It is officially National Great Outdoors Month, and there’s only one way to celebrate…hitting the trails! The great outdoors makes for a perfect, safe, and affordable getaway to escape the stresses of everyday life and enjoy the fresh feel of nature. American Hiking Society recognizes that foot trails and hiking are essential to connect people with nature, conserve open space, provide biological corridors for diverse plants and wildlife, and for the health of Americans and our natural environment.
Take your family on the adventure of a lifetime by trekking these famous trails and maintain the adventurous spirit of your trip by staying in unique rental cabins along the way. Hikers can connect with nature at some great campground locations, including:
- Visit Joshua Tree National Park in California and check out the trees the park is named for while hiking the more than 65 moderate trails in this rugged terrain. The Joshua Tree is characterized by its twisty, bristly limbs and these distinctive trees are just part of the scenery to be seen here. The Arch Rock Trail hike brings you to the namesake of the trail, Arch Rock, which runs 30 feet wide. Get up close and personal (well, maybe not too close or too personal) with the Park’s Cholla Cactus on the relatively easy Cholla Cactus Garden trail. Set up your base camp only 30 minutes from the national park at Palm Springs RV Resort and stay in a beautiful cottage outfitted with everything you’ll need on your trip. You’ll relish the view of the starry sky from beneath hundreds of towering palms.
2. Lake Kissimmee State Park in Florida allows you to enjoy live oak hammocks that provide the perfect cover as you explore the two loop trails in this Florida hiking destination. The Buster Island Trail takes roughly 3.5 hours to walk this 6.9-mile loop on an island that is surrounded by three lakes. The North Loop Trail is another option that includes Gobbler Ridge, a spur trail that leads to the edge of Lake Kissimmee. Rest your head in a colorful cottage at Tropical Palms RV Resort in Kissimmee as the perfect place to get some R&R post-hike. The pool fun fountain and mini golf are favorite amenities of the kids and the kids at heart.
3. In New York, visit Prospect Mountain and imagine 100-mile views of the Adirondacks! This somewhat difficult hike (not suggested for youngsters) is one of the more popular hikes in the region thanks to the rewarding scenery. The goal is the summit at 2,030 feet, where hikers can experience those magnificent views but also see the remains of the Prospect Mountain Cable Incline Railway. The trailhead begins in the town of Lake George where you can cozy up in a cabin at Lake George Escape. Launch your tube, canoe or kayak into the scenic Schroon River right from the campground to cool down after your hike.
4. Take in the waterfalls at Fall Hollow Falls in Tennessee where the waterfalls are the draw on this trail, not to mention the creeks and wooden bridges. Cross over the two bridges and you’ll find yourself at the observation deck for the falls. The trail to the observation deck is less than a quarter mile. The trailhead for this hike is just off the historic Natchez Trace Parkway. Themed cabins at Natchez Trace RV Campground are the perfect place to escape the average hotel room. The wooded campground is located on the shores of 3-mile-long Dan Maddox Lake, which offers some of the best fishing in the area.
5. At Zigzag Mountain in Oregon enjoy impressive views from the top overlooking the Mt. Hood National Forest. This volcanic mountain is known for its beautiful hikes that zig zag, like the name suggests, between the east and west side of the mountain giving you picturesque views all around. Enhance your adventure by staying in tiny houses in the Mt. Hood Tiny House Village, just twenty minutes from the base of the Zigzag Mountain. The tiny houses have all the comforts of home including a refrigerator, stove top, TV and of course cozy sleeping spaces.
We hope these ideas inspire you to plan a family getaway to get out and explore the great outdoors this month and try out some unique trails across the country.
