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Yosemite Valley

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See. Yosemite High Sierra Camps Enter the lottery for this 56-mile loop through the Sierra Nevada mountains. Half Dome↗×2 pubs Stare up at the sheer size of this iconic rock formation. Yosemite Falls Trail Hike this popular trail, even if it's crowded.

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Lonely PlanetSep 1, 2026

15 US National Parks Perfect for Fall Road Trips

Fall is an awesome season for road trips. These US national parks are driving destinations that deliver on foliage, fresh air and much more.

24 things in this storyRead the full piece at Lonely Planet →

Lonely PlanetAug 24

The Best Permit-Only Hikes in the US – and How to Actually Get a Spot

Navigate the permit systems and secure a spot on these top hiking trails in the USA.

25 things in this story
  • Half DomeSightInfamous Yosemite hike requiring permits when cables are up.
  • Mist TrailTrailTrailhead for Half Dome hikes in Yosemite Valley.
  • Curry Village tent cabinsHotelLodging near Half Dome trailhead in Yosemite Valley.
  • Pizza DeckRestaurant
  • Elsewhere
  • Sequoia National ParkPlaceThree Rivers, United StatesPark where one route for Mt Whitney begins.
  • Kalalau TrailTrailHāʻena, United StatesSpectacularly rugged trail to cliff-framed Kalalau Beach.
  • Hāʻena State ParkSightHāʻena, United StatesPark providing access to the Kalalau Trail.
  • The WaveTrailPage, United StatesLayered orange and pink sandstone swirls in rugged desert.
  • Wire Pass TrailheadTrailPage, United StatesTrailhead for The Wave, 1 hour from Page, Arizona.
  • Angels LandingTrailZion, United StatesSteep, narrow trail with chains and sheer drops.
  • The GrottoSightZion, United StatesStarting area for the Angels Landing hike.
  • Refrigerator CanyonSightZion, United StatesScenic canyon passed through on Angels Landing hike.
  • Walter’s WigglesSightZion, United StatesFamed switchbacks on the Angels Landing trail.
  • Mt WhitneyTrailLone Pine, United StatesTallest mountain in the Lower 48, requires wilderness permits.
  • Inyo National ForestSightLone Pine, United StatesForest where one route for Mt Whitney begins.
  • Whitney PortalTrailLone Pine, United StatesMost popular starting point for Mt Whitney hike.
  • Alabama HillsNature reserveLone Pine, United StatesUnderrated area near Mt Whitney worth visiting.
  • The EnchantmentsTrailLeavenworth, United StatesUnspoiled wilderness with craggy peaks and glassy lakes.
  • Alpine Lakes WildernessSightLeavenworth, United StatesWilderness area in the Cascade Mountains.
  • Stuart LakeTrailLeavenworth, United StatesPopular starting point for The Enchantments hike.
  • Leavenworth Ranger StationSightLeavenworth, United StatesLocation for daily lottery for The Enchantments permits.
  • Nāpali CoastSightHāʻena, United StatesSpectacular coastline on Kauaʻi, accessible by boat, helicopter, or trail.
  • Snow LakesTrailLeavenworth, United States
  • Leavenworth ShuttlePlaceLeavenworth, United States
  • Loop ConnectorPlaceLeavenworth, United States
Read the full piece at Lonely Planet →

Lonely PlanetAug 12

The best inn-to-inn hikes in the USA

Do-it-yourself multiday hikes between inns are harder to find in the USA than in Europe, but these six are worth the effort.

