We have currently hiked 37 of the 63 main units of the National Park System. While we have visited other National Historic Sites, Military Parks, Preserves, and National Monuments, as well as National Forests and state parks, our podcast is centered around the hiking trails of the 63 National Parks.
Below, you will find the parks we have visited in an alphabetical list. Each park on the page has links to the episodes about it’s hiking trails, images from our travels, a link to the main NPS page for that particular park, and a Native Land Acknowledgment, denoting the original peoples of these spaces.
You can scroll through the parks or use the buttons below to bring you to a specific alphabetical range of parks found on this page:
PARKS A-F
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
Season 1 and Season 3 Park
Featured in Episode 21, Episode 22, Episode 23, Episode 53, Episode 54, Episode 55, Episode 56, and Episode 57
As New England's only National Park, Acadia is a wonderful representation of what Maine has to offer. Nestled along the rocky coast, Acadia is contained on Mt. Desert Island and the Schoodic Peninsula (5% of the park is here). Along with the breathtaking shore-break, the park features a variety of lakes, ponds, mountains and peaks. The park features the highest point on the North Atlantic seaboard, Cadillac Mountain, which can be reached by foot or by car.
Dusty and Mike first visited Acadia National Park in the summer of 2018. Their second trip took them to the park in the summer of 2020 along with some other sites in New England like Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont and White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. This trip took them to less popular but no less beautiful areas of the park like the Schoodic Peninsula and Western Mt. Desert Island.
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Click to learn more about Acadia National Park.
Acadia National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Wabanaki, Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, and Abenaki people.
ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
Season 1 Park
Featured in Episode 13 and Episode 14
Quite possibly the most literally named National Park, Arches does not disappoint. Located in southeastern Utah, the park is situated on top of a giant Mesa. While Arches does have a considerable backcountry, most visitors stick to the park road to enjoy these geological marvels. While many of these sites can be viewed from the car or after a short walk, there are close to dozen arches that you must hike to in order to see.
Dusty and Mike made their trip to this land of the lost in the spring of 2017. This park includes Mike’s favorite hike, The Devil’s Garden.
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Click to learn more about Arches National Park.
Arches National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Ute people.
BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK
Season 5 Park
Featured in Episode 95, Episode 96, and Episode 97
Badlands National Park has a feeling of loneliness and desolation, but in that there is a great beauty. The rock formations which tower above in gnarled spectacles give way to open vistas leaving you wondering where in the world you might be. While there is beauty in this desolation the landscape once played host to a giant shallow inland sea, its only remnants are in the plentiful fossils to be discovered within the parkland and the dead ocean floor which you now hike across.
Dusty and Mike visited Badlands National Park in the summer of 2021 as a part of a much longer five week road trip. During their day within the park they hiked the trails, were awed by the desolate beauty of the badlands, and learned a great deal about fossils.
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Click to learn more about Badlands National Park.
Badlands National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Cheyenne, Ochethi Sakowin, and Mnicoujou people.
BIG BEND
Season 6 Park
Featured in Episode 105, Episode 106, Episode 107, Episode 108, Episode 109, and Episode 110
A park in isolation, as described by the National Park Service, Big Bend National Park takes a little effort to get to. But by no means is it the most isolated park in the park system or the most difficult to get to, but for some reason this jewel on the Rio Grande is not as visited as some of the other parks in the southwest. From incredible desert to a mountain range contained within the boundaries of the park to dinosaurs to wonderful hikes, Big Bend is truly a park that offers more than meets the eye.
Dusty and Mike visited Big Bend National Park in the spring of 2023. Long described to us as a “sleeper park,” it’s a mystery to us why more people don’t visit.
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Click to learn more about Big Bend National Park.
Big Bend National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Jumanos, Coahuiltecan, Mescalero Apache, Lipan Apache, and Chisos people.
BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON
Season 2 Park
Featured in Episode 36, Episode 37, and Episode 38
Getting its name from the extreme steepness of the canyon walls which leave many areas shrouded in darkness, Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a canyon set apart. Established in 1933 as a National Monument and made a National Park later in 1999, the canyon offers a variety of activities for it’s visitors. From driving the scenic South Rim Road which allows for a variety of panoramic stops, to hiking the areas of the Northern Rim (which is closed in the Winter), to traversing one of several unmaintained wilderness routes to the Gunnison River, traveling a treacherous path the entire way, there is so much to do at this Colorado canyon.
Dusty and Mike visited Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in the spring of 2019 while on a larger road trip that included Rocky Mountain National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, and Great Sand Dunes National Park.
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Click to learn more about Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Ute people.
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Season 1 Park
Featured in Episode 3 and Episode 4
Around every corner, there is something new to discover at Bryce Canyon National Park. From high canyon walls, to hoodoos, to pinyon pines emerging from the shadowed passages, Bryce Canyon is a veritable visual feast. Located in remote southern Utah, this park has one of the darkest skies in the contiguous United States making it an excellent spot to view the night sky.
Dusty and Mike made their trip to this high desert paradise in the spring of 2017 and have been talking about its scenery every since.
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Click to learn more about Bryce Canyon National Park.
Bryce Canyon National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Ute, Southern Paiute, and Pueblo people.
CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK
Season 1 Park
Featured in Episode 15
A literal hop, skip, and a jump down the road from Arches National Park and Moab, Canyonlands has an incredibly vast landscape. Divided into four sections (Islands in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and Rivers) the park is impossible to see in just one visit. With Islands in the Sky being the most readily accessible portion of the park, it’s a good idea to try and see this section first.
Dusty and Mike made their trip to the Islands in the Sky section of the park in the spring of 2017. Along with the breathtaking hikes they enjoyed the incredible pull off overlooks as you drive the park road. Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
Click to learn more about Canyonlands National Park.
Canyonands National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Ute people.
CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK
Season 2 Park
Featured in Episode 41, Episode 42, Episode 43, and Episode 44
Capitol Reef is a National Park full of history, incredibly landscapes and stunning beauty. Preserved for the Waterpocket Fold, a major geological feature that runs through the park, it also contains active orchards left over from Mormon settlers who once lived in the Fruita section, and petroglyph panels from the Fremont people, ancestral Pueblo people who originally occupied the land. There is plenty to do and see in this amazing desert park, so if you are planning a trip to Utah, make sure to include it in your itinerary.
Dusty and Mike visited Capitol Reef National Park in the spring of 2019 on a larger road trip that included the four National Parks in Colorado.
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Click to learn more about Capitol Reef National Park.
Capitol Reef National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Ute and Paiute people.
CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK
Season 2 Park
Featured in Episode 39 and Episode 40
Dubbed the Galapagos of the North Pacific, Channel Islands National Park is truly a beautiful and unique national park. Off the coast of California, this island chain is accessible by ferry from Ventura and Oxnard or by private boat. The islands themselves are host to unique flora and fauna, have a bevy of hiking trails, and are a favorite spot for kayakers and snorkelers alike. Not only that but they have an interesting history that includes everything from native peoples, to turn of the century ranching and oil prospecting.
Dusty and Mike visited Channel Islands National Park in the spring of 2018 while on a larger road trip that included other California National Parks including Yosemite and Joshua Tree.
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Click to learn more about Channel Islands National Park.
Channel Islands National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Chumash, Limuw, Michumash, ‘Anyapax, Wi’ma, and Tuqan people.
CONGAREE NATIONAL PARK
Season 1 Park
Featured in Episode 12
Stretch your legs along the boardwalk trail, or find yourself on one of the nature trails that jut their way off it. Kayak or Canoe down the Congaree River and it’s tributaries and navigate through the cypresses and tupelo trees. Watch your step though, because creepy crawlers are about in this South Carolina National Park. Welcome to Congaree.
Dusty and Mike made their trip to this old growth bottomland forest in the summer of 2017. Dusty is still scarred from all the spiders we saw.
