National Parks and Monuments

This is a list of the national parks and monuments I've been fortunate enough to visit. I believe it is of utmost importance to go to these places and visit them while we still can, for these places are truly our national treasures. It is not enough to save them just for their aesthetic beauty, but also for their value as storehouses of the natural history of our planet. And of course, the amazing biodiversity contained in these places is priceless.

I also believe that experiencing and understanding the majesty of nature requires more than simply gazing at it from the comfort of a car. Although I have visited a fair number of parks, the ones in which I've at least done significant day hikes or overnight backcountry camping is only a subset. Those places are indicated by an asterisk (*).

I should also mention that one need not travel to an official national park or monument to experience nature - there are still a great many natural wonders to see in our national forests, wilderness areas, and even BLM lands, if one knows where to look.

• *Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, HI - 1987, 1999
• *Haleakala National Park, HI - 1999
• *Saguaro National Park, AZ - 1987-91, 1996, 2002 (many visits)
• *Rocky Mountain National Park, CO - 1986, 1997, 2003
• *Yosemite National Park, CA - 1988, 1995-99, 2001, 2004 (many visits)
• *Grand Canyon National Park, AZ - 1991
• *Chiricahua National Monument, AZ - 1992
• *Channel Islands National Park, CA - 1993
• *Point Reyes National Seashore, CA - 1992, 1994-98 (many visits)
• *Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI - 1999
• *Death Valley National Park, CA - 1994, 1997-99, 2004
• *Mt. Rainier National Park, WA - 1994, 1998
• Olympic National Park, WA - 1994
• *Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, WA - 1994, 2001
• Cabrillo National Monument, CA - 1994
• *Pinnacles National Monument, CA - 1975, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004
• *Redwoods National Park, CA - 1995
• *Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA - 1995, 1996
• *Organ Pipe National Monument, AZ - 1996
• *Sequoia National Park, CA - 1996, 1998
• *Golden Gate National Recreation Area, CA - 1991, 1993, 1997, 1999
• *Joshua Tree National Park, CA - 2001

Some of the nice State Parks I've been able to visit as well:

• *Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, TX - 1991, 1992
• Patagonia Lake State Park, AZ - 1991
• *Picacho Peak State Park, AZ - 1993
• *Tucson Mountain Park, AZ - 1987-91 (many visits)
• *Mt. Diablo State Park, CA - 1994, 1995
• Humboldt Redwoods State Park, CA - 1995
• Goat Rock State Beach, CA - 1995
• Homosassa Springs State Park, FL - 1995
• *Mt. Tamalpais State Park, CA - 1996
• *Andrew Molera State Park, CA - 1996
• *Pfeiffer-Big Sur State Park, CA - 1996
• *Angel Island State Park, CA - 1996
• *Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, CA - 1997
• Butano State Park, CA - 1999
• *Boulder Mountain Park, CO - 1997
• Akaka Falls State Park, HI - 1999
• Lava Trees State Park, HI - 1999
• Davis Creek State Park, NV - 1999
• *Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, CA - 2000-03
• *Wilder Ranch State Park, CA - 2000-04
• *Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, CA - 2000-04
• *Ano Nuevo State Park, CA - 2000-02
• *Halibut Point State Reserve, MA - 2002
• *Big Basin State Park, CA - 2003
• *Garrapata State Park, CA - 2003-4

Wilderness areas:

• *Gila Wilderness, NM - 1991
• *Desolation Wilderness, CA - 1996, 1998
• *John Muir Wilderness, CA - 1996, 1997
• *White Mountains National Forest, CA - 2001

National Wildlife Refuges:

• *Grey Lodge, CA - 1995, 1997-98
• *Seney, MI - 1999
• *Nisqually, WA - 1997, 1999, 2001
• Don Edwards, CA - 1998
• Gulf of the Farallones, CA - 1998
• Monterey Bay Natl Marine Sanctuary, CA - 2000-01
• Kesterson, CA - 2004

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Last updated June 23, 2004