National Park Journal

NATIONAL PARK JOURNAL is the authority on national park travel and is devoted to bringing the national park experience to the palm of your hand. Providing comprehensive seasonal trip-planning information for four of the United States’ major national parks - Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone and Yosemite - each issue focuses on one park and includes feature stories, photo essays, road-trip itineraries, lodging and dining information, wildlife beta and more.

Baby Mountain Goats

EDITOR'S NOTE • There are very few people who have seen the Rocky Mountains from space, but one of them is Colorado native Vance Brand. As an astronaut, Brand flew four missions in space, one of which was the first meeting of Americans and Russians in orbit in 1975.

National Park Journal

FOUR EPIC ROAD TRIPS • Here are four fabulous road trips to Colorado›s national parks, originating in cities like Denver and Salt Lake City. Turn to our Road Trips section, starting on page 18, for insider details and itineraries.

INSIDER'S TIPS • Every year, we help more than 700,000 travelers plan a Colorado national park vacation. Here's how to build your itinerary.

TRAVELER'S CHECKLIST

COLORADO NATIONAL PARKS 7-DAY ENTRANCE FEES • Buy your pass at a park entrance station.

WELCOME TO PARADISE • Ready for your ultimate Colorado vacation? Our insider’s guide to Rocky Mountain National Park, plus tips on Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Great Sand Dunes and Mesa Verde national parks, will lead you to the best hiking trails, viewpoints and scenic drives.

COLORADO’S BIG FOUR • In Colorado, four national parks showcase some of the country’s most varied and scenic terrain from the nation’s tallest sand dune to alpine lakes, ancient ruins and a sheer canyon.

DISCOVER MESA VERDE’S BEST • You could spend weeks exploring every nook and cranny of Mesa Verde National Park, a cultural gem located in southwestern Colorado. But what if you only have a day or two? Here are some of the park’s best spots.

CLIFFSIDE FUN • With incredible sheer black cliffs and a history-filled past, Black Canyon of the Gunnison is one of Colorado’s most underrated destinations. Here are our top 4 things to do.

PARK ENTRANCE PRIMER • Spanning the Continental Divide, Rocky Mountain National Park is filled with alpine lakes, the headwaters of the Colorado River and dozens of peaks that reach 12,000 feet and higher. Access the park through four entrances, three on the park’s east side and one on the west.

ROCKY’S TOP SIX • Here are some of our favorite things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park.

WHAT TO PACK • After many trips to Colorado's four national parks, we’ve created the ultimate packing list. Use it to spend more time outside and less time shopping for items you forgot.

MORE TO EXPLORE • While Colorado’s national parks might steal the spotlight, its 41 state parks shouldn’t be overlooked. These beautiful public lands are often less crowded and just as beautiful. Here are four of our favorite picks.

LAND OF ENCHANTMENT • Stunning landscapes, culture and adobe villages await on this 2,121-mile trip.

SAND AND SUN • Play in the giant sandbox of White Sands National Monument.

EXPLORE THE INSIDE OF THE EARTH

TRUE NEW MEXICO • Drive the 62-mile Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway and discover our top six things to do in Santa Fe County along the way.

YÁ’ÁT’ÉÉH TO FARMINGTON • In Navajo, yá’át’ééh means “welcome." Dive deep into Navajo culture with these four stops in Farmington, N.M. Plus Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness area, dotted by sculpted rock and colorful hills, is just 35 miles away.

MESA VERDE’S “LOST” PEOPLE • Turkeys, language and oral histories tell the story of the vanished people of...