Thank you to everyone who attended the presentation last night on our newest travel guidebook 50 States of Great: Road Trip Guide to America (available for sale on Amazon and at Cheyenne’s 307 Made store). If you couldn’t make it, we have posted the PowerPoint slides below.
Thanks for your support!
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We are giving a presentation on road tripping in the U.S.A. at the Laramie County Library in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It will be held in the Cottonwood Room (1st floor) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. We will have all our books for sale before and after the talk and would be happy to sign them for you.
Our newest travel guidebook 50 States of Great: Road Trip Guide to America is also available for sale on Amazon
50 States of Great: Road Trip Guide to America is a starting point for planning a road trip of any length, covering the best of each state in 12 categories: scenic drive, State Park, museum, waterfall, roadside attraction, National Forest, campsite, and more. 50 States of Great is a culmination of our extensive travels through the United States of America seeking out well-known destinations and less-frequented spots. The goal of our book is to be useful whether you are taking a cross-country road trip or exploring your home state.
We hope to see you Tuesday!
If you can’t make it, you can still check out our slide deck of one (mostly) off-the-beaten-path destination we love in each of the 50 states.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Today we published our newest guidebook to all 50 states available for sale on Amazon
50 States of Great: Road Trip Guide to America is a starting point for planning a road trip of any length, covering the best of each state in 12 categories: scenic drive, State Park, museum, waterfall, roadside attraction, National Forest, campsite, and more. 50 States of Great is a culmination of our extensive travels through the United States of America seeking out well-known destinations and less-frequented spots. The goal of our book is to be useful whether you are taking a cross-country road trip or exploring your home state.
We are also giving a presentation on road tripping in the U.S.A. at the Laramie County Library in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It will be held in the Cottonwood Room (1st floor) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. We will have all our books for sale before and after the talk and would be happy to sign them for you.
If you go to our book page on Amazon (https://amzn.to/3tZsK3K) click on the cover image to Look Inside. We have included the Introduction below and will post a sample chapter on this website tomorrow.
Check out our Amazon author page and Shop tab for all four of our books, plus other products!
Introduction
We love traveling in the United States of America (U.S.). We have driven hundreds-of-thousands of miles across the country while on dozens of road trips, plus three flights taken to Hawai‘i. Utilizing our expertise, we wrote this guidebook with the goal of helping readers plan a road trip to see the best of what each state has to offer. This informative book presents all 50 states in alphabetical order, with abbreviated chapters at the end on American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In our travels, we have visited every state—at least twice. We have spent the night in all 50 states. Between the two of us, we have lived in ten different states from coast to coast (Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wyoming—our current home of more than a decade). We have visited in person more than 90% of the locations mentioned in this guidebook and we are excited to see some of the ones we learned about during our research, as well as making it to the remote territories of Guam and Northern Mariana Islands. As the old saying goes: “We have not been everywhere, but it is on our list.”
In 2016, we took ten months off to celebrate the centennial of the National Park Service (NPS) by visiting a State Park and an NPS site in all 50 states. Since then, we have traveled to all 50 states again and three territories, including a special trip in 2022 just to say we finally overnighted in Rhode Island. After the COVID-19 pandemic, we completed our effort to take a hike in all 155 National Forests and all 20 National Grasslands. We are currently on quests to hike in at least one National Wildlife Refuge in every single state (19 down) and finish visiting each state capital (only two to go).
We never liked the idea that parts of the U.S. are considered “flyover country,” and not just because we prefer to drive when we travel. This book started as a way to highlight the attractions in the central U.S., then we realized we knew just as many hidden gems in the most “touristy” states. Relying on our first-hand knowledge, we selected a few must-see sites to visit in each of these 50 United States of America. [Historical note: It was not until the Civil War was fought to preserve the union in the 1860s that “these United States of America” began to be referred to as “the United States of America.”]
We created categories that focused on our areas of expertise, leaving hotels and restaurants to somebody better qualified to compare those businesses. Our categories became the headings for each state that are explained below.
Map
For each state we included an outline map with a star for the capital city and a triangle located at the high point.
Acreage
Not all states are equal in size, so we included the number of acres and the percentage of the U.S. that it covers.
