Phil Schermeister - National Geographics guide to the state parks of the United States

National Geographic Guide to National Parks of the United States, 8th ed.

George Fuller, William R. Gray, Robert Earle Howells, Kathryn Knorovsky, Charles Kulander, Rachael Jackson Moss, Daniel A. Nelson, Edward Readicker-Henderson, Jenna Schnuer, Jeremy Schmidt, Mel White, Joe Yogerst
Authors

Published by the National Geographic Society

Gary E. Knell, President and Chief Executive Officer

John M. Fahey, Chairman of the Board

Declan Moore, Chief Media Officer

Chris Johns, Chief Content Officer

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eBook ISBN: 978-1-4262-1751-7
Eight Edition Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4262-1651-0

v3.1

Wildflowers in Denali National Park

National Parks | Contents

Yosemite Falls at Yosemite National Park

Introduction

N eed on occasion to get away from it all? Then this might be the book for you. Flip and youll discover that the fantastically eroded slickrock solitudes of Utahs Capitol Reef National Park are so remote that the nearest traffic light is 78 miles away.

And if thats too close, turn : Deep within the rugged wilderness of Californias Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks there is a spot that is farther from a road than any other place in the lower 48 states.

Theres simply no better getaway in the United States than a visit to one of the 59 national scenic parksranging from Alaska to the Virgin Islands, from Maine to American Samoaprofiled in this all-new eighth edition of our enduring classic. Exceptionally informative and refreshingly candid, this volume is the handbook to the crown jewels in our far-flung network of protected places.

This guide also draws upon a very deep legacy between National Geographic and the national parks. These two have been intertwined since 1915, when our pioneering editor Gilbert H. Grosvenor, on a two-week pack trip to Californias Sierra Nevada, first sat spellbound beneath giant sequoias. There and then he determined to enlist this Society in the crusade to protect and preserve such marvels. He dedicated an entire issue of National Geographic magazineApril 1916s Land of the Bestto showcasing the glories of our natural heritage, placing a copy in each congressmans hand. Only a few months later, on August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act creating the National Park Service.

Over the years National Geographic has helped establish, preserve, or restore Sequoia, Katmai, Carlsbad Caverns, Shenandoah, Mesa Verde, and Redwood National Parksall of which appear in the following pages. It has also publicized the parks through at least 500 books, articles, and maps, not to mention dozens of television documentaries, online content, and our award-winning National Parks app.

John M. Fahey, Jr.
Chairman of the Board, National Geographic Society Commissioner, National Parks Second Century Commission

USING THIS GUIDE

National Geographics Guide to National Parks of the United States is designed as a travel planner to help you choose among the 59 scenic national parks within the National Park System. All of the parks offer fun, adventure, and splendor; your only decision is which oneor onesto visit. What you want to experience will help guide your decisions.