Summer issue 2026

The Best Days Ever in Our Western National Parks

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Our national parks were our country’s best idea — according to Ken Burns’ documentary, anyway — and America’s 250th birthday is the perfect time to visit these remarkable tracts of untouched canyons, valleys, and forests. If you’re ready for an adventure, here’s how to spend an ideal day in parks across our country’s mountain and desert regions.

Millions of years of shifting ground and erosion in eastern Utah formed the dramatic network of sandstone formations in Arches National Park. Start with a short, flat hike (only 0.6 of a mile) along the high desert terrain to the base of Double Arch. Together, these two spans form the tallest arch in the park. The Delicate Arch Trail is a more challenging 3-mile round-trip trek that passes Ute Indian petroglyphs en route to the base of the famous freestanding arch — known for its portrayal on Utah’s license plates.

Arches National Park

WRITER Austin Cannon

Explore the winding rivers, towering buttes, and red-rock canyons across Utah’s Canyonlands National Park from the comfort of an air-conditioned car (hopefully with some tasty snacks and a finely tuned playlist). Perched on a mesa more than 1,000 feet above the surrounding land, the park’s Island in the Sky district includes a 34-mile paved scenic drive and numerous overlooks for taking in the dramatic views. Afterward, drive a little farther to the scenic route that encircles The Needles, a backcountry collection of multihued sandstone spires. Hop out of the car for short hikes around these rocky towers situated above the grassland.

Canyonlands National Park

In north-central Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park’s meadows, mountains, forests, and tundra form thriving ecosystems that support a multitude of creatures big and small. Bring a pair of binoculars to survey valley floors for multipronged elk near streams, and spy moose near lakes where they like to feast on aquatic plants. Bighorn sheep — named for the males’ large, curved horns — occupy the park’s areas of tundra, but they do descend to places like the Sheep Lakes in the spring and summer. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the sky for raptors like hawks and osprey, owls, and multiple species of bats.

Rocky Mountain National Park

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Club Wyndham Moab

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Club Wyndham Moab

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WorldMark Estes Park (Club Pass)

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Club Wyndham Moab

Mountains & Deserts

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Hikes through otherworldly landscapes

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Summer temperatures at Arches can soar into triple digits, so begin your journey early in the day and bring plenty of water.

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A desert grand tour

Many visitors like to carve a path on Canyonlands’ hundreds of miles of unpaved roads. Before you leave the pavement, make sure your car has four-wheel drive and research whether you need a permit.

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Building your collection of wildlife photos

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It can be tempting to get up close to wildlife, but leave plenty of space. Stay at least 100 yards away from predators like bears and mountain lions and at least 50 yards from nonpredators.

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Always stay on the boardwalk when exploring areas that include geothermal features. The ground around the thermal features and their runoff is extremely hot and will cause burns.

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The world’s first national park, founded in 1872, Yellowstone National Park in the northwest corner of Wyoming is home to more than 10,000 different hydrothermal features — fumaroles, hot springs, mud pots, and the iconic erupting geysers. Plan your day around witnessing Old Faithful fire steam and hot water more than 100 feet into the air, an event that tops the to-do list for many travelers. Named for its regularity, you can expect to see an eruption every 54 to 118 minutes. Castle Geyser doesn’t erupt as regularly (about every 14 hours), but its unique, medieval-esque construction is always worth a visit.

Geysers, baby!

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Yellowstone National Park

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WorldMark West Yellowstone (Club Pass)

Check the weather conditions before you venture out. Postpone your hike if rain is in the forecast — it can cause flash flooding in the gorge.

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The incredibly steep canyon walls throughout Utah’s Zion National Park are incredible to behold from the park’s free shuttle service, but a one-of-a-kind experience awaits on the canyon floor. The Narrows, a skinny gorge with 1,000-foot walls, is where the shallow Virgin River doubles as a hiking trail. If you’re feeling adventurous, pull on a pair of sturdy, closed-toe shoes and hike for as long as you want up the river, taking frequent stops to admire the contrast of the red gorge with the green vegetation surrounding the water. When you’re ready, turn around and trek back to the trailhead, where you can catch a scenic return ride on the shuttle.