North Cascades National Park is comprised of some of the wildest areas in the nation and its rugged mountains provide perfect habitat for a variety of wildlife, especially large mammals such as black and grizzly bear, mountain lion, gray wolf, elk, moose, mountain goat, and bighorn sheep. A trip through the park often reveals at least some of these critters. The North Cascades Highway is closed in the winter due to avalanches—and its spring opening depends upon the length of time it takes Washington’s DOT crews to clear the snow—so you’d best check on road conditions if planning a trip before June 1.
The main attraction at Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park is, of course, the vast array of ancient logs and slabs of petrified wood scattered across the park.
For more information: https://www.nps.gov/noca 360-854-7200
Petrified Forest Drive, Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona Grand Canyon may be the king of Arizona national parks, but astute visitors to the state will find some equally fantastic natural wonders— minus the overwhelming crowds—at Petrified Forest National Park. With an entrance directly off Interstate 40 just a few miles east of Holbrook, park access is a cinch. Within minutes you’ll be poking along Petrified Forest Road, a 28-mile scenic drive that offers literally dozens of stops and overlooks where you can take in many of the park’s most notable landmarks. Without stopping, the drive takes little more than an hour, but you could easily spend a day here. Some of the best stops include the Painted Desert Rim Trail, where a short walk leads to a historic building constructed of (what else?) petrified wood, and Tiponi Point, where there’s an arresting view of the park’s distinctive, colorfully striated topography. The main attraction here, of course, is the array of ancient logs and slabs of petrified wood
Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park.
scattered everywhere across the park. Dating back as long as 200 million years, these logs still retain their original tree rings, but closer inspection reveals they’ve been transformed into glistening quartz crystals colored by minerals such as iron and manganese. The place is a geologist’s dreamland. Petrified Forest is one of the most pet-friendly parks in the country. Bring your leashed pet anyplace you are allowed to go except inside buildings. So, you can take Spot out on a trail—or even camp overnight with him. Visitor facilities include a bookstore, gift shop, convenience store, gas station, and a grab-and- go diner.
For more information: https://www.nps.gov/pefo 928-524-6228
EIGHT GREAT NATIONAL PARK SCENIC DRIVE
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE SPRING 2023 | 18
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