National Parks
Nations, Nature & People
From towering snowcapped peaks to the howl of a lone wolf, from backwater swamps to soaring Sequoias, from sparkling Great Lakes to painted deserts, the United States National Park Service preserves 85 million acres (3.4%) of some of the most beautiful American landscapes. There are 63 National Parks spread out across 29 states and 2 U.S. territories. They offer insight to ancient creatures and lost continents, peoples who have lived on the land for millennia, and incredible biodiversity in some of the last remaining strongholds for wild and wonderful species across the United States.
National parks MAP
The National Parks showcase diverse ecosystems and human histories. Navigate your way through the parks by checking out these books and movies:
Lake Clark National Park
Pristine blue waters and boreal forests cover the mountain wilderness. The sockeye salmon run, the bears feast,
and the Dena'ina people have harvested here for thousands of years.
Location: 100 miles southwest of Anchorage. Located on land native to the Dena'ina, Yup'ik, and Sugpiaq Nations.
Fun Facts:
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Lake Clark is at the headwaters of the largest sockeye salmon fishery in the world.
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The Dena'ina people have lived on the land for countless generations. Their world view emphasizes reciprocity. According to Elders, if you treat everything and everyone with respect, life will become easier and good things will come back to you. Everything on the land has a spirit (k'etnyi, which means it is saying something). These peoples are still intricately intertwined with this land, and as visitors here, we would do well to listen.
Not So Fun Fact:
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Significant pressure exists near Lake Clark's boundary to build a 4,000 acre open pit copper, gold, and molybdenum mine. Political leaders pendulum back and forth over support for the mine, but science based permitting agencies demonstrate its threat to the crucial sockeye salmon runs.
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A changing climate and global visitation has brought 30 new invasive plant species to Lake Clark National Park. One notable colonizer, Elodea, is a common aquarium plant and may have entered the watershed via humans. The plant outcompetes native vegetation and can even grow below ice in long winters.
Trail to hike: Tanalian Falls and Kontrashibuna Lake
This moderate trail traverses birch forest to hillside views of Lake Clark below. You may continue to the tranquil blue waters of Kontrashibuna Lake. On the way back, consider taking the alternative route around an old beaver pond (Beaver Pond Trail). 2.8 miles out and back (5.6 round trip).
Want to learn more?
Lassen Volcanic National Park
A land of volcanos awaits. Sulfurous gas escapes from fumaroles and other cracks in the earth’s surface. This jagged land contains the record of volcanic history, but there is new life in these ashes. Wildflowers bloom and verdant meadows pock mark these slopes in summer.
Location: East of Redding, California. Located on land native to the Mountain Maidu and Modoc Nation.
Fun Facts:
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Lassen Peak is the southernmost active volcano in the Cascade Mountains which run from northern California to southern British Columbia.
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There are four different types of volcano – plug dome, shield, cinder cone, and strato. Lassen National Park is one of the only places in the world to contain all four.
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Several Native American groups would camp seasonally in the lands of Lassen National Park. They followed deer migration to these higher elevation and would gather plants in the summer. Snow would fall hard and heavy during the winter. Tribes would follow herds of game to lower elevation and warmer weather.
Not So Fun Facts:
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Lassen contained glaciers in recent centuries. These glaciers have disappeared, leaving just 14 permanent snowfields in the mountains today.
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Kintpuash, also known as Captain Jack, was a chief to the Modoc Nation. He was unwillingly relocated to the Klamath Reservation in Oregon during the mid-1800s. In protest of poor reservation conditions, he returned to his native homeland in California with many members of his Tribe. The Modocs resisted against the US Army for over a year. They sheltered in the lava fields between battles. Captain Jack killed General Canby after a series of failed negotiations. The chief was later caught and hanged after he was betrayed by members of his own Tribe. Read more of this sorry affair in “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” (Chapter 10).
Trail to hike: Lassen Peak Trail
Hike 5 miles round trip to the summit of Lassen Peak to stand upon the southern most active volcano in the Cascades Range. You’ll get a unique view of the devastation wrought by the 1914-1917 volcanic eruptions.
Want to learn more?
Mammoth Cave National Park
Enter the world's longest cave system to explore subterranean life. But if spelunking is not your thing, above ground there are rolling Kentucky Hills and deciduous forest.
