Top Outdoor Destinations to Explore in the Mountain West This Spring

Grand Teton National Park, WY | Image credit: Makenzie Cooper

Most of the Mountain West is blanketed in a thick layer of snow in the winter, when skiers and snowboarders flock to world-class resorts. As the snow melts and the weather shifts, different aspects of this region’s natural beauty are revealed.

Spring brings lush plant life and mild temperatures ideal for outdoor exploration to the Mountain West. Let’s look at some of the sites in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Utah worth visiting this spring. 

Glacier National Park, MT | Image credit: JD Andrews

Utah

Utah is known for its gorgeous mountains in the Uinta and Wasatch ranges, but its environment is as diverse and wide-ranging as it gets. Let’s look at two outdoor destinations in Utah to visit this spring.

Arches National Park: Arches National Park typifies the otherworldly environment of Utah’s desert landscapes. The park has sprawling trails and more than 2,000 naturally occurring sandstone arches. Spring is an ideal time to visit due to the mild temperatures.

Mirror Lake: Mirror Lake can be found high in the Uinta Mountains. This sparkling blue lake is a hub for outdoor fun. On a warm spring day, taking non-motorized boats from the boat ramp or camping along the water’s edge is an idyllic way to take in Utah’s gorgeous natural beauty. 

Arches National Park, UT | Image credit: Aayam Shrestha

Montana

Montana is a vast state famed for its unparalleled natural diversity, consisting of landscapes that range from the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains. Let’s narrow down some of the best places to explore here this spring.

Glacier National Park: Glacier National Park is one of the most famous outdoor destinations in the U.S., a massive wilderness area with more than 700 miles of hiking trails. This famous park, known for its blue waters and mountain peaks, has blooming wildflowers in the spring and diverse wildlife, including bears and moose. 

Giant Springs State Park: Giant Springs State Park is a scenic park along the Missouri River that was charted by the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It has one of the largest freshwater springs in North America, racing rapids, and more than 30 miles of hiking trails with postcard-worthy sites to explore.

Glacier National Park, MT | Image credit: Daniel Crowley

Wyoming

Wyoming’s rugged and mostly unspoiled nature attracts those who want to be immersed in mountains, lakes, and forests. Let’s look at some of this state’s most incredible natural destinations.

Yellowstone National Park: Yellowstone National Park is a protected nature area larger than many states, encompassing more than 2.2 million acres. Mild weather and blooming plants make spring the ideal time to visit one of the country’s most famous natural destinations.

Grand Teton National Park: Grand Teton is another world-famous Wyoming national park, a one-of-a-kind natural hotspot in the Teton Mountain Range. This beautiful park holds a huge variety of wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, and bison herds. It covers over 310,000 acres of jaw-dropping terrain, including mountains and plains.

Yellowstone National Park, WY | Image credit: Ron Barabash

Idaho

Idaho has whitewater rivers, deserts, mountains, and lush green forests, making its nature one of the most diverse in the U.S. Let’s explore some of the Gem State’s natural must-see sites this spring.

Tubbs Hill Park and Nature Trails: Lake Coeur d’Alene is one of Idaho’s most picturesque bodies of water, and the Tubbs Hill Nature Trail is one of the best ways to explore it. With a two-mile loop around the water’s edge, this park provides gorgeous views of the lake and more than 120 acres overlooking it. 

Bruneau Dunes State Park: Bruneau Dunes is the site of the tallest freestanding sand dune on the continent and is a hotspot for sandboarding and other forms of outdoor fun. The park stretches for more than 4,800 acres and includes an observatory and a small lake in which visitors can fish. 

Bruneau Dunes State Park, ID | Image credit: Jeremy Bishop
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