Best of the ’Net is NPCA’s weekly roundup of fun park-related stuff online.

Find something fun about national parks on the ’net? Let me know!

-Megan Cantrell, Senior Coordinator of Member Engagement

It’s here! As National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis said earlier this week, “National Park Week provides an opportunity to appreciate the landmarks, monuments and historical landscapes that define our national identity.” There are a few days remaining in National Park Week 2013, which means if you haven’t yet visited one of the 401 national park units–you still have time.

1. Today is National Arbor Day. Huffington Post put together this great slideshow of some of the famous trees around the world, and you can be certain America’s Sequoia trees are among them.
2. Park Service Director Jon Jarvis wrote this story about National Park Week on the White House blog reminding us that our national parks (natural, historical, and cultural) are great places for recreation, learning, volunteering, and exploring.
3. This Kickstarter project asks a tough question: “What will happen to the public lands in this country when the majority of Americans don’t feel a personal connection to the outdoors?” This project’s end goal is to produce a feature-length documentary of the first African-American expedition to summit North America’s highest peak, Denali’s Mt. McKinley. The expedition takes place this summer.
4. The earthquake that rumbled the DC area two years ago left the Washington Monument in need of repair. Over the last month, DC residents have watched the scaffolding slowly build to the top of the monument. Check out these FAQs (and cool photo) from the National Park Service about the scaffolding and projected timeline of completion.
5. April 21 was John Muir’s 175th birthday. Sierra Club has a great online John Muir exhibit celebrating Muir and the important work he did protecting our most unique of landscapes.

Did you explore a national park unit this week? Tell us about it—or take our poll!

-Megan Cantrell, Senior Coordinator of Member Engagement

Earlier this month, more than 100 million acres of public land in Alaska shared one common anniversary: On December 2, Lake Clark, Kenai Fjords, and other parks and preserves established through the Alaskan National Interest Land Conservation Act, or ANILCA, turned 32 years old. This federal legislation created ten different national parks and expanded three others in America’s largest, wildest state, including:

• Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve
• Bering Land Bridge National Preserve
• Cape Krusenstern National Monument
• Denali National Park
• Gates Of The Arctic National Park and Preserve
• Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
• Katmai National Park and Preserve
• Kenai Fjords National Park
• Kobuk Valley National Park
• Lake Clark National Park and Preserve
• Noatak National Preserve
• Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve
• Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve

Although ANILCA was controversial when it passed–protesters burned President Carter in effigy and some residents engaged in acts of civil disobedience–this law is now recognized as one of the most significant land conservation measures in America’s history and an enormous contributor to Alaska’s tourist economy.

Here are just a few images of the vast natural wonders protected by ANILCA. Put on an extra sweater and enjoy!

-Jennifer Errick, Editor, Online Communications

You can read about it and dream about going, but nothing compares with actually seeing it in person. Alaska, our 49^th state, is an extraordinary place. This 582,000-square-mile parcel of land is sometimes referred to as “Seward’s folly,” after Secretary of State William Seward, who orchestrated its purchase in 1867 despite ridicule from his contemporaries. Now, after spending three weeks in Alaska last June, I can appreciate Seward’s vision.

Contrary to the criticism leveled by Seward’s critics, Alaska is not a wasteland. It’s a wonderland containing some of our most wild remaining landscapes, including Denali National Park, which lies along the roadway that runs between Anchorage and Fairbanks, the two most populous cities in the state.

Rather than renting a car for the trip, we traveled to Denali on the train, a slow, enjoyable trip of four hours. You can cover the same distance in half the time by car, but for a first-time visitor, the train provides a good introduction to the landscape and history, shared by guides who spot bears, moose, tundra swans, and other wildlife for the benefit of the passengers. The train stops just outside the park, where shuttles carry passengers to nearby hotels. Getting around the area is easy enough, thanks to the hotel shuttles and the fleet of buses that take visitors on tours into the park.

