eXploreApark - National Park Visitor Guides

Find your Way to America's Natural Treasures

Enjoying Nine Months of Spring in Sequoia National Park

By John McKinney

Abundant Spring Blooms in Joshua Tree National Park

The Joshua Tree National Park area is sometimes known as the “connecting” desert because of its location between the Mojave and the Colorado Desert, and because it shares characteristics of each. The Mojave, a desert of mountains, and the hotter-drier-lower Colorado Desert, feature different crops of wildflowers bursting into blooms at different times. This year promises to be quite good, even spectacular because an ideal combination of rains and warm weather will generate millions of wildflower seeds.

Near the south entrance, look for expanses of poppies, lupine and chia, a member of the mint family. Sand dunes are colored with purple verbena. At lower elevations along park roads, observe white pincushions, small, white forget-me-nots.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage

April marks the region’s annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, a 5-day event consisting of wildflower walks, natural history talks, motorcades and more. The annual event that some botanists call “Wildflower National Park” runs late April.

With lots of rain (some 90 inches a year) Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosts some 1,500 flowering plants. Look for flame azalea in April and May, mountain laurel bursts forth with white and pink flowers from early May through June, and rhododendrons in June.

eXplore A National Park Discover So Much More

Hike in Yosemite. Camp in Shenandoah. Boat in Biscayne. America’s National Parks offer visitors from across the country and around the world the joys of hiking, camping and boating. Watch the lava flow in Hawaii Volcanoes. Watch the mornings first glow in Acadia. Watch a geyser blow in Yellowstone.

America’s National Parklands preserve some 83 million acres of natural wonders and historical treasures. Cycle around Crater Lake. Kayak around the Channel Islands. Bird-watch at Point Reyes. The park system’s 388 units include lakeshores, seashores, cultural and historical sites. Tour Carlsbad Caverns. Raft the Grand Canyon. Soak in Arkansas Hot Springs.

Whatever Your Inspiration, Let eXploreApark Be Your Guide

ExploreAPark is here to help you find your way to our wonderful national parks and to encourage you to join us in advocating for their continued protection and support. ExploreAPark’s network of park websites is designed to give you an insider’s view of the parks—where to go, where to overnight, the “must sees,” the undiscovered gems, and how to beat the crowds. It’s not all the information in the world; it’s what you need to know before you go.

With Best Wishes,
Mark Chumley, President
The ExploreAPark Network

Ten Most Popular National Parks

Long admired for the majestic beauty, and awe inspiring sights these perennial favorites are always at the top of the list. Take a look at what these parks have to offer by selecting a link.

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National Lands

Everyone knows of the nation’s crown jewels—America’s national parks. Few realize that America boasts a dozen more national lands, some under the stewardship of the National Park Service and others under the jurisdiction of other federal land use agencies.

Uncrowded National Parks

Hiking Adventures in California's less-visited National Parklands, where you're sure to see many more trees than people. Learn more about four of The Trailmaster's favorite national parks off the beaten track.

Ten Less-Visited National Parks

Our National Park Trails

By The Trailmaster, John McKinney
In my judgment, the state of the nation’s national park trail system is quite good. Trailhead parking, interpretive panels and displays, as well as signage are generally excellent. Backcountry junctions are usually signed and trail conditions generally range from good to excellent.

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