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Follow these park-by-park recommendations from our expert who has explored each one to get the most bang for your adventure buck
Brad Sailer and his epilepsy alert dog completed their quest in July to bring awareness to accessibility in the outdoors.
From Chamonix to New Zealand, this expert hiker reveals the most beautiful hut-to-hut hikes on the planet
As you’re visiting national parks this summer, don’t miss out on these spectacular outlooks, mountain summits, and lake vistas. We’ve got the intel on how to reach them all.
Our columnist had little idea of what to expect when she ventured to the far-flung island territory of American Samoa. In the final report of her 63 Parks series, she explains why this may be the nation’s wildest, most protected landscape of them all.
Our national park system has 424 units, but visitors pack into only a few of those. You’ll find jaw-dropping scenery, awesome adventures, and way fewer crowds in these often overlooked parks. And yes, we picked our favorite one in every single state.
In her adventure memoir "Feral," Emily Pennington sets out in a van to visit all 63 of America's national parks. She faces a painful romantic breakup, a pandemic, wildfires, and a hurricane. And that's just for starters.
As park managers focus on accessibility, burly all-terrain chairs are allowing users to get off the grid in our most beautiful places
Three figures are working to initiate change in public-lands leadership after four years of decline and mismanagement under the previous administration
Biden commits to protecting 450,000 acres in Nevada known as Avi Kwa Ame, sacred to Indigenous inhabitants. The designation would preserve Native culture, rare birds, dark skies, and endless outdoor adventure for generations.
Get a front-row seat to epic views and adventure by staying at a national-park lodge. From Yosemite’s Ahwahnee Hotel to Shenandoah’s Big Meadows Lodge, these are our favorites.
Sparkling alpine lakes, the highest point in the continental U.S., and 800-plus miles of breathtaking hiking trails: Sequoia and Kings Canyon in the Sierra Nevada are far more than home to the biggest trees on the planet.
When visiting West Virginia’s New River Gorge, you’ve got to go with the flow—and in the fall, during Gauley Season, that means Class V rapids
This year’s fire season is coming to a close, and thanks to mitigation techniques and some luck, it wasn’t as catastrophic as many predicted. But that doesn’t mean we’re in the clear.
One enticement of visiting Hawaii Volcanoes, on the Big Island, is witnessing the eruption of young Kilauea—the world’s most active volcano—and basking in the glow of its lava-filled caldera
From lush jungles with waterfalls and ocean shores to otherworldly volcanic peaks and craters, the range of ecosystems you can visit in a day at this Maui park is astounding
Why endure the traffic headed inland to major mountain getaways when you can hop a breezy ferry to the Channel Islands, passing dolphins en route, and spend time kayaking into sea caves, hiking quiet hills, and birding, with nary an auto in sight?
These places get our vote as the most important to protect
Now is the time to wander among the world’s largest trees. Wildfires in central California for the past few years have decimated their numbers, so seeing these thousand-year-old natural wonders up close is, today more than ever, a privilege.
Pirates, enslaved people, and Spanish explorers shaped these seven small islands west of the Florida Keys. For most visitors, deep-diving into the past and then swimming the azure waters makes for an unforgettable trip.
Whether you’re seeking soft sandy beaches, hiking, or snorkeling and other water sports, this stunning park on the Caribbean island of St. John should be on your visit list
Snorkel and paddle among quizzical lobsters, baby sharks, green turtles, and more at Biscayne, home to a massive coral-reef system off the coast of Miami
But seriously: at this popular South Florida park, come for the large reptiles, but stay for the subtropical scenery, varied birdlife, and all-out airboat rides
You don’t have to know much about paddling to wend the dark waterways of Congaree, in South Carolina. But persistence and a good sense of humor will help you along.
Yellowstone and Death Valley. Now Joshua Tree. What the hell is going on in our national parks?
How people get lost (and found) in the outdoors
Great Smoky Mountains is a mecca for millions of outdoor visitors each year. But as our 63 Parks columnist explains, that doesn’t mean you can’t find solitude and peace. Often all it takes is a walk in the woods.
Deep, dark, and hiding some dreadful bits of history, Mammoth Cave, in Kentucky, is a fascinating place for underground exploration
Many visitors to the mid-Atlantic make a beeline to the Smokies. But our 63 Parks columnist argues that there’s plenty of wild adventuring to be had in Shenandoah—and Blue Ridge views for days.
Acadia, in Maine, woos visitors with hikes that overlook the Atlantic Ocean, bike rides along historic carriage roads, and some awesome lobster rolls
You can still find a slice of solitude in the country's most visited parks
It's been six months since the first NPS director in five years stepped into office facing $22 billion in deferred maintenance. This is what he's accomplished so far—and what's still coming.
Rattlesnakes bite 150,000 pets each year in the U.S. These innovative rattlesnake training courses could save you and your canine companion.
Our national parks are overcrowded, especially in summer. One solution is to create more of them. Here are the regions that get our votes.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio turned a canalway into a 90-mile trail perfect for hiking and biking, and our 63 Parks columnist highly recommends a ride
Indiana Dunes National Park is an adventure gem for urban midwesterners all year long, but particularly in summer, when Lake Michigan almost appears tropical
To mark its 150th anniversary, America’s first national park plans to use 2022 to address past wrongdoing and work toward a more inclusive future
The parks on this list span six continents and tens of millions of acres, offering excellent fodder for any nature-addicted international traveler looking to jump-start their wanderlust
A park-by-park list of entrance charges and reservation information
Four more parks have begun or expanded their ticketing systems, and many have renewed what was already in place
Stunning and easy-to-access vistas to bookmark for your next road trip
If you’re willing to brave the cold, winter can be one of the best seasons to visit America’s best idea
The Arch in St. Louis is a stunning engineering feat and there's a lot of history here. Just don't call it a national park.
