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America’s Top 10 Mountain Experiences

As soon as the first reports of snow come in, we’re packing our gear and heading for the mountains. And as soon as it melts, we’ll do the same. America boasts some of the best peaks in the world, so we’ve put together 10 of the top spots – both on and off the radar – for your year-round itinerary.

By Geoff Nudelman

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America’s Top 10 Mountain Experiences.

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For Leaf Peepers: Mt. Rainier – The fall season in the Pacific Northwest is full of unmistakable beauty. There’s no better place to experience changing tree colours and ridgelines than in this national park. From mid-September to late October, vibrant punches of orange, red and yellow line one of the country’s most breathtaking landscapes. And the hiking is pretty good, too. visitrainier.com [Photo: Geoff Nudelman]

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America’s Top 10 Mountain Experiences.

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For Panorama Seekers: Sandstone Peak – The highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains is only 950m, but it offers one of the best hikes in Southern California. The trail is expansive and quiet, providing chance encounters with wildlife and a variety of scenery. The hike up can be a bit tough at times, but it’s all about the reward: To your left, Los Angeles’ crowded skyline; to your right, uninterrupted views of the coastline and the deep blue of the Pacific Ocean. alltrails.com [Photo: Jeff Turner/Flickr]

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America’s Top 10 Mountain Experiences.

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For Rum Connoisseurs: Crested Butte – The small town of Crested Butte, Colorado is a skier’s gateway to several slopes and national forests. It’s also home to the highest distillery in America. Montanya Distillers makes some excellent craft rums using snowmelt water from nearby aquifers. They have a full tasting bar, making it the ideal wind-down after a day of shredding. montanyarum.com, skicb.com [Photo: Dave_Kozlowski]

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America’s Top 10 Mountain Experiences.

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For Trail Junkies: Mt. Katahdin – Maine’s Mt. Katahdin is typically the last leg of the Appalachian Trail. The 1,600m ascent takes you above the tree line towards views of numerous rocky peaks, as well as the 81,000- hectare Baxter State Park that surrounds the mountain. You can also climb into a naturally formed ice cave, which is thought to have been cold storage for loggers and sportsmen long ago. baxterstateparkauthority.com [Photo: Christopher Mills/Flickr]

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America’s Top 10 Mountain Experiences.

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For Snow Bunnies: Jackson Hole – It’s hard not to include one of the country’s most popular ski resorts. The Jackson Hole resort area is widely renowned for its snow quality, offering countless ways for just about everyone to enjoy it. As the season kicks into high gear, they’re also offering flight credits for 4- to 6-night stays, so there’s even more reason to take advantage of the Rocky Mountains’ best. For a less crowded option, continue north another hour to Grand Targhee Resort. jacksonhole.com, grandtarghee.com

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America’s Top 10 Mountain Experiences.

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For Experts Only: Snowbird – This ski haven sits just 45 minutes north of Salt Lake City. Snowbird averages more than 1.2 metres (!) of dry  powder annually, attracting high-level winter sport enthusiasts seeking to conquer a variety of challenging terrain. For skiers, Alta Resort offers snowboard-free slopes and a more mixed variety of beginner and intermediate options. snowbird.com, alta.com [Photo: Zach Dischner/Flickr]

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America’s Top 10 Mountain Experiences.

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For Fun-Loving Families: Mt. Hood – Among the incredible options throughout the Cascade Range (see Mt. Rainier), Mt. Hood offers some of the most accessible slopes on the west coast. Less than an hour from Portland, the mountain has three different resorts: Timberline, Ski Bowl and Meadows. Timberline Lodge, a 1930s lodge built for the heyday of American hotel travel, is definitely the star of the show, while Meadows offers easy access to lifts, and Ski Bowl has a variety of winter activities for the entire family. timberlinelodge.com, skihood.com, skibowl.com

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America’s Top 10 Mountain Experiences.

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For Leisurely Motorists: The Smoky Mountains – “Winter Wonder” doesn’t immediately come to mind when thinking of the American South, but this national park is here to prove you wrong. As with any winter trek, extra care is required, but a casual drive along the Tennessee/North Carolina border will give you breathtaking views of Mount Cammerer. Keep going, and the reward is one of the country’s coolest emerging cities: Asheville, NC. hikinginthesmokys.com

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America’s Top 10 Mountain Experiences.

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For Intrepid Trekkers: Glacier National Park – Montana’s most popular national park is just beginning its thaw from March to May, making this a unique time to capture melting icescapes and burgeoning plant life. There are several options to tackle the expanse, many of which begin with the Going-To-The-Sun Road, which typically opens in April. nps.gov

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America’s Top 10 Mountain Experiences.

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For Desert Adventurers: Death Valley National Park – The high and low deserts in the Wild West aren’t the first thing that comes to mind for mountain visits, but they’re worth the trip. Driving into the park, you ascend to about 1200m before quickly descending below sea level in a matter of minutes. Springtime temperatures are actually pleasant, and it’s a great time to see the wildflowers bloom. The vast, rolling landscapes are something to be seen – and experienced. nps.gov

Travel

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America’s Top 10 Mountain Experiences.

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