9 Epic National Park Adventures Across America
Watch this full episode of Equitrekking now on YouTube and stay tuned for more adventures coming soon.
What’s the best way to experience America’s national parks? Sometimes it’s on horseback. Other times, it’s by kayak, along a hiking trail or beside a local guide who can reveal the history and meaning behind the landscape.
In this special episode of Equitrekking, Emmy Award–nominated host Darley Newman travels across the United States to explore nine spectacular National Park Service destinations. The journey stretches from Utah’s red-rock hoodoos and Alaska’s glaciers to Georgia’s wild coastline, Hawaii’s active volcanoes and the geothermal wonders of Yellowstone.
The full episode is now available to watch on YouTube as the first of many Equitrekking adventures coming to the Darley Newman channel.
Experience America’s National Parks in a New Way
This national parks adventure offers much more than a collection of beautiful views. Darley meets local guides, equestrians and experts who illuminate the wildlife, history, Indigenous cultures and communities connected to these protected landscapes.
Viewers can ride horseback through Bryce Canyon, kayak near an Alaskan glacier, encounter wild horses on Cumberland Island and explore volcanic landscapes in Hawaii.
Along the way, the episode shares ideas and expert insights for travelers planning their own national park vacations, horseback riding trips and outdoor adventures.
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
The adventure begins among the famous red-rock hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park. These towering geological formations create one of the most distinctive landscapes in the American Southwest.
Darley heads below the rim on horseback for a closer look at Bryce Canyon’s dramatic scenery, distinctive vegetation and imaginative rock formations. Riding through the park offers an entirely different perspective from viewing its expansive amphitheaters from above.
Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
At Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska’s mountains, glaciers and coastal wilderness come together in one extraordinary destination.
Darley takes to the water to experience the park’s immense landscapes and wildlife. Kayaking near a glacier provides a powerful sense of scale—and a reminder that these frozen environments are constantly moving and changing.
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Back in Utah, Capitol Reef National Park reveals colorful cliffs, canyons, domes and layers of human history.
Visitors can discover scenic trails, ancient petroglyphs and evidence of the pioneers who once settled in this rugged landscape. Whether explored on foot, by horseback or along the park’s scenic drives, Capitol Reef offers natural beauty and fascinating stories at every turn.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina
Darley explores Great Smoky Mountains National Park on horseback, traveling through forested mountain scenery while learning about the people and cultures connected to the region.
The episode also highlights the area’s Cherokee heritage, adding important cultural context to one of the country’s best-known national park landscapes.
Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia
Wild horses, undeveloped beaches, maritime forests and historic ruins make Cumberland Island National Seashore one of Georgia’s most remarkable destinations.
Accessible by ferry, the barrier island offers miles of trails and coastline to explore. With no paved roads or public transportation, Cumberland Island invites visitors to slow down and experience a place where nature still sets the pace.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona
At Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Darley travels with Navajo guides through a landscape shaped by thousands of years of human history.
Located within the Navajo Nation, the canyon is home to ancient cliff dwellings, petroglyphs and communities whose connections to the land continue today. Exploring with a local guide offers a deeper understanding of the canyon’s history, culture and enduring significance.
Haleakalā National Park, Maui
Haleakalā National Park can feel like two completely different worlds.
At the summit, Darley explores an otherworldly volcanic landscape filled with rare plants and sweeping views. The journey then continues into Kīpahulu, where Maui’s lush rainforest, waterfalls and tropical vegetation offer a dramatic contrast to the crater above.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Hawaiʻi Island
On Hawaiʻi Island, the landscape is still being shaped by volcanic forces.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park encompasses Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, two of the world’s most famous volcanoes. Darley explores a place where geology, Native Hawaiian culture and the power of the natural world are profoundly connected.
Yellowstone National Park
The episode concludes at Yellowstone National Park, where bison, colorful hot springs, bubbling mud pots and other geothermal features create one of America’s most iconic landscapes.
As the world’s first national park, Yellowstone helped establish the idea that extraordinary natural places should be protected for future generations. Its combination of wildlife, geology and history makes it a fitting conclusion to this journey through America’s public lands.
Plan Your Own National Park Adventure
Whether you’re building a national parks bucket list, researching the best U.S. national parks to visit or searching for your next horseback riding, hiking, kayaking or wildlife adventure, this episode offers inspiration from coast to coast.
Which experience would you choose: horseback riding through Bryce Canyon, kayaking near an Alaskan glacier, seeing the wild horses of Cumberland Island or exploring Hawaii’s volcanic landscapes?
Watch the full episode above and share your choice in the YouTube comments.
More Equitrekking Episodes Are Coming to YouTube
This national parks special is the first of many full Equitrekking episodes coming to YouTube.
Subscribe to the Darley Newman YouTube channel to be notified when the next adventure is released, and stay tuned for more horseback riding, outdoor exploration, history, culture and remarkable destinations from around the world.
