It doesn’t take a week-long trek or four-hour flight to get out of the city and into some of the nation’s most crazy-beautiful natural landmarks. In fact, roughly a third of all National Park Sites are in urban areas, and even more are close enough for a day trip drive.
“If you look at the National Parks Service as an expression of what we think is important about America, these are places that we preserve and we think are important and tell our story as a nation,” said Rick Kendall, Superintendent of the National Parks of Vermont and New Hampshire who works to support National Park development in and around urban communities. “Our hope has been to sort of raise awareness of parks and get people outdoors as much as we can and make sure that people realize that these outdoor spaces are there for them to love and enjoy.”
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Whether you have an afternoon or a three-day weekend to kill, here are five National Parks to get your nature-fix in without trading in your 24-hour deli for a sleepy country life.
5. Olympic National Park
Beyond ultra-modern corporate offices and pungent fish markets, Seattleites are just over two hours from one of the Northwest’s greatest natural areas. With its glacier peaks, stoic beaches, and rainforest paths, Olympic National Park basically transcends all natural logic while providing hiking and camping opportunities within spitting distance of the state’s capitol. There’s no reason not to get into nature up there.
Northwest purists might argue with you about how Olympic is best experienced as multi-day backpacking excursions, a ton of park sites are accessible for the ambitious daytripper. The deep waters of Lake Crescent, a glacier body surrounded by hiker-friendly old growth forest, is less than three hours from Seattle, or get rosy in the red-tinted sands of Ruby Beach, just off the 101.
Veteran outdoor adventurers can trek the 17 mile Hoh River trail through moss-coated rainforest paths to the snow-capped views of Glacier Meadows on the shoulder of Mount Olympus, or follow the popular High Divide Loop on a two or three day wonder through lakes, valleys, and mountains in the Sol Duc Valley region. It’s a complete natural package close to a city.
4. Point Reyes National Seashore
At over 71 thousand acres of rugged preserve, it seems like no Northern California city is more than a two hour drive from a ridiculously beautiful corner of Point Reyes National Seashore.
This National Park site sits just over an hour from San Francisco and Napa, and only another 45 minutes from Sacramento and San Jose, so you have no excuse not to get here. Point Reyes trades in Southern California’s congested boardwalks and bro’d-out beach sports for more than 1,500 species of plants and animals including black bears, gray whales, elk, and elephant seals.
If you’re into endurance hiking you can break in your boots on the 13 mile trek to Alamere Falls to see an epic cliffside cascade. Rookies are better off taking the 1.75 mile walk to Chimney Rock in the eastern Point Reyes Headlands for elephant seal sightings and bird watching. But the real gem is the less than one mile walk out to Point Reyes Lighthouse, known for its excellent whale watching potential since when was the last time you saw a whale? Seriously.
3. Everglades National Park
This place is home to endangered and threatened swamp dwellers, including manatee and the elusive Florida panther (yep, it’s a real thing), Everglades National Park is a full-blown protective operation only 45 minutes from millionaire mansions and yachts in Miami. Oh, and it’s just over an hour from Fort Lauderdale if you’re around there for some reason.
Once you say adiós a Miami and hit the Everglades, explore the park’s mangrove forests and freshwater marshes by kayak or canoe. Extra ambitious paddlers can try out the famous 99-mile Wilderness Waterway, which connects Flamingo and Everglades City through a maze of mangrove-lined creeks after securing a permit to camp along the way.
If you’re interested you better get off the beach and into this park soon. Everglades is already feeling the effects of climate change with warming waters and rapidly rising sea levels, which threaten the existence of the plant and animal species that make this World Heritage Site one of the nation’s richest parks.
2. Saguaro National Park
Literally located within the city limits of Tucson, Saguaro National Park is a crazy-easy visit for urban Arizonans or people rolling through the southwest. The park is home to the giant Saguaro Cactus, which can grow to be 60 feet tall. Why wouldn’t you want to see a 60-foot cactus?
The more than 140 square miles of Saguro are easy to explore in two day trips, since the park’s divided by the city into the eastern Rincon Mountain District and western Tucson Mountain district, each with their own unique ecosystems.
The western side’s Bajada Scenic Loop Drive has expansive views, ancient rock art, and some short wildflower hikes along the way. The eastern side’s Cactus Forest Drive offers views of the Rincon Mountains and access to the short Desert Ecology Trail walk through cactus and palo verde trees. Great vibes await at either choice..
1 .Great Smoky Mountains National Park
At less than two hours away from urban hubs including Knoxville, Asheville, and Chattanooga, it’s really no wonder that Great Smoky Mountains National Park is consistently ranked the Most Visited National Park in the country. It’s basically the outdoor center of the southeast, and has the mountain views, wildflower field, and flowing streams to back it up.
The park’s many day hikes provide some worthy getaways from city life, like the four-mile hike to Charlies Bunion (a stone viewpoint offering mountain and valley sights galore) or the longer six-plus mile Rainbow Falls trail with views of an 80 foot water cascade that’s known to freeze in an hourglass shape in winter months.
Although it’s an awesome single or multi-day trip, keep your eyes out for storm and fire-fueled trail closures. The park has been plagued by serious forest fires for years, with a devastating impact on wildlife and surrounding communities alike.
To find the way to a National Park near your own city, check out the National Park Service’s interactive map, complete with park listings by state, directions, and suggested activities. Contacting parks directly can also be a great way to find information about transportation options from cities, accommodations, and opportunities to volunteer. Sites like this one can also offer a wider listing of state and national parks, forests, and other protected outdoor spaces near cities and communities
