Khruangbin and Lord Huron to headline Outside Festival. New perk: Easily find new routes and hidden gems, upcoming running events, and more near you. Your weekly Local Running Newsletter has everything you need to lace up! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So they made my list of the most beautiful places on earth.
When Outside asked me to consider writing about the most beautiful wild places on earth, I immediately thought of Lagoa das Sete Cidades in the Azores, green-blue twin lakes within a crater, and the Na Pali Coast of Kauai, with emerald cliffs that tumble steeply to the sea.
Instead, I came up with a list of stunning, lesser-known destinations that are also full of adventure potential. I purposely highlighted more sites close to home to make this list accessible. My biggest tip is to live in the moment when visiting these places—or any place that bowls you over. Here are my picks for the most beautiful places on earth. Rich mineral deposits in the cliffs and hoodoos resemble a sweeping sunset of orange, yellow, red, and purple. During July and early August, some plus species of wildflowers bloom, creating a Technicolor landscape.
Adventure Intel: Tucked in the mountains 20 miles east of Cedar City, this three-mile-long cirque gets a sliver of the foot and vehicle traffic seen at nearby Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks but offers just as many options for outdoor lovers. Hikes range from the ADA-compliant, two-mile round-trip Sunset Trail , which skirts part of the rim overlooking the amphitheater, to the Every Sunday and Saturday from late May through early October, the monument offers free four-hour astronomy tours at the North View Overlook.
It overlooks Lower Kananaskis Lake, prioritizes people with disabilities and seniors, and features 22 accessible cottages, plus 13 campsites, and 11 miles of accessible trails on-site. The park is full of hiking and mountain-biking trails, as well as seven miles of paved biking paths. In fall, check out Elephant Rocks and Chester Lake via this moderate 5. In the area without your outdoor essentials? Kananaskis Outfitters rents everything from canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards to e-bikes and full-suspension mountain bikes.
