Things to Do

Mountain parks offer spectacular views and countless recreational opportunities. Before you go on your trip, discover some the different outdoor recreation activities available in national parks — adventure awaits!
Female aid climbing big wall in Zion National Park
Climbing

From mountaineering to bouldering, beginner to advanced — national parks have something for climbers of every skill level.

a hiker with backpack and hiking pole looks out at a vast snowy mountain in Denali National Parka
Trails & Hiking

Time to lace up your hiking boots! National parks offer many opportunities to hit the trails.

More Information

Outdoor recreation opportunities allow people to more fully experience our beautiful public lands and waterways. The U.S. Department of the Interior has hundreds of recreation opportunities for you to explore on your public lands in all 50 states and U.S. territories. Visit Recreation.gov to make reservations, buy passes and get permits.

Here are some ideas for things to do

Showing results 1-10 of 91

  • Blue Ridge Parkway

    Stargaze at Waterrock Knob

    • Type: Things To Do
    • Subtype: Stargazing
    • Duration: 1-4 Hours
    • Reservations: No
    • Pets: Yes
    • Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time Of Day: Night
    Night sky with multitude of stars over silhouetted tree topped mountains

    Stargazing on the Blue Ridge Parkway can be an amazing experience. Waterrock Knob at Milepost 451.2 is a great place to enjoy the calm quiet of the night and contemplate the universe as you gaze at the starry sky that surrounds you.

  • Yellowstone National Park

    Snow Pass Ski Trail

    • Type: Things To Do
    • Subtype: Skiing
    • Duration: 2-3 Hours
    • Reservations: No
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Mammoth Hot Springs
    • Season: Winter
    • Time Of Day: Day
    Skiers follow a straight trail through a snowy forest.

    The Snow Pass Ski Trail is a 4.2 mile (6.76 km), skier-tracked, one-way, easiest to most-difficult, ski that takes skiers through a steep heavily forested area to a semi-flat wide open area with views of Swan Lake Flats.

  • Guadalupe Mountains National Park

    The Notch

    • Type: Things To Do
    • Subtype: Hiking
    • Duration: 5-7 Hours
    • Reservations: No
    • Pets: No
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time Of Day: Day
    A trail runs through a small gap in a ridge

    The hike to "the Notch" is a challenging day hike that proceeds through McKittrick Canyon to a dramatic viewpoint about half way up toward McKittrick Ridge.

  • Blue Ridge Parkway

    Watch Peregrine Falcons at Devils Courthouse

    • Type: Things To Do
    • Subtype: Birdwatching
    • Duration: 1-3 Hours
    • Reservations: No
    • Age: 10 and Older
    • Pets: Yes
    • Location: Devils Courthouse, Milepost 422
    • Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time Of Day: Day, Dawn, Dusk
    Peregrine falcon perched on rocks, blue sky behind

    Peregrine falcon, once near extinction, now can be viewed in the skies over the Blue Ridge Parkway.

  • Mallard Creek Ski Trail

    • Type: Things To Do
    • Subtype: Skiing
    • Duration: 8-10 Hours
    • Reservations: No
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Old Faithful Area
    • Season: Winter
    • Time Of Day: Day
    Views from the Mallard Creek Trail looking toward Midway Geyser Basin and the Madison Range.

    The Mallard Creek Ski Trail is a 12 mile (19.3 km) round-trip, most-difficult, skier-tracked trail that takes advanced skiers over challenging terrain.

  • Lone Star Geyser Ski Trail

    • Type: Things To Do
    • Subtype: Skiing
    • Duration: 5-7 Hours
    • Reservations: No
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Old Faithful Area
    • Season: Winter
    • Time Of Day: Day
    Lone Star Geyser erupting with a rainbow captured in the spray.

    The Lone Star Geyser Ski Trail is a 9 mile (14.4) round-trip, easy, machine-groomed trail that takes skiers along the Firehole River to Lone Star Geyser.

  • Yellowstone National Park

    Bannock Ski Trail

    • Type: Things To Do
    • Subtype: Skiing
    • Duration: 1-2 Hours
    • Reservations: No
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Northeast Area
    • Season: Winter
    • Time Of Day: Day
    Ski tracks travel through a forest.

    The Bannock Ski Trail is a 2 mile (3.2 km) easy ski that follows the old road bed that once used to supply the mining town of Cooke City, Montana.

  • Spring Creek Ski Trail

    • Type: Things To Do
    • Subtype: Skiing
    • Duration: 6-8 Hours
    • Reservations: No
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Old Faithful Area
    • Season: Winter
    • Time Of Day: Day
    A cross-country skier smiles as they travel downhill along a trail through a forest.

    The Spring Creek Ski Trail is an 8 mile (12.9 km) one-way, skier-tracked, most difficult ski that requires excellent speed control and turning skills.

  • Yellowstone National Park

    Observation Point Loop Snowshoe Trail

    • Type: Things To Do
    • Subtype: Snowshoeing
    • Duration: 1-2 Hours
    • Reservations: No
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Old Faithful Area
    • Season: Winter
    • Time Of Day: Day
    A geyser in the middle of a snowy field erupts steam and water high into the air.

    The Observation Point Loop Snowshoe Trail is a 2.0 mile (3.2 km) snowshoe only trail that treats visitors to unobstructed views of the Upper Geyser Basin and the Firehole River.

  • Yellowstone National Park

    Tower Fall Ski Trail

    • Type: Things To Do
    • Subtype: Skiing
    • Duration: 2-3 Hours
    • Reservations: No
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Tower Area
    • Season: Winter
    • Time Of Day: Day
    Icicle formations encase a waterfall surrounded by columns of rock.

    The Tower Fall Ski Trail is a 5.0 mile (8 km) round-trip easiest trail that allows skiers to enjoy canyon views of the Yellowstone River and Tower Fall.

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Last updated: December 1, 2020

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