National Parks
Explore these parks in a MileMarker
Colorado National Parks
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park consists of 415 square miles that span alpine woods, arctic-like peaks, valleys, rivers, and more! Within the park, there are over 300 miles of trails to hike. The park sits between Estes Park and Grand Lake in northern Colorado. The park boundaries were established in 1915 when The Rocky Mountain National Park Act was Signed.
Black Canyon of The Gunnison National Park
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is in western Colorado. The canyon received its name because some parts of the canyon only see 33 minutes of sunlight in a day. This destination is known for some of North America’s steepest and most narrow walls of a canyon. We can thank the Gunnison Uplift for this wonderous place which happened 30 million years ago.
Mesa Verde National Park
In Montezuma County, Colorado, you can find Mesa Verde National Park. This park was created in 1906 to conserve the Ancestors of Pueblo’s culture. Mesa Verde has over 600 cliff dwellings you can visit. The Ancestral people of Pueblo lived where the park resides for over 700 years.
Great Sand Dunes National Park
In southern Colorado, you can find the Great Sand Dunes National Park. There are no reservations required for this park. The wind of the San Luis Valley is what made these wonders possible. The Great Sand Dunes have been forming for eons. You will find some dunes as tall as 750 feet. The park was established in 1932.Utah National Parks
Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park which consists of 257,640 acres was declared in 1964. Within the park, you will find a wide variety of canyons, mesas, and buttes. The Colorado River and Green River flow through the park as well. The Canyonlands have gained popularity because of all the recreational activities you can participate in there. There is hiking, mountain biking, dirt biking, backpacking, climbing, and even four-wheeling.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park was Utah’s first National Park spanning 229 square miles. In 1919, the park was established. The park is most known for its expansive Zion Canyon and sandstone walls that are perfect for climbing. It is also home to one of the largest stand-alone arches, Kolob Arch.
Arches National Park
In Moab, Utah you will find Arches National Park. Arches are not the only geological formations you will see. Under what you see is a giant salt bed that is from around 300 million years ago. Throughout the park, there is a Cryptobiotic crust that is made of living organisms like algae and fungi. Without this crust, animals, plants, and humans would not survive in the desert.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is in the southwestern part of Utah. The park is a compilation of natural amphitheaters. You can expect your view to be filled with colors like red, orange, and white. It has been discovered that people have inhabited the area for at least 10,000 years.Wyoming National Parks
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is home to hundreds of different species. While you are visiting, keep an eye out for all the different types of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians. The park has a long history of Native Americans, expeditions, and more recently, tourists. Ulysses S. Grant signed The Act of Dedication in 1872 making Yellowstone a National Park. Yellowstone is also known for its supervolcano which erupted around 630,000 years ago.
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National park is located in northwestern Wyoming. The park is most famous for the Teton Range which is the most recent range to form about 8 million years ago. The Paleo Native Americans spent their summers in the Tetons 11,000 years ago. Back then, the climate was more artic than it is now. More recently, the Shoshone Native Americans established permanent settlements. The Shoshone River is a 100-mile river that runs into the Big Horn River in Wyoming.New Mexico National Parks
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Underneath the park, there are a total of 83 caves. The caverns were created from a process called speleogenesis. This process involves water and limestone. Settlers discovered the caves after searching for bat guano which they used as fertilizer. The explored parts of the caves total more than 30 miles. In 1993 the caverns were granted protection after congress passed legislation.
White Sands National Park
White Sands National Park became a national monument when President Hoover signed the Antiquities act of 1906. Before it was protected, people came to the area for many different reasons. In the early days, people came looking for food, water, and shelter. Later on when explorers and miners made their way to the White Sand National Park to find salt and gypsum.Arizona National Parks
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park, in Northern Arizona, encompasses 278 miles (447 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. Located on ancestral homeland of 11 Associated Tribes, Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world—unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers visitors from the rims.
Saguaro National Park
In southern Arizona, Saguaro National Park is named for the large saguaro cactus, native to its desert environment. In the western Tucson Mountain District, Signal Hill Trail leads to petroglyphs of the ancient Hohokam people.