Location: Brownsville, Kentucky. Located on land native to the Cherokee, Shawnee, and Yuchi Nations.
Fun Facts:
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Although 400 miles of Mammoth Cave has been explored, the park estimates a potential for another 600 miles in its system.
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The Mammoth Cave system is home to some weird and wonderful wildlife. They include Indiana Brown Bat, eyeless fish, cave salamanders, and the Kentucky cave shrimp - a blind, albino endangered species. These species have all adapted in various ways to survive in the dark.
Not So Fun Fact:
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In 1925, Floyd Collins became trapped in Mammoth Cave. What followed was America’s first true media spectacle with sensationalism and hysteria for his rescue. Sadly, Floyd died of hunger, thirst, and hypothermia three days before rescuers reached him.
Trail to Hike: Wild Cave Tour
Take a crawl through a section of the world’s largest cave system. It is a strenuous all day adventure that takes you through tight spaces and into enormous amphitheaters. Don’t go on this tour if you are afraid of confined tunnels, under the age of 16, or if your chest or hip measurement is greater than 42 inches.
Want to learn more? Book Recommendations:
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Journey to the Bottomless Pit: The Story of Stephen Bishop and Mammoth Cave
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Walking on the Wind: Cherokee Teachings for Harmony and Balance
Mesa Verde National Park
Among high mesa walls, deep within narrow canyons, the ancient Puebloans (Anasazi) carved their homes into these steep cliff faces. The park contains a multitude of cultural history among the many canyons and arid forest.
Location: Cortez, Colorado. Located on land native to the Pueblos and Ute Nations.
Fun Facts:
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Mesa Verde is Spanish for “green table”. The mesa is a plateau with flat top and high sides.
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Puebloan indigenous communities today are descended from the ancestors who built the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde. They are also commonly referred to as the Anasazi. The ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi) built the structures between the 6th and 12th century.
Not So Fun Fact:
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Vandalism threatens the preservation of cultural resources at Mesa Verde. For example, in 2017, Several individuals unearthed "prehistoric charcoal" from an archeological site and graffitied the sandstone. These acts destroy historical property, invaluable socio-ecological resources and are downright disrespectful.
Trail to Hike: Cliff Palace Trail
Join a ranger led hike/climb up the cliff walls and into Mesa Verde's Cliff Palace. This unique experience allows tourists to explore the many ancient homes and kivas up close and personal. Be warned, if you are afraid of heights, there are four 8-10 foot ladders to get to multiple stories of the city. Expect to climb about 100 vertical feet overall.
Want to learn more? Book Recommendations:
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The Mesa Verde World: Explorations in Ancestral Pueblo Archaeology
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House of Rain: Tracking a Vanished Civilization Across the American Southwest
Mount Rainier National Park
A great white mountain looms on the horizon, even from Washington state's busiest metropolis.
The great Tahoma grows in size and grandeur upon approach. Its glaciated slopes give way to evergreen forests and luscious wildflower meadows that will leave any visitor in awe.
Location: 17miles from Olympia, Washington. Located on land native to Nisqually, Puyallup, Squaxin Island, Muckleshoot, Yakama, and Cowlitz Nations.
Fun Facts:
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Mount Rainier is the highest mountain in the state of Washington at 14, 410 feet. Its snow covered slopes are the most glaciated of any mountain in the lower 48 states.
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Native Nations called Mt. Rainier Tahoma or Taquoma, which means mother of all waters. It feeds five major rivers: Carbon, White, Cowlitz, Nisqually and Puyallup. There are more than 100 waterfalls just within Mount Rainier National Park.
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Six Native Nations still maintain a relationship with Mount Rainier National Park. The park has set aside certain areas for these Tribes to perform ceremony and rituals. In 2019, the state of Washington became the first U.S. state to formally recognize an element of the United Nations' Declaration of Rights for Indigenous People (UNDRIP). Before initiating a program or project that directly effects Tribes in Washington, the planners must receive free prior and informed consent (FPIC) from the impacted federally recognized Tribes. This movement is hopefully part of a larger trend that provides inalienable self-evident rights to Native Nations.
