Pawsitively Intrepid

Located in the southwest corner of Colorado, is a unique national park. Where many national parks were formed to preserve dramatic landscapes and unique ecosystems, Mesa Verde National Park preserves history. Ancestral Puebloan People lived in this area for around 700 years. If you travel the southwestern area of the United States, you probably already know that these people lived in several different locations in this region. So what makes Mesa Verde unique? Here during the 12th and 13th centuries,…

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Located conveniently off of I-40 in Arizona is an ancient preserved forest. Scientist suspect that 225 million years ago, this region was a humid and subtropical climate with trees as tall as 200 ft. As they were washed away and buried by silt, soil, and volcanic ash, the conditions were perfect for fossilization. Today these fossils of long ago trees are surrounded by ruins and petroglyphs, animal and other plant fossils, and a colorful badlands. Today, you can find these…

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Stretching for over 270 miles is a trench in the earth that is up to 18 miles wide and one mile deep. Visiting this impressive canyon is awe-inspiring. Almost indescribable. It certainly leaves me breathless every time. Located in northern Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most famous US national parks. Theodore Roosevelt declared it “the one great sight which every American should see.” So in 1919, the National Park service took over preservation and protection of…

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Saguaro National Park is a desert garden sprinkled with too many towering giant saguaro cactus to count. To the east, these cactus are set against the backdrop of the Rincon Mountains, creating scenery just waiting to be photographed. This national park is split into an east and west portion, separated by the city of Tucson. Both regions have drive-able scenic loops, although the west’s scenic loop was not paved at the time of our visit. We visited this park in…

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Located beneath the Guadalupe Mountains, is an extensive cave network protected by Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The park contains more than 118  of the over 300 limestone caves in this area. The caves are part of a fossil reef formed by an inland sea millions of years ago. While Carlsbad Caverns is famous for its caves, there are also plenty of above ground treasures to be explored in this area of the Chihuahuan Desert. Dog-Friendly Activities Carlsbad Caverns is not…

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Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a relatively small and refreshingly uncrowded national park. Only an average of 170,000 annual visitors come to explore the 85 miles of hiking trails. Compare this to the 4.1 million visitors who explore the much larger Yellowstone National Park and you can appreciate the difference in crowds. The Guadalupe mountains are located on the border of Texas and New Mexico. Only a small portion of the park is accessible by car and a fair amount…

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Imagine a remote landscape of arid land and mountains, hours drive from a town of any significant size. Imagine a silver river snaking through a deep canyon or a wide open plateau with birds circling overhead. Big Bend National Park is one such magical place. Big Bend National Park is all about wide open spaces and rugged places. From scenic vistas to river-carved canyons, there is a lot to explore in Big Bend. This park is remote and covers over…

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Located in Arkansas, Hot Springs National Park is one of the few dog-friendly National Parks in the United States. It is a unique mixture of city streets and hiking trails that was built around its main feature – hot springs. The hot springs have been a main attraction for hundreds of years. One of the earliest reports is from 1541 when it is believed that Native Americans led Hernanado de Soto to “Valley of the Vapors.” The first true log…

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