25 Awesome Adventures for Labor Day Weekend
Get outside and take advantage of that extra day off.
There's nothing better for a weekend warrior than a three-day weekend and with Labor Day just around the corner, it's time to start making your plans. If you're anything like us, your plans won't really start being made until today (or tomorrow, let's be real) but we thought we'd give you a little dose of inspiration with this list of 25 awesome adventures to get you stoked for whatever you end up getting into this weekend. Whether it's hiking, biking, climbing, swimming, fishing or just chillin...be sure you get outside and enjoy that extra day off. You earned it!
1. Hike Saddle Mountain | Oregon
Saddle Mountain is a pretty stellar spot if you are looking for a beginner/intermediate hike with incredible views close to Portland. Learn more.
2. Lakeside Camping and Mountain Biking | Wyoming
This trail system is somewhat of a hidden gem to mountain bikers south of the Wyoming border. Those who know their way around the best trail systems, though, hail Curt Gowdy as one of the best. Learn more.
3. Hike the Sugarloaf Mountain and Breakneck Ridge Loop | New York
Catch amazing sunset views of the Hudson River West Point, Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, Storm King Mountain, and Bannerman Castle on this 4 mile roundtrip hike. Learn more.
6. Hike The Bell Rock Trail | Arizona
The Bell Rock Trail in Sedona is a relatively easy hike with a majestic reward. It is a well maintained trail that with plenty of views to keep your eyes happy. Don't be surprised if you catch yourself turning around every 5 minutes and saying, "wow, this is gorgeous!" Learn more.
5. Explore Latourell Falls | Oregon
Latourell Falls is a beautiful and unique waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. This amazing waterfall is just a few hundred yards from the road and parking lot. Once you park, there is a viewpoint for the falls that is straight ahead. Learn more.
6. Fish Big Cottonwood Canyon | Utah
Big Cottonwood Creek is a fun little creek that is often overlooked by the more popular fly-fishing waters of the Provo, Weber, and the Green Rivers of Utah. The fish aren't as big, but make up for it by being less selective with flies and a willingness to go after dry flies any time of the year. Learn more.
7. Mountain Bike Purisma Creek | California
There are many trails in the Purisisma Creek Redwoods, but Whittemore Gulch is by far the most beautiful and fun single track to descend on. Enjoy fast, flowy single track through lush and dense redwood forest. Learn more.
8. Swimming and Cliff Jumping at Blue Springs | Florida
This natural spring is easily one of the best hidden gems in Florida. The pool of water is crystal clear for swimming, scuba-diving, and jumping in from off on a cliff to the side. The water is also about 70 degrees - a perfect compliment to the hot, humid climate of Florida. Learn more.
9. Paddle Little Dell Reservoir | Utah
Located just 20 minutes from the heart of Salt Lake City, Little Dell Reservoir is the perfect quick getaway for a recreational paddler or angler. Learn more.
10. Hike Humpback Rocks | Virginia
This little hike is one of the most popular in the area, and for good reason! It's a short and steep one mile to the top, but the views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park to the east, are some of the best around. Learn more.
11. Camp at Voyager Rock Campground | California
To snag the best campsites in warmer months, go on a Thursday and take the first turnoff to the left once you near the mile marker for the campground. Learn more.
12. Kayak Lake Wenatchee | Washington
Glacier-fed Lake Wenatchee is only 2 hours east of Seattle, nestled in the Okanogan- Wenatchee National Forest. The park is fully equipped with all the amenities you'd expect - camping spots, a sand/rock beach, picnic tables, bathrooms and a boat launch. Learn more.
13. Camp and Raft at Radium Campground | Colorado
This is an great campsite in an beautiful location that happens to serve as the perfect base camp for rafting adventures. Learn more.
14. Stand Up Paddle on Stanley Lake | Idaho
Stanley Lake, located in the heart of Idaho's Sawtooth National Forest, is an amazing recreation site for a weekend or a week. Learn more.
15. Paddle Oxbow Bend | Wyoming
Sunrise at Oxbow Bend is one of the most popular events in the park, and for good reason. Mt. Moran is particularly stunning in the morning light. Learn more.
16. Rock Climbing at Saddle Peak | California
This is one of the best hikes in the Los Angeles area. Super easy, yet beautiful and a perfect place to get away from the city. Learn more.
17. Hike and Swim at Jenny Lake | Wyoming
You can make this a day trip for hiking the lake or you can grab a spot on its shore line for a day of swimming and relaxation. If you're looking to fish, this lake has tons just waiting to be caught. Learn more.
18. Camp at Mogollon Rim | Arizona
This area is ideal for over-night car-camping. The expansive vistas above thousands of acres of national forest land make this a great place for a hiking and exploring during the day but the sunset followed by the star-gazing is the best part of this place. Learn more.
19. Hike Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore | Michigan
Hiking the dunes is worth the reward once you reach the shoreline of Lake Michigan. You'll start seeing a sliver of blue as your descend the last major dune climb. The trail ends at a wooden staircase leading you down to the beach. The view from the top will take your breath away. Learn more.
20. Swimming at Sculpture Falls | Texas
Sculpture Falls is a hidden gem that is part of the 7.9 mile long Barton Creek Greenbelt in Austin. It's considered an urban oasis and is part of the Edwards Aquifer making the water temperatures in the summer about 70 degrees, and is a perfect way to cool off in the Texas heat! Learn more.
21. Kayak Beaver Creek Lake | Virginia
This little lake close to Charlottesville is the perfect place for an after work kayak, SUP, or just picnic by the water. It's a 20min drive from town, and the perfect place to watch the sunset over the Blue Ridge with water views. Learn more.
22. Mountain Bike Bent Creek | North Carolina
You can easily spend hours wandering the green singletrack Bent Creek has to offer. This area epitomizes the fun and beauty to be found biking in the North Carolina mountains. Learn more.
23. Explore Indian Brook Falls | New York
This is about as short a walk and as little effort as you can put in for a beautiful swimming hole and waterfall. Learn more.
24. Paddle Board Lake Tahoe | California
Grab your paddleboard or rent one from Baldwin Beach, and head out along the southwest shores of Lake Tahoe towards Emerald Bay. Enjoy the pristine blue water and keep your head up for the occasional osprey or bald eagle. Learn more.
25. Hike Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rock | New Mexico
Hiking at Tent Rocks is a must-do for anyone in the northern New Mexico area. It's an accessible trail that gives you incredible rewards with little effort. The cone-shaped "tent rocks" are the result of erosion following a volcanic explosion 6-7 million years ago, making for some incredible and unusual hoodoo formations. Learn more.
Remember to always Leave No Trace on your adventures.
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We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
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