SEASON ONE PARKS
In season one we discuss our trips to and hiking in Yosemite, Bryce Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains, Zion, Congaree, Arches, Canyonlands, Rocky Mountain, Cuyahoga Valley, and Acadia National Parks. Scroll below to find out more information about each of these individual parks including links to episodes, gallery of images, and individual park websites.
YOSEMITE NATIONAL 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.
Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
Click to learn more about Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Miwok people.
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL 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.
Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
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.
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL 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.
Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
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.
ZION NATIONAL 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.
CONGAREE NATIONAL 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.
Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
Click to learn more about Congaree National Park.
Congaree National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Cherokee people.
ARCHES NATIONAL 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.
Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
Click to learn more about Arches National Park.
Arches National Park is on the traditional and stolen land of the Ute people.
CANYONLANDS NATIONAL 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.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN
NATIONAL 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.
CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL 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.
Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
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.
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
Featured in Episode 21, Episode 22, and Episode 23
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 visited Acadia National Park in the summer of 2018. Along with three days of hiking in the park, they both enjoyed exploring Bar Harbor, Bangor, and Portland.
Follow along with our episodes with our photos by clicking here.
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.