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Click to learn more about Congaree National Park.
Congaree National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Cherokee people.
CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
Season 1 Park
Featured in Episode 19 and Episode 20
Cuyahoga Valley is a beautiful glimpse of the natural splendor that the state of Ohio has to offer. Steeped in history, the park is home to much of the Erie and Ohio Canal system. Not only that, but the park is one that intersects with communities and civilization on a level that we had not seen. Whether hiking along the canals or meandering along the Buckeye Trail, Cuyahoga Valley is an experience for all.
Dusty and Mike and their friend Leah visited Cuyahoga Valley in the spring of 2019. Despite the hot, hot, heat, the three persevered and exploring this green wonderland.
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Click to learn more about Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Kaskaskia and Erie people.
PARKS G-K
GATEWAY ARCH
Season 6 Park
Featured in Episode 113 and Episode 114
Located right on the Mississippi River, Gateway Arch National Park is a bit of an odd man out in the grand scheme of the park system. Not only is this urban park the smallest of the 63 National Parks, but it’s preservation seeks to underscore the historical importance of the site rather than it’s natural splendor.
Dusty and Mike visited Gateway National Park in the summer of 2021 as a part of a much longer five week road trip. This park was different in many ways from the other nine parks they visited during this trip, most notable the fact that this park is one devoid of trails really struck an interesting contrast in the rest of their journey.
Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
Click to learn more about Gateway Arch National Park.
Gateway Arch National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Kickapoo, Kaskaskia, Osage, Myaamia, O-ga-xpa, Ochethi Sakowin people.
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
Season 4 Park
Featured in Episode 72, Episode 73, Episode 74, Episode 75, Episode 76, Episode 77, Episode 78, Episode 79, Episode 80, Episode 81, & Episode 82
Located in western Montana, there are few words that can adequately describe Glacier National Park, but resplendent comes to mind. Carved and manipulated by glacier retreat, the landscape here is one that is simply gigantic. While many of the glaciers for which the park is named have fully melted, some do remain, echoing a time long past but not forgotten.
Dusty and Mike visited Glacier National Park in the summer of 2021 as a part of a much longer five week road trip. Over the week they spent within Glacier, they were able to not only see the many areas of the park, but hike and explore the landmarks within.
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Click to learn more about Glacier National Park.
Glacier National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Blackfoot and Ktunaxa amakis people.
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Season 3 Park
Featured in Episode 52
Located in northern Arizona, The Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular sights you may ever lay your eyes on. It is hard to really think about it’s size, but when you know the entire state of Rhode Island could fit inside of it, it makes it a little more manageable to comprehend. Cut over time by the waters of the Colorado River, the canyon has been a home to indigenous people for thousands of years. Whether you are just stopping to take a look at it’s beauty or plan on a hike down the walls of the Canyon to the mighty Colorado, it is sure to amaze and inspire.
Dusty and Mike visited Grand Canyon National Park in the spring of 2017 during their first ever national parks trip which included Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands and Petrified Forest National Parks.
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Click to learn more about Grand Canyon National Park.
Grand Canyon National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Pueblo, Hopitutskwa, Havasupai, Hualapai people.
GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK
Season 4 Park
Featured in Episode 68, Episode 69, Episode 70, and Episode 71
Located just south of Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton is not a park to be missed. While the Teton range itself is iconic, it is the hiking to these upper peaks that is most magnificent. Although Grand Teton can be enjoyed from a variety of vantages, it is the impressive heights that leave many awestruck. That being said, the lowlands within the park offer their own sort of otherworldly beauty, from the lakes to the wildlife, there is surely something for everyone.
Dusty and Mike visited Grand Teton National Park in the summer of 2021 as a part of a much longer five week road trip. Over their two days in Grand Teton they were able to hike and explore the incredible heights and landmarks within the park.
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Click to learn more about Grand Teton National Park.
Grand Teton National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Shoshone-Bannock, Eastern Shoshone, and Cheyenne people.
GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK
Season 3 Park
Featured in Episode 48
Located in south central Colorado, Great Sand Dunes National park is an unexpected landscape of shifting sands and towering dunes. The dunes are the tallest on the North American continent and make for some interesting hiking conditions. While there are no set trails within the dunes, there is plenty to explore and some fun activities to try including sand sledding and sand boarding. The park also features forested and alpine trails which allow you some lengthier hiking adventures.
Dusty and Mike visited Mesa Verde National Park in the spring of 2019. While we only had one day within the park, we were able to explore the dunes and partake in some of the unique activities offered here.
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Click to learn more about Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Great Sand Dunes National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Jicarilla Apache, Ute, and Cheyenne people.
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
Season 1 Park
Featured in Episode 5, Episode 6, and Episode 7
The hanging mist through the undulating landscape of Great Smoky Mountains gives this park a sense of reverence and only adds to it’s draw. As America’s most visited National Park, Great Smoky Mountains is a spectacle no matter the season. Explore the vastness of the park in both Tennessee and North Carolina and no matter what you do, make sure to climb to the top of one the peaks within the park for views you won’t regret.
Dusty and Mike have visited Great Smoky Mountains twice. Sadly, neither of these trips included a stop at Dollywood.
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Click to learn more about Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Cherokee people.
HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK
Season 2 Park
Featured in Episode 27 and Episode 28
Literally translated to “House of the Sun,” Haleakala’s beauty is unparalleled, even to its sister park, Hawai’i Volcanoes. Located on the island of Maui, his vastly different park allows you to glimpse the world from above the clouds as you hike through a non active volcano so large, it could hold the entire island of Manhattan. Be prepared to hitchhike your way o the summit in order to complete an epic thirteen mile hike that starts on the Sliding Sands Trail.
Dusty and Mike visited Haleakala National Park in the summer of 2019. They were also able to drive part of the Road to Hana on their second day on the island of Maui.
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Click to learn more about Haleakala National Park.
Haleakala National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Ko Hawai’i Pae’aina people.
HAWAI’I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Season 2 Park
Featured in Episode 24, Episode 25, and Episode 26
An incredible landscape that sheds light on the pure, unbridled power of Mother Nature, Hawai’i Volcanoes is a park not to be missed. Located on the southern part of the Big Island, the park not only allows you to experience a vulcan landscape, but rainforests, craters, and even the sea. Experience a National Park like no other where you will learn more about the eruptions that shaped it and the culture that surrounds it.
Dusty and Mike visited Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park in the summer of 2019. While they only spent a day on Big Island and in the park, they were able to do and see so much in this incredible landscape.
Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
Click to learn more about Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Ko Hawai’i Pae’aina people.
HOT SPRINGS
Season 6 Park
Featured in Episode 115, Episode 116, and Episode 117 which are forthcoming.
Located an hour from Little Rock, Arkansas, Hot Springs National Park is one steeped in history. The waters of this hamlet have offered relaxation and healing for people throughout the years. Along with the beautiful natural surroundings, Bathhouse Row is an homage to a time gone by and a testament to the rejuvenating powers of these waters.
Dusty and Mike visited Hot Springs National Park in the fall of 2022. The park, which offers some trails, was a welcome spot for our relaxation as we got to experience the spa services of the longest running traditional baths which are still in operation here within the park.
A photo gallery of Hot Springs and our time there will be added soon!
Click to learn more about Hot Springs National Park.
Hot Springs National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Osage, Quapaw, and Caddo people.
INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK
Season 5 Park
Featured in Episode 98, Episode 99, Episode 101, and Episode 102
An unexpected beauty, Indiana Dunes is nestled at the tip of Lake Michigan not far from the bright city lights of Chicago, in fact the city can be viewed from the shores of the park. Like the dunes of Great Sand Dunes National Park, this landscape is actively moving and changing which makes the parkland even more interesting. A product of the glacial retreat that formed Lake Michigan and the rest of the Great Lakes, Indiana Dunes National Park is more than just a day at the beach. With miles of trail, historically preserved homesteads, and various ecosystems, there is plenty to discover here.
Dusty and Mike visited Indiana Dunes National Park in the summer of 2021 as a part of a much longer five week road trip. This was the first park of their road trip and it did not disappoint. Miles of trail, lake front walks, and boardwalk strolls through marshes were just some of the beautiful sights they saw.
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Click to learn more about Indiana Dunes National Park.
Indiana Dunes National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Kickapoo, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Potawatomi, and Myaamia people.
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
Season 3 Park
Featured in Episode 49 and Episode 50
Located in southern central California, Joshua Tree National Park takes it’s name from the trees that find a habitable home within the environs of the park. Named by Mormon settlers because they reminded them of the biblical figure Joshua, with his hands cast towards the heavens, Joshua trees are becoming increasingly rare in the world. Joshua Tree National Park, while one of the spaces the trees grow, is so much more than their home. This desert landscape allows for hiking, bouldering, and exploring and tends to be a respite of those from Los Angeles and San Diego.
Dusty and Mike visited Joshua Tree National Park in the spring of 2018 while on a much larger road trip through California which included Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Channel Islands National Parks.
Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
Click to learn more about Joshua Tree National Park.
Joshua Tree National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Serrano and Western Shoshone people.
KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Season 2 Park
Featured in Episode 33
Established in 1890 as General Grant National Park, it was eventually renamed Kings Canyon National Park after greater expansion of its terrain in 1940. The original park as it stands is a small sliver of what the park is today. Mainly encompassing the Grants Grove area, or area around the General Grant Tree, it’s easy to see why this area was renowned and preserved by early American settlers despite the early onset of ranchers and loggers in the area. Much of the larger potion of the park is rugged backcountry that includes both the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails. That being said, the Grants Grove area has much to offer by way of trails and impressive Sequoia trees.
Dusty and Mike visited Kings Canyon National Park in the spring of 2018 while on a larger California road trip that included Joshua Tree, Yosemite, Sequoia and Channel Islands National Parks.
Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
Click to learn more about Kings Canyon National Park.
Kings Canyon National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Western Mono people.
Parks L-Z
MAMMOTH CAVE
Season 6 Park
Featured in Episode 103 and Episode 104
The largest known cave system in the world, Mammoth Cave is awe inspiring. Not only are there over 400 miles of explored cave within the system, the main parts of the cave are quite literally mammoth, making you feel incredibly small as you wander through the vaulted passages. A reverence for nature and it’s power are definitely a pre requisite for visiting.
Dusty and Mike visited Mammoth Cave National Park in the summer of 2021 as a part of a much longer five week road trip. Having visited Wind Cave National Park prior to this on the same road trip, they were blown away from how vastly different these two cave systems were from one another.
Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
Click to learn more about Mammoth Cave National Park.
Mammoth Cave National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Cherokee, Shawnee, and Yuchi people.
MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
Season 3 Park
Featured in Episode 45, Episode 46, and Episode 47
Located in southwestern Colorado, Mesa Verde is a park steeped in the history of the native people original to the area, the Pueblo. With the passage of the 1906 Antiquities Act, Mesa Verde became a National Park that highlighted not only the incredible landscape but the “works of man” within the park. While many archeological sites are well preserved within the park, there are scores near by at the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument which only underpin the vastness of the Pueblo in the area.
Dusty and Mike visited Mesa Verde National Park in the spring of 2019. Over their two days in Mesa Verde they were able to hike and explore some of the sites of the Pueblo people, including Cliff Palace.
Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
Click to learn more about Mesa Verde National Park.
Mesa Verde National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Dine Bikeyah, Pueblo, and Ute people.
NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK
Season 5 Park
Featured in Episode 83, Episode 84, Episode 85, Episode 86, Episode 87, Episode 88, and Episode 89
Originally designated a National River, New River Gorge National Park is a park for the outdoor enthusiast in you. There miles of trails to hike and miles of river to raft down. Not only that but mountain biking, rock climbing, and zip lining are also popular sports within the parkland. The New River, from which the park gets it’s name is 320 miles long and one of the most scenic rivers within the country. Home to hundreds of ecosystems the park affords visitors a beautiful experience no matter the time of year or the reason for visiting.
There are few parks that we have visited that we have been fortunate enough to return to twice, let alone twice in the same year. New River Gorge is one of those parks. Dusty and Mike got the chance to hike and explore the park in the Spring of 2021 on a joint road trip with their friends Brian and Tino. They also had the amazing pleasure of getting to see the park again that fall with Brad Ryan and Grandma Joy, of Grandma Joy’s Road Trip.
Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
Click to learn more about New River Gorge National Park.
New River Gorge National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Moneton, Tupelo, and Yuchi people.
PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK
Season 3 Park
Featured in Episode 51
Located in northeastern Arizona, Petrified Forest National Park truly is The Land Before Time. Along with an impressive array of geological features and landscapes, the national park is known and preserved for it’s petrified wood. While it isn’t everywhere within the park, where you do find it will set your mind ablaze with wonder. If that isn’t enough, the park butts right up to the Painted Desert National Monument, which gives you an even greater appreciation for these beautiful desert landscapes.
Dusty and Mike visited Petrified Forest National Park in the spring of 2017 during their first ever national parks trip which included Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands and the Grand Canyon National Parks.
Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
Click to learn more about Petrified Forest National Park.
Petrified Forest National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Dine Bikeyah, Pueblo, Zuni, and Hopitutskwa people.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
Season 1 Park
Featured in Episode 16, Episode 17, and Episode 18
Rocky Mountain National Park is a breathtaking way to investigate a part of the largest mountain chain in the United States. The main sections of the park are near the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake, both of which are on opposite sides of the park. Traveling along Trail Ridge Road connects you to both sides and provides you with unparalleled views of the Rockies, that is of course if the road is open. Prepare for snow, wildlife, and incredible vistas no matter the season.
Dusty and Mike acclimated quickly to the altitude and made their trip to RMNP in the spring of 2019. Trail Ridge Road was closed when they were there, so they had a day of long driving to get from one side of the park to the next.
Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
Click to learn more about Rocky Mountain National Park.
Rocky Mountain National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Ute people.
SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK
Season 2 Park
Featured in Episode 34 and Episode 35
Established in 1890 as a way to preserve the sequoiadendron giganteum (the giant sequoia tree), Sequoia National Park contains some of the largest living plants on the planet. This includes the worlds largest tree (by volume), The General Sherman. A network of trails emanate from the area around the General Sherman which meander you through a land of giants, both named and unnamed. Take a stroll through history on the Congress Trail or test your fears while summiting Moro Rock or get a permit and hike the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney. You won’t be bored and you won’t stop lookin up as there is plenty to do in this woodland kingdom.
Dusty and Mike visited Sequoia National Park in the spring of 2018 while on a larger California road trip that included Joshua Tree, Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Channel Islands National Parks.
Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
Click to learn more about Sequoia National Park.
Sequoia National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Western Mono people.
SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK
Season 2 Park
Featured in Episode 29, Episode 30, Episode 31 and Episode 32
A stones throw from Washington DC, this incredibly vast national park (over 100 miles long) is an awesome sight to behold. Established in 1935 as the east coasts second National Park, it encompasses parts of the Blue Ridge Mountains and has the iconic Skyline Drive to show off the length of its splendor. A park for all seasons, Shenandoah offers something different during every time of the year. Make sure that when you plan your visit you allow for lots of time to explore the dazzling heights and deep woodlands of this beautiful parcel of natural wonder.
Dusty and Mike visited Shenandoah National Park in the summer of 2017 and the autumn of 2019. Because of a relatively close proximity to home, Dusty and Mike plan on several more adventures in this jewel of Virginia.