Statehood
This is the year that state was admitted to the union and its number in sequence.
Capital
The city where the state capital resides is represented by a star on the map.
Population
Based on the 2020 census, we included total population and rank out of 50.
High Point
The name and elevation of the highest point in each state is listed, and its location is represented by a triangle on the map.
Name Origin
We briefly explain the often-mysterious etymology. Most state names come from the languages of American Indians, while others have European roots.
Nickname
Every state has a nickname (some of which have changed over time) and the origins of those names are sometimes convoluted.
Background
A catch-all heading that provides some history or glosses over the famous attractions to a particular state, like those in New York City or Las Vegas.
Must-Do Activity
The one place to make sure to visit if you are only going to do one thing in a given state. Our choices range from a city to walk around, an outdoor activity to do, or a general type of attraction to focus on, each of which is essential to experience the best of what that state has to offer.
Greatest National Forest
There are a few states with only one National Forest (and ten without any), which made the selection process easy, but others like California (with 19) were a real challenge to pick. For those ten states without, we chose a National Grassland, State Forest, or similar natural area. We gave equal space to all National Forests in our guidebook Out in the Woods: An Introductory Guide to America’s 155 National Forests.
National Parks
A simple list of each of the 63 National Parks that lie within that state’s border. For more information on each of these, check out our guidebook A Park to Yourself: Finding Adventure in America’s National Parks.
Best National Park Service Site
Excluding the 63 National Parks, we chose our favorite unit managed by the National Park Service from among the National Monuments, National Historic Sites, National Memorials, and other classifications.
Most Scenic Drive
States designate specific roads as “Scenic Byways,” but we did not limit our choices to the official ones. We have driven hundreds-of-thousands of miles on vacations, so we have a feel for what makes an interesting route.
#1 Roadside Attraction
There are entire websites dedicated to roadside attractions and we cannot claim to have been to even half of them. However, we try to break up our drives with interesting stops, some of which take longer to visit than others.
Unique Museum
There are thousands of museums across the U.S. covering art, science, history, and everything in between. We would not argue that these are necessarily the best museums in each state, only that they were unique enough to get our attention.
That’s So [State Name]
In our research, we came across patterns of similar attractions in a specific state or someplace exceptional that could exist only in one state. This became our catch-all heading for fun spots that did not seem to fit elsewhere.
Top State Park
All 50 states have State Parks and we have visited at least one in each state. We often highlight State Parks under other headings, but here we focus on one that stands out above the rest.
Favorite Short Hike
There are so many hiking trails and websites dedicated to them that it is often hard to choose a destination. We guarantee that if you take the trail we picked that you will get a good feel for that state.
Backpacking Destination
We love backpacking and have read more about these remote destinations than any other areas. Our experience on the East Coast is limited, but we did find at least a one-night excursion for all 50 states.
Cool Campsite
We have camped in nearly every state, but usually not in a campground. We prefer dispersed camping on public lands, like those run by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. Here we focused on unique spots for pitching a tent that sometimes require boating, backpacking, or riding a train (see West Virigina).
Wonderful Waterfall
Waterfalls are some of the most popular destinations for hikes and drives. However, due to topography some states are more blessed with options than others. Our choice is not always the tallest or busiest, but we think you will not be disappointed if you go.
***
For trip planners, thick guidebooks can often be overwhelming and travel websites are usually more interested selling something than providing any useful information. Our research method usually starts with reading the short descriptions found in free tourist pamphlets or book series like Off the Beaten Path, and then further investigating those places on the internet. State Parks, National Forests, and National Park Service sites typically have useful information on their websites and apps. We apologize for any out-of-date content, as there may have been significant changes to some of the attractions since 2020. A wealth of data on specific destinations and hiking trails is available free online, often with detailed directions on how to get there. Check these frequently-updated websites first before visiting anywhere in our guidebook since they can close due to various economic and natural disasters.
For each state, we selected two original photographs by the authors from a place discussed in the headings above. We limited the number of photos from National Parks and National Forests as those can be found in our other guidebooks. You might notice our stuffed animal named Wondon in a few of the photos since he has his own travel blog (WondonBuns.blogspot.com).
