Fodor's The Complete Guide to the National Parks of the USA: All 63 parks from Maine to American Samoa

by Fodor's Travel Publications

Overview

Whether you want to hike through the jaw-dropping scenery of Acadia, see rare wildlife and natural wonders in Yellowstone, or go river-rafting in the Grand Canyon, the local Fodor’s travel experts in all the National Parks are here to help! Fodor’s Complete Guide to the National Parks of the USA is packed with maps, carefully curated recommendations, and everything else you need to simplify your trip-planning process and make the most of your time.

This brand new title has been designed with an easy-to-read layout, fresh information, and beautiful color photos.

Fodor’s Complete Guide to the National Parks of the USA travel guide includes:

• AN ILLUSTRATED ULTIMATE EXPERIENCES GUIDE to the top things to see and do
• MULTIPLE ITINERARIES to effectively organize your days and maximize your time
• MORE THAN 70 DETAILED MAPS to help you navigate confidently
• COLOR PHOTOS throughout to spark your wanderlust!
• HONEST RECOMMENDATIONS FROM LOCALS on the best sights, restaurants, hotels, activities, and more
• PHOTO-FILLED “BEST OF” FEATURES on “Ultimate Experiences,” “Best Campgrounds,” “Best Lodges,” and more
• TRIP-PLANNING TOOLS AND PRACTICAL TIPS including when to go, getting around, beating the crowds, and saving time and money
• HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL INSIGHTS providing rich context on the local people, art, architecture, geography and more
• SPECIAL FEATURES on “Exploring the Colorado River,” “What to Watch and Read Before You Visit,” and “Yellowstone’s Geothermal Wonders”
• LOCAL WRITERS to help you find the under-the-radar gems
• UP-TO-DATE COVERAGE ON: Acadia National Park, Arches National Park, Badlands National Park, Big Bend National Park, Biscayne National Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Channel Islands National Park, Congaree National Park, Crater Lake National Park, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Death Valley National Park, Denali National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, Everglades National Park, Gates of the Arctic & Kobuk Valley National Park, Gateway Arch National Park, Glacier Bay National Park, Glacier & Waterton Lakes National Parks, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Great Basin National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Haleakala National Park, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hot Springs National Park, Indiana Dunes National Park, Isle Royale National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Katmai National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park, Lake Clark National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mammoth Cave National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, National Park of American Samoa, New River Gorge Park and Preserve, North Cascades National Park, Olympic National Park, Petrified Forest National Park, Pinnacles National Park, Redwood National and State Parks, Rocky Mountain National Park, Saguaro National Park, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Shenandoah National Parks, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Virgin Islands National Parks, Voyageurs National Parks, White Sands National Park, Wind Cave National Park, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Yosemite National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Zion National Park

Planning on spending more time in any of the states? Check out Fodor’s Arizona and the Grand Canyon, Fodor’s California, Fodor's Colorado, Fodor’s Florida, Fodor’s Essential Hawaii, Fodor’s Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire, Fodor's U.S. & British Virgin Islands, Compass Yellowstone National Park, Compass Yosemite and Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks, and Fodor's InFocus Smoky Mountains.

*Important note for digital editions: The digital edition of this guide does not contain all the images or text included in the physical edition.

ABOUT FODOR'S AUTHORS: Each Fodor's Travel Guide is researched and written by local experts. Fodor’s has been offering expert advice for all tastes and budgets for over 80 years. For more travel inspiration, you can sign up for our travel newsletter at fodors.com/newsletter/signup, or follow us @FodorsTravel on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We invite you to join our friendly community of travel experts at fodors.com/community to ask any other questions and share your experience with us!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781640974548
Publisher:	Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc.
Publication date:	09/14/2021
Series:	Full-color Travel Guide
Pages:	960
Sales rank:	77,462
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

For over 80 years, Fodor's Travel has been a trusted resource offering expert travel advice for every stage of a traveler's trip. We hire local writers who know their destinations better than anyone else, allowing us to provide the best travel recommendations for all tastes and budget in over 7,500 worldwide destinations. Our books make it possible for every trip to be a trip of a lifetime.

