From a day at the beach and high-altitude hikes to historic trails and summertime celebrations, the long days and short nights make July a great time to enjoy all the national parks have to offer.
Looking for a national park to celebrate Independence Day, or want to learn more about the history of our nation? These national parks are perfect for visiting for the Fourth of July or connecting with the past.
Looking to cool off this summer? National parks offer more than epic views—they’re also great places to beat the heat. Whether you’re splashing in a lake, hiking in the high country, or exploring a shaded cave, these parks let you enjoy the season while staying refreshed.
Hit the trail where travelers journeyed more than a thousand years ago between Missouri and New Mexico. From prairie crossings to mountain passes, the Santa Fe National Historic Trail weaves through five states, offering you a chance to walk, drive, bike, or horseback ride sections of this 1,200‑mile route steeped in history.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area, America's first and largest national recreation area, offers a diverse array of outdoor activities set against a backdrop of stunning desert landscapes and expansive blue waters. Spanning over 1.5 million acres, the area encompasses two vast lakes—Lake Mead and Lake Mohave—providing ample opportunities for adventure and relaxation.
Explore soaring sand dunes set against snow-capped peaks at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. This Colorado park protects the tallest dunes in North America, formed over countless years by wind and water in the heart of the San Luis Valley. As a preserve, the park provides the perfect balance of outdoor recreation and natural preservation, serving as a sanctuary for hundreds of vulnerable species of wildlife and plants. Enjoy a stunning natural wonder that preserves delicate and diverse ecosystems from beautiful wetlands to alpine tundra.
Wallace James Jr is the Trader at Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, the oldest continuously operated trading post in the West. He and the Hubbell team will travel to Bandelier National Monument, White Sands National Park, and Petroglyph National Monument this spring and summer in a traveling series known fondly as “Hubbell on the Road,” where attendees can browse exquisite Navajo rugs and jewelry and listen to inspiring talks about the history of Navajo weaving, artistry, and culture.
Nestled in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, the mountains, canyons, and hidden ponds of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument are like nowhere else on Earth. It’s the only place in the United States where organ pipe cacti grow wild, and is home to...
What Are Zuni Fetish Carvings? Zuni fetish carvings are made from stone and sometimes accented with other traditional materials, depicting animals that each hold unique and significant spiritual meaning. The Zuni people believe that each fetish...
In the high-altitude forests of southwestern New Mexico is an important Indigenous cultural heritage site. Here at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, visitors can learn about and see several cliff dwellings built by the people of the Southern...
