USA TODAY International Edition
10BEST: After- dark park adventures
National parks might see crowds during the day, but there’s no reason to leave when the sun goes down. Come night, visitors can watch wildlife, stargaze and even see lava flows. “The landscapes transform after dark. It’s like being in a brand new place,”
NORTHERN LIGHTS VIEWING, DENALI, ALASKA Plan to visit from fall through early spring to up your chances of seeing the ethereal aurora borealis. “It’s truly a once- in- a- lifetime experience,” Weiner says. While catching the northern lights is never guaranteed, the park benefits from its wilderness setting and northern latitude. 907- 6839532; nps. gov/ dena
SWAMP HIKE, EVERGLADES, FLORIDA There’s not much spookier than a swamp at night, with its cacophony of croaking frogs and hooting owls, and glowing alligator eyes peering up from the dark water. Nighttime tours provide a chance to safely take in the spectacle from the safety of a boardwalk. “If you like a little bit of a thrill, this one’s for you,” Weiner says. 305- 242- 7700; nps. gov/ ever
SLEEP IN A CANYON, GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA Before you can have this nighttime adventure, you’ll first need to have the daytime adventure of riding a mule or hiking to the base of the Grand Canyon. There, visitors can spend the night in rustic cottages built by Mary Colter, the famed architect who designed the historic buildings on the canyon rim. “There’s a long sense of tradition there. You can spend the night Wild- West style,” Weiner says. 928- 638- 7888; nps. gov/ grca
OCEANSIDE CAMPING, ASSATEAGUE ISLAND, MARYLAND This barrier island national seashore, which straddles the Virginia- Maryland line, is famous for its wild horses. But it also welcomes overnight guests yearround at its campgrounds. “You can fall asleep to the waves,” Weiner says. 410- 641- 1441; nps. gov/ asis
EVENING WILDLIFE TOUR, YELLOWSTONE, WYOMING AND MONTANA Yellowstone’s famed wildlife doesn’t punch a time clock. Indeed, one of the best times to see its residents, including, bear, bison, elk, moose and wolves, is at dusk. “This is when the animals really come out,” Weiner says. Several companies and outfitters offer tours, including Yellowstone National Park Lodges, which use the park’s iconic yellow buses. 307- 344- 7381; nps. gov/ yell
MOONLIGHT VALLEY TOURS, YOSEMITE, CALIFORNIA Visitors get an entirely different view of Yosemite Valley by the light of the moon, Weiner says. “You’ll see the shadows and the giant rock faces Yosemite is famous for. Dusk accentuates the looming cliffs.” You can enjoy the scenery on tours using open trams or on bicycle, offered on full- moon nights from May through October. 209- 372- 0200; nps. gov/ yose
LAVA VIEWING, VOLCANOES, HAWAII Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, puts on a regular evening show, emitting a nighttime glow easily seen by visitors to this park on the big island of Hawaii. The best photo opportunities come after dark, Weiner says. Several companies offer tours, and the public also can easily see the caldera vent within Halema’uma’u Crater from the overlook at the park’s Jaggar Museum. 808- 985- 6000; nps. gov/ havo
STARGAZE, BIG BEND, TEXAS On a clear night, you can see more than 2,000 stars in this isolated west Texas park, certified as an International Dark Sky site because of its low light pollution. “The entire sky is just a blanket of stars. It’s one of the best places in the Lower 48 to go stargazing,” Weiner says. But you might want to skip visiting during the summer months, when temperatures can reach 120 degrees. 432- 4772251; nps. gov/ bibe
BIOLUMINESCENT KAYAKING, VIEQUES NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, PUERTO RICO It’s an otherworldly sensation to swim in a bioluminescent bay, Weiner says. As you move the water, it disturbs micro- organisms, which begin to glow around you. “It’s almost like you’re floating through darkness on this cloud of neon,” she says. Several outfitters provide trips to Mosquito Bay, which abuts the refuge. fws. gov/ caribbean/ Refuges/ Vieques/