Table of Contents

1 Experience the National Parks of the USA 15

63 Ultimate Experiences 16

What's Where 36

The Best National Park Lodges 38

Wildlife in the Parks 40

The Diversity of America's National Parks 44

Buffalo Soldiers and the Early National Park Service 46

2 Planning Your Visit 47

Know Before You Go 48

Park Passes 50

Family Fun 52

Best Paired With 54

Best Bets 56

3 Great Itineraries 59

Washington State National Parks, 8 Days 60

The Black Hills and Badlands National Parks, 6 Days 62

California National Parks, 9 Days 65

Utah and Arizona National Parks, 9 Days 66

Southeastern National Parks, 9 Days 69

4 Acadia National Park 71

Welcome to Acadia National Park 72

Planning 75

East Side of Mount Desert Island 78

West Side of Mount Desert Island 82

Schoodic Peninsula 84

Isle Au Haut 87

Activities 88

What's Nearby 90

5 Arches National Park 91

Welcome to Arches National Park 92

Planning 94

Devils Garden 96

Fiery Furnace 97

Delicate Arch/Wolfe Ranch 98

The Windows 99

Balanced Rock 100

Petrified Dunes 101

Courthouse Towers 101

Activities 101

What's Nearby 102

6 Badlands National Park 103

Welcome to Badlands National Park 104

Planning 106

North Unit 109

Palmer Creek Unit 112

Stronghold Unit 112

Activities 112

What's Nearby 114

7 Big Bend National Park 115

Welcome to Big Bend National Park 116

Planning 119

Chisos Basin 121

Castolon 123

Rio Grande Village 125

Persimmon Gap 126

Activities 127

What's Nearby 130

8 Biscayne National Park 131

Welcome to Biscayne National Park 132

Planning 135

In the Park 136

Activities 139

What's Nearby 140

9 Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park 141

Welcome to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park 142

Planning 145

East Portal 146

North Rim 147

South Rim 148

Activities 149

What's Nearby 152

10 Bryce Canyon National Park 153

Welcome to Bryce Canyon National Park 154

Planning 156

Bryce Canyon North 159

Bryce Canyon South 163

Activities 164

What's Nearby 166

11 Canyonlands National Park 167

Welcome to Canyonlands National Park 168

Planning 170

Island in the Sky 172

Needles 174

Maze 175

Horseshoe Canyon 176

Activities 176

What's Nearby 178

12 Capitol Reef National Park 179

Welcome to Capitol Reef National Park 180

Planning 182

Fruita 184

Scenic Drive 187

Cathedral Valley 188

Muley Twist Canyon 189

Activities 189

What's Nearby 190

13 Carlsbad Caverns National Park 191

Welcome to Carlsbad Caverns National Park 192

Planning 195

Carlsbad Cavern Aboveground 197

Carlsbad Cavern Belowground 199

Rattlesnake Springs and Slaughter Canyon 201

Activities 202

What's Nearby 202

14 Channel Islands National Park 203

Welcome to Channel Islands National Park 204

Planning 206

Anacapa Island 209

San Miguel Island 209

Santa Barbara Island 210

Santa Cruz Island 211

Santa Rosa Island 212

Activities 212

What's Nearby 214

15 Congaree National Park 215

Welcome to Congaree National Park 216

Planning 218

The Swamp 221

Activities 223

What's Nearby 224

16 Crater Lake National Park 225

Welcome to Crater Lake National Park 226

Planning 229

Rim Village 231

Rim Drive 232

Cleetwood Cove and Wizard Island 234

Mazama Village 235

Activities 235

What's Nearby 236

17 Cuyahoga Valley National Park 237

Welcome to Cuyahoga Valley National Park 238

Planning 241

North 243

South 246

Activities 249

What's Nearby 252

18 Death Valley National Park 253

Welcome to Death Valley National Park 254

Planning 257

Central Death Valley 259

Northern Death Valley 263

Southern Death Valley 264

Western Death Valley 264

Activities 265

What's Nearby 266

19 Denali National Park and Preserve 267

Welcome to Denali National Park and Preserve 268

Planning 271

In the Park 275

Activities 279

What's Nearby 284

20 Dry Tortugas National Park 285

Welcome to Dry Tortugas National Park 286

Planning 288

In the Park 290

Activities 292

What's Nearby 294

21 Everglades National Park 295

Welcome to Everglades National Park 296

Planning 299

Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center to Flamingo Visitor Center 302