Not so Fun Facts:
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Mount Rainier is an active stratovolcano within the volatile Cascade range. It is the tallest volcano in the lower 48 states. Scientists expect future eruptions and Mount Rainier is included on the Decade Volcano list which designates global volcanos with serious threats to human populations. The nearby Mount St. Helens stratovolcano erupted in 1980. The explosion spewed ash, rock, and hot gases that triggered the largest landslide in recorded history (3.3 billion cubic yards). This blast impacted nearly 230 square miles of land around the volcano and killed 57 people. It was the deadliest eruption in U.S. history. Mount Rainier is approximately 60 miles from Seattle - a potential catastrophe awaits.
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Hundreds of people summit Mount Rainier every year (it is the highest mountain in Washington State). This technical climb can be dangerous. At least 400 people have died on the slopes of Mount Rainier since 1897.
Trail to Hike: Skyline Trail Loop
This 5.5 mile loop takes you from the Jackson Visitor Center to the slopes of Mount Rainier. Along the way, you will pass colorful wildflower meadows, a massive waterfall, and icy blue snowfields. Be sure to stop at Panorama Point for a scenic vista, but don't forget to enjoy the more subtle beauty of the boreal forest even after you drop below tree line.
Want to learn more? Book / Movie Recommendation:
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Tahoma and Its People: A Natural History of Mount Rainier National Park
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Hiking Mount Rainier National Park: A Guide To The Park's Greatest Hiking Adventures
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Tahoma and Its People: A Natural History of Mount Rainier National Park
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Washington's History, Revised Edition: The People, Land, and Events of the Far Northwest
New River Gorge National Park
Steep canyon walls rise above rushing rapids. These natural wonders boast some of the best white water
rafting and rock climbing in the eastern United States. The New River Gorge protects over 53 miles of the
oldest river in North America, the New River.
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Location: Beckley, West Virginia. Located on land native to the Moneton, Tutelo, and S’atsoyaha (Yuchi) Nations.
Fun Facts:
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The New River Gorge Bridge is the longest steel span in the western hemisphere and the third highest in the United States. Its construction in the late 1970s saves more than 40 minutes of driving through winding roads and mountain tunnels in West Virginia’s Appalachian Mountains.
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The park creates habitat for the largest salamander in the United States, the Hellbender. This amphibian can grow over two feet long and weight up to five pounds. It is also known as "mud devil", "devil dog", and ground puppy.
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Bridge Day occurs every third Saturday in October. It is the world’s biggest BASE jumping festival. Participants jump from the New River Gorge Bridge and to glide 876 feet into the Gorge below. Not feeling risky? Spectators watch from atop the bridge or canyon walls, there's even a live stream!
Not So Fun Facts:
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West Virginia is one of few states not to create some form of mandatory State Endangered Species Act. The state does have a list of rare plants and animals, but business and private individuals are not required to protect these species or their habitat.
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Trash and other human waste accumulate on the banks of the New River. This pollution is a major problem for the ecosystem human health.
Trail to Hike: The New or Gauley Rivers
Join a white water rafting guide on the New or Gauley River. Both rivers contain class III to class V rapids which promise to meet the expectations of any adrenaline junky..
Want to learn more?
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Whitewater Rafting on West Virginia's New & Gauley Rivers: Come on In, the Water's Weird
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West Virginia Histories: Unique People, Unusual Events, and the Occasional Ghost
North Cascades National Park
Miles of snow-capped peaks in the glittering pinnacle of the Cascade Range. The North Cascades backcountry is vast and untrammeled by the millions of visitors who frequent more southern U.S. parks.
Location: Near Newhalem, WA. Located on land native to the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Samish Indian Nation, Nooksack Tribe, Lummi Nation, Stó:lō Nation, Nlaka’pamux Nation, Colville Confederated Tribes, and Syilx/Okanagan Nation Nations.
Fun Facts:
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There are more glaciers in North Cascades National Park (300) than in any of the other U.S. parks outside of Alaska.
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There are 75 species of mammals in the park – including the wolverine, gray wolf, grizzly bear, lynx, mountain goats, and mountain lions. It is one of the few locations in the United States outside of Alaska that still contain wolverines. Wolverines are notoriously one of the most ferocious mammals in the animal kingdom. They can smell a dead animal that is buried up to 20 feet below the snow and are well known for digging out hibernating mammals. Their jaws can snap bone and wolverines are capable of taking on animals many times their size (even as large as a caribou).
