Tag Archives: National Parks

Through Fields of Fire and Footpaths: Gettysburg National Military Park

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Photo by S. Resendez

Gettysburg is where the nation turned and where a battlefield became sacred ground. Gettysburg National Military Park preserves the site of the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863), the bloodiest battle ever fought on American soil and a turning point in the Civil War. More than 51,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, captured, or declared missing in just three days. The battle ensued across rolling farmland, rocky hills, orchards, and small town streets. The battle erupted almost accidentally when Confederate troops encountered Union cavalry near the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. What began as a scouting expedition quickly escalated into a massive three-day engagement involving over 165,000 soldiers.

After the battle, local citizens worked to recover bodies and care for the wounded. A Soldiers’ National Cemetery was created for Union dead. It was here that President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address in November 1863 — redefining the war as a struggle not just for union, but for equality and democracy.

Photo by S. Resendez

The Battle of Gettysburg is important for several reasons:

  • It Stopped the Confederate Invasion of the North–General Robert E. Lee hoped to win a major victory on Northern soil, potentially forcing peace negotiations. Instead, his army suffered devastating losses and had to retreat back to Virginia.
  • It Shifted Momentum Toward the Union–After Gettysburg, the Confederacy never again launched a full-scale invasion of the North. The Union gained confidence and strategic advantage.
  • It Redefined the Meaning of the War–Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address framed the war as a fight for equality and democratic ideals — not simply preservation of the Union.
  • It Became a Symbol of Sacrifice and Unity–Gettysburg represents the cost of division and the power of reconciliation — something visitors still feel walking the fields today.
Stone wall on Cemetery Ridge
Photo courtesy of NPS

Today, the park protects over 6,000 acres, with more than 1,300 monuments, markers, and memorials, making it one of the most monument-dense historic landscapes in the world. Visitors can hike the same ridgelines and walk the same fields where Union and Confederate soldiers fought, often within feet of original stone walls, farm buildings, and cannon placements. It serves as a perfect junction for hikers and history lovers alike, it’s a rare place where the outdoors and American identity intersect.

Park hours for Gettysburg National Military Park are from sunrise to sunset. The battlefield and roads are open thirty minutes before sunrise to thirty minutes after sunset. Visitors can plan their visit and obtain a listing of sunrise and sunset times by day in Gettysburg, PA here. Visitor Center hours change by season so make sure you check the website for more detailed information.

MILE MARKER: Did you know Gettysburg almost became an amusement park?
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, parts of the battlefield were treated more like a tourist playground than sacred ground. There were trolley lines, picnic groves, dance pavilions, and even proposals for roller coasters and a Ferris wheel near key battle sites. Visitors could ride out to the battlefield for leisure outings, not reflection. It wasn’t until preservation groups and the federal government stepped in that large sections of the land were protected and restored to their historic appearance.

HIKE IT!: There are no hiking trails in the park but that doesn’t mean you won’t be getting your steps in. Places in the park like Gettysburg National Cemetery or taking a Gettysburg Battle Walk will make sure you get your exercise. Just check the weather and plan accordingly.

Hiking the Edge of Alaska: Kenai Fjords National Park

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Photo by S. Resendez

Mountains, ice, ocean, and glaciers…have I left anything out?

Kenai Fjord National Park is located in south-central Alaska on the southeast coast of the Kenai Peninsula, primarily accessed from the town of Seward. It is situated about 130 miles (2.5-hour drive) south of Anchorage and is known as the place “where mountains, ice, and ocean meet,” featuring the massive Harding Icefield and coastal glaciers. It is one of the few Alaska national parks accessible by road and ies south of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and north of the Gulf of Alaska.

This part of Alaska has long been populated by the Sugpiaq (also known as Alutiiq) whom are often referred to as the “people of the seal.” They have lived in, and around, the Kenai Fjord area for over 7,800 years. They learned to rely on the ocean for food, clothing, and materials, using seal gut for waterproof parkas and harvesting such resources as mussels, clams, algae, and crustaceans. While these cultures and others subsisted on harvesting, gathering, preparing, and sharing wild foods, subsistence hunting is no longer allowed within the borders of the park because it is a national park and not a national preserve. However, subsistence practices are still allowed on corporation-owned lands within the park and its adjacent waters. The Sugpiaq/Alutiiq people still maintain a close relationship with the land and remain an integral part of the area.

