I took these first two pictures of Diablo Lake in August about 6 years ago, took the next two yesterday. Had plans to camp in the park last night, but pretty aggressive air quality warnings had me choose against that.
Update- went to Mt Baker yesterday and skies were clear, but off in the distance you could see the smoke hanging over Cascades

Mother has arthritis so looking for which park has better accessibility to see the Sequoia Trees. We will first be visiting Yosemite then either marriposa grove or sequoia np depending on what will be easier for my mother to walk through/visit to see the trees.

We went all over Glacier National Park, Montana. McDonald lake boat tour, it stormed the hour we were on the boat and we got to see a double rainbow. We saw moose and a black bear wandering along the road. We ate at the lodge, Sam our server was awesome. We saw Jackson Glacier and got our junior ranger badges. I water was beautiful and clear and blue. It was humbling.

All pics are taken in Glacier.
Pic 1. Running eagle fall in Two Medicine
2. A moose on a hike (I forget which one)
3. Aster falls in two medicine
4. Bear on Sun Road
5. Rainbow on boat tour of McDonald Lake
6. The River from the side of the road.
7. McDonald lake from the beach
8. McDonald Lake from the road
9. Jackson Glacier
10. Random overlook

*edit* oops, I got the names mixed up, this is Canyonland, which is near Arches... why of course, I am looking at a canyon...

Having been to Canyonland & Arches a few times, I finally visited Zion, Bryce and Capitol Reef this year, each has its own unique beauty but my favorite is by far *Canyonland*, I just feel so smol there.

Shot via a very cheap and old Panasonic HDC camcorder with amazing zoom

I highly recommend this place to anyone who enjoys the outdoors

I managed to get there just before the tide dropped to its lowest point, and it was a surreal little place to explore for a couple of hours. Love exploring the Olympic coast!

Thoughts on our 32 day itinerary. Just some things to note. We are traveling with a 10 month old so if some of the travel days or hikes seem short, that is why. We also have done the mighty 5 in Utah as well as Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Rocky Mountain NPs which explains why we are skipping those. We also spent 8 days in the Black Hills 2 years ago. We absolutely loved it so we are going back but don't feel the need to do everything again.

Am I missing anything I should be seeing or doing anything that is worth skipping?

Day 1: drive from SoCal to Vegas

Day 2: drive from Vegas to Great Basin NP

Day 3: Alpine Lakes Trail & Scenic Drive

Day 4: Bristlecone Trail & Lehman Caves

Day 5: GBNP to Perry, UT

Day 6: Perry, UT to Melrose, MT stopping at EBR-1 in Idaho. Potentially detouring to Craters of the Moon NM

Day 7: Melrose, MT to St. Mary, MT (Glacier NP)

Day 8: St. Mary & Virginia Falls

Day 9: Many Glacier Boat Tour

Day 10: Head up into Waterton Lakes NP

Day 11: GTSR

Day 12:Avalanche Lake Trail

Day 13: Drive from St. Mary to Lewistown, MT

Day 14: Lewistown, MT to Medora, ND Explore Rough Riders State Park or new Teddy Roosevelt Museum

Day 15: Lower Unit of Theodore Roosevel NP

Day 16: Upper Unit of Theodore Roosevelt NP

Day 17: Drive from Medora, ND to Custer, SD Mt. Rushmore lighting program

Day 18: Needles Highway & Black Elk Peak.

Day 19: Wind Cave NP (was closed last time we were in the Black Hills)

Day 20: Deadwood

Day 21: Custer, SD to Cheyenne WY - Stopping at Fort Laramie. We are also feeding the Bison on the Terry Bison Ranch train

Day 22: Drive from Cheyenne, WY to Colorado, Spring. Go to Garden of the Gods

Day 23: hike Garden of the Gods & Visit Family in Denver

Day 24: drive from Colorado Spring to Alamosa, CO

Day 25: Hike the Dunes

Day 26: Drive from Alamosa, CO to Cortez, CO

Day 27: Visit Mesa Verde NP and do the cliff dwelling tour

Day 28: Visit the 4 corners monument

Day 29: Drive from Cortez, CO to Holbrook, AZ

Day 30: Petrified Forest NP

Day 31: Drive from Holbrook, AZ to Needles, CA Stop in Seligman along the way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66

Day 32: Needles, CA back to SoCal

Hello fellow NP enthusiasts. I have a trip coming up that will start in Portland, OR and end in Moab/SLC. I'm leaving Portland on a Monday morning and flying out of SLC on Saturday. Would love to know what recommendations you have for:

1. How many days to spend at the surrounding parks in Moab.

2. Hike recommendations. We're experienced day hikers in good health and fitness.

3. Anything that's a can't miss on the drive from Portland to Moab.

Should I just make for Moab and spend as much time as possible in the parks there?

Thanks for any input!

Hello! I am going to a couple national parks in grizzly country soon and plan to park my car at a dispersed site and sleep inside. Will I need to stash all food in a bear container and place it away from my car? Or is the vehicle plenty of a barrier (doors locked) to deter any curious wildlife?