Everglades City and the Gulf Coast 305

Flamingo 307

Shark Valley 308

Activities 309

What's Nearby 312

22 Gates of the Arctic and Kobuk Valley National Parks 313

Welcome to Gates of the Arctic and Kobuk Valley National Parks 314

Planning 317

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve 320

Kobuk Valley National Park 323

23 Gateway Arch National Park 325

Welcome to Gateway Arch National Park 326

Planning 329

In the Park 332

Elsewhere in Downtown St. Louis 334

24 Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks 337

Welcome to Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks 338

Planning 341

Glacier National Park 344

Waterton Lakes National Park 352

What's Nearby 356

25 Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve 357

Welcome to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve 358

Planning 361

In the Park 363

Activities 366

What's Nearby 368

26 Grand Canyon National Park 369

Welcome to Grand Canyon National Park 370

Planning 373

Grand Canyon South Rim 377

Grand Canyon North Rim 387

What's Nearby 392

27 Grand Teton National Park 393

Welcome to Grand Teton National Park 394

Planning 397

Moose 399

Jenny Lake 402

Jackson Lake 404

Activities 407

What's Nearby 410

28 Great Basin National Park 411

Welcome to Great Basin National Park 412

Planning 415

Lehman Caves 417

Wheeler Peak 418

Snake Creek Canyon 420

Activities 420

What's Nearby 422

29 Great Sand Dunes National Park 423

Welcome to Great Sand Dunes National Park 424

Planning 427

Main Use Area 428

Sand Dune Field 428

Sangre de Cristo Mountains 429

Southern Grasslands 429

Medano Creek Wetlands 429

Activities 429

What's Nearby 430

30 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 431

Welcome to Great Smoky Mountains National Park 432

Planning 435

Tennessee Side 438

North Carolina Side 448

What's Nearby 455

31 Guadalupe Mountains National Park 457

Welcome to Guadalupe Mountains National Park 458

Planning 461

Pine Springs 462

McKittrick Canyon 464

Dog Canyon 465

Salt Basin Dunes 466

Activities 466

What's Nearby 468

32 Haleakala National Park 469

Welcome to Haleakala National Park 470

Planning 472

Summit District 475

Kipahulu District 477

Activities 479

What's Nearby 482

33 Hawaii Volcanoes National Park 483

Welcome to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park 484

Planning 487

Kilauea Summit Area 491

Greater Park Area 495

Kahuku Unit 498

Activities 498

What's Nearby 501

34 Hot Springs National Park 503

Welcome to Hot Springs National Park 504

Planning 506

In the Park 509

Elsewhere in Town 513

Activities 515

35 Indiana Dunes National Park 517

Welcome to Indiana Dunes National Park 518

Planning 520

Lakefront 522

Inland Areas 526

Activities 527

What's Nearby 528

36 Isle Royale National Park 529

Welcome to Isle Royale National Park 530

Planning 532

Isle Royale 535

Activities 539

What's Nearby 540

37 Joshua Tree National Park 541

Welcome to Joshua Tree National Park 542

Planning 545

Park Boulevard 547

Keys View Road 548

Highway 62 550

Pinto Basin Road 551

Activities 552

What's Nearby 554

38 Katmai National Park and Preserve 555

Welcome to Katmai National Park and Preserve 556

Planning 559

In the Park 560

Activities 563

What's Nearby 564

39 Kenai Fjords National Park 565

Welcome to Kenai Fjords National Park 566

Planning 569

In the Park 571

Activities 574

What's Nearby 574

40 Lake Clark National Park 575

Welcome to Lake Clark National Park 576

Planning 579

In the Park 581

41 Lassen Volcanic National Park 585

Welcome to Lassen Volcanic National Park 586

Planning 589

Southwest 590

Manzanita and Summit Lakes 592

Warner Valley and Juniper Lake 594

Butte Lake 595

Activities 596

What's Nearby 598

42 Mammoth Cave National Park 599

Welcome to Mammoth Cave National Park 600

Planning 603

Visitor Center Area 608

Frontcountry 615

Green River Valley 617

Hilly Backcountry 618

Activities 619

What's Nearby 622

43 Mesa Verde National Park 623

Welcome to Mesa Verde National Park 624

