Extreme Adventures in Our National Parks
This is for the daredevils who climb things for the sole purpose of jumping off of them. Base jumping, hang gliding and whitewater rafting are just a few of the extreme activities in our national parks.
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/editorial/profiles/editors/holly-aguirre/holly-aguirre_headshot.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.91.91.suffix/1626102047204.jpeg)
![Paddle the Pacific](http://travel.home.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/travel/fullrights/2016/03/7/1/GettyImages_AnacapaIsland_NP-extreme-adventures_02.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.966.644.suffix/1491593784831.jpeg)
Photo By: Great Art Productions
Photo By: Witold Skrypczak
Photo By: Simon Russell
Photo By: Peter Haley
Photo By: Steve Burns
Photo By: Celso Diniz
Photo By: Forest Woodward
Paddle the Pacific
Anacapa Island in the Channel Islands National Park, just off the coast of Los Angeles, is home to some of the best kayaking on the West Coast. Rich with marine life and boasting the much-photographed Arch Rock, Anacapa is the perfect day trip or overnighter for the city dweller looking to get into some rough water. It’s a cliff island, so beware of winds, currents and fog.
Float the Border
Hit the Sandy Slopes
Colorado has Aspen, one of the most famous skiing destinations on the planet. It also has Sand Dunes National Park, one of the only sandboarding and sandsledding destinations on the planet. Slalom down the granular slopes like some diabolical combination of Jean-Claude Killy and Lawrence of Arabia. Hit the dunes early in the morning or late in the evening, lest you roast in the 150° midday heat. And don’t forget the lip balm.
Cold Storage
Take in the Lights
Yosemite Gliding
The Rafters
Hit the Heights
Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park boasts rock formations that will set a climber’s mouth to watering. The 415-square-mile park is a full-service climbing destination, featuring opportunities for scaling rock, wall, ice and snow. Lumpy Ridge and Longs Peak are favorites of local and international climbers. Whether you are an experienced sport climber or a beginning boulderer, be safe and leave no trace of your visit.