Tag: National Parks

Visit 7 National Parks, Forests & Monuments From Pet Friendly Kanab
[ad_1]
Southern Utah has the highest concentration of natural wonders found anywhere on earth. And pet friendly Kanab is the perfect basecamp for your adventures! With three national parks, two national monuments, a national forest, a national recreation area, a state park, and all the activities Kanab has to offer, exploring here with your pets is a dream!

In many ways pet friendly Kanab, Utah feels much as you’d expect any city with less than 5,000 residents to feel. It has a friendly, small-town vibe where serenity and relaxation come easily.

But Kanab’s serendipitous location provides once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to experience some of the most spectacular scenery in America. Visitors here are spoiled with options. And at the end of each day, the unique accommodations and brilliant restaurants restore your body for the next day’s adventure.

Kanab’s Top Attractions

If you’re on a mission to visit America’s most amazing places, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better vacation destination than Kanab, Utah! Three national parks within easy driving distance. Two breathtaking national monuments. A stunning national forest. A national recreation area visited by more than two million people a year. And that’s just the beginning!

National Parks

Bryce Canyon National Park

Just a 90 minute drive from pet friendly Kanab, Bryce Canyon is known for its incredible rock formations. Like a forest of spires and fins clinging to the canyon walls, the fantastically colored hoodoos are constantly changing.

Wind, rain, snow, freezing, and thawing sculpt the stone, forming new hoodoos while turning others to piles of clay. No matter how many times you visit, there’s always something new to see.

READ MORE ⇒ Tips For Visiting Bryce Canyon National Park With Pets

Grand Canyon National Park – North Rim

More than five million people visit the Grand Canyon each year. But only a fraction of them come to the North Rim. From Kanab, you can be there in 90 minutes!

Unfortunately, people traveling with pets will find the North Rim less pet friendly than the South Rim. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth seeing!

At the North Rim dogs are allowed on the Bridal Path and the portion of the Arizona Trail that runs between North Kaibab Trailhead and the north entrance of the park. Both trails are pretty, but neither have views of the canyon.

Pets are also allowed at the picnic areas and in the parking areas of the overlooks. So, pack a lunch and plan to drive the 30 miles of scenic roads at the North Rim, stopping along the way to take in the views.

READ MORE ⇒ Tips For Visiting The South Rim Of Grand Canyon National Park With Pets

Zion National Park

Zion National Park, Utah’s oldest and most popular park, is a 40-minute drive from pet friendly Kanab. With the red and white walls of Navajo sandstone towering 2,000 feet above you, hiking with your pet in Zion is an experience you’ll never forget.

Leashed pets can join you on all paved surfaces at Zion. This includes along public roads and parking areas, in the developed campgrounds, at all turnouts, and on the Pa’rus Trail. In addition, pets are welcome in the picnic areas and on the grounds of the Zion Lodge.

READ MORE ⇒ Tips For Visiting Zion National Park With Pets

National Monuments

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Over 250 million years of the Earth’s geologic history can be seen in the colorful cliffs at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the monument covers nearly 1.9 million acres. And the Grand Staircase unit is just a few minutes from pet friendly Kanab.

Choose to explore on your own, or hire one Kanab’s excellent outdoor guides and outfitters to show you the hard-to-reach places.

Willis Creek Canyon in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Vermilion Cliffs National Monument

People come from all over the world to see the colorful sandstone swirls in Vermilion Cliffs. But if you’re driving from Kanab, you can be there in about 45 minutes.

The Marble Canyon Area is easily accessed from Hwy 89A where it crosses the Colorado River. Here you can take in the views from your car or enjoy a short hike. And as you cross the Navajo Bridge keep your eyes peeled for the California condors that make the bridge home.

If you’re looking for a more remote adventure, you’ll need to plan ahead. Dogs can hike with you in Coyote Buttes North (The Wave), Coyote Buttes South, and for overnight trips in Paria Canyon, but both you and your pup must obtain a permit in advance.

Coyote Buttes – Vermillion Cliffs National Monument

National Forest

Dixie National Forest

If you’re looking to do some hiking with your furry travel buddy, don’t miss the Dixie National Forest. Just 30 minutes from Kanab, Dixie covers almost 2 million acres and is criss-crossed by hundreds of miles of trails.

The best part is … every square inch of the national forest is pet friendly! From mountain tops to pastoral valleys, you and your pet could spend a lifetime in Dixie and not see it all.

READ MORE ⇒ Discovering Utah’s Pet Friendly Dixie National Forest

National Recreation Area

Lake Powell / Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

The deep blue waters of Lake Powell are framed by soaring red peaks. And from pet friendly Kanab, you can be there in about 75 minutes. Though it’s a popular destination, the shoreline here is longer than the entire West Coast of the United States. So you can always find a secluded cove or canyon.

Of course, being on the water is the main attraction here. And you’ll find pet friendly powerboats, houseboats, and kayak rentals available. So you and your pet can have a ball exploring Lake Powell in the watercraft of your choice. Or, when water levels allow, take the ferry between Bullfrog Marina and Halls Crossing for a leisurely cruise.

READ MORE ⇒ Tips for Canoeing or Kayaking with Dogs

Basecamp: Pet Friendly Kanab, Utah

Named for a Paiute word meaning “place of the willows,” Kanab, Utah is the perfect basecamp for exploring all the pet friendly wonders of Southern Utah. Offering world-class hiking and hidden slot canyons, it’s also home to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. And having the largest animal sanctuary in the United States in your backyard makes Kanab an extremely pet friendly city! There are few places where pets aren’t welcome in Kanab. So you and your furry travel companion will find plenty to do together!

Best Time To Visit With Pets

Spring and fall are the most obvious times to visit the American Southwest with pets. However, with 256 days of sunshine each year, chances are good that you will see several days of blue skies and sunshine anytime you visit pet friendly Kanab, Utah.

