Camping Gear: Equipment & Supplies

Split the bunkers on your tee shot at the 11th, but favoring the right side will give you the best look at the green. Keep your approach shot safe by aiming on the right side of the green to avoid the deep bunker on the left. This uphill par 4 has a generous fairway with a large natural limestone formation on the right. Aim just right of the middle fairway bunker to hit the widest part of the landing area. The elevated green slopes from back to front with a dangerous false front on the left side. If you’re not interested in taking a splash, you can still enjoy the jaw-dropping views of the waterfall during sunset or sunrise.

Staying left gives you a shorter distance to the hole, but the right side of the fairway gives you an elevated look to the green without having to carry the greenside bunkers on your approach. This eye-catching peninsula green requires a solid iron shot to stay dry. The putting surface is sloped with a high central mound feeding the ball away from the center of the green. Enjoy the game’s pristine water features, large fairways and greens, and spectacular 19th hole—the Big Rock at Payne’s Valley™. While we may lack the towering peaks of the Rockies or Appalachians and the majestic shores of the coasts, the Midwest has plenty to offer outdoor enthusiasts of all backgrounds and skill levels. One state in particular that has a ton of hidden gems for outdoor activities is Missouri, often referred to as the “Show-Me State.”

Truman Lake offers full-service marinas and local fishing guides to enhance your experience, whether you’re a beginner or a highly skilled fisher. The lake also hosts various fishing tournaments throughout the year, ozark trail backpack providing opportunities for anglers to socialize and connect with others. Missouri offers some of the best fishing across the Midwest, thanks to its over 568 lakes, 2,278 reservoirs, and hundreds of fish species.

I took this pack on a 5-day mountain bike ride from Pittsburgh, Pa., to Washington, D.C., and it performed very well. The GCI Outdoor chair also has a pocket built into the back that can hold a phone or a book. This chair comes in green or blue and is rated to hold up to 250 pounds. After six months of sitting mostly outside in the Southern California sun, our gray Coleman chair was noticeably less faded than our Walmart and Renetto chairs, the latter of which had bleached from bright red to pink.

We got some admiring nods en route to the celebration—and we had one of the more comfy seats at the show. One of the most distinctive outdoor activities in Missouri—and the entire Midwest—is Bonne Terre Mine, home of the billion-gallon underground lake. In the largest freshwater scuba diving venue in the world, divers can explore the mine’s 20-plus dive trails, which average 40 to 60 feet deep. The lake is illuminated by 500,000 watts of stadium lighting from above, creating incredible visibility more than 100 feet down into the water.

The Ozark Trail (OT) is one of America’s premier distance hiking trails. Mostly divided into linked sections, the trail winds through 390 miles of rolling hills, stone bluffs and cool streams in central and southern Missouri. I’m also an Appalachian Trail Maintainer & Trail Crew Member – it’s not uncommon to see sledge hammers, picks, buckets, bow saws, etc. strapped to this pack while hiking to and from trail work details. I’ve had this pack for 2 years and I’ve beaten the living daylights out of it and it still performs just as well as the day I bought it. I priced other internal frame daypacks before my trip and this was by far the cheapest.

Dogwood Canyon is a family destination offering hiking, biking, wildlife tours, horseback riding and trout fishing amongst towering bluffs, waterfalls, creek beds, handcrafted bridges and wildlife. The Everywhere Chair keeps your bottom about 4 inches off the ground. The strap that supports the back (and doubles as a carry strap) allows adjustments to control your angle of recline, from upright to a stargazing-appropriate angle. Unlike other portable chairs, the Everywhere Chair is designed to sit on uneven slopes; this can be handy when space is limited at a fireworks show or an outdoor theater performance.