5 all-American adventure trips for 2023

You don’t have to fly to the ends of the earth to experience a real adventure. The United States offers many opportunities for hiking, biking, rafting, kayaking, and multisport travel. Here are five to watch for travel in 2023.

Alaska’s Kenai Multi-Adventure Tour

This Backroads journey redefines what a multisport journey means. Kayak around Yukon Island and look out for marine life, including seals and sea otters, in a landscape of volcanoes and glaciers. Hike the Harding Icefield Trail along Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park. Cycle the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail and cruise through Prince William Sound while trying to spot humpback whales and killer whales. This six-day trip is ideal for families, with departures tailored to your child’s age. Rated Levels 1-3, it’s a relatively easy trip and costs from $4,099 per person based on double occupancy and is land only, like all trips mentioned here.

California John Muir Trail Northbound to Yosemite Trek Tour

For those looking to test their skills, this trip by MT Sobek promises a level 5 experience, which translates into a trip for experienced hikers. You can expect to hike about 5 to 13 miles a day for 12 days. It’s a total of 103 miles of steep and rough mountain trails, mostly at elevations over 9,000 feet. Of course, you’re doing this to discover the northern half of the John Muir Trail in California’s Sierra Nevada. The journey begins at Lake Florence and ends at the Tuolumne Meadows of Yosemite National Park. It involves traversing the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness areas and is supported by mules. The price is $9,495 per person.

Rafting on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River

ROW Adventures is one of the largest rafting companies in the country, and their trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River is one of their signature runs. The river drops 3,000 feet during this 105-mile rafting trip through Idaho’s remote Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, the largest wilderness area in the lower 48 states. Whitewater rapids are common and challenging on the Middle Fork, with names like Velvet Falls, Ram’s Horn, the Chutes, Pistol Creek, Devil’s Tooth and House Rock. Riverside tented camps provide accommodation and there are hikes to see Native American pictographs, with time for fly fishing and bird watching. Price from $2,840 per person.

Vermont: Burlington, the Champlain Islands and rural villages

Nothing says New England like a bike ride through idyllic Vermont countryside, past covered bridges, with views of the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain. VBT has been offering these trips in their home state for years, and this six-day trip promises “light/moderate” riding of two to four hours of cycling per day, although longer trips are available. It includes biking on South Hero Island with views of the Green Mountains and Adirondacks across Lake Champlain, a picnic lunch at a local winery, and tours of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum and Shelburne Museum. Price from $2,745 per person.

Adventure Yellowstone and Grand Teton

Austin Adventures has made a name for itself by organizing some of the best adventure tours in America’s national parks. They call them national park adventure vacations, and they remain iconic trips. Among them are the classic adventures Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Not only are these parks incredibly scenic and historic, but they are also perfect for well-organized multi-sport trips. Hike, bike, and raft through northwest Wyoming through a landscape of peaks, winding rivers, and sweeping grasslands. This 6-day journey through the world’s first national park to the Tetons promises adventure every day, including rafting Class III and IV rapids on the Snake River. Moose and bear sightings are potential highlights, and the trip begins and ends in the colorful Wyoming town of Jackson. From $4,999 per person.