Sanity slowly returns to our national park systems with “creative” funding provided by local sources.
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Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve 4 comments
Where Is It: The only road connects the Park to the small town of Gustavus … so you can’t drive to get to the Park. You must take a plane or boat; the Park is 10 miles west of Juneau, AK.
There’s a daily jet service, about 30 minutes, via Alaska Airlines in the summer. Small charters and air taxis are available year-round.
The Birth: President Jimmy Carter designated 15 different Alaska areas to be administered by the National Park Service in 1978, and included an expansion of the Glacier Bay National Monument. In 1980m, Carter designated the area the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Hunting is precluded in the National Park, but is allowed in the Preserve.
It Happened Here: The largest landslide/iceslide in modern times happened in 2012. Here’s how NBC News covered it:
“It’s certainly the largest that we’re aware of” inside the park, Glacier Bay ecologist Lewis Sharman told msnbc.com.
Larger landslides have happened over geologic time, Marten Geertsema, a natural hazards researcher for the Forest Service in nearby British Columbia, told msnbc.com, but it definitely was “one of the longest runout landslides on a glacier in Alaska and Canada in recent times.”
Moreover, the force was enormous, Geertsema said. No one was present, but had anyone been there they probably “would be blown over by the air blast,” he told the Associated Press.
Officials ruled out an earthquake as the trigger that caused part of the nearly 12,000-foot Lituya Mountain to give way, smothering the ice-white Johns Hopkins Glacier with dark rock and debris over an area a half-mile wide and 5.5 miles long.
Size: 3,223,383 acres in the National Park, and 58,406 acres in the Preserve.
# Visitors: 454,337 in 2012. The attendance is nominal October – April; July is when the people follow the sun to visit the park.
Plants: Glacier Bay is blanketed by a mosaic of plant life, from a few pioneer species in recently exposed areas to intricately balanced climax communities in coastal and alpine regions. Since virtually all the vegetation in the bay has returned to the land in the past 300 years following the retreat of the glaciers, this area is one of the premier sites on the planet to study plant recolonization.
Animals: Marine waters make up nearly one fifth of the park and no point of land is more than 30 miles from the coast. This means that the lives of virtually all the animals at Glacier Bay are tied to its productive marine waters or the biologically rich near shore environment.
Choices: Most visitors see GBNP on cruise ships. The National Park Service operates cooperative services, placing rangers on ships and boats that offer excursion trips to notable park sites.
Fees: There are no entrance fees.
Staying There: The park operates one 33-site campground that offers a bear-proof food cache, fire-pits and a warming shelter. It’s a walk-in campground, but there are wheelbarrows you can borrow to take your gear to the campsite.
The Glacier Bay Lodge is the only in-park hotel. There are 56 rooms, available Memorial day to Labor day. There are a number of B&B’s outside of the park.
Contact Info:
PO Box 140Gustavus, AK 99826
907-697-2230
Current Issues: From the National Parks Conservation Association:
Recognized as “ground zero” for global warming, Alaska and its national parks are feeling dramatic effects from our changing climate. Alaska’s parks provide a living laboratory where this natural phenomenon can be observed (mostly) absent of direct urban & development influences as temperatures rise. Glaciers are rapidly retreating and the reduction of the polar ice pack is having an impact on wildlife and coastal communities from increased storm damage to the shoreline. The arctic tundra’s permafrost is melting, resulting in a loss of wetland ponds vital for waterfowl, and changes in vegetation will cause wildlife to move further north in search of food.
Don’t Miss This: From About.com:
No matter how you get to Glacier Bay, you’ll need warm clothing. Visitors often say it feels like they’re standing in front of the freezer with the door open when they’re facing one of the glaciers. A hat or scarf to cover your head and a pair of gloves will go a long way toward keeping you warm, and even if you don’t take a heavy coat, pile on all the layers you can muster. For even more warmth, go to your local sporting goods store and pick up some disposable pocket hand-warmers. Wear sunscreen. You’d be surprised how much of the sun’s burning rays get through, even on a rainy or cloudy day.
From the Glacier Bay National Park Facebook page.
From the Glacier Bay National Park Facebook Page.
From the Glacier Bay National Park website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park Website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park Website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park Website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park Website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park Website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park Website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park Website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park Website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park Website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park Website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park Website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park Website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park Website.
From the Glacier Bay National Park Website.
Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 11/29/13.
Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 1/11/14.
Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 3/16/14.
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National Park Service: Glacier Bay National Park
The Natural World In Pictures: Glacier Bay
Congaree National Park 2 comments
Where Is It: 25 miles southeast of Columbia, SC. 236 miles east of Atlanta.
The Birth: From the National Park website:
In 1969 relatively high timber prices prompted private landowners to consider resuming logging operations. As a result of an effective “grass roots” campaign launched by the Sierra Club and many local individuals, Congress established Congaree Swamp National Monument in 1976. That designation was not enough to protect the area from the force of Hurricane Hugo in September 1989. The park lost several National Champion trees, but the overall effect was a natural stimulus to growth. Hugo snapped tree tops, thereby allowing sunlight to come through the canopy, promoting new growth beneath. Fallen trees have provided shelter for many species of organisms; standing dead trees became new homes for a variety of plant and animal species, including fungi, insects, reptiles, birds, and bats.
On June 30, 1983 Congaree Swamp National Monument was designated an International Biosphere Reserve. In July of 2001 it was designated a Globally Important Bird Area, and on November 10, 2003 it was designated as the nation’s 57th National Park.
It Happened Here: Logging tried to happen in the early 20th century, but it proved to be commercially unprofitable due to the swampiness of the land. Heavy equipment couldn’t be used. Only trees close to the waterways could be cut, with the hope of using the waterways to float the logs out of the area. Unfortunately, due to the damp conditions, the green logs would not float. After a few years, operations were abandoned as unproductive, leaving the floodplain basically untouched.
Size: 26,546 acres
Visitors: 109,685 in 2012. May was most attended; December was least.
Plants: 75 species of trees are found in Congaree National Park. It is the largest intact tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southestern United States.
Animals: The Park is entirely forested, but more than 170 bird species have been found in the park. Large animals that have been seen in the park are bobcats, deer, pigs, dogs, coyotes, armadillos and turkeys. The Park waters contain many types of fish, including bowfin, largemouth bass, panfish and catfish.
Choices: The Low and High Boardwalk Trails (2.4 miles total) are the best places to start for most visitors. After that, do the Weston Lake Loop Trail (4.4 miles) around the Oxbow Lake. If your are looking for birds, do the 11.7-mile Kingsnake Trail.
Fees: Congaree National Park does not charge entrance or tour fees.
Staying There: In 2012, the Park banned “car camping” … meaning you can’t sleep in your car. There are a few “walk-in” sites, where you have to walk to a site to pitch your tent.
Contact Info:
100 National Park RoadHopkins, SC 29061-9118 803-776-4396
Current Issues: The Park, perhaps still suffering its time as a National Monument when it was known as a Swamp … is considering charging for its services for the first time. The suggested fees are $10 for individual tent sites at the Bluff Campground, $15 for individual tent sites and $25 for group tent sites at the Longleaf Campground, $40 for picnic pavilion rental and $25 for guided canoe trips. Renting a canoe at local outfitters usually costs about $40 a day. Guided tours on Cedar Creek cost around $60 per person.
Don’t Miss This: Reservations for the free guided canoe trips on Cedar Creek can now be booked up to several months in advance. Visitors with flexible plans now stand a much better chance of locking in seats for the popular weekend trips.
From Congaree National Park’s Facebook page.
From Congaree National Park’s Facebook page.
From Congaree National Park’s Facebook page.
From Congaree National Park’s Facebook page.
From the Congaree National Park website.
From the Congaree National Park website.
From the Congaree National Park website.
From the Congaree National Park website.
From the Congaree National Park website.
From the Congaree National Park website.
From the Congaree National Park website.
From the Congaree National Park website.
From the Congaree National Park website.
From the Congaree National Park website.
From the Congaree National Park website.
From the Congaree National Park website.
From the Congaree National Park website.
From the Congaree National Park website.
From the Congaree National Park’s Facebook page.
Did you know that the winter wren, though weighing less than half an ounce, can deliver its song with ten times more power than a crowing rooster? These loud little birds are common winter residents of Congaree National Park and can be spotted in low brush and fallen trees along the Boardwalk Trail. From the Park’s Facebook page.
From the Congaree National Park Facebook page.
From the Congaree National Park Facebook page.
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National Park Service: Congaree National Park
National Parks Traveler: Birding….
The State: National Park Considering First Fees….
