Our National Parks Promise
At Sunrise Tours, our National Parks tours are more than just scenic drives — they’re expertly crafted journeys filled with unforgettable moments. As our resident “National Parks guy,” Caleb Lawson has had the privilege of leading groups through over 20 iconic parks across the U.S. Read on as Caleb shares how Sunrise Tours will continue to navigate changing park conditions while still delivering extraordinary adventures on our National Park tours.
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Dear Sunrise Travelers,
Often times when I meet our travelers for the first time their reaction is, “Oh, you’re the National Parks guy!” It’s a distinction I am fond of, and one that was earned mostly in 2021 as Sunrise Tours navigated the travel landscape in our new post-Covid world. As I guided tour after tour through more than 20 National Parks, there were many challenges awaiting us. Group size restrictions, park staff shortages, and availability or willingness of local guides to join our groups were all situations with which we dealt.
Our first National Parks tour back on the road took us to Big Bend, a remote park in the far southwestern corner of Texas. Big Bend was one of the last parks to loosen its grip on group size limitations, so while the motorcoach had to remain outside the park, I drove a locally rented van with small groups of passengers for tours of the park over a 3-day period.
On a tour through the canyons of the southwest we faced a late timed entry into Zion, so I took the opportunity to bring the group to a lesser visited yet stunning part of the park, the Kolob Canyons. In nearby Glen Canyon, the boat tour of Lake Powell was not back up and running, so we took a calm rafting trip on the Colorado through Horseshoe Bend and created one of my all-time favorite experiences on a Sunrise Tour. Though the challenges were present, we succeeded again and again in creating unique and memorable experiences for our travelers that I remain proud of to this day.
National Parks have been the subject of media attention recently, due to reports of staffing shortages and budget cuts. While the vast majority of changes to park services have happened at smaller units and not the famous larger parks, it has created speculation about what will or won’t be available during our tours. Understandably, our travelers want to know if the experience they have in a National Park will be the same this year as in previous years.
I am happy to report that we have not had to remove or significantly alter a single experience from our 2025 National Park tour offerings, and we’re planning for an even more robust list of National Park tours for 2026. And while any park lover knows the importance of National Park Rangers and service staff, it’s usually the case that our partners in the park work for private companies and are not subjected to changes in park staffing or funding. Therefore, our guides and excursions are all still anxiously awaiting our arrival.
I can also assure our travelers that Sunrise Tours is adept at handling any scenario that may come our direction, and if needed, will appropriately adjust and even work to improve the on-tour experience. As the unofficial “National Parks guy,” it’s important to me that each guest has the opportunity for those true National Park moments on Grand Canyon & Red Rocks, Glacier & Waterton, Yellowstone & Grand Teton, or any of our other park tours. You have my word that Sunrise Tours will never stop working to help you create those moments.
Sincerely,
Caleb Lawson
Vice President, Sunrise Tour
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Whether you’re dreaming of exploring the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Glacier, or any of our other National Park tour destinations, rest assured that Sunrise Tours is ready to guide you there with expertise and care. Our 2025 and 2026 National Park tours remain as inspiring and immersive as ever — thoughtfully adapted when needed, but always with your experience at heart. Join us, and let’s discover the best of America’s National Parks together.
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