America Outdoors Association is a national trade association (501)(c)(6), representing the interests of over 550 professional companies that provide a wide range of outdoor recreation services and outdoor equipment to more than two million Americans each year. Our members operate in 43 states and 50 foreign countries. Member companies offer whitewater raft trips, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding and horsepacking, camping, hiking, fishing trips, bike tours, dude ranches, and a variety of other outdoor recreation services. Knoxville, Tennessee

Topo Maps, Points of Interests and Places to Visit. AnyPlaceAmerica.com offers topographic maps and photos of over 1.25 million water, land and man-made landmarks in the United States. As part of our mission to find and explore the most popular places to get outside in the U.S., AnyplaceAmerica.com makes it easy to explore our nation's wonderful national and state parks. We also make it easy to find the most popular places to get off the beaten path and plan your next outdoor adventure - featuring GPS coordinates, elevation data, photos, and climate data for over 1 million different of the most popular geographic features to visit in the US.

The Longest Hiking-Only Trail in the World. The Appalachian Trail (affectionately referred to as the AT) first opened as a continuous trail in 1937. It is marked by iconic white blazes (one about every 70 feet). The actual length changes from year to year as the trail shifts and detours are added or removed. Each year, thousands attempt to hike the entire trail. Of those that finish, it takes an average of 165 days. The AT was the first trail to be named a National Scenic Trail by the National Trails System Act in 1968. Rights of way and government ownership protect more than 99 percent of the trail. The AT is maintained by over 4,000 volunteers.

Campground-RV Park Directory. GoCampingAmerica.com is one of the largest campground databases online. We feature a powerful search engine which allows campers to pinpoint their exact needs or compare parks along their route by searching in broader terms. We serve a million campers each year, helping them find their next adventure, including where to stay, activities to try and general camping resources. The outdoors is waiting, time to plan your next adventure with GoCampingAmerica.com. Centennial, Colorado

Guidefitter is the online community for guided hunting & fishing adventures, enabling sportspersons, guides, outfitters, and the organizations that serve them to collaborate and better promote their shared passion for the sport.

As the owners of world class lodges on three continents, you can say that we know what to look for in a quality destination. For the past 30 years, The High Adventure Company has assembled the worlds finest collection of sporting lodges in the very best destinations around the globe. Whether fly fishing in Patagonia, wingshooting in Argentina, big game hunting or photo safaris in Africa, The High Adventure Company is your connection to the very finest outdoor adventures the world has to offer. Offices in Acworth, Georgia and London, England

LakesOnline.com is a resource for lake and reservoir information. We currently have 1681 lake sites in the United States. Lakes Online is the largest online community for lake enthusiasts. Comprising of free memberships, members can participate in free boat classifieds, news and level alerts, forums, photo sharing and much more. Find your favorite lake and become a member. It's a good way to meet your lake neighbors!

Mount Washington Observatory is a private, nonprofit, member-supported institution with a mission to advance understanding of the natural systems that create Earth’s weather and climate. It serves this mission by maintaining a weather station on the summit of Mount Washington, performing weather and climate research, conducting innovative science education programs, and interpreting the heritage of the Mount Washington region. Mount Washington Observatory conducts classroom and distance learning programs, museum workshops and symposia, and educational trips to the summit in summer and winter. Through all of its efforts, Mount Washington Observatory connects the public with the awe and wonder of the natural world, igniting a passion for science, the mountains, and the outdoors. Serving not only as experts in the field of extreme weather, the Observatory has also emerged as the voice of Mount Washington. New Hampshire

For more than a century, Audubon has built a legacy of conservation success by mobilizing the strength of its network of members, Chapters, Audubon Centers, state offices and dedicated professional staff to connect people with nature and the power to protect it. A powerful combination of science, education and policy expertise combine in efforts ranging from protection and restoration of local habitats to the implementation of policies that safeguard birds, other wildlife and the resources that sustain us all--in the U.S. and Across the Americas. New York, NY

National Forests and Grasslands provide Americans with 193-million spectacular acres of wildlands. The National Forest Foundation brings people together to restore and enhance our National Forests and Grasslands. As the nonprofit partner of the U.S. Forest Service, we engage America in community-based and national programs that promote the health and public enjoyment of the National Forest System. We also administer private gifts of funds and land for the benefit of the National Forests. Missoula, Montana

