Pawsitively Intrepid

Lassen Volcanic National Park is a 100,000 acre national park located at the southern edge of the Cascade Mountain range. Lassen Volcanic was designated as a national park in 1916, making it one of the oldest national parks. From mountain views to boiling fumaroles, Lassen Volcanic National Park offers a glimpse into unique ecosytems that continue to fascinate the many visitors who enter the park boundaries every year. While most of us know about Yellowstone’s hydrothermal features (every heard of…

Read More Read More

Yosemite National Park is one of the most well-known national parks in the United States. Located in California, this region was a favorite place of John Muir, who has been referred to as the “Father of the National Parks.” And there is a reason that John Muir worked so hard to preserve Yosemite for many generations to come. High granite cliffs sprinkled with dramatic tall waterfalls. Large ancient groves of giant sequoia trees. Hundreds of miles of trails through a…

Read More Read More

The Sierra Nevada mountain range in California is home to some of the world’s largest trees. Here, the amazing Sequoia trees are surrounded by rugged foothills, deep canyons, raging rivers, and the dramatic beauty of the mountains themselves. All of this landscape is worth protecting, so it is no surprise that two national parks were created to protect this area: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.  These two national parks are adjacent to each other and operated together, so I…

Read More Read More

Millions of years ago, multiple volcanoes erupted to form a unique landscape. From talus caves to towering rock spires, the terrain at Pinnacles National Park is a treat for hikers and climbers. This landscape is also home to a rare bird species, the California Condor. The California Condor is native to this region, but these birds have faced an uncertain future. By 1987, condors had become extinct in the wild with all remaining birds in captivity. Captive birds were released…

Read More Read More

Channel Islands National Park, created in 1980, protects five islands off the coast of California. Each of the five have unique features and histories. Anacapa Island is one of the two islands included in the establishment of Channel Islands National Monument in 1938. First opening to the public in 1959, it is the second smallest island at around 5 miles in length. It remains the most visited island due to its proximity to the mainland and is well known for…

Read More Read More

Joshua Tree National Park is one of the 9 national parks in California. It is a land of intriguing rock formations and the park’s memorable namesake, the Joshua tree. On the National Park Service (NPS) website, Jane Rodgers describes these unique plants as “spiky trees straight out of a Dr. Seuss book.” This is one of my favorite descriptions of these so called trees. The trees are actually a member of the Agave family called Yucca brefivolia. They can be…

Read More Read More

As the official site states, Death Valley is the hottest, driest, and lowest national park. How hot you ask? The highest recorded air temperature was at Furnace Creek on July 10, 1913. It was 134°F. While that was the hottest, summer temperatures can routinely top 120°F. And how dry? Average rainfall is less than 2 inches. How low?  Badwater Basin is the point of lowest elevation in North America, recorded at 282 feet below sea level. This may not sound…

Read More Read More

To the east, west and south, Nevada is surrounded by states with numerous national parks. There are five in Utah, nine in California, and three in Arizona. So, since you should already visit the region for these other amazing national parks, there is no excuse not to travel to Great Basin National Park on your road trip. Great Basin National Park is smaller than many of its neighboring parks, covering just over 77,000 acres and receiving approximately 90,000 visitors a…

Read More Read More

Zion National Park is a mecca of weeping rocks and rivers, of narrow canyons and razor edged trails. This stunning national park is located in the southwest corner of Utah. Approach from the east and you will follow the Virgin River as mountainous terrain rises on either side of you. Then pass through an impressive tunnel and the valley will open up before you. This valley, and the rising walls, make Zion an incredible place to explore. From rock climbing…

Read More Read More

Bryce Canyon National Park is home to the largest collection hoodoos on earth. If you aren’t familiar with them, a hoodoo is an irregular column of rock. As you can see in the picture below, these red rock columns extend almost as far as the eye can see from certain viewpoints within the park. If you are interested in how these hoodoos are formed, don’t hesitate to visit Bryce Canyon’s nps.gov website. These hoodoos (and Bryce Canyon) are part of…

Read More Read More