u/dare_mighty_things10

Visiting Olympic NP was the last stop on a longer trip that included North Cascades NP + Mt. Rainier NP. Spent 4 days in the park.

Logistics: Flew in and out of Seattle. Stayed in an Airbnb in Port Angeles

Hikes/Activities (*fan favorites):

Staircase Rapids Loop Trail

Marymere Falls Trail

Lake Crescent

Hurricane Ridge Trail to Mt Angeles for sunrise

Hole in the Wall on Rialto Beach*

Ruby Beach

Tree of Life

Devil’s Punchbowl

Spruce Nature Trail

Hall of Mosses

To Do in the Park for Next Time: Sol Duc Falls Trail, Mount Storm King Trail, Exploring more of the Olympic Coast

I was lucky enough to visit Crater Lake NP as an add-on to a personal trip. Was also able to see Columbia River Gorge NSA as part of this trip.  I spent 2.5 ish days in the park (got rained out the first evening I was there). This trip also happened a couple of years ago when the Cleetwood Cove trail was open and they were running tours. But part of the East Rim Drive was closed at that time for construction.

Logistics:

Flew in and out of Portland. Stayed at the Aspen Inn in Fort Klamath (convenient location, but definitely not with modern amenities). Next time would try and snag a lodge reservation.

Hikes/Activities (*fan favorites):

West and partial East Rim Drive

Cleetwood Cove Trail

Wizard Island Shuttle*

Wizard Island Summit Trail

Fumarole Bay Trail*

Discovery Point Trail

Castle Crest Wildflower Garden Trail

Garfield Peak Trail for sunrise*

Phantom Ship Overlook

Plaikni Falls Trail*

Pinnacles Valley Trail

Sun Notch Trail

Vidae Falls

Watchman Peak Trail for sunset (was also lucky that it was a super moon that night!)*

To Do for Next Time: Mount Scott Trail, full Rim Drive, Standard Lake Cruise

Visited White Sands NP as part of a bigger trip that included Guadalupe Mountains NP + Carlsbad Caverns NP. Spent 1.5 days visiting the park. Pretty awesome stop on the trip!

Logistics:

Flew in and out of El Paso, TX. Stayed in an Airbnb in Alamogordo.

Hikes/Activities (*fan favorites):

Backcountry Camping Trail for sunset*

Alkali Flats Trail for sunrise-ish (had to wait for gate to open)*

Playa Trail

Ranger led Moonlight Hike on Dune Life Nature Trail*-one of the top experiences I’ve had in a NP

To Do for Next Time: Ranger led Lake Lucero Tour, Interdune Boardwalk (was closed)

Visited Dry Tortugas NP as part of a trip to Key West. Also visited Bahia Honda State Park during this trip. Took the seaplane (Key West Seaplane Adventures) at 8a for the half-day trip (booked about 6 months in advance). Was an awesome experience, but wished we had more time since the trip felt a little rushed. One of the most memorable NPS experiences I've had!

Logistics:

Flew into Key West and stayed in a hotel in Key West.

Hikes/Activities (*fan favorites):

Explored Fort Jefferson*

Enjoyed South Beach*

To Do for Next Time: Camp!

Spent 2.5 days in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Missed out on the neighboring state parks that are supposed to have some great trails too.

Logistics:

Road tripped and stayed in a hotel in Stow, OH while visiting the park. Added a pit stop in Columbus for a night.

Hikes/Activities (*fan favorites):

Ledges Trail for sunset

Brandywine Gorge Trail for sunrise

Station Road Bridge*

Blue Hen Falls Trail*

Everett Road Covered Bridge

Beaver Marsh*

Szalay’s Farm and Market

Bridal Veil Falls Trail

Great Falls of Tinkers Creek

Tinkers Creek Gorge Overlook

Canal Exploration Center

Great Blue Heron Viewing Area*

To Do for Next Time: Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad train ride, visit Hocking Hills State Park (near Columbus)

My stop at Everglades NP was part of a trip to Key West + Bahia State Park + Biscayne NP + Big Cypress National Preserve. I lived in Florida for 4 years and IMO the Everglades is the quintessential Florida park. Spent 1 full day in the park and wished I had planned more time…

Logistics:

Flew into Key West. Made my way to Homestead. Flew out of Miami

Hikes/Activities (*fan favorites):

