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Urban adventures: 7 cities with nature on their doorstep
It’s no secret that America’s national parks are home to incredible natural wonders and world-class hiking and biking trails. But plenty of cities are a gateway to the great outdoors too.
1
Portland, Oregon
Home to: Washington Park with its arboretum and rose garden.
Experience: Gaze up at bigleaf maples on a hike through Portland’s Forest Park.
Portland has some 200 parks and gardens folded within its city limits, making it a haven for urban walkers, bikers and runners. The Pittock Mansion Hike is a particular favorite: winding under the canopy of Macleay Park (part of the larger Forest Park) it finishes up at its namesake, a sumptuous estate dating back to 1914.
Farther east, Mt. Tabor Park is a treat for hikers too. Its 191 acres are spread across an extinct volcano, laced with trails and carpeted with trees. Best of all, the mountain’s summit offers sweeping views across the city.
2
Salt Lake City, Utah
Close to: Lauded ski resorts like Alta and Snowbird.
Experience: Whizz through the “Greatest Snow on Earth” in the Wasatch Mountains.
There’s a reason Utah’s capital is nicknamed “Ski City.” Hailed for having “the Greatest Snow on Earth” (super fluffy powder with a dense base), the Salt Lake City region is home to some of the USA’s top skiing areas.
Celebrated resorts including Brighton, Solitude, Alta and Snowbird lie just 30 minutes from downtown and are home to renowned expert runs like Alta’s super-steep High Rustler. If you’re new to snow sports, try Brighton, which is known for its beginner terrain, tip-top instructors and family deals, as well as its more advanced runs.
When the white stuff melts, there’s still plenty of adventure to be had in the peaks too: the high-altitude Wasatch Crest Trail is a favorite with mountain bikers.
3
Honolulu, Hawaii
Home to: Waikiki Beach, with its beginner-friendly waves.
Experience: Take a surf or stand-up paddle boarding lesson at Ala Moana Beach Park.
Hawaii is synonymous with surfing and the Aloha State’s capital is a great place to catch some waves. For those making their first splash, the calm waters of Waikiki Beach, fringing the resorts of Waikiki, are a sure bet. There are plenty of surf schools here, with expert instructors ready to teach you the basics – the stunning views of Diamond Head might prove a distraction, though.
Also within Waikiki, the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon, a man-made saltwater pool, is a nice spot for stand-up paddle boarding and aqua cycling.
4
Phoenix, Arizona
Home to: The trails and rockscapes of sprawling Papago Park.
Experience: Hike to the summit of rust-red Camelback Mountain.
Few cities showcase the rugged beauty of the American southwest better than Phoenix. Beyond its buzzing downtown, Arizona’s capital is all red rocks and sun-drenched walking trails, and there are even full-blown mountain hiking routes within city limits.
Getting to the top of Camelback Mountain is no easy feat – but it’s worth it. The challenging Echo Canyon and Cholla trails each have an elevation gain of around 1,420 feet, winding to Camelback’s pinnacle across craggy boulders and brush.
If you’re after something a little less strenuous, the enormous South Mountain Park and Preserve has numerous beginner-friendly trails. The paved Judith Tunnell Accessible Trails here beat an easy, scenic path through the desert.
Wherever you go, take plenty of water: this is the Valley of the Sun after all.
5
Lexington, Kentucky
Home to: The serene trails of Raven Run Nature Sanctuary.
Experience: Take to the saddle at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Kentucky’s second city is tipped as the “Horse Capital of the World,” and for good reason. Some 450 horse farms exist in the region and, unsurprisingly, it’s a top place to get in the saddle.
You can book tours of many of the horse farms, some of which offer riding lessons for beginners. A top pick is the Kentucky Horse Park, a vast attraction with campgrounds, the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, and guided rides taking visitors around the leafy fringes of the site.
If you’d prefer to keep your feet on the ground, make a beeline for Raven Run Nature Sanctuary. The 1.7-mile Flower Bowl hike – a wooded, creek-side route – is flecked with wildflowers come spring.
6
Asheville, North Carolina
Home to: The tranquil nature trails of the North Carolina Arboretum.
Experience: Chase waterfalls on the Pisgah National Forest’s Moore Cove Falls Trail.
Asheville boasts the Blue Ridge Mountains as its backyard, so it’s no wonder that the city is so popular with active travelers. It’s a veritable adventure playground, and it’s little exaggeration to say that there’s a hiking or biking trail for everyone. Routes range from dizzying mountain treks to easy jaunts through botanical gardens, with many picturesque treks spooling out from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
7
Chicago, Illinois
Home to: A great swathe of Lake Michigan’s shoreline.
Experience: Join local runners and cyclists on Chicago’s Lakefront Trail.
The Windy City opens out along the waters of Lake Michigan – perfect fodder for some outdoor adventure. Come summer, the lake’s vast expanse is dotted with kayakers and stand-up paddle boarders, who drink in the city skyline as they plow through the water.
Clinging to the water’s edge is the 18.5-mile Lakefront Trail, where you can work up a sweat biking, running or even rollerblading alongside stellar views of the water. Grant Park and Millennium Park are also sprawling green pockets within one of America’s greatest urban jungles.
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