Lots of us get our travel inspiration from following other outdoor adventurers on social media. Seeing viral outdoor destinations can encourage us to get outdoors ourselves to view the stunning scenery and try the epic recreation opportunities we see online.
We’ve rounded up five viral outdoor destinations for you to consider, and we also have some tips to make sure these places stay beautiful and pristine despite the influx of visitors.
Crested Butte, Colorado
Like many Colorado mountain towns, Crested Butte is a former mining town. It sits in a valley, surrounded by the dramatic peaks of the Rocky Mountains. It’s about a 4 1/2 hour drive from Denver, but the drive itself is a gorgeous part of your trip! You’ll take 285 south, through Buena Vista and up Cottonwood Pass through the mountains.
The town has hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and other warm-weather outdoor activities in summer, and skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and other cold-weather activities in winter. But one of the big draws is the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival each July. Visitors can take photography, painting, and cooking classes or go on guided hikes through the kaleidoscope of colors around this town.
After you’ve explored the views and nature around Crested Butte, save time to check out the restaurants, bars, galleries, and shops in the historic downtown area.
Why It’s Going Viral
Crested Butte is known as the wildflower capital of Colorado. When you hike or explore the area in summer, you’ll find a brilliant variety of flowers in all sizes and colors. It’s also stunning in fall, when the leaves turn.
All of this beautiful foliage also leads to some eye-catching Instagram photos and TikTok videos. The area just pops on-screen, so it’s no wonder it’s going viral.
Best Outdoor Recreation Activities
While in Crested Butte, there are a variety of activities you can enjoy. If you’re a serious hiker, you can hike West Maroon Pass. It’s a 7-8 mile trek one-way (most people arrange a shuttle to get back), with 2,500 feet of elevation gain so it’s not for beginners! You’ll want to go later in June through early fall when a lot of snow has melted. The wildflowers in July are breathtaking.
Crested Butte is also a popular place for mountain biking, with lots of scenic trails through the mountains and wildflowers. In winter, enjoy skiing, fat tire snow biking, cross-country skiing, and other winter activities.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Jackson Hole is a marvelous blend of rugged outdoor adventures and upscale pampering. It’s another valley surrounded by mountains – the Tetons to the west and the Gros Ventre Range to the east. The Snake River flows through the valley and offers even more possibilities for outdoor recreation.
You can reach the town by flying into the Jackson Hole Airport, which is inside Grand Teton National Park, 7 miles north of town. The airport has flights to and from Denver, Salt Lake City, Dallas, Chicago, New York, and other hubs. Salt Lake City is about a 5-hour drive from Jackson Hole, and Denver is a 9 to 10-hour drive.
Why It’s Trending
Jackson Hole is the gateway to Grand Teton National Park, and is about 90 minutes to two hours from the south entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The town offers a mix of wild outdoor adventures and upscale shopping, dining, and luxury experiences. You can spend the day outside rafting, hiking, or fishing, and then unwind with a relaxing massage or a great meal.
Best Outdoor Recreation Activities
There are so many opportunities for outdoor recreation that your biggest challenge will be narrowing down your list! You can book a wildlife safari to catch a glimpse of the animals that live in this region. Go whitewater rafting on the Snake River. Head out on a breathtaking hike or mountain bike ride. Fish, canoe, kayak, or swim in the river or the lakes that dot the area. In the winter, you can go skiing or snowboarding at Jackson Hole Resort. You can also go snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or hiking through a winter wonderland.
There are also lots of places to camp in Jackson Hole, so it’s easy to plan an RV road trip to the area!
Burney Falls, California
Burney Falls is in Northern California, inside McArthur-Burney Falls State Park in Shasta County. The park is within the Cascade Range and the Modoc Plateau, and is about an hour from Lassen Volcanic National Park. Along with seeing the falls, you can enjoy the sparkling streams and you can swim, boat, and fish in nearby Lake Britton.
Burney Falls is about 60 miles west of Redding, California, and about four hours from Sacramento or the Lake Tahoe area.
Why It’s Internet Famous
The falls are unique because visitors don’t just see water pour over the top of them. The water also seeps out of the cliff face from underground springs, so there are hundreds of smaller rivulets. The 129-foot-tall waterfalls look like a curtain of water as they cascade into a striking turquoise pool below. In fact, they’re so unusual that Teddy Roosevelt reportedly dubbed them the “eighth wonder of the world.” They’re also surrounded by moss-covered rocks and forest, so that you feel like you’re in an enchanted forest as you walk.
