What Will You Uncover in the National Parks of the West?
Is your family in search of a fun way to practice hands-on science and build awesome observation skills together? Look no further than a trip to one of the country’s beautiful national parks! From the islands of Hawaii to the coasts of Maine, the National Park System maintains 425 individual sites, including parks, seashores, historic sites, monuments and more. With a goal of helping to conserve the country’s natural and cultural resources for the education and enjoyment of future generations, these sites draw hundreds of millions of visitors each year.
Preparing for Your Trip
The West region is incredibly diverse in geographical features, plants and animals – there’s so much to explore all year round! To prepare, you should check the weather before planning your trip, always carry extra water and a healthy snack, and look at the National Park Service website to determine the supplies and permits you might need to stay safe.
Before you set off on your big adventure, spend some time familiarizing yourself with the nature you’re soon to experience. We encourage you to research the area you’re visiting and fill out our checklist of animals, plants, geographic features and even weather patterns you hope to see. Don’t forget to bring a notebook and writing utensil with you to journal all your awesome observations. You might also want to grab a camera to capture family memories and breathtaking views!
Discover National Parks of the West
With beaches, deserts, forests and mountains, you’ll find opportunities to hike, climb, swim and camp – plus, you’re sure to see unique creatures residing in the water, roaming the lands or flying through the sky. Keep reading to get inspired and add a few more stops to your bucket list!
Yosemite National Park
This national park in California boasts grand waterfalls, but also worthy of note are the deep valleys, giant sequoia trees, lush meadows and over 750 miles of trails to hike. If you make a trip to Yosemite, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the vibrant Sierra Mountain kingsnake, feisty pacific fisher or North America’s largest bat species – the Western mastiff!
Grand Canyon National Park
Located in Arizona, this national park is home to a vast array of geologic features. Carved by the Colorado River, the canyon averages 4,000 feet deep and is a great example of arid-land erosion. With several ecosystems, including three of four desert types in North America, this park is home to several rare and protected plant and animal species. While exploring the Grand Canyon, you may run into the frightening bark scorpion, long gopher snake or even a curious javelina.
Yellowstone National Park
The world’ first national park, Yellowstone covers 2.2 million acres across Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. The park is filled with active geysers, mountains, canyons, a volcano and more, adding up to an experience like none other! Known for its abundant wildlife and spectacular views, on a trip to Yellowstone, you’ll want to look out for the popular bison, stunning gray wolf, and even the proud bald eagle.
Olympic National Park
Spanning nearly a million acres, this national park in Washington connects three unique ecosystems – glacier-capped mountains, temperate rainforests, and wild coastline! Along with picture-perfect views, you’ll discover a diverse array of unique creatures while boating, climbing, hiking or even exploring tide pools. On your trip, you might spot a hopping tailed frog, colorful ochre sea stars or an impressive spouting whale!
Keep Exploring
Stay tuned into our blog for more ways you can uncover STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) in your own backyard and across the country!