Forget the hotel gym: America offers a host of extreme ways to stay fit on holiday. From glacier trekking in Alaska to high-altitude hikes in Hawaii and canyon scrambling in Utah, these guided adventures demand both fitness and bravery in some of the country's most dramatic landscapes.
In Alaska, guided hikes traverse otherworldly glacial terrain, negotiating ice caves, meltwater channels, ridges and crevasses. Participants wear helmets and crampons and may be roped together for safety. Treks typically last two to four hours. Popular options include the 27-mile Matanuska Glacier in the Chugach Mountains and the 12-mile Mendenhall Glacier, fed by the vast Juneau Icefield. Climbing experience is not required, but good balance helps; tours run from May to September. Companies include Matanuska Glacier Adventures and Alaska Icefield Expeditions. Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage, from $250 per night, makes a suitable base.
Hawaii offers guided hikes across hardened lava flows and volcanic ash, with steep crater descents and exposed ridges. On Maui, the Haleakalā shield volcano rises 10,023ft above the Pacific and covers three-quarters of the island's 727 square miles; sunrise ascents are particularly breathtaking. On the Big Island, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park features Kīlauea (4,100ft), one of the world's most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa (13,680ft), the largest active volcano by volume and area. Be prepared for heat, wild temperature swings and a lack of shade; sturdy boots and sun protection are essential. Book with Maui Hiking Company, Hawaii Forest & Trail or Kīlauea EcoGuides. Maui Seaside Hotel in Kahului, from $220 per night, offers convenient access.
Utah's canyon adventures take visitors through slender rocky corridors, between soaring canyon walls and over boulders, with canyoneering routes involving controlled descents using ropes and harnesses. Zion National Park boasts cream, pink and red sandstone cliffs up to 2,640ft high, while the remote Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument harbours deep slot canyons and multi-coloured rock layers. Flash flooding is an acute risk, so trips only run in favourable weather. Good mobility is required, as is a head for heights on technical expeditions. Operators include Zion Adventure Company, Escalante Outfitters and Red Desert Adventure.
