Trade the daily grind for the great outdoors on Saturday, June 6, as nature lovers across the country gear up for National Trails Day. Hiking offers the perfect excuse to swap screen time for green time with an affordable, open-air getaway designed to clear your head and recharge your battery. Beyond the environmental and wellness benefits championed by the American Hiking Society, these protected pathways serve as the ideal backdrop to kick off the summer ahead.
Families or singles alike can swap their traditional summer vacation for an unforgettable, budget-friendly trekking adventure to unplug from everyday stress. Hikers looking to reconnect with nature can set up a basecamp at several premier campground locations with direct access to nearby trails. Read on for some of our favorite trails and nearby campgrounds:
The trailhead for Fall Hollow Falls is located just off the historic Natchez Trace Parkway, a 444-mile scenic road and National Park stretching from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee. Fall Hollow Falls features a short, quarter-mile trail crossing two wooden bridges and scenic creeks before reaching an observation deck. Visitors can skip the standard hotel stay and opt for themed rental cabins at the nearby Natchez Trace RV Campground or even glamp in a tiny house at the Natchez Trace Tiny House Village. The campground sits along the shores of the 3-mile-long Dan Maddox Lake, known as one of the region’s top fishing spots.
Hikers can explore the shaded live oak hammocks of Florida’s Lake Kissimmee State Park, home to two scenic loop trails. The 6.9-mile Buster Island Trail offers a three-and-a-half-hour trek across an island bordered by three lakes, while the North Loop Trail features the Gobbler Ridge spur trail leading straight to the shoreline of Lake Kissimmee. After a day on the trail, families can unwind at Tropical Palms RV Resort in Kissimmee, which offers colorful cottages, mini-golf, and a splash fountain pool area.
Explore the rugged terrain of California’s Joshua Tree National Park, home to more than 65 moderate trails and the iconic, twisty-limbed trees that give the park its name. Highlights include the easy Cholla Cactus Garden trail, which offers a close look at the park’s unique cacti, and the Arch Rock Trail, leading to a massive, 30-foot-wide natural rock arch. Visitors can set up basecamp just 30 minutes away at Palm Springs RV Resort, relaxing in fully equipped cottages beneath a canopy of towering palms and clear, starry skies.
Oregon’s Zigzag Mountain offers panoramic views overlooking the Mt. Hood National Forest from its volcanic peak. True to its name, the mountain features scenic trails that zigzag between the east and west ridges to deliver picturesque, 360-degree viewpoints. Travelers can enhance their mountain getaway by booking a stay at the Mt. Hood Tiny House Village, located just 20 minutes from the base of the mountain. These unique accommodations offer full home comforts, including a refrigerator, full kitchen, private bathroom, and cozy sleeping arrangements like no other.
New York’s Prospect Mountain offers a challenging but highly rewarding trek to a 2,030-foot summit, where hikers can take in 100-mile views of the Adirondacks and explore the historic ruins of the Prospect Mountain Cable Incline Railway. The popular trailhead begins in the town of Lake George, making the nearby Lake George Escape campground the perfect place to secure a rental cabin. After tackling the steep terrain, visitors can cool off by launching a tube, canoe or kayak into the scenic Schroon River directly from the campground, or sit back and relax by the pool.
Whether choosing to conquer a rugged mountain peak or simply enjoy a quiet stroll through the woods, National Trails Day is the perfect reminder to step outside, explore the outdoors and discover the adventure waiting just beyond your doorstep.
