National Parks in 2022

Along with exploring every state, another of our many objectives of this full-time RV lifestyle is to visit all 63 national parks. It’s long been one of Jenn’s life goals.

We’ve already been to several, and in 2022 we have planned our route to hit about 22 more. See yesterday’s 2022 plans post for the route map.

Jenn has a book to commemorate our visits to each park. She has added flags for each of the parks we plan to visit this year, color-coded by state:

National Parks book

The book includes a map with locations of all of the parks; there are a lot on the west side of the country, where we will be all year:

National Parks book

For each park there are some factoids, a sticker to add, and space to write some notes about our experience (and for Yellowstone, Jenn added a Junior Ranger sticker she got from a nice ranger who stopped by our campsite):

National Parks book

Here’s one of the ones we plan to visit this year:

National Parks book

We also have a road atlas book with more national park info and lots of maps:

Road Atlas book

Road Atlas book

Road Atlas book

Road Atlas book

We generally use our Macs, iPhones, and GPS units for navigating, but it’s useful to have paper-based tools, too.

Follow along as we visit each of the national parks!

Joshua Tree National Park

Our next national park was the Joshua Tree National Park, conveniently north of our campground in Indio, California: about an hour to the west entrance (where we went in), and half an hour from the south entrance (where we came out).

While exploring the park, we tried something new: we listened to a narrated self-driving tour of the park, using an app called Action Tour Guide that worked offline (good thing, since there was no cell service in much of the park), using the phone’s GPS to track our location on a map, and play narration clips when we reached certain points. That was a nice addition to our tour, pointing out interesting places to stop, and telling stories about the history of the area, so we’ll probably do that for other places too.

Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center sign:

Joshua Tree National Park sign

Joshua Tree info in the visitor center:

Joshua Tree info

Joshua Tree National Park sign, with people posing in front of it, and a long line of cars to get in:

Joshua Tree National Park sign

It was nice that when we got near the entrance station, they were waving people with National Park passes into a bypass lane.

But a tip for anyone visiting: there would have been no line at the south entrance; much fewer people over that side of the park, but also less to see for quite a while.

Joshua trees alongside the road:

Joshua trees

Joshua trees

We stopped at the Quail Springs picnic area for lunch. Here’s our truck by a big rock:

Rock and truck

Rock:

Rock

Joshua trees:

Joshua trees

Rock and the bench where we had a picnic lunch; if you look closely you’ll see someone rappelling down the left side:

Rock and picnic bench

More interesting rock formations:

Rock

Jenn on a rock:

Jenn on a rock

Rocks:

Rocks

Desert plants:

Joshua trees

A view of Coachella Valley from Keys View; our coach was in Indio, which is near the center of this picture, in the valley:

Valley

Selfie (or “usie”):

Jenn and David

Info sign:

Info sign

Coachella Valley:

Valley

Road through the desert:

Road

Joshua tree:

Joshua tree

Cap Rock:

Cap Rock

Cap Rock

More interesting rocks near the road:

Rocks

We took a detour onto a dirt road (Desert Queen Mine Road):

Dirt road

Probably my favorite picture of Joshua trees:

Joshua trees

Rocks:

Rocks

We walked along a trail for a short distance, to see more interesting things:

Path

A couple of pictures of me, taken by Jenn:

David

David

Me taking a picture of Jenn taking a selfie (a “youie”?):

Jenn

Spiky:

Spiky

More desert plants:

Desert plants

Desert plants

Desert plants

Skull Rock:

Skull Rock

Rocks:

Rocks

Road:

Road

Desert:

Desert

Desert plants:

Desert plants

Hills:

Hills

Leaving the park via the south road:

Leaving park

Bonus; after leaving the park, we saw some hot air balloons in the sky:

Hot air balloon

Hot air balloons

Hot air balloon

Pinnacles National Park

One of our goals in traveling the country is to visit all of the national parks, and the Thousand Trails San Benito Preserve campground is conveniently half an hour away from one — Pinnacles National Park:

Pinnacles National Park entrance

We went to the east entrance, which we were warned was busy, being a free entrance day. But since it was the afternoon, the crowds had died down, so we didn’t have any difficulties.

