Who says you can't quantify greatness? For our first annual ADVENTURE 100, we crisscrossed the United States—from Alaska to Florida—enlisted the country's top adventure writers, and ranked trips by a complex set of subjective criteria. The result? A countdown of epic hikes, killer climbs, backcountry rides, roller-coaster raft runs, and much more that we confidently declare to be America's Best.

1. Rafting the Colorado River, Grand Canyon, Arizona
   Related Sites: Grand Canyon National Park (www.thecanyon.com), Arizona Raft Adventures (www.azraft.com)
   
   
2. Sea Kayaking the Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii
   Related Sites: Kauai Division of State Parks (www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dsp/dsp.html), Kayak Kauai (www.kayakkauai.com)
   
   
3. DogSledding in the Brooks Range, Alaska
   Related Site: Sourdough Outfitters (www.sourdoughoutfitters.com)
   
   
4. Mountain Biking Kokopelli's Trail, Colorado and Utah
   Related Sites: The Bike Peddler (www.gj.net/~peddler), Rim Tours (www.rimtours.com)
   
   
5. Hiking the Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah
   Related Site: Zion National Park (www.nps.gov/zion)
   
   
6. Skiing Corbet's Couloir, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
   Related Site: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (www.jacksonhole.com/ski)
   
   
7. Climbing the El Capitan, Yosemite
   Related Sites: Yosemite National Park, California (www.nps.gov/yose), Yosemite Mountaineering School (www.yosemitemountaineering.com)
   
   
8. Hiking the Presidential Range Traverse, New Hampshire
   Related Site: Appalachian Mountain Club (www.outdoors.org)
   
   
9. Competing in the "Beast" Adventure Race, Alaska Range
   Related Site: Odyssey Adventure Racing (www.oarbeast.com)
   
   
10. Diving Bonne Terre Mine, Bonne Terre, Missouri
    Related Site: West End Diving (www.2dive.com)
    
    
11. Surfing Oahu's North Shore, Hawaii
    Related Sites: North Shore Eco-Surf Tours (www.ecosurf-hawaii.com), National Data Buoy Center (www.ndbc.noaa.gov/stuff/hawaii/hawmap.shtml)
    
12. Paddling the Forks of the Kern, California
    Related Site: Sequoia National Forest (www.kernvalley.com/sequoia)
    
    
13. Climbing Mount McKinley, Alaska
    Related Site: Denali National Park & Preserve (www.nps.gov/dena)
    
    
14. Mountain Biking the White Rim Trail, Moab, Utah
    Related Site: Rim Tours (www.rimtours.com)
    
    
15. Horseback Trekking into Monument Valley, Arizona
    Related Site: Don Donnelly Horseback Vacations and Stables (www.dondonnelly.com)
    
    
16. Exploring Dark Canyon Wilderness, Utah
    Related Site: Manti-La Sal National Forest (www.fs.fed.us/r4/mantilasal)
    
    
17. Hiking the Northern Loop, Glacier National Park, Montana
    Related Site: Glacier National Park (www.nps.gov/glac)
    
    
18. Road Cycling from Old Fort to Hickory Nut Gorge, North Carolina
    Related Site: Blue Ridge Parkway (www.nps.gov/blri)
    
    
19. Hiking into Hells Canyon and Rafting the Snake River, Idaho
    Related Sites: Hughes River Expeditions (www.hughesriver.com), Hells Canyon National Recreation Area (www.fs.fed.us/r6/w-w/hcnra.htm)
    
    
20. Hiking the Cirque of Towers, Wyoming
    Related Site: Bridger-Teton National Forest (www.fs.fed.us/outernet/btnf)
    
    
21. Heli-Skiing in the Chugach Mountains, Alaska
    Related Sites: Valdez Heli-Ski Guides (www.dougcoombs.com), Chugach Skier's Info (www.powder.alaska.net)
    