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Click to learn more about Shenandoah National Park.
Shenandoah National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Monahoac people.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK
Season 5 Park
Featured in Episode 90, Episode 91, Episode 92, Episode 93, and Episode 94
The landscape of Theodore Roosevelt National Park is vast, open, and beautiful. While the park is technically considered to be badlands (heavily eroded, uncultivable land) it also shares some aspects of the grassland and prairie. The landscape was attractive to the 26th President, who fell in love with the space on a hunting trip there in 1883, returning often and setting up ranch units, which became part of the parkland when it was established. It’s not hard to see what Roosevelt saw in this space as the beauty of the landscape is matched in equal by the exquisite range of wildlife within its borders.
Dusty and Mike visited Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the summer of 2021 as a part of a much longer five week road trip. Over their two days in Theodore Roosevelt they were able to hike and explore both the north and south unit of the park and have some of the best wildlife sightings of their entire lives.
Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
Click to learn more about Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Mandaan, Hidasta, Arikara, Metis, Assiniboin, Cheyenne, Ochethi Sakowin and Hunkpapa people.
WIND CAVE
Season 6 Park
Featured in Episode 111 and Episode 112
Nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota, not far from Badlands National Park is Wind Cave National Park. Boasting both prairie trails with flora and fauna to delight the eyes and guided cave adventures through narrow passages with beautiful cave formations, Wind Cave National Park offers visitors a unique experience no matter how you decide to visit.
Dusty and Mike visited Wind Cave National Park in the summer of 2021 as a part of a much longer five week road trip. Of the three major caves within the National Park system, Wind Cave National Park had some of the most intricate of cave formations that they have seen.
Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
Click to learn more about Wind Cave National Park.
Wind Cave National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Cheyenne and Ochethi Sakowin people.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
Season 4 Park
Featured in Episode 63, Episode 64, Episode 65, Episode 66 and Episode 67
Although part of Yellowstone National Park’s boundaries are within the state of Montana and Idaho, the vast majority of this sprawling park is within the state of Wyoming. As the nation’s first national park, this space set the tone in many ways for the parks that would come after it. While these parks could in no way match the landscape or geothermal features within the Yellowstone, they matched the caliber in their own ways. Along with trails, and geological spectacles, Yellowstone National Park boasts sprawling landscape and is home to incredible wildlife, including buffalo.
Dusty and Mike visited Yellowstone National Park in the summer of 2021 as a part of a much longer five week road trip. Over their three days in Yellowstone they were able to hike and explore the incredible geothermal features within the park.
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Click to learn more about Yellowstone National Park.
Yellowstone National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Eastern Shoshone, Crow, and Cheyenne people.
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
Season 1 Park
Featured in Episode 1 and Episode 2
Prepare yourself with a long love affair with Yosemite National Park. Located in Central California, Yosemite is home to some of the most spectacular sites of the National Park System. From the peak of Half Dome, to the rushing waters of Yosemite Falls, to the tranquility of Tuolumne Meadows, the park truly has a lot to be in awe of.
Dusty and Mike made their trip to this California wonderland in the spring of 2018 and its one park they consistently talk about revisiting.
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Click to learn more about Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Miwok people.
ZION NATIONAL PARK
Season 1 Park
Featured in Episode 9, Episode 10, and Episode 11
The lushness of the desert canyon is almost hard to believe as the snaking Virgin River feeds and nourishes the land. The high canyon walls dazzlingly change a panoply of colors throughout the day, creating a ballet of light and shadow across their surfaces. While the most daring adventurers will climb to the top of Angel’s Landing or plod through the Narrows, those who view the park from the canyon floor will be enraptured by all that this Eden has to offer. This is Zion National Park.
Dusty and Mike made their trip to this aptly named Utah park in the spring of 2017 after sleeping in Las Vegas for five minutes the night before.
Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
Click to learn more about Zion National Park.
Zion National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Southern Paiute and Pueblo people.