THE US MOUNTAINS DESTINATIONS


based on two sharing, including B&B accommodation, flights and SUV hire. There’s plenty to do in the wider


region outside ski season too. “Hiking is the best way to do this park, with more than 300 miles of trails to choose from,” says Malcolm Davies, product destination manager for Funway Holidays. “They range from short, flat strolls to extreme climbs and everything in between.” No sitting in the Jacuzzi here.


◗ SIERRA NEVADA Just as iconic are the craggy, snow- dusted peaks of California’s Sierra Nevada, known for its sequoia-covered landscapes and cobalt-blue lakes. At its heart is Yosemite, whose


granite formations, bottle-green forests and tumbling waterfalls make for proper adventure territory. Key ski areas include Dodge Ridge and High Sierra Snow Play, but it’s not only about speeding down the slopes. For something a little different, recommend Intrepid Travel’s Lake Tahoe & Yosemite Winter Adventure, which takes clients hiking around the frozen lake with the option to try snowshoeing around ski resort Heavenly Mountain, with prices from £1,674, excluding flights. But for some really hardcore hiking,


Yosemite’s granite formations, bottle-green, forests and tumbling waterfalls make for proper adventure territory


venture beyond Yosemite. Stretching through three national parks, the John Muir Trail is ideal for those after a real challenge. Grand American Adventures offers a 23-day trip taking in the best of it, giving clients the chance to summit the 4,417m-high Mount Whitney – the tallest mountain in the country’s lower 48 states. Prices start at £2,799 including guides, porters and all meals.


◗ ALASKA RANGE Giving Mount Whitney a run for its money is Denali, the highest mountain in North America at a whopping 6,190 metres. Reaching the summit takes serious preparation, but hiking around the national park can be just as rewarding, with majestic peaks, huge glaciers and meltwater rivers carving their way through six million acres of wilderness populated by caribou,


moose, wolves and grizzly bears. World Expeditions’ Great Alaska


Adventure takes guests to some of the state’s most spectacular spots with glacial hikes, white-water rafting trips and wildlife drives, plus a canoeing trip through the remote Tangle Lakes, a scenic flight over Wrangell-St Elias National Park and plenty more, with prices from £3,190 for 11 days.


◗ APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS The east coast has its fair share of contours too, with the Appalachian Mountains stretching from Canada to Alabama and taking in everything from Vermont’s Green Mountains to Pennsylvania’s Blue Ridge. Travel 2 recommends Grand American


Adventures’ 11-day Appalachian and New England Walk for clients wanting to explore its most impressive peaks. The trip takes in the White Mountains, Baxter State Park and Stowe, plus the less-trodden Acadia National Park. For those wanting to take it a little


easier, suggest a self-drive. First Class Holidays’ Classic New England tour is an excellent option, combining Boston, the White Mountains, the Green Mountains, Cape Cod and more with the freedom to take it at your own pace – think sweeping vistas of


BEST OF THE REST


MOUNT RAINIER


Stretching to 4,392 metres, this volcanic, glacier-


topped peak in Washington State offers extensive hiking and biking. North America Travel Service offers a day tour to experience it from Seattle, from £225 per person.


SAN JACINTO MOUNTAINS For a seriously


tough, day-long hike, there’s Cactus to Clouds, a 21- mile climb that


starts in Greater Palm Springs and ascends to the peak of Mount San Jacinto. Best saved for the experienced.


LEFT: Grizzly bear, Denali National Park


BELOW: The John Muir Trail VAIL


Offering nearly 200


trails spread across 2,140 hectares, this is the US’s most popular ski spot, boasting runs for every level plus the


renowned Back Bowls – masses of silky-smooth powder made for those after a challenge.


27 September 2018 travelweekly.co.uk 59


PICTURES: SHUTTERSTOCK; PERETZ PARTENSKY/GRAND AMERICAN ADVENTURES


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