There are three main areas of the park that provide opportunities to see the park through varied lenses:

  • Exit Glacier: The Exit Glacier area is the only part of the park accessible by road. This area also offers an opportunity to take a short, accessible, one mile loop hike that takes you to a panoramic vista of Exit Glacier spilling down from the Harding Icefield.
  • The Coastal Fjords:  Several local companies offer opportunities to see the park’s coastline, tidewater glaciers, and marine mammals up close. If you’d prefer to do it yourself, kayaking is also an option.
  • The Harding Icefield: This is the star of the show. During the last ice age, the immense pressure of glaciers from the icefield scoured the coastal mountains, carving deep, steep-walled valleys.
    As the climate warmed and the glaciers retreated, the ocean filled these U-shaped valleys, creating the characteristic steep-walled fjords. The combination of retreating ice and rising sea levels transformed the landscape, leaving behind a coastline where mountains drop directly into the ocean, sometimes descending 600 to 1,000 feet below sea level. If you’re the strenuous type, you can take a full day to hike the strenuous 8 mile round trip trail. Mountaineering here is also an option if you’re a mountaineer with several outfitters and guides to assist in the planning. Probably the best way to view the Harding Icefield would be from the sky, with flightseeing overflights. More information for those flights can be found at the Seward Chamber of Commerce.
  • Harding Icefield Photo by S. Resendez
  • Kenai Fjords Coast Photo courtesy of NPS
  • Harding Icefield Near Aialik Glacier Photo courtesy of NPS

Kenai Fjords National Park is open year round. The primary months to visit are June, July, and August. There are reduced services in the area during the months of May and September. The Visitor Centers are open from Memorial Day weekend (last weekend of May) through Labor Day (first Monday of September) unless otherwise noted.

Being at Kenai Fjord National Park is about moving through a landscape shaped by ice, animals, and generations of people who learned to live with both. Whether you go for the trails, the scenery, the wildlife, or the cultural echoes of this rugged coastline, Kenai Fjords teaches us to move slowly and enjoy creation.

MILE MARKER: Would you believe that the Harding Icefield contains remnants of the vast Pleistoscene ice sheets that once covered much of Alaska?! The Pleistocene Ice Age occurred from approximately 2.58 million to 11,700 years ago.

HIKE IT!: There are only two maintained trails in Kenai Fjords National Park. They are the connected Exit Glacier Trails and Harding Icefield Trail. The trailhead for both starts just beyond the parking lot at the end of Exit Glacier Road. Make sure you check out the local conditions as you plan your trip to the park.

Land of Standing Stones: Discovering the Magic of Chiricahua National Monument

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Photo by S. Resendez

We’re here again. We’re in a place settled long, long ago by people who migrated to North America thousands of years ago across the Bering land bridge or by sea. Their ancestral homeland was believed to be around modern-day Siberia/Mongolia, eventually settling across Alaska, northern Canada, and the American Southwest. Their migrations occurred in waves, with later groups moving south and east from an initial Alaskan settlement, adapting to diverse environments from subarctic forests to desert regions. These people are the Athabaskan people. We mentioned them in our episode about Canyon de Chelly.

As these people made their way down to what we now refer to as the Southwestern United States (between 1400 and 1500), the Chiricahua eventually settled in what is now southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northern Mexico in the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts. The Chiricahua people are named after the Chiricahua Mountains in southeast Arizona. The Apache Indians were only one of the bands of Chiricahua Indians that evolved into different clans.

As it was, and still seems to be, the way of the United States to take what belongs to someone else (for more current information, see “Greenland”) the Apache Wars of 1861 culminated, after 24 years, in the creation of a reservation for the Chiricahua people that allowed them to live in relative peace until the death of Cochise, when the reservation was abolished and the people were forced to move to another reservation.

After the Chiricahua people were relocated, settlers and ranchers moved into the area and in the 1930’s, the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) came into the region and were responsible for the construction of many of the roads, parking areas, and trails. Many of the trails were built for recreation but some of them were designed specifically to allow access for firefighters.The Sugarloaf Trail, for example, has the dual purpose of providing fire lookout access as well as recreational opportunities. The Natural Bridge Trail was constructed for the sole purpose of firefighter access into Picket Park.

