John and Jen Nelson, with their son Stephen, at Partition Arch, in Arches National Park. Hiking is always on the agenda for any national park trip. All photos courtesy of Jen Nelson.

The Nelson family has a goal: to visit every single National Park by 2032, which is the year that their son, Stephen, will graduate from high school. Since 2021, when they’re not at their Stagecoach home, John, Jen and Stephen have traveled the country, checking off one park after another. Steamboat Magazine caught up with Jen in between travels.

Steamboat Magazine: What was the first park that you visited?
Jen Nelson: Growing up in Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park felt like it was right in my backyard. Rocky was the first national park I visited when I was a kid. Fast forward to 2020, during the Covid shutdown, my son was home from school, and we were looking for ways to keep learning. One day, we watched a documentary about Glacier National Park. When the narrator described Lake McDonald and its colorful, rainbow-like rocks, my son looked at me and said he wanted to see them in person. So, we decided to make that wish come true. Our trip to Glacier in 2021 was unforgettable – stunning landscapes, incredible wildlife and that magical lake. We were so inspired by the experience that we made the bold decision to visit every national park.

SM: Tell us more about your overall goal in visiting all the national parks; what do you hope to take away from these trips?
JN: Each national park was established and protected for its own unique reasons – some to showcase the natural beauty and stunning landscapes of our country, while others preserve important historical sites. For me, the primary goal of visiting the parks is to engage in experiential learning, both for myself and for my son, as we explore the science and history behind each park. I make our visits immersive and comprehensive, taking the time to fully appreciate each park, with the goal of completing our journey by the time my son graduates high school.

SM: How many have you visited so far?
JN: So far, we’ve visited 51 of the 63 national parks together. Along the way, we’ve also explored quite a few monuments. Some of my favorite side trips have been to places that preserve Native American history and culture, such as Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico. We don’t have any visits to new parks planned for this summer, but we’re looking forward to revisiting a few favorites – Yosemite and Grand Teton.

SM: What are some things that you figured out from your first park visit to now?
JN: This is a big, audacious goal. It’s not always easy, but it’s always an adventure. Any parent knows that traveling with kids adds extra layers of planning, patience and a good sense of humor. I’ve learned that sticking too rigidly to a plan doesn’t work. We’ve had to change course due to weather, trail and road closures, unexpected delays and illness. But that’s part of the journey. Staying flexible and embracing the detours has been essential, not just to reaching our goal, but to enjoying it.

SM: What is your typical routine? Do you always do a hike? Do you try local food? Do you always camp?
JN: In every park, I have a few minimum goals to make the most of our visit.

• Go on at least one hike. Some parks are more hiking-focused than others, and in those, I try to hike as many of the highlight trails as possible. Hiking is often the best way to fully experience the park’s beauty, and the deeper into the park you go, the better it is.
• Camp in the parks whenever possible. We’ve managed to camp in many of the parks, though occasionally we’ve had to stay in a hotel or Airbnb due to logistics or lack of campgrounds. For me, it offers a more immersive and memorable experience. Camping in the park also gives us a headstart on the day – easier access to trails, early morning adventures and sunsets. You could say I’m a sunset enthusiast.
• Stop by the visitor center. We always check out the exhibits, browse the bookstore – some of my favorite books are ones I picked up at a visitor center – and talk with the rangers about current conditions. The exhibits make the experience more educational by deepening our understanding of the park’s ecosystems, history and unique features. We also pick up a Junior Ranger booklet for my son at each park. These booklets are filled with fun, educational activities that teach him about the local flora, fauna, geology and history.

 Stephen hikes on the Valley View Overlook Trail in Saguaro National Park.

SM: How do you plan the trips in terms of deciding whereto go next?
JN: My process usually starts with my son’s school schedule, the amount of time we have, the season and whether we’ll be flying or driving. Seasonality plays a big role – some parks are best experienced at certain times of the year. For example, Glacier National Park is a hiker’s paradise, but most of it is buried in snow during winter and only fully accessible in summer. On the other hand, Death Valley National Park is best visited in the cooler winter or shoulder seasons to avoid the extreme summer heat. Once I narrow down which park to visit and when, I dive into the details. I probably own just about every national park guidebook out there, so I start with those for recommendations. From there, I do my own research and piece together an itinerary that fits our travel style and interests.

SM: What have been your favorite spots so far and why?
JN: Here are my top five.
1. Glacier. Stunningly beautiful and sentimental – this is where our journey began. The park’s wild landscapes and rich history, especially its connection to grizzly bears, make it endlessly fascinating.
2. Grand Teton. Another epic destination with something for everyone: thrilling adventures, apex predators, breathtaking hikes and a Western culture all its own. Our family has been visiting for decades, and it’s become one of our most cherished traditions.
3. Yosemite. Another iconic park that takes your breath away. Possibly the most beautiful park in the country. My son actually cried when it was time to leave.
4. Arches. This park holds so many wonderful memories for me. With one of my all-time favorite campgrounds, surreal views and mind-blowing geology, it feels like stepping into another world.
5. Grand Canyon. The scale is absolutely awe-inspiring. I was lucky enough to snag one of the nearly impossible-to-get reservations for a cabin at Phantom Ranch. A few friends and I hiked from the rim to river to ranch and back, seeing the millions of years old rock layers up close along the way – it was a wow experience.

 Jen and Stephen at Delta Lake in Grand Teton National Park.

SM: What has been the most surprising thing you’ve discovered?
JN: How much land for the national parks was donated by the Rockefeller family. Their generosity and dedication to conservation have given us so many extraordinary parks to enjoy – Teton, Acadia, Virgin Islands, Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah. And their impact doesn’t stop there – they played a role in preserving many other natural treasures across the country.

SM: What are your favorite anecdotes from past trips?
JN: We meet so many interesting people in parks. While camping in Acadia, my son became friends with a campsite neighbor from Brooklyn that wanted to be his pen pal. While camping in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, the island’s massive volcano, Mauna Loa, suddenly woke up and erupted nearby. We were initially concerned about how close we were, but thankfully, we were at a safe distance from the lava flows. Watching the glowing streams of lava slowly make their way down the mountain was an unforgettable experience.

Mauna Loa volcano erupted for the first time in 38 years while the Nelsons were visiting Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

My son has been rock-climbing for about five years now and watching him scale walls with such confidence and joy has always inspired me. Recently, I decided to pick climbing backup myself so I could share that experience with him. Since then, we’ve started weaving climbing into our national park adventures. There’s something magical about seeing these stunning landscapes from a whole new angle. One of our most unforgettable trips was to Joshua Tree, a climbing mecca, where we really dove deep into the sport as a family. Those moments, balancing on the edge of a cliff with the wilderness around us, made our park visits feel even more fun and special.