Planning 626

Morefield 629

Far View 630

Chapin Mesa 631

Wetherill Mesa 634

Activities 635

What's Nearby 636

44 Mount Rainier National Park 637

Welcome to Mount Rainier National Park 638

Planning 641

Longmire 643

Paradise 644

Ohanapecosh 646

Sunrise and White River 646

Carbon River and Mowich Lake 648

Activities 648

What's Nearby 650

45 National Park of American Samoa 651

Welcome to National Park of American Samoa 652

Planning 655

Tutuila 657

Ofu 658

Tail 659

Activities 659

What's Nearby 660

46 New River Gorge National Park and Preserve 661

Welcome to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve 662

Planning 665

In the Park 666

Activities 669

What's Nearby 670

47 North Cascades National Park 671

Welcome to North Cascades National Park 672

Planning 674

North Cascades Scenic Highway and Ross Lake National Recreation Area 677

Lake Chelan National Recreation Area 680

Activities 682

What's Nearby 684

48 Olympic National Park 685

Welcome to Olympic National Park 686

Planning 689

Coastal Olympic 691

Rain Forests 692

Lake Crescent and Sol Due Valley 694

The Mountains 696

Activities 697

What's Nearby 700

49 Petrified Forest National Park 701

Welcome to Petrified Forest National Park 702

In the Park 704

Activities 710

What's Nearby 710

50 Pinnacles National Park 711

Welcome to Pinnacles National Park 712

Planning 715

East Side 716

West Side 718

Activities 719

What's Nearby 720

51 Redwood National and State Parks 721

Welcome to Redwood National and State Parks 722

Planning 725

South 727

Middle 728

North 730

Activities 732

What's Nearby 734

52 Rocky Mountain National Park 735

Welcome to Rocky Mountain National Park 736

Planning 739

Moraine Park 742

Sear Lake 743

Longs Peak 744

Trail Ridge Road 745

Timber Creek 746

Wild Basin 747

Activities 748

What's Nearby 752

53 Saguaro National Park 753

Welcome to Saguaro National Park 754

Planning 756

Saguaro East 758

Saguaro West 759

Activities 760

What's Nearby 762

54 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 763

Welcome To Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 764

Planning 767

Sequoia National Park 769

Kings Canyon National Park 778

What's Nearby 784

55 Shenandoah National Park 785

Welcome to Shenandoah National Park 786

Planning 789

North District 791

Central District 793

South District 796

Activities 799

What's Nearby 800

58 Theodore Roosevelt National Park 801

Welcome to Theodore Roosevelt National Park 802

Planning 805

North Unit 806

South Unit 808

Activities 811

What's Nearby 812

57 Virgin Islands National Park 813

Welcome to Virgin Islands National Park 814

Planning 817

St. John 819

Hassel Island 823

Activities 824

What's Nearby 826

58 Voyageurs National Park 827

Welcome to Voyageurs National Park 828

Planning 831

In the Park 833

Activities 835

What's Nearby 836

59 White Sands National Park 837

Welcome to White Sands National Park 838

Planning 841

Dunes Drive 842

Activities 845

What's Nearby 846

60 Wind Cave National Park 847

Welcome to Wind Cave National Park 848

Planning 851

In The Park 854

Activities 856

What's Nearby 859

61 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve 861

Welcome to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve 862

Planning 864

In the Park 867

Activities 871

What's Nearby 872

62 Yellowstone National Park 873

Welcome to Yellowstone National Park 874

Planning 877

Mammoth Hot Springs 881

Norris 882

Madison 883

Old Faithful 884

Grant Village and West Thumb 888

Lake Yellowstone 890

Canyon 892

Tower-Roosevelt 894

Activities 896

What's Nearby 900

63 Yosemite National Park 901

Welcome to Yosemite National Park 902

Planning 905

Yosemite Valley 909

Wawona 914

Tuolumne Meadows 915

Ketch Hetchy 917

Activities 918

What's Nearby 924

64 Zion National Park 925

Welcome to Zion National Park 926

Planning 928

Zion Canyon 931

Kolob Canyons 935

Activities 936

What's Nearby 938

Index 939

About the Writers 956

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