Photo by S. Resendez

Bonita Canyon Highway offers a beautiful 8 mile drive to Massai Point, the culmination of a road that was constructed by the US Forest Service in 1932. The road is a narrow mountain road with low hanging trees and small parking areas. If you’re hauling a trailer, your trailer must be disconnected to drive up through Bonita Canyon. Chiricahua National Monument is a “Dark Sky” park, so be prepared for some intense stargazing!

Chiricahua National Monument is located at 13063 E Bonita Canyon Rd, Willcox, AZ. The park is open 24 hours a day. Trails stay open for sunrise, sunset, and night sky viewing. Be aware of wildlife and use extreme caution. There is no entrance fee or pass required to enter. The visitor center, on the right 3.5 miles after the entrance, is open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. It has an information desk, museum, park film, and gift shop. It provides free maps, junior ranger booklets, and information.

Photo by S. Resendez

MILE MARKER: Chiricahua National Monument was formed by a single massive volcanic eruption about 27 million years ago. The Turkey Creek volcano released such an enormous ash cloud that the material hardened into rock, creating the towering hoodoos and balanced stones we see today. When you hike here, you’re walking through what was once a volcanic ash blanket—now sculpted into a stone forest by time and erosion.

HIKE IT!: Once again, the National Park’s website offers a great hiking page which breaks the hikes down into easy, moderate, and strenuous hikes. Five easy hikes about a mile or less will take you to some of the most scenic areas in the park! Don’t forget, though, there is elevation in this park so acclimate to the altitude by doing a short hike first!


When East Met West: A Traveler’s Guide to Golden Spike National Historic Park

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Photo by S. Resendez

America was moving west and it wasn’t an easy trek. As settlers began making their way into and across the United States, there was a push to move westward in the 1800’s. Gold had been discovered, Spaniards were making inroads and discovering land and an abundance of natural resources. Places like Fort Davis were providing a safe respite from the wild west but it was taking time for get from one end of the country to the other. Wagon routes and months-long sea voyages were slowing progress. Many leaders—businessmen, politicians, and military planners—began calling for a faster, safer way to connect the nation, a nation dreaming of speed and connection.

But the idea stalled for years because Congress couldn’t agree on where the route should run. Northern states pushed for a northern path; Southern states demanded a southern one. The political deadlock broke only after the Civil War began, when Southern representatives (who preferred a southern route) withdrew from Congress. Suddenly, the northern-backed plan had a clear path forward.

In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act, officially launching the transcontinental railroad. The government supported it with land grants and loans, while two companies—the Union Pacific (building west from Omaha) and the Central Pacific (building east from Sacramento)—took on the construction. Their lines met in 1869 at Promontory Summit, Utah, forever transforming travel, trade, and the American West.

 On May 10, 1869, officials from the Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad met at PromontorySummit, in Box Elder County, Utah, to drive the final, ceremonial spikes, linking the eastern and western United States by rail. In 1965, the site of the last spike on the transcontinental railroad was designated a National Historic Site. In March of 2019, the park’s designation was changed from a historic site to a historic park, just in time to for the commemoration on May 10, 2019, as America celebrated the 150th anniversary of the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad and recognizing the historic site as the Golden Spike National Historical Park.

Photo by S. Resendez

While connecting the railways was indeed a giant leap forward for the United States, it should be noted that these strides were made on the backs of several groups of people. Native Americans were already settled in the west and the construction of the railroad caused the people from 15 tribal nations to watch their homes and livelihood be destroyed with the advancement of the railroad. Irish immigrants, who came seeking work during potato famine in the mid-1800’s, were instrumental in helping build the railroad despite religious discrimination and.a language barrier. And Chinese immigrants, who were reluctantly hired after a critical shortage of labor was created due to gold strikes, were responsible for a great majority of the hardest labor that went into building the transcontinental railway. Chinese workers were often given tasked with working in the most dangerous conditions. Tunnels in the Sierra Nevada Mountains that had to be bored into solid granite for the railroad, rockslides, explosions, exposure, avalanches, and violent clashes claimed the lives of many of the Chinese workers. It is estimated that over one thousand Chinese laborers died building the CPRR. At the 1869 Golden Spike ceremony, not a single Chinese laborer was invited or mentioned, despite their indispensable role.

