming, between the Sierra Madre mountain range and Medicine Bow National Forest. The ranch owns 30,000 private acres, including lakes, creeks, rivers, and a 600-acre ski mountain. The nearest town is Saratoga, population 1,727.
Photo by Alana Watkins, courtesy of Brush Creek Ranch
Guests can hike with llamas in the Snowy Mountain Range, Sierra Madres, Medicine Bow National Forest, and the ranch’s private Green Mountain. In addition to hiking, the llamas can accompany you fly fishing, where they’ll hold all your gear.
Photo by Alana Watkins, courtesy of Brush Creek Ranch
Or your family can enroll in Llamas 101, where you learn to groom the llamas, feed them, play with the babies (called crias), and, of course, have the most darling family photo shoot ever.
Photo by Alana Watkins, courtesy of Brush Creek Ranch
You can learn more about the goats through the “wake up with the goats” experience. Guests will accompany a dairy farmer through the milking process. You might even get to bottle-feed a baby goat. Or get bendy with your new friends in a goat yoga class.
Photo by Alana Watkins, courtesy of Brush Creek Ranch
Guests with culinary aspirations can be cheese-making apprentices for a day at the ranch’s Medicine Bow Creamery, Wyoming’s leading maker of goat dairy products. Cheese-making apprentices will learn to make feta, from pasteurization to forming the curd. Instruction in making ricotta, burrata, and mozzarella is also available. Or join a caramel-making class using goat milk that’s been honey-aged in Brush Creek Distillery bourbon barrels. You can bring as much fresh-made caramel home with you as you like, so bring a big suitcase.
Photo by Alana Watkins, courtesy of Brush Creek Ranch
Ready to plan your trip to the ranch? Visitors can fly into the Saratoga Jet Center by private plane or take a commercial flight to Laramie or Denver.
Photo by Alana Watkins, courtesy of Brush Creek Ranch
In the summer, visiting Tennesee’s Lookout Mountain feels like entering a lush fantasy world. While warm temperatures and humidity often get a bad rap, these conditions make the forested ridge’s brilliant green trees even more vibrant than usual. The community around the mountain’s popular destination of Rock City Gardens adds to this magical atmosphere with streets named after fairy tale characters.
These charming vibes heighten when you explore the mountain’s outdoor recreation opportunities. From the underground caverns of Ruby Falls to the radiant overlook at Sunset Rock, the region has a lot to offer. Choose your own adventure with this list of the five best things to do and see at Lookout Mountain.
Tackling a strenuous hike takes skill and dedication. It takes even more dedication to hike up a mountain that rises to an elevation of over 3,800 feet. In New York’s Adirondack Mountains, the glorious spots that tower above this elevation are known as the 46 High Peaks.
What does it take to climb the High Peaks? According to 46ers, a group of climbers who have scaled all 46 peaks, a passion for hiking helps fuel their ascents.
“Why do you hike? This is a question that we must all ask ourselves at a certain point of our hiking adventures, whether at the beginning of a quest to become a 46er,” Siobhan Carney Nesbitt, an Adirondack 46ers member, wrote. “I hike because I love to hike. While spending time outdoors with my family and friends, I love to hear babbling brooks, rustling leaves, twittering birds, chattering chipmunks, and sometimes in the dead of winter, the snow muffled silence.”
While not everyone can climb all 46 High Peaks, hiking enthusiasts can sample the region’s best sights. Get a taste of these majestic mountains at the five best peaks in the Adirondack Mountains.
People who have lived in Southern California long enough might remember Santa’s Village, a year-round Christmas theme park that delighted children with rides and reindeer. Now, SkyPark at Santa’s Village has been revamped into a mountain biking park that delights riders of all skill levels while preserving a few touches of the North Pole.
Photo courtesy of SkyPark at Santa’s Village
When the old theme park tucked into the San Bernardino Mountains came up for sale in 2014, mountain biking couple Bill and Michelle Johnson jumped at the chance to develop their dream bike park. They envisioned a place with enough variety for a whole family, from toddlers to grandparents.
“We have a pump track for the little ones, entry and medium level trails, and even expert-level tracks that keep pro riders coming back,” Bill Johnson said in a statement. “The park is designed much like a ski resort, although we do not have a lift service. Everyone can ride together to the top, but a scaled network of trails for all levels can bring you down, back to the village, at a central location to regroup. We’re constantly improving and adjusting trails, with expansion continuing to change the experience every season.”
The park offers trails for riders of all skill levels. / Photo courtesy of SkyPark at Santa’s Village
SkyPark offers group and private lessons for ages three and up, plus an onsite bike shop. Buy a bike from SkyPark’s Bike Swap, and you’ll get a credit for a day of riding at the park. Families can camp at the campground next door or bring their RV.
Photo courtesy of SkyPark at Santa’s Village
The original Santa’s Village opened in 1955, before Disneyland. It went through a bankruptcy and a couple of owners and iterations before closing in 1998.
“Bill and I used to come here when we were younger, back when Santa’s Village was closed, and make bike paths through the trees,” Michelle Johnson said. “In 2014, long after we were married and had gained significant experience in the real estate world, we saw the old Santa’s Village property come up on the market and it was like the universe was giving us a chance to share this magical place with the world. Now everyone gets to experience the park we’ve spent years perfecting.”
Photo courtesy of SkyPark at Santa’s Village
SkyPark at Santa’s Village is part of a larger trend of using traditional skiareas for mountain biking during the off-season. “We’re proud to be a part of that mindset shift,” Bill Johnson said. “These mountains need to be experienced and mountain biking is such a great way to do it year-round. It’s good for the local community as well, to have something year-round again. Plus, we’ve brought the famous Santa’s Village theme park back to life for new generations, and that’s really special.”
Within the Rocky Mountains, Mount Elbert soars to an elevation of about 14,400 feet. At this elevation, Mount Elbert is the highest peak in Colorado. It’s also the second-highest peak in the contiguous United States. Curious to explore this towering landmark? Take a virtual tour of the mountain in these photos.
Climbers who plan to scale Mount Elbert must prepare for an elevation gain of over 4,000 feet. The 5.8-mile-long South Elbert Trail has an elevation gain of 4,800 feet. The 4.3-mile-long North Elbert Trail has a gain of 4,800 feet. While described as a “relatively easy” climb, both paths require hikers to bring the right gear and plan carefully. Whether you are planning such a climb or just want to preview the path to this peak, explore Mount Elbert with these photos of the Rocky Mountains’ highest peak.
