Things to see and do Parcs nationaux américains

This point of view rises in front of a sandy surface with warm shades.

It's a pouce in English, where you will also enjoy the recognition of a cowboy boot.

A mesa near Rain God Mesa. In Indian beliefs, the thunderbird, which means "thunderbird," was a kind of great eagle that produced thunder by the beat of its wings.

Mitchell Mesa is an imposing table stone block located next to the Three Sisters. After the signing of the 1868 treaty authorizing the Navajo to return to their lands, men came to search for silver mines in the Monument Valley area. This was the case with Ernest Mitchell and James Merrick who gave their names to two formations in the valley.

This imposing rock-type formation is located on the road leading to Artist Point.

This imposing or mesa is located north of the park across the border in Utah, on the left of the Scenic drive of Scenic Drive.

Visitor's Center is 34 km from the park entrance. On the way, you can stop to take advantage of this splendid view, which is close to 2 600 m above sea level. The look embrace a landscape spanning four states and on Shiprock, a mountain shaped mountain: 400 m high, it rises in the middle of the Navajo reserve.

A beautiful forest two hours'drive from Mesa Verde. For lovers of green and American-style holidays: fishing, promenade…

At 3,234 m high, Mount Baker dominates the sparkling waters of Puget Sound and amazes visitors with its snow-covered summit. Surrounded by glaciers, this ancient volcano has not been active since the end of the 19th century. It is one of the places on the planet where it snows the most. More than 30 m of snowfall had been recorded in 1998-99. A world record!

With its 38 slopes, it is a real paradise for ski and snowboard enthusiasts. There are also hundreds of kilometres of hiking trails. Mount Baker Hwy is a beautiful road that climbs to Artist Point, at an altitude of 1,530 m and reaches the main ski slopes. 38 ski slopes, 8 ski lifts and a 450 m wall are available for skiers.

On the road to Mt Rainier, from Tacoma, the Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is a unique reserve where visitors can observe wildlife in their surroundings. A 50-minute shuttle tour allows you to see wolves, grizzly bears, lynx, foxes, coyotes, etc. Also a video on the history of the site, a cabin where animal observation methods are explained, the trails discovered…

Longmire is 11 km from Nisqually, the southwest entrance of Mount Rainier National Park. After the establishment of the park in 1899, Longmire became its head office. Nowadays, there is a museum with exhibits on Mount Rainier, a service station, a grocery store and a hotel with a restaurant. Some sports equipment is rented there. There are excellent short or long walks from here. The road of Nisqually Entrance to Longmire is one of the most beautiful in the park.

From Nisqually Gate, to the southwest of the park, a road leads to Longmire and then to Paradise Valley, one of the most beautiful sites of Mount Rainier from which you discover pine forests and fields of wild flowers. Beyond Paradise, the road bypasses Reflection and Louise Lakes, two very beautiful mountain lakes in which Mount Rainier is directed, then reached Stevens Canyon dominated to the southwest by the silhouette of the Tatoosh Range.

After leaving Carillon ridge, we descend to the Chinook River, not far from the Silver Falls; these are only a few kilometres from Ohanpecosh visit Center; Then we cross the WA 123 which, northward, goes back the Chinook Valley to the Cayuse Pass (1 439 m).

From Cayuse Pass, this route joins the WA 410, also known as Mather Memorial Parkway, which flows into the White River valley, at the northeast boundary of the park towards Tacoma. On the road, there is a branch line that leads to White River Gate and Sunrise Point from a superb panorama on the Emmons glacier, the largest in the park.

Entering through the southwest entrance of Crater Lake, to the village of Crater Lake, you will follow OR 62 south. The landscape is superb, particularly in the autumn, when the trees have a thousand shades of red and orange.

The road runs along Upper Klamath Lake, one of the larger lakes of southern Oregon (48 mile long and 18 km wide). It is located in the heart of Klamath County, a region that has more than one hundred of lakes, rivers and mountains. A paradise for water sports, hiking and skiing.