Central Pacific Railroad Jupiter
Photo courtesy NPS

Today, Golden Spike National Historical Park offers a variety of things to do during your visit. Commemorative events, seasonal events, nature, and hiking are all available at this park. There are approximately 55,000 visitors a year and the visitor’s center is open seasonally, at various hours. Please check the website for specific information before your visit. The physical address is 6200 North 22300 West, Promontory, Utah. It is approximately 30 miles west of Brigham City. The park is 2,735 acres of land surrounding a 15 mile stretch of the original Transcontinental Railroad. There is only one paved road coming in to the visitor’s center.

MILE MARKER: Did you know that the famous golden spike wasn’t hammered into place at all—it was gently tapped, lifted back out, and sent home, while the real work of joining the rails happened quietly behind the scenes.

HIKE IT!: There is a 1.5 mile trail called the Big Fill Loop Trail. It provides a beautiful view of the Promontory Mountains, the Great Salt Lake, and the Wasatch Front. Visitors can walk along the original grades of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads and still see drill marks from the tools used to create the tracks.

Wander the Petrified Wild at Petrified Forest National Park

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Photo by S. Resendez

Imagine yourself in some open grasslands…the weather is humid and rainy. You can see that there’s a lush, beautiful forest nearby and in the river, there are large, expansive, trees growing in and around the river bottoms. The land is verdant and green. You’re actually standing in a flood plain. There are animals like wooly mammoth and giant bison roaming the area. This is the supercontinent Pangaea during the Late Triassic Epoch, over 225 million years ago. What we now recognize as the southwestern part of the United States.

Photo by S. Resendez

Over millions of years, as the continents moved, the land tilted and uplifted, and the climate changed significantly, transforming the environment from a tropical basin to an arid plateau. The trees in that forest eventually fell and became buried in the biorich sediment where mineral-rich water replaced the tree’s organic structure with minerals, and turned them into petrified logs. The gradual uplifting of the land (starting about 60 million years ago) created stress that caused the brittle, crystal-filled logs to fracture like glass rods, creating the segmented appearance. Continual erosion from wind and water eventually exposed the fossils and sculpted the surrounding badlands and colorful Painted Desert formations, revealing the landscape we see today.

The Paleoindian people lived in, and around, the area of the petrified forest and as the climate and environment changed, began to settle the area as evidenced by the pithouses that were built into the land to mark the need for more permanent housing. By this time, the geographical area resembled what we recognize today as the Southwest. By the 1500’s, Spanish explorers began making inroads in search of routes along the Rio Grande and the Pacific Coast. After becoming a part of the U.S. territories in the 1800’s, the army continued to seek routes to the Pacific coastline and in doing so, came across what would eventually become the Petrified Forest National Park.

The Petrified Forest is located within the greater Painted Desert. A variety of animals call this area of the U.S. home, including amphibians such as salamanders and toads; birds; insects; mammals such as fox, coyote, deer, and rabbits; and reptiles like lizards, skinks, horned toads, and snakes. There are also several hundred species of plants and trees throughout the park. Research and dig sites are a constant in the Petrified Forest as scientists continue to learn and provide scientific information about the park to park visitors. This park is best known for its Triassic fossils.

Petrified Forest National Park is open year round except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Painted Desert Visitor Center and Rainbow Forest Museum & Visitor Center hours are from 8am to 5pm and the Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark Hours are from 9am to 4pm. Note: Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time, remaining on Mountain Standard Time year-round. For example, in the summer months, during Daylight Saving Time, the time in Arizona and California is the same, with New Mexico and the Navajo Reservation one hour ahead. As usual, always make sure you check ahead in regards to weather and possible closures. This is a pet friendly park!!! Dogs (on leash) are allowed on the trails and there’s even a dog park available. Stop by one of the Visitor Centers and get a BARK Ranger certificate for your furry friend!

Photo by S. Resendez

You can drive through the park in about an hour BUT there are plenty of short hikes that will allow you to see ancient villages, petroglyphs, giant logs, and petrified wood. This is the perfect park to see a lot with minimal physical investment.