I knew there was only one road that went into the park, and I certainly knew that beyond mile 15 the only way to get into the park was aboard a Bluebird bus (similar to a school bus but with overhead storage capacity and seat belts). But I did not realize how vast the park is (equal in size to New Hampshire) or that with very few exceptions there are no trails crossing the landscape.

Denali, for all intents and purposes, is a wilderness park. Conservationist Charles Sheldon, known as the “Father of Denali,” helped establish the park as a wildlife sanctuary to protect the Dall sheep that roam the mountain range. Sheldon spent years studying different species of American mountain sheep, and eventually followed his passion to Alaska where he spent several summers exploring the lands at the base of Mt. McKinley. His passion to preserve the Dall sheep drove him to advocate for the establishment of the park, finally succeeding in 1917.

Visiting Denali was an eye-opening experience, especially since the journey coincided almost exactly with the summer solstice when there is no clear division between day and night. The nearly continuous light—it would get somewhat twilight-like at 2 a.m.—debunked assumptions we make in the lower 48 about the separation of night and day and how that affects animal behavior, including our own. Bears, moose, willow ptarmigans, and other animals and birds can be out at any time looking for food, taking a dip in a lake, wandering across the tundra.

I quickly realized that I was a guest in this wilderness. The creatures I had the good luck to see—grizzly bear sows with cubs, moose with calves, a lynx, herds of Dall sheep, and caribou—were roaming freely on their home turf. This point was underscored, when in a rare moment I left the Bluebird bus and walked across the trail-less landscape, exposed to the heat of the sun, and then several minutes later, a cold rain laced with hail. Denali is just one of 15 national park units in Alaska, each one extraordinary in its own right. How fortunate for us that Secretary Seward had the foresight to convince the United States to buy the land; and how incredible that the will and determination of one man set aside such an extraordinary park.

Inspired to make your own trip to Denali? Learn more about the adventure of riding into the park by reading NPCA Alaska Program Manager Joan Frankevich’s story “Over the Years, Denali Road Continues to Provide Superb Wildlife Viewing” (PDF, 439 KB, page 3). Book your own train ride through the Alaskan landscape at the Alaska Railroad Corporation. Or take a trip with your browser and check out our recent slideshow with stunning photos of Denali.

If you liked this story, you might also like:

• Getting Close to Katmai’s Bears in the Hopes of Protecting Them (July 31, 2012)
• New NPS Video: Spend Three Minutes in the Wilderness (April 11, 2012)
• Friday Photo: A Cool Swim at Katmai (June 1, 2012)

Of course, if you’re looking for a really special experience, you can also travel with NPCA through our ParkScapes program. Check out more on our website.

Dog-Watching, Denali National Park, Alaska
Joan Frankevich, Alaska Regional Office Program Manager

Whenever I’m in Denali, I like to stop by the park’s kennel, near mile 3 of the park road, and visit the sled dogs. This is a unique opportunity—the only national park in America with working sled dogs. Historically, park rangers used dog teams to patrol the park and deter poachers. Today, sled dogs are used for work projects in wilderness areas, such as hauling materials to repair remote cabins. In summer, visitors can tour the historic kennel buildings, visit the dogs, and learn about the importance of sled dogs to Denali. Rangers give presentations and demonstrate a team in action by using a sled with wheels on a gravel path.

For me, visiting the park kennel is also a reminder of my first winter in Alaska, spent as a kennel volunteer more than 25 years ago.  My memories are fond, even though learning to mush dogs was so much harder than I anticipated. My intelligent lead dog, Mike, was all too happy to take advantage of my inexperience. He was well-trained to keep the line taut, but with me he would stop and lift his leg as he pleased, resulting in a tangled mess of dogs and lines. However once I learned how to mush, I had some stunning experiences traveling through Denali in winter. Mike is long since gone, but when I’m in the park, I remember him and am glad that the cultural tradition of dog sledding remains alive in Denali.

