Hikes and campgrounds across America

Indiana Dunes National Park protects 15,000 acres of lakefront, dunes, bogs, and marshes on the edge of Lake Michigan in northeastern Indiana. Dunewood Campground is the principal campground in the park with 78 sites (53 drive-up sites and 25-walk-in sites). The first-come first-serve campground is open seasonally from April to October. A drive-up site at Dunewood Campground Sites are $18 per night (price as of 2018), and amenities include flush toilets, showers, potable water, picnic tables, and fire rings. ...Read more.

Inferno Cone Trail is a short but steep path up the cinder cone at the center of the scenic loop drive in Crater of the Moon National Monument. This 6,181-foot summit provides a panoramic view of the surrounding volcanic landscape. Inferno Cone Trail is just half a mile round trip with 160 feet of elevation gain. The killer overview of Craters of the Moon is well worth the effort. ...Read more.

One of the coolest things to do anywhere there are lava flows is hike through lava tubes. This makes Caves Trail the most exciting hike in Craters of the Moon National Monument. The 1.6-mile hike visits four lava tubes, that each provide a unique experience. A sign at the trailhead explains: The Craters of the Moon landscape is more than just surface volcanic features. ...Read more.

If you are planning to stay overnight at Craters of the Moon National Monument, you are in luck. A 51-site campground is located near the park entrance. Accommodations are scarce around Craters of the Moon, so it's a good thing the campground is there. If your flashlight runs out of batteries, you'll have to drive 18 miles to the small town of Arco to pick up supplies. ...Read more.

Is there a better hike in Mount Rainier National Park than Skyline Trail? The hike begins from Paradise, a perfectly named destination on the southern slope of Mount Rainier. Loop up to Panorama Point, a stunning viewpoint that is about as close to the summit of Rainier as you can get without an ice ax. The trail passes snowfields, streams, waterfalls, and fields of alpine flowers. ...Read more.

Mount Rainier National Park has three main campgrounds with over 450 campsites. The campgrounds are located in the southwest, southeast, and northeast corners of the park near the most popular hiking areas. Backcountry camping is also an option, by permit only. Visit the official Mount Rainier National Park camping page for more information.   Campgrounds in Mount Rainier National Park Courgar Rock Campground | 173 sites (plus 5 group) | open late May to late September | reservations accepted | $20 per night | potable water, picnic tables, fire grates, dump station, and flush toilets | elevation 3,180 feet Mowich Lake Campground | 10 primitive walk-in tent sites | open early July to early October | first-come first-serve | free | no potable water, no fires, vault toilets | elevation 4,929 feet Ohanapecosh Campground | 188 sites (plus 2 group) | open late May to late September | reservations accepted | $20 per night | potable water, picnic tables, fire grates, dump station, and flush toilets | elevation 1,900 feet White River Campground | 112 sites | open late June to late September | reservations accepted | $20 per night | potable water, picnic tables, fire grates, and flush toilets | elevation 4,400 feet Mount Rainier from White River Campground What do I do if the national park campgrounds are full? ...Read more.

Mount Fremont houses the nearest fire lookout tower to Mount Rainier. On a clear day, the lookout promises some of the park's best views of Mount Rainier and the surrounding Cascade Mountains. The 6-mile round trip hike from the Sunrise Lodge and Visitor Center to Mount Fremont Lookout is exceptionally scenic and fulfilling, with 800 feet of elevation gain. ...Read more.

The bloom of wildflowers on Naches Peak Loop is the #1 draw to this trail. An extraordinary carpet of purple lupines and other colorful flowers appearing along this trail each summer. The fact that Naches Peak Loop stands out among other trails in Mount Rainier National Park, which has lots of great places to see wildflowers, tells you that this trail is something special. ...Read more.