MILE MARKER: Did you know Petrified Forest protects one of the richest Triassic fossil sites on Earth—not just fossilized trees, but early dinosaurs and evidence of some of the planet’s oldest wildfires? This park is far more alive than it looks!

HIKE IT!: There are several hiking trails of short to medium length available to hike in the Petrified Forest. The website’s trails page does a fantastic job of describing the trails and in giving you excellent insight into grades, cross slopes, and trial widths. Click on the link for the details.


Redwood National Forest: Secrets of the Tallest Trees on Earth

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Image courtesy of NPS

When people think of the Redwood National Forest, the first thing that comes to mind is the trees. Redwood National Forest is home to some of the tallest trees on earth, but the landscapes in and around the forest consist of more than just giant trees. Oak woodlands, rivers, prairies, and coastline make up the surrounding landscape. But we get it; you go for the trees. We all go for the trees…but there’s so much more!

Redwood National and State Parks is unique because the National Park Service (federal) and California State Parks (state) jointly manage the parks. Approximately 55% of the park is under federal management: the federal government, through the National Park Service (NPS), owns and manages a portion of the parkland, which was initially designated as Redwood National Park in 1968. The remaining 45% of the park is managed by the state of California, through California State Parks. California owns and manages the land in three separate state parks that are part of the larger, cooperatively managed unit: Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. In 1994, the NPS and California State Parks formed a cooperative management agreement to manage the parks as a single unit, maximizing resource protection.

Sea Star on Rock Photo courtesy of NPS

The abundance of ecological diversity in the Redwood Forest led to it being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. The diverse species of animals range from birds, land mammals, marine mammals, fish, and tide pool creatures such as sea stars and sea anemones. The Redwood Forest is also home to several threatened and endangered species such as the Northern Spotted Owl and the Steller Sea Lion. Redwood National and State Parks work hard to preserve, monitor, and safeguard fish and wildlife habitats to support recovery.

Redwood National Park is a total of 139,000 acres, or about 217 square miles, when combined with the three state parks (Jedediah Smith, Del Norte Coast, and Prairie Creek). Without the state parks, the national park itself is 131,983 acres, or 206 square miles, which includes about 40,000 acres of old-growth forest. The entire park extends for 35-60 miles along the northern California coastline.

Redwood National Forest Coastline Photo by S. Resendez

The Redwood National and State Park(s) is open year round but the Visitor’s Centers operate on a seasonal schedule. Check the website for information on hours and times. Cell service is limited and while GPS works, it often offers confusing directions. plan ahead by:

  • Carrying a physical map, especially if venturing into remote areas.
  • Using official park maps, available at visitor centers and on the park’s website.
  • Using road signs within the park rather than GPS apps, which may misdirect you.

It’s also a good idea to check conditions before heading out because heavy fog might prevent you from seeing some of the sights you’re planning to visit. Luckily, the NPS site has a page made just to let you know what current conditions are at the park at all times. Check that page right before you head out for alerts, road closures, and trail information.

MILE MARKER: Did you know the redwoods in California’s Redwood National and State Parks are not just the tallest trees on Earth — they’re weather-makers too? These ancient giants capture fog from the Pacific, absorbing moisture through their needles and creating their own microclimate. It’s a self-sustaining forest, where the trees literally drink from the clouds.

Hiking Trail in the Redwood Forest Photo by S. Resendez

HIKE IT!: Once again, the National Park Service website for The Redwood National Forest and State Parks has done an excellent job helping you to plan your best hike. Their web page breaks down hikes by time and region. From short walks to all-day hikes, they’ve got you covered. Make sure you check out the current conditions page before you head out, then get your sticks and go!

Hiking the History and Culture of Acadia National Park

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Photo by S. Resendez

The trails in Acadia National Park tell a story carved by ancient glaciers and by the hands and hearts of the people who have called this place home. Long before it became a hiker’s paradise, Mount Desert Island was the ancestral homeland of the Wabanaki people, who paddled the rocky shores and named the mountains and waters that still define Acadia’s wild beauty. Later came the “rusticators” — artists, writers, and dreamers of the 19th century — who found inspiration in its rugged cliffs and helped spark a movement to protect it.

