Popular Mechanics - USA (2018-07 & 2018-08)

RIGHT: PHOTOGRAPH BY ALLIE HOLLOWAY

AMERICA’S BEST

CAMPSITES

1. Bikepacking
   It’s bike touring after the
   pavement ends. Explore
   forgotten logging roads and
   wooded single tracks, or even
   ride the Continental Divide
   (give yourself six weeks).
   Bikepacking centers your gear
   within, in front, and behind
   the bike to give you clearance
   around rocks, logs, and trees.
   GET STARTED: Master tire
   repair, says Gabriel Ama-
   deus, director of the 670-mile
   Oregon Timber bikepack-
   ing trail. “Tubeless tires will
   prevent minor lats, but be
   ready to use spare tubes and
   patches.” Practice riding with
   full gear—an extra 15 to 20
   pounds—before your irst
   overnight. You will be slower
   than you expect.
   GEAR: Bike (Trek 1120,
   $2,500) frame bag (Black-
   burn Outpost, $65) tent
   (Zpacks Hexamid Solo, $400)
   tool kit (Topeak Deluxe, $35)
   2. Truck Camping
   Turn your pickup into an
   RV by installing a cap and
   putting down a bed. You can
   get a good night’s sleep at the
   trailhead before setting out or
   park on national land for a free
   campsite, says Ryan Shauers,
   founder of budget-travel site
   Desktodirtbag.com.
   GET STARTED:Use local
   campsites to test your gear
   and how well it’s secured as
   you drive. Next, move on to
   dispersed camping (outside
   of campgrounds). Federal
   lands under the Bureau of
   Land Management and
   Forest Service are open
   to camping with minimal
   restrictions.
   GEAR: Truck cap (LEER 180,
   starts at $1,370) camping
   pad (Teton Sports Adven-
   turer, $65) stove (Primus
   Tupike, $230) light (BioLite
   SiteLight, $30) cofee maker
   (AeroPress, $30)

. Packrafting

Turn streams and lakes into

trails by carrying a light-

weight inlatable raft and a

kayak paddle. You’ll open up

country not accessible by foot,

says Haley Johnston, a guide

at Alaska Alpine Adventures.

Experts use whitewater-spe-

ciic rafts to kayak rapids that

can’t be reached by truck.

GET STARTED:If you’re not

familiar with sweep and draw

strokes, take a kayaking class

from your local outitter. First

get comfortable with your gear

over afternoons on lat water

and the laziest rivers, says

Johnston. Then plan a hike-

in, paddle-out overnight trip.

GEAR:Raft (Alpacka raft,

$795) four-piece paddle

(Aqua-Bound Manta Ray,

$150) dry suit (Kokatat

Hydrus 3.0, $545) lotation

(MTI Livery Sport, $43)

throw bag (Salamander

Little Big Mouth, $60)

Beyond Backpacking

Travel farther and faster with these three alternative camping methods.

bellied marmots and pikas.

—Jamie Richards, ranger

Isle Royale

National Park

Michigan

There is a small backcountry

campsite on Lake Superior

of the beaten path on the

north shore of Isle Royale,

Huginnin Cove. It’s beautiful

and quiet. Last year’s moose

count was about 1,600. It

doesn’t guarantee you’ll see

one, but it’s not a big island.

—Chris Amidon, supervisory

park ranger

Hot Springs

National Park

Arkansas

My favorite campsite is

No. 27 in Gulpha Gorge

Campground. It has the

relaxing sound of the water,

easy creek access to dip your

toes, nighttime programs

at the nearby amphitheater,

and it’s not too far from the

restrooms. —Shelley Todd,

natural resource program

manager

Great Smoky

Mountains

National Park

North Carolina

The Deep Creek Camp-

ground near Bryson City,

North Carolina, lets you

enjoy the sounds and sights

of Deep Creek. Then it’s an

easy walk to Juney Whank

Falls, an 80 -foot cascade.

There are great opportuni-

ties for trout ishing and kids

can look for salamanders.

—Dana Soehn, management

assistant

Biscayne

National Park

Florida

Pitch your tent at Boca Chi-

ta Key’s open campground.

The key isn’t big, but I like

the view of downtown

Miami, and there is so much

fascinating wildlife: osprey,

manatees, dolphins, rays,

and wild, migrating birds.

They’re best in spring and

fall, but winter has the best

weather. —Matt Johnson,

public afairs oicer

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