All illustrations are original drawings by Scott based on photographs we have taken. We selected an animal found in each state to represent it, allowing for some duplicates. Scott’s illustrations from this book are available on a variety of products on our travel website (RavenAboutTheParks.com).
We hope that 50 States of Great provides inspiration for your own explorations of the United States of America.
Adventure on!
-Scott and Tiff
Cheyenne, Wyoming
October 2023
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
In each one of our National Forest blog posts we have included a list of conifer tree and flowering tree species common to that forest. Now, we thought it would be a good idea to include some brief descriptions of each of those species, starting with the conifers. The term “conifer” (literally “cone bearer”) refers to all Gymnosperms (“naked seeds”), as opposed to Angiosperms with seeds enclosed within a carpel. Conifers are sometimes referred to as Pinophyta (after their Division) and include well-known evergreens like pines, spruces, firs, hemlocks, junipers, and yews, as well as a couple deciduous species like baldcypress and tamarack. Our list is not broken down by Family (i.e. Pinaceae, Cupressaceae, etc.), but simply alphabetically by scientific name (Latin binomial composed of Genus and specific epithet).
We hope our descriptions inspire you to further research some species of interest.
| Abies amabilis |
| Pacific silver fir |
| Named for its needles’ silvery undersides, this species thrives in cool, wet forests where it can reach 236 feet in height and more than eight feet in diameter. This commonly planted ornamental tree has a spirelike crown. |
| Abies balsamea |
| balsam fir |
| Found in boreal forests throughout eastern Canada and the bordering states, balsam fir is a medium-sized tree grown for pulpwood and Christmas trees (due to its pyramidal crown and pleasant aroma). |
| Abies concolor |
| white fir |
| White fir is a drought-tolerant tree found from 5,000 to 11,000 feet in elevation in the mountains of New Mexico to southern Idaho. Its shade tolerant lower needles can reach more than three inches in length. |
| Abies fraseri |
| Fraser fir |
| A tree of high elevations alongside red spruce, Fraser fir rarely reaches more than 50 feet in height due to its harsh growing conditions. It has been heavily impacted by the balsam woolly adelgid and acid rain. Although its future in natural stands is in doubt, the species is grown widely for Christmas trees. |
| Abies grandis |
| grand fir |
| Identifiable by its needles’ silver undersides, grand fir can reach nearly seven feet in diameter on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, but rarely three feet further inland. It is among the tallest true fir species, with a maximum height of 267 feet. |
| Abies lasiocarpa |
| subalpine fir |
| Subalpine fir has an impressive distribution stretching from Alaska to Arizona and an even more extraordinary elevation range from sea level to 12,000 feet. Its southern growth form is known as corkbark fir because of its thick, light gray bark that is free of resin blisters and feels spongy when pressed. |
| Abies lowiana |
| Sierra white fir |
| Oregon represents the northernmost distribution of Sierra white fir, a shade tolerant tree planted ornamentally and in Christmas tree farms. Compared to the related white fir in the Rocky Mountains, this species grows much larger (up to 245 feet tall and nine feet in diameter). |
| Abies magnifica |
| California red fir |
| This shade tolerant tree with reddish bark can reach a maximum of five feet in diameter and more than 200 feet in height. It also has one of the largest cones of any fir at nine inches, although they are seldom seen since they disintegrate while on the tree and do not fall in one piece. |
| Abies procera |
| noble fir |
| Living up to its name, noble fir can reach 295 feet in height and nine feet in diameter. Its natural range is limited to the Cascades, although it is widely planted for lumber and Christmas trees. |
| Callitropsis nootkatensis |
| yellow-cedar |
| This species has a variety of common names (including Alaska-cedar), but is best known for its drooping branches and shallow root system that allows it to survive in extremely wet soils. Found from sea level up to 7,000 feet, it regularly lives more than 1,000 years, growing slowly with chemicals compounds that prevent wood rot. |
| Calocedrus decurrens |
| incense-cedar |
| In the mountains of California and Oregon, incense-cedar is known for its aromatic wood used to make pencils, closets, and exterior siding. These trees struggle to grow more than 100 feet tall, but their buttressed trunks regularly reach four feet in diameter (with a maximum of nearly 13 feet). |
