The 11 best U.S. resorts for adventure travel

Set among the sandstone mesas and slot canyons of southern Utah, Amangiri works as a luxury base for exploring the surrounding desert. Guided outings head into the nearby Grand Staircase-Escalante region, where guests can partake in canyon hikes, rock climbing and horseback rides across the plateau. The resort also offers a via ferrata along the canyon walls and sunrise hot-air balloon rides over the landscape. For a more secluded, basecamp-style stay, the tented Camp Sarika provides private pavilions with easy access to many of the same excursions.

Set on 37,000 acres in western Montana, The Resort at Paws Up spans more than 100 miles of trails, along with 10 miles along the Blackfoot River. Warmer days might involve cattle drives, backcountry ATV tours or seasonal rafting, while winter shifts the focus to snowmobiling and cross-country skiing across the property. Accommodations range from freestanding homes to safari-style glamping tents, giving guests the choice between a traditional ranch stay and a tented experience closer to the outdoors—sans sacrificing luxury. There’s also the adults-only Green O, where you’ll find 12 “hauses” with luxe amenities like hot tubs, sumptuous soaking tubs and expansive decks.

The luxe Brush Creek Ranch spans 30,000 acres in the Medicine Bow National Forest and follows a classic all-inclusive ranch model with year-round programming. In warmer months, the focus is on time outside—long rides across open range, mountain biking through the forest and fly-fishing on private streams. There’s also archery, a full shooting complex and ropes courses on the property. Come wintertime, the resort transforms into your very own cold-weather playground. Exclusive to resort guests, Green Mountain is a private, snowcat-served ski area where small groups can ski or snowboard without lift lines or crowds. Alternatively, try your hand at ice fishing, ice skating or snowmobiling across the surrounding terrain.

Just outside Park City, The Lodge at Blue Sky spreads across 3,500 acres of rolling hills, working ranchland and trout-filled streams. The programming leans heavily into guided, small-group outings, whether that’s casting along the Weber River, riding through the property’s open range or heading into the backcountry by helicopter. In winter, the focus turns to heli-skiing, dog sledding and ice fishing; there’s also a private ski lounge at nearby Park City Mountain Resort for traditional downhill days. The overall feel is quiet and nature-driven, with most activities built around the landscape rather than a set daily schedule.

Once an 1800s mining settlement, Dunton Hot Springs now operates as a small, cabin-style resort deep in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. The setting lends itself to days spent outside, whether that means guided hikes, mountain biking or fly-fishing along a private stretch of the West Fork of the Dolores River. Rock-climbing, rafting and mountaineering trips in the surrounding peaks can also be arranged. In winter, activities shift to snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowcat-assisted outings into higher terrain. Afterward, most guests end the day in the property’s natural hot springs, the original draw of the site.

Set in Montana’s Bitterroot Mountains, Triple Creek Ranch offers an adults-only take on the classic Western ranch stay. With a limited number of cabins, the property focuses on small-group and customized outings rather than large scheduled activities. Guests can spend their days on guided trail rides, wildlife-spotting excursions or fly-casting clinics, with the option to add off-ranch adventures such as whitewater rafting, cattle drives or helicopter flights. Visit in wintertime to partake in cold-weather fun like dog sledding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Located in a desert canyon north of Phoenix, Castle Hot Springs is an adults-only, all-inclusive retreat built around its namesake mineral-rich pools, which date back over a century. While the springs remain the centerpiece, the surrounding Sonoran landscape offers a range of guided outings. The resort’s via ferrata course—one of the first in Arizona—scales canyon walls and crosses an elevated walkway above the desert floor. Guests can also join UTV tours into the surrounding hills, explore a private slot canyon or try archery at the on-site range. E-biking and farm tours round out the experience, balancing outdoor adventure with the property’s slower-paced, restorative side.

About an hour south of Orlando, along the Kissimmee River, Westgate River Ranch feels far removed from the nearby theme park crowds. It’s set up as a working dude ranch, where most of the day revolves around time outdoors—horseback rides across the prairie, airboat trips through nearby wetlands and hands-on activities like archery, trap shooting and swamp buggy rides. A weekly rodeo brings bull riding and barrel racing to the arena, while experiences like a cowboy dinner and hayride add to the Western feel. It’s one of the more approachable, family-friendly picks on the list, with a stronger focus on activities than high-end frills.

Open from May through September, Tutka Bay Lodge sits on 35 acres along the edge of Kachemak Bay and is reached by boat from the town of Homer. The remote, coastal setting is dotted with private cabins, forest trails and quiet coves just steps from the lodge. Most days are spent on or near the water, whether that’s kayaking along the shoreline or heading out for halibut and salmon fishing. Guided hikes explore nearby ridgelines and coastal terrain, while bear-viewing excursions along the Katmai Coast are a highlight for many guests. Helicopter outings can also reach remote glaciers and backcountry areas, adding a more remote, fly-in element to the stay.

Set on 1,500 wooded acres beside New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, ACE Adventure Resort is built around one of the country’s most famous whitewater destinations. Rafting trips on the New and Gauley rivers remain the main draw, ranging from beginner-friendly floats to high-adrenaline runs during peak season (April-October, with crowds spiking June-August). A spring-fed lake with a floating water park provides a more low-key break between bigger adventures. Back on land, there are zip-line tours above the gorge, rock climbing and rappelling routes, guided hikes, mountain biking and ATV rides. Cabin rentals and campsites keep the experience casual and activity-focused, making it a strong pick for travelers who want adventure without a luxury price tag.

Set on a 4,000-acre working ranch in the small town of Gay, about 45 minutes from Atlanta’s airport, Quercus offers a quieter, more personal take on the adventure-resort concept. With just four standalone cottages and a maximum of 10 overnight guests, the experience is intentionally intimate. Activities are built around the land and designed to be immersive rather than fast-paced. Guests can fish or kayak along the Flint River or spend time with the ranch’s horses through hands-on liberty training sessions. Field sports, guided walks and time outdoors round out the experience, which leans more toward slow, nature-driven adventure than a packed activity schedule.