America kicks ass. I’m talking about our terrain, the landscape. The white sands and steep cliffs that make up the coast, the mountains that rise from river valleys, the backcountry lakes tucked into flowering meadows…and all the adventure you can find. We’ve got desert and we’ve got rainforest. We’ve got bullet-proof cliff faces to climb and waist-deep powder to ski. We’ve got remote island parks and bike trails that start at the end of the cul de sac. Sand dunes and swamps, prairies and peaks. …Collectively, we have it all.

　　But how “adventurous” is a given state? How does it stack up against its neighbors in terms of public land and trail systems? How many national parks does it have? How are the hiking, mountain biking, and climbing? It’s tough to measure objectively—every state is so different and worthy in its own right.

　　How We Ranked the Most Adventurous States The good news? We’ve ranked the most adventurous states in America, relying on hard data instead of our subjective feelings about one place or another, pulling from a specific set of factors that apply to most outdoor-adventure enthusiasts and cover activities for all seasons.

　　Those include:

　　Number of acres of public land, as well as the number of national and state parks, because access for everyone is crucial Miles of hiking and mountain-biking trails Miles of coastline and rivers Number of ski areas Here’s Where the Data Comes From I pulled figures on total acres of public land in various states from the non-profit research group Headwaters Economics, and found the total number of state parks and national parks from the National Park Service and various state-park agencies. I used crowd-sourced platforms like Trailforks, Mountain Project, and Hiking Project to find the estimated miles of mountain biking and hiking trails in each state. These figures aren’t complete, as the data is largely user-generated, but they give a good sense of what’s available in the area. The University of Montana’s Wilderness Connect program gave me data on federally designated wilderness areas in each state, while I culled river data from the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. (Note: User-generated data figures change; these are accurate for the week of March 18, 2024.)

　　Highlighting the Winners By Region While I do name an overall Most Adventurous State in the U.S., I also broke the country down by region, choosing one state from each zone as the data-driven winner, and one runner up (because some places are just as worthy and deserve recognition). That was to assess neighbor states with similar landscapes, instead of putting, say, Rhode Island against Nevada head-to-head.

　　I went into this project with some preconceptions. I thought for sure my home state of North Carolina would win the showdown in the South, and if you had asked me to name the most adventurous state in the Lower 48 based on my own experience, I’d say Idaho. Was I right? Read on.

　　The Most Adventurous State in the U.S. Alaska

　　Wow factors, by the numbers

　　306,600,000 acres of public land 8 national parks 156 state parks 1,083 miles of hiking trails 3,036 miles of mountain-bike trails 6,640 miles coastline 365,000 miles of rivers 18 ski areas Alaska is big. Like, really big (365,000,000 acres), but it’s not just size that makes Alaska our overall Most Adventurous State in the U.S. It’s the terrain, which ranges from 20,000-foot mountains (Denali) to deep fjords, from lush river valleys to glaciers. Roughly 84 percent of the state is set aside as public land. Alaska contains half of all federally designated wilderness in America, including the single largest such area, the Wrangell-Saint Elias Wilderness at 9,432,000 acres. Alaska is so big and so wild that three million lakes don’t even have a name. It’s not necessarily the state you go to for developed recreation (many of its public landscapes have no established road or trail within), but for raw adventure, there’s no place in the U.S. like Alaska.

　　Recommended Hike: Exit Glacier via Harding Ice Field Approach

　　This 8.2-mile out and back inside Kenai Fjords National Park climbs through alder forests and meadows to a perch above treeline with a view of the Harding Icefield, which stretches for 700 square miles. It’s a tough hike, gaining 3,000 feet in just over four miles, but only in Alaska will a hike end at a field of ice this gigantic.

　　Local Intel: “We do a lot of kayaking adventures, but paddling to the Knik Glacier is my favorite,” says Derek Van Kampen, founder of the kayak guide service Adventures by True North AK, who moved to Alaska for a job but stayed for the outdoor lifestyle. “It’s the largest glacier in the Mat Su Valley, and it’s carved such an amazing landscape. It’s a full-day adventure, with four hours of paddling, but it’s calm water through marsh and wide river. You get to experience the glacier runoff, which is the headwaters of the Knik River, and the wildlife is amazing. We’ve had eagles come down and grab fish right in front of us.”

　　Most Adventurous State on the West Coast California Wow factors, by the numbers

　　54,477,800 acres of public land 9 national parks 280 state parks 16,521 miles of hiking trails 32,062 miles of mountain-bike trails 840 miles coastline 189,454 miles of rivers 33 ski areas Surf or ski? In California, you don’t have to choose. The western edge of the state is packed with world-class surf breaks up and down the coast while the interior has mountains that rise to 14,494 feet (Mount Whitney). You’ll find 33 ski resorts among those ridges. Mammoth Mountain Resort received almost 40 inches of powder in a recent storm.

　　California is also ground zero for climbing, giving us the Yosemite Decimal System (to rate the difficulty of rock climbs) and early big-wall ascents, and Marin County is the birthplace of mountain biking, since a group of teens in the 1960s and 1970s started riding down Mount Tamalpais on cruiser bikes. In the desert, jewels like Joshua Tree National Park protect a dusty landscape full of boulders, cliffs, and the skyward-reaching yuccas the place is named for. I lived in Southern California for a year, parking cars at night and learning to surf during the day. I’m headed there again soon to explore a completely different aspect of the state, Channel Islands National Park, but it’d take me a lifetime to experience the state’s entire adventure portfolio.

　　Recommended Hike: Peter Grubb Hut via the Pacific Crest Trail

　　This is the most popular hike in California, according to Gaia GPS. It’s a tough 13.5-mile lollipop loop through Tahoe National Forest, but hikers can relish long stretches of ridgeline trail above treeline. The journey ends at the historic Peter Grubb Hut, which you can reserve through the Sierra Club. Looking for a short hike in an iconic California landscape? Check out the one-mile Lower Yosemite Falls Loop, which delivers views of the 320-foot waterfall in the heart of Yosemite National Park. My own favorite backpacking trail ever is the North Rim Loop, Yosemite.

　　California Intel: “Palos Verdes Cove has a good longboard break with fun rights and lefts,” says John Cavan of Manhattan Beach, who’s surfed in Southern California for 20 years. “And it’s one of the prettiest breaks around, with waves crashing into a narrow beach walled in by a tall, rocky bluff. It’s a protected marine preserve, so the water quality is good.”

　　West Coast Runner Up Washington

　　16,616,371 acres of public land 3 national parks 140 state parks 10,915 miles of hiking trails 19,001 miles of mountain-bike trails 157 miles coastline 70,439 miles of rivers 20 ski areas Washington may be a runner-up, but it has an astounding variety of adventure. You can do legit mountaineering here, on Mount Rainier or Mount Adams, among many others, and kayak with whales in Puget Sound. The state has the second-most miles of mountain-bike trails in the entire country (after California) and a healthy winter that supports 20 different ski areas.

　　Most Adventurous State in the Mountain West Colorado Wow factors, by the numbers

　　28,004,928 acres of public land 4 national parks 42 state parks 17,545 miles of hiking trails 18,779 miles of mountain-bike trails 0 miles coastline 107,403 miles of rivers 39 ski areas This was the toughest race of them all. Idaho and Utah gave Colorado a run for its money; Utah has five national parks and 45 state parks, and Idaho has the most wilderness in the mountain region…but Colorado has solid numbers in every single category. It’s a mecca for hardcore climbers, skiers, and mountain bikers as well as families looking for scenic hikes, camping, and fishing. I lived there for years and still go back at least once a winter to ski. Not only does Colorado have four stellar national parks, it has one of the most iconic of them all: Rocky Mountain National Park. Oh, and there are more than 30,000 established climbing routes in the state. Let’s be honest, Colorado just has a combo of weather and terrain that makes us all want to live there, or at the very least, visit often enough as to become a nuisance to the people who do. But hey, Utah and Idaho, anyone is psyched to call you home.

　　Recommended Hike: Quandary Peak

　　Colorado is known for its 14ers, and Quandary Peak in White River National Forest offers a stunning summit with a relatively short approach. The hike is a straightforward 6.2-mile out and back along a broad ridgeline through wildflowers and maybe past the occasional mountain goat. From the top, hikers have clear views of a handful of other 14ers, including Mount Lincoln, Mount Cameron, and Crystal Peak.

　　Colorado Intel: “Rocky Mountain National Park gets a lot of people, but if you walk a mile from the road, you’ll lose the crowds,” says Gary Bien, a longtime angler who works at Kirk’s Fly Shop in Estes Park. “Check out Lost Lake, deep in the park. It requires a 10-mile hike, but the lake has good brook trout, and you’ll have it all to yourself except for the moose.”

