National and state parks are great places to hike, swim, and ski, but they’re also incredible spots for wildlife watching. Especially if you head to this one little-known western park with herds of majestic bison. Here’s why now is the best time to stop by Custer State Park.
Custer State Park is located in South Dakota. It doesn’t get as much press as larger parks like Yellowstone or Yosemite, but it has a unique charm all its own. This park is actually one of the best places in the country to spot wildlife like elk, deer, mountain goats, pronghorns, and bighorn sheep.
The park is also home to one of Earth’s largest publicly owned bison herds. With a little luck, visitors can watch this herd of over 1,300 bison move across the beautiful rolling plans and wooded hills of Custer State Park. The herd typically welcomes baby calves in April and May of each year, which makes the spring a magical time to visit.
If you want the best chance of seeing these gorgeous creatures and their adorable babies, hiking the Prairie Trail is a good bet. If you feel like exploring the park by car, take the Wildlife Loop Road for an 18-mile journey through grasslands frequented by bison. If you’re really lucky, you might even have a curious bison come right up to your vehicle. Though photographs are fine, remember to never touch or feed any wild animals.
There is nothing quite like our national parks. From Maine to California, we have parks with incredible scenery, fascinating history, and countless recreational activities. While many of the best U.S. national parks are home to unforgettable and bucket-list-worthy hiking trails (we are looking at you Angel’s Landing!), we often overlook many of the other activities that these parks offer. Below are 12 unbelievable experiences you can have in America’s national parks that don’t require hiking. Some of these national park attractions are a bit relaxing, others will cause your heart to race, but all will leave you with memories that last a lifetime.
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1. Airboat Tour, Everglades National Park — Florida
There is something almost mystical about Everglades National Park. This unique destination is home to all types of incredible wildlife and unique landscapes that will capture your attention the minute you arrive. While there are several ways you can explore Everglades National Park such as on a tram tour or a larger boat, I recommend an airboat tour.
There are several places where you can ride an airboat through Everglades National Park but I have had personal experience at Everglades Safari Park. On our tour, we saw birds of all shapes and sizes, multiple alligators, and my personal favorite — massive iguanas.
2. Sandboarding at White Sands National Park, New Mexico
White Sands National Park is unique as it features rare white gypsum sand. This type of sand dissolves when it comes in contact with water. While much of this state park is off-limits for preservation, the areas that you can explore are breathtaking and home to activities such as hiking, backcountry camping, horseback riding, and more. However, sandboarding is one of the most bucket-list-worthy activities at this national park.
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Sandboarding is essentially sledding down the large sand dunes. You are welcome to bring your own sleds to White Sands or waxed plastic snow saucers can be purchased from the gift shops. Some of the best places in the park for sledding include the Roadrunner Picnic Area and the Alkali Flat Trailhead. You must go sandboarding in designated areas to protect the park's fragile environment.
3. Soak in mineral water, Hot Springs National Park — Arkansas
There are many bucket-list-worthy activities at Arkansas’s Hot Springs National Park. However, for a remarkable experience in this park, how about soaking in the water? The thermal water in this national park is approximately 4,000 years old and while there are no outdoor springs to soak in, there are some historic bathhouses where you can enjoy this relaxing mineral water.
Buckstaff Bathhouse is the longest continuously run bathhouse in the state and has been in operation since the early 1900s. Today, you can soak in the water and enjoy a variety of spa services. Keep in mind that soaking at Buckstaff Bathhouse is based on a first-come, first-served basis.
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If you don’t want to soak in the water but still want to touch the mineral water, there are two places within the national park where the water is cool enough to touch: Display Spring and Hot Water Cascade.
4. Fly fishing, Yellowstone National Park — Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana
When many individuals head into Yellowstone National Park, they visit natural wonders like Old Faithful and Mammoth Hot Springs, but there is nothing quite like throwing in a line and fly fishing in the park. Yellowstone offers some of the best fishing in this area of the country and more than 50,000 visitors spend time fishing within the park each year.
There are many incredible destinations for fly fishing in Yellowstone including along the Madison River and the Gardner River. If you are new to fly fishing, there are many guided fishing tours available. But no matter if you take a tour or go on your own, make sure to receive the correct permit before hopping in the water and always be aware of your surroundings. It isn't uncommon to see bears and moose near the water.