Before it became known as Acadia, this park had many names…Pemetic, Sieur de Monts, and Lafayette. The area in, and around, Arcadia, began colonization in the late 1700’s. By the early 1800’s, farming, foresting, fishing, and shipbuilding became the major occupations. Hundreds of acres of trees were deforested to make wood products. Farmers began growing crops like wheat, rye, corn, and potatoes. By the mid-1800’s, fishermen and sailors focused on creating a life on the sea. And word got around about the natural beauty of the area, so tourism also became a part of early life in Acadia.

Photo by S. Resendez

Charles W. Eliot, George B. Dorr, and John D. Rockefeller presented 5,000 acres to the American people in the form of a national monument, which was signed into effect by President Woodrow Wilson. At the time, the park was under the name, Sieur de Monts. More property was donated by wealthy patrons, many of them affluent women, and efforts continued to obtain full national park status. In 1919, President Wilson signed the act establishing Lafayette National Park and Dorr became the first park superintendent. In 1929, congress authorized the National Park Service to accept a donation of land on the Schoodic Peninsula and that was when the park’s current name, Acadia National Park, was adopted.

Photo by S. Resendez

Acadia National Park preserves approximately 50,000 acres in Maine. Ecosystems contained within Acadia include mountains, shorelines, forests, lakes and ponds, steams and watersheds, marshes, swamps, and wetlands. It boasts. more than 1,100 plant species and diverse wildlife from microorganisms and larger animals. It is currently, as of this writing, the 10th most visited national park.

Acadia National Park is usually open 24 hours a day but check the website for specific information regarding operating hours for the visitor’s center. Summer is the busy season but it’s always good to plan in advance because you never know when things might change. Acadia is a huge park and while there are many areas that are accessible to people with disabilities, there are also many areas that are not accessible. The best way to check is to go directly to their accessibility page for specific information.

Photo by S. Resendez

MILE MARKER: Did you know that Acadia National Park was the first national park created entirely from private land donations? Also, Acadia’s famous carriage roads were built by John D. Rockefeller Jr., not for cars, but as a refuge from them. He even designed the roads and bridges to blend naturally into the landscape, using local granite and hand-carved details.

HIKE IT!: There are SO MANY hikes in Acadia, there’s not enough room to list them here. It’s a good thing that Acadia’s NPS website has a whole page that sorts all the hikes for you! Find your favorite hiking trail by location, by environment, by route, or by public transportation. Look here for links that will take you straight to the information you need to hike your hike.

Hiking in Yosemite National Park: Easy Trails and Epic Views

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Photo by S. Resendez

In the mid-1800’s, California was the place to be. Gold had been discovered. The race was on to get the gold and nothing would stand in the way of the prospectors looking to get rich. As is usually the case, there were some obstacles in the way, namely people.

Bridal Veil Falls Photo by S. Resendez

The Indigenous people of Yosemite Valley called the valley “Ahwahnee” or “gaping mouth-like place”. The Ahwahnee lived in the area for thousands of years, developing a deep, reciprocal relationship with the land, but were eventually devastated by illness and displaced by settlers and park officials. In the end, the Mariposa Battalion, a Euro-American militia entered the area and drove the native Ahwahneechee people onto reservations,

As more people made their way into California, specifically Yosemite Valley, hotels, inns, and stagecoach companies began catering to the early tourists. In 1864, Yosemite was recognized by the federal government as someplace that should be protected. Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant, placing Yosemite under the protection of the state of California.

President Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir standing on rock at Glacier Point, Yosemite, May 1903; Yosemite Falls and cliffs of Yosemite Valley in distance. Photo courtesy NPS [RL012904]

In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt visited Yosemite and guided by naturalist John Muir, spent three nights camping in the Mariposa Grove and later, in a snowstorm near Sentinel Dome, then finally in a meadow near the base of Bridalveil Falls. This stay led Roosevelt to expand federal protection of Yosemite, and it inspired him to sign into existence 5 national parks, 18 national monuments, 55 national bird sanctuaries and wildlife refuges, and 150 national forests.

Yosemite National Park is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. The Hetch Hetchy area is only open from sunrise to sunset (except for permitted backpackers). There are other park entrances but check the website to see whether or not they are open. All day visitors must exit Hetch Hetchy by sunset. The road is also closed to all vehicles (including backpackers) from sunset to sunrise. Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles (3,100 square km) in the Sierra Nevada, with elevations ranging from about 2,000 feet (600 m) to 13,000 ft. The welcome center is located next to the Yosemite Village Parking and the Village Store in Yosemite Valley. Get help planning your visit and pick up free trail maps, junior ranger booklets, and more at the welcome center. Hours are 9:00 AM–5:00 PM and the Village is open year-round.

