Welcome!

We are taking our teens to Yellowstone this summer. We thought we would fly into Rapids City, see the badlands and then drive to West Yellowstone, stopping at devils tower on the way. My concern is 8 hours in a car from devils tower, as I suffer from lower back pain. Is it worth skipping the badlands to just fly into west Yellowstone area,to ensure I can do the hiking there? Or is there another way to break up the drive that limits that 8 hour stretch? Cody was an option, but that still gives a 6 hour stretch in a rental car that I’m not used to. We’ve never been out West at all, so we don’t know what we are missing

I uploaded this sketch several weeks ago but wanted to touch it up by adding trees into toe foreground to give a better sense of how large these formations are.

I'm planning my first-ever road trip and could use some experienced advice. I'm torn between two potential routes:

Route 1: California to Washington

• Yosemite National Park
• hitting some NP in Oregon
• Ending at Mount Rainier
• Ideally thinking about doing this in the fall

Route 2: Wyoming to Canadian Rockies

• Grand Teton National Park
• Glacier National Park in Montana
• Banff National Park
• Ending in Jasper National Park

I'm a road trip newbie and have about two weeks to travel. Looking for guidance on:

• Which route is more doable for a first-time traveler?
• Best time of year to do each route
• Realistic trip duration
• Must-see spots
• Driving tips for beginners
• Camping vs. hotels
• Budget considerations
• Essential gear and apps for road trips

What would experienced road trippers recommend?

I love the parks. I also suffer from suicidal depression in my daily life. The times I spend in parks are the calmest and happiest of my life. They give me hope. My fiancée and I intend to get married next spring, and we’re thinking about Joshua Tree (CA) as the possible destination. We’re thinking just a small group of our friends/partners, a total of 10 people.

I have heard of people getting married at state parks but never in a national park. I don’t know if this is a state vs federal government thing. Plus, this would be a lesbian wedding so I don’t know how what other regulations may impact us.

If it is indeed possible, does anyone know how to go about reserving space, getting the permits, etc. Any help or pointers would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Edit: thank you all so much for your ideas, tips, resource links and suggestions everybody! This is one of my favorite subs for a reason! You’re the very best! ♥️

Hello, community! I often hike alone and always feel comfortable doing so, but with wolves reappearing in some parks, I’ve been reflecting on what that means for solo hikers. I’m thrilled about their return, but I wonder if there’s anything specific I should keep in mind if/when encountering larger pack animals.

For context, I’m a petite-tall woman and have years of experience hiking solo in areas with bears, coyotes, and mountain lions, so I’m very comfortable in wilderness settings. I typically hike from dawn to dusk and prioritize preparation and awareness.

Quick note on feedback: I’m not looking for fear-based responses or suggestions to stop hiking alone—that won’t change! Just seeking practical advice or insights on coexisting with wolves while continuing to enjoy the outdoors.

https://youtu.be/22gPo0KQFjA?si=cnvgf9cZ4cxcI7W4

Thanks to some decently tragic circumstances, my family (9 y/o and 7 y/o) need to get TF out of dodge rather last minutes - roughly the 21st-23rd through the new year. We have the SW companion pass and can fly rom Baltimore to, well, lots of places in the southwest (PHX, Vegas, Reno, Denver, Albuquerque, pretty much all major CA airports, etc etc.). We have a 4th grader, so we can get into all NPs for free. I'm just beginning my NP research and am overwhelmed! We're outdoorsy-ish - not serious hikers per se but would love to be out in nature - we camp at home in a pop up, so renting an RV and driving around could be cool. I'd also love to expose the kids to indigenous culture where possible. Where would you recommend we go for NP first timers to avoid crowds and weather we may not be prepared for? We can get hotels where needed -I'm big into points and miles and have IHG, Hyatt and similar points i can burn. We've never done Vegas, but maybe a few nights on our way in or out would be interesting with them? No clue. I've heard Death Valley is amazing in December and largely empty. Any thoughts/hail mary ideas welcome!

How much time do you need to really enjoy Acadia? Love to hike and looking for some breathtaking views. Will I find that here? How cold is it in September?

From my trip last year.

I'm currently thinking of traveling from Fargo north Dakota to a park out west around December 27th to 31st. I already been to Teddy Roosevelt national Park, black hills, and yellow stone. Distance isn't a problem but I'm looking more towards mountains and hilly terrain. Any suggestions?

Hey all! My partner and I are planning a trip to the Southeast parks next fall and I'm hoping to get some feedback because I think I have a decent loop planned but I'm really not sure about the logistics of the Great Smoky Mountains part or if we're spending too much time in Congaree. Here's what we have:

Day 1--Fly to DC, drive to VA, catch up with family outside Shenandoah

Day 2--Sheandoah

Day 3--Drive Shenandoah's Skyline Drive, then 3 hrs drive to New River Gorge, explore some of New River Gorge if time

Day 4--Explore more of New River Gorge if needed, drive 5.5 hrs to Congaree

Day 5--Explore Congaree, then drive 3 hrs to Asheville

Day 6--Exlpore GSMNP but stay on the TN side

Day 7--GSMNP

Day 8--GSMNP but end the day in Asheville again

Day 9--Drive the Blue Ridge Pkwy back to VA

Day 10--Fly home

So it seems a little long to me, like I should be able to shave a day off somehow. Also the original plan was to go in October but yesterday someone told us September would be better because October will be too rainy and the best foliage will be gone.

If the whole Ocmulgee Mounds thing ends up going through I honestly might scrap the Congaree portion and save that for another trip where we can tack those two together but who knows if that will actually happen.