The main falls overlook is just a short, paved walk from the parking area. You’ll get a dramatic view of the entire waterfall. There’s also a Falls Loop Trail that’s a 1.2-mile loop to the base of the falls. The trail is moderately difficult, but it gives you several perspectives of the waterfall.
Best Outdoor Recreation Activities
There are about 5 miles of hiking trails in the state park, including connections to the Pacific Crest Trail. You can also trout fish in Burney Creek, go boating or swimming in Lake Britton, or camp at the park.
Kanab, Utah
Kanab is in Southern Utah, and is a desert town surrounded by the striking red rocks that this region is known for. You’ll find slot canyons, rock formations, and sprawling desert in Kanab, and it’s close to several of Utah’s five national parks. More than 100 Western films, including many starring John Wayne, were shot in Kanab from the 1920s through the 1970s because of the town’s historic-looking Western storefronts and scenery.
Kanab is about a 90-minute drive from the St. George Regional Airport, about a four-hour drive from Las Vegas, and about a five-hour drive from Salt Lake City.
It’s also just 35 miles from Zion National Park, 75 miles from Bryce Canyon National Park, and 80 miles from the north rim of the Grand Canyon.
Why It’s Trending Now
Kanab is a great destination dupe for Zion National Park. You’ll find a lot of similar landscapes in Kanab, including slot canyons, sand dunes, and stark desert hikes without the crowds of one of the most-visited national parks.
Outdoor Recreation
Kanab is home to lots of hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing. Explore Peek-a-Boo Canyon, which has a 0.7-mile short hike through the slot canyon, with orange sandstone walls rising on both sides. Visit Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, where you can wander the dunes and get amazing photos. You can also cycle the scenic byways in the area, visit Moqui Caves, and walk through the Belly of the Dragon sandstone tunnel.
The Enchantments, Washington
The Enchantments are part of a high-alpine basin in the Cascade Mountains near Leavenworth, Washington. You’ll be surrounded by soaring granite peaks, sparkling alpine lakes, brilliant fall foliage, and colorful wildflower meadows in late spring and summer. You might also glimpse mountain goats, elk, bears, marmots, pikas, and other wildlife.
The Enchantments are about a 3-hour drive from Seattle, which is also where you’ll find the closest airport.
Why It’s Viral
You can only access The Enchantments by hiking into the basin. The easiest day hike option is still moderately difficult – a hike to Colchuck Lake. It’s about an 8-mile round-trip hike, with 2,300 feet of elevation gain. You’ll be rewarded with views of the beautiful turquoise lake in the shadow of Dragontail Peak. Many people say this is the best day hike option to see the scenery of the area without having to get a special permit. You can also hike to Lake Viviane or Isolation Lake, but those are more strenuous and may require a backcountry permit.
Because the area is remote and can’t be accessed by car, you’ll get untouched scenery, more wildlife, beautiful wildflowers, and a more serene experience.
Outdoor Recreation
You can hike the Enchantments Thru-Hike, which is 18 miles long and has 4,500 feet of elevation gain. Hikers arrange a ride back from the other end of the trail. Many hikers do this extremely strenuous hike in one day, but you can also apply for a permit via lottery to do this as an overnight backpacking trip.
Visitors to The Enchantments can also go fishing in the area, and there are several other hiking options as well.
Tips for Visiting Viral Outdoor Spots
If you’re headed to viral outdoor destinations or any other popular spot, there are a few things to know to make your trip pleasant for you and everyone else.
- Leave No Trace: Follow Leave No Trace principles so that everyone after you can enjoy the area as well! Pack out your trash and dispose of waste properly. Camp and walk on durable surfaces where you won’t damage plant life. Minimize your campfire impact. Don’t feed wildlife – even by accident! Keep your food and smellable items like lotion or sunscreen in bear canisters or other bear-proof containers.
- Travel In The Off-Season: If you want to avoid crowds in popular areas, try going during less popular times. Many places are less crowded early in the morning or after 4 pm. These areas can also be less crowded before Memorial Day and after Labor Day – the traditional summer season is often the busiest time for tourists.
- Check Permit Requirements, Trail Conditions, and Other Reservations: Areas like The Enchantments require permits for certain regions or activities like backpacking. Some national parks and other popular spots now require timed entry permits or reservations. And events like Crested Butte’s wildflower festival may require reservations for classes or workshops.
There’s a reason these areas are viral – they’re gorgeous destinations that are well worth a visit! You’ll just want to make sure you balance the excitement of visiting them with the responsibility we all have to preserve them for future generations.
Plan your trip now to these spots, so you’re ready for the next wave of viral destinations! Consider renting an RV from RVshare to help you travel to these destinations and camp comfortably while you’re there.