Unfortunately the host of this blog is unable to continue posting to it. While we enjoyed the information and commentary while it lasted, we’ve been informed that this blogger is no longer able to continue maintaining this blog.

We Hate To See A Good Thing Go Away!

SkinnyMoose Media firmly believes that our Parks blogs are an important resource for people who love our State and National Parks. We believe in bringing timely, accurate, and interesting information to people who use or even just admire these natural wonders. And we are committed to reviving this blog so that it can continue to be such a resource. Maybe you can help!

Blog For SkinnyMoose

SkinnyMoose Media is currently searching for bloggers who might be interested in taking over this blog. As you can see all the work of designing and setting up the blog has been done for you; all you have to do is step in and start writing!

SkinnyMoose does offer a small monthly stipend for blog maintenance, as well as pay based on page views and blog performance. It won’t replace your day-job, but it will give you some Pizza Money (milk, beer, bread….) and it will at least provide you with a little something to make it easier to write about what you love.

Your Qualifications

The only qualifications you need are enthusiasm and a love of your chosen park. We currently have three parks blogs in need of writers (Great Smoky Mountains, Western National Parks, and Yellowstone). In addition, we are happy to start a new blog for your own park of choice, and we are currently looking for new bloggers who might like to join the Outdoor Recreation and other network channels.

You don’t have to be a “real” writer, you don’t have to be an expert, and you don’t need any specific experience to apply. Just contact Mary Ward, Channel Editor for Outdoor Recreation and Parks channels at SkinnyMoose Media, and let’s talk about how you can join and blog at SkinnyMoose!  Email Mary at MaryWard@skinnymoose.com.

Lassen is one of my favorite parks, and I’ve written about it before. The main park road over Lassen Peak is always closed in winter, but plowing on the road has begun, and it may be open for travel by mid-May.

Lassen is a great park because it’s not as crowded as a lot of other California parks, it has wonderful camping areas, and it’s got great hiking and climbing opportunities, as well. It also has active hydrothermal areas that are pretty easy to access, making it a bit unique in the California area.

Fishing, boating, and horseback riding are all available in the park, and if you hike, try the Bumpass Hell hike to the mud pots, it’s mostly all flat (mostly) and the mud pot area will keep you fascinated for hours. Remember nights can still be cool, even in the summertime, so bring a jacket or sweater and go explore Lassen!

To find out when the main road will open, check here.

There’s a saying in the National Park System that goes, “Take only photos, leave only footprints.” One of the best ways to enjoy the parks without ruining them for everyone else is to take lots of photos. Here are some of my tips for taking the best photos you can when you visit our national parks.

• Choose the time of day. The best times are sunrise, sunset, or just before or after they occur. The colors of the park will be richer (depending on the view, of course), and the details in mountain, canyon, and meadow will stand out more clearly.
• Avoid midday, when the light is directly overhead. It can wash out colors and make everything look hazy or gray.
• Try to include some skyline in your photos, especially if there are dramatic clouds. It will give a better idea of the size of your view and area.
• Try to frame your view with something of interest to add depth and texture to your photo. For example, if you’re taking a shot of a Yosemite waterfall, place a tree branch or trunk along one side or the top of the frame. By adding a frame to the picture, you’ll make it more interesting and visually pleasing.
• Include some closeups of flowers or trees, and of your friends and family, so you have memories of everything you saw and did.

Taking photos of your national park visits will give you great memories for years to come, and you just might find you have a real interest in photography, too!

It’s hard to believe, but right in the middle of Los Angeles, you can still find a wild area - the Santa Monica Mountains. This urban/rural park is the perfect getaway from the city, and it offers everything from hiking and biking to museums, to music festivals and cultural events.

Coming up May 18 is the Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest, held on the Paramount Ranch in the park. Enjoy bluegrass and folk music on a real Hollywood movie set, complete with a dance barn and area for the kids.

So, even if you live in LA, you can still enjoy the big, beautiful outdoors in the Santa Monica Mountains!

Never heard of Devil’s Postpile? Well, it’s on the eastern side of the Sierra, near Mammoth Lakes, and it’s another one of those underdiscovered gems in the California parks. It’s only open during the summer months (this year’s opening is June 7), so, plan a trip this summer and discover a park that’s not as crowded as many you’re used to.

