Walk in a national park

Walking in a national park means stepping into land a country has set aside to protect its wildest scenery and wildlife, and following a trail into it on your own feet. It's one of the easier lines in the Wild chapter and one of the most rewarding: many parks have a short walk that gets you to the view in an hour.

Where to do it

Yellowstone National Park, United States

The world's first national park, created in 1872, with geysers, boiling springs, bison herds and wolves. Walk the boardwalks around Old Faithful and the Grand Prismatic Spring, and stay on them: the ground near thermal features can be thin and the water scalding. Summer crowds in this corner of the United States are heavy, so start early.

Banff National Park, Canada

Turquoise lakes under the Rockies, with easy shoreline walks at Lake Louise and harder climbs to the teahouses above it. Private cars can no longer drive to Moraine Lake, so book the Parks Canada shuttle. A park pass is required for all of Canada's mountain parks.

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Granite towers, glaciers and lakes at the bottom of Chile. The W Trek takes four or five days, or you can walk to the base of the towers in a long day. Campsites and refuges must be booked ahead, and the wind can knock you off your feet.

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Sixteen-odd lakes stepping down a valley in waterfalls, crossed by wooden boardwalks. Swimming is not allowed. In summer this park in Croatia fills by mid-morning, so buy a timed ticket online and arrive at opening.

Kruger National Park, South Africa

A self-drive safari on good roads, with lions, elephants and leopards possible in a day. You stay in your car except at marked rest camps and lookouts, and camp gates open and close at set times. For an actual walk in this park in South Africa, book a ranger-led walking safari.

Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

Rainforest, waterfalls and the fiords of Milford and Doubtful Sounds. The Milford Track is one of the country's Great Walks and needs a booking months ahead; short walks start along the Milford Road. It rains a lot in this corner of New Zealand, which is what feeds the waterfalls.

Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam

Limestone hills full of caves, including the wooden walkways of Paradise Cave and boat trips into Phong Nha Cave. The giant Son Doong cave can only be visited on a few long, costly expeditions each year. The rest of the park in Vietnam is an easy day from Phong Nha village.

Swiss National Park, Switzerland

Switzerland's only national park, founded in 1914, is protected strictly: you stay on marked trails, dogs aren't allowed and there's no camping. In return you may see ibex, chamois and red deer in the Engadin.

Kakadu National Park, Australia

Wetlands, waterfalls and rock art painted over thousands of years, in Australia's tropical north. Saltwater crocodiles live in its rivers and pools: swim only where the park says it's safe. In the wet season many roads close.

How to make it happen

• Check the park's own site first for passes, timed tickets and shuttles.
• Start early. Car parks fill and the light is better; animals are most active at dawn and dusk.
• Keep your distance from wildlife. In Yellowstone the rule is at least 100 yards (91 m) from bears and wolves and 25 yards (23 m) from everything else, bison included. Never feed animals.
• Carry the basics: water, a layer, a map downloaded offline, and tell someone your route on longer walks.
• Stay the night. A campsite inside the park gives you the trails at dawn; see sleep under canvas or stars.
• Get the photo on the trail, inside the park with camera location on.