Here’s the Old Pinnacles info sign:

Old Pinnacles sign

We’re not into hiking (yet?), but got a view of some rock formations from the parking lot:

Rocks

There wasn’t a huge amount to see from there, so we decided to drive an hour to the west entrance. On the way, we enjoyed the wide open countryside:

Grass

A small delay due to some produce spilled from a poorly loaded truck:

Spill

Another field:

Field

The road to the park is mostly only one lane:

One lane road

Burnt area:

Burnt area

The Pinnacles National Park west entrance:

Pinnacles National Park entrance

This side has a much better view of the rocks:

Rocks

Pinnacles National Park sign:

Pinnacles National Park sign

Fire lookout:

Fire lookout

Rocks:

Rocks

Info sign:

Info sign

Rocks:

Rocks

Road and rocks:

Road and rocks

Rocks and the moon:

Rocks

Rocks

Info sign:

Info sign

Hey look, more rocks:

Rocks

Rocks

Rocks

Birds, probably condors:

Birds

We went along a path for a better view:

Rocks

Rocks

Rocks

Rocks

A selfie with Jenn and me:

Jenn and David

Lassen Volcanic National Park

While staying at Heritage RV Park, we took an hour drive to Lassen Volcanic National Park.

We’ve been to this park before, but wanted to visit again, even though the park is closed at present, other than the visitor centers at a couple of entrances. If nothing else, it was an enjoyable drive.

For example, here’s a viewpoint on the way to Lassen:

Viewpoint on way to Lassen

Viewpoint on way to Lassen

Getting closer to the park, we saw some burnt trees:

Burnt trees

A little snow on the side of the road as we gained elevation:

A little snow on the side of the road

A snowy peak in the distance:

Snowy peak

More snow by the road:

Snow

The southwest entrance to Lassen:

Lassen entrance

The visitor center:

Visitor center

Visitor center

Relief map of the park:

Relief map of the park

Snowy peaks:

Snowy

Snowy

After going out of the park, we headed northwards, through a tiny town named Manton, which made me think of the creator of the Micro.blog service, Manton Reece:

Manton

Manton

Manton

A couple of narrow bridges:

Narrow bridge

Narrow curvy bridge

Small town Halloween; they were holding traffic to enable the kids to safely cross the highway:

Small town Halloween

Manzanita Lake, near the northwest entrance to Lassen:

Manzanita Lake

Manzanita Lake

Ranger station:

Ranger station

Seismograph:

Seismograph

Seismograph

Museum:

Museum

Museum displays:

Museum display

Museum display

A bridge led to a trail:

Bridge

Stream:

Stream

Trees:

Trees

Burnt trees:

Burnt trees

Fallen tree:

Fallen tree

Burnt trees:

Burnt trees

More trees:

Tree

Trees

Trees and mountain:

Trees and mountain

A selfie with Jenn and me:

Jenn and David

Olympic National Park

On Sunday we took a day trip to Olympic National Park in the Northeast corner of Washington state.

It’s a large park, nearly a million acres, mostly mountainous. We went in the Staircase entrance in the Southwest corner of the park, then skirted the park up highway 101, and went in again at the Hurricane Ridge entrance.

Here’s the Staircase ranger station:

Staircase ranger station

Staircase info sign:

Staircase info sign

North Fork Skokomish River at Staircase:

North Fork Skokomish River at Staircase

An animated GIF of the river:

North Fork Skokomish River at Staircase

A little further downstream, next to the Staircase campground:

North Fork Skokomish River at Staircase

The water was so amazingly clear:

North Fork Skokomish River at Staircase

Some fallen trees:

North Fork Skokomish River at Staircase

An interesting structure:

Interesting structure

Further downstream:

North Fork Skokomish River

Lake Cushman:

Lake Cushman

Lake Cushman

The portion of the road to Staircase outside the park was a somewhat rough dirt road; an opportunity to engage 4WD mode on our truck:

Dirt road

At the visitor center in Hoodsport, an interesting relief map:

Relief map

We had lunch at El Puerto De Angeles in Hoodsport, with a waterfront view from our table of a couple of seals relaxing on a dock:

