The 5 Most Colorful Backcountry Destinations in America

By hanalarockFeb 13, 20173 min read
colorful backcountry destinations
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The world is such a colorful place, that’s often hidden behind the constructs of large cities or giant towns. When you don’t get outdoors much, the repetitiveness of everyday life can really take the color or beauty away that humans are meant to see. Life can be dull and boring if you’re only seeing the inside of an office. But, once you get outside and make that trip, you’ll see really how much color and liveliness that the world holds.

If you’re a person that is looking for a little more “POP” in your next outdoor excursion, look no further than here. These are the most colorful backcountry destinations in America.

1) Bear Lake, Alaska

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colorful backcountry destinations

How’s this for color? The Northern Lights on their own are extremely bright and colorful. But, when they reflect off the white snow, they shine brighter than ever. Bear Lake is located on the Kenai Peninsula of America’s 49th state. It’s an absolutely amazing place to camp. Especially because we really don’t know anywhere else in the country you can wake up to an extraordinary view like this. Though, you can also visit the nearby Kenai Fjords National Park for some more hiking and backcountry experiences.

2) Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone, Wyoming

colorful backcountry destinations

While there are lots of gorgeous hot springs you can visit in the United States, most of them are typically one color. Actually, when you think of hot springs, usually color isn’t the first thing to come to mind. Unless, of course, you’re here at the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming; the largest hot spring in the entire United States. No, you can’t swim here because you’ll be boiled alive, but the colors are enough to blow you away, anyway. This geographical phenomenon is more proof as to how beautiful the outdoors is, and the rainbow found here is hands down one of the most colorful backcountry destinations there is.

3) Red Rock State Park, Arizona

colorful backcountry destinations

Located in Sedona, Arizona is the breathtaking Red Rock State Park. This picture is just scratching the surface of what you can see here. The gorgeous red and orange canyons have such a vibrant color, you won’t believe that what you’re seeing is real. There are tons of hiking trails within the park, so whether you want to come for a short day trip or you want to do something more challenging, you’ll find it here. Though, no matter what route you take, that end result is the same for everyone; nothing short of amazing.

4) Shenandoah National Park, Virginia













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If you like to see nature do its thing, then Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, which lies along the incredible Blue Ridge Mountains, will keep you coming back season after season. It’s one of the best places in America to see fall foliage, as well as one of the best places to see wildflowers in the warmer months. Best of all, there are tons of hiking trails to discover that will lead you to only more colorful backcountry destinations! There’s even a section of the Appalachian Trail. Don’t miss out on this experience!

5) Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park, Montana













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This colorful backcountry destination has recently made news for its amazing colored pebbles. Located within Glacier National Park, Lake McDonald is the largest lake in the park, and that’s saying a lot. After all, there’s well over a hundred lakes all over the place, and quite a few of them have colorful features. However, Lake Mcdonald is known to have the most prominent views of these colored pebbles. Some of the trails here are also aligned with beautiful waterfalls, to add some more liveliness to your outdoor experience.

Is there enough color incorporated into your outdoor itinerary? Liven up your hike by visiting one of the most colorful backcountry destinations in America!

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hanalarock
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