This Is the Best U.S. State for Outdoor Adventures

Some travelers love vacations that involve doing absolutely nothing—trips where lounging by the beach or pool, napping, reading, or going for a light swim are the most rigorous activities on the agenda. Other travelers, however, crave trips that are a bit more … active, whether that means hiking, biking, or parasailing. If you fall into the latter category, you should consider heading to Wyoming for your next trip, according to Wander.

The luxury vacation rental company recently conducted a study, its American Adventure Index, to find out which U.S. states “make outdoor travel feel effortless.” For its analysis, Wander ranked the 50 states on “on access to land, water, and winter experiences,” pulling in data on the number of ski resorts, mountain biking trails, horseback riding trails, hiking trails, national parks, camping sites, water sports listings, and national park recreation visits statistics for 2025. The numbers were all adjusted per 100,000 residents. It then assigned each state a ranking out of a possible 10.

With an impressive number of hiking trails (187.9 trails per 100,000 people) and a final tally of 9.45, the Cowboy State came out on top. For context, Wander reports that the national average for hiking trails is 51.9. The state’s two incredibly popular national parks, Grand Teton and Yellowstone, also contributed to its No. 1 position. While Wyoming may be conducive to Type 1 fun—think snowmobiling, rock climbing, backpacking, etc—it’s not the only state plentiful in outdoor adventures.

Alaska took the No. 2 spot, just trailing Wyoming with a score of 9.2. This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise; Alaska has eight national parks along with 164.7 hiking trails and 199.3 mountain biking trails per 100,000 people. It also has the most lakes of any other state in the country. 

Rounding out the top three with a score of 8.85, Montana excels in land-based adventures. It boasts the most horseback riding trails per capita (216.2), and it has an impressive 430.7 mountain trails per 100,000 people (the only state to top the latter number was Vermont). 

“These destinations offer more than variety. They give travelers room to explore without crowds, the freedom to shape each day around energy levels and interests, and landscapes that feel expansive rather than overused,” Wander stated in the index. 

Ready to plan your next outdoor expedition? Read through Wander’s complete American Adventure Index for more trip inspiration.