Fourth and final in a series inspired by The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, a Ken Burns documentary series that will air on PBS September 27th-October 2nd.
From helicopter flyovers to kayaking, from cave and cliff tours to llama packing, there are many ways to experience each one of America’s parks that range from a few hours to several days. Here we identify a few parks best experienced over a long weekend.
Sequoia & Kings Canyon, California
These two parks are located side-by-side in California’s southern Sierra Nevada Mountains. How you experience them really depends on the time of year, as activities are highly seasonal. Make one of the five park campgrounds your homebase, from which to venture out on a series of day and half-day adventures. Take the Crystal Cave Wild Tour to get a more immersive experience than feasible on the shorter, more popular tour. Attend a geology, botanical or history course at the Sequoia Field Institute. If going in the late summer, visit the Beetle Rock Nature Center. And be sure to save a bit of time each day to enjoy a self-guided hike along one of the many trails.
Glacier Bay, Alaska
Unless you’re traveling from within the state or from the Pacific Northwest, chances are your trip to Alaska will be longer than three days and you’ll be taking in more than just one park. But while you’re at Glacier Bay, split your time between water and land based adventures. Try kayaking and rafting for a more intimate encounter with the bay and it’s tributaries, the Alsek and Tatshenshini Rivers, than possible on the boat tours. Wander the trails of Bartlett Cove. And tour Gustavus, the local community that serves as the gateway to Glacier Bay.
Mesa Verde, Colorado
The parks 4,000 plus known archeological sites offers a rich look back into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people. Cliff Palace, Balcony House, and Long House dwellings are among the most notable and best-preserved sites in the United States, and can only be visited on a ranger-guided tour. Afterwards, explore Step House our Spruce House on your own. Spend a night stargazing from Montezuma Overlook. Then take a day trip east to Durango, Colorado for white water rafting, sites and souvenirs in historic downtown, and perhaps a ride on the Narrow Gauge Railroad up to Silverton.
Yellowstone, Wyoming
In 1872, Yellowstone became America’s first designated National Park. For a truly unique experience, consider a tour of the canyon on the back of a llama. Stroll through Hayden Valley, which offers the best opportunity for wildlife viewing, from bears to bison to elk. Visit Fort Yellowstone and any of the many other historic sites throughout the park. Then relax with a soak in the Boiling River hot springs. Finally, be sure not to leave without taking in Old Faithful and the many other geysers in Yellowstone’s basins.
The ideas above only scrape the surface of what’s possible. Activities and opportunities for learning and discovery abound in all of America’s National Parks.