Travels With Minis: Congaree National Park
Kat’s Corner: Congaree National Park
The Life Of Your Time: Random Insect: Six-spotted Tiger Beetle
Bryce Canyon National Park 9 comments
Where Is It: 264 miles northwest of Las Vegas, or 269 miles south of Salt Lake City.
The Birth: From the National Park Service website for the Park:
The person most responsible for Bryce Canyon becoming a National Park was J. W. Humphrey. Mr. Humphrey was a U. S. Forest Service Supervisor who was transferred to Panguitch, Utah in July 1915. An employee suggested that J. W. view the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. When Humphrey came to the rim, at the point now known as Sunset Point, he was stunned:
“You can perhaps imagine my surprise at the indescribable beauty that greeted us, and it was sundown before I could be dragged from the canyon view. You may be sure that I went back the next morning to see the canyon once more, and to plan in my mind how this attraction could be made accessible to the public.”
J. W. Humphrey had still photographs and movies of the canyon sent to Forest Service officials in Washington D. C. and to officials of the Union Pacific Railroad. Magazine and newspaper articles were written. In 1916, Humphrey secured a $50 appropriation to improve the road and make the rim accessible to automobile traffic.
By 1919, tourists from Salt Lake City were visiting Bryce Canyon. Ruby and Minnie Syrett erected tents and supplied meals for over night guests near Sunset Point. In 1920 the Syretts constructed Tourist’s Rest a 30 by 71 foot lodge, with eight or ten nearby cabins and an open air dance floor. In 1923, the Union Pacific Railroad bought the Tourist’s Rest land, buildings and water rights from the Syretts. Ruby and Minnie established Ruby’s Inn just outside the park.
Gilbert Stanley Underwood was hired by the Union Pacific to design a lodge near Sunset Point. The original main building was finished by May 1925. Additions were made and the final configuration completed by 1927. The standard and deluxe cabins near the lodge were constructed between 1925 and 1929.
President Warren G. Harding proclaimed Bryce Canyon a national monument on June 8, 1923. On June 7, 1924, Congress passed a bill to establish Utah National Park, when all land within the national monument would become the property of the United States. The land was acquired and the name was restored to Bryce Canyon. On February 25, 1928, Bryce Canyon officially became a national park.
It Happened Here: 19th century Mormon settler Ebenezer Bryce, for whom the park is named, said it was “a hell of a place to lose a cow.” The canyon’s remarkable collection of whimsical hoodoo spires were believed by the early Paiute Indians to be people frozen in stone by the mischievous spirit Coyote.
Size: 37,277 acres
# Visitors: 1,385,352 in 2012. The largest attendance was in September; the least was in January. It’s the 14th most-attended Park.
Plants: There are more than 400 plant species in the Park. The variety in plant communities in Bryce Canyon National Park is due to its diverse topography. While it is surrounded by desert, Bryce’s plateau gets much more rain and stays cooler during the summer. The resulting ecosystem is a fertile island hundreds of feet above a vast arid landscape.
Animals: 210 species of birds and 17 species of reptiles and amphibians have been seen in the Park. 73 species of mammals are known to be in the park.
Choices: There aren’t a lot of day hiking options in the Park, but you can combine 2 trails to create a 3-mile hike with some rather spectacular geology. Queen’s Garden Trail connects to the Navaho Loop, and they take you into one of the main amphiteaters in the park. You’ll pass Queen’s Garden and Thor’s Hammer. Bryce Canyon National Park is known as a park you see from your car … but when you go hiking, you’ll see a different park.
Fees: $25 per car for a 7-day pass.
Staying There: The Bryce Canyon Lodge has 114 rooms, including suites, motel rooms and cabins. There are a total of 210 camping sites in two campgrounds in the Park. They are both at 8,000′ in elevation. Maximum RV length is 30′. There are showers.
Contact Info:
PO Box 640201Bryce Canyon UT 84764-0201 435-834-5322
Current Issues: In August, the bicycle race Tour Of Utah crossed the Park on Utah State Road 12. The Park was apparently not consulted, and former Park employees are emphatically against cyclists riding through a National Park … on a State Highway. The sky did not fall during the event, apparently, and the Park was undamaged by cyclists riding through on an asphalt highway.
Don’t Miss This: Drive to Rainbow Point (18 miles one way) and stop at the 13 viewpoints on your return trip. Check at the Visitor Center for current road conditions and closures.
From the Bryce Canyon National Park Facebook page.
From the Bryce Canyon National Park Facebook page.
