Insiders’ guide to US national parks

It’s not just about tents.

 

Whether you prefer to spend the night in a sleeping bag at a campground or in a four-poster bed at a new resort, there are myriad choices surrounding America’s national parks.

 

Consider the possibilities at the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Travelers can sleep in the wild, yet serene North Rim Campground or splurge on the luxurious Amangiri resort, where staff can help plan activities like diving excursions to underwater rock carvings.

 

Here, F&W presents an insider’s guide to the places to stay in and around America’s spectacular national treasures.

 

Yellowstone, Wyoming

 

Mainly in Wyoming, though it juts into Montana and Idaho, Yellowstone is the oldest national park and is most famous for its Old Faithful geyser.

 

Luxe Way: The Ranch at Rock Creek

 

At this new 6,600-acre property in Montana, four hours by car from Yellowstone, guests ride horses and fly-fish by day; at night, they can choose four-poster beds in the lodge or safari-style tents by the creek.

 

Rough Way: Yellowstone’s Madison and Canyon campgrounds

 

The Madison campground is 16 miles from Old Faithful; the Canyon campground is less than a mile from the biggest canyon along the Yellowstone River.

 

Grand Canyon, Arizona

 

Carved by the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

 

Luxe Way: Amangiri

 

Made of concrete and stone in sand-colored tones that blend into the desert canyons and plateaus of southern Utah, this 34-suite resort is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from the Grand Canyon. It’s also just 15 minutes from Lake Powell, which has nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline; the resort can arrange for geologist- and naturalist-led hikes as well as snorkeling and diving excursions to underwater rock carvings.

 

Rough Way: Grand Canyon Field Institute

 

Grand Canyon Field Institute offers four- and five-day photography and archaeology classes, as well as naturalist-led hikes. The class fees go toward supporting education and research in the park.

 

Rocky Mountain National Park

 

Luxe Way: Three Forks Ranch

This 200,000-acre property on the Colorado-Wyoming border, a three-hour drive from Rocky Mountain National Park, is a working ranch where guests can help wrangle cattle. But most visitors—about 30 at a time, maximum—come to fish. A mobile kitchen meets anglers to serve them lunches like grilled flatiron steak; at dinner, guests can choose from cult Napa bottlings like Opus One and Caymus.

 

Rough Way: Rocky Mountain’s Moraine Park Campground

 

Near the Beaver Meadows entrance, this campground provides ready access to world-class climbs like Petit Grepon.

 

Grand Teton, Wyoming

 

Grand Teton National Park has glacial lakes and awe-inspiring peaks—Grand Teton is 13,770 feet.

 

Luxe Way: Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa

 

A ski resort in winter, this Jackson Hole, Wyoming, hotel is a mile from the entrance to Grand Teton National Park. Most of the 145 rooms have amazing views of the Grand Teton mountains and Snake River Valley—though perhaps the best view is from the 24-person rooftop hot tub at the 16,000-square-foot Solitude Spa. Chef Kevin Humphreys has revamped the menu to include dishes like cornmeal-crusted scallops and wild boar andouille.

 

Rough Way: Barker-Ewing’s

 

Barker-Ewing’s four-hour whitewater rafting expedition down the Snake River is beginner-friendly and travels through some of the deepest gorges in the river.

 

Shenandoah, Virginia

 

With more than 500 miles of trails leading to waterfalls and vistas (including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail), Shenandoah National Park offers paths for both leisurely walkers and experienced hikers.

 

Luxe Way: Keswick Hall at Monticello

 

This 600-acre resort is only an hour’s drive from Shenandoah National Park, near Virginia wine country and Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s former estate. Set inside a Tuscan- style villa, the inn’s 48 guest rooms feature canopied four-poster beds and antique furnishings like hand-painted armoires. The inn also boasts three pools, a spa and a signature golf course designed by legendary golfer Arnold Palmer.

 

Rough Way: Big Meadows Campground

 

This secluded spot is still close to many major facilities and popular hiking trails in the park. Three waterfalls are within walking distance.

 

Acadia, Maine

 

Acadia National Park is the country’s fifth-smallest national park, but every year, more than two million people visit its 120 miles of hiking trails, 45 carriage roads and Cadillac Mountain—at 1,530 feet, the highest peak on the Eastern Seaboard.

 

Luxe Way: The Harborside Hotel & Marina

 

This resort recently completed a multimillion-dollar redevelopment and now offers over 150 rooms and suites with balconies overlooking Frenchman’s Bay. Puffin- and whale- watching tours depart from the Harborside Pier, and an on-site spa offers special treatments for hikers, like a cooling massage to help reenergize tired legs.

 

Rough Way: Blackwoods Campground

 

Within a 10-minute walk of the ocean, this campground also has the best access to trails. Reservations are recommended for camping from May 1 through October 31.

 

Everglades, Florida

The largest subtropical wilderness in the United States is also home to many rare and endangered species.

 

 

Luxe Way: The Villa by Barton G.

 

This 19,000-square-foot boutique hotel, with butler service, recently opened in the former Versace Mansion in Miami Beach (an hour’s drive from Everglades National Park). The Villa Suite—once the bedroom of fashion designer Gianni Versace—features a double king-size bed, two balconies, seven closets and a custom oversize shower.

 

Rough Way: Flamingo Campground

 

This scenic spot, with many campsites overlooking the water, provides cold-water showers, picnic tables and grills. The area makes a prime location for saltwater fishing and is also close to several hiking and canoe trails. Reservations are strongly recommended.

 

Big Bend, Texas

 

Big Bend National Park Covering 800,000 acres, the park encompasses the Chihuahuan Desert, the Rio Grande river and the Chisos Mountains.

 

Luxe Way: The Gage Hotel

 

In addition to being a hotelier, owner J. P. Bryan is an oil tycoon and the great-great-nephew of Stephen F. Austin, the “Father of Texas.” Bryan’s lineage (and riches) helped him acquire the Southwestern artifacts that decorate the hotel. In the property’s 7.5-acre Gage Gardens, there are desert plants, fish ponds, a putting green and a quarter-mile walking trail.

 

Rough Way: Rio Grande Village Campground

 

The largest developed campground in the park offers 100 sites. Since it’s located near the Rio Grande River, the area is ideal for observing wildlife. Reservations may be made up to 180 days in advance and are highly recommended, especially during spring break, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

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Tags: America's National Parks, Health/ Food/ Diet, national parks, Travel, US national parks

Category: Health/ Food/ Diet