Close to Roosevelt Lodge, this hot springs pool along the Yellowstone River signals the end of the Grand Canyon rapids. Modified géothermie by geothermal also inspired painter Moran. The imposing cliff of basalt columns across the river, facing from the panoramic point of view, is a remnant of an ancient lava lava lava flow that shaped largely the landscape of the park. These gorges and cliffs are protected habitat for many wildlife species, such as sheep, red-tailed falcon and osprey.

At a half mile walk, upstream of the parking area, large clouds of steam mark its location.

A large hot source is mixed in the Gardiner River, allowing swimming regardless of the surrounding temperature (permitted daily swimming only and in summer because in spring the water level is too high).

Gibbon Geyser Basin is a source zone from the north edge of Gibbon Meadows to Gibbon Canyon: We will see Gibbon Hill Geyser at the foot of Gibbon Hill (2,621 meters) and Artists Paint Pots at the foot of Paintpot Hill (2,455 meters). A bridge on the Gibbon River and a trail (2 hours) lead to the permanently active Monument Geyser. A little further away, Beryl Spring is one of the most beautiful sources of the park. The Gibbon Falls are beautiful 26 meter waterfalls.

At rest since 1888, this once most powerful source, once the most powerful in the park, launched a water column of 8 m thick at 60-90 meters high. The crater is filled today by a lake of deep blue, 120 meters long over 60 to 70 meters wide and whose shores rise up to 6 meters above the boiling water. The creaming crater creates over 15 m ³ of water per minute in the Firehole River.

West Thumb, South Disturbance Road from the south along the Lewis River meets the big Loop Road. Northeast of West Thumb Junction on the shore of the lake: several geysers, many hot springs colored by microscopic algae, the Thumb Paintpots and Fishing Cone, a crater of a source that stands on the lake waters. Craig Pass (2,518 meters) west, is located on the continental water divide: Little Isa Lake sends the waters from its source to the Pacific and to the Atlantic.

On the southern limits of the lake there are a large number of hot springs, some of which are boiling and others producing the most beautiful clay, resembling a pot of boiling that is projected to a height of 6 to 9 ¾ meters. Clay is white and pink and water seems unfathomable. In other places, pure sulfur is projected in abundance. At times, the soil trembles sharply and then produces an explosion resembling thunder. There are several hundred sources, some along the shoreline, others more indoors and others in the very lake, the size of which varies from mini fountain to wells of 20 ± meters in diameter and deep depth. The water, with pale violet color, is very clear, which makes it possible to discern small objects up to 15 meters below the surface. Another small group presents sources filled with a mud resembling thick paint, different colors ranging from pure white to nuanced shades of yellow, pink, red and violet. At certain times of the day, these sludge are projected to more than 4 meters.

From Lone Star Geyser to the Shoshone Geyser Basin at the western tip of Shoshone Lake, a vast area of hot springs where the Union Geyser is located. From its three craters - Northern Cone, Center Cone and Southern Cone - the Little Giant Geyser, the Lion Geyser and the Bronze Geyser are always sprung up. Shoshone Lake, surrounded by wooded mountains, is linked to Lewis Lake, located further southeast by the Lewis River Channel.

Shoshone Lake, the second largest lake in the park, is located at the beginning of Lewis River, southwest of West Thumb. Shoshone Lak, 61 ¾ meters deep, has an area of 3 ¾ 220 hectares and houses three species of fish such as lake trout, brown trout and chub of Utah. Shoshone Lake originally did not harbor fish due to the height of waterfalls on the Lewis River. Both trout were implanted there from 1890, and the chub of Utah was apparently introduced as bait for fishing. This great lake, a source of the Lewis River, flows to the Pacific Ocean through the Snake River Basin. This lake, the largest of the 48 states, is not accessible by road. Motorboats are prohibited.

Fishing Cone is a hot water source located in the West Thumb Geyser Basin. So hot that we could fish in the lake and cook his fish there at the end of the line, which made him famous. It is now banned because dangerous. A geyser sometimes spreads at 12 meters, which can burn the imprudently.

