It’s time for a road trip! Haven’t you always wanted to experience the varied wonders that the United States National Park Service has to offer? From the first national park, the famed Yellowstone, to the most recent, Pinnacles in California, there is so much to explore and enjoy. Just because traditional caches can’t be placed in them doesn’t mean we can’t soak up everything they have to offer. Come with me, won’t you?
Let’s start our journey at Biscayne National Park in southern Florida. Within sight of downtown Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Here too is evidence of 10,000 years of human history, from pirates and shipwrecks to pineapple farmers and presidents. Outdoors enthusiasts can boat, snorkel, camp, watch wildlife…or simply relax in a rocking chair gazing out over the bay.
Next, we head to the aforementioned Yellowstone National Park. It's a wonderland! Old Faithful and the majority of the world's geysers are preserved here. They are the main reason the park was established in 1872 as America's first national park—an idea that spread worldwide. A mountain wilderness, home to grizzly bears, wolves, and herds of bison and elk, the park is the core of one of the last, nearly intact, natural ecosystems in the Earth’s temperate zone.
We could spend an eternity in Yellowstone, but we’ve got to keep moving – there’s lots to explore out there! We’ve got quite a journey to make to get to our next stop, the Kenai Fjords in Alaska, the fourth of seven Alaskan national parks established on December 2nd, 1980. At the edge of the Kenai Peninsula lies a land where the ice age lingers. Nearly 40 glaciers flow from the Harding Icefield, Kenai Fjords' crowning feature. Wildlife thrives in icy waters and lush forests around this vast expanse of ice. Native Alutiiq relied on these resources to nurture a life entwined with the sea. Today, shrinking glaciers bear witness to the effects of our changing climate.
Brrrrrr – that was cold! Let’s warm up a bit with a visit to Redwood National Park. Most people know Redwood as home to the tallest trees on Earth. But the parks also protect vast prairies, oak woodlands, wild riverways, and nearly 40 miles of pristine coastline, all supporting a rich mosaic of wildlife diversity and cultural traditions. Together, the National Park Service and California State Parks manage these lands for the inspiration, enjoyment, and education of all people. This park was established shortly before North Cascades National Park on October 2nd, 1968.
These have been some long trips – let’s try one a little shorter this time by heading to Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. Mesa Verde, Spanish for green table, offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years, from A.D. 600 to 1300. Today the park protects nearly 5,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States.
Back to California? Why not? It does have the most national parks of any state. Let’s visit another one, Yosemite. Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.
Heading back east, we’ll check in at one of the more recently established national parks, Cuyahoga Valley in Ohio. Though a short distance from the urban areas of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park seems worlds away. The park is a refuge for native plants and wildlife, and provides routes of discovery for visitors. The winding Cuyahoga River gives way to deep forests, rolling hills, and open farmlands. Walk or ride the Towpath Trail to follow the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal.
We’re nearing the end of our park tour, so let’s hop on a plane to Denali, Alaska, an unmissable national park. Denali is six million acres of wild land, bisected by one ribbon of road. Travelers along it see the relatively low-elevation taiga forest give way to high alpine tundra and snowy mountains, culminating in North America's tallest peak, 20,320' Mount McKinley. Wild animals large and small roam unfenced lands, living as they have for ages. Solitude, tranquility and wilderness await.
We only have time for one more stop - we’re headed to Washington state to visit the home of another large mountain, Mount Rainier National Park. Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning six major rivers. Subalpine wildflower meadows ring the icy volcano while ancient forest cloaks Mount Rainier’s lower slopes. Wildlife abounds in the park’s ecosystems. A lifetime of discovery awaits.
Well, that ends our trip through some of the US national parks. We could never visit all 59 on one trip, so we’ll have to settle for this small sampling of all the wonders the United States has to offer. And remember, even though you won’t find any ammo cans in any of these beautiful parks, there’s still plenty to enjoy. (Plus, there’s always EarthCaching!)
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