    
22. Ski Jumping in Park City, Utah
    Related Site: Utah Winter Sports Park (www.slc2002.org/sports/html/uwsp.html)
    
    
23. Climbing the Middle Teton, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
    Related Sites: Exum Mountain Guides (www.exumguides.com), Grand Teton National Park (www.nps.gov/grte)
    
    
24. Mountain Biking the Teddy Roosevelt Connect, North Dakota
    Related Site: U.S. Forest Service, Dakota Prairie Grasslands (www.fs.fed.us/r1/dakotaprairie/)
    
    
25. Canoeing the Boundary Waters, Minnesota
    Related Sites: Piragis Northwoods Company (www.piragis.com), Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (www.snf.toofarnorth.org/bwcaw/)
    
    
26. Paddling the Bruneau River, Idaho
    Related Site: Hughes River Expeditions (www.hughesriver.com)
    
    
27. Biking the Enchanted Circle, New Mexico
    Related Site: Escape the City Streets (www.escapeadventures.com)
    
    
28. Kayaking the Gunnison River, Black Canyon, Colorado
    Related Site: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (www.nps.gov/blca)
    
    
29. Sea Kayaking in Prince William Sound, Alaska
    Related Site: North Star Adventures (www.adventuretrip.com/ak_main.htm)
    
    
30. Skiing the Ruby Mountains, Nevada
    Related Site: Ruby Mountain Helicopter Skiing (www.helicopterskiing.com)
    
    
31. Kayaking the Narrows of the Green River, North Carolina
    Daily water flow reports: Carolina Power and Light (Tel: +1 828 698 2068)
    
    
32. Night-Vision Rafting in Vail, Colorado
    Related Site: Lakota River Guides (www.lakotariver.com)
    
    
33. Biking the Kingdom Trails, Vermont
    Related Site: Kingdom Trails (www.kingdomtrails.org)
    
    
34. Delivering Mail by Plane with Mike Dorris, Idaho
    Related Site: McCall Air Taxi (www.mccallair.com)
    
    
35. Fishing the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho
    Related Site: Outdoor Adventures (www.gorafting.com)
    
    
36. Cycling Alaska Highways
    Related Site: Alaskan Bicycle Adventures (www.alaskabike.com)
    
    
37. Mountain Biking the Great Divide Route, Montana and Wyoming
    Related Site: Adventure Cycling Association (www.adv-cycling.org)
    
    
38. Cave Diving at Live Oak/Branford, Florida
    Related Site: Aquaspeleo (www.aquaspeleo.com)
    
    
39. Surfing Yakutat Bay, Alaska
    Related outfitter: Icy Waves Surf Shop (Tel: +1 907 784 3226)
    
    
40. Climbing Mount Shasta and Skiing Down the Avalanche Gulch Route, California
    Related Site: Shasta-Trinity National Forests (www.r5.fs.fed.us/shastatrinity)
    
    
41. Road Tripping in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona
    Related Site: Utah Travel Council (www.utah.com)
    
    
42. Canoeing Everglades National Park, Florida
    Related Sites: Everglades National Park (www.nps.gov/ever), Majestic Everglades Excursions (www.majesticexcursions.com)
    
    
43. Kayaking the Little River Canyon, Alabama
    Related Site: Little River Canyon National Preserve (www.nps.gov/liri)
    
    
44. Biking the Durango Single Track, Colorado
    Related outfitter: Durango Singletrack Tours (Tel: +1 970 385 0411)
    
    
45. Skiing the Olympic Downhill Course at Snowbasin, Utah
    Related Sites: Snowbasin Ski Resort (www.snowbasin.com), Ogden/Weber Visitors Bureau (www.ogdenutah.com/doi- cvb/eccles.htm)
    
    
46. Paddling the Selway River, Idaho
    Related Sites: The River Wild: Running the Selway (www.nationalgeographic.com/selway), Bitterroot National Forest (www.bitterroot.net/usdafs/welcome.html)
    
