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There’s a lot of unbelievable stuff in the wilderness. Get to know it in our $40 + $7/person per night
Camp Lulu Key, Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
Here’s what tropical stargazing looks like: a private beach, bathtub-warm water, wildlife galore, the soothing sound of gentle surf, and soft sand on which to lie on your back and watch the stars spread out overhead. To set up in this slice of paradise, start paddling from the Everglades Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Chokoloskee Bay, avoiding the boat lanes to Indian Key and opting instead to follow the west end of the bay for 9 miles out to the key. Strong navigation skills are a must, as it’s easy to make a wrong turn among the area’s mangrove islands. keep an eye out for dolphins and manatees beneath the surface and more than 200 species of birds above. On landing at Camp Lulu, pitch your tent (anywhere; first come, first serve; BYO water) on the windward side to keep the bugs at bay—if that happens to be the south side, you can set up your tent perfectly to watch sunrise, starshine, and sunset from your door.
Trailhead Gulf Coast Visitor Center Season  October to April Permit None
Olympic Hot Springs, Olympic National Park, Washington
Deep in the park and walled off from Port Angeles by rain-soaked forest and 5,000-foot-tall Happy Lake Ridge, the smattering of hot springs in this backcountry hideaway offers one of the darkest soaks in the country. Earn it on a 28.7-mile out-and-back that crests Appleton Pass, where the snowy domes of the Olympic Range dent the southeastern horizon, and home to your first night’s camp. Next day, think of the hot springs. Your legs will be pining for them by the time you descend 2,600 feet over 4 miles to the North Fork Boulder Creek. From here, it’s 1.7 miles to Boulder Creek Campground. Throw down and hike .1 mile to cross Boulder Creek, then ascend through the conifers for .2 mile to the natural, rock-rimmed springs. The lower pools are more lukewarm (80°F), while the higher ones get as hot as 118°F. Darkness comes quick in a forest this deep; enjoy the show.
Trailhead Sol Duc Season Summer Permit Required ($6 + $8/person per night); obtain at the Wilderness Information Center in Port Angeles or recreation.gov.
Last updated April 2022
From 2022