If we told you to wait a few months to visit a national park, what would you do? For those looking for an outdoor escape that won't have them sweating in their tent, our favorite destinations do costume changes in the fall.
In the fall you can discover the differences between the seasons, whether they are changing leaves, more wildlife, or clear views of our universe. There are 10 parks that will make for a great fall break.
There are a lot of big trees on a road trip around the Olympic Peninsula. You can hike into the mountains, wander along the coast and explore the old-growth rainforests in the park. You can find Douglas fir and western hemlock in the lowlands of the Elwha Valley. In the Hoh Rain Forest and Quinault Area there are plants covered in moss. If you want to add some vampire lore to your rainforest adventures, you can stop in the town of Forks, which is the setting for Stephenie Meyer's "The Vampire Diaries" novels.
Washington has a number of national parks.
It is nature's tour de force Half the world's geysers, the country's largest high-altitude lake and a mass of blue-ribbon rivers and waterfalls can be found here. To the south, there is a national park with craggy peaks. As soon as you head out onto the Moose-Wilson Rd., you can see wildlife at Jackson, where bison and bighorn sheep can be seen in the winter. There is a scenic spot to view moose, elk, bald eagles and other birds in the wet lowlands at OxbowBend. The Lamar Valley is known as the Serengeti of North America for its herds of bison, elk and the occasional coyote.
How to see 10 of the most amazing waterfalls at the park.
There are two distinct desert habitats, the Colorado and the Mojave, each with their own flora and fauna. Residents are famous for their alternative lifestyles and it is a strange landscape. The old-timey vibes of Pioneertown can be experienced by hiking the Arch Rock Trail and rock climbing in Echo Cove. The desert is fragile and the tracks left here can last for decades, so stick to the trails.
Getting to know a national park.
There is a rusty green bus in a clearing near the banks of the Jack River. Chris McCandless, also known as Alexander Supertramp, spent the last months of his life in the real-life story, "Into the Wild". The bus was a focal point for fans until it was removed in 2020 after at least two people were swept away by the river while trying to get to it. With views of the snowcapped peaks of Denali National Park to the west, the Parks Highway is a must visit. Prepare for adverse driving conditions in the cold months if you watch out for caribou.
Road Trips in Alaska.
Superlatives abound in Kings Canyon and Sequoia, two national parks marked by their huge sequoia trees. The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway drops for 30 miles (48 km) within the canyon, twisting past chiseled rock faces. There are hiking trails near the Kings River. The sequoia trees are large and can be seen along the Generals Highway which leads to Kings Canyon National Park. The world's biggest tree by volume is in the Giant Forest. If you want to get to Mineral King Valley, you have to drive Crescent Meadow Road to the tunnel log.
There are 11 new national parks in the USA.
The only national park in New England is known for having some of the most eye-catching autumn colors on the planet. The park is a great place to watch the leaves fall.
The area Pemetic was called by the Wabanaki people. In 1916, the first national park east of the Mississippi was established as a result of the area being popularized by writers and artists.
The Maine state government maintains status updates on its website if you are concerned about missing the best of the colors. There are 158 miles of trails in the park that loop around lakes and forests and along rocky shorelines.
Fall foliage road trips are the best in New England.
The expansive Shenandoah National Park is almost 800 miles south of Maine and is known for its stunning fall foliage. Black bears are most active in the fall and visitors will enjoy the numerous mountaintop panoramas.
You must show up early to claim your spot at the campground. The leaves aren't a secret and October is the park's busiest month, so plan on a weekday visit.
The park was proposed in the early 1900s after being inhabited by a number of Native American groups for hundreds of years. Over the course of a decade, the land was aggregated by the government through the use of condemnation.
There is a guide to the national park.
Canyonlands National Park is best enjoyed when one isn't trying to escape the heat. The fall is a great time to view the park's namesake canyons and rich autumn sunsets.
The park's canyons were carved out over millions of years. The Ancestral Puebloans and the Fremont Culture were the first people to live in the canyonlands area. The park has over 300,000 acres.
One of the best sunrise and sunset views in Utah can be found at Dead Horse Point State Park.
There are 8 road trips in Utah.
There are snow-dusted peaks, sparkling Alpine lakes, sweeping valleys, and epic trails that zig-zag their way into and along the mountain range in Wyoming.
In the fall, the park has a variety of wildlife, from mountain goats through the highest reaches of the Tetons to moose searching for a mate.
Campers tend to go straight to the campsites that are centrally located in the park, but we recommend going to Gros Ventre Campground on the southern side. It is close to the banks of the Gros Ventre River and the camping spots are larger.
Pack up and go for a road trip.
The Great Sand Dunes of southeastern Colorado isn't the most obvious choice for a fall vacation, but a visit to this unique spot might surprise you. Wildlife that appear in larger numbers in the fall can be seen in the area because of the trees around the dunes changing colors.
The sand gets warm during the summer, reaching up to 150 degrees Farenheit in the sunny afternoon hours, and a fall visit guarantees more comfortable sand temperatures.
The dunes are remnants of an ancient lake that drained into the Rio Grande about 440,000 years ago, and they are important to several Native American groups. Sisnaajini is one of the sacred mountains of the tribe.
The Milky Way can be seen on moonless nights in September and October. You can camp underneath the stars with a permit if you go to the autumn season.
You can get to the national parks by train.
The largest intact forest of old-growth hardwood trees in the southeastern United States can be found here. The park has a few trails and boardwalks, but the main attraction is Cedar Creek. You can kayak or stand up paddle board through Congaree to get a closer look at its unique flora and bird life.
In the fall, why visit? The park's ancient trees take on a golden hue because of the high heat and humidity of a South Carolina summer. It's not possible to rent a boat in the park so bring your own.
The best national parks in the US are outdoors.
September 2020 and August 2022.
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