　　Mountain West Runner Up: Utah

　　40,211,778 acres of public land 5 national parks 45 state parks 4,468 miles of hiking trail 14,548 miles of mountain-bike trails 21 ski areas Like I said, Utah almost took the crown for most adventurous state in the mountains, for good reason. Roughly 75 percent of Utah is protected as public land. The state has five outstanding national parks, not to mention breathtaking national monuments and recreation areas. The skiing, the climbing, the mountain biking, the adventure towns like Moab and Park City. …I’ve explored slot canyons with my kids in this state that were so out-of-this-world I considered relocating the family.

　　Most Adventurous State in the Midwest Michigan Wow factors, by the numbers

　　13,617,525 acres of public land 1 national park 103 state parks 5,292 miles of hiking 9,345 miles of mountain-bike trails 3,288 miles coastline (Great Lakes!) 51,438 miles of river 43 ski areas Michigan is the adventurous heart of the heartland, with almost as much coastline as California and vibrant ski and mountain-bike scenes, to boot. There isn’t a ton of public land (it comprises just 22 percent of the landmass) in the state, but what’s available is stellar, from one of the most isolated and least-visited national parks in the system, Isle Royale, to the Caribbean-blue waters of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. And it’s pretty wild, too, with 291,252 acres of federally designated wilderness and 16 designated Wild and Scenic Rivers. Hell, Michigan has the second-most ski areas in the U.S., and some of that skiing is really good. Meanwhile, two National Lakeshores punctuate the 3,000-plus miles of coast in this landlocked state. If you don’t think butting up against four Great Lakes counts as a real coast, then you haven’t seen Lake Superior on an angry day. Michigan has surf breaks.

　　Recommended Hike: Miner’s Castle Overlook Loop

　　This is the best difficult hike in Michigan, according to Gaia users, a 10.1-mile loop that carves through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore’s most stunning scenery, passing waterfalls, sandy beaches, and so many arches, coves, and sandstone cliffs on the edge of Lake Superior you might get tired of the views. (No, you won’t.)

　　Local Intel: “There are a lot of places to ski in Michigan, but Mount Bohemia is the most unique,” says Jeff Thompson, founder of Shaggy’s, a custom-design ski manufacturer in Boyne City. “It’s raw. There are no real frills, so there’s no reason to go there other than to ski.  You get to the right spots, and it’s a big, powdery playground, with Lake Effect snow. A lot of our skis have been born on that mountain.”

　　Midwest Runner Up Minnesota 9,146,000 acres of public land 1 national park 75 state parks 3,230 miles of hiking trails 6,554 mountain-bike trails 189 miles of coastline (Great Lakes) 91,944 miles of river 18 ski areas Minnesota has a lot of qualities that are not factored into this competition only because they fall outside of our categories. Consider its plethora of biking and hiking trails, while its cross-country ski trails are nearly impossible to count. So are the groomed fat-bike trails. If you’re fond of paddling, well, this is the Land of 10,000 Lakes (make that more like 12,000), including the best places to go for lake-hopping-style peace and solitude: the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park.

　　Most Adventurous State in the Southeast Florida

　　Wow factors, by the numbers

　　10,942,307 acres of public land 3 national parks 175 state parks 1,769 miles of hiking trails 4,626 miles of mountain-bike trails 1,350 miles of coastline 25,949 miles of river 0 ski areas Anyone else surprised about this winner? So am I, but Florida slayed other Southeastern states in totals of public land and number of state parks, and it’s the only Southern state with three national parks. The coastline is packed with surf spots on the east and wild islands all around. As for those national parks, how does paddling among wild mangroves or platform camping in the land of alligators sound? Meanwhile, the interior of Florida is laden with jungle-like flora and more than 700 natural cold springs. On a recent trip with my family to the state, I was flabbergasted at how pretty and wild some of these springs can feel. What else? Oh, there’s a legit mountain-bike scene in Florida, with almost 5,000 miles of trail. And the wildlife is next level, from enormous manatee in the rivers to panthers in the forest.

　　Recommended Hike: Black Bear Wilderness Preserve Trail

　　A 7.1-mile loop that meanders through wetland and along the banks of the St. John River, this is a mini-safari in Central Florida offering a good chance to see black bears, alligators, woodpeckers, and herons.

