| Page 1190 | National Parks Traveler

There are many that could fit into this category; but, the one that stands out the most is the overnight mule trip into the Grand Canyon, having enough time before dinner to take a short hike before dinner, and spending the night at Phantom Ranch. Is there some reason that you limited this to the lower 48?

Sep 29th - 12:32pm | Anonymous

you need to hike to angels landing or at least scouts lookout

Sep 29th - 12:25pm | Tom

Summiting Longs Peak 14 Or any 14er except evans for that matter Zion Full Length of Narrows of the Virgin in one day Appalachian trail Any or all of it. Grand Canyon Camping at Crazy Jug Or Rim to Rim Mules( I could go on) Yosemite Falls When the park flooding is low enough to open

Sep 29th - 12:14pm | Jim d

Any trail on Isle Royale NP or a horsepack trip up Lamar River in Yellowstone which we just did last month awesome!!

Sep 29th - 10:55am | Rick B.

Finding oneself nose to nose with a buffalo at Yellowstone.

Sep 29th - 10:13am | EtO

Hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park

Sep 29th - 08:51am | Anonymous

Kayaking in Channel Islands NP, windsurfing at Padre Island National Seashore, and rock climbing in Joshua Tree NP

Sep 29th - 08:49am | Gene Douglas Er...

For those who want a great adventure, but are not up to strenous, I love the Glacier Park Lake McDonald's Booze Cruise. Every evening, there is a boat tour on Lake McDonald without a tour guide and an ongoing commentary. You go on board, pick a beverage from their small selection bar, listen to lovely music and soak up the scenery and the sunset. The best happy hour I have ever spent.

Sep 29th - 08:10am | Gaelyn

Hiking rim-to-rim across the Grand Canyon, Wall Street in Bryce, wild cave tour at Oregon Caves, Petroglyph trail at Mesa Verde.....

Sep 29th - 08:01am | Jon

Hiking the Narrows at Zion National Park.

Sep 29th - 07:51am | Jon Merryman

Accidentally taking the NSA Employees Only exit off the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. Believe me - an experience you'll not soon forget!

Sep 29th - 07:42am | Anonymous

Mule ride into Grand Canyon, Mist Trail at Yosemite and biking the carriage trails at Acadia are three great family adventures.

Sep 29th - 07:24am | Connie Hopkins

Trekking up to Sperry Chalet in Glacier NP and then day hiking it out to Sperry Glacier gets my vote!

Sep 29th - 05:49am | Barbara Lefford

Hiking up to Vernal Falls in Yosemite Nt.Pk.

National Park Mystery Spot 16: Shuck Your Clothes

Sep 29th - 17:19pm | Doug

It is our goal to see all the National Parks. We are on our 4 or 5 National Park Passport book and hope to complete both of them by the end of 2012. The only one I can think of that we may miss is on Guam. But the mystery beach is a new one. I was not aware the NPS allowed nude beaches. I'll have to check this out personally, Ha, Ha.

Sep 29th - 15:51pm | Anonymous

The small number of naturists at Gunnison pales in comparison to the thousands that can be found on Lighthouse Beach at Fire Island NS on a hot summer Saturday.

Sep 29th - 11:10am | Bob Janiskee

Not Baker Beach, Anon, but Baker Beach is indeed one of several beaches in the San Francisco area that informally allow clothing optional sunbathing. The clothing optional section of Baker Beach is the northern end. I've conducted research there.

Sep 29th - 10:55am | Anonymous

Baker Beach, Golden Gate NRA, San Francisco, CA

Sep 29th - 09:59am | RangerLady

I haven't been there, but when I worked at Assateague NS everyone asked what happened to the clothing optional beach there. I always told them to head north to NJ.

Sep 29th - 09:50am | tomp

You go, RangerLady! I bet you're right (again). Plus, its not a great photo for it, but the sand isn't right for west coast beaches (not enough black flecks) nor Gulf coast (not even-sized white grains that pack smoother). I don't know about Great Lakes sand.

Sep 29th - 09:48am | Bob Janiskee

Excellent, Rangerlady. Spot on. Gotta ask: Have you ever been there?

Sep 29th - 08:55am | RangerLady

Gunnison Beach at Gateway NRA. I'm assuming Gunnison is referring to the chasm in shadow (Black Canyon of the Gunnison)

Debris of Plane Missing Over Katmai National Park and Preserve Spotted, No Survivors Seen

Sep 29th - 15:24pm | Connie Hopkins

so sad.... so many of us were hoping this would have a happy ending...

