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
Lake Wilderness Park Swim Beach
Maple Valley, Washington
1.2 miles S of Maple Valley, WashingtonFree city park beach on Lake Wilderness in Maple Valley with summer lifeguards, canoe and paddleboard rentals, a concession stand, a big playground and a 40-acre arboretum.
Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Lake Sammamish State Park Beaches
Issaquah, Washington
2.3 miles NW of Issaquah, WashingtonSunset Beach and Tibbetts Beach at the south end of Lake Sammamish, a 512-acre state park off I-90 in Issaquah with paddle rentals, playgrounds, trails and a boat launch.
Hike, Kayak, Mountain Bike, Swim
Cranberry Lake Swim Beach (Deception Pass State Park)
Oak Harbor, Washington
7.0 miles N of Oak Harbor, WashingtonRoped freshwater swim beach on Cranberry Lake at Deception Pass State Park, a few hundred feet from the saltwater at West Beach, with kayak rentals, a CCC-era bathhouse and the park's main campground.
Camp, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Chelan Falls Park
Chelan Falls, Washington
0.5 miles NE of Chelan Falls, WashingtonFree Chelan County PUD park on the Columbia River with a roped swim area, two-lane boat launch, docks, showers and ball fields, four miles below the town of Chelan.
Hike, Kayak, Swim
Buford Dam Park Beach (Lake Lanier)
Buford, Georgia
4.2 miles NW of Buford, GeorgiaSmall sandy swim beach in a no-boat cove at the Corps of Engineers' Buford Dam Park on Lake Lanier, with shelters, a fishing pier and the Laurel Ridge Trail.
Hike, Kayak, Swim
Willow Beach (Lake Mead National Recreation Area)
Willow Beach, Arizona
0.1 miles SE of Willow Beach, ArizonaSwim beach, marina and campground on the cold, clear Colorado River in Black Canyon, 14 river miles below Hoover Dam and the launch point for Emerald Cave and Arizona Hot Springs.
Camp, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Hood River Waterfront Park Swim Cove
Hood River, Oregon
0.7 miles N of Hood River, OregonSheltered sandy swim cove on the Columbia at Hood River's six-acre city waterfront park, next to the Hook and the Event Site kiteboard beaches.
Hike, Kayak, Kiteboard, Swim
Salt Springs Recreation Area
Salt Springs, Florida
0.2 miles SW of Salt Springs, FloridaBig mineral spring in the Ocala National Forest with a walled swim area over the boils, a 160-site campground, marina and a run to Lake George.
Camp, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Priest River Recreation Area (The Mudhole)
Priest River, Idaho
0.1 miles NE of Priest River, IdahoCorps of Engineers swim beach, boat ramp and campground on the Pend Oreille River a mile east of Priest River, known to locals as the Mudhole.
Camp, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Taughannock Falls State Park Beach
Trumansburg, New York
3.6 miles E of Trumansburg, New YorkLifeguarded Cayuga Lake swim beach at Taughannock Falls State Park, a short walk from the gorge trail to the 215-foot falls, on NY 89 north of Ithaca.
Camp, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Steamboat Rock State Park Swim Beach
Electric City, Washington
6.4 miles SW of Electric City, WashingtonSandy roped swim beach on Banks Lake below the 800-foot basalt butte of Steamboat Rock State Park, 14 miles south of Grand Coulee Dam in the Washington desert.
Camp, Hike, Kayak, Mountain Bike, Swim
Alley Spring Swimming Hole (Jacks Fork)
Eminence, Missouri
4.7 miles W of Eminence, MissouriGravel-bar swimming hole on the spring-fed Jacks Fork at Alley Spring in Ozark National Scenic Riverways, a short walk from the campground and the red 1894 Alley Mill.
Camp, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Bear Creek Lake State Park Beach
Cumberland, Virginia
2.8 miles NW of Cumberland, VirginiaSand beach on the 40-acre lake at Bear Creek Lake State Park, tucked inside Cumberland State Forest between Richmond and Lynchburg, with camping, cabins and 30 miles of trail.
Camp, Hike, Kayak, Mountain Bike, Swim