From the Bryce Canyon National Park Facebook page.
From the Bryce Canyon National Park Facebook page.
From the Bryce Canyon National Park Facebook page.
From the Bryce Canyon National Park Facebook page.
From the Bryce Canyon National Park Facebook page.
From the Bryce Canyon National Park Facebook page.
From the Bryce Canyon National Park Facebook page.
From the Bryce Canyon National Park Facebook page.
From the Bryce Canyon National Park Facebook page.
From the Bryce Canyon National Park Facebook page.
From the Bryce Canyon National Park Facebook page.
From the Bryce Canyon National Park Facebook page.
From the Bryce Canyon National Park Facebook page.
July 1997. Our midday visit didn’t have the wonderful lighting you can capture in sunrise and sunset photos.
July 1997.
July 1997.
July 1997.
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National Park Service: Bryce Canyon National Park
Jason’s Travels: Driving The Rim Of Bryce Canyon
Haleakala National Park 2 comments
Where Is It: Haleakala is on the island of Maui in Hawaii. It’s a five-and-a-half hour plane ride from Los Angeles (2,494 miles), but oh, is it worth it.
The Birth: The word Haleakala is Hawaiian for “house of the sun.” A Hawaiian legend stated that Maui, a demigod, imprisoned the sun in the volcano to lengthen the day. The Haleakala volcano last erupted sometime between 1480 and 1600 AD.
An area including the volcano’s summit down to the southern shore of the Pacific, as well as two volcanoes on the island of Hawaii, was originally created as the Hawaii National Park in 1916. The volcanoes on the island of Hawaii were made into a separate National Park in 1961.
It Happened Here: Bicycling down from the Haleakala summit is a unique way to see the island of Maui. Tour operators used to pick people up at their hotels, deliver them to the summit parking lot in the National Park, and then lead them down the 27-mile, 10,000′ slope to the ocean. After many fatal accidents involving cyclists on the twisting mountain road, in 2007 the Park suspended all bicycle tours within the park boundaries … so now tour operators have to start outside the Park, at 6,500′. Watch out for them as you drive up!
Size: 33,265 acres
# Visitors: 1,094,668 in 2012 – just about half of the visitors attracted in 1999. Visitation is relatively steady month-to-month, but July and August are typically the biggest months, with February and March the smallest. Interestingly, only one in six visitors to Maui also visit the National Park. Most people are making a big mistake!
Plants: Once plants and animals were brought to the Hawaiian island (the most remote island chain on earth), each species had to develop special adaptations in order to survive in their new climate. As a result, many species are unique to the islands, and rare. More endangered species live in Haleakala National Park than in any other National Park in the United States. As people have come to Maui and the National Park, some of these species have suffered. It is said that the silverswords, known to native Hawaiians as ahinahina, used to cover the summit of Haleakala Mountain to a degree that the mountain looked as if it were covered with snow.
Animals: The Hawaiian Petrel, AKA ‘Ua’u, is an endangered species with a large nesting colony atop the Haleakala summit. They are migratory seabirds that fly at night and are believed to navigate by stars. The state bird of Hawaii, the endangered Hawaian Goose, AKA nene, also nests at Haleakala.
Choices: The summit of the volcano is a totally different experience than the lush tropical forest at the shoreline. You’ll need to spend two different days to appreciate the top and bottom of the park: to drive from the summit to the Kipahulu station takes about 6 hours round trip.
Fees: The park is open daily; a 7-day pass is $10. Hold on to your pass; you’ll need to visit the shore and the summit on different days.
Staying There: There are no hotels in the Park. There are three primitive wilderness cabins available through a lottery for rental. To reach the cabins, you must hike at least four miles (Holua) or more (six to Kapalaoa and ten to Paliku). Wilderness camping is also available by permit only, and group sizes are strictly limited. Water may not be available in the crater, and won’t be potable without filtration.
Contact Info:
PO Box 369Makawao HI 96768 (808) 572-4400
Current Issues: Many native Hawaiians fought the expansion of the observatory complex on the summit of Haleakala, but to no avail. Construction has now begun on a massive, $300 million telescope atop the summit which should be completed by 2020. Construction of the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope began late in 2012 after several years of delays caused by the controversy.
Don’t Miss This: You need to watch the sun come up over the crater, which I photographed in 2010. The link for The Haleakala Adventure is below.
The views for sunset are just as spectacular. It is said that if you see your shadow on the clouds during a sunset, then you will have wonderful luck.
Sunrise over Haleakala, 2011.
Silversword. Photo from the Haleakala National Park Facebook page.
Silversword. Photo from the Haleakala National Park website..
Photo from the Haleakala National Park Facebook page.
Photo from the Haleakala National Park Facebook page.
Photo from the Haleakala National Park Facebook page.
Nene on the road. Obey the speed limits and keep these endangered birds safe! Photo from the Haleakala National Park Facebook page.
You understood the cabins were rustic, right? Photo from the Haleakala National Park Facebook page.
The Pueo or Hawaiian short-eared owl is the only owl endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and is considered an ʻaumākua or guardian spirit in the Hawaiian culture. The Pueo inhabit the forests and grasslands throughout the islands and are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. Pueo are susceptible to the same threats as the other native birds such as habitat degradation or loss, disease, and predation from mammals such as mongoose as the owl’s nests are found on the ground leaving eggs and young birds vulnerable. When visiting the summit district of Haleakalā, keep an eye out for one of these beautiful birds as you drive through the cattle ranch outside of the park to the park entrance station as they may be silently gliding through the air hunting a mouse, insects, or other birds for its next meal. From the Haleakala National Park Facebook page.
Photo from the Haleakala National Park Facebook page.
Photo from the Haleakala National Park Facebook page.
Photo from the Haleakala National Park Facebook page.
Photo from the Haleakala National Park Facebook page.
Photo from the Haleakala National Park Facebook page.
Waimoku Falls. Photo from the Haleakala National Park Facebook page.
The “Seven Sacred Pools” (they aren’t sacred, and there aren’t seven), formed by the Palikea Stream. 2011.
The ocean here is treacherous and shark-infested.
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National Park Service: Haleakala National Park
National Park of American Samoa 3 comments
Where Is It: 2,300 miles southwest of Honolulu. It’s the only National Park in the southern hemisphere. Flights from Honolulu are scheduled for twice each week; flight time is 5-1/2 hours to get to Pago Pago, the capital city.
The Birth: Congress authorized the Park in 1988, but the culture of Samoa is for land to be owned communally, and as a part of the culture’s verbal tradition. In 1993, the Samoan village chiefs agreed to a 50-year lease for the land that is in the Park.
It Happened Here: A magnitude 8.0 earthquake created a series of four destructive waves that hit the Park on September 29, 2009. 32 people were killed on the islands by the waves. The Park’s visitor center was destroyed, and many cultural artifacts were lost.
Size: The Park is distributed across three separate islands: Tutuila, Ta’u and Ofu. 13,500 acres. 4,500 of those acres are coral reefs and ocean. The Park on the island of Tutuila is accessible by car; the other islands have no developed roads within the Park.
# Visitors: 10,440 visitors in 2012, a park record in its 11th year. November has the biggest attendance; May is the smallest.
Plants: A tropical rainforest covers most of the islands. There are 343 flowering plants and 135 fern species in the Park.
Animals: The only native mammals are three species of fruit bats. Eliminating feral pigs is part of the Park’s mission; the pigs are non-native and harmful to the native ecosystem.
Choices: A side trip is to visit the Manu’a Islands, half an hour flight east of Tutuila Island. Known as the sacred islands of the Territory, their chiefs were the last to sign the Deed of Cession in 1904 handing over control to the United States of America. These lush tropical islands (three in total) are home to less than 2000 people with some of the most dramatic landscapes and the tallest peak, Lata Mountain standing at 3170 feet high. If you are up to the challenge, climb the steps to summit Lata Mountain.
Fees: There are no entrance fees.
Staying There: There is hotel-style lodging on all three islands; camping is prohibited in the park. There is a home-stay program with island residents that is a unique experience: visitors learn island culture up close and personal.
Contact Info:
Interpretation and Education OfficeNational Park of American Samoa
Pago Pago, AS 96799 USA 684-633-7082, ext. 22 phone
Current Issues: The protection and restoration of the native habitat continues to be a major focus of the Park’s resources. Nearly 100 Crown-of-Thorn Starfish were killed early in 2013, as they are a threat to the Park’s coral reefs. Last year, the Park partnered with a local village to remove all of the invasive tamaligi trees from the native rainforest. A second partnership resulted in an effort to eradicate another harmful invasive species, the pulumamoe, or rubber tree. Over 7,000 native tree saplings have been planted over the last 10 years within the Park.