Hiking the Obstruction Point to Deer Park Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington
David G. Graves, Northwest Regional Office Program Manager

After reaching the Olympic Peninsula and the visitor center in Port Angeles, visitors can take the road up to Hurricane Ridge. On a clear day, the mountains of Olympic National Park stretch out across the horizon—the view encompasses more than 10 major peaks, including Mt. Olympus at 7,980 feet above sea level. At the top of Hurricane Ridge, some visitors may enjoy a short hike near Klahhane Ridge or Hurricane Hill, but for those who are able and willing, the 7.4 mile one-way trail from Obstruction Point to Deer Park Trail is the real jewel to explore. It’s not easy getting to Obstruction Point or Deer Park. The unimproved gravel road from the Hurricane Ridge parking area to Obstruction Point is steep, rocky, and only open a few months each year, and RVs and trailers are definitely not allowed. The road to Deer Park isn’t much better—it’s also a steep, narrow, gravel road. But the trail is well worth it. The highest trail in the park, it is surprisingly mellow, starting at 6,000 feet and only losing 700 feet over the 7.4 miles. The views of the peaks are even more spectacular than from Hurricane Ridge, and visitors can sit on a cliff ledge and observe the river valleys several hundreds of feet below. You cross near Elk Mountain, Maiden Peak, and Green Mountain, which are interspersed by wind-swept meadows and the aptly named Roaring Winds Camp. It’s unlikely you’ll see many people out on this trail since leaving a car at either end is extremely difficult, but even if you only go out a few miles and turn back, it’s well worth exploring this magnificent ridgeline trail with stunning views.

Hiking the Narrows in Zion National Park, Utah
Scott Kirkwood, Editor-in-Chief of National Parks magazine
Note: Be sure to check the the river conditions and bring proper gear before attempting this hike. If in doubt, call the Zion Canyon Visitor Center at (435) 772-0170.

To me, no hike compares to the Narrows in Zion National Park, Utah. That’s because it isn’t like any other hike I’ve been on—it’s more like a walk through a riverbed. The Virgin River carved a spectacular gorge through the upper portions of Zion Canyon—16 miles long, up to 2,000 feet deep—and from spring to fall, thousands of people walk much of its length and enjoy amazing views. Canyon walls are on either side, and the dramatic views change with every few steps. Stop by Zion Adventures in nearby Springdale and ask about the river’s conditions and what sort of gear you’ll need. I hiked the Narrows in September, when the water level ranged anywhere from ankle-deep to waist-deep. Water temps were warm enough that I needed only my hiking boots and a walking stick, but you can rent neoprene socks and other gear if the conditions require it. I packed a snack, stowed my camera inside two water-proof bags and I was off for a four-hour round-trip hike, joining dozens of other hikers who were smiling along the way, like little kids splashing around in a neighborhood stream on a summer afternoon.  

Want more info? Visit the NPS site: http://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/the-narrows.htm.

Biking Gold Medal Park to Minnehaha Falls to Pike Island, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Minnesota
Christine Goepfert, Upper Midwest Program Manager

As a city-dweller, I like to get away to wide-open spaces, but I can’t always find the time. Luckily, I have a national park in my backyard. The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is a 72-mile stretch of the mighty Mississippi that cuts right through Minneapolis, where I live. On a nice summer day, this iconic American river is only a bus or bike ride away. Given that Minneapolis is one of the nation’s most bike-friendly cities, there are lots of designated routes for biking to the river.

My first stop is Gold Medal Park, a great picnic spot along the river on West River Parkway. From there you can stroll through Mills Ruins Park, site of 19th-century ruins that were once mills powered by St. Anthony Falls. Not far away is the Stone Arch Bridge, with its 23 arches made of native granite and limestone, which spans the river below the falls and is a reminder of our nation’s railroad era. As you cross the bridge, you get a great view of the river, the falls, and the city, as well as a working lock and dam! In that same area along the Mississippi’s banks, I can grab a meal, take in a play at the world-renowned Guthrie Theater, or visit the Mill City Museum, which celebrates Minneapolis’ history of flour milling.