23 things in this story
  • Yosemite National ParkHotelHome to the High Sierra Camps.
  • Elsewhere
  • Bright Angel TrailTrailGrand Canyon, United StatesTrail for ascending from the canyon.
  • Big Meadows LodgeHotelShenandoah National Park, United StatesBig Meadows Lodge offers an ideal walkable experience for those wishing to dine, shop, drink, and explore right outside…
  • Appalachian TrailTrailWhite Mountains, United StatesScramble over granite boulders, dart across summits.
  • Lakes of the CloudsHotelWhite Mountains, United Statesstate of New Hampshire.
  • Appalachian Mountain ClubPlaceWhite Mountains, United StatesManages backcountry hut system since 1888.
  • Highland CenterHotelWhite Mountains, United StatesNear Crawford Notch, popular trailhead.
  • Joe Dodge LodgeHotelWhite Mountains, United StatesAt Pinkham Notch, near popular trailhead.
  • Lewis Mountain CabinsHotelShenandoah National Park, United StatesCabins have outdoor grill, picnic tables, gift shop.
  • SkylandHotelShenandoah National Park, United StatesThe show is a co-production between Paris's Method…
  • Bascom LodgeHotelMount Greylock, United StatesArts-and-crafts-style rooms on Mt Greylock summit.
  • Harbour House InnHotelCheshire, United StatesWelcoming inn in Cheshire, short walk from trail.
  • TouristsMotelNorth Adams, United StatesRevamped motor court with 90-acre campus beside river.
  • North Kaibab TrailTrailGrand Canyon, United StatesSteep trail for dropping into the canyon.
  • Phantom RanchHotelGrand Canyon, United StatesHikers gather for cold beer and family-style dinners.
  • El TovarHotelGrand Canyon, United StatesRustic elegance, fine end-of-hike reward.
  • Grand Canyon LodgeHotelGrand Canyon, United StatesDining options, rooms and cabins have ceiling fans.
  • South Kaibab TrailTrailGrand Canyon, United StatesTrail to Phantom Ranch from the South Rim.
  • Sneffels RangeTrailOuray, United States34-mile mountain path from Telluride to Ouray.
  • San Juan HutsPlaceOuray, United StatesManages four shelters along the Sneffels Range path.
  • Mt SneffelsSightOuray, United StatesSummit of 14,157ft in the Sneffels Range.
  • GreenleafHotelWhite Mountains, United States
  • Zealand FallsHotelWhite Mountains, United States
Read the full piece at Lonely Planet →

Lonely PlanetJul 15

12 of the newest national parks in the US

You might already know the most popular US national parks, but maybe not the newer ones. Here

19 things in this story
  • YosemiteSightIt is bordered on the southeast by the Sierra National Forest and on the northwest by Stanislaus National Forest.
  • Elsewhere
  • YellowstoneSightYellowstone National Park, United StatesIt was established by the 42nd U.S.
  • Grand CanyonSightGrand Canyon Village, United StatesThe Grand Canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide and attains a depth of over a mile.
  • Great Smoky MountainsPlaceGatlinburg, United StatesThey are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains and form part of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province.
  • White SandsAirportAlamogordo, United StatesSled New Mexico's gypsum dunes, otherworldly hues at sunrise/sunset.
  • New River Gorge National Park and PreserveNature reserveOak Hill, United StatesWest Virginia's first national park, great for white water rafting.
  • SaguaroSightTucson, United StatesHome to towering Arizona cacti, some tallest in the world.
  • CongareeSightGaston, United StatesSouthern swamp with strange root sculptures from giant cypress trees.
  • Indiana DunesNature reservePorter, United StatesUrban park with incredible biodiversity, rivals Hawaiʻi.
  • Gateway ArchParkSt. Louis, United StatesUtterly moving monument honoring westward migration.
  • PinnaclesSightSoledad, United StatesKnown for eroded spires, extinct volcano, and talus caves.
  • Great Sand DunesSightMosca, United StatesTallest dunes in North America, great for sandboarding.
  • Cuyahoga ValleyNature reserveBrecksville, United StatesPeaceful and waterfall-filled urban oasis.
  • Black Canyon of the Gunnison National ParkNature reserveMontrose, United StatesNamesake rock walls drop a dizzying 2600ft below.
  • IntegratronSightJoshua Tree, United StatesCuriosity built by a UFOlogist, used for sound baths.
  • Crochet MuseumMuseumJoshua Tree, United StatesA teeny tiny museum.
  • Noah Purifoy outdoor museum and sculpture parkMuseumJoshua Tree, United StatesOutdoor museum and sculpture park.
  • Krblin Jihn KabinSightJoshua Tree, United StatesArt installation dedicated to an alternate reality.
  • Signal Hill Petroglyph TrailTrailTucson, United StatesBeginner-friendly trail to hundreds of examples of rock art.
Read the full piece at Lonely Planet →

OutsideJun 29

National Parks Out West Get All the Hype, but I Prefer Our Eastern Ones. Here’s Why.

