Things to see and do Parcs nationaux américains

This massive grey rocky outcrop stands far away from the panoramic road of the park and other rocks. High of 475 metres, it is a volcanic formation of original. It is easily visible from the US 163, between Kayenta and park entrance of Monument Valley.

Its name comes from its impressive depth. The distance to which the objects are visible in its abysses is truly amazing. The tone overseas blue of its deep transparency under the light of the sun and its walls similar to coral in formation offer a rare and magical spectacle.

Le Black Sand Basin forms a plain with countless petrified trees, particularly beautiful. L'Emerald Pool, sparkling and green, in which grow coloración algae.

Find out more about the programs and activities organized by the rangers during your visit.

A sandy path takes you to the foot of two large arches that join in a point.

This Visitor Center brings together numerous exhibitions. Mandatory stop for some guided tours (Cliff Palace, Balcony House and Long House).

Park your car in the small parking lot to walk the path to the Crystal Forest. It offers one of the largest concentrations of petrified wood in the park. The circuit runs a loop of less than 1 mile. About 2 miles to the north, on the Petrified Forest Road, is another impressive forest of petrified trunks, the Jasper Forest.

Mammoth's hot springs are the main attraction of the district. Their characteristics are very different from other thermal zones present in the park. Large deposits of travertine (calcium carbonate) give a wide variety of shapes, always spectacular and sometimes magnificent. This décor is constantly evolving, flows and positions from sources that are constantly varying. Don't miss the Minerva Terrace, one of the nicest with its monumental marches with beautiful white colours. Later, the Jupiter Terrace, such impressive size but with complex colours and irregular forms. Canary Spring owes its name to its yellow colour due to the presence of specific sulfur and bacteria. Finally, the White Elephant suggests the back of a huge white elephant.

It is a huge rock in equilibrium on the edge of the road, the remains of a very old ark.

Rocky Mountains National Park offers a unique visitor experience. With its 415 square miles (265,807 acres) of mountain scenery, the park offers a wide variety of environments, from the meadows of the mountain life zone to sparkling alpine lakes and towering peaks. Hiking enthusiasts will be delighted to discover over 300 miles of trails, while nature lovers will be able to observe incredible wildlife. It's important to note that timed entry permits are required during certain hours of the day, so booking in advance is recommended. In addition, park entrance fees vary according to the options chosen. Weather conditions can vary considerably in the park, so it's advisable to check the forecast before setting off. Finally, to get around the park, shuttles and public transport are available.

Atlatl Rock is one of the first outstanding formations from the west entrance of the park. Atlatl was a primitive weapon of hunting designed to propel arrows. The huge rock mass that is circumvented by a loop of approximately 2 miles is covered with 4 000-year-old petroglyphs. Some scenes represent this ancestor of the bow that gave his name to the place. A campsite of 43 pitches is located at the foot of Atlatl Rock.

A 4 hectare hike in an incredible cactus "garden" in the middle of the Joshua Tree desert. Here grows the Teddy bear cholla, a cactus with a fluffy teddy bear look, hence its name - be careful, in reality, its spines are very sharp! From January to May, many species of cactus in this area flower, giving the desert an unreal and colourful face. Beware of children on these cactus-lined trails!

Fiery Furnace, the "Burning Furnace", is a complex labyrinth with high sandstone edges where it is very easy to get lost. Twice a day the Rangers organize a guided tour. This 3-hour popular hike sometimes requires hands help to sneak into narrow holes or narrow cornices. He's more sure to take a ticket two days in advance at visitor center.

An agglomerate of rocks tight against each other sculpts the silhouette of a camel.

Like an open window on the north of the valley flanked by Elephant Butte and Cly Butte, North Window offers a privileged view of East Mitten Butte. Note that you have to walk about five minutes on a road not accessible to cars to reach this point of view.

These impressive geological formations, with their colour gradients, owe their name to their similarity to the Amerindian tipis. They have been forged over thousands of years, with floods and strong gales. They are made of layers of sandstone and clay. We drive along the Petrified Forest Road to the Tepees.

North of Vancouver, the WA 503 road leads to the edge of this forest, one of the oldest in the United States and the largest wild blueberry field in the world! It surrounds Mount St. Helens, so you will have to cross it to visit it. Follow WA Highway 504 to Johnston Ridge Observatory, you're there! The 360° (free) view of the horseshoe crater of the St. Helens volcano is unforgettable and spectacular from the peak reached by a small path from the esplanade.

The eruption of the Grand Geyser, the largest foreseeable geyser in the world, takes place every 7 to 3 hours. Classic geyser fountain, a gigantic water column springs from a large basin into powerful gusts. The rash lasts on average from 9 to 12 minutes and consists of one to four gusts reaching sometimes 60 ¾ meters.

To view the lava flow, or sink lava, you must park and walk the marked trail on foot. We walk on a stretch of hardening lava, quite impressive. At the end, on the right, there is a huge cloud of smoke caused by the flow of lava from puuoo into the ocean. Most of the time you can see only the cloud and no lava. You must come before sunrise or at night to distinguish color from lava. In any case, and even if it's very tempting, you should never walk away from marked trails! The soil is unstable and boiling: it was fatal to many curious imprudent. Finally, before leaving, it is recommended to call the park standard to know exactly where the lava sink is: volcano is active and changes in trajectory occur daily. It's a question of luck, actually… if ever, when you stay on Big Island, you hear that the casting is particularly easy to observe, because we know that generally enough, you have to go to the park soon because it may not last.

Bypassing the west of Olympic National Park, we arrive in this beautiful rainforest (virgin forest). At the beginning of the H Rain Forest Visitor Center, many trails go to the discovery of the forest. A small 1,2 km loop trail, the Hall of Mosses, allows to discover the magic of the places: trees like désarticulés puppets seem to be guided by the passage into a humid environment in the green mile where an ice stream flows. You can easily imagine a world of fées bells in the surroundings. The Roosevelt elk lives in that part of the park where Spruce Nature Trail passes (2 km). The H River Trail (27 km) leads to the Blue Glacier and Mont Olympus.

The dams of Elwha and Glines Canyon were built in 1913 and 1927 without the development of a passage for fish, as required by law. Since then, thousands of salmon could no longer reach the Elwha Valley. In 1992, the United States Congress passed a law ordering the destruction of these dams. In doing so, Lake Aldwell disappeared in 2012 and Lake Mills in 2014. This is the largest project of this kind in the history of the United States. The goal? Ensure that the five species of Pacific salmon return to the Olympic National Park in Droves to reproduce. The landscapes of the Elwha River have changed dramatically in recent years. The national park teams revégétalisé the sédimenteuses areas left empty by the missing lakes.

There are many pleasant walks along the Elwha river. Also see, the Madison Falls, a pretty waterfall 5 minutes walk from the parking lot.

If you like mahogany, you will be served. The track 0.5 miles (800m) allows you to enter a grove of these trees and admire the largest specimens of lively Mahogany trees in the North of America. Around the grove, you will see a few palm trees, the fig trees but also of orchids. The bosquet is quite cold and humid. As for fauna, night hunting enliven the place at night, and the come day, owls, wild cats and raccoons fall asleep in their habitat. The track is wheelchair-accessible.