Flamingo Visitor Center

Eco Pond*

Snake Bight Trail*

Anhinga Trail*

West Lake View Point

Paurotis Pond

Mahogany Hammock

Pineland Trail

Gumbo Limbo Trail

Shark Valley Visitor Center

Bobcat Boardwalk Trail

First time I went to visit the area (Okanogan-Wenatchee NF + Ross Lake Rec Area + the NP) I had to pivot my travel plans due to a wildfire, but was fortunate enough to still be able to hike on the east side in the National Forest before the trailhead were closed. That first trip was part of a larger road trip that included Leavenworth + Mt Rainier NP + Olympic NP. The second trip I spent most of my time on the west side of SR 20 and added a day in Bellingham. Between the two trips spent 4-ish days in the area. Still up there as one of my favorite parks!

Logistics:

Trip #1- Flew into Seattle. Stayed in an Airbnb in Winthrop

Trip #2- Flew into Seattle. Stayed in an Airbnb in Rockport

Hikes/Activities (*fan favorites):

Maple Pass Loop + the trail to Lake Ann*

Rainy Lake Trail

Washington Pass Overlook*

Blue Lake Trail

Cutthroat Lake

--

Sterling Munro Trail

Diablo Lake Vista*

Thunder Knob

Ross Lake Overlook

Ross Dam Trail*

Gorge Lake Overlook

Gorge Creek Falls Loop

Trail of the Cedars

Ladder Creek Falls

Hidden Lake Lookout Trail (only partially completed and to date one of the roughest roads to drive to get to a trail head…)

Spent 3 days visiting Mammoth Cave + a pit stop at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace NHP + a dinner in Nashville on the last night.

Logistics: Road trip. Stayed in a hotel in Bowling Green, KY.

Hikes/Activities (*fan favorites):

Cedar Sink Trail*

Green River Bluffs Trail

Great Onyx Lantern Tour*

Grand Avenue Tour

Drove in as a part of a road trip that included Shawnee NF. Took the Tram Ride to the Top and enjoyed walking around the grounds. Enjoyed my time in the city and around the park!

Logistics: Day tripped from Chicago and spent the morning in the park.

Hikes/Activities:

Dunes Succession Trail

Paul H Douglas Trail

Spent a half day (morning) in the park. This was part of a longer trip paired with Yosemite.

Logistics: After Yosemite drove from San Francisco and stayed in a hotel in Monterey Bay. Drove to the park in the morning and returned to Monterey Bay.

Hikes/Activities:

Condor Gulch Trail to High Peaks Trail Loop

This trip was a couple years ago shortly after peak Fall colors in October. Spent 5 full days in the park and was rained out for part of the trip. Still one of my favorite parks!

Logistics: Flew into Bangor and rented a car. Stayed in an Airbnb close to the park.

Hikes/Activities:

Schooner Head Overlook

Great Head Trail

Ocean Path Trail (Sand Beach, Thunderhole, Boulder Beach, Otter Cliff, and Otter Point)

Little Hunter’s Beach

Jordan Pond House (was already closed for the winter)

Jordan Pond Path

Eagle Lake + some of the Carriage Road

Beehive Trail

South Bubble Trail

Precipice Trail

Echo Lake

Wonderland Trail

Bass Harbor Lighthouse

Schoodic Peninsula

Spent 2.5 days visiting the National Park + a day trip to Ouachita State Park to hike the Caddo Bend Trail + a pit stop at the Little Rock Central High School NHS.

Logistics: Flew to Little Rock and rented a car to drive to Hot Springs. Stayed in a hotel in Hot Springs.

Hikes/Activities:

Grand Promenade

Bathhouse Row

West Mountain Scenic Drive

Hot Springs Mountain Tower for Sunset

Dinner at Superior Bathhouse

Oertl trail to Gulpha Gorge and to Goat Rock Viewpoint

The Sportsman massage at Quapaw Bathhouse

Spent 1 evening, 2 full days, and 1 morning in the park. Loved every minute!

Logistics: Flew into Reno and rented a car. Stayed in an Airbnb in Mineral, CA.

Hikes/Activities:

Sulphur Works

Kings Creek Falls Trail

Cinder Cone Trail

Bathtub Lake Loop

Manzanita Lake Loop

Reflection Lake + Lily Pond Trail

Emerald Lake

Lake Helen

Terrace, Shadow, and Cliff Lakes Trail

Bumpass Hell Trail

Lassen Peak Trail

Devil’s Kitchen + Boiling Springs Lake Trail