Sure, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon are impressive, but our national parks columnist argues national parks in the East rival their popular counterparts out West when it comes to biodiversity, accessibility, and more.

21 things in this story
  • Half DomeSightawestruck at the sheer size of the rock
  • El CapSighttallest vertical rock face in the world
  • Elsewhere
  • YellowstoneSightYellowstone National Park, United Stateswater is boiling and tie-dyed
  • Grand CanyonSightGrand Canyon Village, United Statescontemplated the insignificance of humankind
  • Angels LandingTrailSpringdale, United Stateshit by vertigo
  • New River GorgeNature reserveOak Hill, United StatesEstablished in 1978 as a national river and redesignated in 2020, the park and preserve stretches…
  • Great Smoky MountainsPlaceGatlinburg, United StatesThey are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains and form part of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province.
  • EvergladesPlaceHomestead, United StatesJust an hour from Miami, the 1.5 million acres of Floridian flora and fauna that make up the Everglades are home to…
  • BiscaynePlaceHomestead, United StatesWithin sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and…
  • Dry TortugasPlaceKey West, United StatesThe park preserves Fort Jefferson and the several Dry Tortugas islands, the westernmost and most isolated of the…
  • Denali National ParkHotelDenali, United Statestallest mountain in the U.S.
  • Crater Lake National ParkPlaceCrater Lake, United Statesdeepest lake in the U.S.
  • Great Smoky Mountains National ParkPlaceGatlinburg, United Statesbiodiverse regions, black bears and massive elk
  • Sequoia National ParkPlaceThree Rivers, United Statessheer volume of the trees is awesome
  • Shenandoah National ParkPlaceLuray, United Stateshardwood forest painted red, yellow, and orange
  • GSMNPPlaceGatlinburg, United Statessynchronous fireflies coordinate their light show
  • Appalachian TrailTrailGatlinburg, United Statesmost famous footpath in the world
  • Blue Ridge ParkwaySightAsheville, United Stateslongest linear park in the country
  • AcadiaNature reserveBar Harbor, United States
  • ShenandoahPlaceLuray, United States
  • CongareePlaceHardeeville, United States
Read the full piece at Outside →

OutsideMay 7

Is There a Good Way to Visit Our National Parks in 2026? It's Complicated.

The same record-breaking crowds that are ruining the experience at places like Yellowstone and Yosemite may be the only thing keeping them protected from budget cuts and development.

4 things in this story
  • Yosemite Falls TrailTrailYosemite National Park, United StatesPopular trail with a steady stream of hikers.
  • YellowstoneSightYellowstone National Park, United StatesPark on track to spend $1.5 billion to update wastewater systems.
  • Sarah LeonardPlaceEstes Park, United StatesCEO of Visit Estes Park.
  • Cassidy JonesPlaceYellowstone National Park, United States
Read the full piece at Outside →

OutsideApr 10

In Defense of Visiting the Obvious Places (Like Crowded National Parks)

I’ve spent my career writing about under-appreciated gems and getting away from the crowds. But there’s something to be said for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a bunch of strangers and staring at something gorgeous—especially in the times we’re living in right now.

7 things in this story
  • El CapitanSightYosemite National Park, United Statesrising from Yosemite Valley
  • Old FaithfulHotelYellowstone National Park, United Statesdependable natural wonder in Yellowstone
  • Yosemite ValleyHotelYosemite National Park, United Statesobvious place, worth the hassle
  • Cades CoveSightGreat Smoky Mountains National Park, United Statespastoral valley in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  • The NarrowsTrailZion National Park, United StatesIt connects the Upper New York Bay and Lower New York Bay and forms the principal channel by which the Hudson River…
  • Angels LandingTrailZion National Park, United Statespopular hike requiring a lottery
  • Jackson LakeSightGrand Teton National Park, United States
Read the full piece at Outside →

OutsideApr 1

The 5 Best Waterfalls to Visit During the Spring Snowmelt

Despite the dry winter, spring is when waterfalls are at their most breathtaking. Witness a snowmelt waterfall firsthand in these five locations.

18 things in this storyRead the full piece at Outside →
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