If you’re hoping to avoid the crowds at the national parks, plan your trip in winter when highs in Kanab are in the mid-40s to low 50s. In fact, the only way to experience Zion Canyon — the most popular attraction at Zion National Park — with your pets is to visit when the park’s shuttles aren’t operating. And they only shut down for certain periods between December and February.

An Entertaining History

Before it became travel destination, Kanab was honing its skills as a gracious host to actors and film crews drawn by its scenery. Nicknamed “Little Hollywood,” hundreds of films have been produced in the area since the 1920s when the local landscape became a favorite for cowboy movies.

Celebrating that heritage, more than 90 plaques now make up Kanab’s Walk of Fame. For old movie buffs, strolling around downtown checking out the photos, actor bios, and film credits for the movies and TV shows shot in Kanab and Kane County is endlessly entertaining!

Myles reading Dale Evans’ plaque on the Walk of Fame in Kanab

Kanab’s Pet Friendly Trails System

The selection of pet friendly trails in and around Kanab offers something for everyone. From dino tracks to waterfalls, remote lakes to slot canyons, easy jaunts to all-day treks, you’ll find the perfect option for you and your pet on the Visit Southern Utah website.

Spend A Day At Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Located on 6,000 acres just five miles north of downtown Kanab, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is much more than its name implies. Started in 1984, Best Friends has gone from caring for animals in search of homes to leading a nationwide movement to bring an end to the killing of homeless dogs and cats. No animal lover would consider a trip to Kanab complete without visiting this inspiring place.

On any given day, the sanctuary is home to as many as 1,600 dogs, cats, birds, bunnies, horses, pigs and other animals. And you’re invited to take a free, guided tour, volunteer to spend time with the animals, or simply enjoy the trails and extraordinary surroundings with your pet.

The sanctuary is open seven days a week, but tours and volunteer opportunities fill up quickly, so be sure to sign up early! During our visit we took the Grand Sanctuary Tour, following the tour shuttle in our car with Myles and listening to the tour guide on our radio. Then we did the Pig & Goat Walking Tour with Myles, keeping him outside the enclosures.

Our next stop was for a wonderful, vegan lunch at Angel Village Café. The view from their patio overlooking Angel Canyon will take your breath away!

Finally, we hit the trails with Myles! Hiking the 1.3-mile Angels Overlook Trail took us to the Gratitude Garden and fantastic views of the canyon below.

There are several trails to choose from, so pick up a trail map at the Welcome Center. And, if you’re not traveling with a pet of your own, sign up to take one of Best Friends’ resident dogs along for company!

Visit Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

Just 22 miles west of Kanab, Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park protects 1,200 acres of shifting sand dunes! Created by wind funneling through a notch between the Moquith and Moccasin Mountains, it’s a completely unique landscape to see in this part of the country.

Pets on leash are welcome throughout the park, though walking on the sand can be difficult for dogs and humans alike. Also be aware that much of the dunes are open to OHV use, so watch for vehicles as you explore. If traversing the dunes isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other pet friendly hiking opportunities in Kanab and the surrounding area.

The park also has two campgrounds and a nice picnic area if you are looking for a place to eat lunch.

Where To Stay In Pet Friendly Kanab

Disclosure: We were provided with free accommodations at Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile in exchange for sharing our experience with you.

Hopefully, you’re intrigued enough about pet friendly Kanab to plan a trip of your own. If so, you’ll find a nice selection of pet friendly hotels and several campgrounds to choose from! But if you’re an animal lover, there’s really only one place to stay … Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile.

Located on the north side of downtown Kanab, the Roadhouse is the most pet-centric hotel we’ve ever seen. And staying there helps support the lifesaving mission of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, just five miles up the road.

Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile

In a world where some “pet friendly” hotels barely tolerate pets, we’d give Best Friends Roadhouse a 16 out of 10 on the pet friendliness scale. They offer a truly unique experience — the opportunity to stay in a hotel designed for pets!

Early morning sunshine hitting the red rocks at Best Friendly Roadhouse

Our room was lovely, with a small kitchen equipped to prepare and serve simple meals and a dining area to share them. The bed was incredibly comfortable. And the bathroom was gorgeous!

But a lot of hotels have beautiful rooms and cozy beds. Where Best Friends Roadhouse really stands out is in the ways it caters to pets — starting with their pet policy. There is no pet fee, no weight restrictions, no breed restrictions, cats are welcome, and up to four pets are allowed per room.

But even their stellar pet policy isn’t what makes Best Friends Roadhouse so special. It’s the thoughtful amenities that makes your pet’s stay truly memorable.

After a long day in the car, Myles and I were both delighted to find that the Roadhouse has two dog parks! He got to run around and burn off some energy. And Rod and I were off the hook for a long evening walk.

READ MORE ⇒ Barking Dogs In Hotel Rooms: Tips For A Quiet Stay

The hotel provided dog bowls for Myles in our room, but he much preferred slurping from the outdoor dog fountain.

Not being a bath-lover, he was less excited to see the pet spa beside the guest laundry. Fortunately, we didn’t have any incidents that required Myles to get a bath. But it would be super handy for anyone whose dog looks forward to a bit of pampering!

The next treat we discovered (other than the human cookies and dog treats we received at check-in) was that Myles had TWO dog beds to choose from … not including ours!

Dog den at Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile in Kanab, Utah

Myles sleeping on a pull-out dog bed at the foot of the human bed

And the mercantile, in addition to serving a fantastic breakfast, is full of all kinds of goodies. They even have pet gear, in case there’s something you forget to pack.

They’ve even thought of the people who love animals but aren’t traveling with their own pet. The folks at Best Friends Roadhouse will arrange for your choice of a dog, cat, or bunny from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary to sleepover with you. Now, that’s taking pet-friendliness to a whole new level!!

