Don’t hold back on your next RV trip. Visit a spot with rugged trails, raging whitewater and challenging bikeways. The following Good Sam Parks sit close to outdoor adventure hot spots.
Yellowstone RV Park at Mack’s Inn, Island Park, Idaho
Good Sam Rating: 8/9.5*/10
With a seemingly endless number of trails and outdoor activities in Idaho, the Gem State will whet your appetite for adventure. And Idaho is not only known for incredible hiking, but it’s also a perfect spot for whitewater rafting. This gorgeous state abounds with high mountain peaks, rushing whitewater and awe-inspiring backcountry.
Yellowstone RV Park at Mack’s Inn.
Nestled in the trees of the historic Mack’s Inn area at Island Park, this RV Park is within walking distance of Henry’s Fork of the Snake River. Surrounded by beautiful pine trees, it’s the perfect spot to take in some family time under the stars.
Explore Yellowstone Park, just 20 minutes away. Walk to Henry’s Fork River for some family water fun. Enjoy abundant ATV trails, hiking, biking or kayaking in the surrounding rivers and lakes.
Willow Beach on Lake Mojave. Getty Images
Willow Beach Marina & Campground, Willow Beach, Arizona
Good Sam Rating: 9/9.5*/9
Willow Beach Marina and Campground visitors can explore the Colorado River’s 235 miles of shoreline and the myriad opportunities the region offers for hiking, boating and fishing.
Water enthusiasts may also enjoy exploring in a canoe or kayak or making use of the marina’s fishing pier and boat launch ramp.
A rafting tour to Hoover Dam.
Looking for some amazing kayaking locations? Black Canyon begins at the base of Hoover Dam, which is about a 35-45-minute drive from Las Vegas. Evolution Expeditions and River Dogz offer fantastic kayaking tours. One option is paddling 13 miles to the Willow Beach take out point.
Bridge RV Park & Campground, White Salmon, Washington
Good Sam Rating: 8/10*/9
If it’s scenic cycling you’re looking for, Hood River, Oregon, is located across the straw-colored cliffs of the Columbia River. With the big river at its doorstep and Mount Hood in its backyard, there are awe-inspiring sights just about everywhere you look.
Mount Hood. Getty Images
It’s chock-full of scenic hiking, mountain biking and farm-to-table bounty. If you need gear, check out Mountain View Cycles or Hood River Bicycles. And for a post-ride reward, Dirty Fingers Bicycles Repair is the only all-in-one bike shop and pub in town. It’s also known for its kiteboarding and windsurfing scene.
Rafting on the Snake River. Getty Images
Anderson Camp, Eden, Idaho
Good Sam Rating: 8.5/9*/8.5
Hugging the borders of northeastern Oregon and western Idaho, Hells Canyon is composed of 216,981 acres of high mountain peaks, where scenic vistas rival those found on any continent. Explore North America’s deepest river gorge, which encompasses a vast, remote region in Idaho. Recreation season in the lower section of the wilderness usually begins in early spring. Raft Hells Canyon Snake River where rugged rock walls and grassy slopes rise from the water.
Check out Challis for rafting in the middle fork of the Salmon River. The Middle Fork begins as a small stream in the Sawtooth Range near Stanley. As the river descends, rafters may notice fir-covered mountainsides change to granite sheer-walled canyons.
Shoshone Falls, the “Niagara of the West.” Photo: Ryan Fish
Pedal the route of the Hiawatha in a gorgeous downhill biking and walking trails that stretch for more than 15 miles through train tunnels and along trestle bridges.
Pro tip: rent your bikes ahead of time. The trails reopen May 22 through September 20.
Shoshone Falls, known as the “Niagara of the West,” is actually taller than Niagara Falls. The falls offer playgrounds, hiking trails, picnic areas, a boat ramp, swimming area and, of course, a super scenic overlook.
Photo: Brujaisma
Its peak performance is during the spring and early summer months. Rent a paddleboard or canoe and paddle to the base of the falls. Check out AWOL Adventure Sports. Then treat yourself to one of many hot springs nestled in Lowman or Lava Hot Springs.
Surreal sand dunes in Death Valley National Park. Abhardphoto
Lakeside Casino & RV Park, Pahrump, Nevada
Good Sam Rating: 10/10*/10
A lot of people may not realize that the area in and around Las Vegas lures visitors for reasons that go far beyond gambling. West of Vegas, the town of Pahrump excites thrillseekers with mountain biking and hiking in the hills that rise above the town. Just a short jaunt across the nearby California border takes visitors to Death Valley, whose stark desert views are unrivaled.
Lakeside Casino & RV Park in Pahrump, Nevada
Offroad enthusiasts will find lots of places to hit the gas here. Carpenter Canyon Road on Mount Charleston contains lots of twists and turns for ATV and OHV buffs. The easy-to-follow dirt and gravel roads make it an excellent place for families to enjoy the sport. Northeast of Pahrump, the Wheeler Pass Off-Highway Vehicle is more challenging and less crowded, offering drivers a chance to put their vehicles through their paces while seeing amazing wildlife.
For Death Valley adventures, visitors can take California State Route 190 west to get to the heart of Death Valley National Park. This will bring you right into Furnace Creek, considered the Oasis of Death Valley. Beyond lies some of the most stellar desert scenery on the planet.
