Try These Mountain Towns for Summer Vacation

U.S. Are places like Jackson Hole and Aspen too packed with tourists? Try these alternatives. By Jen Murphy March 27, 2022 Tap story

This summer, if you want to escape the crowds, consider basing yourself out of one of these lesser-known mountain hubs. { "selector": ".wsj--ani-media-pan", "duration": "10s", "easing": "ease-out", "fill": "forwards", "keyframes": [ {"transform": "translateX(-15px) scale(1.1)"}, {"transform": "translateX(15px) scale(1.1) "} ] } { "selector": ".wsj--ani-text-fade", "duration": "2s", "easing": "ease-out", "keyframes": [ {"opacity": "0"}, { "opacity": "1"} ] }

Packwood, Wash. Tucked between the foothills of Mount Rainier National Park and Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Packwood is the perfect low-key base camp for nature enthusiasts. The Naches Peak Loop, pictured, is a popular hiking trail. { "selector": ".wsj--ani-media-zoom", "duration": "3s", "easing": "ease-out", "keyframes": [ {"transform": "scale(1.03)"}, {"transform": "scale(1)"} ] } { "selector": ".wsj--ani-text-fade", "duration": "2s", "easing": "ease-out", "keyframes": [ {"opacity": "0"}, { "opacity": "1"} ] }

As summer nears, check for the reopening of the Grove of the Patriarchs. This flat, 1.5-mile loop in Mount Rainier National Park feels like a setting from Lord of the Rings. { "selector": ".wsj--ani-media-zoom", "duration": "3s", "easing": "ease-out", "keyframes": [ {"transform": "scale(1.03)"}, {"transform": "scale(1)"} ] } { "selector": ".wsj--ani-text-fade", "duration": "2s", "easing": "ease-out", "keyframes": [ {"opacity": "0"}, { "opacity": "1"} ] }

Dubois, Wyo. Visitors to Dubois will find red-rock cliffs nearby and a town that still oozes authentic cowboy spirit.

If you don’t want to battle the national park crowds, there’s plenty to do nearby, from fly-fishing on the Wind River to hiking the meadows of Bonneville Pass in Shoshone National Forest. { "selector": ".wsj--ani-media-zoom", "duration": "3s", "easing": "ease-out", "keyframes": [ {"transform": "scale(1.03)"}, {"transform": "scale(1)"} ] } { "selector": ".wsj--ani-text-slide .wsj--animation-wrapper", "duration": "1s", "easing": "ease-out", "keyframes": [ {"transform": "translateY(10px)","opacity":"0"}, {"transform": "translateY(0)","opacity":"1"} ] }

Del Norte, Colo. The unassuming one-stoplight town boomed from trade along the Old Spanish Trail and mining in the 1880s.

An extensive network of trails, largely built by the nonprofit Del Norte Trails Organization, rivals what you would find in mountain-bike destinations like Crested Butte, Colo.

Sisters, Ore. Sisters might seem artsy compared with its adventure-mecca neighbor, Bend, but don’t let all of the antique shops and art galleries along the main strip fool you. Named for the Three Sisters mountains that loom in the background, the town is an under-the-radar gateway for hiking, biking and rock climbing.

The Peterson Ridge Trail system, a 25-mile network of single-track trails and Forest Service roads, is minutes from the center of town and rewards riders with dazzling views of the Cascade Mountains.

Carrabasset Valley, Maine New England skiers descend on this valley in the winter to schuss down the slopes of Sugarloaf Mountain, then disappear in the summer to feast on lobster rolls along the coast.

Major trail development over the past decade has transformed old logging roads into a nearly 80-mile system of mountain-bike-specific trails. Read the full story

Produced by Julia Munslow Photos: Getty Images/iStock (9), Alamy (2) Read the full story