National Parks

Grand Canyon (Arizona)

FACTS: http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm
277 river miles (446km) long, up to 18 miles (29km) wide, and a mile (1.6km) deep.





Pink Sand Dunes (Utah)

FACTS:
salmon-colored grains at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. The Park encompasses 3,730 acres of southern Utah's color country. The park itself is breathtaking, with coral-colored dunes, surrounded by red sandstone cliffs, blue skies, and deep emerald forests. This is a photographer's paradise.

The sweeping expanse of dunes is a massive playground for hiking, off-highway
vehicle riding, or just playing in the sand. Off-road enthusiasts will find 1,000 acres of play area, and hundreds of miles of trails in the nearby vicinity.

Zion Nation al Park (Utah)

FACTS: http://www.utah.com/nationalparks/zion.htm
Designated in 1919, Zion is Utah's oldest national park. It is Utah's most heavily used park.
The Virgin Riv er has gnawed through native sandstone to create the incredible scenery found in Zion Canyon. The river itself now serves as a natural corridor for exploring the park. There are several easy, self-guiding trails along the river, along with more challenging hikes where the river and its tr ibutaries cut through narrow canyons. For those with strollers or in wheelchairs, the Riverside Walk (Gateway to the Narrows) is suitable for all ages. More adventurous or strenuous hikes include Angels Landing or The Narrows.



Bryce National Park (Utah)
FACTS: http://www.utah.com/nationalparks/bryce.htm

Thousands of delicately carved spires rise in brilliant color from the amphitheaters of Bryce Canyon National Park. Millions of years of wind, water and geologic mayhem have shaped and etched the pink cliffs at Bryce, which isn't actually a canyon but the eastern slope of the Paunsaguant Plateau.

Most popular viewpoints:

• Fairyland Point (2 picture on the left)
  
• Bryce Amphitheater (Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point and Bryce Point - picture on the right)

  

Red Canyon near Bryce (Utah)
FACTS: http://www.utah.com/nationalsites/redcanyon.htm
Unique vermilion-colored rock formation and stands of Ponderosa pines make the canyon exceptionally scenic.










Sequoia National Park (Nevada)
FACTS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoia_National_Park
It was established in 1890 as the second U.S. national park, after Yellowstone National Park. The park spans 404,051 acres (1,635.14 km²). The park is south of and contiguous with Kings Canyon National Park. The park is most famous for its Giant Sequioa trees, including the General Sherman tree, one of the largest trees on Earth (in terms of wood volume). The General Sherman tree grows in the Giant Forest, which contains five out of the ten largest trees in the world, in terms of wood volume.












Yosemite National Park (California) - UNESCO world heritage
FACTS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_National_Park
he park covers an area of 761,266 acres or 1,189 square miles (3,081 km²) and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, and biological diversity. Almost 95% of the park is designated wilderness.

The park has an elevation range from 2,000 to 13,114 feet (600 to 4,000 m). he 1,189 sq mi (3,081 km²) park is roughly the size of Rhode Island and contains thousands of lakes and ponds, 1,600 miles (2,600 km) of streams, 800 miles (1300 km) of hiking trails, and 350 miles (560 km) of roads.

Death Valley
FACTS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley
It is the lowest, driest, and hottest location in North America. Badwater, a basin located within Death Valley, is the specific location of the lowest elevation in North America at 282 ft (85.5 m) below sea level. This point is only 76 miles (123 km) east of Mount Whitney (14,505 feet (4,421 m) above sea level), the highest point in the contiguous US with an elevation of 14,505 feet (4,421 m). Death Valley holds the record for the highest reliably reported temperature in the Western hemisphere, 134°F (56.7°C) at Furnace Creek.