If I continue south on the River Parkway, which is part of the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway, there are lots of bird-watching spots, where I might even catch a glimpse of the majestic bald eagle. Once I reach Minnehaha Falls, I am usually ready for a cold refreshment at my favorite spot, the Sea Salt Restaurant, where I can listen to the falls and, if I’m lucky, live musicians. I then like to continue south along bike trails to Fort Snelling State Park and hike Pike Island, where the Mississippi meets the Minnesota River. The island is a haven for deer, wild turkeys, and other wildlife. Off the island’s banks, you’ll see folks canoeing, kayaking, and fishing on the river. You almost forget that you are in the heart of a major metropolitan area.

Birding at Fort Foote, Civil War Defenses of Washington, Washington, D.C.
Nick Lund, Civil War Associate

When the Civil War broke out, Washington D.C. was surrounded by states sympathetic to the Confederacy and found itself vulnerable to attack. President Lincoln quickly ordered the construction of a ring of earthen forts around the city, and more than 65 forts were built by the time the war was over. Today, many of these remaining forts are managed by the National Park Service as a unit called the Civil War Defenses of Washington.  I enjoy these forts for their history, of course, as well as their unique locations all over the city. I also enjoy them—in particular Fort Foote along the Potomac in Maryland—for their wilderness. Fort Foote was built on high riverside bluffs, with massive cannons aimed downriver to protect D.C. from attacking ships. One of those huge cannons still remains, and now it sits in one of the most peaceful spots in reach of the District. As a birder, I love visiting Fort Foote because the deep woods and riverside location host a remarkable variety of species, from nesting osprey to dozens of migrating songbirds. It’s a beautiful and often overlooked park—and believe me, the sound of birds singing is much nicer than cannons booming!

Hiking White Rock and Sand Cave, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Kentucky
Don Barger, Director, Southeast Regional Office
Note: This is a fairly strenuous hike recommended for experienced hikers.

Cumberland Gap offers a number of wonderful natural areas along the length of Cumberland Mountain at the junction of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. The trailhead to White Rock and Sand Cave is off of Highway 58 in Ewing, Tennessee. Turn at the only flashing traffic signal in Ewing and drive toward the mountain (with White Rocks looming in front of you); the road dead-ends at the trailhead. The trail climbs about 1,500 feet to the ridgeline of the mountain to the spectacular views of White Rocks, sheer bluffs overlooking the Tennessee Valley. Continue hiking down the Ridge Trail and you’ll reach Sand Cave–one of the most splendid sandstone features in the eastern United States. The size of the cave and the erosion patterns of the sandstone will occupy you for a while, so allow yourself the time to sit, look, and listen. Going just beyond the turnoff to the Sand Cave on the ridgeline trail will allow you to complete the 7-8 mile loop and return to your car.  This hike can be especially spectacular during the fall season.

There are many webcams throughout the park system that give live glimpses into of some of America’s most spectacular places. Check out some of these neat views around the country:

• Sled Dog Puppies at Denali National Park and Preserve’s sled dog kennel (temporarily down, but set to relaunch this month)
• Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park’s famous geyser
• The Blue Ridge Mountains, as viewed from the Pinnacles Overlook at Shenandoah National Park
• Halema’uma’u Crater at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
• Longs Peak, the tallest mountain at Rocky Mountain National Park
• Removal of the Elwha and Glines Canyon Dams at Olympic National Park
• Ellis Island, as viewed from the Statue of Liberty’s torch
• Turtle nests at Canaveral National Seashore (from dusk to dawn, June through November–one to bookmark for later)
• Mount Rushmore National Monument

These are just a few, with many more available for those who want to browse (though the image quality varies from park to park). It’s hard to beat getting free glimpses into beautiful places.

-Jennifer Errick, Editor, Online Communications