Places To Eat In Pet Friendly Kanab

As I mentioned, Kanab is very pet friendly, and we had no trouble finding outdoor dining options with Myles. From simple takeaway fare, to a vegan taco truck, to outstanding fine dining, going hungry isn’t a concern.

Here is a list of pet friendly eateries in Kanab that offer pet friendly seating:
- Angel Village Café – buffet lunch from 11:30am – 1pm daily on the pet friendly patio overlooking Angel Canyon
- Best Friends Mercantile – snacks, coffee, and light fare which you can take to go or eat on the covered patio
- Brown Box Bakeshop – bakery, soup, sandwiches, and ice cream with sidewalk seating
- Fusion House – Pan-Asian cuisine with sidewalk seating
- Iron Horse Restaurant – steaks, burgers, ribs and more with a pet friendly patio
- Peekaboo Canyon Wood Fired Kitchen – artisanal pizza, sandwiches, and local beer with an outdoor patio
- Rocking V Café – comfort food, from buffalo tenderloin to deep dish enchiladas, and the best bread pudding I’ve ever eaten. Pet friendly sidewalk seating.
- Wild Thyme Café – fantastic American eatery serving chops, steaks, seafood, and vegetarian options on a quiet, shady deck
READ MORE ⇒ Taking Your Dog To Pet Friendly Restaurants

Pet friendly patio seating at the Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile

Dog friendly sidewalk seating at Rocking V Café in Kanab

Shaded dog friendly deck at Wild Thyme Café in Kanab, Utah

We hope our stay in pet friendly Kanab, Utah inspires you to explore Southern Utah with your pets! If you’ve visited Kanab, we’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below.

Waggin’ trails!

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: GoPetFriendly.com LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide
a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon
Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, the owner of this site earns a commission from qualifying purchases.

(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)
[ad_2]

Amy at GoPetFriendly.com

Source link
October 8, 2024
Pet Friendly National Park: The Grand Canyon | GoPetFriendly

[ad_1]

Words cannot describe, and pictures cannot capture, the magnificence of the Grand Canyon. Its Mother Nature’s most stunning sculpture. But what makes the Grand Canyon truly special is how much of it you can experience with your dog — a rare thing in America’s national parks.

Stretching 277 river miles from Lees Ferry to the Grand Wash Cliffs, Grand Canyon National Park ranks as the 11th largest national park in the United States. And, no matter how many times you visit, the views will never be the same. Sunlight and clouds, the bright green of spring, or a dusting of snow combine to make every trip unique.

For us, this is one of those places we never get enough of. And it’s all the better for the fact that the Grand Canyon is a wonderful place to visit with your dog.

In fact, on a recent month-long road trip with our pup, we took Myles to the Grand Canyon for his first time. Walking the same paths we explored with Ty and Buster years ago brought back a lot of sweet memories. And it’s wonderful to now have memories of Myles in one of our favorite national parks, too!

Visiting Grand Canyon National Park With A Dog

Two years ago we took Myles on a trip to Kanab, Utah, and visited the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. So, this wasn’t actually Myles’ first visit. But the pet policies on the North Rim and South Rim are very different.

At the North Rim dogs are allowed at the picnic areas and in the parking areas of the overlooks. So, views of the canyon come as you drive the 30 miles of scenic roads at the North Rim. The only trails that allow pets, Bridal Path and the portion of the Arizona Trail that runs between North Kaibab Trailhead and the north entrance of the park, are both pretty. But either have views of the canyon.

Pet Policy At The South Rim Of The Grand Canyon

On the other hand, the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is a fantastic place to visit with a dog! You’ll find plenty to explore, pet friendly lodging, and a kennel where your pet can spend the day if you want to see parts of the park where pets aren’t allowed.

Leashed pets are welcome on the Rim and Greenway trails at the South Rim. Leashes must not be longer than 6-feet.

Pets cannot go below the rim, inside the buildings, or on the shuttle buses.

Yavapai Lodge has pet friendly rooms available for an additional fee of $32 per pet, per night and allows up to two pets per room.

The Mather Campground, Desert View Campground, Trailer Village, and other developed areas of the park are pet friendly.

Most of the pet policies in our national parks make visiting with dogs a challenge. In fact, many times pets can’t go beyond paved parking lots or campgrounds. Fortunately, that is not the case at the Grand Canyon. This is one of the most pet friendly national parks in the country!

READ MORE ⇒ America’s Most Pet Friendly National Parks

Hiking At The Grand Canyon With A Dog

When you’re ready to hit the pet friendly trails, the best scenery is along the South Rim Trail. The 14-mile trail is paved, so it’s easy walking. Foot traffic is more concentrated near the shuttle stops, but most of the time it feels like you and your dog have the whole Grand Canyon to yourselves!

Keep in mind that the trail’s average elevation is about 6,800 feet, which makes it easy to get dehydrated. Be sure to carry plenty of water for you and your pet, because bottle filling stations aren’t always operational, and bottled water isn’t for sale.

Also be aware that altitude sickness (nausea, shortness of breath, exhaustion, headache) can affect both humans and pets, so take it easy until you’ve acclimated to the elevation.

Despite the elevation, heat is often an issue in the summer. Our most recent visit was in July, so we expected high temperatures. Getting to the trail at 7am allowed us to comfortably walk for a few hours. But by the time we got back to the car around 10am, it was already over 80 degrees!

Before your trip, it’s also a good idea to refresh your memory on the signs of dehydration and heat stroke in dogs. And consider packing protective boots for your pup.

READ MORE ⇒ Recognizing Dehydration and Heat Stroke in Dogs

Grand Canyon With A Dog In One Day

There really is no bad place to jump on the Rim Trail and go for a walk. You can park at the visitor center and start down the trail in either direction for fantastic views.

