Lonely Planet Kids - Americas National Parks (Lonely Planet Kids)

Contents

Introduction

Safety
& Responsibility

Acadia

American Samoa

Arches

Badlands

Big Bend

Biscayne

Black Canyon of
the Gunnison

Bryce Canyon

Canyonlands

Capitol Reef

Carlsbad Caverns

Channel Islands

Congaree

Crater Lake

Cuyahoga Valley

Death Valley

Denali

Dry Tortugas

Everglades

Gates of the Arctic

Gateway Arch

Glacier

Glacier Bay

Grand Canyon

Grand Teton

Great Basin

Great Sand Dunes

Great Smoky
Mountains

Guadalupe
Mountains

Haleakala

Hawaii Volcanoes

Hot Springs

Isle Royale

Joshua Tree

Katmai

Kenai Fjords

Kings Canyon

Kobuk Valley

Lake Clark

Lassen Volcanic

Mammoth Cave

Mesa Verde

Mt Rainier

North Cascades

Olympic

Petrified Forest

Pinnacles

Redwood

Rocky Mountain

Saguaro

Sequoia

Shenandoah

Theodore Roosevelt

Virgin Islands

Voyageurs

Wind Cave

Wrangell-St Elias

Yellowstone

Yosemite

Zion

Glossary

INTRODUCTION

E veryone is a little bit wild
including you. Whether you live
in a big city or a tiny suburb or
somewhere in between, youve probably
splashed in puddles after your parents told
you not to, or stared out your classroom
window at a squirrel bouncing along a
power line. I bet youve howled at the
moon once or twice when no one was
around. If youve ever traveled to a national
park, you know that America is a little bit
wild, too. In fact, its a lot wild.

Americas national parks are bursting
with gasp-worthy wonders: the worlds
largest tree, with branches that stretch
almost 400 feet into the sky; the planets
grandest canyon, whose gold-and-red cliffs
plummet 6,000 feet down; a crystal-clear
lake that is deep enough to swallow the
Empire State Building. Each one is unique,
but together, these world-famous parks
tell a story of wilderness, adventure, and
explorationa tale that is woven into
all of nature. President Woodrow Wilson
created the National Park Service (NPS)
on August 25, 1916, but the fight to protect
and preserve the countrys most amazing
wild spaces began around 1860. Since then,
millions of people from all over the world
have walked the paths of all 60 parks in
the NPS. Before that (and still today), Native
American tribes like the Crow and the
Cheyenne hunted bison in the shadows of

sleeping volcanoes. Presidents, explorers,
average citizens, scientists, and young
people like you have camped in NPSs
forests and fields, under the same blanket
of stars. Now, its your turn!

Whether youre lucky enough to have
a park on your doorstep or need to
take a car, bus, train, or plane to visit
one, we hope that this guide transports
you to the wolf-howling, water-rushing,
heart-racing, lava-exploding, incredibly
exciting and unbelievably real world of
Americas national parks. Let the photos
of rocky spires and roaring bears fill your
daydreams. Close your eyes and imagine
a brisk mountain wind or the heat of a
crackling campfire on your face. The facts
in these pages are only the beginning of
what you will discover when you study our
native wilderness. Theres only one rule for
enjoying this bookhave a blast!

Well, what are you
waiting for?! Turn
the page already. An
adventure is waiting
for you!

Safety & Responsibility

Visiting a national park can be the experience of a lifetime,
but not if you damage the park or get hurt. Luckily, we have a strategy for
keeping you safe and happy in Americas wildlands: follow the S.T.A.R.S.

S tick to the path. While it may seem fun to wander into
the forest or explore on your own, dont. There are many dangers
hiding just off the walking trail. Loose rocks. Steep cliffs. Boiling hot
springs. Yikes! Rangers work hard to keep paths safe so you can enjoy
wild nature without getting lost or injured.

T ake in, take out. Sadly, many people leave trash behind in
parks. Litter not only looks uglyit can also harm wildlife. Please
pick up after yourself. This is way more important than cleaning
your room!

A dmire, but dont touch. Dont remove natural objects
(sticks, stones, or artifacts) from the park. You dont like it when
people mess with your stuff, right?

R espect wildlife. These animals are called wild for a
reasonthey are not pets. Never approach an animal. Instead,
use a camera or binoculars to get a better view. Following this
guideline will keep you and the animals safe and healthy.

S tay hydrated. Exploring a national park is hard work! Drink
lots of water and wear plenty of sunscreen. This is extra-important
if you are visiting a park in extremely hot or cold temperatures.

Picture this:

Y our feet are dangling over a giant
granite boulder that sits near the edge
of a cliff. The sounds of water crashing
against rocks gets louder around you, filling
the air like music. As the sun rises, the dark sky
blazes with a streak of red, then turns pink and
orange and purple, until all the colors seep
over the horizon as quickly as sherbet on a
summer day. Far below, you watch the black
waves grow blue. Welcome to Cadillac Mountain in
Acadia National Park on the coast of Maine, the first place where
the sun rises in the United States from October to March.

But if youd rather not wake up at the crack of dawn, theres
still plenty to do in Acadiaactivities that you might not expect
in a national park. For example, if you want to take a break from
the rugged outdoors, you can drink tea on the rolling green
lawns of Jordan Pond House. Or perhaps youd like a horse
drawn carriage ride instead? Well, youre in luck: the park has
45 miles of carriage-friendly roads dotted with fancy
cottages and cozy inns. Over 100 years ago, Acadia drew
the richest people in America to its rocky shores, and though the
land became a national park in 1919, hints of their lavish lifestyle
remain to this day.

Main images: Park coastline (below); cliffs in Acadia National Park
(opposite). Snapshots from top: Fiery sunrise; one of the most
photographed bridges in Acadia National Park.

THINGS to SEE

Peregrine Falcons: Diving at
speeds of over 200 miles per hour,
this falcon species clocks in as the
fastest animal on the planet. Find
them nesting in the park during
springtime.

Tide Pools: Colorful starfish, crabby
crustaceans, and delicate sponges
lounge in the pools of seawater
that speckle Acadias shoreline.
Its like wildlife soup!

THINGS to DO

Mountain Summiting: If you
cant hike to the top of Cadillac
Mountain, dont worryyou can
drive the 3.5-mile road to the top.
But bundle up! Its cold and windy
up there!