National Parks Traveler

Fall can be a great season for visiting the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, but to take advantage of the full range of visitor facilities and services, don't wait too long—the annual closure of that area for the upcoming winter will begin on October 16, 2014.

Exploring miles of boardwalk and a dense canopy of old growth hardwood trees might be what many visitors remember about Congaree National Park. But about ten times a year the waters from the Conagree and Wateree Rivers sweep through the floodplain wilderness, opening up a whole new surreal world for paddlers and an opportunity to discover the forest from a unique perspective. Kayak through the woods and experience this special place through the eyes of local veterans Eric Guzman and Edye Joyner.

True, the 100th birthday of the National Park Service is almost two years off. But it's not every year one turns 100, and if you're going to throw a party, a lot of prep needs to go into it. With that in mind, how do you think the agency's centennial should be marked?

Fall is a season of transition in the National Park System, from long, hot days with crowded roads and trails, to cooler, crisper weather that beckons you to make a few more trips before winter sets in. Here is the third of four suggestions to jump on now, or to add to your to-do list.