If you happen to be visiting during the off-season (November 1 – February 28), we have another suggestion. Head for Hermit Road and catch the Rim Trail there. From Hopi Point you’ll be able to see the Colorado River. And from Pima Point you can actually hear the roar as the river crashes through Granite Rapid!

Hermit Road is closed to personal vehicles from March 1st to October 31st, and pets can’t ride the shuttles. So accessing these spots requires a trip during the off-season, or a lot of walking!

Watch The Weather

At the Grand Canyon, storms can blow in quickly, so be sure to keep an eye on the sky as you walk. And move toward the nearest shelter if the clouds turn ominous!

READ MORE ⇒ The Ultimate Pet Friendly American Road Trip

Pet Friendly Hotel At The Grand Canyon

If you and your dog need more than a day at the Grand Canyon, the Yavapai Lodge has pet friendly rooms for an additional $32 fee per pet, per night. They allow two pets per room with no restrictions on size. There are also two campgrounds without hookups, and one RV park with hookups inside the park. You can find additional pet friendly accommodations just south of the Grand Canyon in Tusayan, Arizona.

Finding pet friendly restaurants here is a bit more challenging. There are a few restaurants with outdoor seating in Tusayan. But if you want to make the most of your time with your dog at the Grand Canyon, we suggest packing picnics. If that’s your plan, stock up before you arrive. Grocery options are limited once you’re in the park.

Grand Canyon Kennel

If you want to hike below the rim at the Grand Canyon you’ll need to make arrangements for your pet. The kennel at the Grand Canyon is located on the South Rim near Maswik Lodge, and is open every day from 7:30am to 5pm. Accepting dogs and cats for day or overnight boarding, the kennel recommends making your reservations early, especially during the summer months and holidays. And be sure to pack your pet’s vaccination records.

We hope we’ve inspired you to visit the Grand Canyon with your dog! It’s a place like no other. And the experience and memories are truly unforgettable when you do more together.

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: GoPetFriendly.com LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide
a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon
Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, the owner of this site earns a commission from qualifying purchases.

(Visited 46,974 times, 1 visits today)

[ad_2]

Amy at GoPetFriendly.com

Source link

September 13, 2024
The collapse of an iconic arch in Utah has some wondering if other famous arches are also at risk

[ad_1]

SALT LAKE CITY — A common line of questions has emerged from visitors to Utah’s Arches National Park in the week since an iconic rock arch at Lake Powell known as the “Toilet Bowl” collapsed.

Are these arches also at risk of falling soon? What are you doing to prevent their collapse?

The answers: They might be, and nothing, said Karen Garthwait, spokesperson for Arches and Canyonlands national parks.

“Our mission is not to freeze time and preserve these structures exactly as they are,” she said. “Our mission is to preserve the natural processes that create these structures, which of course, is the same process that will eventually undo them as well.”

When the geological formation formally named “Double Arch” crumbled last Thursday at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, it served as a sad reminder to many that arches are not guaranteed to stand forever. All arches have a lifespan, which scientists are trying to avoid shortening — or extending.

Experts say human activity has sped up erosion within the last hundred years, making arches susceptible to crumbing at any given time. But when exactly they might fall can be tough to predict.

The outward appearance of an arch gives little indication of its stability. Those that appear most sturdy can have internal cracks, while others that appear to defy gravity may better withstand the elements.

Southern Utah’s sandstone bedrock is strong enough to support the weight of large arches — one of the sturdiest shapes found in nature — but soft enough to be sculpted over time by wind, water and gravity, according to the Utah Geological Survey. The region’s semi-arid climate also plays an important role in forming and sustaining the sandstone wonders.

While the National Park Service is not physically fortifying arches — it abandoned a plan to coat one in plastic in the 1940s — it has enacted strict policies to limit human impact on the natural structures.

As recently as two decades ago, parkgoers could be seen walking on top of some arches and hanging on them for photos. A climber even scaled Delicate Arch, the most widely recognized of Utah’s more than 6,000 arches, leaving rope grooves in the sandstone that Garthwait said can still be seen today. The ascent led park officials to reword regulations in 2006 to make clear that climbing arches is prohibited.

At Lake Powell, a large reservoir on the border of Utah and Arizona, families frequently climbed the now-fallen arch and plunged into a swimming hole below. Park rangers and geologists suspect a combination of regular foot traffic and changing water levels contributed to the arch’s demise. The reservoir’s water levels have been declining due to drought and climate change since 2001, according to the National Park Service.

“Some people have the sense that rock is strong and humans don’t affect it,” said Jeff Moore, a geology and geophysics professor at the University of Utah. “When these kinds of collapse happen, it’s a reminder that arches are really fragile. Subtle changes can make a difference.”

Moore has led research projects that measure the seismic activity beneath Utah’s arches and use civil engineering principles to assess their structural health. The rock formations are constantly vibrating, he said, and human-made energy sources such as trains, trucks and helicopters are increasing those vibrations, placing stress on the arches and accelerating crack growth.

The Federal Aviation Administration imposed air restrictions last year for helicopters flying near Utah’s Rainbow Bridge National Monument — one of the world’s largest known natural bridges — to avoid vibration-induced damage in light of Moore’s research.

Humans have dramatically changed the vibration landscape within the last century, he said, and more arches could soon fall as a result.

“This is a really rapid change in the lifespan of an arch,” Moore said. “Geology moves slowly. Humans have arrived quickly and, in some places, are making dramatic changes in the environment.”

A U.S. Bureau of Reclamation facility in western Colorado that removes salt water from the Colorado River system and injects it deep into the ground has also been linked to earthquakes near Utah national parks. The site was temporarily closed after a 4.5 magnitude earthquake was recorded there in 2019 but has since resumed operations at a reduced rate.

