Things to see and do Parcs nationaux américains

Paradise is the center of the park. It includes a visitor center, the Paradise Jackson Visitor Center, and a hotel, Paradise Inn. This is the most frequented place in the park in summer and winter. Paradise is known for its superb panoramic views of Mount Rainier and its meadows of wild flowers, the flowering period of which is from mid-July to August. There are several hikes to discover Paradise, including Bench and Snow Lake Trail (3.7 km), Pinnacle Peak (4.2 km), Nisqually Vista Trail (1.9 km) and Alta Vista Trail (2.7 km). Not to be missed too: Reflection Lake, certainly the most photographed place in the park! He has his name because Mount Rainier is reflected in his crystal clear waters.

It's a steep slope and can be reached on foot, by bicycle or by shuttle bus (21 stops in the valley, free of charge). It is 13 km long and 1.6 km wide, and is 1,209 meters high. From the bottom of the valley, you can see the steep walls, and the two rocks so often photographed for their beauty: El Capitan and the Cathedral. From the top of the walls fall countless impressive waterfalls, some of which are over 700 meters high. Many hikes start from the surroundings of the valley. The valley is very crowded in summer.

These three longiformes formations are called "the three sisters", but above all the most left-wing training shows the veil and hands in prayer of a religious.

Before going to explore the park, stop at the Visitor Center to take practical information on walks and different access.

Side of the dunes. You can walk freely on the dunes. If the climb is tough, the descent is obviously the most fun part. If you have a surfboard or bodyboard, or any other smooth surface, test the descent by sliding. Otherwise, you can always run and enjoy rolling in the sand. You will find that you will take a few minutes to steal what you have taken so long and effort to climb. Sunrise and sunrise are particularly magical moments at the top of the sand mountains overlooking the desert valley. The best places to consider are the High Dune and Star Dune.

The High Dune measures 200 meters and offers a beautiful panorama, however it is difficult to reach, about 4 kilometers round and 2:30 a. m., a large part of which is difficult. Star Dune is the highest dune in the park (230 meters) accessible within 4 hours and 10 kilometers of effort.

Mountain side. The mountain part of the park is ideal for viewing wildlife, you can make beautiful walks, including walks to the beautiful Lake of Sand Creek: Lower Sand Creek Lake (4.85 km), Upper Sand Creek Lake (5.6 km) or Little Sand Creek Lakes (12.8 kilometers).

Swimming in Medano Creek. When it is not dry (often the case in July and August), you can swim at the foot of the dunes in Medano Creek watercourse. Notable fact: sand formations create currents similar to waves in a sea.

This canyon of 3 m to 4 m wide and reaching 30 m of depth is located a few miles east of Page, in the Navajo reserve. 8 km length, it is not very visible from the surface of the plate (altitude 1300 m) and only two access points are opened to the tourists, only in guided tour. The guides practise all, in theory, of the similar prices. Some of them are directly on the parking of the site. Namely that the circuits in boat on the lake Powell make it possible to approach the canyon by inland waterway. But it is about a vision completely different from the site.

The most popular visit relates to Upper Antelope Canyon (Hasdestwazi or "rocky arch in spiral"). Once in the bowel, the circuit makes it possible to follow the gorge on one kilometer. Its very high walls, swept since millenia by the vents and water, form hollows and waves, where appear sculptures soft or pointed through which filter sun. The bottom is papered of a very soft sand. The best moment for the visit is at midday, when the sun is with the vertical.
With a few hundred meters, Lower Antelope Canyon (Tse' bighanilini, "the place where water runs through the rocks") is the second breach of access to the canyon. Longer and narrower, this area is also more steep and has being equipped by metal places of scales. The course is also very beautiful.