7 Mountaintop Destinations Perfect for a Summer Getaway

The beach is fun, sure, but for a certain breed of outdoor enthusiast, nothing beats the dry, temperate climes and recreational largesse on offer in the mountains. Hiking? Cycling? Kayaking? Wildlife encounters? These mountaintop destinations are celebrated for alpine adventures and sophisticated lodging.

Aspen, Colorado

Here, culture is taken as seriously as outdoor pursuits. In a day, it is par for the course to enjoy a hike through wildflower-laced meadows, pop into a lecture by an artist of Venice Biennale fame and attend a late afternoon concerto, before dining at the Aspen outpost of Japanese hot spot Nakazawa.

In a day, it is par for the course to enjoy a hike through wildflower-laced meadows, pop into a lecture by an artist of Venice Biennale fame, and, perhaps, attend a concerto before having dinner at Matsuhisa’s Aspen outpost. The town is jubilant with the return of the Aspen Music Festival, Jazz Aspen Snowmass JAS, and Theatre Aspen. Also on tap: new exhibits at the Aspen Art Museum (specifically Precious Okoyomon, who will transform the rooftop into a garden installation where invasive and indigenous plants cross-pollinate to music); workshops on sculpture, printmaking, photography, and fine art; lectures at the iconic Anderson Ranch Arts Center; and the opening of new galleries, such as Almine Ruiz-Picasso’s Almine Rech and White Cube.

Stay: Rent a tucked-in-the-trees house, or book the Little Nell, known for its glamorous restaurants and adventures such as “Ride and Dine,” a 15-mile trek to a ranch in Old Snowmass for a stylish alfresco meal.

The Catskills, New York

The pastoral peaks and valleys of upstate New York are prime for thigh-burning workouts, while the towns serve up cool-kid charm. Picturesque hikes: the Ashokan Rail Trail, which runs along the Ashokan Reservoir; Overlook Mountain, which follows a 19th-century carriage road to Echo Lake; the switchback-filled Tanbark Loop; and 47,500-acre Slide Mountain Wilderness, home to the Catskills’ tallest peak (4,180 feet).

In the evenings, hear music at the legendary Bearsville Theater in Woodstock (where Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, and Muddy Waters have performed) and Maverick Concerts, the oldest summer chamber music festival in the U.S.

Stay: Hutton Brickyards

Thirty-one cabins with pine interiors and all-glass, Hudson River–facing sides dot a verdant area of Kingston, New York. Guests enjoy feels-like-camp activities such as archery, croquet, and kayaking, along with easy access to the town’s art galleries and restaurants. Interestingly, the property was once an integral part of the thriving bricklaying industry.

Whitefish, Montana

Twenty minutes from Glacier National Park, Whitefish is heaven for sustainability-minded naturalists (the town’s credo encourages public transportation, inclusive conversation, and the avoidance of single-use plastic) who aim to travel with a minimal footprint. Forty-three miles of natural-surface paths on the Whitefish Trail are open to hikers, runners, horseback riders, and mountain bikers. Western Montana’s pristine lakes—Flathead Lake, Whitefish Lake, Lake McDonald, and Seeley Lake—thrill boaters as they maneuver through reflections of the surrounding snow-capped mountains. Rafting is also popular in the Flathead River, where trips can be combined with horseback riding and fishing.

Stay: Snowbear Treehouses and Chalets

A cluster of mid-mountain tree houses and seven brand- new, cozy-cool chalets (each sleeps 6 to 10 guests) with pelt-topped seating, stainless-steel kitchens, and a private deck with a hot tub.

Park City, Utah

When the snow melts, America’s largest ski resort shape-shifts into a hiker’s paradise with 400 miles of trails winding through the Wasatch Mountains.

Other outdoor pursuits include cycling (Park City has been designated a “Gold-Level Ride Center” by the International Mountain Bicycling Association), horseback riding up mountain slopes, and fly-fishing in the Provo River. Home of the Sundance Film Festival, the lively town bustles with outdoor dining and events like the Deer Valley Music Festival.

Stay: The Lodge at Blue Sky

Tucked into 3,500 acres of wilderness, the Lodge's 46 rooms are a study of earth tones and high-alpine textures. Customized programming includes heli-hiking, horseback riding on private trails, and fly-fishing in private waters.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Old-timey Jackson, with its rodeos and line dancing at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, channels Western spunk, but the real magic unfolds in the craggy mountains.

There are 3,000-plus acres for hiking in addition to the treks inside neighboring Grand Teton National Park. For biking, the resort’s new lift-accessed downhill and cross-country trails deliver 1,000 vertical feet with jump features and rides across scenic ridgelines blooming with wildflowers. For easier cruising, you can road-bike along the 65-mile paved system connecting Jackson to Grand Teton National Park. There is also via ferrata–style rock climbing, tandem paragliding, and, for anglers, Jackson Hole Fly Fishing School. To rest your thighs, spend a day wake-surfing at Jackson Lake, which sits at the base of the Tetons at an elevation of 6,750 feet.

Stay: Caldera House

Situated in Teton Village, next to the tram, the eight sumptuous suites boast custom oak millwork, B&B Italia Talamo beds, Boffi kitchens, Axel Vervoordt furniture, and Japanese-style soaking tubs.

Crested Butte, Colorado

This alpine playground attracts down-to-earth types who gravitate toward mountaintop destinations with laid-back evenings in Tevas and a town with a decidedly old-school vibe.

The hiking is glorious. There are 1,200 miles of trail that lead through aspen forests to spectacular rock formations and alpine lakes. More often than not, wildlife (elk, bald eagles, bear, bighorn sheep) will make a cameo, but biking is where Crested Butte shines. The town is the birthplace of downhill mountain biking (a distinction shared with Marin, California) and offers more than 750 miles of single-track trails. For novices, there is a lift-served bike park with a network of 30 trails. Kayaking and rafting through the canyons in Class II–IV rapids are also popular.

Stay: Scarp Ridge Lodge

It may look Wild West on the outside, but inside, this former miner’s saloon is wildly contemporary, its six suites a mélange of reclaimed wood beams, brass-riveted leather seating, taxidermy, and crisp bedding. The property, which also has an indoor saltwater pool and oxygen-enriched air system, is owned by Eleven Experience, an adventure-travel company known for its luxe spin on extreme sports.

Telluride, Colorado

The rugged topography of Telluride, a box canyon within the San Juan Mountains, translates into an abundance of 13,000-14,000 peaks and some of the most varied scenery in Colorado.

Case in point: A 1.8-mile trek above town leads to Bridal Veil Falls, featuring the tallest free-falling waterfalls in Colorado. Continue another 2,000 feet in elevation through fields of wildflowers and find yourself above the tree line at a turquoise body of water aptly named Blue Lake. The Jud Wiebe Memorial Trail gains 1,200 feet in a little over a mile, moving through lush fir and pine forest, aspen groves, and waterfalls. Nearby, you can experience paddling at 11,200 feet above sea level (stand-up paddleboard or kayak) at Alta Lakes, a cluster of alpine lakes that sits in a basin between the 13,470-foot Silver Mountain and Bald Mountain, at 11,868 feet.

Events like the annual Bluegrass Festival plus countless live music and art happenings keep the colorful Victorian homes and clapboard storefronts of Main Street buzzing.

Stay: Madeline Hotel & Residences

This newly revamped property is designed to reflect the grand mountain views: wood-grain walls, chiseled-marble tabletops, and leather detailing crafted by a local outfit, Crossbow Leather.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest