Author: mqg5851

For the past few months, my family has been throwing around the idea of taking a trip to Alaska in May after Spring classes end. After spending a few hours scouring the internet and researching each Alaskan National Park, Katmai quickly became my favorite.

While most National Park branches like to focus on the beautiful scenery and possible adventures, this one has got a little humor to it. Famous for its booming bear population, each year, Katmai celebrates “Fat Bear Week”. As the Alaskan bears prepare for winter and hibernation, they put on a lot of weight. Katmai uses this as an opportunity to set up a march madness style bracket where each day, people across the world can vote for their favorite fat bears until there is only one left and a winner is declared.

Fat Beak Week started in 2014, and since then, 480 Otis has been crowned winner four times. He is truly a fan favorite.

Those visiting Katmai who wish to enjoy the bears they’ve seen featured on Fat Bear Week can partake in a bear-watching tour. Katmai has numerous different tours, but the most popular is a twelve-hour excursion starting with a ride on a seaplane from Anchorage straight into the park. Eight to ten hours are spent traveling to the best bear-watching spots in the park before returning to Anchorage. The most famous destination to spot the bears is Brooks River Falls.

During certain times of the year, a dozen bears can be seen catching salmon straight out of the river. It’s a scene straight from a National Geographic documentary! For those who are concerned about safety with all these ravenous grizzlies around, a rifleman accompanies all groups in case of emergency, and incidents are rare.

Not only does Katmai have an abundance of bears, but it has a staggering number of volcanoes. Within the boundaries of the park, there are fourteen active volcanoes and countless dormant ones. This is because Katmai lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a tectonic plate that is the cause of the majority of the world’s earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. While this may seem like a scary deterrent, the volcanoes are closely monitored by volcanologists and currently pose no threats to visitors. However, in the past, these eruptions have had devastating impacts on the area, specifically the eruption of Novarupta-Katmai in 1912. This eruption spewed thirty times the amount of magma as the Mount St. Helens eruptions and has forever impacted the terrain. It is the largest eruption of the twentieth century. Remnants of this eruption can still be seen in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.

The barren land has a slightly creepy demeanor to it, but there is so much to explore in this one-of-a-kind landscape. Seeing the entire valley could take days, but there are dozens of different hikes across this ash and pumice world. Most hikes are not difficult for experienced hikers, but many involve crossing rivers and streams, so it’s important to be properly prepared.

Between the dramatic mountains, thick snow, expansive lakes, massive bears, and deadly volcanoes, Katmai is the epitome of the Alaskan Wilderness and will not disappoint anyone craving adventure.

 

References:

Volcanoes – Katmai National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Located in Arizona and larger than the state of Rhode Island, the Grand Canyon is one of the most famous natural landmarks in the country, and for good reason. At its deepest points, the canyon is over a mile deep and is consistently among the top ten most visited national parks. All my previous posts have been about parks I have traveled to in the past, but this is the first one featuring a park I have not yet had the chance to visit. However, my family will be taking a trip to the Grand Canyon this December, and I have been absolutely ecstatic researching things to do. Here is what I look forward to seeing/doing the most during my trip:

Since the north rim is closed during the winter, I will only get to experience the south rim, but there is still plenty to do! The “Trail of Time” is an educational hike along the south rim of the canyon. The trail is 2.83 miles long, and each meter of the path represents 1 million years of the canyon’s history. Along the path, there are rocks and information signs explaining what the geologic development of the canyon was at that point in time. In all, the Trail of Time covers 2 billion years of the canyon’s history. Between the beautiful scenery and the educational markers, this is the perfect trail for any nature nerd!

The South Kaibab trail is up to a 6 mile round trip day hike on the south rim of the canyon. It has a staggering elevation change of 7,260 feet. There are three main destinations along the trail that determine the length of the hike: Ooh Ah Point with a 1.8-mile round trip, Cedar Ridge with a 3-mile round trip, and Skeleton Point with 6 miles. Considering the relatively short distances of this trail, hikers get to see some truly spectacular views. This trail will be a perfect one to hike in the winter when I’m visiting since it offers no shade. The cooler winter temperatures will make this trail a lot less exhausting than it would be during the prime visitation months, May through September.

