One of the most popular outdoor recreation destinations near Portland, Mt. Hood National Forest is only about an hour’s drive east from Oregon’s largest city. If you don’t have time to visit one of the national parks in the Pacific Northwest, all of which are at least three hours from Portland, you could just head…
When you visit Mount Rainier National Park in summer, this is what your itinerary might look like. This post includes Mount Rainier National Park attractions and activities in the park’s four separate areas: Longmire, Paradise, Ohanapecosh and Sunrise.
Yellowstone National Park is one of only a few national parks in the contiguous United States that are home to two species of bears: black bears (Ursus americanus) and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis). Although both species are present all throughout the park, some areas are superior to others when it comes to seeing bears…
Home to a place that’s literally called Moose, Grand Teton is one of the best national parks to see these large ungulates in the wild. And this post will tell you exactly where to see moose within Grand Teton National Park. Numerous beautiful lakes, small and large, dot the Grand Teton landscape, while streams and…
From old-growth forests to towering mountains, from rocky coasts to shimmering lakes, America’s national parks preserve all kinds of landscapes. One of the landscapes least suitable to humans, however, are the American deserts. And this is exactly why the following desert hikes in the national parks are so unforgettable. Hiking across shadeless desert flats, navigating…
Besides wildlife and outdoor adventures, many people visit America’s national parks to see some of the country’s greatest landscapes. While some views require several miles of hiking, there are also many spectacular, easily accessible overlooks and viewpoints in the national parks.
Some of the world’s most extraordinary landscapes are found on the Big Island of Hawaii. You can explore them on a number of awesome day hikes in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The only Hawaiian island that’s still volcanically active, the Big Island is home to two of the most active volcanoes on Earth: Mauna Loa…
No matter how many times you’ve seen them, seeing black bears in the wild is always an exciting experience. For some of America’s best black bear viewing, spend a few days in Shenandoah National Park, exploring its woodlands, meadows and waterfalls. This mountainous park stretches along the crest of central Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, characterized…
One of the most iconic mountains in the Pacific Northwest, Washington’s Mount St. Helens is famous for its 1980 eruption, which is still the most devastating and deadliest volcanic eruption in the history of the United States. Nowadays, however, it’s a fantastic place to witness the resilience of nature up close. More than 200 miles…
The fact that American bison aren’t extinct in the United States is largely thanks to Yellowstone National Park. These extraordinary animals, a very symbol of American wilderness, came perilously close to extermination in the 19th century, but were able to find a safe haven in national parks like Yellowstone. Particularly the Lamar Buffalo Ranch, established…
The perfect blueness, stillness, clarity and magnificence of Crater Lake must be seen to be believed. And luckily, there are many overlooks and summits that offer scenic views in Crater Lake National Park! For the best views of Crater Lake, Oregon‘s most famous lake, you can drive the famous Rim Drive, stopping at overlooks as…
One of America’s top destinations for wildlife watching, Glacier National Park is home to an incredible diversity of fauna. From marmots and chipmunks to bighorn sheep, moose and the iconic mountain goats to both black and grizzly bears, this rugged Rocky Mountain park is a wildlife haven. Seeing famous animals in the wild is why…
Although a rather small park known mainly for its paleontological and archaeological resources, there are also some really fun hikes in Petrified Forest National Park. Most of the trails in Petrified Forest National Park are paved and fairly easy, while others have some steeper sections. Generally speaking, this is one of the best national parks…
The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is famous around the world for its abundant wildlife and vast wilderness areas. Within that sprawling region, which also encompasses Grand Teton National Park, there’s one particular area that’s especially rich in wildlife: the Northern Range of Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone’s Northern Range spans much of the park’s northernmost area. It…