| Page 1191 | National Parks Traveler

I would agree that the main reason folks head to Grand Teton is to look at the mountains, but am not ready to get entirely behind your argument, MRC. The park map very clearly points out the "Cunningham Cabin Historic Site" as well as "Menor's Ferry Historic District" and even lists Mormon Row, though says nothing to indicate its historic nature.

Sep 30th - 07:18am | MRC

Well, the historic sites are totally unknown to first-time visitors. So it comes at no surprise to me that those visitors don't rate their importance as high. Who knows about Mormon Row even among the readers of this blog and of this article? Who's been there?

National Park Mystery Spot 16 Revealed

Sep 30th - 05:45am | Jon Merryman

Yet another poorly worded sign. NUDE SUNBATHING PERMITTED BEYOND THIS POINT would have been more direct and less susceptible to misinterpretation. This sign gives permission to confront them if I so desire.

Reader Participation Day: Help Us Name the Best Adventures In the National Park System, Lower 48 Edition

Sep 30th - 00:56am | Rick B.

Oh - and snorkeling the underwater nature trail at Buck Island Reef National Monument in the Virgin Islands. When a memory sticks with you for 30 years, it's a good one.

Sep 30th - 00:15am | Meg

Here's one that's not so strenuous -- watching Grand Geyser in Yellowstone. I've sat and waited for it for four hours before and never regretted a moment.

Sep 29th - 23:03pm | tahoma

Great topic, Kurt; lots of fine suggestions! I especially like the examples from the areas east of the Rockies that I'm not familiar with. Amoung those previously mentioned, my western favorites are the Green River paddle, the Zion slots, and anywhere off the tourist trails in Grand Canyon. Here's a few of the best adventures in our Northwest parks:

Sep 29th - 22:08pm | Sabattis

Lots of great nominees here. I tried to come up with some other not-yet-mentioned adventures that are either at some less-famous Parks or are less-obvious adventures than, say, climbing Mt. Rainier or climbing Mt. McKinley in Sequoia NP: - white-water rafting in Gauley National Recreation Area on an autumn dam-release day

Sep 29th - 21:36pm | smokeylover49

Hiking in the rain forest in Olympic National Park - awesome!!!

Sep 29th - 20:56pm | Anon

4-wheeling on the north rim of Grand Canyon out to Point Sublime. Snowshoeing at Crater Lake. Early morning walk up to Mount Rushmore. Nothing like having a little of those great places all to yourself.

Sep 29th - 19:21pm | Jon Merryman

Ok, on a serious note, I'd put snorkeling at Dry Tortugas NP, around Fort Jefferson and amidst the surrounding reefs, barrier islands, and shipwrecks. Really makes you have second thoughts about your position on the food chain.

Sep 29th - 18:27pm | Anonymous

Hiking the Panorama Trail in Yosemite

Sep 29th - 18:16pm | Island Paddler

Canoeing the Green River through Canyonlands National Park. It's my all time number one vacation.

Sep 29th - 17:22pm | Rick Smith

Or hiking down Tenaya Canyon in Yosemite? Rick

Sep 29th - 17:21pm | Rick Smith

How about the Subway in Zion? Rick

Sep 29th - 16:55pm | Kurt Repanshek

Great choice, Catherine. But, alas, BWWCA is not in the National Park System....though perhaps it should be!

Sep 29th - 16:51pm | Catherine Clark

Camping on an island in the BWWCA - Boundary Waters Wildnerness Camping - in Northern Minnesota going out of Grand Marais off the Gunflint Trail. Even better is camping off Cache Bay in Canada.

Sep 29th - 15:30pm | Jon Merryman

I had planned a hike down the cliffs at Kalaupapa NHP in Hawaii but my business trip was cancelled at the last minute. It's still on my to-do list and I'm sure it will make the Alaska-Hawaii version of this exercise.

Sep 29th - 14:36pm | Kurt Repanshek

Why just the Lower 48? Alaska and Hawaii deserve a category of their own, don't you think?;-)

Sep 29th - 14:31pm | Cornell

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.

National Park Service Ships Historic Railroad Cars to East Troy Electric Railroad

Sep 29th - 21:59pm | PM

I visited the Illinois Railway Museum a couple of years ago. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in railroading.

Fall Into Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Kills California Woman

Sep 29th - 21:42pm | Anonymous

Yes, three years later... I miss you Charlotte so much. I'm so sorry you died and I will always love you. You will always be in my heart.

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.

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