Lesser-known/off-the-beaten-path destinations in the US (camping, attractions, trip, rail)

[KillerK]

Hi all,

I've lived in a couple of states and visited a few others, and I've found that some of the most interesting or beautiful places to visit are not very well known or advertised. Some places might be overshadowed by more famous attractions nearby, or might only be known to locals because they're off the beaten path.

I was just wondering if you all have any examples of such places in the States? The more states covered, the better.

I'm talking about places that visitors from out of state who are not familiar with the state other than its famous or well-traveled destinations might know about.

I'll start with one: The Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming. There's a national forest (the Bighorn National Forest), but not national parks. A lot of people visiting the state from afar tend to overlook these mountains or bypass them altogether on their way to more famous destinations such as Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.

While those are awesome, the Bighorns are an incredibly beautiful and unique destination in themselves (something that most Wyomingites already know). And since they're not as well-known as the national parks, there tend to not be as many sightseers and tourists clogging up the place. More people have caught on in recent years, to the chagrin of locals who used to enjoy being the only person for miles around.

Stuff to see/do:
- Mountain peaks (highest being Cloud Peak in the Cloud Peak Wilderness at 13,166 feet)
- Wildlife (deer, elk, moose, pronghorn antelope, various birds)
- Pristine lakes and creeks
- Waterfalls (not a ton of these admittedly)
- Wildflowers in spring/early summer
- Hiking, camping, backpacking, four-wheeling, mountain biking, kayaking, canoeing, (in winter) skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling
- Historic sites like the Medicine Wheel Historic Landmark, battlefields from the Indian Wars like the Fetterman Fight, Fort Phil Kearney and others.



What lesser-known places would the rest of you recommend in other states?

[TheBeagleLady]

I love the Bighorns! They are a nice getaway and I like Sheridan and Buffalo.

[jtur88]

The Pothole Country of the eastern Dakotas. Literally millions of tiny micro-habitats for birds and amphibians, that farmers have plowed around for centuries, leaving them intact. Some as small as your living room, some several acres. North Dakota has more national wildlife refuges than any other state.

[eureka1]

Humboldt and Del Norte Counties in California.

[Aredhel]

Not completely unknown, but the Finger Lakes and Adirondack regions of New York State is gorgeous. Lots of people visit NYC but never think of checking any of the rest of the state.

[markg91359]

The High Uinta Mountains in Utah. A high forested area that includes a Primitive Area that is accessible only by horse or by foot. Many lakes and streams. Endless hiking trails. One lake is called "Mirror Lake" and you can guess why.

The Wind River Mountains in Wyoming. Lots of hiking and lakes there too.

The area around Virginia City, Montana. Nice and cool in the summer. A mining town from the 1860's that has been kept much in its original condition. You can ride a steam train while you are there as well. Plenty of camping at a nearby KOA and other campgrounds. Its not that far from Yellowstone National Park and can be incorporated into that trip if you add a day. If you want to find it, look for Dillon, Montana on a map.

The Salmon River Country in Idaho. You can float the river or simply drive along portions of it and camp. Very beautiful.

Its a national park, but its out of the way. Great Basin National Park in Nevada. Its just across the border from Utah and about fifty miles east of Ely, Nevada. An oasis in the desert. An alpine peak with a lake on top. A cave called "Lehman Cave" through which the National Park Service offers guided tours. A small, but pretty campground.

[KillerK]

Aredhel, I have family in Lake Luzerne. I never realized how beautiful that region was till I went to visit them! I think a lot of rural upstate NY is quite pretty. Another pretty place in NY is down in the SW part of the state, near Pennsylvania and Lake Erie. Specifically Chautauqua NY and all the little towns around Chautauqua Lake.

[Jesse44]

Upper peninsula Michigan looks like a nice insight into what Northern Ontario is like. Lake Superior is in general a very beautiful lake with crystal clear almost mediterranean-like water in a lot of coastal areas.

[xPlorer48]

San Rafael Swell in Utah. It is spectacular enough to be a national park but then the hordes and subsequent rules would ruin it. 4x4 high clearance needed on most roads, Suburu on many, ATV on a few. Sedan? Perhaps on one or two.

Green River Lakes in Wyoming. The beginning of the Green River that flows to the Colorado. Long rough gravel road to get there.

Any backroad that connects Nevadas highways 6 and 50. Some of the most unpopulated places in the U.S.

[jambo101]

If you want to see America stay off the interstate highways as much as possible.
And use a site like this one for planning destinations=(takes a while to load)
America's Scenic Byways