Don’t Miss This: They call it a day hike: Tuafanua Trail.
Hike up switchbacks from VatiaVillage through lush tropical rainforest to a hidden coastline. At the ridge-top, enjoy ocean views before a steep descent on several ladders with ropes to a quiet, rocky beach and view of Pola Island.
Photo from National Park of American Samoa’s Facebook page.
Photo from National Park of American Samoa Facebook page.
Photo from National Park of American Samoa Facebook page.
Photo from National Park of American Samoa Facebook page.
Photo from National Park of American Samoa Facebook page.
Photo from National Park of American Samoa Facebook page.
Photo from National Park of American Samoa Facebook page.
Photo from National Park of American Samoa Facebook page.
Photo from National Park of American Samoa Facebook page.
Photo from National Park of American Samoa Facebook page.
Photo from National Park of American Samoa Facebook page.
Photo from National Park of American Samoa Facebook page.
Photo of Visitor’s Pavillion, as seen from the radio towers above the Park. Photo courtesy of Larry Fuss.
Photo from National Park of American Samoa website.
Flying foxes, or fruitbats. Photo from National Park of American Samoa Facebook page.
Collared kingfisher at the Pola Islands overlook in the Tutuila portion of the park. Photo from National Park of American Samoa website.
Pacific golden plover. Photo from National Park of American Samoa website.
Photo from National Park of American Samoa Facebook page.
Photo of cardinal honeyeater, segasega mau’u. Photo from National Park of American Samoa website.
Red-footed booby. Photo from National Park of American Samoa website.
Photo from National Park of American Samoa website.
Photo from National Park of American Samoa website.
View of the MilkyWay from the only National Park in the Southern Hemisphere – National Park of American Samoa. Tweeted by US Department of Interior.
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Big Bend National Park 5 comments
Where Is It: It’s the most remote NP in the lower 48. It’s not near anything … that’s part of the challenge to getting there. 329 miles southwest of El Paso and 406 miles west of San Antonio. It’s on the border with Mexico.
The Birth: From the Texas State Historical Association:
The legislative history of the park began in 1933, when the Texas legislature inaugurated Texas Canyons State Park on fifteen sections of land in the vicinity of Santa Elena, Mariscal, and Boquillas canyons on the Rio Grande in southern Brewster County. Later that year the name was changed to Big Bend State Park and the Chisos Mountains were added to the park acreage. The National Park Service investigated the site in January 1934 and recommended establishment of both a Civilian Conservation Corps camp and a national park. The NPS regarded Big Bend as “decidedly the outstanding scenic area of Texas.” President Franklin D. Roosevelt took a personal interest in Big Bend because of a proposed international, or companion, park in Mexico (still being discussed decades later). The United States Congress passed the enabling legislation on June 20, 1935, stipulating that acquisition of the park acreage “shall be secured…only by public and private donations.” By 1942 most of the land was purchased with a $1.5 million appropriation from the Forty-seventh Texas Legislature. Although several thousand acres remained in private hands, the park opened to the public in 1944. In 1972 the Congress appropriated $300,375 for the last 8,561.75 acres, finally placing the entire original park area of 708,118.40 acres in federal ownership. Subsequent additions have increased the park acreage to 801,163.02 acres, of which 776,693.22 acres are federal land.
It Happened Here: National Park Service rangers were surveyed in 2002, and Big Bend NP was voted the 2nd most dangerous park in the system. Cited sources of violence included drug smuggling, illegal immigrant traffic and poachers of plants and animals … all taking advantage of more than 100 miles of border with Mexico.
Size: 801,163 acres
# Visitors: 292,055 in 2012. August is the least-attended month (average high temperature is 101*), and February the most-attended month (average high temperature is 62*).
Plants: The park is home to about 60 species of cacti.
Animals: 11 species of amphibians, 56 species of reptiles, 40 species of fish, 75 species of mammals, 450 species of birds (more than half of the species found in the US) and about 3,600 species of insects. The park has more types of birds and bats than any other US National Park. About 2 dozen mountain lions live in the park; two attacks on humans have happened since 1984.
Choices: The Chisos Mountains Lodge is the only alternative to camping in the park. The lodge makes available rooms in the lodge itself, as well as a the Casa Grande Hotel, Rio Grande Motel and additional, nearby rental cottages. Get information, here.
