If you love outdoor recreation, then you’ve probably dreamed of living somewhere that gives you convenient year-round access to the activities you love.
This list of locations was selected for their location, favorable weather, variety of activities, and an ample range of housing and services whether you’re living there or just visiting.
Now get out there and get at it!
Bend, OR
Located in the high desert of central Oregon, Bend is much sunnier and drier than the coastal regions of the state. Its climate provides for outdoor adventure in all four seasons, and no activity is ever too far away.
Bishop, CA
Bishop lies in the shadow of the spectacular eastern face of the Sierra Nevada. Hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, mountain climbing, and skiing are some of the top activities people use the town as a base for. Although the mountains are the top draw, desert locations are close by, including the massive Death Valley National Park.
Las Vegas, NV
Yes, Las Vegas! True, Vegas is mostly known for casinos and entertainment, but because it’s within half a day’s drive of several national and state parks and a day’s drive of many more, it’s a great base for those who love the outdoors. Plus, it has Red Rock Canyon, great for hiking and a world-class climbing destination, right in its backyard.
Boise, ID
In recent years, Boise has seen explosive growth and rapid diversification. The city is close to mountains, deserts, canyons, rivers, and more, and it gets a lot of sun. Also, the winters, though they get cold, are warmer than you might expect.
Red Lodge, MT
Bozeman appeals to a lot of people, but that’s helped make it very busy and very expensive. Red Lodge, not far southwest of Billings, can make a great regional alternative. It’s a gateway to Yellowstone and the Beartooth Mountains, it has great fishing streams, and it’s a winter playground.
Lander, WY
Lander provides access to a lot of the same outdoor activities that Jackson does, but it’s missing the prices, bustle, and touristy feel of Jackson. Even though it’s been growing, it’s kept a small-town feel. Two top draws are its proximity to the beautiful Wind River Range and its stellar rock climbing opportunities.
Laramie, WY
It’s easy to overlook Laramie since Colorado is so close by and so much more popular, and that’s exactly why you should have it on your radar. This small city has thousands of acres of public land in the vicinity.
Two top destinations are the Snowy Range, which has easy access to alpine scenery, and Vedauwoo, a premier rock climbing destination and a great place to hike and camp as well.
Salt Lake City, UT
Like Las Vegas, Salt Lake City might strike you as being too big or too busy to be a good place for outdoor lovers. However, it has the magnificent Wasatch Range rising right behind it, where the activities include some of the best skiing in the world. Interstate highways also make it easy to hit the road for other great destinations in all directions.
Moab, UT
Moab is the hub of outdoor enthusiasts in southeastern Utah. It bills itself as the “Mountain Biking Capital of the World” and also the “Off-Roading Capital of the World,” but there’s so much more than that to it.
Two beautiful national parks are close by, and there’s much more public land to enjoy beyond them. The Colorado River also runs through lovely canyons where you can relax or go on float trips.
Durango, CO
A lot of people have been moving to Colorado for the lifestyle and the scenery, with the bulk of that growth taking place along the Front Range and the I-25 corridor north and south of Denver, which has driven up prices and led to overcrowding in the recreational areas.
Durango, in the southwestern part of the state, has all the same outdoor opportunities without the soaring costs and swelling crowds.
Grand Junction, CO
Grand Junction is off I-70 near the state’s western border. It’s become known for its booming wine industry, but it’s long been and continues to be a fine gateway to desert recreation in western Colorado and eastern Utah.
It’s also only 2-3 hours away from the beautiful mountains Colorado is so renowned for.
Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff is far more than just the main gateway city to the Grand Canyon. Because of its high altitude, it stays a lot cooler than much of the rest of the state does in the summer. The cold, snowy winters bring excellent skiing opportunities, and surrounding mountains and forests provide multiple recreational opportunities all year long.
Santa Fe, NM
One of the most beautiful major cities in the West, Santa Fe is mostly known as the state capital and for its art scene. Its elevation keeps it relatively cool during the summers, and the Sangre De Cristo Mountains are not far north, where great skiing and hiking await.
Portland, ME
New England is a relatively compact region, and Portland has the perfect size and lifestyle to make an excellent base of operations for the outdoors-oriented. The spectacularly rugged Maine coast is right at hand, the beaches of New Hampshire and Cape Cod aren’t far, and the inland mountains don’t take long at all to get to.
Asheville, NC
Western North Carolina is full of small towns in beautiful locations. Asheville, on the other hand, is a small but growing city that has everything a typical person needs. The surrounding region is flush with mountains and crags, waterfalls, streams, and deep, lush forests.
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