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Compass and GPS is an official activity category in the National Park Service directory. Parks tag their programs, trails, and experiences with this label so visitors can find relevant opportunities. The NPS directory lists compass and gps at 34 parks and sites nationwide. Compare destinations below, filter to national parks only, and open any park page for trails, alerts, campgrounds, and trip p…
34 parks and sites (NPS)
Upcoming programs and events at parks in this collection (from the NPS Events API).
On days that the concessionaire boats run to the islands, guided hikes may be offered by national park rangers, volunteers, or concessionaire naturalists. If they are not available to lead hikes, self-guided interpretive trail booklets are available. Guided hike locations, distances, and departure times will be announced after your arrival on the island during the visitor orientation. Please check with a ranger, volunteer, or concessionaire employee for more information.
As a Friends of Acadia drop-in volunteer, you’ll see a new side of Acadia, feel a deeper connection to the park, and leave this national treasure a little better than you found it. Our Drop-in Stewardship Volunteer Program occurs every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from June through the end of October. While being led by our amazing Volunteer Crew Leaders, you’ll help with important work like cutting back vegetation, clearing drainage features, building bogwalk, tread work, weeding carriage roads, and other tasks. Projects run from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., weather permitting, and no experience or reservation is required!
Drop by anytime during program hours to learn about the phenomena of fall raptor migration, other lesser known migrants, and raptor identification. Wear warm clothes, and bring binoculars and a field guide if you have them. May be adjusted or cancelled due to heavy rain or other adverse weather conditions. Follow the Cadillac North Ridge Trail from the east parking lot at the summit, 200 yards down to an overlook. Need to Know: A Cadillac Summit Road vehicle reservation is required to drive to this location. Visit recreation.gov to reserve one ticket per vehicle. You may purchase a ticket for any time slot during program hours. Terrain on the trail to access the program site is very uneven with rocks and roots in the path. Please be prepared for these conditions if attending. The latest migration data can be followed at: https://hawkcount.org/month_summary.php?rsite=280&go=Go+to+site .
Join a Ranger at Blackwoods Campground Amphitheater to hear about the innovative ways that beavers build in Acadia. Discover why beavers are such effective ecosystem engineers and learn how you can be like a beaver!
Enjoy the car-free carriage roads at a comfortable pace on a ranger-guided 6.0 mile moderate ride while discovering the diverse beauty and history of Acadia. The program price includes the use of a 21-speed bike and helmet for the full day. Accessibility: You may request sign language, live audio description, assistive listening devices, or other accommodation for any scheduled park event or program at Acadia by contacting us at least 10 days in advance at 207-288-3338, option 0, or acadia_information@nps.gov. Learn more at https://go.nps.gov/AcadiaAccessibility
🎨✨ Guided Open Studio with Barbara Woodward 🖌️ Create, Experiment & Keep Your Art Practice Moving! Looking for creative momentum, inspiration, and dedicated time to create? Join Barbara Woodward for weekly Guided Open Studio sessions at Tappahannock Artists Guild. Designed for artists of all skill levels , these welcoming sessions offer regular instruction, encouragement, and accountability while you work alongside fellow artists. 🎉 Studio Highlights: 👩🎨 Guided instruction and encouragement from Barbara Woodward 🎨 Work at your own pace in a supportive studio setting 🖌️ Explore a variety of mediums including acrylic, watercolor, pastels, pen & ink, colored pencils, and more 💡 Develop your skills and experiment with new techniques 🤝 Create alongside other local artists ⏰ Build regular time into your creative practice 📅 Event Details: Dates: September 2 – October 21, 2026 When: Wednesdays 🕙 Time: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM 📍 Location: Tappahannock Artists Guild 200 Prince Street Tappahannock, VA 22560 🌟 Whether you're developing your skills, returning to art, or simply looking for time and space to create, come create with us at TAG!
Join a Ranger at Blackwoods Campground Amphitheater to learn about the wonderful animals of Acadia National Park, how they are all connected, and why biodiversity matters. Program length 44-60 minutes.
Join a ranger on a mostly level 2.3 mile hike through the Great Meadow, to learn how Acadia National Park, the Schoodic Institute, and Friends of Acadia are working together to restore a damaged wetland. Accessibility: You may request sign language, live audio description, assistive listening devices, or other accommodation for any scheduled park event or program at Acadia by contacting us at least 10 days in advance at 207-288-3338, option 0, or acadia_information@nps.gov. Learn more at https://go.nps.gov/AcadiaAccessibility
Reservations are required and can be made by calling (207) 288-3338 -option 0- starting 3 days prior to the program. Location given with reservation. Go birding with a ranger to learn tips and tricks for all skill levels, while discussing the significance of birds in Acadia. This is a short walk with little to no elevation gain, but roots and rocks. Total distance 1.3 miles round trip. Accessibility: You may request sign language, live audio description, assistive listening devices, or other accommodation for any scheduled park event or program at Acadia by contacting us at least 10 days in advance at 207-288-3338, option 0, or acadia_information@nps.gov. Learn more at https://go.nps.gov/AcadiaAccessibility
Join a ranger on a mostly level 2.3 mile hike through the Great Meadow, to learn how Acadia National Park, the Schoodic Institute, and Friends of Acadia are working together to restore a damaged wetland. Accessibility: You may request sign language, live audio description, assistive listening devices, or other accommodation for any scheduled park event or program at Acadia by contacting us at least 10 days in advance at 207-288-3338, option 0, or acadia_information@nps.gov. Learn more at https://go.nps.gov/AcadiaAccessibility
🌊 Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse Tours ⚓ Set Sail for History! Climb aboard for a one-of-a-kind adventure to one of the Chesapeake Bay’s most iconic landmarks! Enjoy a scenic boat ride followed by an exclusive, docent-guided tour inside the legendary Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse —a true treasure of maritime history. Your journey begins at the Annapolis Maritime Museum , where you’ll depart for an unforgettable experience on the water. Your tour also includes admission to the Annapolis Maritime Museum , so you can explore even more maritime stories before or after your trip. ✨ Tour Highlights: 🚤 Scenic boat ride on the Chesapeake Bay 🏠 Guided interior lighthouse tour 🎟️ Museum admission included 📚 Stories of keepers, storms, and seafaring life 📸 Amazing photo opportunities 🕘 Tour Times: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM 📍 Departure Location: 723 Second St, Annapolis, MD 21403-3323 Step inside history, feel the Bay breeze, and discover why this lighthouse has guided sailors for generations! 🌟
⚓ Boatyard Bash at the Richardson Maritime Museum 📅 Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026 🕛 Time: 12:00 – 6:00 PM 📍 Location: 103 Hayward Street, Cambridge, MD “Where Heritage Drops Anchor” Set sail for an unforgettable afternoon on Cambridge Creek at the RMM Boatyard Bash, a lively celebration of Chesapeake Bay maritime heritage ! Bring your friends and family for a day packed with great food, music, boats, and community spirit. 🎉 Event Highlights: 🎶 Live Music All Afternoon – Relax by the water with upbeat, local sounds 🦪 Fresh Oysters on the Half Shell – A true taste of the Chesapeake 🍔 Food Truck Court + Beer – Grab a bite and enjoy creekside refreshments 🚤 Classic Boat Showcase – Explore antique and traditional vessels up close 🛍️ Local Artisans & Vendors – Shop handcrafted goods and maritime treasures 🔨 Nonprofit Partners – Meet organizations making waves in the community 🔨 Live Auction – Bid on unique experiences and one-of-a-kind items 🌊 Support a Great Cause All proceeds benefit the Richardson Maritime Museum’s youth and community programs , helping preserve maritime history and hands-on boatbuilding skills for future generations. Drop anchor with us and celebrate the Bay’s enduring traditions!

