As the fall leaves start to flutter to the ground and the air gets crisp, we pull out our winter coats and stock up on firewood. Soon we’ll be clinking our champagne flutes and setting our New Year resolutions. But, how about this year we create a 2024 bucket list instead of an empty resolution of “eating better” or setting vague resolutions for the year ahead! And, let’s make it even better by focusing it on enjoying the things we love so much; time outside with friends and family. Any good outdoor adventuring list should be filled with big trips and goals that make you excited. We’ve put together 10 great options for outdoor adventuring in 2024. Hopefully our list will inspire you to get started on your own. Add to it, borrow ideas, and start adventuring. Start planning now!
Here’s our take on an epic, outdoor-centric adventure wish list:
- Take a Multi-Day River Adventure
- Take a Road Trip in an RV
- Visit a National Park
- Go on a Backpacking Trip
- Play in the Snow
- Try Out Fly Fishing
- Take a Nature Photography Workshop
- Enjoy a Wildflower Hike
- Go Stand Up Paddle Boarding
- U-Pick Local Fruit
Take a Multi-Day River Adventure
If you’ve never been on a multi-day river trip, you NEED to make this one happen in 2024! Multi-day rafting trips are hands-down one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the outdoors, enjoy the luxuries of “car camping”, while still being in perfect solitude in the midst of wilderness. Wet Planet offers 5 and 6-day trips on the Owyhee and the Main Salmon Rivers. Enjoy navigating fun whitewater rapids from a raft with our expert guides, challenge yourself by learning to row, or even a full immersion, 6-day whitewater kayak instruction. Anyway you choose to travel downstream, each day you enjoy breathtaking scenery, awe-inspiring wildlife, fun and exciting rapids, and amazing riverside camps with delicious meals. Dates can be more limited on a multi-day trip, so plan ahead and get this one on the books early for 2024.
*Keep an eye out for BIG Black Friday deals. This is a great way to get your epic river adventure on the books for 2024, score huge savings, and even make it a great holiday gift for those your taking with you!
Take a Road Trip in an RV
If you don’t own an RV, don’t worry, you don’t need to go buy one to mark this item off your list. Check out RVShare.com, it’s like AirBnb for RVs, it’s pretty awesome. This is a great one to combine with another bucket list item (or three). Take a road trip to a national park, or road trip back home after your multi-day rafting tip. Or simply find some great campsites that you want to spend a few days at. RVs are a great way to take your home with you and explore some new and beautiful areas without ever having to unpack. Enjoy down time with your loved ones playing games and having time away from the distractions of the “real world”. It’s a perfect way to enjoy quality time with your loved ones and see new places, and try out new things.
Visit a National Park
We love this one, and bonus, it ties in well with the previous bucket list item, a road trip! America’s National Parks are truly incredible and a special privilege we have access to. Pick at least one new park that you’ve never been to and go check it out. We’ve always wanted to take on the challenge of visiting all of our National Parks, but in the effort to keep this list achievable to one year, we narrowed down a list of National Parks in the West United States:
- Arches National Park (Utah)
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado)
- Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
- Canyonlands National Park (Utah)
- Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)
- Channel Islands National Park (California)
- Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)
- Death Valley National Park (California and Nevada)
- Glacier National Park (Montana)
- Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
- Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
- Great Basin National Park (Nevada)
- Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve (Colorado)
- Joshua Tree National Park (California)
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park (California)
- Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)
- Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)
- Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
- North Cascades National Park (Washington)
- Olympic National Park (Washington)
- Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)
- Pinnacles National Park (California)
- Redwood National and State Parks (California)
- Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
- Saguaro National Park (Arizona)
- Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho)
- Yosemite National Park (California)
- Zion National Park (Utah)
Go on a Backpacking Trip
Pack up your bag and take a couple days to get away from the hustle and bustle of chores and technology. Keep it simple and keep it light. This is truly a great way to unplug, and enjoy nature in peaceful solitude. Pick a favorite hike, or find someplace new to explore. You wont regret getting outside and focusing on the simple act of walking and setting up camp. The places you can explore only on foot are harder to get to which means less traffic, and are so worth the extra effort.
Play in the Snow
Get out and play in the snow. If you’re an avid snow person, explore some new ways to enjoy this winter delight. If you don’t get out in the snow often, make a day of it. There are so many ways to enjoy winter. Play by building snowmen and crafting snow forts, or start a snowball fight. Get out on the slopes for skiing and snowboarding. You can even explore with snowshoes or cross country skis. Snowy landscapes are a great way to enjoy time with your friends and family. And don’t worry about the cold, as they say: “there is no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing”. So bundle up appropriately and get outside to play in the pristine, ethereal beauty of winter.
Try Out Fly Fishing
We love all activities that revolve around our rivers. There are so many reasons to enjoy it, so why not try out fly fishing and add another reason to be on the water. You can dive in and grab gear, but you don’t have to. Reach out to a local fly shop, they can rent gear or take you out on guided fishing trips teaching you what you need to know and supply the gear. Give it a try and see if it’s for you. It’s a great family activity or solo time by the river. And don’t forget to get a fishing permit, most states require them!
Take a Nature Photography Workshop
Trying out a nature photography workshop is a great opportunity to improve your photography skills, spend more time outside, and connect with new friends that share common interests. Not only can you meet new people and learn new skills, you may also get the opportunity to explore new places and capture some amazing places. We love more reasons to get outside and meet new people that also love being outdoors.
Enjoy a Wildflower Hike
Make sure to time this one right. When spring rolls around we’ll see more rain and next come the abundant wildflowers. In the Columbia River Gorge we look forward to the melting of snow and the emerging crocus. Ask around and do a little research so you can hike through fields of purple lupus, indian paint brush and SO many more incredible flowers. When spring rolls around we know we’re yearning for the warmth and sun so this is a fun one to check off your list. Plan ahead, these natural beauties only have a small window.
Go Stand Up Paddle Boarding
If you haven’t tried a stand up paddle board, aka, SUP give it a try! This is really a fun way to get on the water and get some surprisingly good exercise. You can find some inexpensive SUPs, or you can rent one from a local outdoor shop. For any thrill seekers out there, you’re not limited to flat water on a SUP, they also make river SUPs that you can take down river rapids. Give one a go, you may just find an awesome new hobby.
U-Pick Local Fruit
The Columbia River Gorge boasts some incredibly delicious fruit like pears, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and apples. If you live in the area you’ve probably heard of the “Fruit Loop” and they host seasonal “U-Pick” options. It’s a great way to spend some time in breathtaking orchards and a bonus is you go home with some truly delicious and local fruit. YUM! If you’re not from the Gorge, don’t worry many communities offer U-Pick options and can give you a good timeframe of when you can grab what fruits.
We hope this bucket list inspired you to make one of your own and plan an adventurous and active year enjoying the beautiful outdoors, and of course our spectacular rivers. We also hope to share our passion for river with you. Check out our trips and see if a river trip can make it into your epic, adventure-filled year ahead.
