Month: June 2011

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Precipice Trail Acadia National Park

Precipice Trail at Acadia National Park is not your average hiking trail. If you are looking to do something a bit more adventurous (and you’re not afraid of heights), this would be one of the National Parks trails to put on your list. Precipice Trail has a nearly 1,000 foot vertical climb in less than a mile which entails bouldering, using rungs & ladders and making your way across narrow exposed ledges with steep drop-offs. You know you are getting yourself into something a bit more strenuous than a regular hike when the sign at the Precipice Trail reads:

Caution. The Precipice is maintained as a non-technical climbing route, not a hiking trail. Attempt this route only if you are physically fit, wearing proper footwear, and have experience in climbing near exposed cliffs and heights. Allow three hours for a round-trip climb. Avoid this route during inclement weather or darkness. Stay on the trail and do not throw or dislodge rocks onto hikers below. Persons have received serious injuries and others have died on this mountainside!

You will see how true this is with the video below (it will get your heart beat up just watching)

As the video and warning sign make clear, you definitely want to check the weather forecast before attempting to climb Precipice Trail. It’s also pretty obvious that you need proper footwear as non sturdy hiking shoes would not only make the climb uncomfortable, it would also make it quite dangerous. This is also a hike that looks to be much safer with a partner than alone.

Precipice Trail is definitely on my “to do” list when I manage to get to Acadia National Park. Be sure to check whether or not Precipice Trail is open because it does close temporarily during peregrine falcon nesting season from March 15 – August 15 (Precipice Trail may be opened earlier if the peregrine falcons are not nesting on the cliff, as determined by the park wildlife biologist). While the trail looks like a challenge, the reward is a beautiful view (photo courtesy of scudsone)

The view from the summit of Precipice Trail at Acadia National Park

and a climbing story that you will surely enjoy telling to your friends and family.

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Zion National Park Drop-In Volunteer Program

Zion National Park will begin offering its weekly drop-in volunteer program tomorrow, June 10, 2011 and will continue every Friday through the end of November. Volunteers are the unsung heroes of National Parks. If you love visiting National Parks, consider volunteering to help out in any way that you can.

View of Zion National Park

The Zion National Park drop-in volunteer program is open to all. Anyone visiting Zion, as well as local residents, will have the opportunity to help with the many projects which help keep the park clean and beautiful. It’s a wonderful way to show your support for and to help preserve Zion National Park.

Those that are interested in volunteering should gather at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Shuttle Stop at 9:00 a.m. each Friday. The volunteer projects will last approximately two to three hours and do not require prior knowledge or training. Examples of volunteer projects would include litter removal, minor trail maintenance, and the management of invasive plants. If you decide to volunteer, be sure to bring water, a hat, sunscreen and good walking shoes. You do not need to bring tools. Both gloves and tools will be supplied if necessary.

Everyone is welcome to participate in the Zion drop-in volunteer program. There is no registration required for individuals — just show up on time. For groups larger than 10 people who would like to volunteer, you do need to pre-register. Minors under the age of 18 must be joined by an adult. For any questions, more information or to pre-register a group, contact the Zion volunteer coordinator at 435-772-0184.

You may also be interested in other Zion Volunteer Programs

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Agate House Petrified Forest National Park

When you live in an area that has limited building materials, you use those materials that are around. That is exactly what the Pueblo Indians did when they built Agate House out of petrified wood blocks. Located on top of a small hill within the Rainbow Forest at Petrified Forest National Park, the original house was eight rooms with the petrified wood blocks laid in a clay mortar. Agate House was partially reconstructed in the 1930s.

To get to Agate House, you can take the Agate House Trail which has its trail head across the street from the Rainbow Forest Museum parking lot and down about 100 feet on the main road. The trail is approximately 1 mile long. You used to be able to drive closer, but the road has been closed and is now sprouting weeds and other vegetation. There is a shade shelter about half way along Agate House Trail, but otherwise there isn’t much sun protection.

While there are only a few rooms still left at Agate House, it’s an amazing structure to walk around:

Agate House at Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified wood house at Petrified Forest National Park

It’s especially fun to look at the amazing colors in the petrified wood that was used to build Agate House:

Petrified wood used in building Agate House at Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified wood used to build Agate House at Petrified Forest National Park

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Zion National Park Photo Contest 2011

If you happen to be travelling to Zion National Park this month (or travelled there earlier this year), don’t forget to submit any photos you took to the Zion National Park photo contest. The 2010 winner was Virgin River Narrows by David Lenhert:

Virgina Rivers Narrows at Zion National Park 2010 Photo winner

The 2011 Zion National Park photo contest is open to amateur photographers with the photos being judged by what “will make us and others want to visit Zion National Park.” The deadline for submitting photos is July 4, 2011. All entries must be print photos with both black and white and color photos acceptable (no photos on disc or through email will be accepted). It’s important to remember to write your name, address and email on the back of each photo submitted. There is no limit to the number of entries as you can submit. Winning photos will be announced on or before July 24, 2011. Photos should be mailed to:

East Zion Tourism Council
Photo Contest
East Zion
Mount Carmel, UT 84755

For more information on this contest, you can visit the photo contest page of the East Zion Tourism Council.

