You don’t have to be a millionaire to live near the mountains.
For many outdoor lovers, the dream of living in a town with instant access to incredible hiking trails is often crushed by the reality of an astronomical cost of living. Popular mountain towns have become playgrounds for the wealthy, but the dream is not dead. There are still a number of fantastic, under-the-radar towns across the country that offer world-class hiking and a quality of life you can actually afford.
These are the places where the trails are epic and a one-bedroom apartment doesn’t cost a fortune.
1. Fayetteville, West Virginia is a gateway to the New River Gorge.
Nestled on the rim of the stunning New River Gorge, America’s newest national park, Fayetteville is an adventure town on the rise. The area offers an incredible network of hiking trails that wind through dense Appalachian forests and offer breathtaking views from the top of the gorge’s sheer sandstone cliffs, according to BustNMoves Moving Company. The cost of living here is dramatically lower than the national average.
The town itself is quirky and charming, with a small but vibrant community of outdoor enthusiasts. It’s a perfect spot for someone who wants world-class hiking, rock climbing, and whitewater rafting right at their doorstep, without the West Coast price tag.
2. Chattanooga, Tennessee, is surrounded by trails.
Chattanooga is a city that has fully embraced its incredible natural setting. Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, the city is surrounded by opportunities for outdoor adventure, with hundreds of miles of hiking trails just minutes from downtown. You can hike to a waterfall in the morning and be back in the city for lunch at a great restaurant.
The city has a thriving arts scene, a fast-growing tech industry, and a cost of living that is still very reasonable. It offers the perfect blend of urban amenities and immediate access to the beautiful mountains and rivers of the Tennessee Valley, as mentioned by POWDER Magazine.
3. Boise, Idaho offers a perfect work-life balance.
Boise has quietly become one of the most livable cities in the country, especially for outdoor lovers. The city is set against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and a massive network of trails, known as the Ridge to Rivers system, is directly accessible from the city’s North End neighborhood. You can literally leave your office and be on a mountain trail in minutes.
While it has been discovered and prices have risen, the cost of living in Boise is still significantly more affordable than in other mountain west hubs like Denver or Salt Lake City, as stated in Backpacker Magazine. It offers a fantastic quality of life.
4. Roanoke, Virginia is a gem in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Located in the heart of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Roanoke is a paradise for hikers. The city is just a few miles from the Appalachian Trail and is surrounded by a wealth of incredible hikes, including the famous McAfee Knob, one of the most photographed spots on the entire AT. The scenery is classic Appalachia: lush, green, and beautiful.
Despite its incredible location, Roanoke has a very low cost of living and an unpretentious, friendly vibe. It’s a designated Appalachian Trail Community and has a growing reputation as one of the best outdoor towns on the East Coast.
5. Duluth, Minnesota is a Midwest hiking mecca.
Situated on the dramatic, rocky shores of Lake Superior, Duluth is the anchor of the 310-mile-long Superior Hiking Trail, one of the most beautiful long-distance trails in the country. The city itself is built on a steep hillside, offering incredible views of the massive lake. The hiking in the area is rugged and stunning, with trails that follow the shoreline and wind through dense boreal forests.
Duluth offers an incredibly affordable cost of living and a unique, outdoorsy culture that is a world away from the stereotypical image of the flat Midwest. It’s a true hidden gem for those who love a wilder, colder landscape.
6. Tucson, Arizona is a desert mountain oasis.
Surrounded by five different mountain ranges and two units of Saguaro National Park, Tucson is a hiker’s dream. The trails here offer a unique and beautiful desert landscape, from easy walks among the giant saguaro cacti to strenuous climbs up mountains that are high enough to have pine forests at their peaks. The sheer variety of hiking is incredible.
Tucson is also a vibrant and funky city with a rich cultural heritage and a cost of living that is much more affordable than its northern neighbor, Phoenix. It’s a perfect destination for someone who loves the sun and the unique beauty of the Sonoran Desert.
7. Grand Junction, Colorado, is the state’s affordable outdoor hub.
While Colorado’s Front Range cities have become incredibly expensive, Grand Junction on the Western Slope remains a relatively affordable and less-crowded alternative. The city is sandwiched between the towering rock formations of the Colorado National Monument and the Grand Mesa, the largest flat-top mountain in the world. This provides a stunning and diverse landscape for hiking.
You can be hiking in a red rock canyon in the morning and in a cool alpine forest in the afternoon. It’s also a burgeoning wine region and a major hub for mountain biking, offering a fantastic and affordable outdoor lifestyle.
8. Bentonville, Arkansas is the new Ozark hotspot.
Bentonville is most famous for being the headquarters of Walmart and for its world-class Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The city has also invested heavily in becoming a major outdoor destination. Located in the beautiful Ozark Mountains, the area is now laced with hundreds of miles of top-tier hiking and mountain biking trails.
The massive investment from the Walton Family Foundation has turned this small Arkansas town into a vibrant and surprisingly cosmopolitan place to live, with a cost of living that is still well below the national average. It’s a unique combination of art, culture, and outdoor adventure.
9. Bellingham, Washington is a gateway to the North Cascades.
Nestled on the coast between Seattle and Vancouver, Bellingham is a laid-back college town with an epic outdoor backyard. The city is the perfect base camp for exploring the rugged, wild beauty of the North Cascades National Park, which is often called the “American Alps.” The local hiking around Mount Baker and the Chuckanut Mountains is also spectacular.
While it’s not as cheap as some of the other towns on this list, it is significantly more affordable than Seattle. It offers a quintessential Pacific Northwest lifestyle of mountains, water, and craft beer, without the big-city price tag.
10. Marquette, Michigan is a jewel of the Upper Peninsula.
For those who love a remote and rugged landscape, Marquette, on the shores of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is a hidden gem. The town is surrounded by the wild, unspoiled beauty of the north woods, with stunning hiking trails that lead to waterfalls, granite cliffs, and pristine, sandy beaches along the massive lake.
The cost of living is very low, and the town has a vibrant, outdoorsy culture centered around Northern Michigan University. It’s a perfect destination for someone seeking true solitude and a deep connection to a wild and beautiful landscape.