This summer and fall I am going to explore the western United States. I did some research on some of the places I really want to see and this is my bucket list.
There are so many places I want to go, in fact there’s not a single place in this world I don’t want to visit. My goal is to go everywhere at least once. I am addicted to traveling. The only way I see myself living is as an adventure traveler.
Table of Contents
Colorado:
Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride, CO. A 365 foot waterfall that looks incredible! I am obsessed with waterfalls and definitely want to make it down to this massive one.
Blue Lakes Trail. Another one near Telluride, CO, this has to be on this list.
Great Sand Dunes. The tallest sand dunes in North America located in San Luis Valley, CO. There is no reason not to go!
Rocky Mountain National Park. This place is magical. So many lakes, waterfalls, wildlife, peaks and hiking trails!
Conundrum Hot Springs near Aspen, CO. Most definitely worth the 8.5 mile hike to the natural hot springs.
North Clear Creek Falls in Creede, CO. I love the power in waterfalls, they make me feel so small, which is why this one is on my bucket list.
Utah:
Zion National Park. I have been dying to go here! Its full of adventures to be had.
Lake Powell in Glen Canyon. The 2nd largest reservoir in the United States.
Kanarraville Falls. A great hike for my whole family in Kanarraville, UT.
Bryce Canyon. Definitely want to go here at the golden hour, either for a sunrise or sunset.
Toquerville Falls in Toquerville, UT. Can’t get enough waterfalls and this one is great to swim at.
Arizona:
The Wave. Near Marble Canyon, AZ. This sandstone rock formation looks so cool!
Antelope Canyon in Navajo land, East of Page, AZ. Canyoneering in these slot canyons is high on my bucket list.
Horseshoe Bend. This is one of the most photographed places on the Colorado River.
Havasu Falls in Grand Canyon, AZ. A beautiful place all around!
Hoover Dam. On the border of Arizona and Nevada, this large dam can’t be left out.
Nevada:
Lake Tahoe in Carson City, NV. The second deepest lake in the US and the sixth largest lake in volume, with beautiful sceneries!
Reno Whitewater Park. Reno’s whitewater kayaking park looks amazing, definitely want to paddle here at some point.
Lehman Cave in Great Basin National Park. Not only do I want to see Lehman Cave but the amazing landscapes all around this national park!
Tikaboo Peak. The closest spot to see area 51 legally.
California:
Yosemite National Park. A beautiful hot spot for photographers and hikers. I want to explore every inch of this place!
Glass Beach, MacKerricher State Park. Near Fort Bragg, CA, this beach is abundant in sea glass.
Tufa Towers, Mono Lake. Would love to paddle up close to these towers in Lee Vining, CA.
Sequoia National Park. Near Visalia, CA is another national park with jaw dropping sceneries!
Golden Gate Bridge. Can’t miss this 3 mile long suspension bridge in San Francisco, CA.
McWay Falls in Big Sur, CA. A 80 foot waterfall that cascades onto the sandy shore of McWay Cove.
Seven Tea Cups in Johnsondale, CA. You can kayak, swim and/or canyoneer!
Wyoming:
Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park. 160 degree Grand Prismatic Springs is the largest hot springs in the US.
Devils Tower. Devils Tower was the first declared United States National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt and is located near Sundance, WY.
Grand Teton National Park. This is probably one of the most beautiful places on the planet!
Hidden Falls in Jackson, WY. A 5 mile loop to this beautiful waterfall is worth it.
Montana:
Glacier National Park, Montana. Hidden Lake, Grizzly Bears, backpacking, and beautiful mountains, who doesn’t want to go here!? Lake McDonald is a must see as well!
Flathead Lake. This crystal clear lake is located in Polson, MT.
Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. The Anaconda Mountain Range is part of the Continental Divide.
Natural Land Bridge near Big Timber, MT. Just another beautiful destination.
Idaho:
Salmon River. This river has some great whitewater kayaking, can’t wait to go here!
Sawtooth Lake near Stanley, ID. A hike to an amazing lake that I want to do!
Goldbug Hot Springs. Located between Salmon and Challis is Idaho’s most majestic high desert hot springs.
Scotchman’s Peak near Clark Fork, ID. A 3.1 mile hike to an amazing view!
Oregon:
Thor’s Well, part of Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon. A natural hole that seems to be draining the Pacific Ocean.
Oneonta Gorge. This hike is extremely unique, unlike any other hike, you must hike up the river. There is no trail, the river is the trail.
Tamolitch Pool Trail. Near Cascadia, OR, you hike up the McKenzie River to a beautiful blue pool.
Smith Rock State Park, Terrebonne, OR. Its sheer cliffs of tuff and basalt are ideal for rock climbing of all difficulty levels.
Lost Lake. A beautiful lake with views of Mount Hood.
Washington:
Palouse Falls. The 189 ft Palouse Falls is the tallest waterfall ever run in a kayak.
Jade Lake. In Necklace Valley near Skykomish, WA, a difficult hike to Jade Lake that seems to be well worth it.
Beckler Peak another one near Skykomish, WA. The summit affords a 360 degree view of the area, which includes Glacier Peak.
Olympic National Park. A land of beauty and variety!
Mount St. Helens. This volcano is considered the most active in the Cascade Range.
Stehekin, WA. The only way to this small town of adventure is by boat, plane or hiking. There are no roads.
I am so stoked to visit these places! There are still so many more things to see in each of these states, I can’t wait. Let this travel adventure begin!
– Kady
You included a picture of Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, OR but didn’t include a description of it for readers who don’t know what it is. Of course I know – I was there in July 2014 for my first time. Oh boy what a thrill to take a dip in the Pacific Ocean and visit Oregon from Eugene in the south to Warrenton in the north.
Don’t forget Crater Lake in Central Oregon. I never made it there. Too much to do in so little time – on the West Coast for a week.
if and when you get to Washington State, don’t forget Mt. Rainier too. I was at Mt Saint Helens – another first time, in July 2104 too. Created my own earthquake at the USGS site inside the visitors center there.
BTW, watch for the many, many, many deer on the roads in both states.
Hope you complete your bucket list.
BTW, Happy 18th birthday. Welcome to adulthood.
One more thing at Mt. St Helens’ observe very closely the new growth from the 1980 eruption to the leftover old tree stumps. That will tell you the age of the old tree stumps to the new growth. Remarkable how mother nature’s recovery is progressing.