#parkchat A8 well, don't pet the fluffy cows... 😂 A rare rattlesnake could be seen out in the open rocks at Jewel Cave but not too many hazards here. Keep your eyes up and distance from wildlife and all will be well!

#parkchat A6 at Jewel Cave they have a fun opening slot to see if you can go on their extended tours... 😂

#parkchat A4 Summer=very busy! Wind Cave is large enough to hike away from the crowded overlooks but if you want to take a cave tour at either site, go early or get reservations! Also both NPS sites don't require an entrance pass to visit. 🙌🏼

#parkchat A3 Wind Cave: short hike up Rankin Ridge gives awesome views of park and Custer St Pk. Jewel Cave: don't miss the Historic Entrance, tucked away behind the Ranger Cabin. Both fairly easy hikes.

#parkchat A2 visits to any parks in the #blackhills are definitely better in the off season. Unless you love crowds! Spring = baby animals, fall brings some aspen yellow to the tree line. Busiest is begin. of August bc of Sturgis Rally. Don't visit us then. 😂

Colorado National Monument is also a neat stop along that route and could be a couple hrs, doesn't have to even be half a day if you don't do too much hiking.

#parkchat A11 Florissant Fossil Beds was this. I had no idea what a treat we were in for when we stopped there! Petrified redwoods? Yes please!

#parkchat A8 sticking w the East theme, our day at Sleeping Bear was crowded with perfect weather and being summertime! 😁

#parkchat A5 not in a park but near one. Hiking around at the top of the Beartooth Pass at 10,947 feet is probably our highest hike.

#parkchat A3 we once had a #parkchat meetup in NY. Martin Van Buren felt our presence... 😉 And wow our kids were tiny. 😂

Got to see a glance of nature fireworks before bed last night! #parkchat #blackhills #aurora excuse the photo quality... Hand-held 4-sec exposure. 😂 The green kicked up higher about 30 mins later but I was too tired to head outside for an update image.

#parkchat A11

Sunday #parkchat How about a not too long ago shot from the #blackhills national forest? This was from late May.

No kidding! 🫠 We had to avoid a tornado in W Wis one time coming back from MI... Literally going down back roads we knew to avoid getting hammered. This photo was from near Tomah. Green sky. Scary stuff! #parkchat

#parkchat A8 not summer but an April trip for the full solar eclipse and an October trip for the Annular Eclipse! I guess the full eclipse in 2017 was a short road trip to Agate. Our school actually started a day later that yr so we could all go see it!

#parkchat A2 plenty! 😂 Our favorite was a 12-day road trip to the SW parks. Sadly it was over 90F every day of that trip no matter where we went so and how early we got up. Not much hiking, but we did visit 9 parks and did what we could!

Next week @babyboomersaves.bsky.social will take the host chair once again for #ParkChat. We hope you will all join us again!

#parkchat A9 At the N Entrance to Yellowstone, the arch takes you from forested hills and river, and a small town, onto an open prairie with mountain views and bison bison bison!

#parkchat A8 love the covered bridge in Sleeping Bear Dunes NL. Like entering the deep woods which then opens up to the sand Dunes shortly after!

#parkchat A7 Scotts bluff, where all the western expansion trails came together before splitting apart again.

#parkchat A2 sunsets (and rises) are hard to beat at Badlands! 😁

#parkchat A1 right now is my favorite. Seeing new birds come north every week, new flowers waking up, and baby animals skittering about.

Welcome to #ParkChat! Tonight we're talking Transitions with one of our favorite guest hosts, @adamsowards.net. As usual, say hello and let us know where you are joining from tonight!

#parkchat A11 can't beat our profile Pic. During our trip to Olympic. Technically right outside park boundary but how can you not enjoy an ocean sunset?! 🥰

#parkchat A10 had a moment when my oldest and I did a 4day road trip to NM and back for the Annular Eclipse. Watching said child sand board down the Great Sand Dunes against the spotless fall foliage, perfect hiking temps, embracing every moment before the college years... I got a bit delirious. 😂😭

#parkchat A8 best? Not sure but most western parks have amazing birding! Our first glimpse of the yellow-headed blackbird at Yellowstone was something.

Well we've done some date hikes at Wind Cave a few times. So I'll go for the bonus points! 😂 #parkchat A5

#parkchat A3 Upper and Lower Falls, Yellowstone. The sound, the closeness to something so powerful. Amazing. 🥹

#parkchat A2 30 mins or less? I think I'd go to Trout Lake trail at Yellowstone and try to glimpse some otters while munching on some trail mix or cheese! 🦦

Had a nice #parkchat meetup with @wanderfilledlife.bsky.social tonight at our house before they travel NW from the #blackhills. Thanks for coming over for dinner! 😁 Always fun to swap park stories with you guys. ❤️