Making my way through 63 National Parks

It’s my school, my sanctuary, my religion. A place for solitude, thinking, and reflection. Welcomes all no matter one’s affiliation. Floating with turtles in rivers and lakes. Treading silently amongst birds and snakes. Rubbing shoulders with majestic giants. Perching atop a vista in silence.... Pushing past my physical discomfort. All the best views demand extra effort. Letting my microbiome take over. Better practice my five minute shower. Campfires alight against the Milky Way. Cacophony of crickets while I lay. Curious critters exploring my scent. Never leave my footwear outside the tent! Wonderland of findings like fossils, petroglyphs. Millions of years of life before we existed. What shall we thoughtfully leave behind that persists? -GW (National Parks, with <3)

I love love love National Parks.  Since I was introduced to them in my early 20s while interning in California, I’ve fallen deeply and unapologetically in love with the parks.  They are one of the most well-run institutions in the USA, and I'm not alone in this thinking.  The American people respect and cherish these parks, (as do the rest of the world,) no matter their political affiliation.  It seems everyone agrees that parks are sacred things that deserve protection and preservation for future generations, hands down.

Once I’m in a National Park, it feels like I'm in a different country.  It feels ideal, communal, intellectual.  Everyone follows the posted speed limits and other signages.  On the trails are families, seniors, students, nature lovers, and rarely anyone there who would make me feel uncomfortable being alone.  Potable water fountains exist everywhere, and resources are managed carefully to prevent waste and damage to the land.  There are placards at pullouts and vistas describing the science and/or history of whatever I’m observing.  I regularly bump into volunteers doing cleanup duty. I’m in awe of how people behave so well at these parks.  It seems to bring out the best in people. Or, maybe, the best people go there... 🤔

Once I got the groove on the park etiquette, safety, and culture, I determined to visit all of the National Parks in the USA.  Not to be confused with other National *** designations like National Monuments, National Forests, National Memorials, or National Historic Parks/Sites.  Although they are all worth visiting, I don't believe I'll be able to visit them all in my lifetime, so I decided to focus on National Parks only for my goal.

My progress

There are new National ***'s designated every year. Every administration seems bent on adding more to the list. Before 2019, there were 60 National Parks, and 3 have been added since, perhaps due to increased interest during Covid. So far, I’ve visited 36 of them. I have gone to Pinnacles NP and White Sands NP before they became National Parks, so now I will need to return to complete my parks ritual (explained in the "My park ritual" section).

It has taken me more than 15 years to hit 36 parks, with 1 or 2 new parks per year.  At this rate, it will take me another 10-15 years to complete the rest of them.  The most remote park I’ve been to was Dry Tortugas NP in Florida, and I’m proud to have made that happen (on that trip, I hit up Everglades and Biscayne as well).  That being said, the most remote parks are the American Samoa NP and Gates of the Arctic NP.  Both will take serious planning and time (which I don't currently have), especially since I would like to group parks on each trip, which increases the planning complexity.  So I’ve been chipping away at the other easier ones first.

By the way, I think the silliest NP is Gateway Arch NP, which seemed more fitting to be a National Monument or Historic Site, or just left alone. There is barely any hiking or nature. It was added in 2018. I did a quick search and it seems more people agree that this shouldn't be a National Park. Someone smart wrote an extensive legal exploration of what could have motivated its designation...

My trip-planning

The way I do parks is to choose dates slightly off-season, and a few months into the future.  I do a combination of lodging and camping for some variety of costs and experiences, and I find that rooms get booked much quicker than campsites (due to scarcity), so I make sure I get that sorted out first.  There is of course off-park lodging, but, generally, I don't particularly appreciate having to drive outside the park each night as that could take up to an hour each way, from my experience. Due to overcrowding, some parks now need a reservation at certain seasons just to drive into it, like Yosemite NP or Arches NP.  NPS.gov has all the necessary information about these things and more.  Often, I’m redirected to Recreation.gov to book lodgings and campsites.  

After I reserve the necessary things to get into and stay at the parks, I then book my flights and car rental.  It’s prudent to get a high-clearance (and ideally 4-wheel drive) SUV as a lot of great hiking spots in the parks require driving through miles of unpaved dirt roads.  Also, SUVs allow you to more comfortably camp in the car in a pinch if needed (I learned that you can camp on any BLM land for free, following certain rules around proximity to roads and starting campfires).  Finally, because I loathe packing for a trip as I can be indecisive, I have a packing list that I duplicate and modify as needed to reduce my stress, which covers the camping and hiking kits, clothing and toiletry items, and other project items. If you are curious about this, hit me up and I can share the list, but I will need to clean it up for general share.

My park ritual

There are many ways to enjoy an NP, mine is just one way to do it after honing it down after so many years. When I first get into a park, the first thing I do is take a photo of myself at a park entrance sign. There is typically one per entrance before the pay station.

I then stamp my park passport at the visitor center and get a pretty park brochure, which has the same design across all parks, browsing it while checking out the museum (if any). I then chat with the ranger at the visitor center for current conditions and hiking suggestions, then read the park newspaper and plan at least 1 moderate to strenuous hike (3-5 miles, preferably steep) a day, to get my heart pumping. I may do a longer hike (6-8 miles) if I stay at the park longer. I've never done backpacking at an NP, perhaps I can try that next time.

The rest of the time is spent checking the various pullouts on the park roads to learn about the particular view or location, taking photos, and making 4K videos for my Still Does channel (it’s my gift to the public).  I also make sure to eat at the park restaurant or lodge at least once to support the staff that work and live there, and to experience dining inside the park.  They usually have the most scenic or iconic locations. Sometimes, if I have excess time, I join ranger-guided tours to learn about something unique or deeper about the park.

My reflections

Parks are an excellent way to detach from civilization and introspect.  I often have the most interesting insights and perspectives from being far away from the hustle and bustle of modern life.  On my most recent trip to Big Bend NP, as I was hiking and reflecting on some recent events, I felt inspired to write poetry that I’ve only last done in high school.  So I came up with 2 poems that day, one of which is shared in the quote at the start of this article.

Later, when I returned home, I felt like a gate had opened and poetry ideas kept pouring out of me.  Poetry was the last thing I had in mind as a hobby or passion, but nature works in mysterious ways. I began writing a poem for each new post I wrote, such as this one about bouldering in midlife.

I hope I inspired you to go and explore the National Parks more, and may you also find peace, joy, and creativity in nature.