For Richard Beckman, president of the Natural Arch and Bridge Society, knowing that some of the world’s most iconic arches might fall in his lifetime adds a sense of urgency to visit them before they’re gone.

“It’s like losing an old friend,” Beckman said. “I’m sad to see them go, but I’m hurt more by the arches that collapsed that I never saw in person. We don’t know how long they’re going to last, so you have to go appreciate them.”

[ad_2]

Source link

August 15, 2024
Hiking In Joshua Tree National Park With Dogs | GoPetFriendly
[ad_1]
Heading to Joshua Tree National Park with your dogs? Worried you won’t see much because pets aren’t allowed on the trails? We have good news — there’s a lot you can do together in Joshua Tree!

There are a handful of pet friendly national parks in America that go out of their way to make our furry travel companions welcome. But, as a general rule, finding pet friendly hiking at a national park is rare. In fact, most national parks have strict limitations when it comes to pets on the trails. That’s what makes visiting Joshua Tree with dogs a pleasant surprise!

Pet Rules At National Parks

With a few exceptions, most national parks require pets to be within 100 feet of a paved road, parking area, or campground. And anytime they’re outside your vehicle, pets must be crated, in a carrier, or on a leash no longer than six feet.

When it comes to hiking, many national parks prohibit pets from all trails. So your experience of the park is limited to the turnouts and overlooks along the road. Not that those views are bad! It’s just that there’s so much more to see when you can get off the beaten path.

READ MORE ⇒ America’s Most Pet Friendly National Parks

Visiting Joshua Tree With Dogs

Before our visit, I checked the park’s website for their pet policy. Like many national parks, Joshua Tree allows dogs in the picnic areas and campgrounds. This includes the paved Oasis of Mara and Keys View Trails. But as I expected, Joshua Tree does not allow pets on hiking trails, in the backcountry, or in park buildings.

However, I noticed that pets are welcome to walk all the unpaved roads. That gave me a glimmer of hope, because Joshua Tree has miles and miles of dirt roads providing access to a great variety of terrain. And they get very little vehicle traffic, so exploring on foot is perfect!

Be aware that the sidewalks and pavement at Joshua Tree get hot enough to burn your pet’s paws. Walk during the cooler parts of the day, and consider bringing dog boots to protect your pup’s feet.

READ MORE ⇒ Your Dog Can Become A BARK Ranger at Joshua Tree!

Hiking At Joshua Tree With Dogs

Joshua Tree’s dirt roads provide access to spectacular scenery and the opportunity to immerse yourself in the desert landscape with your pet. According to the park’s rules, you can take your leashed dog anywhere you can drive your vehicle. So pick up a map at the visitor center and ask the rangers which roads offer the best scenery and are appropriate for your skill level.

Most of the roads in Joshua Tree have pullouts or nearby parking areas where you can begin your walk. Of course, the standard etiquette of leashing and picking up after your dogs always applies. And also remember to pack plenty of water for you and your pet. The combination of elevation and desert air can quickly lead to dehydration.

Some roads are more rugged than others, so choose a route that works for you. And while the roads listed below don’t get much traffic, be sure to stay alert and move out of the way of any vehicles that do pass.

Accessible To All Vehicles (One-Way Distances)
- Queen Valley Road – 2.9 miles with one-way traffic
- Stirrup Tank Road – 1.5 miles
- Odell Road – 1.5 miles
- Geology Tour Road – 5.4 miles
- Desert Queen Mine Road – 1.2 miles
- Bighorn Pass Road – 3.2 miles (5.1 km)
Accessible To 4-Wheel Drive Vehicles (One-Way Distances)
- Covington-area Roads – 9.9 miles
- Pinkham Canyon Road – 19.2 miles
- Old Dale Road – 12.6 miles
- Geology Tour Road past Mile 5.4 – 18 miles
- Black Eagle Mine Road – 9.6 miles
- Berdoo Canyon Road – 11.5 miles
Exploring Joshua Tree With Dogs

Joshua Tree is one of our national parks that is pretty easy to explore without having to hike for miles and miles on backcountry trails. I was able to drive down side roads, or even pull off the main road and see the rock formations and Joshua trees that make this park famous.

We started at the south entrance, and by mid-afternoon we were well into the north end of the park. We stopped there to enjoy a picnic and watch a bunch of rock climbers soak up the sun on a beautiful day. It was a fun excursion to a place I have always wanted to see.

READ MORE ⇒ 7 Essentials for Desert Hiking with Dogs

Rock Climbing Areas Accessible To Dogs

Is rock climbing is your thing? Or perhaps you prefer to watch the climbers skillfully rise to the challenge. Either way, you’ll be happy to know that four of the rock climbing areas are within 100 feet of a road, picnic area, or campground and therefore pet friendly!
- Belle Campground: Castle Rock
- Hidden Valley Campground: Many (but not all) of the climbs are within 100 feet of a road
- Indian Cove Area: Billboard Buttress, King Otto’s Castle, Pixie Rock, and Short Wall
- Quail Springs Area: Trash Can
No matter what you choose to do, a trip to Joshua Tree with dogs is one you’ll never forget!

Looking for more to do in the area? Check out the Top 10 Dog Friendly Things To Do in Palm Springs

About the author: Mary Hone is a photographer, artist, and the author of Stories From The Range, a blog about Mary’s passion for saving wild horses. She and her husband, Al, also a talented artist, travel full-time in an RV with their adorable dog, Torrey.

(Visited 80,741 times, 12 visits today)
[ad_2]

Guest

Source link
December 4, 2023
The Natchez Trace Parkway: A Pet Friendly Road Trip
[ad_1]
The Natchez Trace Parkway stretches 444 miles, from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. It’s a blissfully quiet, billboard-free retreat from our modern, fast-paced highways. And along the way, you’ll find more than 100 pet friendly exhibits, interpretive signs, and trails!