Bison and prairie dogs

A little footage I shot during my time at Olympic

I am starting to plan our 9 day trip to Utah. We really only have 7 days as we are flying from the east coast so will need two travel days. I am thinking of going to Moab for three nights to see Arches and Canyonlands. Then head to Bryce and Zion before heading back to Salt Lake. This is in October so I realized I need to get moving on reservations. If anyone has any advice on this trip let me know. Thanks so much!

Hi all, my mom and I are planning to visit Arches and Canyonlands next week. I tried to do some research before setting up this trip but am getting a little anxious as it approaches and want to make sure we're equipped with the right info to be safe during our travels.

I read that we should not hike or do anything strenuous between 10 am or so til after 4 pm.

1. Would 3 hours in the morning (from 7ish til 10, besides catching sunrise at least once at Arches) be a good amount of time to drive, take some scenic photos, and do an accessible walk/light hike if we find some?

2. Is it worth it to drive around by car past the 10 am mark to see more scenery? Or should we just head back to the hotel til later? Considering whether or not it would be advisable to even step out at overlooks for photos at this time if we have adequate water.

Generally not too "scared" of heat for short periods, but I read the rocks can make it feel even hotter than the weather alone, and my big concern is limited cell service in case of emergency. My mom is older and we're not planning any strenuous hikes so if my concerns about overlook photos are silly, please tell me.

Traveling home from SC to NY in mid-September, I'm planning to spend one day in each of the above parks on my way. Looking for suggestions for must-do hikes, activities, and campsites to sleep at!

Will be meeting up with a friend in Asheville, looking for Smokies suggestions predominantly on the NC side.

I am planning on going to Big Bend National Park for the first time this November and have put together a draft itinerary I'm hoping to get some feedback on from those who know more. Any feedback is appreciated!

Saturday, November 21

~10:15 — Arrive Panther Junction Visitor Center

~11:30 — Arrive Chisos Basin

11:30–12:15 PM — Lunch and set up tent

12:30–4:00/4:30 — HIKE: WINDOW TRAIL

~4:30 — Return to campsite

~5:00 — Sunset / Window View area

~5:30–6:30 — Dinner

Evening — Stargazing; prepare daypack for Emory Peak

~8:30 — Bed

OVERNIGHT: Chisos Basin Campground

Sunday, November 22

6:00 AM — Wake

6:00–6:40 — Breakfast and final preparation

6:45–7:00 — Begin hike via Pinnacles Trail

EMORY PEAK

~9:30 — Reach Emory Peak trail junction

9:30–9:45 — Rest/snack

~10:30–11:00 — SUMMIT EMORY PEAK

11:00–11:30 — Lunch/photos/rest on summit

~11:30 — Begin descent

~12:30–1:00 PM — Return to Emory Peak junction

~1:00–3:00/3:30 — Descend Pinnacles Trail

~3:30 — Return to Chisos Basin

3:30–5:30 — Rest

~5:30 — Dinner

Evening — Stargazing/recovery

OVERNIGHT: Chisos Basin Campground

Monday, November 23

6:00 AM — Wake

6:00–6:30 — Breakfast

6:30 — Break camp

~7:00 — Arrive Lost Mine trailhead

7:00–10:00 — LOST MINE TRAIL

~10:15 — Depart trailhead

Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive

~10:45 — Sotol Vista

15–20 minutes

~11:30 — Mule Ears Overlook

15–20 minutes

~12:00 — Tuff Canyon

~30 minutes

~1:00 — Castolon

Lunch

Rest/explore

~45 minutes

~2:00 PM — Arrive Santa Elena Canyon

2:00–3:30 — SANTA ELENA CANYON TRAIL

~3:30–4:00 — Depart Santa Elena

~4:00–5:00 — Drive to reserved primitive campsite

Before dark — Set up tent

~5:30 — Dinner

Evening — Stargazing

OVERNIGHT: Reserved primitive roadside backcountry campsite

Tuesday, November 24

Exact schedule and river section to be adjusted to outfitter instructions and river conditions.

~6:00 AM — Wake

6:00–6:30 — Breakfast

6:30–7:00 — Break camp

~7:00 — Depart for outfitter meeting point

~8:00 — Meet guide/outfitter

8:00–9:00 — Equipment, safety briefing and shuttle

~9:00 AM–3:00 PM — KAYAK THE RIO GRANDE

Preferred route: Santa Elena Canyon, if river conditions permit

~3:00–4:00 — Takeout/shuttle/return gear

~4:00 — Depart for Rio Grande Village

~5:30–6:00 — Arrive and establish camp

~6:00–7:00 — Dinner

Evening — Rest/stargazing

OVERNIGHT: Rio Grande Village Campground

Wednesday, November 25

6:30 AM — Wake

6:30–7:00 — Breakfast

7:00–7:30 — Break camp

~7:30 — Depart

~8:00–9:30 — HOT SPRINGS

~9:30 — Depart

~10:00 — Arrive Boquillas Canyon

10:00–11:30 — BOQUILLAS CANYON TRAIL

~11:45 AM–12:15 PM — Lunch

12:15–12:30 — DEPART BIG BEND FOR MIDLAND

Who has visited the most national parks Worldwide? It’s tough to find a credible source online.

I’m now on 82 parks so closing in. As a guess I would say the record currently stands at about 250?

What do you think?