    
47. Mountain Lion Tracking, Pocatello, Idaho
    Related Site: Earthwatch Institute (www.earthwatch.org)
    
    
48. Skiing the Minturn Mile, Vail, Colorado
    Related Site: Vail Resorts (www.snow.com)
    
    
49. Biking the Natchez Trace, Tennessee and Mississippi
    Related Site: Natchez Trace Parkway (www.nps.gov/natr)
    
    
50. Bodysurfing The Wedge, Newport Beach, California
    Related Site: Newport Beach Online (www.newportbeachonline.com)
    
    
51. Driving Highway 50, Nevada
    Related Site: White Pine Chamber of Commerce (www.elynevada.net)
    
    
52. Skiing the Ridge at Bridger Bowl, Montana
    Related Site: Bridger Bowl Ski Area (www.bridgerbowl.com)
    
    
53. Motorcycling up Highway 1, California
    Related Site: Fort Bragg-Mendocino Chamber of Commerce (www.mendocinocoast.com)
    
    
54. Hiking the Outer Mountain Loop, Texas
    Related Site: Big Bend National Park (www.nps.gov/bibe)
    
    
55. Drift Diving the Ringbolt Rapids, Colorado River, Nevada and Arizona
    Related Site: Drew's Dam Divers (www.damdivers.com)
    
    
56. Rafting and Fishing the Goodnews River, Alaska
    Related outfitter: Titchik Adventures (Tel: +1 907 842 5841)
    
    
57. Grass Skiing at Bryce Resort, Basye, Virginia
    Related Site: Bryce Resort (www.bryceresort.com)
    
    
58. Climbing the KeyHole Route, Longs Peak, Colorado
    Related Site: Rocky Mountain National Park (www.nps.gov/romo)
    
    
59. Cross-country Skiing the 10th Mountain Division Hut System, Colorado
    Related Site: 10th Mountain Division (www.huts.org)
    
    
60. Paddling the Chattooga, Georgia and South Carolina
    Related Site: Nantahala Outdoor Center (www.nocweb.com)
    
    
61. Skiing the Bruce Backcountry Trail, Stowe, Vermont
    Related Site: Stowe Mountain Resort (www.stowe.com)
    
    
62. Diving the Channel Islands, California
    Related Site: Ventura Dive & Sport (www.jps.net/vendive)
    
    
63. Paddling the New and Gauley Rivers, West Virginia
    Related Site: Gauley River National Recreation Area (www.nps.gov/gari)
    
    
64. Tarpon Fly-Fishing, Florida
    Related Site: Fishing guide Robert McCue (www.gianttarpon.com)
    
    
65. Road biking, Monroe and Lawrence Counties, Indiana
    Related Site: Bicycle Garage (www.kiva.net/~bikegarg)
    
    
66. Swimming with Manatees, Crystal River, Florida
    Related Site: American Pro Diving Center (www.americanprodive.com)
    
    
67. Hiking the Boulder Grand Traverse, Colorado
    Related Site: Rocky Mountain National Park (www.nps.gov/romo)
    
    
68. Floating the Green River, Colorado and Utah
    Related Site: Dinosaur River Expeditions (www.dinoadv.com)
    
    
69. Kayaking the San Juan Islands, Washington
    Related Site: Washington Water Trails (www.eskimo.com/~wwta)
    
    
70. Climbing at Red River Gorge, Kentucky
    Related outfitter: Phillip Gall's Outdoor Shop (Tel: +1 606 266 0469)
    
    
71. Canoeing the Upper Missouri River, Montana
    Related Site: BLM, Lewiston Field Office (www.mt.blm.gov/ldo/umnwsr.html)
    
    
72. Circumnavigating Mount St. Helens, Washington
    Related Site: Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument (www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm)
    
    
73. Hiking the Southern John Muir Trail to Mount Whitney, California
    Related Site: Inyo National Forest (www.r5.pswfs.gov/inyo)
    
