National Parks

Channel Islands National Park, CA

 "National Parks…..preserving nature’s beauty….testifying God’s greatest artistry that can never be equalled. The greatest art piece is not man-made, but is living in extreme fragility in the great outdoors, our NATURAL MUSEUMS. " - Betchai T Luc

I am again, as always, one day late for my entry for Fun Friday. But then, better late then never. Our Blogging For Fun group is doing an A-Z meme, and this week, we are doing letter N. The very first thing that came to my mind when I thought of what to write about letter N is my kind of place to go to whenever we take vacation, and that is to National Parks. Though there are only 57 National Parks in the US, but there are about 400 parks maintained by the National Park Service.

summer at Lake Helen and Lassen Peak, Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA

Aside from the 57 National Parks, the National Park Service maintains and preserve National Monuments, National Historical Site, National Natural Site, etc. My travel goal is to experience all these 57 National Parks in the US before I explore National Parks in other countries, well, of course, exception is traveling to the National Parks in the Philippines (my native country) and its neighboring countries in Asia Pacific. When I think of vacation, I do not think of going to cities, beaches or skii resorts, for they all are nearby for me, but instead, I think of the opportunity to seek the wonders of nature. My itinerary always is centered on hiking and photography at National Parks and State Parks.

Here is the list of US 57 National Parks. Those with pictures are the places I have visited, those without pictures are the places I still have to see. Yes, there are still too many of them I have not explored. There is just too little time :( The pictures are from my Multiply album, and since there are too many of them, I am too lazy to put watermarks.

Western USA:

Alaska ( 8 National Parks ):

     1. Denali National Park

     2. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

     3. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

     4. Lake Clark National Park and Preserve

     5. Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve

     6. Katmai National Park and Preserve

     7. Kenai Fjords National Park

     8. Kobuk Valley National Park

Arizona ( 3 National Parks ):

     9. Grand Canyon National Park

     

     10. Petrified Forest National Park

     11. Saguaro National Park

California ( 8 National Parks):

     12. Channel Islands National Park

     13. Death Valley National Park ( some part of this park is in the boundary of Nevada)

     14. Joshua Tree National Park

     15. Lassen Volcanic National Park

     16. Kings Canyon National Park

     17. Redwoods National and State Parks

     18. Sequoia National Park

     19. Yosemite National Park

Colorado ( 4 National Parks )

     20. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

     21. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

     22. Mesa Verde National Park

     23. Rocky Mountain National Park

Idaho 

    24. Yellowstone National Park ( huge National Park that is within the boundary of 3 States, Wyoming and Montana)

Montana ( 2 National Parks)

   25. Glacier National Park

         and Yellowstone National Park ( see number 23)

Nevada ( 2 National Parks)

   26. Great Basin National Park and 

         Death Valley National Park ( shares with CA, see number 13)

New Mexico 

   27. Carlsbad Cavern National Park

Oregon 

   28. Crater Lake National Park

Utah ( 5 National Parks)

   29. Arches National Park

   30. Canyonlands National Park

   31. Capitol Reef National Park

   32. Bryce Canyon National Park

   33. Zion National Park

Washington ( 3 National Parks)

   34. Mt. Rainier National Park

   35. North Cascades National Park

   36. Olympic National Park

Wyoming ( 2 National Parks)

   37. Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park (see number 23)

Mid-Western USA:

North Dakota 

    38. Theodore Roosevelt National Park

South Dakota ( 2 National Parks )

    39. Badlands National Park

    40. Windcave National Park

Minnesotta 

    41. Voyageurs National Park

Michigan 

    42. Isle Royal National Park

Kentucky

    43. Mammoth Cave National Park

Ohio:

    44. Cuhayoga Valley National Park

Eastern USA:

Maine

    45. Acadia National Park

Virginia

    46. Shenandoah National Park

 North Carolina and Tennessee

    47. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

South Carolina

    48. Congaree National Park

Florida ( 3 National Parks)

    49. Biscayne National Park

    50. Dry Tortugas National Park

    51. Everglades National Park

Southern USA:

Texas:

     52. Big Bend National Park

Arkansas:

     53. Hot Springs National Park

USA Islands:

American Samoa

     54. National Park of American Samoa

Hawaii

     55. Haleakala National Park

     56. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Virgin Islands

     57. Virgin Islands National Park

So may places to explore, I just hope we continue to have the health and energy to enjoy them before our legs give away to frailness and settle for less active trips.

If you want to check what National Parks are near your place, you can visit the National Park Guide here. 

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