Since the Grand Canyon has about half the number of visitors in December than it does during its most popular months, I am so excited to visit this iconic destination and all its beautiful sights without having to navigate through large amounts of tourists. This park has so much to offer, no matter what time of year you visit, so if you ever find yourself itching for an escape to nature, the Grand Canyon should be at the top of your list!

 

Images and references:

The Trail of Time – Grand Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

How to Get from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon (tripsavvy.com)

13 Things You Didn’t Know About Grand Canyon National Park | U.S. Department of the Interior (doi.gov)

 

The Pacific Northwest is often thought to be a cloudy, rainy part of the nation, and to a degree, that is true, but rain or shine, Olympic National park is an absolutely stunning place to visit. Mountains, ocean, and lush forests all in one place make Olympic a perfect place to enjoy multiple aspects of nature. In summer 2019, my family spent 12 days in this area, and I absolutely fell in love with it. This is personally one of my favorite parks because it is just so packed full with varieties of plants and small animals.

If visiting Olympic, the first thing on your list should be Hurricane Ridge. From here, you can get a stunning view of the Olympic Mountains, and most notably, Mount Olympus, not to be confused with the one in Greece. From Hurricane Ridge, there are a few hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulties that will take you throughout the mountains and to other spectacular lookouts. During the cold season, Hurricane ridge is also open to snowshoeing and cross country skiing.

Lake Crescent is another must see in Olympic. It’s waters are impeccably clear, and during the summer months, the perfect temperature to take a swim in to cool off. The lake is surrounded by tree covered mountains, creating a pristine little oasis where it truly feels like you are within nature. There are several hiking trails around Lake Crescent, a handful of picnic areas, and places to rent kayaks to take out on the water. It is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing afternoon!

 

My third must see in Olympic National Park is Sol Duc falls. There are two main ways to access the falls. The first is just a one mile walk from a parking lot, and the second is a 6 mile out and back trail called “Lover’s Lane”. I hiked the Lover’s Lane trail when visiting in 2019, and it was the best hike of my life. The trails were well kept, it wasn’t heavily trafficked, and the destination was beautiful. These unique falls rushing straight into a ravine covered with ferns and moss are truly unforgettable.

 

My final recommendation in the park is Second Beach. This beach is one of the best places to view Olympic’s epic sea stacks and to watch a spectacular sunset. It is about a 15 minute hike from the parking lot to the beach, a small inconvenience for such an epic destination. There are tidepools scattered throughout the beach where I was able to see otters, anemones, crabs, and starfish. Additionally, there are perfect climbing rocks around the beach that you can sit on and enjoy the view. When the sun begins to set, the silhouettes of the sea stacks against the fading sky are so beautiful it seems unreal.

Between mountains, beaches, sea stacks, crystal clear lakes, wildlife, and forests, it’s impossible not to fall in love with Olympic National Park when visiting.

One of the crown jewels of the American National Park Service, Yosemite, located in Southern California, draws millions of visitors each year. In 1890, it was established as the second ever National Park in the United States and has been a famous site ever since. Known for it’s epic granite mountains, crystal clear lakes, and luscious evergreen trees, Yosemite is the perfect place to escape to nature.

Yosemite’s popularity can cause certain area of the park to be packed with tourists, but it still has plenty of nature and wildlife to offer, and there are many ways to enjoy both aspects of the park. Perhaps the most iconic attraction at Yosemite is half dome, and there are many ways to see it. The most accessible and epic view can be seen from Glacier Point, which can be access by driving along Wawona Road. Glacier Point is a must see in Yosemite, because not only can you see half dome, but you can also see Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Valley. The park’s three most popular landmarks can be viewed from this one point! Unfortunately, there is no easy way to hike half dome. The only trail leading to the top is 15.6 miles and about a 10-12 hour round trip. If you are an avid hiker and properly prepared, this trail can be an amazing experience with a huge reward. However, most visitors responsibly chose to enjoy half dome from a simple overlook instead of attempting the strenuous hike.

