Outside July 2014

The word surreal is used far too often, but here’s a situation that might merit its use: last weekend, within one 24-hour span, I went from standing amid the bright lights of New York City’s Times Square on my way to an annual business conference to standing in one of the darkest spots in the United States, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, for my daughter’s school camping trip. I had seen this mashup of events looming on the calendar for weeks, and I knew that attending each of them would require a brutal sequence of plane connections and car rides. I was dreading all of that, but I also didn’t want to miss either, so I clenched my teeth and said yes to both. It’s only in hindsight—and a few days…

DOWN, THE MUSIC UP, AND A COOLER FULL OF BEER IN THE BACKSEAT (YOU KNOW, FOR LATER). SURE, THE RUMPLED MAPS OBSOLETE—BUT ONE ESSENTIAL QUESTION REMAINS: WHERE TO GO? LOOK NO FURTHER. PLUS: TOOLS, STRATEGIES, AND INSIDER ADVICE FROM PRO SKIER, FIREFIGHTER, AND ROAD WARRIOR KALEN THORIEN.…

EUREKA, CALIFORNIA, TO COOS BAY, OREGON Soak in the Pacific on this 250-mile trip from Eureka to Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area—it’s every bit as stunning as California’s iconic Highway 1, but without the crowds. Packing List: Sunscreen, hammock, the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds Highlights: Take a 6.5-mile roundtrip hike in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, 50 miles north of Eureka, where you’ll trek along Gold Bluffs Beach and into Fern Canyon, a chasm so lush that Steven Spielberg filmed part of Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World there. In southern Oregon’s self-proclaimed banana belt, named for its warm climate, take a guided four-hour Pacific kayak tour and paddle past sea stacks, arches, and kelp forests ($105; southcoasttours.net). Reserve one of six yurts at Harris Beach State Park, then head…

THE CROSS-COUNTRY drive is, in my mind, a crucial part of being an American. I think it should be a precursor to voting. There is no better way to escape your head and see the expansive and flat and hilled and tight and busy places you’ve never closely considered. I’ve crossed the country five or six times, but I’ve usually had a fixed destination and a rushed schedule. A couple of years ago, I decided to take my time. I’d go from New Mexico to New York, giving myself two weeks and no firm itinerary. I left Santa Fe with a bushel of freshly roasted green chiles, drove south to Clines Corners, got gas off I-40, and looked at the map. I called a friend, who suggested Zion National Park.…

SOUTHERN COLORADO LOOP Bomb down epic singletrack, play in Class IV whitewater, and take in Colorado’s famous 14,000-foot vistas on this 500-mile multisport tour of a lifetime. Packing List: Your entire gear closet, a big roof box, a GoPro Highlights: Start this odyssey by playing in the four brand-new features in downtown Durango’s Animas River White water Park. Then head east to soak away shoulder burn in Pagosa Springs’ 22 pools (from $25; pagosahotsprings.com) and cool off with a Skallywag pale ale at Riff Raff Brewing Company (riffraffbrewing.com). Near 10,857-foot Wolf Creek Pass, take a mile-long hike to the Pass Creek Yurt, which sleeps six, comes stocked with firewood, and is the ideal base camp for hiking and mountain-biking the Continental Divide Trail ($139 per night; wolfcreekbackcountry.com). At Great Sand…

A good road trip involves a certain amount of improvisation. But the best ones require the right strategy and a few essentials. These eight pieces of advice will start you on the right path. 1. ARM YOURSELF. The best app for a long haul is Roadtrippers, which will plan your route, estimate fuel costs, and suggest itineraries (free; Android and iOS). But the trustiest route assistance remains the Rand McNally road atlas ($14; randmcnally.com). It doesn’t require batteries or a signal, and it’s the best inspiration for our favorite part of any journey: the impromptu side trip. (Is that a lake or an ink spot? Let’s find out!) 2. PICK THE ROUTE. Avoid big cities and highways and stick to two-lane roads for the most scenic drive. Unpaved roads are…