This isn't your typical national park, but a day spent on mellow hikes followed by soaks in mineral hot springs makes a visit here really unique
There is a lot to love about Yosemite, from big walls to breathtaking valleys. But few know its history, says our 63 Parks Traveler about her 44th stop on her quest to visit every national park.
Last year, the region around North Cascades National Park was suffering from devastating fires when our 63 Parks Traveler arrived for her 43rd park visit. Finding a smoke-free day was almost impossible, but a shift in the wind allowed for a stunning wilderness hike.
A warming planet, increased storms, and wildfires are creating a level of infrastructure collapse that’s expensive and devastating
Even if you don’t climb Washington’s highest peak, the spectacular views and scenery in Mount Rainier National Park will leave you invigorated, says our 63 Parks columnist of the 42nd stop on her quest to visit every U.S. park
We’ve found the most adventure-packed routes for your road-trip bucket list
At Olympic, you can go from luscious rainforests, to snowcapped peaks, to the stunning Pacific Coast—all in one park. What more could you ask for?
Many major national parks implemented new reservation systems intended to give visitors a more positive experience by decreasing gridlock, parking issues, and long lines for public services. But are they actually helping or making it more difficult to visit a park?
Alaska’s Kobuk Valley National Park is an overlooked gem. It offers up the great caribou migration, stargazing and miles of solitude, and massive dunes you’d expect to find in the Sahara. This is the 40th stop on our 62 Parks Traveler's quest to visit every national park in the U.S.
Gates of the Arctic in northern Alaska is one of the last truly wild national parks. There are no roads or trails, and the park boasts the stunning Brooks Range, six wild and scenic rivers, and gets fewer than 3,000 visitors a year. Our 62 Parks columnist was awestruck by her 39th stop on her quest to visit every national park in the U.S.
Katmai, in southern Alaska, is one of the few places where you can safely get up close and personal with a brown bear while it’s feeding—a life-list event says our 62 Parks Traveler about the 38th stop on her quest to visit every national park in the U.S.
If you want a swath of stunning wilderness all to yourself, book a trip to Lake Clark, says our 62 Parks columnist of the 37th stop on her quest to visit all the parks in the U.S.
Mountaineers come to summit this Alaskan park’s namesake 20,310-foot peak, the highest in North America. Our 62 Parks columnist set out on a mountain bike to see the stunning terrain and bountiful wildlife during the 36th stop of her quest to visit every national park in the U.S.
From Maine to Alaska, we’ve done all the research for you to camp in style while visiting America’s best idea this summer
Plan a trip to this Alaskan treasure to explore vast glaciers and to see huge whales and a diverse array of other fauna, says our 62 Parks columnist about the 35th stop on her quest to see every U.S. national park
This is just the kickoff to a ten-year plan to protect more land, water, and wildlife
From miles of accessible trails to nearby boarding services to dog safety, these are the best (and worst) parks to visit with your best friend
Put this Alaska gem high on your bucket list for epic backpacking, rafting, and mountaineering, says our 62 Parks columnist about the 34th stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park
The new secretary of the interior shares her plans to listen to historically underrepresented communities and address deferred maintenance projects—plus, what makes a national park her favorite
Key beta on snagging a ticket to your favorite park this year
Not much tops seeing the the massive glaciers and vast empty wilderness in Glacier Bay—that’s the verdict of our 62 Parks Traveler about the 33rd stop on her quest to visit every national park in the U.S.
There’s nothing quite like swimming in Oregon’s Crater Lake for the first time, an experience our 62 Parks Traveler enjoyed at her 32nd park on her quest to visit every national park in the U.S.
The least visited park in the lower 48 has no roads, no cars, and empty hiking trails, and it’s home to moose, wolves, part of Lake Superior, and beautiful forests. It’s the 29th stop on our 62 Parks Traveler’s quest to visit every park in the U.S.
Northern California’s Lassen Volcanic National Park is an undiscovered hiker’s dream, and it’s the 31st stop on our 62 Parks Traveler’s quest to visit every park in the U.S.
With funding from the federal government, Zion and other parks are swapping in electric shuttle buses and adding charging stations for visitors’ electric vehicles, putting the park system on the cutting edge of green technology
Vast mountains, majestic waterfalls, and a hungry bear are some of what our 62 Parks traveler encountered at her 30th park on her quest to visit every park in the U.S.
Forget visiting the app store every time you visit a national park. This new, free release provides all kinds of maps, must-hike trails, food recommendations, and more for all of its 423 units.
Welcome to Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes and home to the Boundary Waters. Our 62 Parks Traveler found her own private island at her 28th stop on her quest to visit every national park in the U.S.
From day one, the new administration has showed itself to be in favor of protecting the wild spaces and species we love
Wildlife and endless grasslands to explore in a remote corner of North Dakota made the 27th park on our 62 Parks columnist's list a must-visit destination
There's no better way to celebrate these holidays than by exploring our public lands
Despite cold temperatures and rain, our 62 Parks columnist still found plenty of hiking and mountain vistas at the 26th stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park
With more than 200 miles of trails, there's a lot to explore in this iconic Wyoming attraction. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's 25th stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park.
Ten thousand geothermal features make this hot spot a must-see. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's 24th stop on her journey to visit every national park in the U.S.
Our 63 Parks Traveler meets bison and sees surreal geography at this South Dakota stop, the 23rd visit on her journey to see every U.S. national park
With more than 350 miles of trails, 124 peaks, and 147 lakes, this must-see Colorado destination is a wilderness lover's paradise. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's 22nd stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park.