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There is only one road that leads through this park. The rest of the park is only accessible by foot or mountaineering gear.
Not so Fun Fact:
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The North Cascades National Park is the park where you are most likely to suffer a fatal accident. This was from a study performed on data from 2007 to 2018. There were 652 deaths per 10 million visitors on average.
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Previous climbers have not had so much fun with certain peaks in the park. Some names of the mountains include: Forbidden Peak, Mount Torment, Disappointment Peak, and Mix-up Peak.
Trail to Hike: Cascade Pass Trail
Follow a millennia-old indigenous trail and hike 3.7 miles up to Cascade Pass to spectacular views of the Cascades Range. Most people complete the day hike, but those backcountry seekers may continue on to the Sohale Glacier or Horseshoe Basin.
Want to learn more? Book / Movie Recommendation:
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Hiking the North Cascades: A Guide to More Than 100 Great Hiking Adventures
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Washington's History, Revised Edition: The People, Land, and Events of the Far Northwest
Olympic National Park
Three worlds collide within one park. Snow-covered cascades, well above the tree line, contrast the tidal pools and coastal ecosystems, teaming with marine life. But don’t forget the old-growth, temperate rainforests, where mosses hang from the trees and slugs as big as your hand crawl along the forest floor.
Location: Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula. Located on land native to the Makah, Quileute, Hoh, Quinault, Skokomish, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Jamestown S'Klallam, and Lower Elwha Klallam Nations.
Fun Facts:
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The national park contains one of the world’s few temperate rainforests. The ecosystem receives nearly 12 feet of rain every year.
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The park was originally protected in large part due to its populations of Roosevelt Elk. It became a national monument in the late 1800’s after humans hunted this game species into near extinction. The park was almost named Elk National Park, instead of Olympic National Park.
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There are 14 species of endemic animals on the Olympic Peninsula. My favorite is the pudgy, Olympic marmot. They are about the size of a house cat and are affectionately known as “whistle pigs”.
Not so Fun Fact:
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Atypical snow falls and hotter, drier weather contributed to the Paradise Forest Fire in 2015. While Olympic National Park did not burn, the flames reached the Olympic peninsula. A combination of climate change and poor forest management techniques for fire suppression contributed to the intensity of this blaze. Forest managers are beginning to listen to millennia-old indigenous forest management practices that involve controlled burns.
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The northern spotted owl became a global symbol synonymous with the fates of the Pacific Northwest’s old growth forests. The debate is a complex interweave of economic, political, and ecological interests. Thousands of timber jobs, rural economies, declining populations of a charismatic species still hang in the balance of these decisions.
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Mountain goats are not native to the park. Humans introduced goats from Canada and Alaska to the Olympics in the 1930’s. Then, we changed our mind. People now consider the goats to be a nuisance and have documented damage to native plant life. Through 2020, 412 mountain goats have been removed – 325 were relocated. The other 87 goats have been killed. Starting in 2021, the park will begin an aerial campaign to shoot goats from helicopters/small planes.
Trail to Hike: Ho Rainforest River Trail and North Coast Wilderness Trail
Because of the diversity in the three areas of the park, these two, very distinct trails are favorites. Make sure you visit all three ecosystems within the park. The Ho Rainforest River Trail takes you through the magnificent old growth forest to the grassy meadows of Mount Olympus (the highest peak in the park). It’s a 17-mile overnight trip into the backcountry. So be prepared to turn around if you are day hiking. Meanwhile, Olympic’s shoreline is equally spectacular in different ways. The North Coast Wilderness Trail from the Rialto Beach Trail head leads to Mora’s Hole in the Wall (about an hour’s hike to this tidal pool area). Explore with care. There are many creatures sensitive to human touch. So please admire from a distance.
Want to learn more?
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Hiking Olympic National Park: A Guide to the Park's Greatest Hiking Adventures
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Olympic National Park: Touch of the Tide Pool, Crack of the Glacier
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Olympic Peninsula: Coastal Getaways, Rainforests & Waterfalls, Hiking & Camping
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Top Trails: Olympic National Park and Vicinity: Must-Do Hikes for Everyone
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Washington's History, Revised Edition: The People, Land, and Events of the Far Northwest
Petrified Forest National Park
Ancient forest became rock preserving these fossils for millions of years. But don’t let this long dead forest deceive you, this desertscape is home to much life, old and new.