Seals on a dock

Seals on a dock

A GIF of the seals:

Seals on a dock

I experimented with the iPhone 13 Pro Max macro camera on my margarita:

Macro margartia

A tasty margarita and burrito:

Burrito

After lunch, we headed north up highway 101, and saw a sign for a viewpoint, so headed up a road… that turned out much longer than expected. Apparently the viewpoint was at the top of a mountain. Looking at the map, we still had a long way to go, so decided to turn around, since it was socked in with clouds anyway. The road was quite interesting, with a sea of clouds next to sheer drop-offs:

clouds next to dirt road

clouds next to dirt road

Our truck wasn’t quite so clean after those dirt roads:

Dirty truck

On reaching Port Angeles, we headed into the park again at the Hurricane Ridge entrance… which was using a temporary entrance station in a cargo container while the permanent ones were being renovated:

Temporary entrance station

At a viewpoint on the road to Hurricane Ridge, an info sign:

Info sign

The view:

Viewpoint on the road to Hurricane Ridge

The first of three tunnels as we entered the cloud layer:

Tunnel on the road to Hurricane Ridge

Tunnels on the road to Hurricane Ridge

We drove through the thick fog-like cloud layer for several miles, wondering if the top would be socked in… but no, we saw the sun again as we neared the top:

Nearing the top of the clouds

Nearing the top of the clouds

The Hurricane Ridge visitor center:

Hurricane Ridge visitor center

Awesome views from above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge:

Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge

Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge

Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge

Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge

A selfie:

David and Jenn at Hurricane Ridge

Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge

Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge

An info sign on the North side of the ridge:

Info sign

The view on that side:

Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge

Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge

Unicorn Peak looked like a whale breaching:

Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge

Heading downhill into the clouds:

Heading downhill

Heading downhill into the clouds

Heading downhill into the clouds

We went for a stroll on the dock at Port Angeles:

Dock at Port Angeles

Dock at Port Angeles

For dinner, Jenn had fish and chips, and I had a burger and fries at Smugglers Landing Restaurant on the wharf:

Burger and fries

Followed by “New Zealand-style” Welly’s fruit ice cream from a trailer outside:

Ice cream trailer

The sun had set at that point, so we headed back to Mom’s place in the dark. About 12 hours round-trip, and we only saw a tiny fraction of the park. But it was a great day-trip, a sample of the kind of thing we want to do more of in our new RV lifestyle.

Yellowstone trip day 7: Canyon and Grand Prismatic Spring

On day seven of our Yellowstone trip, the fourth and last full day in the park, we had a grand time visiting the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, plus a dusk trip to the Grand Prismatic Spring.

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone:

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Waterfall:

Waterfall

Jenn taking photos:

Jenn taking photos

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Waterfall:

Waterfall

Waterfall

Waterfall

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Waterfall

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Family pic at Artist Point:

Family at Artist Point

On the way back, spotted some more bison:

Bison

Bison

After dinner, Jenn, Eliza, and I decided to take a sunset trip to Grand Prismatic Spring. On the way, yep, it’s more bison:

Bison

Runoff from Excelsior Geyser Crater:

Runoff from Excelsior Geyser Crater

Eliza and Jenn on the boardwalk; it was nice to have the place almost to ourselves:

Eliza and Jenn on boardwalk

Excelsior Geyser Crater:

Excelsior Geyser Crater

Excelsior Geyser Crater

Runoff from Grand Prismatic Spring, in the just-past-sunset glow:

Runoff from Grand Prismatic Spring

Grand Prismatic Spring:

Grand Prismatic Spring

Reflected moon:

Reflected moon

Grand Prismatic Spring

Jenn and Eliza on the boardwalk:

Jenn and Eliza on the boardwalk

Info signs:

Grand Prismatic Spring info

Grand Prismatic Spring

Grand Prismatic Spring

Grand Prismatic Spring

Grand Prismatic Spring

Grand Prismatic Spring

Grand Prismatic Spring

Dusk:

Dusk

Dusk

Dusk

Yellowstone trip day 6: Norris Geyser Basin

On day six of our Yellowstone trip, the third full day in the park, we explored the Norris Geyser Basin.