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Point Reyes Lighthouse

Once you make your way past the Point Reyes Lighthouse visitors center, the gray whale skull and the water collection system at Point Reyes National Seashore, you’ll round the corner and get your first glimpse of the Point Reyes Lighthouse. There is an observation deck that looks down upon the lighthouse and you’ll immediately understand why so many people love to come out to see it:

Point Reyes Lighthouse from observation deck

Warning to all: The Point Reyes Lighthouse is not open on Tuesday or Wednesday. Even on the days that it is closed, you can still view the lighthouse from the observation deck, but you will not be able to descend the stairs to the lighthouse to see it up close and personal. The lighthouse stairs, the exhibits in the lower lighthouse chamber, and the equipment building are open Thursday through Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (stairs to go down to the lighthouse close at 4:00 p.m.) weather permitting. Point Reyes is the windiest area on the Pacific coast and even on clear days, the stairs will sometimes be closed due to high winds. The light house lens room where the Fresnel lens and clockwork mechanism are located is open Thursday through Monday from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Point Reyes Lighthouse close-up Point Reyes National Seashore

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National Parks Free Day June

Just a friendly reminder that June 21, the first day of summer, is only two weeks away and is a National Parks fee free day. That means that the entrance fee to the parks, monuments, preserves, recreation areas and other sites within the National Park system will be waived. Fee Free National Parks days are offered throughout the year. In addition to the first day of summer, National Parks will also be fee free on September 24 (Public Lands Day) and from November 11 – 13 (Veterans Day weekend) this year.

Drakes Bay Beach at Point Reyes National Seashore

The fee free National Parks day on June 21, 2011 is good for free entrance to the parks in the National Parks system, but it doesn’t apply to other fees within the National Parks system such as reservation fees, camping fees, tour fees and concession fees. Most of the National Parks fee free days result in the National Parks being quite busy, but since the first day of summer falls on a Tuesday, it should be a great opportunity to visit a National Park for free with a minimal chance of large crowds. With the kids out for summer vacation, it may be a perfect day trip to plan.

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Tomales Bay California State Park

While driving to Tomales Bay California state park within Point Reyes National Seashore (there are also areas of Tomales Bay state park across Tomales Bay on highway 1) you will turn off Pierce Point Road and descend into the park. Tomales Bay isn’t part of Point Reyes and there is an entrance fee of $8.00 per vehicle to enter (or you can purchase a California State Park Pass)

The road is quite curvy and there really aren’t any places to park, but it can be worthwhile to try and find a spot (or decide to hike the road) as it provides some great photo opportunities. This includes seeing Tomales Bay with all the forest before it:

View from road going into Tomales Bay California state park

There’s also spectacular undergrowth below the trees if you take the time to explore a bit.

Trees and undergrowth Tomales Bay California State Park

Again, the road isn’t really made to do this and you definitely need to be very careful if you decide to do it, but there’s a good chance that you will be well rewarded with some interesting photos if you decide to do so.

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National Parks Photo Contest 2011

Share the Experience National Parks Photo Contest

When I visit National Parks, I find it hard not to take photos. Even though I am far from a professional photographer, I enjoy documenting what I see so that I can share it with others. If you have any interest in photography and our National Parks, you will want to know about the National Park Foundation’s 2011 Share the Experience photo contest.

Share the Experience is an annual photography competition which has the goal of encouraging all to share their National Parks experiences through photographs. The contest is open to everyone age 13 and older. Photos can be submitted online and by December 31, 2011 at ShareTheExperience.org. The following prizes are available for the National Parks photo contest:

Grand Prize: Trip to Recreation Area 4 days / 3 nights for 4 people, Magellan GPS eXploris 510, Federal Recreational Lands Interagency Pass, $100 REI gift card and $500 in spending money

1st Prize: Magellan GPS eXplorist 510, Federal Recreational Lands Interagency Pass and $100 REI gift card

2nd Prize: Magellan GPS eXplorist 310, Federal Recreational Lands Interagency Pass and $100 REI gift card

3rd Prize: Magellan GPS eXplorist GC, Federal Recreational Lands Interagency Pass and $100 REI gift card

Honorable Mention (10 winners): Federal Recreational Lands Interagency Pass and $100 REI gift card

Since the National Parks Photo Contest 2011 runs through the end of the year, there has been no announcement of the National Parks Photo Contest 2012 as of yet. As soon as we get information on the National Parks Photo Contest 2012, we will post it here.

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National Parks Volunteers: Mount Rainier

The unsung heroes of the National Parks system are the many volunteers. Last year volunteers served over 70,000 hours at Mount Rainier National Park (WA) which would have been the equivalent of Mount Rainier hiring an additional 170 seasonal workers. In fact, for every National Park staff member working, there are 7 volunteers also putting in hours to improve our National Parks. This is a short video that shows the impact that volunteers have in the National Park system:

how to volunteer to help National Parks

If you have extra time, there are a lot of parks within the National parks system that could use your help. You can find out all the information you need to volunteer at the National Park Service Volunteer page. You can also follow the National Park Volunteers network on twitter and facebook. Also be sure to take a minute to thank the volunteers you meet at the National Parks for all the work that they do.