Location: Holbrook, Arizona. Located on land native to the Hopitutskwa, Shiwinna (Zuni), Diné Bikéyah, and Pueblo Nations.
Fun Facts:
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The fossilized forest of this park are 225 million years old. They were once great conifers of the Triassic period. Trees fell during floods and other catastrophic events, then were buried in sediment on the flood plain. Over time, minerals like quartz replaced the wood but left the fossilized impression that is seen today.
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When these petrified trees were alive, dinosaurs roamed the earth.
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The park has Class I air quality protections under the Clean Air Act (CAA). This means park managers must be contacted before the installation of any new stationary source that might effect air quality. Petrified Forest has exceptionally clear air, because of CAA protections, its dry climate, its remote location, and low pollution levels. Mountain peaks, more than 160 km away are frequently visible from within the park.
Not so Fun Facts:
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There is a stack of Petrified Forest rocks at the southern terminus of the park. These rocks were once taken by visitors. Once removed, these fossils cannot be returned because they placed incorrectly which would negatively impact the active research by geologists, paleontologists, and archaeologists.
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However, it is not just illegal to take rocks from the National Park, but legend has it that a curse comes upon those who take them. This curse can bring anything from a streak of bad luck with failed marriages, car trouble to jail time, and even death. The park continually receives confessions from visitors past. I'm not necessarily saying I am a believer, I just certainly wouldn't tempt the fates.
Trail to Hike: Painted Desert Rim Trail
This one mile trail passes through animal habitat then offers sprawling views of the Painted Desert. Bring plenty of water and sun protection on this hike.
Want to learn more?
Pinnacles National Park
Tall rock spires rise above the valley floor. You may wander tranquil meadows, quiet forests, rugged lava flows, and sizable tectonic shifts. However, these pinnacles are reserved only for California Condors or expert climbers.
Location: Soledad, California. Located on land native to the Amah Mutsun and Chalon Nations.
Fun Facts:
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One of the only release sites for releasing California Condors exists in Pinnacles National Park. These birds declined to only 10 wild individuals in the 1980s. A captive breeding program and improved environmental regulations helped rescue this species from the brink of extinction. Today, North America’s largest flying bird has over 400 individuals living in the wild. Fun fact within a fun fact: California Condors can have up to a 9.5 foot wingspan and can weigh up to 20 pounds.
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The National Park is located on the San Andreas Fault. Over 23 million years, 2/3 of the original volcanic eruption field has moved 195 miles north due to movement of the tectonic plates.
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The Amah Musun and Chalon Nations managed this landscape by use of controlled burns, as well as selective breeding of seeds varieties. Grasses were collected in the summer for weaving, acorns were gathered in the fall for food. These Tribes believe the condor moves between the living and the dead.
Not So Fun Fact:
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Pigs were first introduced to California by Spanish missionaries. These adaptable animals quickly established themselves. Pigs are a problem for native ecosystems because rooting behavior destroys native plant species, as well as increases the rate of erosion. Pigs will compete with other mammals for food and will prey on a number of small animals. Pinnacles National Park began a pig eradication program in 1984. The National Park built a pig proof fence that surrounds more than 14,000 acres of park land. Biologists then, with the help of dogs, hunted down every last pig. Park staff regularly patrols the boundary to make sure no pigs enter the park.
Trail to Hike: Condor Gulch to High Peaks Loop
The High Peaks Loop travels beneath rock spires that awe and takes you near some of the best California Condor nesting habitat. The 5.3 mile round trip can be done as a day hike – just take plenty of water.
Want to learn more?
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Hiking Pinnacles National Park: A Guide to the Park's Greatest Hiking Adventures
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Condor: To the Brink and Back--the Life and Times of One Giant Bird
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Condor: Beautiful Pictures & Interesting Facts Children Book About Condor
Redwood National Park
Coastal fog rolls thick and heavy through enormous Redwoods, the tallest trees on earth. This spectacular park
contains more than just coastline and forest. The wet ecosystem feeds many wild rivers and
sustains other habitats like meadows and oak woodlands.