5. Cave Touring in Mammoth Cave National Park — Kentucky
When visiting Mammoth Cave National Park, we strongly recommend taking a guided cave tour. These tours not only allow you to explore this unique natural wonder, but you can learn about the area, the creatures that call it home, and more. Tour route availability will depend on the season and reservations are strongly recommended as the tours sell out quickly.
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Even better, at Mammoth Cave National Park, there are all types of tour options including a wheelchair-accessible tour, lantern tours, crawling tours, and more. Make sure that before you book any specific tour you read the description carefully to ensure it is the type of experience you desire.
6. Whitewater rafting in the Santa Elena Canyon, Big Bend National Park — Texas
If you are up for a bit of an adventure at Big Bend National Park, head to the river. Here, you can choose from several river trips along the Rio Grande that will not only let you see this park in a whole new way, but you may also see wildlife of all sizes on your adventure.
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While there are several canyons you can explore, we recommend the Santa Elena Canyon. In this canyon, you will float next to cliff walls up to 1,500 feet tall. If you wish to explore this canyon, we strongly suggest traveling with a guide as this river becomes quite technical with a Class IV rapid at certain water levels. This adventure is for individuals who are looking for a little more heart-racing experience.
7. Geocaching in Petrified Forest National Park — Arizona
Do you want to go on a real-life treasure hunt? You can when you go geocaching in Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. With this unique experience, you will search for hidden containers in the park, called geocaches, using GPS-enabled devices. There are different ways you can search for geocaches and you never know what unique things you will find. Plus, there are different types of geocaches to search for from physical to virtual options.
8. Observe grizzly bears at Katmai National Park — Alaska
One of the best places in the world for viewing brown bears is Katmai National Park as approximately 2,200 brown bears are believed to live in the area. And while there are several backcountry destinations in this Alaska park where you can observe brown bears, we recommend heading to Brooks Camp. Here, you’ll find four viewing platforms along the river that provide clear and safe spots for watching these remarkable creatures.
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However, for a truly bucket-list-worthy experience, it is crucial that you time your visit just right. The best time to view brown bears at Brooks Camp is in July and September. Typically, mid-July is when you’ll see the most bears along the river due to the large number of salmon this time of the year.
9. Rock Climbing at Joshua Tree National Park — California
Did you know that Joshua Tree National Park has more than 8,000 climbing routes and 2,000 boulder problems for you to explore? This results in dozens of paths for all ability levels and for those looking for a little adventure. If climbing is new to you, consider a guided day experience or even take a class.
Keep in mind that some areas in Joshua Tree may have seasonal climbing closures to protect nesting raptors. Other areas may be closed due to dangerous conditions or other factors. You can learn more about current closures on the National Park Service website.
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10. Snorkel or scuba dive in Biscayne National Park — Florida
If you are seeking a more adventure-filled experience, head to Biscayne National Park. Scuba and snorkel tours are available that take you to the reef, shipwrecks, and areas filled with wildlife. And you may not only see remarkable things in the water as you snorkel and scuba dive, but you may also see wildlife playing along the surface as you travel out to the snorkeling destination. If, snorkeling or scuba diving in the waters is a little too much for you, consider full-day sailboat tours where you can snorkel around the boat or just sit back and look for animals such as dolphins, rays, and sea turtles.
This national park is also home to the Maritime Heritage Trail, which is a series of historic shipwrecks from nearly a century ago. Access to these sites is by boat only.
11. Helicopter ride in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park — Hawaii
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is home to two of the world’s most active volcanoes and it’s certainly a bucket list destination for all visitors to the island. And while you are at the park, there are many things you can do from hikes to scenic drives, but for some unforgettable views, there’s nothing quite like a helicopter tour.
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There are many companies that offer helicopter rides over the volcanoes and several other areas of the island. Some helicopter tours are short and sweet, providing you with beautiful views of the park. Others are several hours long and will take you all around the island and near several enchanting natural wonders.
Zion National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the country and many people come to this Utah park for its incredible hiking trails. However, there is so much more to do such as exploring on a guided e-bike tour. As you ride through the park, your guide will not only teach you about the geography and history of the area, but they’ll tell you about many of the incredible features you’ll see along your way such as the Court of the Patriarchs and the Temple of Sinawava. Plus, this is a great way to view many of the sights without the need to take the shuttle.
What other national park attractions would you add to this list? What are some of your favorite parks in the country? Please share them with us and don’t forget to include your favorite photos!