El Capitan Photo by S. Resendez

Things to do are numerous but if you’re visiting during the busy season, you need to make sure you plan ahead. Planning your visit will help to make sure you’re able to see everything you want to see while you’re there.

MILE MARKER: Did you know that some of the Buffalo Soldiers that were stationed at Fort Davis were stationed to park protection duties? After their frontier service, many Buffalo Soldiers were assigned to protect the newly formed national parks, including Yosemite. Between 1891 and 1913, soldiers from the 9th and 24th Cavalry, among others, served as the official administrators and park rangers in Yosemite.

HIKE IT!: There are a million things to do in Yosemite but hiking is the penultimate experience here. In and around Yosemite Valley, there are several day hikes rated easy to moderate that range from 0.5 miles all the way to 13 miles. There are also some shorter, more moderate hikes, that have elevation but if you plan ahead, you can check out the information and get yourself on a trail that suits your abilities. If you’re looking for trails outside of Yosemite Valley, check out Yosemite’s page all about the hiking trails. You’re sure to find something that suits your hiking style.

Photo by S. Resendez

Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve: Where Glaciers, Culture, and Wildlife Collide

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Photo by S. Resendez

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is more than a stunning wilderness—it’s a living story of ice, culture, and resilience. Once completely covered by massive glaciers, this area is still reshaping itself, revealing dramatic fjords and thriving ecosystems. Home to Tlingit heritage sites, soaring mountains, and wildlife from bears to humpback whales, Glacier Bay invites you to explore its past while experiencing its raw, untamed beauty.

Photo by S. Resendez

The time when the gradual shifting of glaciers began is now referred to as “The Little Ice Age”. It lasted for approximately 550 years and in addition to the extreme cold, there were periods of extreme climate fluctuation that made it difficult for any human beings to survive and thrive. Food scarcity and famine, disease and unrest, plagued the native populations and for at least the last 100 years into the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, the Tlingit people were forced to gradually move off their ancestral lands.

But the shifting of the glaciers also brought out the mysteries of the land and suddenly, a new ecosystem was created which brought attention to the area in and around what we now call Glacier Bay. In 1925, when Glacier Bay became a National Monument, the land in and around Glacier Bay was the ancestral home to the four clans of the Huna (Hoonah) Łingít. In its attempt to preserve and conserve the natural beauty at Glacier Bay, the National Park Service (NPS) fostered new federal laws that severely impacted the lives of the indigenous people. Where they were once free to hunt, fish, and forage the land, new restrictions now curtailed, if not outright prohibited, the Huna Łingít’s ability to live freely on land that was once an integral part of their everyday lives.

Photo by S. Resendez

In December of 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act that created Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. After becoming a national park, the National Park Service and Hoonah Indian Association, began working together to reestablish and reinvigorate traditional and cultural activities. There remains a concerted effort to collect and preserve oral history amongst the Hoonah. And on the shores of Bartlett Cove, a cooperative venture led to the first tribal house to honor the Glacier Bay since Łingít villages were destroyed by the moving glacier 250 years ago. The Huna Ancestor’s House is open to park visitors and provides opportunities to learn about Huna Łingít history, culture, and their ancestral way of life.

Accessibility: Bartlett Cove has a few short trails, a public dock, campground, Glacier Bay Lodge with the Park Visitor Center on the second level, and the Visitor Information Station. These paths are not paved, and may have exposed roots and rocks. The Tlingit Trail provides a wheelchair accessible gravel path between the public dock parking area and the front of the Huna Tribal House. While navigable by many new wheelchairs, not all trails meet ADA standards. There is also a beautiful wooden boardwalk that provides access to a viewing deck overlooking a serene pond. This 1/2-mile section of the Forest Trail is accessible and easy to negotiate. For more detailed information about accessibility, visit the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve website.

