Extreme sports are all about adventure, experience and inducing an adrenaline rush and participating in these types of activities is incredibly popular in the United States. Thanks to the ease of access to different terrains, weather and landscapes in this country, there are a huge variety of extreme sporting activities that can be enjoyed at key locations across the US.
These are just some of the top extreme sports that daredevils and adventure seekers can try out:
- base jumping
- rock climbing
- overnight caving
- paragliding
- zipline
- heli-skiing
There are a number of high profile extreme sports competitions in the country’s sporting calendar. Some of the most extreme include the Badwater Ultramarathon in Death Valley, California, The X Games and the Freeride snowboarding festival in Alaska.
Many people enjoy wagering on events such as these and with more US states like Pennsylvania legalizing sports betting and other states moving towards legalising, there are now more options than ever for placing bets on major events such as extreme competitions.
While every state in the United States has options for extreme sports, these famous destinations are well known for their choice of sports and opportunities for adventure travel:
Maui, Hawaii
With beautiful warm blue seas and sandy white beaches, Maui is an obvious choice for those with a passion for fast paced water sports. However, this island’s volcanic landscapes and mountainous terrain also make it ideal for a number of our land-based adventure sports.
For ocean enthusiasts there are wonderful opportunities for scuba diving and snorkelling around the Molokini Crater, a volcanic atoll just off the south west coast of the island. There are also companies offering paddle board and canoeing experiences.
Those with good experience of outrigger canoeing or dragon boat can participate in Delaware river canoeing or Molokini Outrigger Canoe Challenge. The challenge has a high-level difficulty rating but offers great views of Molokini and there is the opportunity to take a quick snorkel to check out the prospering marine life under the sea.
The Grand Canyon, Arizona
The Grand Canyon is the ideal location for an adrenaline filled adventure with its steep, rugged terrain and breath-taking heights. For daring individuals who would like to feel the freedom of falling through the air, this is the perfect place to do a tandem skydive.
Skydivers will get to see views from the helicopter from up to 17,500 feet in the sky, before leaping out and experiencing a fast descent towards the earth.
Other sports options that give participants the chance to explore the canyon include hiking and mountain biking through the trails. There is also the Colorado River for water sports and white-water rafting.
Twin Falls, Idaho
For adrenaline junkies who prefer slightly colder climates, Twin Falls in the state of Idaho offers a wide selection of sporting options, including a number of extreme snow sports.
Water lovers can paddle along the Snake River, through the Snake River Canyon and underneath the Perrine Bridge. Thrill seekers can continue their journey a couple more miles upriver to the Pillar Falls and plunge down a 212’ drop into the river below.
The Perrine Bridge is also perfect for base jumping at almost 500 feet above the riverbed, it is known worldwide for the base-jumping activities that regularly take place there. It is also convenient that this location does not require a permit unlike many other base-jumping hotspots.
There is also the Magic Mountain ski resort with 11 trails across 120 acres to explore. Visitors can choose between skiing, snowboarding, or tubing and there are different routes to suit all experience levels.
Whizzing down the mountains from heights of 7,240 feet is sure to get your blood pumping. This snowy spot is located in southern Idaho around 160 miles southeast of Boise or 28 miles south of Kimberly.Â
Yosemite National Park, California
If climbing up treacherous heights is more your thing then the Yosemite National Park is definitely one for the travel list. Yosemite is one of the top locations in the world for rock climbing.
There are two main rock climbing locations in Yosemite, these are the Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows. At 1,000 metres El Capitan is the biggest continuous wall in the United States, here The Nose is considered to be the best climb by many due to its steep exposed rock that is graded at 5.9 C1 or 5.14a free.
Aside from the rock-climbing opportunities, the national park is also the ideal destination for a highline, which involves walking on a tightrope that has been tied between two cliffs high up from the ground. Tightrope walking can be a very extreme sport, particularly when participants forgo harnesses or nets.
Less perilous activities for sporty visitors to Yosemite include the hiking routes, biking, horseback riding and rafting.
These are just a few locations to consider visiting if you are planning an adventure holiday or just want to participate in some extreme sport. You can find pretty much any type of high-risk sport you want in this country thanks to its size and diverse landscapes and climates.
