Best national parks, trails, and historic sites to visit this summer in the American West

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail spans more than 4,900 miles across 16 states, following the route of the Corps of Discovery from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. 
 

Rather than a single destination, the trail is designed to be entered in sections. For summer travel, that makes it especially flexible: visitors can build a trip around nearby segments, stopping at interpretive sites, visitor centers, and preserved landscapes along the route. 
 

In the context of the nation’s 250th anniversary, the trail offers a way to engage with early U.S. expansion in place—through journals, exhibits, and the geography itself. Many sites along the trail emphasize multiple perspectives, including the experiences and knowledge of Indigenous nations who guided and encountered the expedition. 
 

For families or adults looking to add historical context to a summer trip, the trail works less as a checklist and more as a framework for learning across distance. 

Nicodemus National Historic Site in Kansas preserves the story of the only remaining Black settlement west of the Mississippi River established by formerly enslaved people after the Civil War. Unlike many historic sites, Nicodemus is not only preserved—it is still inhabited. Five historic buildings, including a church, school, and township hall, anchor the site and help tell the story of the Exoduster movement and the effort to build a self-sustaining community on the Great Plains.
 

Each summer, the town hosts Homecoming, typically held in late July, when descendants and visitors gather for several days of events, including community meals, music, and commemorative programming. For visitors, this is one of the most meaningful times to experience the site, as interpretation expands beyond exhibits to include ongoing community connections. 

Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Arizona offers more than dramatic views. The monument lies entirely within the Navajo Nation, and it remains home to Diné families who live, farm, and raise livestock in the canyon. The National Park Service and the Navajo Nation manage the site together, making it distinct from many other park experiences in the region. 
 

For summer visitors, the park is especially well suited to early starts. The monument has two paved rim drives with ten overlooks, and the views of Spider Rock and the canyon walls are often best in the morning or late in the day, when temperatures are milder and light is lower on the sandstone. The White House Trail is the park’s public trail, descending about 600 feet on a 2.5-mile round trip hike, and the park advises bringing plenty of water and hiking during cooler parts of the day. 

Just downstream from Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Curecanti National Recreation Area shifts the experience from vertical to expansive. Three reservoirs—Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal—offer opportunities for boating, paddling, and lakeside stops. Blue Mesa Reservoir, the largest body of water in Colorado, is a focal point in summer, with campgrounds, marinas, and fishing access. 
 

Taken together, the two sites make a practical pairing for a multi-day visit: one centered on geology and dramatic viewpoints, the other on water access and longer stretches of open landscape. 

Timpanogos Cave National Monument in Utah operates on a seasonal schedule, typically opening in late spring and running through early fall, which makes summer the primary time to visit.
 

Access to the caves requires a guided tour, and reaching the cave system involves a steep, paved hike of about 1.5 miles (one way) with significant elevation gain. Because of that, planning ahead—especially for timed tickets—is important during peak months.
 

Inside, the caves are known for helictites and other formations that grow in unusual directions, giving the interior a distinct visual character compared to more common stalactite-and-stalagmite systems. Temperatures inside the cave remain cool year-round, offering a noticeable contrast to summer heat outside.