　　Local Intel: “Most people don’t know it, but the Gulf Coast of Florida has great surfing, especially for beginners,” says Julia Reynolds, owner of Paradise Surf Fit, in Venice, Florida. “The North Jetty and South Jetty of Venice Beach have sandbars that create these really great waves every couple of weeks. When it’s flat, the water is clear and it’s great paddleboarding.”

　　Southeast Runner Up North Carolina 3,788,840 acres of public land 1 national park 41 state parks 6,137 miles of hiking trails 4,851 miles of mountain-bike trails 301 miles of coastline 37,853 miles of river 6 ski areas North Carolina has the tallest mountains on the Eastern Seaboard and arguably the best surfing on the Atlantic Coast. That ain’t bad, but it also has a slice of the most-visited national park—Great Smoky Mountains—in the country, and legendary singletrack and rock climbing in Pisgah National Forest. Also, you can drive Tail of the Dragon, a famous  scenic 11-mile stretch on the North Carolina/Tennessee border featuring 318 hairpin curves that spit you out to dozens of overlooks for enchanting fall-foliage views. I want to ride that road on my bike.

　　Most Adventurous State in the Northeast New York

　　Wow factors, by the numbers

　　4,832,000 acres of public land 0 national parks 215 state parks 7,025 miles of hiking trails 18,061 miles of mountain-bike trails 127 miles coastline 51,790 miles of river 50 ski areas, the most in any state in the U.S. New York is large when you look at all of the other Northeastern states crammed up against it on the map, and it hosts the largest contiguous park in the entire U.S. I’m talking about the 6.1-million-acre Adirondack Park, established in 1891. Inside that park are the state’s highest peaks (up to 5,344 feet), almost 3,000 backcountry lakes, and 200,000 acres of old growth. And that’s just one park. You also have world-class rock climbing in the Shawangunks (“Gunks”), surfing on Long Island, and 50 different ski areas—the most in any state in the U.S. Here’s another fun fact: despite being home to our nation’s largest concrete jungle, New York State is 61 percent forested.

　　Recommended Hike: Allen Mountain

　　This 18-mile out and back passes through varied terrain inside Adirondack Park, with a big river crossing and a long climb up 4,347-foot Allen Mountain proper. The views from the summit into the park are stellar, and you get to skirt some of Adirondack Park’s backcountry lakes.

　　Local Intel: The Oswegatchie Traverse, from Lows Lake down the Oswegatchie River, is my favorite backcountry canoe trip,” says Amelia Dragone, a New York native and manager for St. Regis Canoe Outfitters. “It’s a 30-mile route that gets you way out into the middle of the Five Ponds Wilderness. I’ve done it in three days, but it could take seven. It’s a chunk to bite off, with plenty of meaty portages. The toughest is 2.2 miles with some hills, but it’s all part of a good time.”

　　Northeast Runner Up Maine 1,188,000acres of public land 1 national park 32 state parks 1,503 miles of hiking trails 3,043 miles of mountain-bike trails 228 miles of coast 19 ski resorts Maine boasts the Northeast’s only national park, Acadia, but also a storied ski culture that goes back to the Great Depression, when the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the first ski trails. Hiking is engrained in the culture here, with trails that traverse peaks and access hut systems, and the Appalachian Trail (parts of it, including a section in Maine, were also built by the CCC) finishes dramatically on the rocky Mount Katahdin. Oh, and the Atlantic coast that’s home to the region’s only national park? It also supports a vibrant and hardcore surf scene.

　　Most Adventurous State in the Southwest Arizona

　　Wow factors, by the numbers

　　40,124,589 acres of public land 3 national parks 34 state parks 7,396 miles of hiking trails 13,728 miles of mountain-bike trails 0 miles of coastline 90,373 miles of river 3 ski areas Nevada has more public land and New Mexico has more ski areas, but Arizona took the lead with its bevy of hiking and mountain-biking trails and the iconic status of the public land inside this state. I mean, Grand Canyon National Park. Hard as it is to pull permits, rafting through it tops many Americans’ once-in-a-lifetime trips to take. Hiking around the Grand Canyon is up there, too. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Mead Recreation Area offer massive lakes and desert gorges, while a mass of national monuments protect historical and cultural artifacts and archaeological sites sacred to Native Peoples. Meanwhile, there are more than 4.5 million acres of wilderness and more than 13,000 established climbing routes. I’ve mountain biked desert flow in the suburbs of Scottsdale and pedaled massive gravel miles near the southern border. I’ve hiked the Grand Canyon and camped in the sandy backcountry of the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument. Every time I visit Arizona, I’m blown away by how much I love this swath of desert.