Location: North of Eureka, California. Located on land native to the Tolowa, Yurok, Chilula, Wiyot, and Karok Nations.
Fun Facts:
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A Redwood tree is a species of Sequoia. This variety is the tallest tree on earth. Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) live on the California coast. Giant Sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) live in the sub-alpine regions of California).
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An individual Redwood tree can spread its roots more than 50 feet underground. These trees often live in groves where their root systems intertwine and can share nutrients, as well as give them strength from coast winds. And these trees are old – they can live up to 2,000 years, similar to the timeline of giant sequoias.
Not So Fun Facts:
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Redwood forests once covered more than 2 million acres from Big Sur to the Oregon-California border. Redwood trees are now endangered. Two centuries of logging practices have taken nearly 90 percent of all this forest. There are only 120,000 acres of old growth Redwood that still remain. A Redwood trees takes hundreds of years to mature and replacing old growth forest take millennia.
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There are numerous threats to Redwoods, including climate change, intense wildfires, drought, and human development. There are even burl poachers. A burl is a rounded knotty growth on a tree, Poachers will cut these growths off of living Redwoods to create hand craft souvenirs or home décor. Never buy any product made of Redwood because it encourages this illegal and destructive behavior.
Trail to Hike: Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail
This easy 1.5 mile loop wanders through enormous old growth redwoods. Springtime features azalea and rhododendron blooms, while autumn contrasts colorful maples with the evergreen redwood canopy.
Want to learn more? Book / Movie Recommendation:
Rocky Mountain National Park
Snowcapped peaks rise above expansive scree fields and grassy meadows. Summer wildflowers paint these alpine slopes with nearly every color of the rainbow. The park is a paradise for hikers, rock climbers, mountain bikers,
as well as native animals like the black bear.
Location: Estes, Colorado. Located on land native to the Cheyenne and Ute Nations.
Fun Facts:
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30 miles of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) run across the central ridges of the park. The CDT is 3,100 miles long - it traverses much of the U.S. Rocky Mountains. This trail is one of two National Trails that run from Mexico to Canada.
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There are over 1,000 wildflower species in the park which bloom in late spring through summer. The Colorado Columbine, Mountain Iris, and Wood Lily are three of my favorites
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There are 77 mountain peaks above 12,000 feet, just within Rocky Mountain National Park. The country also boasts the country's highest visitor center, Alpine Visitor Center, at 11,796 feet.
Not So Fun Facts:
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Grizzly bears and wolves are native to Rocky Mountain National Park, but were removed by humans. Both mountain goats and moose live in the park, but are not native to Colorado. These two hooved species were introduced to the ecosystems by humans.
Trail to Hike: Chasm Lake Trail
Long's Peak is the highest summit in Colorado at 14,259 feet. Experienced climbers can get to the top, but many hikers are happy to enjoy Chasm Lake at its base (the hike takes 2-3 hours one way). Hikers should be advised there is a difficult rock scramble just before reaching the lake.
Want to learn more? Book / Movie Recommendation:
Saguaro National Park
Saguaro cacti stand tall on the horizon and biodiversity flourishes in this great desert. Once located beneath the sea, now it is but a small part of the Sonoran which extends far into Mexico.
Location: Tucson, Arizona. Located on land native to the Ancestral Puebloans, Hohokam, Mogollon, Tohona O'odham, and Patayan Nations.
Fun Facts:
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Saguaro is the only U.S. National Park in the Sonoran Desert.
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The park lands were once beneath inland sea (600 million years ago). There are still plenty of marine fossils and geologic features shaped by marine life. Paleozoic shale and limestone rock contains fossilized marine life. Though it may seem improbable now, in the Sonoran desert, there were once sharks and mollusks and corals and clams. You may still find fossilized shark teeth, trilobites, coral reef, and more!
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The park is home to 25 cacti species. The Giant Saguaro cactus is the United States’ tallest cactus (normally reaching 40 feet tall). Their roots only go 4 to 6 inches deep – they will spread as a network out from the cactus about as wide as it is tall. The National Park preserves the largest tract of Saguaro cacti left in the country.
