If you’re yearning for a destination with crisp mountain air with trees popping with colorful trees. Then head for the hills. You’ll find granite-topped mountain peaks, towering evergreens and pops of yellow, orange and even red. Get outdoors with a hike, and then you can make it a weekend with camping. You roast a marshmallow over the campfire in your favorite flannel. Here are the top Western Mountain destinations to explore this fall.
12 Top Western Mountain Destinations for Families
Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado
Durango Colorado
Vail Colorado
Lake Tahoe in California
Mammoth Lakes and June Lake in California
Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park in California
Lassen Volcanic National Park in California
Mt. Hood in Oregon
Crater Lake National Park in Oregon
Black Hills in South Dakota
Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming
Glacier National Park in Montana
Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado
Located west of Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park’s Trail Ridge Road meanders through the mountaintops with views for miles since you are above the treeline for a portion of it. Find lake oases and wildlife, including bears and moose, along with mountain landscapes.
There’s just camping in the park, so head to summer camp at YMCA Camp Chief Ouray. It’s where families can spend several days enjoying the endless summer days of camp–but this time as a family.
Top Things to Do in Rocky Mountain National Park
Vail Colorado
The mountain oasis of Vail offers one of the top Western Mountain destinations for families. The Epic Discovery Center, located atop Vail Mountain, offers activities from alpine slides to zip lines (both big hits with kids).
Or sit back and listen to one of the many free summer concerts in the village. Plan to visit at the end of summer to watch (or participate in) the Kids Adventure Games, which will leave kids muddy, sweaty, smiling and filled with a well-deserved sense of accomplishment.
Durango Colorado
At the Million Dollar Highway terminus, drive the infamous s-curved drive that sometimes tops the list of scary drives. Durango is one of the top mountain destinations for families.
It is home to warm natural springs for kids to splash, along with the Durango-Silverton scenic train. Find a quaint mountain town with a hippy vibe and lots of outdoor adventure.
Lake Tahoe in California and Nevada
Where else can snow ski and water ski on the same summer day? Straddling California and Nevada state lines, Lake Tahoe boasts water-based thrills, like boating, paddleboarding, parasailing, or just chillin’ on the beach. Then, you can hike through an alpine meadow and let the kids sled down the last spring snow. Or tour the century-old rustic castle or rambling cabins along the lake’s shore. Find lots of camping, cabins, vacation rentals, and quaint villages ringing the lake that never freezes. Lake Tahoe is a personal favorite and one of the top Western Mountain destinations for families.
Top Things to Do in Lake Tahoe in Summer
Mammoth Lakes and June Lake in California
This summer getaway is about a four-hour drive from Los Angeles though it seems worlds away. During the summer, Mammoth Mountain’s gondola heads to the peaks for hiking.
Nearby Devils Post Pile National Monument for a study in geology with its log-like rock formations, with parking and a shuttle near the Mammoth Mountain lodge. The towns of Mammoth Lakes and June Lake offer condos, RV sites and camping. For a picturesque lake, explore June Lake, just up Highway 395 from Mammoth.
Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park in California
In the adjoining Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, visitors can hike among a grove of ancient trees, so staring at the top can cause vertigo. The shaded trails are perfect for hiking in the summer, and there’s even horseback riding.
This woodland escape has camping, cabins, and a lodge. A ranger program is the best place to learn more about the forest, though the Kings Canyon side will be less crowded than Sequoia National Park.
Top Things to Do in Sequoia and Kings Canyon
Lassen Volcanic National Park in California
Volcanoes are always a crowd-pleaser. So head to Northern California’s Lassen Volcanic National Park to learn about volcanoes while exploring a mountain retreat that looks similar to Yosemite without the crowds.
This park stays snowed in for a while, so it’s ideal to visit in July and August. For a hike, consider the Bumpass Hell Trail and Devastation Area Interpretive Trail. During your stay, reserve a rustic cabin with bunk beds. There’s also the top-rated Drakesbad Guest Ranch for refined western hospitality, both within the park.
Top Things to Do in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Mt. Hood in Oregon
Mt. Hood is a summer destination for serious skiers and snowboarders since it’s one of the few places to offer consistent year-round skiing. Other big draws: the waterfalls along the Columbia River and the fruit loop, 35 miles of orchards with roadside fruit stands. Stay at Timberline Lodge, an historic lodge and base of operations at Mt. Hood for a dose of historic charm.
Top Places to Visit in Oregon including Mt. Hood
Crater Lake National Park in Oregon
As the deepest lake in the U.S., drive along its Rim Drive to see its amazing blue color. A narrated cruise requires a hike to the lake to see the water up close.
For those who want to hike to the top of Wizard Island in the middle of Crater Lake. Others take a leap into the ice-cold, clear mountain water. Everyone agrees the best way to end the perfect day is watching the sunset from one of Crater Lake Lodge’s rocking chairs.
Top National Parks in Oregon
Olympic National Park in Washington
If you’re torn between a beach, mountain or national park getaway, find all of that at Olympic National Park. With several different ecosystems to explore, like temperate rainforests, you don’t have to choose. A
It’s all a few hours from the Seattle-Tacoma area on the Olympic Peninsula. You can find camping, hiking, a tide pool and more.
How to Visit Olympic National Park in 3 Days
Black Hills in South Dakota
This often under-the-radar destination is home to an American icon–Mount Rushmore. Ride the chair lift up to take the 2,000-foot alpine slide down with Mount Rushmore in view. Or head to the Crazy Horse Memorial for the nighttime laser light show that tells the story of Native Americans.
Drive through Custer State Park, it’s a Top 10 wildlife destination for grazing buffalo. Or explore one of the longest caves in the world. It’s all located in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Best Things to Do in the Black Hills of South Dakota
Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park is a top ten national park destination in the northwest corner of Wyoming. As part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Grand Teton’s centerpiece is its mountain chain and pristine lakes at the base.
Packed with outdoor recreation, Grand Teton offers lots of activities, like guided hikes, boat cruises and photography classes. For your trip, you can also stay in a cabin and enjoy farm-to-table dining or camp.
Top Things to Do in Grand Teton National Park
Glacier National Park in Montana
In a national park with over one million acres, it’s the Crown of the Continent. Located in northern Montana, find three mountain ranges, part of the Rocky Mountains, and 130 named lakes.
Sharing an international border with Alberta, Canada, Glacier National Park joins Waterton Lakes National Park to form Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Stay a day, or explore for a week or more.
Top Things to Do in Glacier National Park
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