While we can’t travel or leave the house right now (and we hope you are not), you may be going a little stir-crazy. Well, we have found some of the best documentaries available to stream right now that highlight the best of our national parks, and we hope they satisfy your itch to travel. While some are educational, others are purely entertaining. So grab the kids, your roommate, start a Netflix viewing party or a happy hour on Zoom, and travel to these parks from the comfort of your couch.
The National Parks: America’s Best Idea
A six-episode series filmed over the course of six years in some of the nation’s most spectacular areas. Produced by Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan, you’ll travel through the national parks, from Acadia to Yosemite. Perfect for all ages!
Watch on: PBS (free) and Prime Video (free with membership)
National Parks Adventure
Narrated by Robert Redford, you’ll follow a team of adventurers through the national parks. The film was originally created to be seen in IMAX 3D, so you’ll feel as if you are climbing the mountain peaks, trekking through forests, and soaring over red rock canyons…all from the comfort of your own home.
Watch on: Netflix (free with membership)
Great Yellowstone Thaw
This three-episode PBS documentary follows the various wildlife in Yellowstone – grizzly bears, wolves, bison, owls and beavers – and how they adapt to the changing seasons. While most people often visit Yellowstone in the summertime, this film gives a great look into the park in different seasons.
Watch on: Prime Video (rent for $3.99) and hope it comes back to Netflix soon
Free Solo
If you haven’t seen this Oscar-winning film yet, you’re in for a treat. Free solo climber Alex Honnold attempts to climb the 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite… without a rope. While we don’t encourage free soloing, we highly recommend this film. Prepare to have your palms sweating and your heart racing throughout this documentary.
Watch on: Prime Video (free with membership) and Disney+ (free with membership)
The Dawn Wall
Follow another legendary climber, Tommy Caldwell, as he tackles a horrifying experience abroad and prepares to scale 3,000 feet of the incredibly difficult Dawn Wall of El Capitan. Another favorite in our household.
Watch on: Netflix
Valley Uprising
One that we can’t seem to get enough of (seriously, I’ve probably seen it 40 times) is this timeline of rock climbing in Yosemite Valley. Documenting how it all began and following it through the years, you’ll get to explore the walls of Yosemite with all the climbers that have come before. Maybe not the best for young kids due to language and content.
Watch on: Prime Video (free with membership)
Have others you recommend? Let us know! And don’t forget to keep dreaming about your next vacation.