　　Recommended Hike: Bright Angel Trail

　　Arizona is packed with glorious hikes, but if you’re only doing one, it probably has to be the Bright Angel Trail 10 miles into the Grand Canyon to Indian Garden Campground. It’s popular (read: busy, sorry) at the top, but the crowds thin as you lose elevation, and the views into America’s most dramatic ditch are worth rubbing elbows with others. Don’t forget you have to hike back up and out of the canyon, so start early and bring water and snacks. You can get water at Bright Angel Campground and food from Phantom Ranch a half-mile away from May to October, but don’t underestimate the fuel and hydration you’ll need to complete this hike.

　　Local Intel: “My personal favorite trail is Desert Classic, out of South Mountain Preserve near Phoenix,” says Laurel Darren, owner of Wild Bunch Desert Guides. “It just has so much variety. It’s mid-level technical, with some rocky, jagged rock gardens, but also some fun swoops and drop-ins, and a couple areas where you can go faster. There’s a bit of climbing too. It’s got a touch of everything in just a few miles.”

　　Southwest Runner Up

　　New Mexico 43,616,216 acres of public land 2 national parks 35 state parks 3,314 miles of hiking trails 6,032 miles of mountain-bike trails 0 miles of coastline 9 ski resorts 108,014 miles of river You want public land? New Mexico has it; almost half of the state (46 percent) is protected, and within that 35-plus million acres are two incredibly diverse national parks, Carlsbad Caverns (caves!) and White Sand Dunes (dunes!). Oh, and northern New Mexico is in the southern Rockies and easily has the best skiing in the Southwest—we’re looking at you, Taos.

　　Most Adventurous Tiny State New Hampshire

　　Wow factors, by the numbers

　　1,077,120 acres of public land 0 national parks 93 state parks 3,315 miles of hiking trails 4,904 miles of mountain-bike trails 13 miles of coastline 10,874 miles of river 28 ski areas At just over 9,000 square miles, New Hampshire is one of the smallest states in America, ranked #46, to be exact, but it out-punches its size when it comes to adventure. Roughly 18 percent of the state is public land. There are no national parks, but some wicked-rugged state parks, like Franconia Notch, which is packed with varied terrain, from gorges choked with waterfalls to downhill skiing, like the state-owned Cannon Mountain. And the rugged slopes of the White Mountains, which top out a little above 6,000 feet, attract both recreational and seasoned hikers. The Appalachian Trail runs along the crest of the Whites, offering the most above-treeline miles of any state along its 2,000-plus-mile route. New Hampshire only touches the Atlantic for a bit, but true to form, the state packs in the adventure with a craggy coast that boasts surprisingly consistent and varied surfing, from beach breaks to offshore reefs that require more commitment.

　　Recommended Hike: Mount Washington Loop

　　Mount Washington (6,288 feet) has notoriously challenging terrain and weather, and this nine-mile loop puts you in the thick of the landscape as you ascend the Tuckerman Ravine Trail, which gains more than 4,200 feet of elevation in just over six miles, to the summit. You’ll pass waterfalls, scramble up boulders, and top out at one of the best views in the state, encompassing the peaks of White Mountain National Forest spreading away from the base of Washington. On a clear day, the scene stretches for more than 100 miles, taking in pieces of Vermont, New York, Maine, Massachusetts, and even Quebec.

　　Local Intel: “The hiking trails here go straight up the mountain, so anything in the Whites is going to be good and challenging,” says Mike Cherim, owner of Redline Guiding. “But if you want a serious challenge, try to hike the Terrifying 25, a collection of some of the toughest trails in the state. They all have rock scrambles and scree and some ladder sections. If you do them all, you can earn a badge.”

　　The Bottom Line

　　While the data we used is objective, the notion of “adventure” itself is subjective, because it lies at the intersection of humans and the landscape. Some of my favorite personal experiences have occurred in states not on this list. This article is meant to inspire you and get you outside, but who’s to say a swamp or vast prairie is more or less adventurous than a mountain? The landscape is the canvas, but we paint our own pictures.

　　Graham Averill is Outside magazine’s national parks columnist. He’s adventured in almost all of the states on this list, but hasn’t yet spent enough time exploring the Northeast. It’s on his to-do list.

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