Adventure might seem hard to come by these days, given all the COVID-19-related restrictions, but there’s actually a ton of opportunity for safe outdoor adventure around the country. From climbing and mountain biking to skydiving and kayaking, the American outdoors have no shortage of exhilarating, adrenaline-fueled sports. The 2021 Adventure Index from Outforia ranks each state’s adventure worthiness based on the number of available activities in 10 categories.
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The Best States for Adventure Sports, According to Hard Data
The categories include rock climbing routes, hiking trails, mountain biking trails, kayaking spots, ski resorts, zip lines, surfing spots, caving grottos, skydiving dropzones, and hang gliding locations.
California ranked number one thanks to its over 45,000 adventure activities and a landscape that makes it particularly suitable for adventuring. It has more options for rock climbing, surfing, hiking, skydiving, and hang gliding than any other state.
Colorado came in second, and it’s no surprise why. It’s home to some of the best ski resorts in the world, like Aspen, Vail, Snowmass, and Telluride, and even if you’re not a skier, the entire state is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, particularly when it comes to hiking and mountain biking.
New York took the number three spot, thanks to its upstate ski culture. The state has more ski resorts than any other. It also benefited from its abundance of kayaking destinations. The mountainous Catskill and Adirondack regions also helped catapult New York to the top of the list.
You can check the list of all 50 states below to see where your state ranks (spoiler: Kansas is dead last).
2021 Adventure Index Infographic by Outforia 