Study Shows that Dirty Snow Reduces Colorado River Runoff

Sep 29th - 15:07pm | Bob Janiskee

The press release and abstract don't mention OHVs, Mike, but we can assume that OHV use is a contributing factor. I haven't seen the full article. Copies (pdf format) are available at this site for ten bucks each.

Sep 29th - 14:43pm | Mike Painter

Was there any discussion of soil disturbance by OHVs as being a contributing factor?

Missing From the System? Valles Caldera National Preserve

Sep 29th - 13:53pm | Jon Merryman

Visited the caldera in 2007 and was pleasantly suprised to see a place in such pristine condition that wasn't already part of the National Park system. There are a lot of competing interests taking place there now (agriculture, hunting, etc.) that would have to continue for people to be agreeable. So the Preserve label seems to suit it better than "National Park".

Sep 29th - 11:49am | lylec

I revisited the Caldera in Sept 2010, after not being in NM for 8 yrs. I am still captivated by the beauty of the Jemez Mountains and surrounding area. Although my previous visits (4) were relatively short term, 3- 6 days apiece, I have managed to walk and fish in reasonably uncrowded conditions in the caldera.

Sep 29th - 11:49am | lylec

Big Bend National Park Helps Protect Night Skies. You Can, Too—Here's How!

Sep 29th - 13:04pm | Anonymous

thats amazing that its that much of a change in the glare form artificial lighting! =] I love the new lighting systems that are appearing. <3

Decision to Ban ATVs from Little River Canyon National Preserve Rankles Alabama Legislator

Sep 29th - 12:50pm | Anonymous

Good. The ATVs just tear up the environment and disturb wildlife.

Legislation Would Allow Small Hydro-generation Operation in Denali National Park and Preserve

Sep 29th - 12:24pm | Kurt Repanshek

Perhaps that's why the land swap is required, Marco.

Sep 29th - 12:13pm | Marco Garcia

Putting a 50 watt generator will require NEPA approval. Congress can not side step this procedure to hurry along a project, especially if Lisa Murkowski is backing it.

Still No Sign of Missing Plane In Katmai National Park After Four Days of Searching

Sep 29th - 09:41am | Federico Bugno

Thanks a lot to have answered to me. The last informations i gotabout Spradlins and Marco were from alaskasearchupdate; but today this web site has been hacked by somebody speaking arabic. I do not know what happened. Finally i met Paolo the brother of Marco who received yesterday a generic information that wrekages of the plane have been individuated somewhere; no other information.

Best Places To Work: National Park Service Is Improved, But Still Far From the Top

Sep 29th - 08:51am | Getting ready f...

I agree with many of the things that have been said--even though they may seem contradictory. The Park Service has a great mission, terrific places to be (though not necessarily to work) and it benefits from the enthusiasm and dedication of workers in a wide variety of jobs.

Record Summer of Turtle Nesting at Cape Hatteras National Seashore Spawns....Debate

Sep 28th - 23:20pm | DJ

Kurt, Thanks for the article. It is all very complicated. I think it is important to note that Mr. Hardom is one of the spokespeople for ORV access in CHNS. As you stated he is president of the Cape Hatteras Anglers Club (CHAC) whose mission statement reads in part:

Sep 28th - 21:43pm | Crotalus

Nest Success - This is calculated by the total number of nests that hatched with > 10% emergence success divided by the number of nests laid. Beach Success - This is calculated by the total number of nests laid divided by the total number of crawls (nest crawls and false crawls). Actually, CAHA relocated 31 percent of their nests in 2009 (they had 32 percent emergence).

Sections of Pacific Crest Trail Poached by Mountain Bikers; Could Problems Arise in National Parks?

Sep 28th - 23:18pm | Marc Taylor

It's a federal law. The law states that there shall be no vehicles driven on PCT - period. Is that what this nation has become? A collective mass of idiots believing that they are entitled to whatever they feel is justified in their own minds? Well, as a Marine Vet, I see these types of recurring actions incessantly.

Commentary: How Do You Prefer National Parks, Utilitarian, or Utopian?

Sep 28th - 22:06pm | Anonymous

I would love to stand on the summit of Mt. McKinley. That would be an amazing thing to experience. But, unless they install an elevator :), that is something in life I will not be experiencing. But is that all bad? I admire the people who commit their time, talents and energy to achieve such a goal and I think it's great they get to reap the rewards of such an effort.

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