3 Spring National Park Hikes

Posted on 03/06/2013 by thegreenhiker

National Park Hikes In California, Arizona, And Utah

With Spring fast approaching, it’s time to start planning your next hiking adventure. Three fantastic day or overnight national park hikes are in the Saguaro Park, the Joshua Tree National Park, and Zion National Park.

Cooler, spring-time temperatures are ideal for these desert day-hikes.

View the short video below for a quick intro of each:

3 Great US National Parks for Spring

Eco-Facts:

Bright Violet Bloom of a Hedgehog Cactus

Violet Bloom of a Hedgehog Cactus

Saguaro National Park no longer sells disposable bottled water or soda from vending machines on site. The EPA estimates that less than 15% of plastic water bottles are recycled; the rest go into landfills or are discarded as litter.

There are new water bottle filling stations located at each visitor center as well as the Rincon Mountain District bike ramada. BPA-free reusable water bottles are available for purchase in either visitor center.

 

Desert Bighorn Sheep

Desert Bighorn Sheep

The Joshua Tree National Park is a “living laboratory” that helps us understand how environmental factors have shaped this desert ecosystem, and how these same factors may be changing it. Shaped primarily by wind, rain and geologic processes, the Joshua Tree ecosystem is complex and dynamic. Most changes happen very slowly.

However, both wildfire and human-caused factors can change the landscape very quickly.

 

Petrified Log and West Temple

Petrified Log and West Temple

12,000 years ago the Zion’s first peoples, the Anasazi, tracked mammoth, giant sloth, and camel across southern Utah. Climate change and over-hunting caused these animals to die out about 8,000 years ago.

As resources dwindled 2,600 years ago, people turned to cultural farming traditions specific to this diverse landscape.

Today, Zion National Park is a beautiful wilderness sanctuary to be treasured by all.

Make an effort to enjoy several National Park hikes this Spring.

Now Go Outdoors!

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Kilauea Iki Trail-Rainforest to Volcano

Posted on 09/13/2012 by thegreenhiker

This is part of our “10 Best Hikes in our National Parks” series.

Kilauea Iki Trail—Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Descending 400 feet through Hawaiian rainforest to the Kilauea Volcano crater, the

Kilauea Iki Trail

Kilauea Iki Trail Lava Flows

Kilauea Iki Trail is four miles of stark visual contrasts : From dense equatorial, to lunar bare to swirls of lava-heated steam.

Give yourself three hours to hike this fantastic forest-volcano trail. And make sure you bring both sunscreen and rain gear. The contrasts are much more than just visual.

The official Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park Hiking Page

Here are 3 excellent videos giving a true sense of what this hiking trail has to offer:

“Perhaps the finest short day hike in the park, [this National Park trail] gives one an intimate feel for volcanoes, Hawaiian-Style.”

“A day hike on the Kilauea Iki Trail. Music by VROOM – ‘I, Consequence’ Liz Hale- Vocals, Bob Hart- Drums, Aaron Levy – Bass, Frank Lee Ruggles ( Me) Guitar, Lauren Pennybaker- Backing Vocals”

“We chose to hike the Crater Rim Trail portion first. This video is of the descent from the Crater Rim Trail to the Crater floor on the west side of the crater. “

Now Go Outdoors!

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10 Best Hikes In Our National Parks

Posted on 08/31/2012 by thegreenhiker

List of 10 Best Hikes and Hiking Trails

Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll offer insights and reviews of what many consider to be the 10 best hikes and hiking trails in our National Parks. Our nation has a great resource with these Parks. It would be wonderful if more folks would discover and explore them.

And there’s no excuse for not finding a Park, trail, or activity in your State: the National Park Service has a wonderful Search Tool to find Parks, locations and activities.

Now here’s the list:

  1. Kilauea Iki Trail—Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
  2. Appalachian Trail—Shenendoah National Park, Virginia
  3. Pacific Crest Trail—California, Oregon, Washington
  4. Bright Angel Trail—Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
  5. Grinnell Glacier Overlook Trail—Glacier National Park, Montana
  6. Snake Bight Trail, Everglades National Park, Florida
  7. Mount Whitney—Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California
  8. Savage River Canyon Trail—Denali National Park, Alaska
  9. Mist Trail—Yosemite National Park, California
  10. Greenstone Ridge Trail, Isle Royale National Park, Michigan

It’s always difficult to make a list that doesn’t include so many wonderful hiking trails. I have my favorites here in upstate New York. But here is where I start, and this is the list I’m working with.

If you have a National Park hike that thrills you, please comment below.

Now Go Outdoors!

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