10 Incredible Bucket List National Park Activities

America's 63 national parks boast wild rivers, archeological wonders, wildlife, caves, canyons, seashores, mountains and more. Check out these don't-miss adventures.

September 01, 2021

By: Lynn Coulter

Shop This Look

Photo By: Gary Hartley

Photo By: Brian Burghart/National Park Service

Photo By: National Park Service/Ranger Hallie Larsen

Photo By: Ben Herndon/Channel Islands Adventure Company

Photo By: US National Park Service

Photo By: National Park Service/Under_MTP_05_0021-Canaveral-National-Seashore

Photo By: Whitewater Photography

Photo By: You & I Photography

Photo By: US National Park Service/Brett Seymour/Submerged Resources Center

Photo By: Coopertown Airboats/Jesse Kennon

Photo By: Jon Nierenberg/Earthsong Lodge

National Parks Offer a Host of Unique Activities

Whether you want a quick getaway or a long vacation, America’s national parks offer sights and adventures for everyone. If you prefer a mild experience, go hiking, picnicking or bird watching. If wild is your style, raft a whitewater river, mush with sled dogs, dive to a sunken ship or rappel into a slot canyon. Our ten picks deserve a place on your bucket list.

Before you go, read each park’s website to verify operating seasons and hours. Some parks or areas may be closed or restricted due to Covid, weather conditions or other issues, and some have age, ability or certification requirements for various activities.

Try Surfing on a Sand Dune at White Sands National Park

Wear your sunscreen so you don't burn on the sparkling gypsum dunes at New Mexico’s White Sands National Park. At 225 square miles, it's part of the largest gypsum dune field in the world (which is 275 square miles). Slide down the soft, ever-shifting dunes on a sled or waxed snow saucer (available for rent in the park). Just scope out the website first, so you’re prepared for possibilities like frozen dunes in the winter and extreme temperatures. White Sands Missile Range surrounds the park and regularly conducts missile tests. Usually the park is informed of testing 24 hours to two weeks in advance, so areas can be closed for safety. However, unexploded ordnance and other testing debris sometimes falls into the sand. If you see anything unusual, stay away from it and notify park rangers.

Have a Sleepover With Horses at Petrified Forest National Park

Camp with your horses in the Wilderness Area of Petrified Forest National Park, and imagine you've gone through a time portal. Some 200 million years ago, fallen trees in this region of Arizona were covered by volcanic ash and mud and gradually became the colorful, stone-like material we call petrified wood. Take in the incredible scenery when you ride the Wilderness trails — which are not maintained — and explore buttes, mesas, badlands and fossils. You can camp overnight with a free permit, but groups are limited to eight people and four horses. Take plenty of water for yourself and your steed; there’s none available in this part of the park.

Kayak Above One of the Deepest Sea Caves on Earth at Channel Islands National Park

Channel Islands National Park, made up of five of California's channel islands, is home to one of the deepest sea caves on Earth. Painted Cave, at 100-feet wide and a quarter-mile long, is renowned for its brightly colored lichens and rocks. Snorkel the park's crystal clear waters, paddle a kayak or take a tour with a guide or outfitter like Channel Islands Adventure Company to look for kelp forests, dolphins, whales and more. Some of the world's most beautiful sea caves are said to be found at Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island.

Take an Ancient Home Tour at Mesa Verde National Park

No one is sure why ancient Native Americans known as the Anasazi abandoned their cliff dwellings in Colorado some 700 years ago. Today, you can try to unravel the mystery of over 600 of these structures in Colorado’s Mesa Verde National Park. You'll need a ticketed tour to enter some of the dwellings, and they're limited and popular, so plan ahead. Some are also strenuous, involving long hikes, unpaved trails and high elevations, and some require climbing ladders. The longest ladder, at 20 feet, leads to Square Tower House, one of the most spectacular dwellings.

Experience the Life of a Sea Turtle at Canaveral National Seashore

Every summer, visitors to Florida's Canaveral National Seashore take ranger-led tours to see loggerhead turtles emerge from the sea, lumber over the sand, dig holes and lay their eggs. Three giant species nest in the park from May to August: leatherbacks, loggerheads and green sea turtles, but because they're all endangered or threatened, a popular, educational tour, the Sea Turtle Watch Program, is only offered in June and July. Reserve a spot early, since space is limited and tours book up fast.

Raft Easy to Scary Rapids at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, in West Virginia, protects its namesake, one of the oldest rivers on the continent. Wild, rugged New River slices through deep canyons, with whitewater rapids that range from Class I (easy) to Class VI (extremely difficult, dangerous and unpredictable). Licensed outfitters like New and Gauley River Adventures can equip you with everything you need, including guides, transportation, equipment and meals. New River trips typically run from April to October; Gauley River trips are usually from early September to mid-October but may be available at other times.

Explore Dramatic Canyons and Go Canyoneering at Zion National Park

Don't just peer into a canyon in Utah's Zion National Park. Go canyoneering to explore its depths as you rappel, scramble, stem (a technique that involves using one hand and one foot on opposite walls of a canyon to lower yourself), and squeeze through crevices. In a "wet" slot canyon, you might swim or wade and needs shoes and clothes to keep you warm and dry if the temperatures drop. Even a so-called dry slot canyon can fill with water fast if it rains. A professional outfitter like Rock Odysseys can provide equipment, guides and instruction to help you descend into the canyons to see fantastic, other-worldly scenery carved by flowing water.

Scuba Dive Sunken Vessels in Icy Water at Isle Royale National Park

Surrounded by the cold, deep waters of Lake Michigan, Isle Royale National Park attracts experienced scuba divers to its hidden sunken vessels, many of which are in outstanding condition. You must be an expert to swim through the narrow passages of these wrecks and avoid becoming tangled in wires and other debris. And the water is truly cold, at 34 to 37 degrees F. once you're at 50 feet or below, so you'll need special gear. Still, this is an ideal place for seasoned divers to explore and photograph. Shown here: a diver on the grand staircase of the S.S. America, a package freighter that sank in 1928.

Explore a UNESCO World Heritage Site in an Airboat at Everglades National Park

Book an airboat to tour a portion of the incredible subtropical wilderness set aside as Everglades National Park. It's part of the greater Everglades ecosystem, one of the largest wetlands in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to the Everglades Foundation, it's also the only place to see crocodiles and alligators living together. As you zip through razor-sharp sawgrass and past mangrove swamps, freshwater prairies and island forests, look for beautiful roseate spoonbills, West Indian manatees, foxes and elusive Florida panthers and bobcats. Airboat rides with companies like Coopertown Airboats help you spot the extraordinary flora and fauna. Are airboat rides exhilarating? The park has a speed limit, but yes, and they can ruffle your hair.

Mush a Dog Sled Through the Wolf and Caribou-Filled Wilderness at Denali National Park and Preserve

In good weather, visitors to Alaska's Denali National Park and Preserve go hiking, backpacking, fishing and cycling. From late fall into the winter, mushing, or sledding behind a team of dogs, is an exciting way to discover the snow-covered scenery. Don't have a sled and team handy? Denali Dog Sled Expeditions is permitted to guide trips through the park. They can train you to drive a team or take you on an overnight tour into the backcountry. You're likely to see fresh wolf tracks and maybe the wolves themselves, along with moose, caribou and lynx. At the right time of year, the Northern Lights play overhead. Ask about trips to Wonder Lake, the Muldrow Glacier and other don't-miss destinations.