Are you craving epic outdoor adventures but not sure where to start?
I’ve put together the ultimate adventure bucket list – packed with some of the most thrilling and breathtaking experiences across the United States.
This list includes the most iconic and must-do outdoor experiences in the U.S.
I created this list not only to inspire others (and myself) but also to help you plan unforgettable adventurous trips.
You’ll notice some adventures are bolded in pink – these are the ones I’ve personally completed and created a blog post about.
My goal is to check off as many as possible so I can share first-hand experiences and help you tackle them, too!
So, let’s get inspired, start checking off that list, and embark on some truly epic adventures!
Hiking and Backpacking Adventures
🥾 Half Dome – Yosemite National Park, California
🥾 Angel’s Landing – Zion National Park, Utah
🥾 The Narrows – Zion National Park, Utah
🥾 Old Rag Mountain – Shenandoah National Park, Virginia ✅
🥾 Kalalau Trail – Kauai, Hawaii
🏕️ Hike Lakes Trail and backpack at Pear Lake – Sequoia National Park, California
⛰️ Summit Humphreys Peak (12,633 feet) – Tallest peak in Arizona ✅
⛰️ Summit Mount Whitney (14,505 feet) – Tallest peak in the lower 48 states, California ✅
🥾 Grand Canyon’s Rim-to-Rim – Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
🥾 Mount Katahdin via the Knife Edge – Baxter State Park, Maine
🥾 Clouds Rest from Yosemite Valley – Yosemite National Park, California
⛰️ Summit Wilson Mountain (7,122 feet) – Tallest peak in Sedona, Arizona ✅
🏕️ Backpack the Wonderland Trail – Mount Rainier National Park, WA
🏕️ Thru-hike the Appalachian Trail – East Coast, USA
🏕️ Thru-hike the John Muir Trail – California
🏕️ Backpack The Enchantments – Washington
🏕️ Thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail – West Coast, USA
🏕️ Backpack the Four Pass Loop – Colorado
⛰️ Summit Longs Peak (14,259 feet) – Colorado
⛰️ Summit Mount Elbert (14,439 feet) – Tallest peak in Colorado
⛰️ Summit Kings Peak (13,528 feet) – Tallest peak in Utah
⛰️ Summit Alta Peak (11,208 feet) – Sequoia National Park ✅
🏕️ Backpack the High Sierra Trail – California
⛰️ Summit Mount Baldy (10,064 feet) – California
⛰️ Summit Mount Dana (13,061 feet) – Yosemite National Park, California
🥾 Subway Cave – Sedona, Arizona ✅
🥾 El Capitan from Yosemite Valley – Yosemite National Park, California ✅
Mountaineering Adventures
🏔️ Summit Mount Rainier (14,411 feet) – Washington
🏔️ Summit Mount Shasta (14,179 feet) – California
🏔️ Summit Mount Lyell (13,120 feet) – Tallest peak in Yosemite National Park, California
Winter Adventures
❄️ Snowshoe in Sequoia National Park – California
🏂 Ski or Snowboard in Jackson Hole – Wyoming
❄️ Ice Climb in Ouray Ice Park – Colorado
❄️ See the Northern Lights in Fairbanks – Alaska
⛷️ Cross country ski to the top of Glacier Point – Yosemite National Park, California
Road Trip Adventures
🚗 Pacific Coast Highway – California
🚗 Blue Ridge Parkway – Virginia and North Carolina
🚗 Route 66 – Chicago (Illinois) to Los Angeles (California)
🚗 Going-to-the-Sun Road – Glacier National Park, Montana
Wildlife Experiences
🐻 Watch grizzlies catch salmon in Katmai National Park – Alaska
🦬 Spot a bison herd in Yellowstone – Wyoming
🐧 See puffins on the Maine’s coast – Maine
🦭 See harbor seals at Point Lobos – California ✅
Unique Outdoor Adventures
🌄 Watch sunrise from Cadillac Mountain – Acadia National Park, Maine
🌋 Witness Kīlauea volcano erupt – Hawaii
🧗♀️ Telluride Via Ferrata – Colorado
🎈 Watch hot air balloons from Doe Mountain – Sedona, Arizona ✅
Trail Running Adventures
👟 Upper Yosemite Fall Trail – Yosemite National Park, California
👟 Mount Rainier Half Marathon – Washington
👟 Grand Canyon Half Marathon – Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
👟 Joshua Tree Half Marathon – California
👟 Moab Trail Marathon – Utah
👟 Pikes Peak Marathon – Colorado
👟 Zion 100K Ultra – Zion National Park, Utah
👟 Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run – California
👟 Leadville Trail 100 Mile Run – Colorado
👟 Rim to River 100 Mile Race – New River Gorge National Park, West Virginia
👟 Badwater Ultramarathon (135 miles) – California