The upper and lower falls of Yellowstone are due to the erosion of the Yellowstone River flowing on progressively more tender rocks, less resistant. Upper Falls, 33 meters tall, are upstream of the Lower Falls. They can be admired from the Upper Falls Trail and Uncle Tom Trail. The Lower Falls, 94-meter high, can be seen from Lookout Point, Red Rock Point, Artist Point, the Lower Falls Trail, and various points on the southern shore trail. The flow may vary from 19 ¾ m ³/second in fall to 231 ¾ m ³/second, as much as the rainy season. A third fall is in the canyon between the Upper and Lower Falls. It can be seen from the south shore trail just east of Uncle Tom's Area.

The Lion group consists of four geysers: Lion, Lionne, Big Cub and Little Cub, all connected underground. Lion has the largest cone and the biggest eruptions. Active phases occur normally every day. The Lion Geyser eruptions last 1 to 7 ¾ minutes and are often preceded by a sudden jet of steam and deep rowing, hence the name Lion.

Although small, along the Firehole River, it has little wonders like the Excelsior Geyser or the Grand Prismatic Spring. Nearby is the beautiful Turquoise Pool, a clear turquoise water basin of 30 meters wide.

This vast geothermal business park can be visited on foot, along the track Fountain Paint Pots, and by car, along Firehole Lake Drive.

Twin Buttes dominate Lower Geyser Basin, together with geysers covering an area of over 30 mi ² and has some 700 hot springs. Le Fountain Paint Pot is a shimmering cauldron in yellow and red, from where a footpath leading to Morning Geyser, Fountain Geyser and Spasm Geyser.

This 26-meter waterfall plunges into a cliff, a vestige of the collapse of the great caldera in Yellowstone.

At mud sources in Mud Volcano and Black Dragons Caldron, there are disturbing lead bubbles of lead; Dragon Mouth is a steam source that tempers brightly and spews.

East view on Sulphur hills, a region of hot springs and fumaroles whose craters have deposited large amounts of sulphur.

Harlequin Lake is located approximately 2.5 km west of Madison Campground and Madison Junction. The trail leads to a quiet and relaxing lake. It gently climbs through a forest to reach the southern edge of the lake. Lilies cover much of its surface, often frequented by many birds. On the back, enjoy the panoramic view of Brother Mountains.

The trail starts from Dunraven Pass. This is the most popular hike in the park. From the very beginning, you will enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. You cross reputed openings for their abundant fauna, sometimes sheep or even bears. The road then sinks through the forest and then the grasslands, approaching rocky outcrops. You will finally join one of the three observation towers of the park fire, built at the top of the mountain. The point of view is impregnable on a large part of the park that takes place at the bottom of the sights of the chain of Absaroka, and even farther away, those of the Grand Teton National Park.

Possibility to start this hike near Mammoth Terrace or near the old Gardiner Road. A pleasant trail between the hydrothermal terraces climbing on the hill goes beyond a pond and gives you the opportunity to observe wildlife: elk, deer, birds, beavers, sometimes bears.

The loop connects two small lakes along the south shore of the Grand Canyon. A relatively flat trail that winds through the meadows and forests to the lake to the beautiful emerald color of Clear Lake. Then far away Lake Ribbon lets you guess under the lilies that cover it.

The Fairy Falls Trail is located on the Grand Loop Road between Midway Geyser Basin and Old Poli. The trail crosses the Firehole River on the old goods road before following the Midway Geyer basin. A pleasant walk through the pine trees to the delicate waterfall of Fairy Falls. Continue the walk to the Imperial Geyser and come back on your steps.

The Overhang Cliff is a 46 meter high lava wall, slightly overhanging. Below the road, in the Yellowstone Canyon, stands The Needle, a 79 meter basalt needle.

A lateral road (13 km) leads towards Mount Washburn (3,122 meters), which offers a beautiful panorama of most of the park: Yellowstone Lake, Absaroka Range, Grand Teton and Gallatin Range.

Southwest of Yellowstone Lake is the Red Mountains chain with Factory Hill (2,900 meters), Mount Sheridan (3,142 meters) and Mount Hancock (3,113 meters).