Many people revel in the summer heat as a respite from cold winters. Yet, sometimes the heat can get to be a bit much and you might want a brief visit to winter in places where you can beat the heat. There are several places in the United States where snow remains through most if not all of the summer! If you’d like to get some summer skiing in or simply enjoy the chill before you head back to warmer climates, check out these 10 incredible spots where you can still find snow in summer.
North Cascades National Park in Washington has such a gorgeous landscape all through the year. Below the 4800-foot elevation, you’re surrounded by lush green forests and pristine blue lakes. Above that, you’ll start reaching the snowpack, and further up there’s continuous snow. It’s a good idea to have sturdy boots, hiking poles, a traction device, and an ice axe. if you want to climb past 5,000 feet. It seems to be a place where winter never leaves.
While this may not be naturally occurring snow, you can ski year-round at Big SNOW American Dream in New Jersey. You can even take beginner lessons to get you ready for the real deal. The eastern states may not keep much snow around, but there are more indoor snow facilities in the works like Fairfax Peak in Virginia. Bearfire Resort in Texas appears to be on hold, however, Pigeonforge Snow in Tennessee is up and running!
If you’re looking for some summer skiing, Beartooth Basin in Wyoming is the perfect place. Depending on the previous winter’s snowfall, this beautiful basin often has snow up until July with nine ski trails, some with big air and rail features. Hill space is available for rental for ski racing and mogul training as well as freestyle camps. The 600-acre area has a couple of steeper slopes with a 50-degree gradient. Now that’s fun!
There are tall peaks within the lush Inyo National Forest that have snow throughout the year and locals love to come here for summer skiing and ice climbing. Others love to camp and hike below the snow level to simply take in the breathtaking views. Imagine kicking back with a fishing rod and looking up at these majestic California mountains!
You’ll find the Arapahoe Basin in Summit County, Colorado. As the Arapahoe Basin Resort says, “We are now open for not winter!” You’ll find year-round skiing here with challenging terrain, friendly service, ski and snowboard rentals, and excellent instructors. If you’ve missed the snow and want some time on the slopes, this is where to go. If skiing isn’t your thing, there are also wildflower hikes, Mountaintop Yoga, bike trails, and more.
This national forest is one of the very few places in New England where you can still see snow in the summer. The Tuckerman Ravine is the spot for snow and sometimes it’s even good enough for skiing. It’s comprised of a glacial cirque and it’s often good for skiing up into July! It’s known as a rugged and challenging area, but if you can make the trek, you’re in for a sunny snowy adventure!
It’s no surprise that Alaska might still have some snow hanging around during the summer. One of the top places to go is the Alyeska Resort where you can take tram rides, hiking and biking trails, and eat at delicious restaurants with lovely views of the surrounding snowcapped peaks. The idyllic beauty of this area may make you think you’ve been transported to Switzerland. There’s a lot going on here all year long, so get up here!
Mount Hood is a true gem in Oregon. You can see the snowy peak from many miles away and it’s always such a spectacular sight. While the Mt. Hood Ski Bowl is the ultimate winter skiing and snowboarding place in Oregon, during the summer it has tons of activities like scenic airlift rides, tubing hills, mini golf, pedal karts, climbing walls, and more than enough other activities to easily fill a weekend. All of it within view of that beautiful snowy mountaintop.
It figures that a state named after mountains would have a few that still wear their snowy caps into the summer. The aptly named Big Snowy Mountains may not have summer ski slopes, but there’s still enough to appreciate and enjoy the beauty of. If you’re in for a real adventure, you can take a strenuous 23.5-mile hike to the Ice Caves which are filled with ice all year. The highest peak reaches 8,681 feet and snow can last into June.
This is more of an honorable mention as the snow is synthetic. Liberty Mountain uses a substance called Snowflex which emulates the texture of real snow. You can ski and snowboard throughout the year here and the surface is slick enough to ski on yet soft enough to break your fall. Tubing is available as well as Olympic trampolines and 3,500 acres of hiking trails. If you’re just too far from actual snow, this is certainly the next best thing.
Have you ever been summer skiing, snowboarding, or simply admiring the views at any of these fantastic locations where you can still find snow in summer? What’s your favorite place in the nation for summertime snow? Let us know about your experiences and favorites in the comments. If you like snow tubing but can’t get near a peak, try a bit of river tubing at these iconic spots:
