Best Activities for Spring Camping

Get your boat out of winter storage, clear the cobwebs off your hiking boots and tie some flies.

Here are some of the best activities to do while camping in the spring.

Get On the Water
For many people, the first rays of the spring sun mean it's time to drop the boat into water, fire up the motor and cruise along shorelines and through lakes. There are many excellent destinations across the United States for recreational boating, from Lake Havasu, Ariz., to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Get Close to the Water
If a non-motorized water adventure is more your thing, and you don't own a suitable craft, consider looking for a campground or camping area that rents canoes, kayaks or inner tubes for use on nearby lakes. All three offer close-to-the-water experiences that will give you a whole new perspective of the areas you visit.

Take a Hike
Travel to the Pacific Northwest to hike to some of the most breathtaking waterfall country in the nation. Visit New Mexico to climb a red-rock mountain and see a stunning sunset. Hike a self-guided nature trail in the Smoky Mountains to experience magical fields of wildflowers. Or simply hike the trails in your own part of the country. Not only is hiking is a good workout, but it doesn't require much equipment and allows you to find peace in nature.

Ride Horses
Whether you go on a guided trip from a stable, or hire an outfitter and take a horseback pack trip to your camping grounds, it's sure to be an exhilarating, unforgettable adventure. Backcountry rides can take you through meadows of wildflowers, across fields of green and along mountain streams.

Hunt
Spring is turkey hunting season, so put on your camouflage clothing and listen for the gobbles. Camping in the spring-turkey woods can offer two big benefits: It can put you closer to the birds in the morning; and it can eliminate the frustrations and distractions of living in the digital world.

There are so many reasons to take a camping trip in the spring. The meadows are bursting with colorful flowers; afternoon temperatures aren't summer-hot, yet; and there aren't hordes of tourists meandering along the hiking trails and crowding up campsites.

Get out and enjoy this time of year before it's too late.