23 Off-The-Beaten-Path Destinations That Are As Beautiful As They Are Remote

It doesn’t get more isolated than this state park on the Oklahoma panhandle. You can hike to the top of the plateau (the state’s highest point), go birding, or set up camp where you can view the stars — the park boasts super-dark nighttime skies.

If you really want to get away from it all, one segment of the Appalachian Trail in Maine is known for being particularly remote. Known as the 100 Mile Wilderness, this stretch draws serious backpackers craving a multi-night stay in nature.

If a little bird-watching and a little stargazing sound like the perfect getaway, this ultra-remote town in Arizona will feel like paradise. Portal sits near the entrance to Cave Creek Canyon and the Chiricahua Mountains, and boasts a Yosemite-like landscape. Half of the bird species in North America can be seen here, and the skies are so dark (and free from light pollution) that a community of dedicated stargazers established a development just outside Portal.

Way up north, on Lake Superior, sit the Apostle Islands. Visitors can rent a kayak and cruise along the stunning coastline, or venture out to Sand or Raspberry Island for an afternoon picnic.

For a taste of the Wild West, dust off your boots and head to Red Lodge, a historic mining town with a rugged, Western charm. Hiking and biking trails sprawl to the west, but the big draw is the iconic Beartooth Highway, which leads to the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

Just a few hours south of Denver, this small mountain town has river access — think rafting and kayaking — and sits at the base of several 14,000-foot mountains waiting to be climbed.

This coastal town is found up north in the Little Traverse Bay of Lake Michigan. Boating and swimming are musts, but so is a stroll through the downtown Gaslight District and the Bear River Valley Recreation Area that runs through town.

Located on the Arkansas-Oklahoma state line, Siloam Springs merges the cosmopolitan and the natural with its hip, historic downtown built around the scenic Sager Creek. For a calming stroll through the lush Arkansas fauna, head to the Dogwood Springs Trail.

The Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto Basin (ACE Basin) is a giant wetland ecosystem located on the Atlantic coast of South Carolina. There are beachside campsites at Edisto Beach State Park, and the Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge offers a chance to see bald eagles, white-tailed deer, and American alligators.

It doesn’t get much more photogenic than Marfa, a small town in west Texas that’s become an art hub. Outdoor installations, stargazing, and the “Marfa lights" — mysterious glowing orbs spotted in the night sky — are must-sees.

Wolfeboro’s motto may be "the Oldest Summer Resort in America," but you’ll still find plenty of peace and quiet in this small town on Lake Winnipesaukee. Walk the scenic Cotton Valley Rail-Trail, which starts in town and runs along the shores of Back Bay, or get out on the water on a kayak or canoe.

This historic, overwhelmingly cute town doesn’t lack mountain views, which only get better in the autumn when the fall colors pop. You can get up high (and enjoy the views) by climbing Mount Equinox or pack a picnic and head to the spacious Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park north of town.

It's easy to feel like you're in another world while kayaking through a swamp or bayou. The Honey Island Swap in Louisiana has everything you'd expect — tupelo trees growing in the water, alligators, and wild boars — and some things you might not, like the Honey Island Swamp Monster, a giant mythical creature that is said to resemble both a chimpanzee and an alligator.