Celebrating National Parks Week: Facts from our National Parks

The national parks of the United States are a long-honored treasure and a must see for tourists and locals alike. With these parks sprinkled all over the country, there’s something different for everyone! Whether it be snow on the mountains in Denali National Park in Alaska or plunging canyons in the Grand Canyon of Arizona, you will find adventure at its best right in America. We are taking you on our own tour through the country and highlighting some of the most fascinating facts from each of these parks. Put on your hiking shoes, grab your canteen and join us on this magical journey.

Arches National Park:

• Arches National Park is located in Moab, Utah and is perfect for nature enthusiast, hikers, campers and geology lovers
• Bring your camera to Delicate Arch; it is one of the most photographed sites within the park and features a large sandstone arch that you can see from near and far
• The park contains over 2000 natural sandstone arches, it is a true one-of-a-kind adventure

Denali National Park and Preserve:

• Mt. Denali, formerly Mt. McKinley is the highest peak in North America and it is right here in this Alaskan park
• Mt. Denali was renamed in 2015 to pay homage to the native Koyukon language of the Athabaskan people
• Denali encompasses 6 million acres in a sub-arctic ecosystem and contains fascinating animals such as grizzly bear, wolf, Dall sheep and moose.

Kenai Fjords National Park:

• Kenai Fjords is home to an array of marine wildlife that includes orcas, sea lions and fin, gray, minke, sei and humpback whales. Animals to see on land are moose, goats, otters, hares, lynx, black and brown bears, wolverines and gray wolves
• Exit Glacier is one of the parks most famous attractions because of its accessibility and gradual recession, be sure to listen to its crackle!
• Paddle the fjords, go on a boat ride, take a tour with a ranger or take a flight tour while in the park

Wrangell – St. Elias National Park and Preserve:

• This Alaskan park is the largest national park in all of the United States; it also covers the largest wilderness area in the entire National Wilderness Preservation System, it equals 6 Yellowstones
• Mount Wrangell, from which the park gets its name, is one of the largest active volcanoes in North America
• The Malaspina Glacier spills out from the St. Elias Mountains between the bays of Icy and Yakutat, this natural phenomenon is called a Piedmont glacier

Grand Canyon National Park:

• The Grand Canyon’s appearance is mainly due to erosion and took 3-6 million years to form; erosion continues to alter it to this day
• The Grand Canyon National Park receives close to 5 millions visitors each year
• Grand Canyon was made a national monument in 1908 and established as a national park in 1919
• The Grand Canyon area contains about 277 miles of the Colorado River and is populated by five main Indian tribes including; The Hopi, Navajo, Havasupai, Paiute and Hualapai

Yosemite National Park:

• Yosemite has a huge array of things to do while in the park including Tuolumne Meadows, Tioga Road, Hetch Hetchy Valley, Crane Flat Area, waterfalls, rock formations, lakes and rivers.
• Yosemite welcomes millions of guests a year due to its large area of over 1,000 square miles
• Bears are plentiful in Yosemite so it important to follow the rules regarding bears and food storage while in the park

Redwood National Park:

• Named for the tallest trees on Earth, this 200 square mile park is also home to prairies, woodlands, coastline and river ways
• Hiking and camping is an excellent way to see the beauty of the Redwood National Park and some areas even allow a leashed pet
• Find animals here such as banana slugs, gray whales, black bears and sea anemones to name a few

Sequoia National Park:

• This park is named for the towering Sequoia trees and is located in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains
• While the Redwood is the tallest tree, a tree by the name of General Sherman, a giant sequoia located in the park, is the largest tree in the world
• Glacial canyons, large lake basins, green meadows and granite peaks are all natural sites that you must see while in this park

Mesa Verde National Park:

• Located in Colorado, this national park is home to the Ancestral Pueblo people who have called it home for over 700 years
• The park protects around 5,000 known archaeological sites which includes 600 cliff dwellings that can be seen while visiting the park
• Mesa Verde means “green table” in Spanish and describes the beauty of plant life and natural formations in the park

Crater Lake National Park:

• Named for Crater Lake, a caldera lake formed within a now collapsed volcano called Mount Mazama
• A violent eruption occurred 7,700 years ago and caused the collapse of this tall peak, it was even witnessed by Native Americans in the area at the time
• Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and it is fed by rain and snow; it is known for its dark blue color and excellent water clarity

Badlands National Park:

• Layered rock formations, towering landscapes, towering mountains, and steep canyons all await you at this national park located in South Dakota
• The park contains one of the worlds richest fossil beds and some fossils are on display for visitors at the Fossil Exhibit Trail
• Highway 240, or Badlands Loop Road, is a great place to go for a drive and enjoy many scenic lookouts

Bryce Canyon National Park:

• Bryce Canyon is located in southern Utah and is home to hoodoos, or crimson-
• colored spire rock formations that make this park famous
• The Bryce Amphitheater, a depression filled with hoodoos, is a must-see while visiting the park
• Prime viewing hours for the park and its magnificent formations are around sunup and sundown, so get your cameras out during this time!

Zion National Park:

• Located in southwest Utah, this national park is most famous for its steep red cliffs and beautiful rock formations
• Sites that you must see while in Zion include Angels Landing, Virgin River and The Narrows, these sites are all great for a hike and picture
• Enjoy paths and trails that pioneers and ancient peoples walked in this narrow slot canyon

Canyonlands National Park:

• Canyonlands National Park was carved by the Colorado River and is located in the southeastern part of Utah, near Moab
• Fantastic buttes, canyons, rock pinnacles called “The Needles”, Horseshoe Canyon and Island in the Sky, a flat-topped mesa, are all sites you must see while visiting Canyonlands
• Rivers divide this diverse park into four main districts; Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze and the rivers

Grand Teton National Park:

• This picturesque park is located in the state of Wyoming and encompasses an entire mountain range, the Tetons
• The park is excellent for hiking, camping, fishing, mountaineering and getting excellent pictures
• Must see adventures in this alpine landscape include Jenny Lake, an extremely picturesque site you will want a photograph of, Taggart Lake Trail, an easy/moderate hiking trail and Teton Park Road, a road that gives a nice overview of the park

Yellowstone National Park:

• Wyoming, Montana and Idaho share this large park that is atop a volcanic hot-spot; this results in mud pots, hot springs, geysers and lots of steam
• Old Faithful, perhaps the world’s most famous geyser, is located here and is named for the predictable nature of its eruptions
• Yellowstone was the world’s first national park for good reason; mountains, forests, lakes, wildlife and the beauty of the natural world are all here for your pleasure

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve:

• Located in the southeast Alaskan wilderness, this park gets its name for the immense glaciers that can be seen here, including the Grand Pacific Glacier
• This huge park covers 3.3 million acres and includes every aspect of nature from steep mountains to large glaciers to temperate rain-forests
• Be on the lookout for excellent wildlife viewing here including humpback whales, sea-lions, puffins and brown bears