Text and photo by TMNCPC Blogmaster Paula Dittrick
The National Park Service recently celebrated its 104-year birthday. In response to COVID-19, Big Bend National Park in West Texas is in the first phase of reopening.
Access is restricted to certain areas of Big Bend, including 60 miles of scenic paved roads. Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River is closed to all river use. Anyone planning a trip to Big Bend can check the Big Bend NPS web site for the latest update.
But if you cannot get away for travel to Big Bend, you can take an online tour of some of the other NPS parks. Google Arts & Culture worked with rangers from five national parks.
You can virtually descend into an icy crevasse, kayak around icebergs, and watch how a glacier melts at Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska,
Nahuku Lava Tube, which is a cave formed by flowing lava, is featured for a visit to volcanoes at Hawai’I Volcanoes National Park, Hawai.
A park ranger takes you 750 feet underground in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, discovered by a Texas ranch hand who saw bats flying out of the caverns.
You can see the red rocks of Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, during an online tour that involves both day and night hikes.
There is no need to charter a boat or a plane to get to see Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida, on a virtual tour.