Why stay inside during your college years when you could design your university experience to align with your love of exploring the outdoors? The United States is filled with incredibly diverse environments, each with their own natural gems and parks to explore. Many of these paradises have a university nearby that supports students who love the outdoors, providing access to clubs, facilities, clinics, and more.
If you’re a city girl with dreams of becoming a mountain woman, or a woman of color who’s never been introduced to the outdoor lifestyle you desire, the colleges and universities on this list may be perfect for you.
These higher education institutes offer access to incredible outdoor recreation programs for students to build their outdoor skills and knowledge, meeting you where you are. These programs make it easy and affordable to introduce you to like-minded students and connect you to a supportive and inclusive outdoors community you’ll love.
College students attending these universities have access to guided adventures, weekend trips, outdoor education, certifications, and gear rental, to offer the best outdoor experience and create unforgettable memories while earning your degree.
From Washington to Arizona, Maine to North Carolina, here are the best American colleges and universities for women who love the outdoors.
Montana State University, Bozeman
Surrounded by natural beauty, the University of Montana is located in Bozeman. The university has an Outdoor Recreation Program to encourage students to explore the area, learn new skills and meet like-minded outdoor enthusiasts. This is a great university for students who love hiking, skiing, and snowboarding.
Bozeman offers epic hiking, fly fishing, rock climbing and ice climbing for adventurous students. The campus also has a shop for students to rent bikes, skis and more. The nearest ski resort, Bridger Bowl Ski Area, is just 16 miles from campus, and is a favorite with students. Nearby Hyalite Canyon is a popular region for hiking, including Palisade Falls.
University of California, San Diego
The University of California at San Diego is a dream destination for water women. The campus is a short drive to surf breaks for all experience levels surrounded by beautiful bluffs that reflect the golden California sun. UCSD is an ideal university for students who love surfing or want to get into it.
The San Diego weather allows for four seasons of outdoor activities, ideal for women who love to maximize time outside soaking up the sun. Nearby Mission Bay is an activity hub for stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing, and swimming, and has a paved path around its perimeter for runners and bikers.
University of Colorado, Boulder
Boulder is home to a University of Colorado campus that attracts outdoor enthusiasts from all over the country as a top destination for outdoor recreation. The entrance to the east gate of Rocky Mountain National Park is just over an hour from campus.
The region offers excellent hiking for all skill levels, with plenty of hikes leading to incredible views — everyone wants to hike to a view! Skiers and snowboarders have 11 nearby ski resorts to choose from for a quick day trip, with Eldora Mountain Resort just over 30 minutes from campus.
Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington
Located in the beautiful city of Olympia, Washington is Evergreen State College — even the name sounds outdoorsy, right? The college has a reputation for environmental leadership and can be a great place to meet like-minded outdoor enthusiasts. The campus has an organic farm with a learning laboratory for students.
The Pacific Northwest is filed with untouched natural beauty, with lots to explore and discover. Students have the expansive Evergreen Beach nearby to stand-up paddleboard or kayak. and local forest trails to hike.
Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina
One of the highest-rated universities for outdoor enthusiasts is Appalachian State University, located in the small town of Boone, North Carolina and named after Daniel Boone, one of the first frontier explorers in the U.S. The university offers programs in parks, recreation, leisure, fitness and kinesiology and is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
There are plenty of trails to explore in the nearby area and beyond, including Boone Fork Trail, Goshen River Trail, and the Glen Burney Trail.
University of Vermont, Burlington
The University of Vermont is a stellar choice for women who are interested in exploring the outdoors but don’t have much experience. Located in Burlington, Vermont, the closest ski and mountain biking resort is only 30 minutes away at Bolton Valley and Killington ski resort isn’t far either!
The university has organizations to join to help you find a community and get you started in your outdoor adventures. Chicks On Sticks VT is the university’s snow sports club for women that organizes events and hosts educational courses like avalanche training.
University of California, Santa Cruz
The University of California, Santa Cruz has a lot to offer students who love exploring the outdoors. The campus is surrounded by redwood forests and 29 miles of beaches along the California coastline. Experience the beauty of California while escaping the crowds, as Santa Cruz is a much different vibe than Los Angeles.
Santa Cruz has trails to explore while hiking in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park or mountain biking in Wilder Ranch State Park. Go surfing at Pleasure Point or enjoy sailing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding out of Santa Cruz Harbor where you’ll see plenty of sea lions.
