Indulge Your Adventurous Side with These Outdoor Excursions

The Sunset Travel Awards celebrate the best in travel in the West. These six bookable adventure experiences are the 2026 winners of the What to Do: Outdoor Adventure category. Check out the complete list of winners here. For our definitive and searchable travel directory to help you plan your next trip in the West, click here.

Tree Climbing at Silver Falls

Courtesy of Tree Climbing at Silver Falls

Most visitors experience Oregon’s Willamette Valley forests from the trail. Tree Climbing at Silver Falls offers a completely different perspective, lifting guests high into the canopy of towering old-growth trees for a rare look at the ecosystem above. Thoughtful adaptive programming and battery-powered ascenders make this remarkable adventure accessible to climbers of a wide range of ages and abilities.

Wood River Extreme Skijoring

Mark LaRowe Photography

Cowboy culture is definitely having a moment, and skijoring is a natural extension of that. This unique Idaho experience combines cross-country skiing with the speed and power of horses pulling skiers across snow-covered terrain, creating an adrenaline rush unlike any other winter sport. It’s the ultimate frontier tradition to participate in during the winter.

Raft the Wild & Scenic Rogue River

Zach Collier

Discover why the Rogue River is the ultimate classic of the West with Northwest Rafting Company. A four-day wilderness journey travels through the rugged Siskiyou Mountains, offering a perfect blend of splashy Class II and III whitewater, and serene canyon beauty. You can choose your own adventure each day by switching between oar boats for relaxation, paddle boats for teamwork, or inflatable kayaks for a DIY thrill. Along the way, we explore iconic stops like the historic Rogue River Ranch and Zane Grey’s cabin while scanning the banks for black bears, bald eagles, and river otters. Our professional guides handle every detail, from navigating the boulders of Blossom Bar to preparing delicious riverside meals at camp. Whether you are a first timer or a veteran river runner, we invite you to disconnect from the noise and share in our favorite river traditions on Oregon’s wild and scenic Rogue.

Tamarack Resort

Courtesy of Tamarack Resort

Tamarack Resort offers a rare kind of four-season experience where everything is connected, not scattered. Set in Idaho’s West Central Mountains, the resort brings together skiing, biking, hiking, golf, and lake activities within one continuous landscape. In winter, guests explore 1,610 acres of lift-served terrain, along with Nordic and snowshoe trails that extend beyond the mountain. When the snow melts, the same terrain shifts into lift-served biking, hiking, and ziplining, while Lake Cascade introduces boating, paddling, and time on the water, all just minutes from the base. The redesigned Osprey Meadows Golf Course winds through meadows and forest with wide-open views and a 19th “Gambler’s Hole.” At the center, the pedestrian-friendly village makes it easy to move between activities, gear up, or wind down. The result is a place where a full day outdoors comes together naturally, without overplanning.

John Hall’s Alaska

Courtesy of John Hall’s Alaska

Since 1983, John Hall’s Alaska has offered small-group, all-inclusive travel experiences designed to take guests into some of the most culturally rich and scenic destinations in Alaska, the Yukon, and Canadian Rockies. With expertly curated packages created through 40-plus years of knowledge, John Hall’s Alaska aims to elevate travel experiences by providing bespoke itineraries that reach destinations often inaccessible to most, including rural and remote communities. Guests travel in comfort aboard the most luxurious custom fleet of luxury MCI motorcoaches in Alaska, featuring extended legroom, flat-screen TVs, and panoramic windows, guided by Alaska professionals who drive, narrate, and bring the journey to life. Through thoughtful planning, strong partnerships with Alaska-owned businesses, and a deep understanding of guest needs, John Hall’s Alaska remains committed to delivering logistics-free, worry-free adventures and offering one-of-a-kind opportunities for guests to engage with local culture and have an authentic Alaska experience.

Yellowstone Signature Experience Vacation Package

Courtesy of Old Faithful Inn

The Yellowstone Signature Experience is a six-day, fully guided journey designed to showcase the very best of Yellowstone National Park in one seamless, immersive itinerary. Combining iconic sights with exclusive experiences, guests explore geysers, waterfalls, wildlife-rich valleys, and Yellowstone Lake while traveling by historic buses, stagecoach, boats, and modern vehicles. This all-inclusive package features stays at legendary in-park lodges, including Old Faithful Inn and Lake Yellowstone Hotel, along with curated meals, expert guides, and thoughtfully paced days that balance adventure with relaxation. From wildlife viewing in Lamar Valley to a scenic boat excursion and a classic stagecoach ride, each moment is designed to connect guests to Yellowstone’s natural beauty and rich history. The result is a uniquely elevated, worry-free way to experience America’s first national park.