visit every national park

I think it would be a good pace to try to add one a year on average (you can sometimes put a few together in the same trip if they’re close enough together).

This year I added Glacier to my list – #36 out of 58 (well, until Congress adds more!) American Samoa may be the last one I get around to visiting, but I still want to go!

I visited this park June 12-13, 2008. It is located close to Cleveland, Ohio. The park surrounds the route of an old canal. The centerpiece is the towpath that follows the canal route. There is also a scenic railroad that passes through the park. The park is not a backwoods/wilderness affair, nor is it intended to be. The artifacts of man are as important as the works of Nature. Along the towpath, one sees the remnants of old locks, preserved buildings, and the like. There are some hiking and bridle trails, which make for pleasant hiking. (Part of the Buckeye Trail runs through the park.) Don’t expect a wilderness experience, though—the sound of traffic is never very far. The National Park is integrated with several local metroparks. The towpath is heavily used by locals as a biking and jogging trail. I would stop at the park if I were in the area (and I would ride the train this time), but I won’t be making a special trip back.

Smoky Mountains National Park
Zion National Park
Grand Canyon National Park

I would like to visit all 58 US National Parks and return with pictures like these.

http://www.terragalleria.com/parks/

So far, I’ve visited Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah, Mammoth Cave, Hot Springs, Grand Canyon, Guadalupe, Carlsbad Caverns, Yellowstone, and Sequoia.

I’m aiming to see at least one national park per year. So far this year, I’ve been to Big Bend and San Antonio Missions.

The only others I’ve been to are Denali, Kenai Fjords, and the
USS Arizona Memorial. Lots of catching up to do!

So far I’ve been to: Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Carlsbad Caverns, Natchez Trace, Gettysburg, Joshua Tree, Lassen, Petrified Forest

My favorite: Yosemite (but I’m biased) :-)

This year I’ll revisit some favorites, and also hope to get to: Channel Islands, and (crossing my fingers!) Hawai’i Volcanoes.