TRAVEL

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

NATIONAL PARKS TO PUT ON YOUR BUCKET LIST

BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES

A DAY TRIP OR WEEKEND EXCURSION TO ONE OF THE MANY NATIONAL PARKS can be just the remedy for anxiety or that stir craziness you might be feeling for much of this past year. The National Park System features 419 national park sites across the United States. Founded in 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson signed the “Organic Act” creating the National Park Service, the federal bureau in the Department of the Interior has expanded across over 85 million acres in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US territories. Key details and local information about all 419 national park sites can be found on their website at www.nps.gov. The National Park Service is committed to telling all Americans’ stories and in addition to their own rich history many of the parks have their own unique LGBTQIA+ heritage and history. Stonewall National Monument, located in Greenwich Village, New York City, for instance, became a National Park in 2016. We went through the expansive list of stunning and notable parks and chose five to add to your bucket list for whenever you are ready and able to head out into the great outdoors.

ACADIA NATIONAL PARK MAINE Considered the “crown jewel of the North Atlantic Coast,” Acadia National Park is home to some of the most gorgeous landscapes of the Eastern Seaboard. The park itself features over 47,000 acres with 158 miles of hiking trails. Roughly 3.5 million visitors make the trek to Acadia each year, and while many will be social distancing this year, there’s plenty to see and do in the park. Some of the most popular hiking trails in Acadia National Park include Champlain Mountain and Beehive Loop Trail, Bubble Rock, Gorham Mountain Trail, and the Great Head Trail. If you’re looking for a hike with a view, plan on exploring the Cadillac Summit trail, offering views of Bar Harbor, Frenchman Bay, and the islands. Go back in time by taking a horsedrawn carriage ride (Victorian gowns are optional) through the park, offered from May through October. There are 45 miles of car-free roads that will lead you through some of the best parts of the park. After your carriage ride, plan on stopping at the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, marking the entrance to Bass Harbor on the southwestern side of Mount Desert Island. This lighthouse, constructed in the 1800’s, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and belongs to the U.S. Coast Guard. Looking for a place to propose? Look no further. Think of the Instagram photos!

ARCHES NATIONAL PARK UTAH Arches National Park, located in Moab, Utah, boasts over 2,000 natural stone arches within the park’s 76,518 acres of land, in addition to its soaring pinnacles, enormous rocks, and other red-rock marvels. The park is just five miles north of Moab, and it’s easy to bike, drive, or hike through the park. Some of the best hikes in the park include treks to Balanced Rock, Landscape Arch, and Fiery Furnace. Definitely plan a stop at The Delicate Arch, one of the most famous natural sandstone arches in the world. On the fence about taking the extra hike? Once you stop and take in the view, you too will know that it’s well worth the extra steps. Be sure to stop at Arches Visitor Center before to check in with the rangers, get the lay of the land, and get insight into optimal hiking trails, ranger programs before exploring the park. If you have a little extra time to spare, the park’s film “Window in Time” plays every half hour inside the visitor center.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK COLORADO Want to stand at the top of the world? Rocky Mountain National Park, located in northern Colorado, spreads across 415 square miles of land, with sweeping peaks and epic valleys, offers over 300 miles of hiking trails, wildlife. Infamous for the Trail Ridge Road (don’t look down if you’re afraid of heights) and Old Fall River Road, the park spans the Continental Divide. As beautiful as it is to drive through the winding roads up and down mountains through the park it’s best to get out and venture through the pine and spruce forests, get up close and personal with the alpine lakes, smell the wildflowers, and take in the stillness of nature all around you. Looking for a great trail? Opt for Mt. Ida, Chasm Lake, Bear Lake to Fern Lake, or Emerald Lake Trail (which takes you into the Tyndall Gorge). There are a few visitors’ centers in Rocky Mountain National Park, but Beaver Meadows is one of the best. The rangers are fun, knowledgeable, and armed with plenty of solid advice regarding where to go and what to see. Also, if you need to pick up any last-minute equipment, they’ve got you covered. The Moraine Park Museum and Amphitheater, housed in an early 1900’s log cabin, is insightful and features well curated exhibits for visitors to the park. Need a place to stay? The Stanley Hotel, a luxurious and historic property that moonlighted as the backdrop for The Shining, is nearby.

YELLOWSTONE IDAHO, MONTANA, & WYOMING While you don’t want to jump into one of Yellowstone’s hydrothermal pools, they sure do make for good social media posts. Yellowstone itself became the first national park for visitors to take in hydrothermal and geological wonders. Old Faithful, first “discovered” in 1870 by the Washburn Expedition, is the park’s most popular attraction. Eruptions, which last from between 1.5-5 minutes, vary with bursts of roughly 100-180 feet into the air. Geological attractions in the park include hot springs, mud pots, fumaroles, and over a thousand geysers. Take a stroll through the Norris Geyser Basin and you’ll be walking through one of the world’s largest active volcanoes with hot springs registering at over 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep your camera out to take in a myriad of bold and bright colored water including yellow, dark red, and emerald green. The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, roughly twenty miles long, dips down 1,200 feet. The Canyon Visitor Center is a great place to learn about the geology of Yellowstone. The Quarry Visitor Center, closer to Jensen, Utah, has an enormous Stegosaurus statue that was part of the 1964 World’s Fair. Head inside to take in the Quarry Exhibit Hall for an up close and personal look at their famous wall of dinosaur bones.

YOSEMITE CALIFORNIA Yosemite National Park, first protected back in 1864, is a marvelous park known for waterfalls, valleys, grand meadows, giant sequoias, and 1,200 square miles of wilderness. If sequoias are high on your list, head to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, home to over 500 mature giant sequoias. Recently closed for a largescale restoration project, the grove reopened in the summer of 2018. Hike the Big Trees Loop, Grizzly Giant, or Guardians Loop Trail through the spectacular trees and feel re-energized by their beauty and stature. Looking for waterfalls? Yosemite Valley is the place to go. Drive to the 7.5- mile glacial valley and take the cliffs and myriad of waterfalls including Sentinel Falls, Ribbon Fall, Horsetail Fall, Bridalveil Fall, Nevada Fall, Vernal Fall, and others. While you’re there be sure to check out the picturesque Mirror Lake and majestic El Capitan rock formation. If you’re an experienced hiker, Yosemite’s Half Dome Cables Route is a must. These 14 to 16 miles are strenuous and not for the faint of heart. Are you up for the challenge? Plan ahead - only 300 hikers are allowed to head up Half Dome each day.