Absolutely striking mountain towns found in America

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The United States is home to some of the most stunning mountain scenery in the world. Snow or shine, you can visit one of these towns and find the outdoor adventure of your dreams.

Without further ado, here are 50 of the most beautiful mountain destinations America has to offer.

 

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Glenwood Springs, CO -

What to see: Hanging Lake Trail, Glenwood Hot Springs, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.

What to do: biking, whitewater rafting, hiking, tubing.

 

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Leavenworth, WA -

What to see: Leavenworth Reindeer Farm, Icicle Gorge, Waterfront Park, Front Street Park.

What to do: going to a summer festival, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling.

 

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Gatlinburg, TN -

What to see: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Ober Gatlinberg, Anakeesta.

What to do: whitewater rafting, horseback riding, ziplining, seeing live bluegrass.

 

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Harpers Ferry, WV -

What to see: Harpers Ferry National Park, Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Jefferson Rock, Armory Canal Trail.

What to do: Hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, birdwatching in the surrounding natural areas.

 

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Talkeetna, AK -

What to see: Aurora Dora, Byers Lake, Talkeetna Historical Society Museum.

What to do: taking a riverboat tour, rafting, tubing, fishing, ziplining, taking a "flightseeing" tour.

 

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Fayetteville, NC -

What to see: Airborne and Special Operations Museum, Veterans Park, Cape Fear Botanical Garden.

What to do: base jumping, zip lining, hiking.

 

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Lake Placid, NY -

What to see: Mirror Lake, Mount Jo, Olympic Ski Jump Complex, Brewster Peninsula Nature Trails.

What to do: bobsledding, taking a boat tour, wine tasting, hiking.

 

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Park City, UT -

What to see: Park City Mountain Resort, Utah Olympic Park, Guardsman Pass Scenic Backway.

What to do: going to the Sundance Film Festival, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, biking, visiting galleries.

 

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Asheville, NC -

What to see: Appalachian Trail, The Blue Ridge Mountains, Pisgah National Forrest, the Asheville Urban Trail.

What to do: hiking, mountain biking, fishing, camping.

 

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Grand Marais, MN -

What to see: Grand Portage State Forest, Judge C.R. Magney State Park, Poplar Lake, Honeymoon Bluff.

What to do: biking, boating, hiking, canoeing/kayaking, horseback riding.

 

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Telluride, CO -

What to see: Bear Creek Falls, Telluride Ski Resort, Mountain Village.

What to do: Riding the gondola, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, hiking, off-roading, attending the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

 

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Coeur d'Alene, ID -

What to see: Seven Stars Alpaca Ranch, Coeur d'Alene Lake, Tubbs Hill Nature Trails, North Idaho Centennial Trail.

What to do: hiking, golfing, zip-lining, fishing, parasailing/paragliding.

 

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Stowe, VT -

What to see: Mount Mansfield, Stowe Recreation Path, Moss Glen Falls, Smugglers State Park, Stowe Mountain.

What to do: skiing, hiking, biking, zip-lining, snowmobiling.

 

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Ely, MN -

What to see: The Trezona Trail, Bass Lake Trail, and Hegman Lake Trail.

What to do: hiking trails, and opportunities for outdoor activities such as camping and wildlife watching.

 

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Truckee, CA -

What to see: Donner Memorial State Park and Emigrant Trail Museum, Northstar California, Historic Downtown Truckee.

What to do: whitewater rafting, skiing, snowboarding, biking, tubing.

 

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Vail, CO -

What to see: Vail Mountain, Gore Range, Piney Lake.

What to do: skiing, snowboarding, hiking, seeing a live show, tubing, biking, ziplining, climbing.

 

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Taos, NM -

What to see: Taos Pueblo, Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Study Area, El Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.

What to do: riding in a hot-air balloon, llama trekking, biking, river rafting, horseback riding, fly-fishing.

 

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Breckenridge, CO -

What to see: McCullough Gulch, Vail Pass Path, Boreas Pass Road, Peak 9, Breckenridge Nordic Center, Mohawk Lake.

What to do: skiing, hiking, whitewater rafting, canyoning.

 

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Rapid City, SD -

What to see: Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Custer State Park, Badlands National Park, Reptile Gardens, Art Alley, Storybook Island.

What to do: Explore the hiking trails, enjoy scenic viewpoints, watch for wildlife.