The National Forest Recreation Association represents and serves as an advocate for businesses offering quality outdoor recreation opportunities to the public on federal lands and waters across the United States. NFRA has been working for its members to forge a strong partnership with the federal land management agencies. Woodlake, California

The National Park Foundation, in partnership with the National Park Service, enriches America's national parks and programs through private support, safeguarding our heritage and inspiring generations of national park enthusiasts. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation is founded on a legacy that began more than a century ago, when private citizens from all walks of life took action to establish and protect our national parks. Today, the National Park Foundation carries on that tradition as the only national charitable nonprofit whose sole mission is to directly support the National Park Service. Washington, DC

Protecting our national parks for future generations. We believe that America's national parks and historical sites embody the American spirit. They are windows to our past, homes to some of our rarest plants and animal species, and places where every American can go to find inspiration, peace, and open space. NPCA plays a crucial role in ensuring that these magnificent lands and landmarks are protected in perpetuity. Washington, DC

National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of public parks, recreation and conservation. Our work draws national focus to the far-reaching impact of successes generated at the local level. Leveraging their role in conservation, health and wellness, and social equity to improve their communities NRPA's members of park and recreation professionals and citizen advocates are more than 47,000 strong and represent public spaces in urban communities, rural settings and everything in between. Ashburn, Virginia

The NRT program works to preserve and celebrate our nation's pathways. The National Trails System Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-543) authorized creation of a national system of trails comprised of National Recreation Trails, National Scenic Trails, and National Historic Trails. While National Scenic Trails and National Historic Trails may only be designated by an act of Congress, National Recreation Trails may be designated by the Secretary of Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture to recognize exemplary trails of local and regional significance in response to an application from the trail's managing agency or organization. Through designation, these trails are recognized as part of America's national system of trails. American Trails provides a searchable database and map of NRTs and NWTs online. Visitors can access information about a particular NRT, search for different trail activities, or get a list of all the NRTs in any state. Redding, California

Clean water. Clean air. Unusual and abundant wildlife. World-class recreation. The Refuge System provides and protects it all on 150 million acres of land and water from the Caribbean to the Pacific, Maine to Alaska, plus more than 418 million acres of national marine monuments. There is at least one national wildlife refuge in every state. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

The Sierra Club is the most enduring and influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. We amplify the power of our millions of members and supporters to defend everyone's right to a healthy world. We know actions speak louder than words. That’s why we’ve built a national community of volunteers, advocates, and grassroots activists who show up when and where it counts. Our supporters have the tools and resources to make themselves heard in nearly every district in every state across the country. From securing protection for 439 parks and monuments, to winning passage of the Clean Air and Endangered Species Acts, to putting over 281 coal plants on the path to replacement with clean energy, to securing the right of every kid in America to visit a national park, we have an unmatched record of success and impact. National Headquarters in Oakland, California

Free USGS Topographic Maps Online. TopoZone has been serving up topographic maps online since 1999. Our goal is to provide the highest quality USGS-based topo maps for outdoor enthusiasts, travelers and other users. All our topos are FREE and printable and have additional layers such as satellite images, US forest service topo maps, and the standard street maps. With our mobile-friendly site, these custom maps are easy to view on any iPhone, Android and other smart phones and tablets. Use our website in the browser on your phone like a GPS unit to see the topography around you in a full screen. New York, NY

LakesOnline.com is a resource for lake and reservoir information. We currently have 1681 lake sites in the United States. Lakes Online is the largest online community for lake enthusiasts. Comprising of free memberships, members can participate in free boat classifieds, news and level alerts, forums, photo sharing and much more. Find your favorite lake and become a member. It's a good way to meet your lake neighbors!