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is a coastal California city with Spanish-style buildings everywhere you turn. The University of California, Santa Barbara is close to the beach and the weather can’t be beat. Students here have surfing, sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, cycling and hiking right at their doorstep.
The gorgeous Santa Ynez Mountains provide a million-dollar background and plenty of trails to hike and explore in the Los Padres National Forest. The university has an organization for outdoor adventures for students to join and meet other outdoor enthusiasts while participating in organized adventures.
Boise State University in Idaho
Boise State University in Idaho is ideal for adventurous students, complete with an epic outdoor program. The campus includes a climbing gym and gear rental center for students to take advantage of. Boise State also hosts clinics and workshops like Introduction to Kayaking and Backcountry Nutrition.
Boise is surrounded by wildlife, mountains to explore, and gorgeous scenic views. Students who love hiking have plenty of trails to explore, including nearby Table Rock Trail. The area is filled with wildlife and even the bike-friendly city is nicknamed The City of Trees.
University of Alaska, Fairbanks
It’s true that you must love the winter if you decide to make the move to Alaska to attend college, but the University of Alaska in Fairbanks is sure to leave a lasting impression. It’s one of the places in the world where you can experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the aurora borealis northern lights, and the long-lasting sunsets and sunrises that fill the big open sky.
The University of Alaska in Fairbanks offers students a Wilderness Welcome Orientation with the option to join a Denali backpacking trip, camping glacier hiking, canoeing and rock climbing. You can also hop on a river rafting trip!
College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine
Hikers and climbers will love the College of Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine. At nearby Acadia National Park, the Outing Club offers climbing lessons for students of all experience levels.
The college also has a free outdoor leadership program that teaches students important wilderness survival skills in Maine’s wilderness where they can experience the 92-mile Allagash Wilderness Waterway and hikes through Baxter State Park. After completing the program, students receive their Wilderness First Aid certificate.
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno is an incredible opportunity to have Lake Tahoe in your backyard. The university also has a campus in Incline Village, close to the water in Lake Tahoe. There, students can spend a semester earning a Sustainability Certificate that can be applied across a wide range of industries.
The main university campus located in Reno, Nevada is just 32 minutes from Mt. Rose ski resort and an hour or less from many more mountain ski resorts surrounding Lake Tahoe. Named one of the five clearest lakes in the world, Lake Tahoe has amazing stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking, and the nearby Tahoe National Forest offers incredible hiking and mountain biking trails, too.
University of Arizona, Tucson
The University of Arizona, Tucson is surrounded by five mountain ranges, offering hikers endless opportunities to explore the outdoors. Tucson has warm weather year-round, making it easy for students to stay active between classes.
The university hosts an outdoors recreation community that makes it easy for students to meet new friends while developing leadership skills and exploring the wilderness of Southern Arizona. Trips include camping and hiking the Grand Canyon and Mt. Lemmon and exploring the canyons around Lake Roosevelt.
University of Oregon, Eugene
The University of Oregon in Eugene is everything you’d expect to find in the Pacific Northwest. The area is surrounded by dense forest, stunning waterfalls and beautiful mountain views, and the rural coastline isn’t far away either!
The University of Oregon offers students an outdoor program that organizes adventures and provides rental gear. Students can ski, snowboard, cross-country ski, and learn how to work on a bike at the bike school. There’s also climbing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and more to explore.
University of Utah, Salt Lake City
The University of Utah at Salt Lake City offers an incredible outdoor experience for students. The area is home to 15 world-class ski resorts and five amazing national parks. The university’s U-Explore courses let students select their choice of department – snow, land, or water – to learn about parks, recreation and tourism.
Outdoor lovers at the University of Utah can dive into skiing, climbing, whitewater rafting, kayaking and more. There’s no shortage of the outdoors to explore near Salt Lake City!
University of Washington, Seattle
Located in the Pacific Northwest, the University of Washington in Seattle is a great for students who love hiking, skiing, snowboarding and spending time on the water. The college has an outdoor program that includes hiking, kayaking, mountaineering, white water rafting, and skiing, and has a climbing center where students can purchase a pass to join.
The Husky Winter Sports Club offers ski resort lift tickets, lessons and rental gear at a low cost, with Stevens Pass, The Summit at Snowqualmie and Summit Central nearby. Seattle also has old-growth forests nearby with trails for students to hike with incredible waterfalls and scenic mountain views.
Leave a Reply