The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Effortlessly Explore 31 U.S. National Parks from Home with Google Earth

By Ross Collicutt Published August 6, 2021

google earth national parks tour yosemite national park — Yosemite National Park Google Earth

National Parks Week is a time to celebrate the natural wonders and the natural history of the United States. From April 20 to 28, 2019, the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation focus on the amazing places and stories found in the parks. But what if we’re stuck working? We can’t just drop everything and jet around the country to see 61 parks in a day or even a week.

The folks at Google can help with that. The tech giant took its insanely detailed 3D mapping tool, Google Earth, and created guided tours of 31 National Parks around the country. How? The program takes images from satellites and stitches them together for an incredibly detailed view of our favorite places.

Recommended Videos

The Google Earth National Parks Tour starts with a map of the whole country and the 31 National Parks listed. Click on one and be flown into the local area to see 2D and 3D details including individual trees, buildings, and even picnic tables. You can walk through the towering canyons and secret waterfalls of Zion National Park, Utah, or you can step back in time to see the old cannonball shot furnace in Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida.

1 of 3

google earth national parks tour point reyes lighthouse national seashore — Point Reyes National Seashore Google Earth

google earth national parks tour smoky mountains laurel falls — Smoky Mountains National Park Google Earth

google earth national parks tour saguaro national park — Saguaro National Park Google Earth

Each tour steps through the most amazing spots in the park. Sometimes, clicking next flies you to the next location where you can explore on your own; other times, locations are high-quality, 360-degree sphere images that let you spin around and zoom in any direction.

Flying around Google Earth is an addictive experience. Make sure to check out Otter Cliff in Maine’s Acadia National Park and the ancient Pueblo dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado.

Of course, National Parks Week isn’t just about scrolling around on your computer. These are incredible places we can visit in person.

Each day in National Parks Week has a theme. We’re already halfway through the week, but here’s a complete overview:

April 20: National Junior Ranger Day
April 21: Military and Veterans Recognition Day
April 22: Earth Day
April 23: Transportation Tuesday
April 24: Wild Wednesday
April 25: Throwback Thursday
April 26: Friendship Friday
April 27: B.A.R.K. Ranger Day (pet-focused)
April 28: Park Rx Day

Grab your hiking gear, check out the Park Finder, and hit the dirt for your next epic adventure.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ross is an outdoor adventure writer, amateur photographer, and computer programmer based on Vancouver Island, British…

Outdoors

Layering outdoor clothing: Expert tips from a U.S. Special Operations Forces survival pro

Contrary to popular belief, building a fire should not be one of your first priorities for survival

Young man hiking through the mountains

Winter is on the horizon, and that means it's time to start layering up for your favorite outdoor activities. There's a lot of conflicting information out there about how to layer your clothing properly, so it's no surprise to us that the number one cause for outdoor rescues is a result of exposure. That's why we sought out one of the world's foremost survival experts: John Barklow.

As an experienced hunter, a backcountry skier, and an alpine climber, he was handpicked by the U.S. military to train Navy SEALS on how to survive the brutal winters of Afghanistan. He's also had a 26-year career in the Armed Services and was a Navy diver, so, to say the least, he is the expert. Here's what we learned from John Barklow about how to develop your outdoor clothing layering system like a pro.
John Barklow reveals how he came up with the perfect outdoor clothing layering system
U.S. Navy veteran and survival expert John Barklow John Barklow / Sitka Gear

Outdoors

How to plan your Glacier National Park visit for 2025: Reservation deadlines and key rules

Here's what Glacier National Park's new reservation system will mean for you in 2025

Hiking Glacier National Park in Montana.

Glacier National Park is one of the most gorgeous ones in the United States, so it's not a surprise that it saw almost three million visitors in 2023. Visitors can't get enough of Going-to-the-Sun Road, Lake McDonald, and the many lakes and glaciers in the area — the best time to visit Glacier National Park is often the busiest time. Because of the congestion in recent years, the National Park Service had previously enacted a reservation system for entry to the park as part of a pilot program. The National Park Service recently revealed this will continue in 2025, including timed entry reservations for the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork — here's what you need to know.
Here's how it will look like going into 2025
Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park Tevin Trinh / Unsplash
West Entrance: Going-to-the-Sun Road

Reservations required: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., June 13 – September 28.
Applies to travel beyond Apgar Village.
Entry without a reservation: Before 7 a.m. or after 3 p.m.
Exceptions: Visitors with lodging, camping, or certain commercial reservations (originating beyond Apgar checkpoint) will be allowed entry.

Outdoors

National parks nationwide waive entrance fees for Veterans Day

Now's the time to visit your favorite national park

West ridge of Amphitheater Mountain at Yellowstone National Park in the winter

This Veterans Day, national parks across the United States invite all visitors to enter free of charge in honor of the service and dedication of America’s veterans, who have played a significant role in protecting and preserving our cherished national park system. From rescuing stranded hikers to neutralizing old explosives, these veterans have gone above and beyond to serve our nation and the land we hold most dear. Today, more than 4,000 veterans are employed in the National Park Service, and they account for about 20% of the park rangers across the nation.

If you're planning on visiting one of our gorgeous national parks on Monday, November 11, keep in mind that fees for camping and other special activities will still remain in effect. It's bound to be crowded, so make sure that you make any reservations well in advance.