Not So Fun Facts:
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Jaguars are native to the Saguaro Desert and have been extirpated by humans, but these felines would frequently cross the U.S. / Mexican border. The newly constructed sections of border wall disrupt this natural migration for Jaguars, as well as many other animal species. Fun fact within a not so fun fact: Jaguar within the panthera genus are capable of roaring like a lion. However, mountain lions of the puma genus are only capable of screaming.
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The lands that are now known as Tucson and Saguaro National Park were once lands of Puebloans, Hohokam, Mogollon, Tohona O'odham and Patayan Nations. By 1871 however, many US settlers were actively trying to remove Native Nations from their ancestral land. Townspeople from Tucson led an attack against 144 women and children of the Apache Nation, who were camped nearby Camp Grant. The Indigenous victims had no expectation of an attack - they were killed, scalped, then the surviving children were sold into slavery in Mexico. The crime was so egregious that US President Ulysses S. Grant demanded that the Arizona territory bring those responsible to trial or else be put under martial law. A grand jury in Tucson indicted 100 people with 108 counts of murder. The jury deliberated for 19 minutes before providing a verdict of not guilty on all counts.
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Saguaro cacti face many threats in our world today. Climate change has led to extreme drought and higher temperatures, which mean few new cacti have been established. Extreme conditions will continue but are not the only threat to saguaros. Humans have previously stolen so many young cacti that park rangers have implanted microchips into some plants to track for future theft. Saguaros found as lawn ornaments or in nurseries can now be scanned as to whether they were legally obtained.
Trail to Hike: Ridgeview Trail
Hike the old road until it starts to climb. You will find spectacular panoramic views of Box Canyon and Rincon Peak. If you’re hiking in the spring, you may be graced with the bloom of hundreds of wildflowers on the hillside. Carry lots of water in any season..
Want to learn more? Book / Movie Recommendation:
Trace: Memory, History, Race, and the American Landscape, by Lauret Savoy. Book from Udall.- mely list
Sequoia National Park
Tall, tall trees – some of which were born before Cleopatra and other Egyptian Pharaohs, before Homer and the Iliad, before the Buddha or Jesus, before any modern alphabet or the creation of anything that we might claim to own today. And the park is more than just these hardwoods. There are high peaks and hidden valleys in some of the prettiest stretches of the Sierra Nevadas.
Location: Three Rivers, California. Located on land native to the Mono (Monache), Yokut, Tübatulabal, Paiute, and Western Shoshone Nations.
Fun Facts:
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The oldest known Sequoia lived for 3,266 years old – born just after the pyramids were built. They are some of the oldest living organisms on Earth. Sequoias are well known to grow fast and live long - they frequently grow more than 275 feet tall.
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The highest point in the lower 48 continental United States is located in Sequoia. Mt. Whitney is 14,505 feet tall. It is the southern terminus of the alpine hugging John Muir Trail.
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Sequoia trees are also the largest living organism on earth by volume. The General Sherman Tree is estimated to be 52,508 cubic feet.
Not So Fun Facts:
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Climate change and poor fire management have contributed to California's increased wildfires in recent decades. These gentle giants have evolved over time to withstand fire. Many indigenous peoples practiced controlled burns to promote healthy Sequoia forests. However, 20th century land managers ignored these techniques. Over time, combustibles have built up and with average temperatures rising, today's wildfires burn hotter, faster, and more frequently - which pose significant threat to Sequoia tress.
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Smog and fossil fuels from California's central valley contribute to the poor air quality near Sequoia National Park.. Scientists have observed that this air pollution is some of the worst in the United States.
Trail to Hike: North Grove Loop / Whitney Portal
Option 1: Hike the thigh burning 6,200 foot elevation gain over 13 miles up to the highest summit in the lower 48 states. The views from Mt. Whitney are unparalleled. You can camp outside Lone Pine and hit the trail early in the dawn. However, I would suggest staying at Whitney Portal Campground to cut your mileage in half.
Option 2: Stick to a lower elevation in the old grove Sequoia groves. The North Grove Loop offers a nice blend of these enormous trees and other woodland ecosystems.
Want to learn more? Book / Movie Recommendation:
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Hike the Parks Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks: Best Day Hikes, Walks, and Sights
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Natural Laboratories: Scientists in National Parks Sequoia and Kings Canyon
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