Being a professional whitewater kayaker, a lot of my time is spent tackling some of the craziest whitewater the world has ever seen. When I’m not on the water, my husband, Nick Troutman and I are touring the country. We get to explore some of the United States’ most magnificent National Parks, with our family Tucker and Parker in tow.
Today, I’m sharing with you my top five national parks for families. Some of which you may have already expected and others that you might not have even heard of.
Sequoia National Forest
Number one on our list of top 5 family-friendly national parks is one of our absolute favorites, Sequoia National Forest in California. Sequoia has some of the biggest trees in the world. Not only are they some of the biggest, but they’re also some of the oldest.
Names of the Trees
When we visited Sequoia, my kids really enjoyed getting to know the names and the history behind the magnificent trees. My oldest Tucker was even able to point out the General Sherman, the largest known living single-stem tree on Earth.
Land of Giants
Just being surrounded by the trees themselves was quite magical on its own. So instead of just walking through the forest and seeing the occasional big tree, in Sequoia, you’re surrounded by giants from the second you enter the park.
History of the Trees
The Sequoia National Park does a really good job of explaining the history of the trees. They talk about the obstacles the trees have had to overcome to turn into the beautiful, magical forest that we see today. Another thing that’s nice about Sequoia National Forest is that it's very compact. So if you want to get in there and not hike too far, you totally can because you can just picnic and base yourself around some of the most famous big trees without having to move too far.
Yellowstone National Park
Our second favorite national park for families is Yellowstone. I know it’s a little cliche for some people, but at the same time, 2022 was our first visit to Yellowstone as a family, and it was totally worth the wait.
Wildlife Viewing for Kids
Before visiting, I did not anticipate seeing nearly as much wildlife as we ended up seeing. Even from the beginning, before we even crossed into Yellowstone National Park, we saw so many animals. This made the kids want to look out for them for the entire duration of the trip.
If you wanted to go check out the geyser and some of the other springs, such as a Grand Prismatic Spring, it’s not a far walk at all. It’s definitely worth it. Before you go check out the geyser, be sure that you check with the park the times that they anticipate the geyser to blow. It goes about every two hours. It’s not the best spot to go and chill at for two hours because there is so much more in Yellowstone to do, so schedule and plan your day around it.
Grand Prismatic Spring
I also think it’s really important to check out the Grand Prismatic Spring. It truly does have all the colors of the rainbow. Even on a cloudy, sunny day, it is a beauty to withhold. So definitely make sure you put that on your plan because, in my opinion, you cannot visit Yellowstone without checking out the Grand Prismatic.
Great Biking
If you enjoy a bike ride, then you’ll be happy to know that Yellowstone also has great bike paths throughout the entire park. When my kids get a little older, we’ll definitely be going back to do a lot of exploring via the bike path.
Mesa Verde National Park
Our third favorite national park for families is Mesa Verde in Colorado. The personal reason is that I remember visiting it as a small child myself, so it really was exciting for me to bring my kids back there.
Structure and Important History
Mesa Verde is a structure, and Native American history is everywhere. If you’re teaching your kids, homeschooling your kids, or if you just want your kids to see how people lived centuries ago, you should definitely go check out Mesa Verde because it’s the most intact, inspiring, and truly eye-opening experience for children and for adults as well.
If you’re going to Mesa Verde and you want to visit the structures themselves and walk around them, be sure to plan your guide and your trip early in the morning. There are only certain hours that they allow you to visit the structures. You’re going to want to make sure you get there early so that way you don’t miss out on the opportunity to hike around them.
A Bit of a Drive
One thing I will say is that visiting Mesa Verde requires a lot of driving from location to location. There are a lot of different angles to actually view the dwellings. It’s a big loop, so when you’re driving in, and you first cross the gate to the park, be prepared for an additional 30-45 minutes worth of driving.
Arches National Park
Number four on our family’s favorite national parks list is Arches. I don’t know if many of you have been to Arches in Utah, but Arches is super cool because it’s how I imagine what it’s like being on Mars. There’s beautiful red rock everywhere you look, and the arches themselves are truly amazing.
Moonscapes
There is a lot of hiking at Arches. I’ve done the park three times with my kids now, and they really love it as they always say, “this is what it feels like to be on the moon.” I mean, it really does feel like you’re in a whole new world.
If you’re visiting Arches, then one thing you need to be prepared that it gets very hot, so if you’re going, be sure to really pay attention to the weather, and if it is going to be hot, go early in the morning as it makes a big difference.
Lots of Water and Snacks
One other thing to keep in mind when it comes to Arches is to make sure you bring lots of water and snacks. Because once you’re in there, you’re completely on your own. There aren’t many service stations. So be sure to pack tons of snacks and water because you may just want to keep on hiking.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
The final of our top five national parks is a little different, and it’s in Hawaii. This one is more recent for our family. We visited this past winter, but it’s the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The reason we went is that, well, what kid doesn’t want to check out lava? And when we visited, that’s exactly what happened.
A Unique Family Adventure
When we went to the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, it was absolutely incredible. We went in the late afternoon. By doing that, it allowed us to actually see the lava at night time. Once it gets dark and everyone has their lights off, the amount of red glow that comes out of the lava field itself is really neat.
Late at Night Made it Special
The thing my kids probably loved the most about the Hawai’i Volcanoes we were doing it late at night, way past their bedtime, which made them even more excited to go check it out.
Emily’s Tips for Visiting National Parks with Families
A couple of things to remember. When you’re visiting any national park be prepared and understand the rules. A lot of times, the rules can be confusing. There are certain things you really don’t want your kids touching or playing with. Don't get too close to wild animals!
Preserve History and Nature
Remember that there’s a lot of history and nature that needs to be preserved. Make sure you have a sit down with your kids beforehand and explain to them the rules and the proper national park etiquette.
Snacks and Water for the Kids
Another thing to remember is to bring snacks and water. The lines to the snack bars can be long. The items are usually overpriced, so if you have a dehydrated or hungry kid, it’s really not fun waiting in line. Pack a cooler with everything you need for the day. Make sure that you’re ready to go at any given point so that way you’ve got everything you need to have an awesome day when visiting the national parks.
Make it Fun and a Game
Finally, think about setting up a game for the kids. Instead of being like, “look, isn’t everything around us so beautiful,” it’s more like, “let’s see how many trees we can find that look like this,” or, “let’s see if someone can find a heart-shaped knot in the tree.” Make it exciting, make it fun, and ultimately, make them engage with the outdoors around them.
Sunglasses: Wiley X
So, there you have it, those are my top five national parks for families. I have some personal favorites too. I think these are the five national parks where we had the most family fun. They either have minimal hiking, or the hiking is totally made worth it because of the unique experiences. It is worth checking out these top 5 national parks for families! Sign up to our newsletter to get more family adventure news in your inbox.
