Let's talk about National Parks

[Kagavi]

Thought the board needed a change of pace. It's National Park week and I thought it would be cool to have a thread talking about National Parks, especially since summer is getting ever closer.

I'll start--as part of a new project, Lori and I recently went to Sequoia National Park and it was amazing. There's nothing like the Great Forest anywhere else in the world. Rounding the mountain road curve and seeing the very first giant sequoia tree gave us both chills. Highly, highly recommended.

Even without the sequoias, the area is amazing. There's a specific spot called Eleven Range Outlook just before the edge of the Giant Forest--I attached a picture below. We hope to go back a couple more times this year to do more, including hiking through the various meadows. Maybe I'll find a bear to wrestle with.

Coming up in the near future we have trips planned to Joshua Tree (again) and Death Valley plus more.

Pictures? Stories? Tips? Let's hear them.

 

[00clone]

If you haven't seen it, PBS's series on the national parks is good:

http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

I would love to get out to Sequoia and Yosemite some day. No real stories but I have been to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, The Badlands, Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Canyon and Shenandoah National Park. Here's a few quick pics

 

[RubyClone]

We've done trips to the various national parks in recent years.

Couple years of Yellowstone and Tetons. Last year we went out to Glacier and then crossed the border to visit Waterton in Canada. Tried to get to Rocky Mountain Nat. park a few years back, but got shutdown due to all the wildfires. Last fall managed to get to Arches and Needles in Utah. Hopefully this summer we'll make it up to Isle Royale in Michigan.

For my money - no place more gorgeous than Tetons.

 

[cobraclone71]

Visited Yosemite a little over a year ago...highly, highly, highly recommend if you get a chance.

 

[Doc]

I've been to all the national parks in the southern half of California, and want to go back to almost all of them.

1. Yosemite: Absolutely beautiful in the spring, and there is so much to see in that short drive. The road to Tulommne (sp?) was closed, but I want to go back and drive it sometime.
2. Channel Islands: See attached picture. The wildlife was excellent as well. There is a type of fox only found on the islands and we saw whales and dolphins on the boat ride in. I would like to go back and camp on the beach sometime.
3. Death Valley: It was so surprisingly beautiful. We were there right after a rain. There are great views that are easily driveable. I want to go back and take a 4WD out to the Racetrack.
4. Sequoia: Real big trees. Lots of diversity. I've backpacked the Monarch Lake area and Cottonwoods lakes are and both were beautiful. Marmots everywhere.
5. Joshua Tree: It was kind of lame. My buddy got some really cool pictures of the trees though.
6. Kings Canyon: Seems like more of a backpackers paradise than a sightseers. Didn't spend much time there.

 

[UngluedHorizon]

My favorite is in DC. My Uncle use to have season tickets so I was able to go to about 20 games a year. Absolutely beautiful.

 

[Cycopath]

National parks is the best thing to ever come from the federal government. It is actually the only good thing to ever come from Government.

 

[Mr Janny]

Used to live in a little town just outside of Yosemite. Several family members, including my brother, sister, mother, uncle, aunt, and more, who still work there. I get a lot of pictures sent to me of these absolutely breathtaking views with tags like "just on my lunch break". Makes me quite jealous.

 

[Ciclone]

For my money - no place more gorgeous than Tetons.

Co-signed.

 

[Mr Janny]

National parks is the best thing to ever come from the federal government. It is actually the only good thing to ever come from Government.

Yeah, I hate Interstates and the National Weather Service. Horrible, horrible things. **** the military, too, while we're at it.

 

[cowgirl836]

Don't think I've been to any but would love to see all of them. Shenandoah, Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone and Yosemite would be high on the list.

 

[Cycopath]

Yeah, I hate Interstates and the National Weather Service. Horrible, horrible things. **** the military, too, while we're at it.

Unity at home, neutrality abroad. Working pretty well for Japan

 

[SCarolinaCy]

Used to live in a little town just outside of Yosemite. Several family members, including my brother, sister, mother, uncle, aunt, and more, who still work there. I get a lot of pictures sent to me of these absolutely breathtaking views with tags like "just on my lunch break". Makes me quite jealous.

A fun thing to do at Yosemite is hike the "high sierra" loop, It is a multiple day hike, overniting at tent lodges. 10 week summer days only with permit.

 

[SNEDDS3]

Ledges is where it's at!

Actually Idaho is one of the most beautiful I have been to. I spent some time in the Sun Valley/Ketchum area. So interesting history in Sun Valley with Olympics and celebrites. Actually saw Demi Moore there.

As for a national park, Craters of the moon national monument and preserve is awesome.

 

[Mr Janny]

A fun thing to do at Yosemite is hike the "high sierra" loop, It is a multiple day hike, overniting at tent lodges. 10 week summer days only with permit.

my brother was on a sawyer crew out there, before he got his current gig, and they'd go way into the back country for days at a time, scouting and bringing down trees that were deemed to be a threat to hikers. It's pretty incredible country out there.

 

[CyArob]

Arches
Bryce Canyon
Capitol Reef
Canyonlands
Zion

Utah is pretty awesome.

 

[Doc]

A fun thing to do at Yosemite is hike the "high sierra" loop, It is a multiple day hike, overniting at tent lodges. 10 week summer days only with permit.

Just watch out for that hantavirus.

 

[ThatllDoCy]

When I have kids I plan on doing some remote camping and overlanding through them. Gotta do it before they are gone or I am dead. Whichever comes first.

 

[00clone]

Unity at home, neutrality abroad. Working pretty well for Japan

Nope, you know what, this is about national parks, so I ain't doing it...but my ignore list may be growing.