| Chamaecyparis lawsoniana |
| Port Orford-cedar |
| A popular ornamental tree, moisture-loving Port Orford-cedar trees can reach a maximum of 229 feet in height and 16 feet in diameter. Generally found in the coastal fog belt on the Oregon-California border, there is a disjunct population on Mt. Shasta. |
| Chamaecyparis thyoides |
| Atlantic white-cedar |
| A tree of freshwater swamps and bogs found in sandy coastal areas from Maine south to Florida. It has decay-resistant wood and often grows in pure stands. |
| Hesperocyparis arizonica |
| Arizona cypress |
| This rare, slow-growing tree reaches its most impressive size (100 feet in height and more than four feet in diameter) at the bottom of canyons. It is planted as an ornamental due to its attractive turquoise foliage and reddish bark. |
| Juniperus californica |
| California juniper |
| This drought tolerant shrub or small tree grows up to 5,000 feet in elevation in the mountain foothills and into the Mojave Desert where it can be found alongside Joshua trees. |
| Juniperus communis |
| common juniper |
| Typically growing as a sprawling shrub or ground cover, common juniper does not have the scale-like leaves of other North American juniper species. It is circumpolar in its range and is considered the most widely distributed native conifer in the world. |
| Juniperus deppeana |
| alligator juniper |
| Blocky, gray bark that looks like alligator skin gave this tree its name. Even in the arid regions where it typically grows, this long-lived tree can reach 50 feet in height and four feet in diameter. Its scale-like needles are usually somewhat blue-green in color. |
| Juniperus monosperma |
| one-seed juniper |
| This multi-stemmed juniper is limited to the Southwest U.S. where it rarely grows more than 25 feet tall. It is used for fenceposts and fuel, and its juicy cones (or “berries”) are important for wildlife. Like some other juniper trees, it is dioecious, meaning only female trees produce “berries.” |
| Juniperus occidentalis |
| western juniper |
| Western juniper is widespread in the rain shadow forests of central and eastern Oregon where it can survive more than 2,000 years and reach a multi-stemmed diameter of 16 feet. In California’s Sierra Nevada it can be found up to 10,000 feet in elevation. |
| Juniperus osteosperma |
| Utah juniper |
| Growing in some of the driest places in the Great Basin Desert, the hearty Utah juniper can reach 40 feet in height and several feet in diameter. The “berries” that grow on female trees were eaten by American Indians and its fibrous bark used to make ropes, sandals, bags, and mats. |
| Juniperus scopulorum |
| Rocky Mountain juniper |
| Found throughout the Rocky Mountains north into Canada, this species is more likely than other junipers to grow a single stem, which can reach fifty feet in height and eight feet in diameter. Its aromatic wood has chemicals that make it resistant to rot and especially suited for fenceposts. |
| Juniperus virginiana |
| eastern redcedar |
| This species of juniper is native to 37 states, Nebraska being the westernmost of them. Its aromatic, red heartwood is prized for closets, chests, fenceposts, and carvings, and was historically used to make pencils. Its “berries” are a type of cone consumed by a variety of wildlife, including the cedar waxwing. |
| Larix laricina |
| tamarack |
| Also called eastern larch, this deciduous conifer has a transcontinental range. It is known for its durable lumber, although it rarely reaches 80 feet in height. |
| Larix lyallii |
| subalpine larch |
| A slow-growing, spindly tree that grows near timberline, this deciduous conifer is often found in pure stands or next to other high-elevation species like whitebark pine, subalpine fir, and Engelmann spruce. |
| Larix occidentalis |
| western larch |
| One of the few deciduous conifer trees, western larch is famous for its bright yellow fall colors and pyramidal crown. An early successional species, it can reach 180 feet in height and sometimes form nearly pure stands in northern Idaho and northwestern Montana. |
| Picea breweriana |
| Brewer spruce |
| Often referred to as Brewer’s weeping spruce because of its drooping branches evolved to shed snow, this tree named for a Yale professor of agriculture is only found in the mountains on the Oregon-California border. |
| Picea engelmannii |
| Engelmann spruce |
| This mountain species with a range from southeastern Arizona to British Columbia is named for a German-American physician and botanist. Commonly found alongside subalpine firs, its needles are often bluer than Colorado blue spruce (with which it can hybridize). |
| Picea glauca |
| white spruce |
| The most important commercial species in the boreal forests of Canada, white spruce is also found in an isolated population in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is less tolerant of poor soils than black spruce and can reach a larger size (up to four feet in diameter and 184 feet in height). |
| Picea mariana |
| black spruce |
| Transcontinental in its range, the slow-growing black spruce is synonymous with boreal forests, tolerating the wet soils of sphagnum bogs and growing in dense stands to the northern limits of tree growth above the Arctic Circle. |
| Picea pungens |
| Colorado blue spruce |
| Less widespread than its lookalike Engelmann spruce (with which it can hybridize), this species can be found growing near timberline, shaped by wind and snow. Its bluish foliage and drought resistance makes it a prized ornamental tree, and it can reach 100 feet in height when nurtured. |
| Picea rubens |
| red spruce |
| Often found growing on mountaintops in pure stands or alongside balsam fir, this shade tolerant tree can live more than 400 years and reach up to 150 feet in height and four feet in diameter. |
| Picea sitchensis |
| Sitka spruce |
| The official state tree of Alaska is only found along the coast, where it can grow more than 200 feet tall and eight feet in diameter (though its trunk can reach 17 feet in width on the Olympic Penninsula of Washington). Its lumber is commercially important and was especially prized during the early age of aeronautics (for example, the Spruce Goose was built of its wood). |
| Pinus albicaulis |
| whitebark pine |
| A species familiar to hikers in the subalpine zones of the mountainous northwest U.S., this windswept tree rarely reaches more than 30 feet in height. Its large pine nuts are an important food source for Clark’s nutcrackers, as well as black and grizzly bears. |
| Pinus aristata |
| Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine |
| A resident of the subalpine zone in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico, these short, twisted trees are among the oldest living species in the world, reaching upwards of 2,400 years old. |
| Pinus balfouriana |
| foxtail pine |
| Related to bristlecone pines, this species similarly retains decades of needles and can survive for more than 2,000 years. The tree is only found above 5,000 feet in the mountains of California where it can reach 50 feet in height, but is more often found growing stunted at timberline. |
| Pinus banksiana |
| jack pine |
| The fast-growing, short-needled jack pine has semi-serotinous cones that open when subjected to temperatures in excess of 140°F, such as during a wildfire. Its native range is mostly in Canada, but includes areas south of the upper Great Lakes. |
| Pinus clausa |
| sand pine |
| Endemic to Florida in two separate populations, sand pine has semi-serotinous cones and shorter needles than the faster growing slash pine. |
| Pinus contorta |
| lodgepole pine |
| One of the most widely distributed trees in the western U.S., this fire-adapted tree with semi-serotinous cones can be found in scrubby form on the Pacific shoreline to nearly pure stands of thin, straight stems in South Dakota. |
| Pinus coulteri |
| Coulter pine |
| Coulter pine is famous for having the heaviest pine cones in the world, up to five pounds with thickly spined cone scales. It is native to California and Mexico where it was collected in 1831 by Irish botanist Thomas Coulter. |
| Pinus echinata |
| shortleaf pine |
| Widely distributed on upland sites throughout the southeast U.S., shortleaf pine is an important lumber and pulpwood tree that can reach 100 feet in height and three feet in diameter. |
| Pinus edulis |
| two-needle pinyon pine |
| Also called Colorado piñon, this drought-tolerant tree often grows alongside junipers in woodlands where it typically reaches no more than 30 feet in height. Traditionally, its edible pine nuts were an important food source for American Indians in the dry southwest and continue to be harvested today. |
| Pinus elliottii |
| slash pine |
| Slash pine is naturally found in wetter soils than the similar loblolly pine, and its fast growth rate makes it a valuable plantation species in Florida and Brazil. |
| Pinus engelmannii |
| Apache pine |
| Most of this species’ natural range lies within Mexico, where it can reach 70 feet in height and two feet in diameter. Similar to longleaf pine, it has a tendency to form a “grass stage” when it develops a deep tap root prior to it beginning to grow vertically and branch. |
| Pinus flexilis |
| limber pine |
| Limber pine gets its name from its drooping branches that help it shed snow. It is one of several pines that grow at high elevations and have a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with Clark’s nutcrackers that cache its seeds. |
| Pinus jeffreyi |
| Jeffrey pine |
| John Jeffrey was a nineteenth-century Scottish botanist who discovered this tree that grows from southern Oregon to Mexico. It looks similar to ponderosa pine, but its bark and twigs have a stronger vanilla scent. |
| Pinus lambertiana |
| sugar pine |
| Central Oregon represents the northern extent of sugar pine, a species found throughout California’s Sierra Nevada. The large tree is known for its giant, 18-inch pine cones that weigh down the tips of its long, horizontal branches. |
| Pinus longaeva |
| Great Basin bristlecone pine |
| Unassuming in size due to their subalpine habitat, Great Basin bristlecone pines are the world’s oldest single-stemmed tree reaching more than 5,000 years of age (see Inyo National Forest). Growing seasons are short and winters harsh at the high elevations where they grow, so their pine needles can persist on branches more than 30 years. |
| Pinus monophylla |
| singleleaf pinyon pine |
| With a range further west than two-needle pinyon pine, this small, drought tolerant tree is found throughout the Great Basin, which is why it is the official state tree of Nevada. Its edible “pine nuts” are eaten by many birds and mammals, particularly packrats. |
| Pinus monticola |
| western white pine |
| The straight, self-pruning stems of this tree species made it a target of nineteenth-century loggers from the Pacific Coast to the Inland Empire. Its maximum size has been measured at 239 feet tall and 8.4 feet in diameter. |
| Pinus palustris |
| longleaf pine |
| Longleaf pine forests were heavily cut by European settlers to produce naval stores, so that they are now only found on 3% of their original acreage. The tree is recognizable by its needles that reach 18 inches in length and its pointy pine cones that grow up to a foot long. |
| Pinus ponderosa |
| ponderosa pine |
| Perhaps the most widespread conifer in western North America, ponderosa pine is found from the Black Hills of South Dakota west to the arid mountains of Mexico and north into Canada. Young trees have dark bark and are often referred to as “blackjack pine,” while older trees develop cinnamon-colored plates that lent them the name “yellowbelly pine.” |
| Pinus pungens |
| Table Mountain pine |
| Table Mountain pine grows on rocky outcroppings throughout the southern Appalachians often alongside pitch pine, rarely reaching more than 40 feet in height. |
| Pinus radiata |
| Monterey pine |
| Grown in plantations around the world, this fog belt species is rare in its native California where it grows alongside Monterey cypress. |
| Pinus resinosa |
| red pine |
| Sometimes given the misleading name Norway spruce, this North American native tree forms an eye-pleasing, oval crown. It grows in mixed forests, in soils sandier than those preferred by eastern white pine, but wetter than those dominated by jack pine. |
| Pinus rigida |
| pitch pine |
| Often found growing on poor soils, pitch pine has a range that takes it from Georgia north into Maine. Historically it was an important species for producing naval stores, though it rarely reaches more than 60 feet in height. |
| Pinus sabiniana |
| gray pine |
| A small tree of the dry California foothills known for its characteristic egg-shaped pine cones that remain attached to the tree for many years. |
| Pinus strobiformis |
| southwestern white pine |
| Considered by some a variety of limber pine (with which it can hybridize), this species is restricted to the high elevations of the southwest where it can reach 80 feet in height and three feet in diameter. |
| Pinus strobus |
| eastern white pine |
| Found throughout the northeast U.S., this tree’s straight, clear boles up to six feet in diameter were targeted by loggers for centuries. Since then, this fast-growing species has aggressively colonized abandoned farm fields. |
| Pinus taeda |
| loblolly pine |
| The most important timber tree in the southeast U.S., loblolly pine is a fast-growing tree that thrives in a variety of soil types making it ideal for planting. |
| Pinus virginiana |
| Virginia pine |
| Found throughout the Appalachians, this old field pioneer forms thickets of trees not usually more than 40 feet tall or a foot in diameter, tolerating dry sites where other conifers cannot grow. |
| Pseudotsuga macrocarpa |
| bigcone Douglas-fir |
| Found only in southern California, this drought- and fire-tolerant relative of the major timber tree Douglas-fir has larger cones (four to eight inches in length) with the same iconic trident bracts that stick out from beneath its cone scales. |
| Pseudotsuga menziesii |
| Douglas-fir |
| The most commercially important tree species in North America, Douglas-fir is not a true fir and has been given its own unique Genus. It is sometimes separated into two subspecies, one for the dry Rocky Mountain growth form and another for the wet Pacific Coast where it can reach more than 300 feet in height and ten feet in diameter. |
| Sequoia sempervirens |
| coast redwood |
| Coast redwoods only grow within 50 miles of the Pacific Ocean where they rely on fog to help water them throughout the long summer dry period. They are the tallest trees on the planet, with one named Hyperion measured over 379 feet and still growing within Redwood National Park. |
| Sequoiadendron giganteum |
| giant sequoia |
| The world’s twelve largest trees by volume are all giant sequoias, with the top being the General Sherman tree at 52,508 cubic feet and in second place the General Grant tree at more than 40 feet in diameter. This fire-adapted species can have bark up to 31 inches thick. Giant sequoia trees are only found in 75 groves on the western slopes of California’s Sierra Nevada. |
| Taxodium distichum |
| baldcypress |
| Baldcypress is one of the few deciduous conifer trees in North America and is found along river bottoms, coastal marshes, and lake margins. Capable of growing buttressed trunks up to 17 feet in diameter, its decay-resistant wood was targeted by loggers. They are famous for their “knees” that rise from their roots up to seven feet high, possibly helping submerged roots breathe. |
| Taxus brevifolia |
| Pacific yew |
| Rarely reaching more than 50 feet in height, this shade tolerant shrub can be found from sea level up to 8,000 feet in elevation. Its bark was the original source of taxol, a cancer drug that is now synthetically produced. |
| Thuja occidentalis |
| northern white-cedar |
| This popular ornamental tree is native from the Great Lakes region east to Maine where it grows in swamps and limestone uplands. It is also called eastern arborvitae, which literally translates as “tree-of-life” because tea made from its foliage and bark prevents scurvy. |
| Thuja plicata |
| western redcedar |
| More well-known as a coastal species used by indigenous people to build canoes and totem poles, western redcedar is also found inland up to 6,600 feet in elevation. An important commercial tree for shingle manufacturing, it can reach 21 feet in diameter and more than 270 feet in height. |
| Torreya californica |
| California nutmeg |
| Not a true nutmeg, but a rare conifer endemic to the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada and central coast of California. Its long, sharp needles and is a sporadic ornamental planting. |
| Tsuga canadensis |
| eastern hemlock |
| Shade tolerant eastern hemlocks inhabit cool, moist coves in the southern Appalachians where they can survive more than 500 years and reach seven feet in diameter. Their population has been severely diminished by an outbreak of hemlock wooly adelgids in this region. |
| Tsuga heterophylla |
| western hemlock |
| This shade tolerant tree is one of the most commercially important species in the Pacific Northwest, with a straight, clear stem capable of growing more than four feet in diameter. |
| Tsuga mertensiana |
| mountain hemlock |
| This shade tolerant tree is well distributed from Alaska through the Rocky Mountains, found from sea-level to 11,000 feet in elevation. In subalpine areas it can often grow as a sprawling shrub, while in temperate rainforests it can reach 197 feet in height and seven feet in diameter. |
We recently returned from a trip to five National Forests in Idaho, as well as Yellowstone National Park (which is celebrating its 150th anniversary). You might think after visiting all 155 National Forests and publishing a book about them that we would take a break from National Forests, but we love hiking too much to stay away. Today we updated our posts on Boise and Caribou National Forests with new photos. Also, we will repost on Sawtooth National Recreation Area after our three-night backpacking trip west of Redfish Lake. After going in alphabetical order for every National Forest so far, we waited to do Challis National Forest until after summiting Borah Peak last week, so expect that one soon.
Thanks for reading.
-Scott and Tiff
Raven About The Parks 