Gillaspia - Hidden Gems of the Western United States

HIDDEN GEMS

of the Western United States

Daniel Gillaspia

Published by National Parks and More
www.NationalParksandmore.com
@NatParksandmore
Copyright Daniel Gillaspia, 2015
Cover image by Daniel Gillaspia
Thumbnail images on cover (from left to right): Achint Thomas, Eddie Lluisma, Dave Weber, Dirk Dallas, and Dean Dubois
Ebook Formatting by
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. All photos are copyrighted and may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without express permission from the respective photographer.

Get inspired to hit the road and discover the America you never knew existed.

Journey from the Texas Hill Country through the dry deserts of the Southwest and discover emerald pools in hidden river canyons, ancient ruins so big they once rivaled the Coliseum in Rome, and endless acres of otherworldly badlands. Head west through Nevada and California, uncovering twisting Martian-duplicating landscapes, a hidden beach with purple sands, blazing waters of a firefall, and rolling hillsides blanketed with brilliant wildflowers.

Travel through the Pacific Northwest and trace early pioneer landmarks, stand among the skeletal remains of what was once the largest waterfall in the world, encounter a rolling masterpiece of red and yellow hillsides, and explore rocky shores home to some of the most violent displays of raw Pacific Ocean power. After youve experienced the thrills of the Pacific, head back east toward the Rockies and find rocks that sing, disappearing rivers, and an unknown valley of cotton-candy-colored cliffs.

These are only a fraction of the sites what youll come across in this book that covers over hidden gems found in the western United States. Throughout this entire book, youll find beautiful photographs brilliantly showcasing these stunning destinations and fascinating insights into the geology, cultures, and environments of these places that will allow you to appreciate all the spectacular sights upon your arrival.

Every entry also includes essential information, such as hours, admission prices, and pet policies, not to mention many specific tips that have been gleaned from hundreds of hours of research and personal experiences. Directions and big picture maps to each place are also provided as are distances and estimated travel times to nearby attractions and major cities that make planning your trips much more efficient.

Not only will you be helping yourself find out all the need-to-know info on these places but youll also be benefiting a tremendous cause with your purchase of this book as 25% of the profits from sales of this e-book will be donated to the National Park Foundation to benefit the Ticket to Ride Program. Its a program that focuses on helping children gain access to national parks with the understanding that exposing them to the beauty of these parks is vital for the protection of these lands in the future.

DEDICATION

To the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives so that others can enjoy the freedoms found across the beautiful lands of the United States of America.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book would not have been possible without the contributions from the many exceptional photographers whose work is featured throughout this book. These photographers come from all over the United States and from many different countries across the globe. Behind many of these amazing images are great stories of exploration, relentless efforts and patience, and years of honing skills to perfect techniques of capturing the magic of these places in a single shot. Their art is nothing short of brilliant and I encourage every reader to look more into the works of these talented photographers and to support them in their endeavors.

Id also like to thank the National Park Service and Foundation, the Bureau of Land Management, the United Sates Forest Service, the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Geological Survey, and all other federal, state, and municipal park and recreation services for putting together superb data and content that greatly aided in the research of this book. In addition, Id like to thank all of the individual park rangers, park officials, game wardens, geologists, scientists, historians, all of their assistants, and everyone else who assisted with my research and made contributions to the content in this book.

And of course, a very special thanks to my family and friends and to my partner, Brad, for all the unwavering love and support thats been vital to making this book a reality.

INTRODUCTION

I. What is in this book?

Over 130 spectacular hidden gems

• Hidden gems, for purposes of this book, are those destinations often overlooked by the average traveler or out-of-state tourist. Many of these sites are national parks, national monuments, state parks, and various other types of preserves or recreation areas. These spectacular hidden gems include deserts, canyons, gorges, ruins, volcanoes, waterfalls, extraterrestrial sighting towns, mountains, fossil sites, bridges, badlands, caverns, beaches, reefs, natural springs, forests, rivers, lakes, and tons of otherworldly rock formations.
• Keep in mind that, just because they are unknown to the majority of outsiders, many locals and avid outdoors enthusiasts still frequent these places, and so some gems can still get quite crowded during peak seasons and on weekends. Where crowds can sometimes be an issue, it will be noted, and recommendations will be offered as to when to visit to beat the crowds. Some destinations will also have a Consider Visiting section that briefly showcases a nearby or similar site that is also worth your time.

Breathtaking photographs from highly skilled photographers

• This book contains brilliant photographs that showcase the beauty of these places, and were selected to inspire you to get out and visit them. The photographers who contributed to this book are highly skilled and come from all different corners of the globe. I encourage readers to check out their work by following the links to their personal websites and photo streams for more amazing images.

Fascinating geologic, cultural, and environmental content along with the essential information

• This book is not designed to be a comprehensive guidebook of these hidden gems where every single trail, activity, bathroom location, etc. is listed. To the contrary, this book provides readers with more of a summarized look at these amazing places. Youll get various doses of geology, history, culture, and environment with an emphasis on fascinating facts and details about these places that will allow you to appreciate each when you visit. And of course enough facts and tips are supplied to help you become well informed on all the attractions that can be found at the given destination.
• The essential information found in each entry includes admission fees, hours, pet policies, directions, distances, estimated driving time to nearby destinations, and plenty of specific tips that will make your trip easier. In addition, many entries include vital information of when to take special precautions to not damage the fragile environments found in many of these sites. Where such warnings are found, do your absolute best to preserve these natural settings and as always make sure not to leave a trace as you venture to the many viewpoints, trails, and wilderness areas found in this book.