Acadia National Park protects the natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States, an abundance of habitats, and a rich cultural heritage. At 4 million visits a year, it's one of the top 10 most-visited national parks in the United States. Visitors enjoy 27 miles of historic motor roads, 158 miles of hiking trails, and 45 miles of carriage roads.

Established in 2000 to preserve, protect and interpret traditional Native Hawaiian culture and natural resources, Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail is a 175-mile corridor encompassing a network of culturally and historically significant trails. This "trail by the sea" traverses wahi pana (storied landscapes), ancient Hawaiian sites and over 200 ahupuaʻa (traditional land divisions).

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937, today the trail is managed by the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, numerous state agencies and thousands of volunteers.

Want to live on the edge? Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests and coastal bays. Rest, relax, recreate and enjoy some time on the edge of the continent.

The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Ancient horses and rhinos once roamed here. The park’s 244,000 acres protect an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live today.

The vast, wild landscape of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area offers visitors unparalleled opportunities to immerse themselves in the natural world, and experience the wonders of this extraordinary place. With over 120,000 acres, one can find an astounding diversity in ecosystems, wildlife, and more than 10,000 years of human history to explore.

People first arrived in the Chesapeake Bay during the last ice age. As glaciers melted, diverse societies learned to thrive in a world of water. When Englishman Captain John Smith explored the Bay in 1608, he documented hundreds of American Indian communities. Today, sites on his map are archeological treasures and sacred sites for tribal citizens. Come join us on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay!

President Franklin D. Roosevelt created programs to give people a chance to rebuild their lives from the Great Depression. The Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps gave this land a second opportunity and through re-growth, a new role as a recreation area.

Channel Islands National Park encompasses five remarkable islands and their ocean environment, preserving and protecting a wealth of natural and cultural resources. Isolation over thousands of years has created unique animals, plants, and archeological resources found nowhere else on Earth and helped preserve a place where visitors can experience coastal southern California as it once was.

Over 41 million acres are connected through the waters that flow to and through Chesapeake Bay. The National Park Service strives to connect people to the opportunities and adventures throughout the watershed. Inspiring stewardship across this vast region supports recreation, business, tourism, learning, and a thriving natural resource for all to enjoy.

Crater Lake inspires awe. Native Americans witnessed its formation 7,700 years ago, when a violent eruption triggered the collapse of a tall peak. Scientists marvel at its purity—fed by rain and snow, it’s the deepest lake in the USA and one of the most pristine on Earth. Artists, photographers, and sightseers gaze in wonder at its blue water and stunning setting atop the Cascade Mountain Range.

Established in 1947 as the first national park created for its biodiversity, Everglades National Park protects 1.5 million acres of wetland, forest, and marine habitats and the native plants and animals that call it home. With several international designations, the park provides a major source of drinking water for local residents of South Florida and recreational opportunities for all.
Showing 1–12 of 34 parks