Fees: $15 for a 7 day pass per vehicle
Staying There: There are over 200 campsites available for $10 per night.
Contact Info:
PO Box 129 Big Bend National Park, TX 79834-0129432-477-2251
Current Issues: Air pollution from coal-fired power plants has reduced visibility in the park from 180 miles to 30 miles.
Don’t Miss This: Here are the recommendations from the Friends of Big Bend National Park:
Families flock to the Rio Grande Village area for birding. There is a great boardwalk called the Rio Grande Village Nature Trail, and a small visitor center. Helpful rangers can tell you what birds are out and about.
Kids will be happy playing on the sand dunes along the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River. Find them via a short hike at Boquillas Canyon.
After a long day, relax at the Hot Springs, an historic area of Big Bend where you can soak your bones.
Take a drive. Follow the Old Maverick Road, an improved dirt road that is wide and easy to navigate, into the mountains. There are great cultural stops along the way, such as Luna’s Jacal and Terlingua Abajo, as well as some historic overlooks.
Explore the Dorgan Sublett Trail, a 1.5-mile loop that offers panoramic views of Santa Elena Canyon, the Rio Grande River, Mexico, and cultural ruins.
National Park Service: Big Bend National Park
Trail Running in Big Bend National Park
Friends of Big Bend National Park
Sequoia National Park 2 comments
Where Is It: 225 miles north of Los Angeles; 250 miles southeast of San Francisco
The Birth: After years of struggles with entrepreneurs seeking to exploit the resources in the area, Sequoia National Park was founded in 1890 to protect the largest trees on earth. In 1916, the US Congress appropriated $50,000 for the purchase of private lands in the Giant Forest; the National Geographic Society contributed $20,000. The park has been expanded several times … most recently in 1978. That was the result of an effort led by the Sierra Club to deny the Walt Disney Corporation the land to build a ski resort. That annexation became known as Mineral King.
SNP, one of 8 National parks in California, is the oldest of the bunch.
The Park: The Sequoia National Park is adjacent to the Kings Canyon National Park, and they are operated together by the National Park Service (which was originally begun in 1944 as a wartime economy measure). Other National Park Service units that are contiguous are the Sequoia National Forest and the Giant Sequoia National Monument. The two National Parks are divided into 5 areas; 3 of them are in the SNP: Giant Forest, Mineral King and Foothills.
It Happened Here: In 1920, the last private holdings in Giant Forest were acquired by the Park Service. Bear Hill, the park garbage dump at Giant Forest, became a regular evening attraction and bleachers were erected for visitors to congregate and watch black bears forage through the trash.
Size: 864,411 acres
# Visitors: 1,106,584 in 2012. August has the highest attendance; December the lowest.
Plants: There are 1,530 documented plant species, including 22 deciduous & 26 evergreen tree species
Animals: SNP is the home of two endangered species: the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep and the California Condor. There is also one threatened species, the Little Kern golden trout.
Choices: There are 2 entrances to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks:
Big Stump entrance, accessible on California 180 from Fresno. I prefer this entrance; from Los Angeles I exit at the 198, but then go through Dinuba to get to the 180 and go up the mountain.
Ash Mountain entrance, Accessible on California 198 from Visalia. This entrance enters the Park at a lower elevation, and has a very twisty turny road to get to SNP.
Fees: $20 for each car entering the Sequoia/Kings Canyon area.
Staying There: There are multiple hotels between the entrances of the Parks, which are largely on non-park owned property. They are easily accessible, here. Campsites are available in multiple locations; fees are currently $18 daily for single campsites and $35 daily for group sites. Running water is available near most sites; flush toilets are available as well.
Contact Info:
By Mail:
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
47050 Generals Highway
Three Rivers, CA 93271-9700
By Phone:
559-565-3341
For 24-hour recorded information.
Speak with park staff from 8:15 a.m.-4:15 p.m., weekdays only.
Current Issues: SNP has the worst air pollution of any National Park. That is causing problems for pine and sequoia trees, as they cope with air the same quality as in Los Angeles. This year, a drought has resulted in the closure of several campgrounds, though the park is still open and continues to see high visitation.
Don’t Miss This: There are so many things you must see!
- General Sherman Tree, the largest living thing on earth
- Moro Rock, a granite dome with a 1/4 mile, 300′ elevation gain staircase to the top
- Congress Trail, taking you by some of the most spectacular sequoia groves in the park
- Crystal Cave, a cave tour that is so popular you must buy advance tickets at the Lodgepole or Foothills Visitor’s Centers.
