Rocky Mountains Region
Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
Colorado
- Visited: Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
- Visited: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
- Visited: Colorado National Monument
- Not yet: Curecanti National Recreation Area
- Visited: Dinosaur National Monument
- Not yet: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
- Visited: Great Sand Dunes National Park
- Visited: Hovenweep National Monument
- Visited: Mesa Verde National Park
- Visited: Rocky Mountain National Park
- Not yet: Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
- Not yet: Yucca House National Monument
Montana
- Visited: Big Hole National Battlefield
- Visited: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
- Visited: Glacier National Park
- Visited: Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site
- Visited: Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
North Dakota
- Visited: Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
- Visited: Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
- Visited: Theodore Roosevelt National Park
South Dakota
- Visited: Badlands National Park
- Not yet: Jewel Cave National Monument
- Visited: Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
- Visited: Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- Visited: Wind Cave National Park
Utah
- Visited: Arches National Park
- Visited: Bryce Canyon National Park
- Visited: Canyonlands National Park
- Visited: Capitol Reef National Park
- Not yet: Cedar Breaks National Monument
- Not yet: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
- Visited: Golden Spike National Historical Park
- Not yet: Natural Bridges National Monument
- Visited: Rainbow Bridge National Monument
- Visited: Timpanogos Cave National Monument
- Visited: Zion National Park
Wyoming
- Visited: Devils Tower National Monument
- Visited: Fort Laramie National Historic Site
- Not yet: Fossil Butte National Monument
- Visited: Grand Teton National Park
- Not yet: John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway
- Visited: Yellowstone National Park
Recent Posts
Canyonlands National Park
Stretching across southeastern Utah, this vast wilderness is a maze of deep canyons, towering mesas, rugged buttes, and sandstone cliffs that have been sculpted over millions of years by the Colorado River and the Green River. Canyonlands National Park was established on September 12, 1964, to preserve one of the most spectacular and unspoiled canyon […]
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Rainbow Bridge National Monument was established on May 30, 1910, to protect what is widely recognized as one of the world’s largest known natural bridges. Rising 290 feet above the canyon floor with a span of 275 feet, this extraordinary formation stands in the remote canyon country of southern Utah, where it has inspired awe […]
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Some landscapes tell their story through mountains or waterfalls. Bighorn Canyon tells its story through the relationship between water and stone. For millions of years, the Bighorn River carved its way through ancient limestone cliffs, creating one of the deepest canyons in the northern Rocky Mountains. Today, those towering canyon walls frame the waters of […]
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Some landscapes seem almost impossible to explain. Standing on the rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison, I found myself wondering how a river could create such a narrow, steep, and dramatic gorge. Unlike the broad vistas of the Grand Canyon, Black Canyon feels compressed. Towering cliffs plunge almost vertically toward the Gunnison River, and […]
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, near Stanton, North Dakota, preserves an important part of the story of the Northern Plains Indians who lived along the upper Missouri River. Here, visitors can explore the lives of the Hidatsa, Mandan, and Arikara peoples and learn about the established communities they created along these rivers. The […]
Colorado National Monument
Colorado National Monument, near Grand Junction in western Colorado, is a landscape shaped by immense sandstone cliffs, deep canyons, and unusual rock formations. From the overlooks, the colorful formations rise dramatically above the surrounding desert, with the broad Grand Valley and distant mountains stretching across the horizon. Colorado National Monument became a protected national monument […]
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
One of the most fascinating units of the National Park System is the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site in western South Dakota. Established by Congress in 1999 and opened to the public in stages during the following decade, the site preserves the history of the Cold War, nuclear deterrence, and one of the most significant […]
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site in Williston, North Dakota, preserves the most important fur trading post on the upper Missouri River. Established as a National Historic Site in 1966, the reconstructed fort tells the story of a bustling commercial center where cultures met, friendships were formed, and commerce shaped the future of the […]
Fort Laramie National Historic Site
Fort Laramie National Historic Site in Fort Laramie, Wyoming, preserves one of the most important crossroads in the history of the American West. Established as a private fur trading post in 1834, the fort eventually evolved into the largest and most significant military post on the northern plains. It became a vital stop for thousands […]
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park in south-central Utah is one of those places that often surprises first-time visitors. Established as a national park in 1971, it is sometimes overshadowed by Utah’s other famous parks, yet it offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the Southwest. Driving across Utah is an experience unlike any other. It […]
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is best known for Old Faithful, but some of the park’s most fascinating features are found away from the crowds. One of those places is Punch Bowl Spring in the Upper Geyser Basin, a beautiful hot spring that has quietly fascinated visitors for generations. Yellowstone holds a special place in American history. […]
Wind Cave National Park
On our cross-country drive to visit South Dakota, we enjoyed many of the historic and natural treasures that make the state such a great destination. One of the most fascinating stops was Wind Cave National Park. Looking across the rolling prairie above ground, it is difficult to imagine the entirely different world that lies hidden […]
