The Most Underrated Destinations for Eco Explorers, According to an Outdoors Expert

If you’re an outdoorsy type looking to plan your next big domestic getaway, chances are you already have a shortlist of ideas for where you might go. Of course, popular national parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon are beloved for a good reason. These are all iconic destinations that deserve a spot on any traveler’s bucket list, especially if they’re a lover of the outdoors. 

Still, there are plenty of other places across the country that also deliver breathtaking views and all-around impeccable vibes—minus the overwhelming crowds. Even better, they might just be closer to home or, in many cases, just a short drive outside of the city where you live.

As an activist focused on getting more people to explore the nature around them—especially people of color who have historically felt excluded from the outdoor recreation industry—Ron Griswell is a big advocate for these types of off-the-radar destinations.

“My whole thing is reframing that the outdoors can include these experiences we have in our own backyards,” Griswell tells Only in Your State in a video call from Moab, where he’d been hiking through Arches National Park the day before. “Nothing can replicate this sort of experience you get in the west with these big mountains and dramatic landscapes, but you don’t need to be climbing a mountain or paddling across an ocean to be doing something outdoorsy.”

On Instagram, Griswell is known as The Outdoorsy Friend and he’s earned an audience of over 19,000 followers for his work getting more people outside. He is the founder of the HBCUs Outside nonprofit organization as well as the Boyz N the Wood initiative which both aim to connect Black communities with nature.

Through his efforts with these organizations as well as his work as an influencer in the outdoors space, Griswell has had the opportunity to explore wide swaths of the U.S. He recently shared his picks for the nation’s most underrated destinations for outdoorsy travelers with Only in Your State. 

Anacostia River, Maryland

Griswell and his family split their time between Massachusetts and North Carolina. Whenever he’s near D.C., he says he’s always finding any excuse he can to head just outside of the nation’s capital to the Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens area near Bladensburg, Maryland, so he can paddle the Anacostia. 

Bladensburg marks the start of the nine-mile Anacostia Water Trail, which runs through D.C. to the Anacostia’s junction with the Potomac. Public boat launches are available along the trail, including at Bladensburg Waterfront Park, which also offers equipment rentals. 

While the Anacostia has a history of being somewhat neglected, Griswell says a lot of progress has been made to help make the river’s watershed an ideal destination for nature lovers locally as well as visitors.

“This is a beautiful river the people of D.C. have access to,” Griswell says. “Over the years, the community has cleaned up the waterway and exposed more people to the watershed, especially community members who rely on this river for different reasons, even if they don’t realize it. It’s such a beautiful place and it's one of my favorite spots.” 

Skokie Lagoons, Illinois 

Griswell’s second pick also boasts the convenience of close proximity to a major city—Chicago—and a bit more privacy and serenity than if you were to paddle the nearby Chicago River, though Griswell has also done that and recommends it.

Still, Griswell prefers the Skokie Lagoons just north of Chicago’s city limits. The lagoons consist of 894 acres primed for water exploration, and the site offers canoe and kayak rentals, public boat access, biking and hiking trails, picnic areas, and fishing opportunities. 

“This is another beautiful spot where it feels unreal how close you are to the city. It’s a quality nature experience,” Griswell says. “If you’ve gotten out in your backyard and in the city and are looking to grow beyond that, I’d recommend people in the Midwest and Chicago go to the Lagoons.”

Dismal Swamp Canal, North Carolina and Virginia

While Griswell admits his third pick isn’t exactly a hidden gem—it’s pretty popular with locals and regional travelers as well—he had to shout out the Dismal Swamp Canal on the border of Virginia and North Carolina.

Dismal Swamp Canal is a 22-mile waterway that connects the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia to the Albemarle Sound in North Carolina. Its history runs deep, dating back to 1805, it holds the title of the nation’s oldest continually operating man-made canal. 

Today, the canal offers ample hiking and biking trails, birding opportunities, ranger-led programs, boat rentals, and—despite its name—Griswell describes the scenery and coastal vibe as stunning. The site is also home to a North Carolina state park as well as a federal wildlife refuge that’s said to have one of the largest populations of black bears on the East Coast.

“It is a beautiful area situated at a rest stop,” Griswell says. “You pull into the rest stop and cross this secondary bridge over the canal and it’s all right there. I just absolutely adore that place.” 

This article is part of our Known Traveler series where we highlight creators who share inspiring travel and lifestyle content. Check out the full edition for Eco Explorers.