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Located about 1/4 mile (0.4 km) past the Chinook Pass Entrance Arch on Washington SR 410, you will pass a long paved parking area to your right for the overlook to Tipsoo Lake, a subalpine lake set in a glacier-carved basin. That will be your first glimpse of Mount Rainier ("The Mountain," as locals like to call it) in Mount Rainier National Park as you continue driving into the park. There is a large parking area further down the road where you can park your car and hike around Tipsoo Lake.
Because of very strong solar storms, the Aurora Borealis was showing up in national parks further south than usually seen, such as at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State. The human eye cannot always detect an aurora in dim light and a camera with a very slow shutter speed and a wide aperture often captures what the naked eye does not see.
The National Trail System in the United States spans many thousands of miles of foot trail. The crown jewels of that system, of course, are the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail.
While the adventurous might look at those long trails and set their sights on hiking one end from end, not all manage to complete the journey. Many become disillusioned after days spent hiking in the rain, or because they become homesick, or because of the blisters that sprout on their feet.
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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.