Besides half dome, Yosemite falls is another must see in the park. The perfect way to enjoy this historic site is the 7.6 mile “Yosemite Falls Trail”. This hike is a full day commitment is is considered to be a difficult trail, so it is not for all visitors. If this is the case for you, there is a much shorter hike that leads to Columbia Rock, another great place to enjoy the falls, and there are also lookout points that are just a short way away from your car. Yosemite Falls is particularly special because of an epic phenomenon that occurs each you in mid to late February. During this time of year, the sun’s light can hit the falls just right, and it will appear to be flowing lava. Because of this, the event is often referred to as “Yosemite fire fall”. Even if you can’t visit in February, the falls are absolutely spectacular year around.

There are over 750 miles of hiking trails in Yosemite, and each one showcases another epic feature of the park. Yosemite is such a huge park, it’s impossible to enjoy it just in one day! Luckily, there are lodges and inns both in and surrounding the park. However, if you plan to spend the night, be sure to book well in advance, because rooms fill up fast. No matter if you want to enjoy Yosemite from the safety and comfort of lookout spots along the road or if you want to venture fare into the wilderness, this park will not disappoint!

 

https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm

Often overshadowed by California’s famous Yosemite, the brilliance Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are some of the state’s less visited treasures. The two neighboring parks provide visitors with the perfect combo: towering trees and picturesque granite peaks. The breathtaking height of California’s Giant Sequoia trees give the forest a bit of otherworldliness that you won’t find anywhere else in the country.

The parks are home to some of the most impressive spectacles in North America. Kings Canyon’s famous landmark, General Grant tree, stands at 167 feet tall and is estimated to be over 1,500 years old. The tree can be accessed by a relaxing .6 mile loop, making it a heavily trafficked area of the park. Even more spectacular than General Grant is General Sherman. A staggering 275 feet tall and 36 feet in diameter at its base,

General Sherman is the largest tree by volume in the world, and it dwarfs its surroundings. This tree’s access loop is 1.2 miles, so its a bit more of trek than General Grant, but it is well worth the effort!

As for the parks’ mountains, they can be enjoyed by hike or from the comfort of your own car! The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway stretches 50 miles and gives visitors a chance to see some of the area’s most beautiful sights without breaking a sweat. However, if you enjoy hiking like I do, the 4 mile Tokopah Valley out and back trail showcases the parks’ best mountains, with a beautiful waterfall being the crown jewel of the hike. For anyone seeking a hike with little effort but huge reward, the Moro Rock Trail is for you! This .5 hike takes visitors up the side of a massive rock, leading to what is arguably the most beautiful lookout in the park.

While all nature is threatened by climate change, this area is in more imminent danger. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are currently on fire. Both parks are completely shut down and there have been multiple evacuation warnings to ensure public safety. Starting on September 10, 2021 due to a lightening strike, the fire has spread to 87,786 and is only 45 percent contained. Forest fires are actually vital Sequoia reproduction because they cause the seeds to be released from the pinecones. However, regional drought in the area has caused these fires to reach such extreme heat and magnitude that they are no longer beneficial to the ecosystem and are instead extremely detrimental. Park rangers have placed flame resistant material around the parks’ signs, buildings, and multiple trees, including General Grant, to protect them from the deadly flames. It is currently estimated that over 369 large Sequoias have been destroyed. Four firefighters have been injured.

While this wildfire was caused naturally, many are not. When spending time in nature, it is crucial to only set fires in designated areas following all regulations and guidelines. Never set off fireworks or any kind of smoke bomb, and always properly dispose of all flammable materials, especially cigarette butts. However, to truly protect our National Parks, we must quickly switch to sustainable practices in all aspects of society, or else these parks won’t be around to enjoy for much longer.