The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage. Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 318 million visitors every year. But our work doesn't stop there. We are proud that tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual citizens ask for our help in revitalizing their communities, preserving local history, celebrating local heritage, and creating close-to-home opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun. Taking care of the national parks and helping Americans take care of their communities is a job we love, and we need—and welcome—your help and support. Washington, DC

We have nearly 30,000 employees working across the country. Water, air, and soil are just three areas where we focus restoration efforts to improve natural resources. Recreation on national forests and grassland help businesses and communities directly or indirectly connected to recreation; provide economic stability and jobs for local communities; and serve as a quiet place of respite everyone, especially suburban and urban city dwellers. These lands are intimately tied to the mental, physical, and social health of Americans. Eighty percent of our populations lives in cities and a technology focused American population, including children, is losing touch with the contributions of public lands to the basic resources that affect their lives. Everyone is welcome. And everyone can benefit from time spent outdoors. We have so many special places and opportunities that even we can’t accurately count. Washington, D.C.

Wide Open Spaces is the premier online destination for all things hunting, fishing, shooting and outdoors, providing content, commerce and community to an audience of sportsmen and women who share a passion for the great outdoors. Based in Austin, Texas, Wide Open Spaces is devoted to providing the most up-to-date, need-to-know information for hunters, fishermen and outdoors enthusiasts in an entertaining way.

The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The National Park Service embraces the principles of civic engagement, collaboration, and cooperative conservation. Through partnerships, we extend and expand the contributions of the National Park Service throughout the nation to connect all Americans to their rivers. River designations seek to permanently protect our nation’s most special rivers for future generations by protecting the unique natural, cultural, and recreational values of rivers. Congress created the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 1968 with the passage of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. These free-flowing rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values are preserved for the enjoyment of present and future generations. Water trails embody the nexus between rivers and trails. They provide recreational boating opportunities along a river, lake, canal or coastline; most water trails are managed in public-private partnership with the philosophies of environmental stewardship, environmental education, and accessibility for all users. The National Water Trails System is a distinctive national network of exemplary water trails that are cooperatively supported and sustained, designated by the Secretary of the Interior. The NPS has helped communities create water trails nationwide for almost two decades.

Choose from over 45 programs for the perfect experience in outdoor adventuring. Engage in a variety of activities while creating friendships, building community, and developing your leadership skills. Since 1973, Wilderness Adventures, or as some might know us as Wilderness Ventures, has grown to serve more than 30,000 alumni on trips throughout 6 continents. Wilderness Adventures boasts more outdoor permits than any other camp, granting our teens exclusive access to the most spectacular national parks, forests, and Wilderness areas in the country. At Wilderness Adventures, we encourage our students to "Do Something Wild". Whether getting ready to climb the next pitch, hitting the whitewater wave train, or lacing up their boots for a day of backpacking in Alaska, WA provides opportunities for students to step outside the boundaries of their comfort zone and experience the growth that comes along with challenge. Jackson, Wyoming

Travel the world with Wilderness Inquiry! We provide great outdoor adventures for adults and conduct award-winning programs introducing youth, families, and people with disabilities to the natural world. We are a non-profit adventure travel organization on a mission to connect everyone to great places through activities such as sea kayaking, canoeing, rafting, hiking, safaris and dogsledding. Our adventures take you all over the world on high-quality experiences featuring carefully crafted itineraries, excellent food, top-notch gear and, best of all, highly-skilled trail guides who care deeply about providing you the very best experience possible. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Great things have been accomplished since Paul Auerbach, Ken Kizer and Ed Geehr conceived the idea for the Wilderness Medical Society in 1983. Early leaders identified areas of interest that have become pillars of the curriculum for wilderness medicine education, including CME programs, medical school rotations, and outdoor programs. They have formed the foundation for advancement and recognition in academic wilderness medicine fellowships around the globe. The commitment of the WMS to embrace academic excellence and to deliver innovative services to its members shines through with the Fellowship in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine (FAWM). In addition to the Society’s regular, annual summer and fall conferences, it also sponsors topic-specific medical conferences (Desert, Dive, Global Health, Disaster, Sports, etc.) and the quadrennial World Congress in Wilderness Medicine. Additionally, the Diploma in Mountain Medicine (DiMM), the Diploma in Dive and Marine Medicine and the Diploma in Disaster Medicine are offered. The mission of the Wilderness Medical Society is to encourage, foster, support, or conduct activities to improve the scientific knowledge of the membership and general public in human health activities in a wilderness environment. Austin, Texas

Welcome to the World Beach Guide, home to the finest beaches on the planet. We have searched and researched the world's coasts to bring you this definitive selection of beautiful beaches.