Did you know that the Adirondacks region has more than 3000 ponds and lakes? The Thousand Islands are home to the famous church of St. The Lawrence River, where the remains of five ships have turned it into a paradise for divers. And these are just a few of New York's 215 state and national parks. Long Island's beaches are ideal for relaxing and practicing summer sports, such as surfing and sailing.
The Empire State Trail has 750 miles of trails that connect New York City to Albany, with branches reaching Buffalo to the west and the Adirondacks to the north and east. When you think of exploring New York, the first thing you think of is probably Broadway plays, top-notch restaurants, and everything else New York City has to offer. The truth is, outdoor adventure opportunities across New York State compete with the excitement of the city (and for some of us, we far exceed it). From the Adirondacks to the Catskills and everywhere in between, you'll find meandering rivers, epic views, raging waterfalls, and campsites far from the hustle and bustle of urban life.
Whether you're a New Yorker looking for your next weekend getaway or you're planning your first visit, be sure to check out our list and see all the beauty that New York has to offer. At first glance, it may seem that outdoor adventure is hard to find in a city that is known as the concrete jungle. However, when you've lived in the city for more than 30 years like me, you quickly learn where to find some of the best outdoor activities in New York. Extreme adventurers come in all shapes and sizes, so it makes sense that the best extreme adventure vacations in the United States also run the gamut.
You can consider this your wish list for memorable experiences that come with great haste. There are gems that require a lot of planning (like climbing the side of a mountain in Yosemite National Park) and others you can do whenever you feel like it (like from BASE jumping off a high bridge in Idaho), with lots of adventures in between. Partly skydiving and partly cliff-jumping, BASE jumping is one of the most extreme thrills you can pursue, largely because launch points at a relatively low altitude mean less time to deploy the parachute. Located nearly 500 feet above the Snake River, the Perrine Bridge is known around the world for its adrenaline-fueled activity and, unlike many other destinations for practicing this sport, it doesn't require a permit.
The only prerequisite is courage, but TandemBase guides newbies through experience. There are few things more stimulating than climbing down a rock wall in the middle of an avalanche of foam. While waterfall rappelling is often associated with exotic destinations such as Costa Rica, you only need to travel to the northeast to experience it. The Northeast Mountaineering climbing team welcomes adventurers of all levels.
Take a short hike to the top of a 100-foot waterfall before rappelling with the help of a guide. Get ready to get wet. Yosemite National Park is one of the world's best destinations for rock climbing, but you don't have to be Tommy Caldwell or Kevin Jorgeson, the duo that made history by freely climbing the daunting 3,000-foot El Capitan Dawn Wall to tackle its peaks. In addition to the popular 8,839-foot Half Dome, the easiest peaks include the Washington Column, which has a 1,000-foot route.
Do you need a guided trip, climbing lessons or equipment rental? The Yosemite Mountain Climbing School has you covered. Do you want to get in touch with the caveman inside you? Not only can you explore the Cumberland Caverns, which have more than 32 miles of underground passages filled with cold rock formations, waterfalls and pools, but you can also stay and sleep. Guided tours include a tour of the entire mountain, including climbing stairs, climbing caves and camping in an underground cave, followed by breakfast in the cavernous Volcano Room. What is a 14er, you might ask? As the name suggests, it's a mountain at least 14,000 feet high, and there are more than 50 to choose from in Colorado, from the 14,007-foot Sunshine Peak in the San Juan Mountains to the 14,440-foot Mount Elbert, the highest peak in the Rocky Mountains.
One of the most popular in the state is Pikes Peak, near Colorado Springs, which measures 14,115 feet tall. Several trails climb to the top, including the most popular, the 13-mile Barr Trail. Travel 60 feet above a green Catskills valley just below the highway speed limit along a 3,200-foot cable. The Skyrider tour is the most daring option of the three options on Hunter Mountain's Zipline Adventure Tours.
The 650-foot long mid-mountain course, which also crosses rope bridges and an abseiling, is a more docile option for beginners (and you can also tackle it at night). Accommodations abound, but none beats the Hunter Mountain Sanctuary, with views of the same slopes you flew over a short time ago. . .