MILE MARKER: When Captain George Vancouver sailed by in 1794, he didn’t discover Glacier Bay as we know it — because it was completely covered by ice. A single glacier more than 100 miles long and 4,000 feet thick filled the entire bay. By the late 1800s, the ice had already retreated over 30 miles, revealing the stunning fjords and waterways we see today.

HIKE IT!:Several hiking trails are available to hike during your visit to Glacier Bay. You can view, or print, Bartlett Cove Trails Map for a simple visual of the shorter hiking trails. You can also visit the hiking page at the Glacier Bay NPS site. The best known hike at Glacier Bay would probably be the Forest Trail. It’s a 1 mile loop trail that’s rated as easy. The terrain is mostly flat and trail surface varies between dirt, gravel and boardwalk. There are benches and viewing platforms so factor in time to have a seat and enjoy nature. There is also a ranger led guided walk along this trail every afternoon.

Hiking Forest Trail GBNP Photo by S. Resendez

Harpers Ferry: The Spark That Lit the Civil War

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View of the Shenandoah River from the Murphy-Chambers Farm Overlook. Photo courtesy of NPS/Autumn Cook

Near the area where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet, a group of nineteen men, led by Captain John Brown, invaded the arsenal at Harpers Ferry. The group then took several of the residents of the surrounding neighborhood as prisoners, while emancipating several slaves, and held off United States troops, under the command of Colonel Robert E. Lee, for almost 30 hours, before finally being captured, wounded, or killed. Captain John Brown was captured, tried, convicted, and executed for high treason and inciting slaves to insurrection. While this endeavor appears to have been a failure, the actions of the Captain and the men who accompanied him helped to launch the United States into the Civil War.

Captain John Brown Photo by S. Resendez

Because Harpers Ferry was chosen by George Washington to be the location of the 2nd national armory in the US at that time, Harpers Ferry was a prime spot for a faction to seize control. Between 1861 and 1865, the town of Harpers Ferry changed hands eight times. Strategically located at the confluence of two rivers and two railway lines, the arsenal at Harpers Ferry and its strategic location made it a hotbed of invasion and occupation that continued throughout the Civil War. In October of 1867, after the Civil War, Storer College was founded. It became the first higher education institution in West Virginia open to African Americans.

From 1909-1968, John Brown Fort stood on the site of Storer College on Camp Hill in Harpers Ferry. In this circa 1915 photograph, Storer College students, faculty members, and their families pose in front of the fort during an evening choral session. Year: 1915. Image Credit: Historic Photo Collection, Harpers Ferry NHP.

African American families continue to maintain their deep connections to the area in and around Harpers Ferry and today, more than 250 years after the first family settled the area, Jefferson County still boasts the longest established African American community in the state of Virginia.

In 1944, Harpers Ferry National Monument was authorized by Congress and in 1963, the park was renamed Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Today, Harpers Ferry is not only a significant historical site, it also boasts a wide and varied ecosystem that encompasses a deciduous forest, flood plains, mountains, rivers, streams, wetlands, marshes, and swamps. “The park is home to approximately 14 amphibian,18 reptile, 36 mammal, 30 spider, 43 fish, 174 bird, and 276 insect species.”

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is open year round with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1. The Visitor Center is located at 171 Shoreline Drive, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 and is open daily from 9a to 5p. Shuttle buses run every day the park is open, every 10-15 minutes. Park museums/exhibits and restrooms in the historic Lower Town are open daily from 9 a to 5 p. Hours change seasonally so make sure you visit the website or call for the most up to date information.

Accessibility: The park has two wheelchairs available that may be borrowed by visitors upon request. The park’s shuttle buses are equipped for those with physical limitations. The buses kneel and have lifts to accommodate those who are unable to utilize the stairs. For more details on accessibility for physical, hearing loss, low vision/blindness, please check the website.

MILE MARKER:  Harpers Ferry is an anchor point on the Lewis & Clark National Historical Trail. It served as the starting point for the Corps of Discovery’s journey westward on the Lewis & Clark Expedition in 1803.

HIKE IT!: There are several trails with varying levels of length and difficulty ranging from 1 mile to 6.5 miles long. Be sure to check out the hiking page of the Harpers Ferry NPS website for detailed information on the hikes and the Appalachian Trail!

Loudoun Heights Trail in the fall Photo courtesy NPS / Volunteer Devin Taggart