The Great Outdoors

US National ParksUS National Parks are spectacular treasures that should be explored by everyone. From Acadia, Everglades, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain and Zion National Parks to White Sands National Monument, it's time to get out and enjoy the beautiful outdoors! 2 National Parks

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 Yellowstone  The Great Smokey Mountains  Grand Canyon  Yosemite  Acadia  Everglades  Rocky Mountain  Zion  Bryce Canyon 4 National Parks

Yellowstone is the world's oldest National Park. Yellowstone is famous for hosting more than 10,000-plus hot springs and geysers. Yellowstone's geothermal wonders are created by one of the world's largest active volcanoes. Look for bears and wolves, elk and buffalo in the Lamar and Hayden Valleys. Hiking, camping, and fishing, are among the many ways to experience Yellowstone. 5 National Parks

Looking for waterfalls? Great Smoky Mountains National Park has an abundance of waterfalls to keep you happy. Get out your cameras and have a great visit! If you are planning a visit to Great Smoky Mountains in fall, here are some tips to getting the best experience out of your fall foliage trip! The Appalachian Trail meanders the crest of the Smokies and runs approximately 69 miles along the North Carolina-Tennessee boarder. 6 National Parks

The Grand Canyon we visit today is a gift from past generations. Sit and watch the changing play of light and shadows. Wander along a trail and feel the sunshine and wind on your face. Follow the antics of ravens soaring above the rim. Listen for the roar of the rapids far below. Savour a sunrise or sunset. In Grand Canyon National Park, pine and fir forests, painted deserts, sandstone canyons, mesas and plateaus, volcanic and geologic features, the Colorado River, perennial streams, and waterfalls contribute to incredible panoramic views. 7 National Parks

The park harbours a grand collection of waterfalls, meadows, and forests that include groves of giant sequoias, the world's largest living things. Highlights of the park include Yosemite Valley, and its high cliffs and waterfalls and the Mariposa Grove, which contains hundreds of ancient giant sequoias. 8 National Parks

Located on the rugged coast of Maine, Acadia National Park encompasses over 47,000 acres of granite-domed mountains, woodlands, lakes and ponds, and ocean shoreline. Evidence suggests native people first lived here at least 5,000 years ago. Subsequent centuries brought explorers from far lands, settlers of European descent, and, arising directly from the beauty of the landscape, tourism and preservation. 9 National Parks

Everglades National Park is the only subtropical preserve in North America. The park is known for its rich bird life, particularly large wading birds, such as the roseate spoonbill, wood stork, great blue heron and a variety of egrets. It is also the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles exist side by side. Everglades National Park has been designated a World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, and a Wetland of International Importance. 10 National Parks

Rocky Mountain National Park is a living showcase of the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains. Elk, mule deer, moose, bighorn sheep, black bears, coyotes, cougars, eagles, hawks and scores of smaller animals delight wildlife-watchers of all ages. Wildflower lovers are never disappointed in June and July when the meadows and hillsides are splashed with botanical colour. Autumn visitors can relax among the golden aspens or enjoy the rowdier antics of the elk rut (mating season). 11 National Parks

Bryce Canyon is a small national park in southWestern Utah. Named after the Mormon Pioneer Ebenezer Bryce, Bryce Canyon became a national park in Bryce is famous for its worldly unique geology, consisting of a series of horseshoe-shaped amphitheatres carved from the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau in southern Utah. The erosional force of frost-wedging and the dissolving power of rainwater has shaped the colorful limestone rock of the Claron Formation into bizarre shapes including slot canyons, windows, fins, and spires called hoodoos. 12 National Parks

There are 3 primary scenic routes that enter into Zion National Park. Make sure to leave enough time to explore the landscape of. Zion Canyon is home to many mammals and critters as well as many cactus and wildflowers. Wildlife include the collared lizard, Gambel's quail and even the golden eagle. Always remember to respect wildlife by observing at a distance. Never feed the. The Narrows of Zion Canyon is one of the most popular, and most strenuous, offtrail hikes in the park. Hiking through the Narrows is a 16 mil trip requiring at least one full day. Much of the trip involves wading through the Virgin River. The Narrows may be closed due to the threat of floods. 13 National Parks

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