Spectacular candy-striped canyons, Tangled Mountains, pristine lakes, dreamy beaches – America’s philosophy is go big or go home when it comes to landscapes. Whether you’re watching the Milky Way rise through Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park, ziplining above the Arizona Valley, or embarking on the tranquil waters of Provincetown, there’s so much to discover in America’s 50 states. . America’s endlessly diverse landscapes never cease to thrill.
The snapping of twigs, the rustling of leaves, the strange sounds of chirping in the undergrowth – there’s something exhilarating and a little scary about stepping into America’s lesser-known wilderness. But with bravado comes great joy.
Autumn foliage: The forests of Mount Savoy burst into vivid colors in autumn Credit: Getty
Famous fall foliage has long drawn people to New England, where 80 miles of wooded trails, vast ponds, waterfalls, and marshes sparkle with color. Savoy Mountain State Forest in the northwest corner of Massachusetts is breathtakingly beautiful. Although it is next to a leafy area, it is much quieter.
For a complete Huckleberry Finn-style experience, rent a log cabin on the shores of South Pond, craft a pole out of birch branches, and fish for dinner. Or hike to Tannery Falls for a sunset swim.
For more Grizzly Adams imitations, head to the Southern Berkshire Mountains and Beartown State Forest in Monterey, Massachusetts. Hike the scenic Benedict Pond Loop, a detour on the spectacular Appalachian Trail, famous for its amazing wildlife including black bears, deer, bobcats, and fishers (weasel-like mammals native to this region of North America) .
Valley of the Dolls: The Dolly Sods Wilderness boasts beautiful mountaintop meadow trails Credit: Shutterstock
With its rugged mountain towns, dense forests, and cleft river canyons, West Virginia has its own secluded charm, and while less crowded than its neighbors, it still attracts those who venture across the border. will soon discover for themselves why. It is also called almost heaven. Hike one of his dozen or so trails through the Dolly Sods Wilderness, a mountaintop meadow in the Monongahela National Forest. It is part of West Virginia’s Allegheny Mountains, the highest plateau east of the Mississippi River, and one of the few remaining natural areas on the East Coast.
Cooper’s Rock State Forest, located in Bruton Mills, West Virginia, is known for having some of the most stunning views in near heaven. Named for the sandstone cliffs above the Cheat River Canyon, this forest is the domain of thrill-seekers who conquer dizzying cliffs, climb waterfalls, and kayak through rushing rivers. It becomes.
Also in West Virginia, Canaan Valley State Park is known as much for its wetlands and wildlife as it is for its winter sports, and is a year-round mountain destination and home to beavers, mink, and snapping turtles. Located in a bend of the Middle Fork River, the trails through Barbour County’s Audra State Park wind through beech-studded forests, rhododendron thickets, and past strange rock formations.
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