Popular Outdoor Locations
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Groveland Wave
Blackfoot, Idaho
5.2 miles N of Blackfoot, IdahoA canal wave near Groveland used by Idaho State University for beginner kayaking training — a compact, practical spot to practice paddling and river safety skills.
Kayak 6.9 mi
Big Elk Creek
Irwin, Idaho
11.0 miles SE of Irwin, IdahoA versatile campground on a small dammed lake with fishing, kayaking, hiking and backpacking into the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, and stunning fall Aspen and Douglas-Fir colors on the Big Elk Creek Trail.
Backpack, Camp, Canoe, Hike, Horseback, Kayak
Jefferson County Lake (AKA Rigby Lake)
Rigby, Idaho
2.0 miles N of Rigby, IdahoSandy beaches, two floating docks with a slide, volleyball, playgrounds, and a safe swim zone — Jefferson County Lake is eastern Idaho's go-to summer swimming spot.
Camp, Canoe, Dive, Kayak, Sled, Swim
Mesa Falls
Ashton, Idaho
10.0 miles NE of Ashton, IdahoUpper Mesa Falls drops 114 feet and spans 300 feet across the Henrys Fork — just 0.2 miles of paved walkway from the parking lot, with platforms, handrails, and morning rainbow mist.
Cross-country Ski, Hike, Kayak 3.6 mi
String Lake
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
21.2 miles N of Jackson Hole, WyomingA shallow, warm lake connecting Jenny and Leigh Lakes at the base of the Tetons — the clear water lets you see the bottom from a kayak, wade easily with kids, and access wilder open water beyond.
Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Fall Creek Falls
Swan Valley, Idaho
2.1 miles SW of Swan Valley, IdahoA shaded Snake River campground near Swan Valley with abundant wildlife, great trout fishing, and Fall Creek Falls a quarter-mile away.
Camp, Cave, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Mccall Area
McCall, Idaho
10.4 miles NE of McCall, IdahoA beautiful Idaho resort town with swimming holes, 7-mile mountain hikes to isolated lakes, Ponderosa State Park trails, mountain biking, Payette Lake boating, skiing, and sledding — all within reach of McCall.
Backpack, Camp, Canoe, Cross-country Ski, Hike, Kayak, Mountain Bike, Sled, Snowshoe, Swim
Zephyr Cove Park
Glenbrook, Nevada
5.5 miles S of Glenbrook, NevadaSix tennis courts, disc golf, a sledding hill, a beach, and a fishing pond all at one free park make Zephyr Cove one of Lake Tahoe's most versatile family hangouts.
Camp, Canoe, Disc Golf, Hike, Horseback, Kayak, Swim 1.4 mi
Queen Anne Creek
Edenton, North Carolina
0.2 miles W of Edenton, North CarolinaA two-hour kayak loop from Edenton Marina up Queen Anne Creek and Little Creek — lily pads in spring, mirrored reflections on calm days, and brilliant fall foliage along the water.
Canoe, Kayak
Pintler Lake Campground and Picnic Area
Wise River, Montana
23.4 miles W of Wise River, MontanaPintler Lake Campground and Picnic Area is a tiny, free, wonderfully remote campground on the edge of a small mountain lake in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest of southwestern Montana, at the...
Camp, Canoe, Kayak, Swim 17.5 mi
Tear Drop Lake
Ashton, Idaho
19.1 miles NE of Ashton, IdahoA small, lively lake in the Targhee forest for kayaking, swimming, and an easy loop trail — family fun with primitive lakeside camping.
Camp, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Mountain Bike, Swim
Boulder Meadows Reservoir
McCall, Idaho
7.2 miles SE of McCall, IdahoA quiet, undeveloped reservoir in the Payette National Forest near McCall, Idaho: paddle, swim, and start the trail to alpine Boulder Lake.
Backpack, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Boulder Creek Day Use Area
Donnelly, Idaho
3.3 miles SW of Donnelly, IdahoA sandy-beach day-use area with a boat ramp on the west shore of Lake Cascade near Donnelly, Idaho: swim, paddle and watch the sun set behind West Mountain.
Canoe, Kayak, Swim
River Access Hole
Cabins, West Virginia
2.2 miles SW of Cabins, West VirginiaScenic forested rock formations and the rushing North Fork South Branch of the Potomac River offer wading, swimming, fly fishing, and float access — wear foot protection in the rocky riverbed.
Canoe, Kayak, Swim, Whitewater
American River Confluence
Auburn, California
2.2 miles NE of Auburn, CaliforniaThe Confluence — where the North and Middle Forks of the American River meet below Foresthill Bridge — is Auburn's favorite swimming and rafting hub.
Hike, Horseback, Kayak, Rock Climb, Swim, Whitewater
Kahala Beach
Honolulu, Hawaii
5.9 miles SE of Honolulu, HawaiiA quieter, more secluded alternative to Waikiki — Kahala Beach has calm, shallow water perfect for swimming or kayaking, though some areas have a rocky shoreline so water shoes help.
Kayak, SwimBullpasture Gorge
Williamsville, Virginia
1.7 miles NW of Williamsville, VirginiaBullpasture Gorge is a wild and beautiful river canyon in the remote western highlands of Virginia, where the Bullpasture River carves a dramatic gorge through Highland County near Williamsville. A...
Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Whitewater
Cliff Lake
Cameron, Montana
31.2 miles S of Cameron, MontanaCliff Lake is a serene, crystal-clear mountain lake in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest of southwestern Montana — the quieter twin of neighboring Wade Lake, tucked into the forested...
Canoe, Kayak 3.8 mi
Ramsey Cascades
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
8.6 miles E of Gatlinburg, TennesseeRamsey Cascades is the tallest waterfall in Great Smoky Mountains National Park — a thundering 100-foot, multi-tiered cascade hidden deep in the old-growth forest of the Greenbrier area near...
Hike, Kayak, Swim, Whitewater
Lee Creek Access
Chester, Arkansas
8.6 miles W of Chester, ArkansasA smooth, deep, wide stretch of Lee Creek with a sandy beach, a kayak and canoe launch, camping spots with fire circles, and peaceful surroundings for a summer swim.
Camp, Canoe, Kayak, Swim
Sipsey River
Double Springs, Alabama
9.4 miles N of Double Springs, AlabamaAlabama's only wild and scenic river, winding through the Sipsey Wilderness with multiple swimming holes and boulders to jump from — also popular for canoeing and kayaking.
Canoe, Kayak, Swim
Beaver Creek Campground
Camp Verde, Arizona
10.9 miles NE of Camp Verde, ArizonaBeaver Creek is a refreshing creekside oasis in the high desert of central Arizona, where the cool, clear waters of Wet Beaver Creek wind beneath big cottonwoods and sycamores in the Coconino...
Camp, Canoe, Kayak, Swim
Wade Lake
Cameron, Montana
27.8 miles S of Cameron, MontanaWade Lake is a hidden gem of southwestern Montana — a spring-fed mountain lake famous for its glassy, aquamarine water, tucked into a forested ravine at the southern end of the Gravelly Range....
Camp, Canoe, Kayak, Swim 0.2-2.0 mi
Guadalupe River State Park
Spring Branch, Texas
5.1 miles W of Spring Branch, TexasOver 4 miles of Guadalupe River frontage for swimming, fishing, wading, tubing, kayaking, and canoeing — plus 13 miles of trails and 85 campsites in a scenic Texas Hill Country state park.
Canoe, Hike, Horseback, Kayak, Mountain Bike, Swim