Imagine a time before highways … when most traveling was done on foot. Trails ran between places, and few were as well-used as the Natchez Trace.

Mastodons and giant bison laid down the route, with the first hunters following right on their heels. Tribes like the Chickasaw, Natchez, and Choctaw came next. And soon French and Spanish trappers arrived.

It wasn’t long before pioneers were following the Natchez Trace across the land. And those who settled along the Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland Rivers began floating their goods down to New Orleans. After they sold their fare – including the salvageable logs from their flat-boats – they followed part of the Natchez Trace back home.

For centuries, the Natchez Trace evolved with its changing inhabitants. But when steamboats arrived, the old trail finally lay quiet.

Creating The Natchez Trace Parkway

In the early part of the 20th century a commemorative marker project along the Trace captured federal legislators’ attention. It was the spark that brought this historic route back to life.

Construction began on a road along the route in 1937. And the following year the Natchez Trace Parkway was established as a unit of the National Park System. The maximum speed limit on the Parkway is 50 miles per hour, and you won’t find food, gas, or lodging establishments. But, the communities just off the Natchez Trace can meet all your needs.

In September 1996, the Trace was awarded the prestigious designation of All-American Road, recognizing its archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic significance.

READ MORE ⇒ 49 Places To See On A Pet Friendly American Road Trip

Pets Along The Trace

The Natchez Trace is a fantastic pet friendly road trip, because there’s something to sniff around every bend! Leashed pets are welcome to join you at all exhibits — just don’t take them inside the buildings. And when it’s time to stretch your legs, 28 pet friendly hiking and self-guided trails are just steps away.
Rules For Pets Visiting The Natchez Trace

Pets must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet at all times.

All pet waste must be picked up and disposed of properly.

Pets are not allowed inside buildings.

At campgrounds:

Two pets are allowed per site.

Pets must be confined or on a leash not longer than 6 feet at all times.

Pets cannot be left unattended.
READ MORE ⇒ America’s Best Dog Friendly National Parks

Planning Your Trip

With so much to see and do, you should plan to cover about 100 miles of the Trace per day. You still won’t see everything, but you will have enough time to explore the historic and natural beauty around you. From the evidence left by native people who made their lives along these waterways, to sections of the old trace where you can visualize the difficulties faced by those early travelers … the story of our country is laid out along the route.

Best Time To Go

Appreciating the changing landscapes is another enchanting part of visiting the Trace. From thick forests, to boggy cypress swamps, over 2,000 types of plants live and bloom here.

We love visiting in the spring while the dogwoods and wildflowers are in bloom. But there is no question that traveling the Trace in the fall, with all the maples and oaks in their full glory, would be spectacular as well.

There are overnight accommodations in the towns and cities located along the Trace. And you’ll find plenty of camping options right on the Parkway.

We scored a campsite at Davis Lake in the Tombigee National Forest one night, and at Rocky Springs the next! If you’re planning a trip during the more popular times of the year, reservations are recommended.

READ MORE ⇒ Great River Road – Pet Friendly Stops From Minneapolis To New Orleans

The Trace leaves its own deep impressions on everyone who passes. For today’s travelers, this is a sacred place where they can connect to explorers who have passed this way for thousands of years. It’s pure and tranquil, and provides welcome relief from the hustle and bombardment of marketing messages we experience in our modern world.

The Natchez Trace offers the unique opportunity to combine physical travel and time travel. It’s something I’ve only ever experienced on the Trace.

(Visited 4,999 times, 1 visits today)
[ad_2]

Amy at GoPetFriendly.com

Source link
November 20, 2023
Visiting Arizona’s National Parks With Pets – Get The Pet Policies

[ad_1]

Late fall, winter, and early spring are the perfect times of the year for visiting Arizona’s national parks with pets. And with over 70% of the state’s spectacular landscape preserved as public land, there’s a lot to see! Find out which parks welcome pets, and which to avoid.

GoPetFriendly may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

From iconic national parks like the Grand Canyon to lesser known sites, such as Tonto National Monument, Arizona’s national parks are full of wonders to behold. If you’re planning a trip to Arizona with your pets, knowing the pet policies at all the national parks will help you decide which ones to add to your itinerary and which to avoid.

Pet Policies For Arizona’s National Parks

Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Recognized as one of the longest continually inhabited landscapes in North America, visitors to Canyon de Chelly will see pueblo ruins built between 350 and 1300 A.D. You can also visit the Navajo Indian community that still inhabits the canyon floor.

Note that in 2020 the White House Overlook and Ruin Trail were closed indefinitely due to a rash of break-ins. The White House Ruin Trail is the only public trail on the South Rim Drive. Please check here for updates: https://www.nps.gov/cach/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Canyon de Chelly Pet Policy: Leashed pets can join you at all of the overlooks on Rim Drive and in the campground. Visitors can only enter the canyon on an approved Navajo tour. Check with individual tour operators for their pet policies.

Where To Stay: Take advantage of one of Canyon de Chelly’s many campsites in the Cottonwood Campground. Or search for pet friendly hotels in Chinle on TripAdvisor.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

At the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, you’ll find what remains of an ancient farming community, including the preserved “Great House,” or “Casa Grande.” The structure dates to around 1350, and its abandonment occurred about a century later in 1450.

Casa Grande Ruins Pet Policy: Leashed pets are welcome throughout the grounds at Casa Grande Ruins. It’s a great spot to stretch your legs on a drive between Phoenix and Tucson!

Where To Stay: There is no camping available on site, and the nearest town of Coolidge has a limited selection of motels. Search the nearby city of Casa Grande on TripAdvisor for more lodging options and amenities.

