There are good reasons to worry about U.S. national parks right now.
The Trump administration’s extensive layoffs of National Park Service workers and proposed cuts of $1.2 billion to the federal agency’s budget—amounting to a reduction in funding of almost 25%—will have a sharply negative impact on everything from preservation efforts and recreational programming to daily operations involving trail maintenance and bathroom cleanup.
Conservationists have decried the cuts as a “bleak vision for the country” and “an all-out assault on America’s national parks.”
Many observers fear public lands will be turned over to underfunded state governments or extractive private interests.
Responding to these grim circumstances, Australia-based adventure tour company Intrepid Travel is launching a new collection of “Active-ism” trips designed to combine outdoor adventure in U.S. national parks with advocacy for protecting their future.
To the latter end, each multiday trip will be hosted by a conservation expert who will lead discussions with tour-goers about the importance of the national parks on the itinerary, the challenges they face, and the things ordinary folks can do to help safeguard these important places against destruction.
Meanwhile, Intrepid’s experts lead attendees on hikes, wildlife-viewing experiences, and cultural events with local community members.
In a bid to improve access, Intrepid is making the Active-ism tours more affordable by up to $600 than other offerings on the company’s roster, reports USA Today. And Intrepid plans to donate $50,000 to nongovernmental groups working to protect U.S. national parks.
Where You Can Take Intrepid’s National Park Tours Led by Activists
Intrepid currently has two Active-ism itineraries available for booking, with departure dates starting in the autumn of 2025.
The first is a 5-day Zion & the Grand Canyon tour covering “the red sandstone cliffs of Zion National Park” in Utah (pictured above) and “the rim of the Grand Canyon” in Arizona, plus a chance to “learn about the culture and history of Monument Valley during a Navajo guided tour.” The guest activists on that route are public lands advocate Alex Haraus (Nov. 1–5) and Black Girl Environmentalist founder Wawa Gatheru (April 14–18, 2026). Prices start at $1,446 per person, including food, activities, and accommodations (but not airfare).
There’s also a 6-day Yellowstone & the Grand Tetons option that showcases those Wyoming parks’ geothermal wonders and unparalleled wildlife viewing. You might even spot elusive wolves during a “special tracking expedition.” Hosts for that tour: climate activist and environmental educator Michael Mezzatesta (June 7–12, 2026) and environmentalist Leah Thomas (June 14–19, 2026). The price is $3,183 per person, including food, activities, and accommodations (but not airfare).
Fearing the chaos unleashed by the budget and staffing cuts, some experts have advised travelers to skip U.S. national parks for the moment, perhaps opting instead for the calmer preserves of Canada.
While that might be a shrewd course of action when U.S. parks are likely to be at their most overburdened—during the busy summer season, for instance—Intrepid’s Leigh Barnes told USA Today that the first step toward becoming an advocate for national parks is visiting them.
“Just going to our national parks is a form of activism,” Barnes said, “going and experiencing will mean you’re more passionate, more curious, and will take more action afterwards.”
Maybe seeing what we stand to lose will prod us to put up a fight.
For more information on Intrepid Travel’s Active-ism tours, go to IntrepidTravel.com.
