10 Amazing Adventures That Will Make You Want To Get Outside This Summer

Spring is in full swing, and there's still plenty of time to make plans for an incredible adventure this summer. Whether you hike, bike, paddle, run, climb, surf, swim or camp, 'tis the season for adventure. We know you'll be spending a lot of time outside over the next few months, but hopefully Outdoor Project helps you discover new places and even inspires you to try something different. 

We asked some of our Contributors what their favorite adventures were, and here's a list of the top 10 responses. We'd love to hear your favorites in the comments below.

Shi Shi Beach 

The beach is easily accessible and has a number of adventure options. No matter what, you'll be rewarded with beautiful sea stack formations and plenty of room to explore.

Mount Whitney

Mount Whitney is the highest summit in the contiguous United States and the Sierra Nevada. There are a number of ways to tackle this iconic California peak, and the views are most certainly worth every single step.

Opal Creek Wilderness

Opal Creek Wilderness. Photo by Tyson Gillard.

Opal Creek Wilderness is approximately 20,000 acres within the Willamette National Forest and is one of Oregon's most recently protected national treasures. Between the crystal clear waters and the raw old-growth forest, it's easy to see why this is a favorite destination.

Havasu Falls

What's not to love about brilliant blue water cascading down radiant red rock? It's a hefty hike in and can often be crowded, but the trip as a whole is an adventure worth doing.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Adding an entire national park to this list could be considered cheating. And it's hard to play favorites when discussing national parks, but from its high glacial snow fields, rounded cirques, and jagged mountain peaks to its placid lakes and stunning montane forests, Rocky Mountain National Park is a territory of extraordinary beauty on a grand scale.

The Grand Canyon of the Colorado River

Twenty-five days on one of the most impressive rivers in the country. Do we need to say anything else?

Golden Ears Summit Hike

Incredible views and solitude are two things worth hiking for. Golden Ears offers both, and flat camping spots on the summit. Would you like epic mountain views with your morning coffee?

Rae Lakes Loop

Rae Lakes loop is a scenic Sierra multi-day loop and truly a backpacking trip that has it all. Stunning lake basins, rushing waterfalls, and splendidly carved canyons envelop your being for the three to six days necessary to complete the circuit in Kings Canyon National Park.

Cirque of the Towers

North of Rock Springs, Wyoming, lies one of the classic backcountry destinations in the Rockies. The Cirque of the Towers lies within the southeast tail of the magnificent Wind River Range. Its expansive reach is depicted by serrated peaks, alpine lakes, and granite walls.

Sawtooth Mountains

Hiking in the Sawtooths above Redfish Lake. Photo by Matt Leidecker.

If stunning scenery, alpine lakes, endless backpacking loops, technical climbs, and solitude are your thing, then head to Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains. The 217,000-acre Sawtooth Wilderness has something for everyone and should certainly be visited at least once in your adventurs.