You can fish, ride horses, camp (first come, first served), hike, photograph the stunning scenery, or just enjoy your surroundings. There is no lodging or meal service inside the park, so bring your own snacks and water for a day trip, or plan to spend the night in nearby Mammoth Lakes.

If you plan to camp or visit Red Meadows Valley, you have to pay a mandatory transportation fee, and use the mandatory shuttle bus, unless you are disabled. With proof of disibility, you can take your own car into the Red Meadows area.

Remember, summer nights can still be cool in the Sierra, so bring a sweater or jacket, and enjoy your stay!

Located in the desert east of Los Angeles, Joshua Tree is one of those California parks that isn’t quite as visible as big ones like Yosemite, but it’s still a great park, especially for families. The kids can rock climb, ride horses, off-road, and mountain-bike, while mom and dad can hike, enjoy a ranch tour, walk, camp, and join the kids in stargazing and ranger programs.

Joshua Tree is a BIG park at 800,000 acres, so there are several different ecosystems to explore when you visit, too. If you like to explore the backcountry, there are plenty of 4×4 roads to explore, and numerous hiking trails from beginner to advanced to check out, too.

The park offers numerous campgrounds, and it’s close enough to LA and San Diego to make it a great long weekend destination. Right now, wildflowers are blooming, but have already reached their peak. It’s OK, those wierdly shaped cactus that give the park its name are there year-round.

Channel Islands, off the coast of Southern California, is probably one of the most unique parks in the western park system. Comprised of five of the Channel Islands, it offers some unique opportunities for visitors, including diving and snorkeling, picnicking, hiking, camping, boating, and a whole lot more.

Because the islands are off the mainland, you have to take a boat or a plane to reach them, just adding to the excitement of the visit. There are also a wealth of wildlife viewing opportunities, like birdwatching, seal and sea lion viewing, whale watching, and tidepool adventures. Rangers offer guided tours to many areas in the park, and you can rent bicycles and cycle throughout the area, too.

Right now, spring wildflowers are putting on a show, so it’s a great time to plan a visit to Channel Islands!

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site rounds out the national parks in Oregon. This fort played a pivotal role in early trade in the area, and today it serves as a museum and archaeology center. Located near Portland, it’s easy to get to and enjoy throughout the year.

You can enjoy easy hiking trails in the park, but there are also many special events that celebrate the history and culture of the area. Coming up at the end of April is Northwest National Park Family Day, “Bringing the Parks to the People.” It takes place Saturday, April 26, 2008, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the park, and includes activites, lectures, and a variety of events to help introduce people to the wonders of the national parks in the area. Don’t miss it!

Located in Southern Oregon, Oregon Caves National Park is already up and running for the 2008 season. Oregon Caves is unique, because it combines the hospitality of a National Landmark (the Oregon Caves Chateau), with hiking, guided cave tours (no self-guided tours are allowed), and camping right outside the park.

This is a beautiful, wooded area, with old-growth forests and all the wonderful undergrowth that goes with them. Also not as popular as some of the bigger western parks, this makes a great weekend destination if you’re headed to Northern California or Southern Oregon. Find out more about the caves here.

If you’re a history buff, you’ll love Lewis & Clark National Historic Park, located on the coast of Oregon along the Washington border. This area is where the Lewis & Clark expedition spent time after they arrived on the Pacific Coast. Fort Clatsop is the fort they built to survive until the could return east, and there are monuments and areas dedicated to the group throughout the area.

This is a great place to spend a few days, because you can enjoy so many different activities while you soak up some history. There are beaches, hiking trails, museums, campgrounds, and wildlife refuges nearby, which make this a great location for every member of the family.

Check out the salt works, where Corps of Discovery members made enough salt to last them on their return trip to St. Louis, and see the view from the Fort to Sea Trail. (Note: the trail is closed right now due to damage from a windstorm, but the Park Service is posting updates about when it will open again, here.)

Lewis & Clark is really several different parks rolled into one, and it makes the perfect Oregon weekend or vacation getaway!