Rocky Mountain National Park
Established on January 26, 1915, Rocky Mountain National Park is a living showcase of the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains. With elevations ranging from 8,000 feet in the wet, grassy valleys to 14,259 feet at the weather-ravaged top of Long's Peak, a visitor to the park has opportunities for countless breathtaking experiences and adventures.
Elk, mule deer, moose, bighorn sheep, black bears, coyotes, cougars, eagles, hawks and scores of smaller animals delight wildlife-watchers of all ages. Wildflower-lovers are never disappointed in June and July when the meadows and hillsides are splashed with botanical color. Autumn visitors can relax among the golden aspens or enjoy the rowdier antics of the elk rut (mating season).
Yosemite National Park embraces almost 1,200 square miles of scenic wild lands set aside in 1890 to preserve a portion of the central Sierra Nevada that stretches along California's eastern flank. The park was established on October 1, 1890. There are approximately 4 million people that visit Yosemite each year. The park is 4.5 hours drive from San Francisco and a 6 hour drive from Los Angeles.
Highlights of the park include Yosemite Valley, and its high cliffs and waterfalls; Wawona's history center and historic hotel; the Mariposa Grove, which contains hundreds of ancient giant sequoias; Glacier Point's (summer-fall) spectacular view of Yosemite Valley and the high country; Tuolumne Meadows (summer-fall), a large subalpine meadow surrounded by mountain peaks.
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley is a land of extremes.
It is one of the hottest places on the surface of the Earth with
summer temperatures averaging well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It
encompasses the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere at 282 feet
below the level of the sea, and it is the driest place in North
America with an average rainfall of only 1.96 inches a year.
This valley is also a land of subtle beauties: Morning light
creeping across the eroded badlands of Zabriskie Point to strike
Manly Beacon, the setting sun and lengthening shadows on the Sand
Dunes at Stovepipe Wells, and the colors of myriad wildflowers on
the golden hills above Harmony Borax on a warm spring
day.
Sequoia National Park
These parks are home to giants: immense mountains, deep canyons, and huge trees. Thanks to their huge elevational range, 1,500' to 14,491', they protect stunningly diverse habitats. The Generals Highway climbs over 5000 feet from chaparral and oak-studded foothills to the awe-inspiring sequoia groves. From there, trails lead to the high-alpine wilderness which makes up most of these parks. Beneath the surface lie over 200 fascinating caverns.
Grand
Canyon National Park
The Grand
Canyon is more than a great chasm carved over millennia through the
rocks of the Colorado Plateau. It is more than an awe-inspiring
view. It is more than a pleasuring ground for those who explore the
roads, hike the trails, or float the currents of the turbulent
Colorado River.This canyon is a gift that transcends what we
experience. Its beauty and size humble us. Its timelessness
provokes a comparison to our short existence. In its vast spaces we
may find solace from our hectic lives. The Grand Canyon we visit
today is a gift from past generations.
Olympic National Park
Glacier capped mountains, wild Pacific coast and magnificent stands of old-growth forests, including temperate rain forests -- at Olympic National Park, you can find all three. About 95% of the park is designated wilderness, which further protects these diverse and spectacular ecosystems. Olympic is also known for its biological diversity. Isolated for eons by glacial ice, and later the waters of Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Olympic Peninsula has developed its own distinct array of plants and animals. Eight kinds of plants and 15 kinds of animals are found on the peninsula but no where else on Earth.
Sourced from: http://www.areaparks.com/
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