7 national parks that are spectacular in summer

Buds are blooming, temperatures are warming, and, if you’re like me, you’re likely looking ahead to the summer months to plan your next national park adventure. But, with 63 Congress-designated national parks staggered across the United States, picking the right one to hit on your next freewheeling road trip can feel overwhelming.

The good news? I’ve traveled to every park in the country and have experienced first-hand the unique magic and top trails of each one. Whether you’re looking for kid-friendly adventures or crowd-free backpacking, this list has got you covered.

Home to stunning high-elevation peaks, shimmering alpine lakes, and sprawling meadows studded with wildflowers, Rocky Mountain is the kind of mountainous landscape you likely think of when you picture a national park. Summertime is the park’s high season and entrance reservations are required during certain hours, but the warmer months also mean snow-free trails and roads ready for scenic cruising.

These days, most parks participate in some sort of Junior Ranger program but Rocky Mountain truly goes the extra mile. It boasts a huge variety of shorter, kid-friendly trails, like Lily Lake and the Coyote Valley Trail, plus a summertime Junior Ranger Headquarters, which is based out of Hidden Valley. There, you'll find free, ranger-led activities between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

This Northern Colorado park also sits outside one of the most family-friendly gateway towns in the country—Estes Park. It's home to loads of incredible cabin rentals, such as the perfect-for-groups Mountain Village at Lake Estes. When you’re not spotting elk in Moraine Park or traipsing around Sprague Lake, feel the wind on your face and ride the Mustang Mountain Coaster, or grab post-hike treats at The Taffy Shop.

Best known for its sky-high walls of glacially-polished granite, Yosemite is a must-visit, all-season parks. In early summer, though, the waterfalls are still roaring into Yosemite Valley, and visitors can crane their necks up at El Capitan’s sheer cliff face to spot death-defying rock climbers camped out on a ledge.

With so much on display (and loads of historic lodges within the park’s boundaries), it’s a great place for day-trippers to explore, especially if they’d prefer not to sleep in a nylon tent when the sun sets. Grab a peak-hours entry reservation and amble over to the centrally-located Vernal Fall Trail to work up a sweat, then take advantage of Tioga Road being open in the summer and dip your feet into Tenaya Lake before scaling one of the park’s notorious stone humps, Lembert Dome.

If you’re interested in longer excursions or want a guided trek to learn more about the area’s geological and human history, you can’t go wrong with Wildland Trekking. See the most famous sights on their Best of Yosemite Valley tour, or escape the crowds and get into the high alpine on a guided trek to Cathedral Lakes. Either way, don’t forget your camera.

This park is all about traversing the expansive North Dakota landscapes that first inspired Teddy Roosevelt to help protect the outdoors, earning him the nickname “The Conservation President.” These days, visitors can drive, hike, and sightsee along two spectacular scenic roads, both of which offer fantastic river basin and badlands views.

You’re unlikely to find the severe bison-related traffic jams here that are common in Yellowstone. Instead, intrepid travelers can motor along the South Unit’s Scenic Loop Drive, pull over, and giggle at frenetic prairie dogs and frolicking wild horses for hours. Or, for a little peace and quiet, stroll the 0.4-mile Wind Canyon Trail and listen to the gentle birdsong.

In the park’s North Unit, scan the hillsides for huge herds of bison, prowling coyotes, and pronghorn antelope, the fastest land animal in North America. Stretch your legs on the trail to Sperati Point for awe-inspiring views of the Little Missouri River.

If you’re the sort of person who avoids triple-digit temperatures at all costs, get thee to Alaska. Denali National Park is likely the most accessible of the state’s huge swaths of public land, revered for its wildlife (think moose, caribou, and grizzly bears), sweeping views, and Denali itself, the tallest peak in North America.

When you’ve got a limited amount of time to explore this massive, 4.7-million-acre park, hop onto a naturalist-led Tundra Wilderness Tour, which will take you deeper than private vehicles are allowed to venture. On the way, you’ll marvel at Igloo Mountain, view the braided strands of the East Fork of the Toklat River, and, if you’re lucky, catch a glimpse of “The High One” itself.

Curious about roughing it in Denali’s seemingly boundless wilderness? Alaska Alpine Adventures has been guiding backpacking and base camp-style trips in the region for 25 years, safely teaching guests about the flora, fauna, and radical geological diversity that makes Alaska such a dynamic landscape.

Unlike most of the popular national parks in the Western U.S., Acadia has long stretches of pooch-friendly trails for you to explore. Most famous for its seaside cliffs, tranquil ponds, and dense stands of spruce and fir, Acadia is also home to 45 miles of crushed-stone carriage roads, which are excellent for hiking and biking with a pup in tow.

Head to the Hulls Cove Visitor Center to complete a short B.A.R.K. Ranger program with your dog, then head to the famous Jordan Pond House for a centrally-located starting point to set out on a carriage-road adventure. Or, to escape the Bar Harbor crowds, head to the less-traveled Schoodic Peninsula for serene views of the ragged Atlantic coastline. No matter how you choose to explore, be sure to grab a post-adventure lobster roll from Stewman’s Downtown Lobster Pound, which offers dog-friendly seating.

Most outdoor lovers have never heard of Isle Royale National Park—and that’s a shame. This 132,018-acre preserve protects the largest island in Lake Superior, and with it, a scenic expanse of boreal forest, rocky basalt shorelines, and wilderness campsites. It’s also home to the longest-running predator-prey study on the planet, focused on the park’s native wolves and moose.

Getting to Isle Royale is a journey in its own right—you have to take a ferry or float plane from Grand Portage or Grand Marais in Minnesota and Houghton or Copper Harbor in Michigan. But once on the island, you’ll reap the rewards of all that extra effort: minimal crowds, gorgeous lakeshore views, and 165 miles of trails. First-timers should head to Rock Harbor, which offers a no-frills lodge, restaurant, and camping. Spend an afternoon on the view-heavy trail to Scoville Point, which is dotted with spindly white spruce and balsam fir trees.

If you’re an avid backpacker and want a real challenge, check out the park’s most iconic trek: the 40-mile Greenstone Ridge Trail. Spanning the length of the island from Windigo to Rock Harbor, most hikers take five to eight days to complete this challenging journey, which is full of sweeping Lake Superior vistas and copious opportunities to spot a moose or a fox in the wild.

We couldn’t complete this list without mentioning the world’s first national park and the birthplace of “America’s Best Idea”: Yellowstone. Because of its enormous size, geographic diversity, plethora of short trails and awesome wildlife, it’s one of the best parks on the planet for scenic summer drives.

If you’ve only got one day in the park, don’t miss cruising through Upper Geyser Basin and be sure to pull over to catch Old Faithful’s powerful spray (go at sunrise to minimize crowds). Then, motor north to Grand Prismatic Spring, Gibbon Falls, and the frilly rock terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs.

But, this park is best explored over the course of five to seven days. Set aside a day to drive across the verdant Lamar Valley, home to the Yellowstone Forever Institute, and bring your binoculars to catch glimpses of wolves, elk, and grizzly bears in the wild. Another can’t-miss sight can be found at Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, where the mighty Yellowstone River plunges into a huge waterfall, framed by technicolor cliff faces. Make a day of it by driving along Yellowstone Lake and stopping for a picnic beneath Mt. Washburn’s impressive summit.