10e: I meant to share this gem, too! Hell's Backbone Grill & Farm is a lovely farm-to-table restaurant in Boulder, UT, next to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Boulder Mountain Lodge is next door. An ideal destination if you're exploring the canyons & vistas of the monument. #ParkChat

We read this book in our #ParkChat book club. I loved it! I just recommended this book to my niece. We were hiking in a Seattle park last week when we saw a beaver! 🦫

A9: Arches used to have timed entry, but no more. None of the Big 5 Utah parks have timed entry. There are many places to stay (camping, hotels). Lines can be long, go early. We stayed in a cabin in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park when we went to RNSP for a #ParkChat meetup. Reserve those early.

A10d: There are no restaurants inside Arches, Canyonlands or Capitol Reef (but you can get fruit pies & cinnamon rolls at CR). You might find limited pre-packaged snacks in the VCs. At Bryce Canyon & Zion, food is available at the lodges. Any food stored in ancient granaries is long gone. #ParkChat

A10C: There are no restaurants or food vendors inside Redwood National and State Parks in CA. It's best to bring your own food for a picnic or buy snacks in neighboring towns before entering the park. There are a few restaurants in nearby Crescent City. #ParkChat

A10b: If you go to Sequoia NP, it's about a 45 minute drive to The Darling Hotel in Visalia, CA. It's an old historic building with Art Deco style and a rooftop restaurant. A nice place for a special dinner! We celebrated an anniversary in the park and at that restaurant. #ParkChat

We visited the Thomas Cole NHS two years ago. I really enjoyed it! #ParkChat 🖌️🎨

Was Maria's the Mexican restaurant we met you at, @naturetechfam.bsky.social ? It was yummy! #ParkChat

We ate at the Salty Steer in Wall, SD. It wasn't bad! Many years ago I had to try a bison burger at Wall Drug. Eating at Wall Drug was one of those one & done experiences. #ParkChat

Triangle Ranch Bed & Breakfast is not to be missed! Especially if you enjoy staying in historic buildings. This house was ordered from the Sears Catalog & built from a kit generations ago! #ParkChat

Not even Timpanogos Cave National Monument during your time in UT? #ParkChat

A6: Butch Cassidy & his Wild Bunch of outlaws hid out in areas of Capitol Reef NP. The gang apparently used the park's remote, tangled canyons as a sanctuary from the law. There's a nice hike with a natural sandstone arch, called Cassidy Arch there. #ParkChat

A4: Some of the red rock parks in UT are notoriously crowded (Arches, Zion). There are lesser traveled trails to hike. When at Zion, head to the less crowded Kolob Canyon unit. CA parks w/redwood trees can also get crowded. Muir Woods has limited parking. Reserve a spot or take a shuttle. #ParkChat

A5: In southern UT, you can visit "The Big 5" parks, as they're close (Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Arches). There are some national monuments relatively close, too! (Cedar Breaks, Natural Bridges, Bears Ears, Grand Staircase Escalante). Head into AZ to visit Monument Valley! #ParkChat

A7: We have mostly tent camped in the UT parks, although we also stayed in an Airbnb once. Cedar City is a good spot with lots of lodging options and not too far from Cedar Breaks NM or Zion NP. We also stayed in a lodge in Bryce Canyon NP. Every option can be a good one! 🏕️ #ParkChat

A8: There are hazards in every park. The animals are wild. The rivers & cliff drop offs can be deadly. In southern UT, it's imperative to bring lots of water with you! Be prepared by following the 10 Essential rules. #ParkChat

A2: It's best to visit southern UT parks in the spring, fall or winter. I can't take the summer heat! Luckily, visiting the redwoods in CA national parks can be done all year long! And we have several national parks here with redwood trees, so if one park is warm, another may be cooler. #ParkChat

A1: My favorite parks are RED. Either filled with redwood trees in California or the red rocks of southern Utah. It's not so much the color, but the intensity! #ParkChat

I'm back home in Northern California after visits to national parks in TX and WA. Ready to chat! #ParkChat

A11: I enjoyed visiting the First Ladies National Historic Site in Ohio. As a NPS unit, it is only 0.46 acres. But it's full of interesting history! #ParkChat

A10: In the past few years we have started to do dispersed camping on public lands. There are no designated sites, no bathrooms, nothing! Surprisingly, there's always someone else doing the same thing. #ParkChat

A8: We shared an annular eclipse with a small group (we chose a remote park on purpose) at Natural Bridges NM. #ParkChat

It's not so bad with the 20-minute rule. Once you get past 20 minutes on a trail in Yosemite, people drop out. And, with the exception of Firefall in February, Yosemite is not crowded in the winter, either. IMHO. #ParkChat

A7: Our longest hikes have been 8-10 miles. Maybe we can improve on that. These photos were from the Peekaboo Trail in Canyonlands NP, which was about that long. #ParkChat

A6: At 554 acres, Muir Woods NM is relatively small. Yet it feels big, with giant redwood trees. The park protects a rare, intact old-growth coast redwood forest and it's close to home. We visit it often. 🌲🌲🌲 #ParkChat

A5: I'm not sure what my highest elevation hike has been. Maybe this one in RMNP. Continental Divide, 10,759 feet. #ParkChat

A4: I've only been to Antietam. Standing in a field of wildflowers there, realizing the same spot was once covered in bodies and blood. So solemn, so sad. #ParkChat

A3: We visited many NPS sites in NY on our Acadia trip. I agree w/ @e-j-terren.bsky.social that there are too many NY parks to see in 1 trip! We visited these National Historic Sites: Van Buren, Eleanor Roosevelt, Home of FDR, Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural, Thomas Cole, Vanderbilt Mansion. #ParkChat

A2: Watch the park movie, engage with any interactive exhibits, or sign up for a ranger guided tour. Some of the more remote parks offer air and boat tours, or rent out bikes. We just visited San Juan Island NHP and had to take a ferry to get there! #ParkChat

A1: We had a fabulous trip to Acadia NP Fall of 2024. Took my mom with us, who was 83 at the time. Wonderful hiking, beautiful fall colors, and delicious Maine blueberry pie. I loved the Thunder Rocks, too! #ParkChat