An entirely unscientific, emotional, and somewhat biased accounting of the greatest places to pitch a tent, chosen by the pros who live their lives outdoors.
My favorite campsite isn’t easy to get to, and it’s even harder to book. Each year, only around 3,000 in-season permits to the Enchantments are released, guaranteeing lottery winners nearly solitary access to a massive and glorious swath of glaciated rock and forest. The rugged range, 115 miles east of Seattle, is strewn with alpine lakes and defended by curious mountain goats. “We got here first,” they seem to say. And they’re right.
For years, access to this alpine Valhalla had evaded me. But one day my buddy Ryan texted, offering salvation: “My friend’s got extra spots on his permit. Let’s do this.” Weeks later, there we were, blasting past the Bavarian throwback town of Leavenworth, packs pregnant with gear, frothing to reach the trailhead.
The hike into our first camp was anything but easy. For me, anyway: My lanky friend Wes marches like he’s trying to prove something, and Martin, an elite trail runner, once completed the three-day route we had planned in a day. As we reached elevation, the teeth of the Cascades revealed themselves, serrated crags attacking the sky.
We pressed on: Up a scree of rubble and over the cusp to an otherworldly cerulean lake surrounded by hardened snowpack. Here, we spread out, aware of the encroaching goats. “They drink your pee,” someone pointed out. “They like the salt.” I eyed them warily. Weird goats aside, this was a lifetime site, a world so different and raw that it reminded us of our small place in the big picture. Martin and Ryan stripped to their shorts and slid like kids down a sheet of ice into one of the lakes. Wes actually relaxed. I forgot about the Internet. We were in thrall to the world around us—not chained to a desk, and definitely not confined to an astroturfed “campsite” with a 68-footer belching diesel fumes into our airspace.
This is why I camp. That release, that reminder. And I know I’m not alone. We asked influencers and athletes in the outdoor industry for their own special places, which we’ve included here. Enjoy—and get camping! — Matt Bean, Sunset editor-in-chief
I love this hippy dippy commune resort in the San Juan Islands, which has cabins, a sauna, and a seed-to-table restaurant. If you want more rusticity, book one of their primitive campsites perched atop a cliff overlooking the Pacific. —Graham Hiemstra, Founder, Field Mag
Not only can you set up camp on your own pet-friendly, private beach along the Skykomish River in the Cascade Mountains, but you’re also surrounded by the most pristine, temperate rainforest you can find. —Alyssa Ravasio, Founder + CEO of Hipcamp
Of all of the dramatic solid granite peaks and cliffs, Dogtooth Cirque, near the North-Fork of the Popo Agie River by Papoose Lake, is my favorite. After five years of visiting, my partners and I put in a new free climb here, up the Monolith, a 1,200-foot cliff of sheer granite rock. —Mike Lilygren, co-founder of Maven Outdoor Equipment Company, Lander, WY
Three-quarters of the way through a northward hike on the Pacific Crest Trail from Pamelia Lake through Jefferson Park in Oregon there is an exposed ridge at the apex of the trail where Mt. Jefferson is at your back, Jefferson Park expands below you, and Mt. Hood looms off in the distance, beckoning. —Aaron Morris, co-founder Wild Root Spirits, Portland
You can’t visit Maui without experiencing the road to Hana’s windy roads, steep cliffs, and roadside waterfalls. The journey long so I split it up camping at Wainapanapa State Park. It’s a destination in itself, with a beautiful black sand beach, swimming caves, seaside trails, and breathtaking views.” —Luke Walsh, Founder Paia Bowls, Maui
There’s a beautiful beach bluff here with the all-time best sunset view, plus tide pools and whale watching in the winter and spring. The tent sites are all spacious, and there’s also some great hike-in sites that are cozy and more private. The site itself is close to Fort Bragg for any last-minute supplies you might have forgotten. —Chef Melissa Perello, Frances and Octavia restaurants, San Francisco
To cap off my first year in the Golden State, I joined friends in their annual surf pilgrimage to Big Sur. The thunderous winter surf pounded massive rock pinnacles, creating an anxious undertone to the safety of our campsite. Looking back at the cliffs as I bobbed amidst the kelp heads in the surf, this was the moment that I realized we are part of a bigger story. —Chris Sears, Attendee Relations Managers Outdoor Retailer
As someone who had a series of unfortunate camping trips as a kid, I can confirm that Islay Creek Campground [located at this state park] changes dubious minds. The beach, just a short walk from the campground, is full of tidepools and small caves for exploring. A trail leads to a bluff where you can watch the waves crash as the sun sets. As if the natures of wonder aren’t enough, there are also easily accessible, clean bathrooms. —Michelle Race, co-founder Black Girls Trekkin’, LA
This isolated campground in the eastern Sierra Nevada, about 45 minutes outside the town of Mammoth Lakes, comes with desert and mountain views, plenty of privacy, and a short hiking trail from the site. But the reason you’ll come to Benton Hot Springs is that each campsite comes with its own private hot springs-fed tub. — Dan Abrams, co-founder of Flylow Gear
Off Highway 191, dirt and slickrock roads wind through the desert in a network of dispersed sites comprising the Northern Moab Free Campground. The further you drive, the fewer people you find. High clearance four-wheel drive is a must and there are no amenities, just how we like it. —Chris Clearman, Founder of Matador adventure gear, Boulder, Co.
This edgy shelf of desert adjacent to the Slickrock bike trail in Moab is close enough to town to grab milkshakes and fries at Milts, but far enough away that things still seemed wild. It feels like the crest of the world, the LaSal mountains to the east, the sprawl of Canyonlands in the other direction, the edge of adventures unfolding. —Heather Hansman, Author
While not the most off-the-map camping spot in the world Amphitheater has an amazing location, just outside Ouray, Colorado and it is one of our favorite stopping spots on the way to Telluride. The views from the campsite are incredible, the campground itself is immaculately maintained and Ouray is such a fun town to spend a day with great restaurants, bars and best of all hot springs. —Jedd Rose, Co-Founder Topo Designs, Fort Collins, Colorado
I was looking for campgrounds with my dog when I stumbled upon a secret, free, dispersed camping area just past the Mount Elbert-Mount Massive trailheads, along the 4×4 road. It’s amazingly quiet and there’s a great stream for water. I now camp there every year with my two sons. —Bryan Dayton, founder of Half Eaten Cookie Hospitality, Denver