An unintentionally memorable hike, as Jenn tripped on a root and knocked me over, gashing my knee. It looked worse than it was, though; I was able to continue without too much difficulty.

The Norris Geyser Basin map:

Norris Geyser Basin map

Emerald Spring pool:

Emerald Springl pool

The Steamboat Geyser; apparently it hasn’t gone off for months, so we were excited to see it erupting; it continued for the entire time we were there:

Steamboat Geyser

Steamboat Geyser

Jenn’s father was excited to see it erupting, since it hadn’t all the many previous times he’d visited the park over the years:

Jenn's father

Steamboat Geyser

Looking downhill:

Looking downhill

Blue thermal pool:

Blue thermal pool

Orange themal pool:

Red themal pool

Another thermal thingy:

Another thermal thingy

Another thermal pool:

Another thermal pool

Puff ‘n Stuff Geyser:

Puff 'n Stuff Geyser

Geyser valley:

Geyser valley

Steamy:

Steamy

Steamy pool and cave:

Steamy pool and cave

Yellow Funnel Spring:

Yellow Funnel Spring

Geyser basin:

Geyser basin

Pool and vent:

Pool and vent

Muddy geyser:

Geyser

Thermal pool:

Thermal pool

Pool:

Pool

Geyser basin:

Geyser basin

Yellowstone trip day 5: to Mammoth

On day five of our Yellowstone trip, our second full day in the park, we drove up from the Madison Campground to the Mammoth area.

On the way, a stop at Gibbon Falls:

Gibbon falls

Gibbon falls

The Gibbon River below the falls:

Gibbon river

Sheepeater Cliff:

Sheepeater cliff

Sheepeater cliff

Sheepeater cliff

Arriving at Mammoth, we saw some elk lazing by a building:

Elk at Mammoth

While eating lunch on some grass, the rangers started getting excited about elk moving nearby, telling everyone to give them space. A female and young elk wandered through the grass where we had been sitting:

Elk at Mammoth

Followed by a bull, who was trying to get them to go back to the others:

Elk at Mammoth

Elk at Mammoth

The elk back by the building:

Elk at Mammoth

The Mammoth terraces:

Mammoth terraces

A nearby bridge and valley:

Bridge and valley

On the way back to the campground, we encountered a bison jam; just a bison slowly wandering down the road, followed by a line of cars:

Bison jam

Bison jam

Yellowstone trip day 4: Bison, Midway Geyser Basin, Old Faithful

On day four of our Yellowstone trip, we drove down from the Madison Campground to Old Faithful, exploring the Midway Geyser Basin on the way.

With a little detour for bison by Fountain Flat Drive:

Bison

Bison

Bison

Midway Geyser Basin:

Midway Geyser Basin

Boardwalk:

Boardwalk

Runoff:

Runoff

Blue thermal pool:

Blue pool

Blue pool

Jenn:

Jenn

Green thermal pool:

Green pool

Boardwalk and geysers:

Boardwalk and geysers

Geysers:

Geysers

Then on to the Old Faithful area; here’s the visitor center:

Old Faithful visitor center

Old Faithful lodge:

Old Faithful lodge

Old Faithful lodge

Old Faithful lodge

Old Faithful lodge

Old Faithful geyser, with a crowd watching it erupt:

Old Faithful geyser

Old Faithful geyser

Back at the campground, and the nearby Madison river:

Madison river

Madison river

Yellowstone trip day 3, to Madison campground

On day three, we went from Jerome, ID to Yellowstone National Park.

Very flat in Idaho:

Flat

Looking back at the trailer in the side mirrors, including an extended mirror to account for the wider trailer:

Mirrors

An interesting building in a rest area in Firth, Idaho:

Rest area

Rest area truck and trailer parking:

Rest area parking

At last, we reached Yellowstone! Here’s the entrance road:

Yellowstone entrance road

Our campsite in the Madison campground within Yellowstone:

Campsite

An amusing result of the higher elevation; puffed up bags of chips:

Puffed up chips

That evening, a pleasant fire and conversation with the family:

Fire

Tomorrow, we explore some of Yellowstone.