These 26 national parks show the beauty of the American wilderness

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Travel + Leisure spoke with park employees at 26 of America’s 417 National Park Service locations for tips on traversing the natural surrounds.
Each park has different peak times to visit — for instance, Yellowstone is best in the spring or fall as the crowds are smaller.
There were more than 6 million visitors to the Grand Canyon National Park in 2017.

Each of the National Park Service’s 417 locations, from national parks and monuments, has unique sights and activities — that can be best appreciated with a few insider tips.

To help travelers get the most of out their next visit to one of the sites, ‘Travel + Leisure’ spoke to National Park Service representatives for the inside scoop on 26 locations. From the hidden gems you won’t want to miss, the best time of year to visit and the biggest mistakes to avoid, here are tips from park rangers, chiefs, and public affairs officers.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore — Michigan

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Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore‘s beaches and emerald forests are great to visit in the fall, according to chief of interpretation and visitor services Merrith Baughman. That’s because the park’s beaches are full of colorful fall leaves, temperatures are still warm enough for swimming, and the park is less crowded.

One hidden gem, Baughman said, is Port Oneida Rural Historic District, which is filled with turn-of-the-century farmhouses, beautiful views of Lake Michigan, and secluded beaches.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park — New Mexico

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Those who want to see Carlsbad Caverns National Park‘s flying bats and blooming cacti, will want to visit in the spring or summer.

“Spring is fun because the desert is alive with blooming flowers and cacti — it’s gorgeous,” public affairs specialist Valerie Gohkle said of the scene.

One tip: Walk the Natural Entrance Trail to descend some 750 feet down Carlsbad Cavern. Gohkle says you’ll miss 50 percent of the cavern’s beauty if you take the elevator.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — Hawaii

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Created by more than 70 million years of volcanic activity, Hawaii Volcanoes National Parkhas more than 155 miles of hiking trails, including the popular Kilauea Iki Trail, a 4-mile hike that starts in a rainforest near the volcano’s summit area and takes you on a 500-foot descent to see the Mars-like terrain of the Kilauea Iki Crater. As for views, nothing “compares to the jaw-dropping beauty of watching the sun rise over the Kilauea Caldera from the Jaggar Museum overlook, with the erupting lava lake glowing a mile and a half away, and the immense size of the caldera is revealed as the stars succumb to daylight,” Jessica Ferracane, a public affairs specialist at the park, said.While this vantage point is the busiest location in the park come sunset, get there at 5 a.m., Ferracane said, and you’ll feel as though you have the entire volcano to yourself. You’ll want hiking boots, pants, and light rain gear when visiting the park since the crater’s summit can get chilly, according to Ferracane.

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