Your Own Private Ranger

Private guides are available from the National Park Society for universities, church groups, friends traveling together, family reunions, couples, travelers with disabilities and special interest groups like photographers, wildlife watchers, history buffs and more. 

Private group at Mount Rushmore

These trips are customized to the needs, interests and budget of the client and are perfect for travelers who desire privacy, flexibility and spontaneity, or who have health or mobility concerns.

Your vacation is worry free as we handle all aspects of the trip including transportation, lodging, dinner reservations and activities. We will gladly work with your travel agent to coordinate a seamless experience.

Repeat clients include Southern Methodist University, Godbey Lecture Series, Virtuoso Travel Agency Consortium, Pillar Institute of Learning and many more.

Your private guide is a current or former park ranger and is an expert on your destination. 

Your guide will educate and entertain you and keep you safe. You will learn about the fascinating geology, colorful history and diverse animals and plants of the area. 

You will experience must-see attractions as well as the hidden gems your guide knows about.

Who better to trust your vacation with than a park ranger who is also a professional guide?

Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce National Parks

Costa Rica

Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills

Rocky Mountain and Mesa Verde National Parks

Canadian Rockies

Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island

Arches and Canyonlands National Parks

Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks

Yosemite, Sequoia & Redwood National Parks

Carlsbad Caverns and Big Bend National Parks

Acadia National Park and New England

Lewis and Clark Trail

Historic parks and museums of Washington DC

Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah Parks

Alaska

Hawaii

Ireland, England, Wales & Scotland

New Zealand and Australia

and many more ... it's your choice!

Family reunion in a national park

Your Private Guide - Ranger Kent Taylor

"Kent Taylor is the specialist of specialists."

TravelAge West Magazine

Kent Taylor is the founder, director and lead guide for the National Park Society. He has worked with the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and serves as a park ranger at the world famous Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

An expert on the U.S. and Canadian national park systems, Kent has been leading national park tours since 1984. He also served as a college professor for 5 years as the department chair for a travel and tourism degree program.

Kent's world travels include a 500 mile walk across Ireland, a 1,000 mile bike ride across New Zealand and a 1,500 mile journey through India to the source of the holy Ganges River in the Himalaya Mountains.

He almost married the daughter of a Samoan Chief and survived a night in an Alaskan haunted hotel! While on the road Kent's stories of his adventures will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Ranger Michael Punches 
National Park Society Guide

Michael Punches has served as a national park ranger in many of America's most famous parks including Yosemite, Yellowstone, Mount Rainier, Mesa Verde, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and more. 

He is a member of the National Association for Interpretation. The NAI is a leading professional organization dedicated to advancing the profession of heritage interpretation.

Private trips with friends are more fun!

Activities are designed for your interests, budget and fitness level. Trips can be as active or passive as you like and activities can range from sightseeing by vehicle to day hikes and river rafting to museum visits and historical building tours.

Health or mobility concerns? Do you desire to visit your national parks but have health or mobility issues that keep you from joining traditional tours? Our mission is to assist everyone who wishes to see their parks. Call us to discuss your own private guided experience.

Many parks are very accessible