    
74. Skiing the Interconnect in Cottonwood Canyons, Utah
    Related Site: Ski Utah (www.skiutah.com)
    
    
75. Sailing from Key West to the Dry Tortugas, Florida
    Related Site: Tourism Council Web Site for the Florida Keys (www.fla-keys.com)
    
    
76. Ice Climbing the Black Dike, New Hampshire
    Related Site: International Mountain Climbing School (www.ime-usa.com)
    
    
77. Driving the Road to Hana, Maui, Hawaii
    Related Site: Maui Visitors Bureau (www.visitmaui.com)
    
    
78. Biking Around Shenandoah Mountain, Virginia
    Related outfitter: Shenandoah Mountain Touring (Tel: +1 877 305 0550)
    
    
79. Surfing the Lunch Counter, Snake River, Near Jackson, Wyoming
    Related Site: Jackson Hole Kayak School/Rendezvous River Sports (www.jhkayakschool.com)
    
    
80. Canoeing the Upper Iowa River, Iowa
    Related Site: Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce (www.decorah-iowa.com)
    
    
81. Hiking the Minong Ridge Trail, Isle Royale, Michigan
    Related Site: Isle Royale National Park (www.nps.gov/isro)
    
    
82. Kayaking the Sea Islands, Georgia
    Related Site: Cumberland Island National Seashore (www.nps.gov/cuis)
    
    
83. Hiking the Southern Section of The 100-Mile Wilderness, Maine
    
    
84. Riding the Magnum XL-200, Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
    Related Site: Cedar Point (www.cedarpoint.com)
    
    
85. Digging for Dinosaurs, Montana
    Related Site: Paleontology Field Program (www.montana.edu/wwwmor/fieldschool.html)
    
    
86. Tree Climbing in Atlanta, Georgia
    Related Site: Tree Climbers International (www.treeclimbing.com)
    
    
87. Paragliding in Owens Valley, California
    Related Site: Paragliding instructor Kari Castle (www.395.com/fly)
    
    
88. Hiking the Buffalo River Trail, Arkansas
    Related Site: Buffalo National River (www.nps.gov/buff)
    
    
89. Paddling the Illinois River, Oregon
    Related Site: Siskiyou National Forest (www.fs.fed.us/r6/siskiyou/illinriv.htm)
    
    
90. Skiing off the KT-22 Chairlift, Squaw Valley, California
    Related Site: Squaw Valley USA (www.squaw.com)
    
    
91. Sea Kayaking the Maine Island Trail
    Related Sites: Maine Island Trail Association (www.mita.org), Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands (www.state.me.us/doc/parks.htm)
    
    
92. Surfing Hurricane Waves up the East Coast
    Related Site: The Weather Channel (www.weather.com)
    
    
93. Windsurfing the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon and Washington
    Related Site: Gorge Wind Guide Service (www.windguide.com)
    
    
94. Hiking the Appalachian Trail, Southern Virginia
    Related Site: Grayson Highlands State Park (www.state.va.us/~dcr/parks/graysonh.htm)
    
    
95. Touring the Sonoran Desert by Hummer, Arizona
    Related Site: Desert Storm Hummer Tours (www.arizonaguide.com/deserthummer)
    
    
96. Sea Kayaking in the Apostle Islands, Lake Superior, Wisconsin
    Related Site: Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (www.nps.gov/apis)
    
    
97. Sailing in San Francisco Bay, California
    Related Site: OC Sailing Club (www.ocsc-sfbay.com)
    
    
98. Exploring the Pineapple Garden Maze, Oahu, Hawaii
    Related Site: Dole Plantation (www.dole-plantation.com)
    
    
99. Racing in the Birkebeiner, Wisconsin
    Related Site: American Birkebeiner (www.birkie.com)
    
    
100. Canoeing the Niobrara River, Nebraska
     Related Site: Niobrara National Scenic River (www.nps.gov/nimi)
     
     

Comment on our rankings in the ADVENTURE 100 Forum.