If you’re camping, all food must be kept in the bear boxes that are in each campsite.
Bears are in the area, and their claws are sharp!
Sequoias live in a pyrrhic ecosystem – fires clear out other species to make room for sequoias, and the fire also opens the cones to allow sequoias to germinate.
The General Sherman tree – the world’s largest tree – is a highlight to any visit to the Sequoia National Park.ee – is a highli
It’s difficult to appreciate the size of a sequoia … in a forest of giants, it’s difficult to get a good perspective.
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National Park Service: Sequoia & Kings Canyon NP
NationalParks[AndMore]: Sequioia National Park (In Winter)
Enjoying National Places Leave a comment
The US Department of the Interior runs the National Park Service, which is currently charged with protecting our National Parks, National Monuments, National Historical Sites … and a whole lot of other national places. Here’s how Wikipedia describes them:
As of 2012, there are 401 units of the National Park System. However, this number is somewhat misleading. For example: Denali National Park and Preserve is counted as two units, whereas Fort Moultrie is not counted as a unit because it is considered a feature of the Fort Sumter National Monument.
It’s a complex puzzle, with National Preserves sometimes overlapping other areas — like National Parks or National Monuments. State Parks sometimes overlap National Parks. A rose by any other name … may still be a very pretty place. The National Park Service exists to protect and preserve some of our most beautiful, most significant, or most unusual national assets … so here’s a list of the different designations for the, uh, National Places.
International Historical Site: There’s just one, which is St Croix Island, located in Maine.
National Battlefield: The first of four designations for sites where historic battles were fought on American soil during the armed conflicts that shaped the growth and development of the United States. There are 11 of these.
National Battlefield Park: The second of four designations for sites of domestic American battles … there are four of these. They are Kennesaw Mountain NBP, Manassas NBP, Richmond NBP and River Raisin NBP.
National Battlefield Site: The third of four designations for sites of domestic American battles … Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site is very small, and the only area so designated.
National Historical Park: There are 46 of these historical sites, which feature more than the single building or feature that are called National Historical Site.
National Historical Reserve: There’s just one of these, Ebey’s Landing in Washington.
National Historic Site: These usually contain a single historical feature. Sites are owned and operated by the federal government. There are currently 90 of these.
National Lakeshore: There are four, located in Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
National Monument: There are 108 NMs, 80 of which are operated by the National Park Service.
National Military Park: The final of four designations for sites of domestic American battles … there are nine of these. The word “park” is used with the larger sites, it seems.
National Memorial: There are 28 NMs, plus five affiliated NMs that are not operated by the National Park Service.
National Park: There are 59 NPs. Ken Burns said it best: “America’s Best Idea.”
National Preserve: There are 18 National Preserves, which are very similar to National Parks. However, “resource extraction” is allowed from the National Preserves. That would include logging and mining, for example.
National River: Of the 15 rivers that are designated as units by the National Park Service, two have the simple designation of National River.
National Recreation Area: There are 18 NRAs.
National Recreational River: Of the 15 rivers that are designated as units by the National Park Service, two have the designation of National Recreational River.
National Reserve: There are three NRs. The first, designated in 1978, is New Jersey’s Pinelands National Reserve. It includes portions of seven counties. It includes over one million acres of farms, forests and wetlands. 56 communities – from hamlets to suburbs – with over 700,000 permanent residents.
National Seashore: There are 10 of these.
National Scenic River or Riverway: Of the 15 rivers that are designated as units by the National Park Service, four have the designation of National Scenic River and two have the designation of National Scenic Riverway.
National Scenic Trail: There are three Trails that are a part of the National Park Service system. There are 18 Historic Trails that are not a part of the National Park Service System. All 21 are a part of the National Trails System.
Parkway: There are six National Parkways, and an additional four affiliated areas.
Scenic & Recreational River: Of the 15 rivers that are designated as units by the National Park Service, two have the designation of Scenic & Recreational River.
Wild & Scenic River: Of the 15 rivers that are designated as units by the National Park Service, three have the designation of Wild & Scenic River.
There are 11 other National Park Service units of various designations, notably including the Capitol Mall and the President’s Park adjacent to the White House.
Mt Ranier & The Milky Way Leave a comment
Best star picture I’ve seen in a long time! Thanks to Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub for finding it, and the National Park Service for originally posting it!
