While New York, San Francisco and L.A. may steal the headlines, the Northwest is a fantastic destination for adventurers looking to explore another side to the USA.
With sensational backdrops, and a seasonal climate, it’s an attractive addition to any travel wish-list. And it is far less touristy than other places in the states meaning you get a much more local and authentic experience.
OK, cow/horse boys/girls, buckle up, because we’re about to gallop across Northwestern USA.
1. Yellowstone National Park
Wyoming is the United States’ least populated state, and home to plenty of grizzly bears. Those two facts are most probably linked.
Yellowstone is the second largest national park in the USA, and drapes itself across volcanic plateaus and forested mountain ranges, complete with over 2.2 million acres of beautiful lakes, piping hot springs, including the famous Old Faithful, and picturesque waterfalls.
If you only plan on seeing one of the USAs 59 national parks, make it this one. This really is one of the best national parks western USA and the whole continent!
2. Mount Rainier National Park And Mount St. Helens
Mount Rainer and its smouldering cousin, Mount St. Helens, join up along the Cascade Range, to bring you Washington state’s most explosive nature show.
Mount Rainer boasts no less than 25 glaciers, and 260 miles of adventure-laden trails, making this a major draw for exploration.
35 miles south, Mount St. Helens stands majestic, a stark reminder of the huge 1980 eruption, which changed the region’s landscape forever. Today, you can follow your whispers through her forested foothills.
3. Glacier National Park
Montana’s very own Glacier National Park yells out like a planet’s last gasp. Forming part of the International Peace Park, and reminding us all of the importance of our lonely planet.
The park earns its moniker as the ‘Crown of the Continent’ for its powerful and rugged mountain-scapes. Get amongst the valleys, and experience the evocative landscapes for yourself.
These hills were crafted by shifting glaciers, carving out valleys, and paving the way for lakes, attracting a herds of moose, as well as the rarer mountain lions, lynx, and wolverines, plus black and grizzly bears.
4. Hells Canyon
As the Snake River winds its way through southern Idaho, it grows in force, before spearing its way through the mountains of Oregon’s eastern border to form the deepest river gorge in the country. At its deepest point, the gorge walls rise nearly 8,000 feet, deep enough to hold 47 Niagara Falls stacked on top each other.
Behold, Hells Canyon, so called because there is seemingly no way out. That is unless you have a turbine-powered jet boat and an urge for adrenaline. For those looking for a slower pace of life, there are kayaks and rafts available, too.
5. The Oregon Coast
By virtue of some remarkable planning decisions in the 1910s, much of the state’s 362 miles of beautiful coastline remains undeveloped, paving way for one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline, anywhere on the planet.
Choose your ride, and journey along Route 101, where you can experience whale watching, lighthouse laden vistas, world famous killer whales (yes, the one from Free Willy), and some of the best hiking trails on the continent, as well as over 50 miles of sand dunes.
