Exploring the Parks

Visiting Oak Tree House At Mesa Verde National Park

While there are a handful of cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park that you can tour, there are more than 600 dwellings in all in the park. Here's a tip on how to visit some of those off the beaten path.

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By Kurt Repanshek - July 23rd, 2015 3:00am

Exploring The Parks: When Fall Comes To Denali National Park

Autumn is a spectacular time to visit Denali National Park. The alpine and subalpine tundra at higher elevations gleam with fall color by mid- to late-August. The taiga at lower elevations is aglow in reds by early September, a time when the aspen and balsam poplar near the park entrance turn brilliant yellow and gold.

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By Jean Bjerke - August 1st, 2024 1:24am

Musings From John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

First, some warnings. If you plan to visit John Day Fossil Beds, be prepared. Road maps might make it look as if the national monument is plunk in the middle of pretty well-inhabited country with towns frequent along the roads.

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By Lee Dalton - August 1st, 2024 1:24am

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Exploring The Parks: Cedar Breaks National Monument In Summer

At Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah you can stand at 10,000 feet elevation on the rim of a spectacular 2,000-foot deep amphitheater of eroded rock stretching a width of about three miles. You will marvel at the dramatic shapes of the columns and spires, and at the reds, yellows and oranges of the stone formations.

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By Jean Bjerke - August 1st, 2024 1:24am

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Five Days On The Yampa Through Dinosaur National Monument

With the Green and Colorado rivers in the neighborhood, it's not surprising that the Yampa River that flows through Dinosaur National Monument is overlooked. And that's not a bad thing.

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By Kurt Repanshek - August 1st, 2024 1:24am

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Classic National Park Hikes: The Teton Crest Trail

Though not a long long-distance trail (only about 40 miles), this route through the high country of Grand Teton National Park draws top ratings for its natural beauty.

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By Kurt Repanshek - June 26th, 2015 8:21am

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The Pony Express Returns To Scotts Bluff National Monument

On the morning of June 18 we returned to western Nebraska's Scotts Bluff, where we had the good fortune to witness a special event that takes place at the national monument once each year. The occasion was the arrival of a rider on horseback who was participating in the 2015 Pony Express re-ride from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California.

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By David and Kay Scott - July 23rd, 2020 11:25am

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Discover The Beginning Of The Lewis And Clark Story

Traveling to St. Louis eager to learn about Lewis and Clark? Then take this half-hour’s drive to Hartford, Illinois, where this great adventure begins, at Camp River DuBois and the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site.

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By Jane Schneider - May 13th, 2016 7:27am

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Grand Teton National Park: 3 Days In The Park

From the top of Togwotee Pass east of Jackson, the Teton Range anchors Wyoming’s western horizon, its glacial horns seemingly clawing at the sky. It’s a view as stunning as it is breathtaking, and one that never leaves your memory.

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By Kurt Repanshek - June 25th, 2015 2:20pm

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Discriminating Explorer: Kalispell, Montana, Gateway To Glacier National Park

Flying into Kalispell, your eyes dart here and there, trying to take in all the peaks clawing skyward. While this laid-back Montana town is the western gateway to Glacier National Park, it's also seated in the Crown of the Continent, an idea as much as a phrase that captures Rocky Mountain wildness.

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By Kurt Repanshek - June 14th, 2015 12:42pm

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INN Member

The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.

Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.

You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks