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List

Top 10 National Parks for Wildlife Watching

May 5, 2020 Raven About The Parks Leave a comment

There are 63 National Parks of the 430+ units in the National Park Service (NPS) system and they are among the best places to watch wildlife. As with all of our Top 10 lists, this is a ranking of our favorite parks and not necessarily a true reflection of biodiversity or the likelihood of spotting the animals listed. Note: brown bears and grizzly bears are the same species, so we stuck with the Alaskan name. We have published a travel guidebook to the 63 parks with much more information about where to go to see wildlife (available on Amazon).

Know someone who loves National Parks? Gift them our travel guidebook A Park to Yourself: Finding Solitude in America’s 63 National Parks.

10. Theodore Roosevelt (North Dakota)

Bison, elk, pronghorn, white-tailed deer, mule deer, prairie dogs, wild horses, prairie rattlesnakes

9. Virgin Islands (U.S. Virgin Islands)

Sea turtles, stingrays, barracudas, parrotfish, iguanas (introduced), frigatebirds, bananaquits, pelicans

8. Rocky Mountain (Colorado)

Elk, moose, bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, mule deer, black bears, yellow-bellied marmots, pikas

7. Glacier (Montana)

Mountain goats, bighorn sheep, moose, elk, mule deer, brown bears, black bears, lynx, yellow-bellied marmots, pikas

6. Great Smoky Mountains (Tennessee-North Carolina)

Elk, white-tailed deer, black bears, raccoons, turkeys, salamanders, synchronous fireflies

5. Denali (Alaska)

Caribou, moose, Dall sheep, brown bears, black bears, gray wolves, beavers, hoary marmots

4. Badlands (South Dakota)

Bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, white-tailed deer, mule deer, prairie dogs, black-footed ferrets

3 (tie). Kenai Fjords/Glacier Bay (Alaska)

Sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, whales, porpoises, moose, mountain goats, brown bears, black bears, bald eagles

2. Everglades (Florida)

Alligators, crocodiles, dolphins, barred owls, anhingas, roseate spoonbills, wood storks, ospreys, pelicans

…and finally our #1 National Park for watching wildlife:

1. Yellowstone (Wyoming-Montana-Idaho)

Bison, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, brown bears, black bears, mountain lions, gray wolves

Honorable Mentions

Voyageurs (Minnesota)

River otters, beavers, moose, white-tailed deer, black bears, gray wolves, lynx, bald eagles, loons

Channel Islands (California)

Sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, whales, dolphins, anemones, sea urchins, starfish, sea gulls, pelicans

Dry Tortugas (Florida)

Sea turtles, parrotfish, groupers, tarpons, sharks, crocodiles, frigatebirds, noddies, boobies, terns, pelicans

Know someone who loves National Parks? Gift them our travel guidebook A Park to Yourself: Finding Solitude in America’s 63 National Parks.

List

Top 10 Forts at National Park Service Sites

April 14, 2020 Raven About The Parks 1 Comment

There are 23 National Park Service (NPS) units with the name “Fort” in their title, not even including places like Yellowstone National Park, Gateway National Recreation Area, and our number one site on this list. We hope you enjoy our ranking of our favorite forts (and check out all of our Top 10 lists).

10. Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine (Maryland)

“The Star-Spangled Banner” was written about this Baltimore site

9. Fort Pulaski National Monument (Georgia)

Protecting Savannah, this fort has an awesome moat around its perimeter

8. Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site (Colorado)

Costumed reenactors take you back in time on the Santa Fe Trail

7. Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park (South Carolina)

Two forts in one park—one accessible by car and one by ferry

6. Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site (North Dakota-Montana)

Beautifully reconstructed fort near the confluence of two major rivers

5. Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (Washington)

Hudson’s Bay Company’s HQ on the Columbia River from 1825 to 1860

4. Fort Union National Monument (New Mexico)

Adobe walls are melting back into the New Mexico prairie

3. Fort Laramie National Historic Site (Wyoming)

Significant stop on the Oregon Trail and site of two important treaties

2. Fort Stanwix National Monument (New York)

An exact 1750s replica surrounded by the city of Rome, New York

…and finally our #1 fort at a National Park Service site:

1. Fort Jefferson in Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)

Walking the archways in the golden hours is a great reason to spend the night on the island

Honorable Mentions

Fort Smith National Historic Site (Arkansas-Oklahoma)

Fascinating frontier history on the banks of the Arkansas River

Fort Davis National Historic Site (Texas)

The Davis Mountains provide a wonderful backdrop

Christiansted National Historic Site (U.S. Virgin Islands)

The Danish built this color-coordinated fort around 1749

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (Florida)

This elaborate fort in St. Augustine, Florida was never surrendered

List

Top 10 National Park Service Sites for Kayaking

February 25, 2020 Raven About The Parks Leave a comment

We own a 17-foot long tandem kayak that we have taken all over the United States, including some rivers where it may have been preferable to canoe. Some of our most memorable National Park experiences have happened while seated in our kayak. This does not include two amazing trips through Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument in Montana, which you can read about on our other travel blog since it is not managed by the National Park Service. Please check out all of our Top 10 lists for more adventure ideas and book recommendations!

10. Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument (U.S. Virgin Islands)

There is no dry land in this Caribbean monument that borders Virgin Islands National Park.

9. Ozark National Scenic Riverways (Missouri)

Canoes are also commonly used to explore the Jack’s Fork and Current Rivers.

8. Biscayne National Park (Florida)

A kayak can get close to the mangroves since most of this park covers ocean south of Miami.

7. Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)

Find a free lakeside campsite and fall asleep listening to loons call.

6. Congaree National Park (South Carolina)

Get up close to wildlife and baldcypress knees on Cedar Creek.

5. Lake Mead National Recreation Area (Nevada-Arizona)

Stop at Emerald Cove for photos on the way to or from Arizona Hot Springs.

4. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Michigan)

The only way to see Petit Portal is from the water and a kayak is necessary to go through it.

3. Buffalo National River (Arkansas)

Canoes may be preferable to run through the Ponca Wilderness during spring runoff.

2. Everglades National Park (Florida)

The best way to see this park is from a small boat, plus by staying overnight on a chickee.

…and finally our #1 National Park for kayaking!

1. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (Wisconsin)

Sea caves carved by the waves of Lake Superior require a small craft to explore.

Honorable Mentions

Point Reyes National Seashore (California)

Located on the San Andreas Fault, Tomales Bay is a protected spot to explore north of San Francisco.

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (Alaska)

We have heard the best way to see this park is by kayak, but it sounds really cold.

Channel Islands National Park (California)

We hope someday to take a guided kayaking trip to the sea caves on Santa Cruz Island.

Big Thicket National Preserve (Texas)

Spanish moss-draped baldcypress trees line these picturesque bayous.

List

Top 10 National Parks with Designated Backcountry Campsites

January 28, 2020 Raven About The Parks 2 Comments

We love backpacking and America’s National Parks are some of the most scenic places for it. We previously posted our Top 10 National Park Service units that allow dispersed backpack camping, so this is our corollary list. These are some of our favorite spots to spend a night in the backcountry. They nearly all require permits (some take reservations), so check the regulations before you go. Remember to practice Leave No Trace principles, as not all of these backcountry campsites offer toilets.

10. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)

Campsites are mostly in the forest and not very scenic, but there is a great trail system connecting them.

9. Canyonlands National Park (Utah)

Backcountry permits are expensive and hard to get in the lottery, which indicates they are worth it.

8. Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)

Backpacking is the main attraction to this large island surrounded by Lake Superior; come prepared for bugs.

7. Big Bend National Park (Texas)

There are multiple ecosystems to explore from the Rio Grande and the Chihuahuan Desert all the way up to the pine forest.

6. North Cascades National Park (Washington)

Expect to gain (and lose) elevation on the trails in this mountainous wilderness park.

5. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)

With no campground, this is the only way to spend the night in America’s newest National Park.

4. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (Wisconsin)

A sea kayak is recommended to access the island campsites dispersed in Lake Superior.

3. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming)

While the campgrounds are full all summer, you can typically get a walk-in permit to backpack.

2. Everglades National Park (Florida)

Paddle your way to spend the night atop a chickee and you will never forget the experience.

…and finally our #1 park with designated backcountry campsites!

1. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (Alaska)

Climbing the Golden Stairs up the Chilkoot Trail is a bucket list-worthy endeavor.

Honorable Mentions

Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)

There are many boat-in campsites on the lakes and also the 28-mile Kab-Ash Trail on the mainland.

Glacier National Park (Montana)

Most trails gain significant elevation, but that is not a problem if you camp on the shores of Lake McDonald.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)

The steep hike up to Guadalupe Peak is popular, but much of this park is not as well-traveled.

Start your U.S. National Parks, National Forests, and National Monuments adventure here!