The field library

Places in the United States

Decision-led reading for an independent trip.

The field library

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07Isle au Haut, Maine, USA

When does Isle au Haut make more sense than a Mount Desert Island day at Acadia?

Isle au Haut fits when you can give it the 10:00 a.m. mailboat and the 4:30 p.m. Duck Harbor return: about five hours ashore, $48 round trip.

exploration

08Congaree National Park, South Carolina, USA

Would Congaree suit a boardwalk-and-floodplain day better than a high-mileage hiking weekend?

Congaree is free and its Boardwalk Loop is 2.6 accessible miles; the floodplain floods about ten times a year, so read the gage before adding trail miles.

chill · exploration

09Great Basin National Park, Nevada, USA

Would Great Basin suit a stargazing-and-caves weekend better than a crowded desert-park circuit?

Great Basin charges no entrance fee and opens 24 hours; the only fixed item is a Lehman Caves ticket, $15 for 90 minutes, on sale 30 days ahead.

chill · exploration