EXPLORE MORE ⇒ 15 Pet Friendly Things To Do Around Tucson, AZ

Chiricahua National Monument

Chiricahua National Monument is the homeland of the Chiricahua Apache and is known for its rock pinnacles, which reach hundreds of feet into the sky. Bears, deer, and mountain lions inhabit the area. And the annual sandhill crane migration is so impressive it draws people from around the world.

Chiricahua Pet Policy: Pets can enjoy four trails within the monument: Silver Spur Trail, Faraway Ranch, Bonita Creek and the campground trail. They can also join you in any paved areas and in the campground. It’s a great place to spend a day exploring!

Where To Stay: Bonita Canyon Campground is a lovely place to spend the night in this magnificent natural area. Or choose a hotel or vacation rental in nearby Willcox on TripAdvisor.

Fort Bowie National Historic Site

Fort Bowie was built to give safe passage to settlers and supply units as they crossed Apache Pass during westward expansion. This lead to decades of skirmishes between U.S. military forces and native Apache people, including Apache leaders Cochise and Geronimo.

Fort Bowie Pet Policy: The fort ruins are accessed via a 1.5 mile hiking trail, and leashed pets are welcome on the trail and throughout the grounds.

Where To Stay: Fort Bowie isn’t far from Chiricahua, so plan to spend the night there at Bonita Canyon Campground. Or find a hotel or vacation rental in nearby Willcox on TripAdvisor.

Coronado National Memorial

Coronado National Memorial marks the place where Francisco Vásquez de Coronado’s expedition crossed from Mexico into what is now Arizona in 1540. Their exploration of the valleys and rugged mountains of the Sonoran Desert led to the establishment of missions and the introduction of farming techniques that changed the way native people lived.

Coronado Pet Policy: Pets are welcome only on the Crest Trail and Nature Walk, and in paved areas. The views here are to die for, so it’s worth the trip!

Where To Stay: Coronado is an easy drive from the historic mining town of Bisbee! Find pet friendly camping, hotels, and vacation rentals in Bisbee on TripAdvisor.

EXPLORE MORE ⇒ Travel Guide: Pet Friendly Bisbee, Arizona

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Spread over 1.25 million acres, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area stretches from Lees Ferry, Arizona to the Orange Cliffs of southern Utah. It boasts stunning scenery, a vast panorama of human history, and geologic wonders including Lake Powell.

Glen Canyon Pet Policy: Pets are welcome in most areas at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. And there are some fun beaches to explore – especially if you have a boat!

Where To Stay: Staying on a houseboat is a fun and pet friendly way to enjoy the shoreline of Lake Powell. If boating isn’t your thing, try camping at one of the many surrounding campgrounds. Or find pet friendly hotel and vacation rental options in Page on TripAdvisor.

Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon is Mother Nature’s most stunning sculpture. Stretching 277 river miles from Lees Ferry to the Grand Wash Cliffs, no matter how many times you visit it will leave you breathless. But what makes the Grand Canyon truly special is how much of it you can experience with your pets! This is one of Arizona’s national parks you won’t want to miss.

Grand Canyon Pet Policy: – Pets are welcome on the entire 13-mile Rim Trail, in the campground, and at Yavapai Lodge. Though if you plan to hike below the rim, you’ll need to make arrangements for your pet to stay at the kennel at the South Rim.

Where To Stay: There are several pet friendly campgrounds at the Grand Canyon. And the Yavapai Lodge also offer pet friendly rooms.

EXPLORE MORE ⇒ Pet Friendly National Park: The Grand Canyon

Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site

Hubbell Trading Post Pet Policy: Pets are not allowed inside the buildings.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Lake Mead is a desert oasis, thanks to the Hoover Dam. With 700 miles of shoreline, it’s the largest reservoir in the United States providing plenty of space for boating, swimming, fishing, and soaking up the sunshine!

Lake Mead Pet Policy: Pets are allowed on all trails in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, but not in designated swimming areas.

Where To Stay: There are plenty of places to camp on Lake Mead. For a unique experience, try renting a houseboat and staying right on the lake!

READ MORE ⇒ 5 Questions To Ask BEFORE Taking A Dog On A Boat

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Located in central Arizona, Montezuma Castle is one of the Southwest’s best-preserved cliff dwellings. It is believed the original inhabitants were the ancient Sinagua people who lived along waterways in the area from the 1100s to the 1400s. It was incorrectly named for Chief Montezuma by 1800s explorers, who assumed the structure was Aztec in origin.

Montezuma Castle Pet Policy: Pets are welcome on the trail at Montezuma Castle, but not inside the visitor center. And this park participates in the B.A.R.K. Ranger program!

Where To Stay: The park does not offer camping, but visitors can find a wide variety of accommodations in nearby Sedona on TripAdvisor.

EXPLORE MORE ⇒ Sedona, AZ: Where To Hike, Stay & Eat With Pets

Navajo National Monument

Navajo National Monument Pet Policy: Pets are only allowed in parking lots and the campground; not on the trails. So, you can’t experience the cliff dwellings with them. It’s probably better to skip this one with your pets.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is the only place in the U.S. where organ pipe cactus grows in the wild. Surrounded by the Sonoran Desert, which is one of the greenest deserts in the world, this park is home to more than 2,000 species of plants, 300 species of birds, and 100 different reptiles and amphibians. Due to the incredible biodiversity here, the park is a UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves site.

Organ Pipe Pet Policy: Pets are welcome on several trails in the park, including the Palo Verde trail, and the nature trail at the visitor center.

Where To Stay: There are two campgrounds and backcountry camping at Organ Pipe Cactus. In addition, visitors will find hotels and vacation rentals in nearby Ajo on TripAdvisor.

Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park is a treasure chest filled with nature, geology, archaeology, and paleontology. Of course, there’s plenty of petrified wood to see. And visitors are also treated to spectacular views of The Painted Desert, which sweeps through the park. The park’s 28-mile-long Main Park Road winds past viewpoints, trailheads, and other interesting stops. This is one of Arizona’s national parks you won’t want to miss.

Petrified Forest Pet Policy: Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome on ALL the trails at Petrified Forest. And this is another park where your furry travel buddy can earn a B.A.R.K. Ranger badge!

Where To Stay: There is no camping in Petrified Forest National Park, but you can stay at private campgrounds in and around Holbrook, Sun Valley, St. Johns, Joseph City, and other communities. Those looking for accommodations with more amenities will find a great selection of pet friendly hotels and vacation properties by searching nearby Flagstaff on TripAdvisor.

EXPLORE MORE ⇒ Pet Friendly National Park: Arizona’s Petrified Forest

Pipe Spring National Monument

The museum, historic fort, cabins, and garden at Pipe Spring National Monument share the history and traditions of the Kaibab Paiute and the Mormon settlers along the Pipe Spring.

Pipe Spring Pet Policy: Pets are allowed on the grounds at the monument, but not inside the historic buildings or on the Ridge Trail. And pets should not disturb the ranch animals. This is another of Arizona’s national parks that pet travelers might want to skip.

Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park Pet Policy: Pets are welcome only on paved trails and picnic areas. This is a difficult park to experience with pets. We recommend enjoying the saguaros on other pet friendly trails in the area.

READ MORE ⇒ Dog Friendly Hikes Around Tucson

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Sunset Crater Volcano Pet Policy: – Pets cannot go on any trails or in the buildings at Sunset Crater. Some of Arizona’s other national parks make for a more enjoyable to visit with your furry travel buddy.

Tonto National Monument

Tonto National Monument protects two Salado-style cliff dwellings dating back 700 years. Visitors can learn about the lives of the Salado people who built the dwellings, including their architecture, agriculture, pottery.

Tonto National Monument Pet Policy: Pets are allowed on the trail to the Lower Cliff Dwelling, but not on the Upper Cliff Dwelling Trail or inside the cliff dwellings. And your dog can get his B.A.R.K. Ranger tag. Plus you’ll find plenty of pet friendly hiking around nearby Roosevelt Lake in the Tonto National Forest.

Where To Stay: While the monument doesn’t provide camping, the surrounding Tonto National Forest offers numerous campgrounds. And there are hundreds of sites for tents and RVs around Roosevelt Lake, just 15 minutes from the monument. Visitors will also find pet friendly hotels 30 miles down the road in Globe on TripAdvisor.

READ MORE ⇒ 7 Essentials For Desert Hiking With Your Dog

Tumacacori National Historic Park

Tumacácori went from being an O’odham village to a Spanish frontier visita (satellite mission) to a cabecera (headquarters mission) in a matter of decades. The goal of Spanish colonization was simple: to remake New Spain in the image of Old Spain. The missions included adobe buildings for residences and workshops, agricultural lands, cattle, and the main irrigation ditch.

Pet Policy at Tumacacori: Tumacácori prohibits pets from all buildings and the mission grounds.

Pets are allowed on the Anza Trail, which runs four miles between Tumacácori and Tubac Presidio State Historic Park. Tubac is a fun town to explore with your pets. And if you’re not up for an 8-mile round trip walk, the park provides a free shuttle from 8am to 12 noon on the third Saturday of the month from November through March. Leashed dogs are allowed on the small bus, which runs continuously between the Tumacácori visitor center parking lot and the Anza Trail trailhead.

Where To Stay: There is no camping at Tumacácori. Visitors will find two pet friendly hotels in Tubac on TripAdvisor.

Tuzigoot National Monument

At Tuzigoot National Monument visitors can wander around and through the Tuzigoot pueblo, a 110-room hilltop village built around a thousand years ago. The self-guided, 1/3-mile loop trail also offers outstanding views of the Verde River and Tavasci Marsh.

Another 1/2 mile trail (1 mile round trip), takes you to an overlook of Tavasci Marsh. Both of these trails are accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, though the pueblo trail has some steep sections that might be challenging.

Tuzigoot National Monument Pet Policy: Leashed pets are welcome on the trails at Tuzigoot, but not inside the visitor center. This park also participates in the B.A.R.K. Ranger program.

Where To Stay: The park does not offer camping, but visitors can find a wide variety of accommodations in nearby Sedona on TripAdvisor.

Walnut Canyon National Monument

Walnut Canyon Pet Policy: Pets can join you on the Rim Trail, a 0.7-mile trail along the rim of Walnut Canyon. However, the main attraction of Walnut Canyon are the Cliff Dwellings, seen from the Island Trail, which is not pet friendly.

Wupatki National Monument

Wupatki National Monument Pet Policy: Pets cannot go on any trails or in the buildings at Wupatki National Monument.

We hope having the pet policies at Arizona’s national parks makes planning your pet friendly trip easier! If this post made you curious about visiting more national parks with your pets, click through to learn about the most pet friendly national parks in America.

Ready to explore more of Arizona? We encourage you to check out Arizona’s state parks! Note that pets are not allowed at Red Rock State Park or on the trails at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. But all the other state parks in Arizona welcome pets on leash, as long as you clean up after them and don’t take them inside buildings or museums. Waggin’ trails to you!

(Visited 9,752 times, 1 visits today)

[ad_2]

Leigh Wilson

Source link

November 6, 2023
Dog Friendly Off-Leash Hiking On Federal Lands | GoPetFriendly

[ad_1]

With hundreds of millions of acres to explore, our federal lands offer spectacular opportunities for off-leash hiking with your pets. But figuring out where off-leash hiking is allowed can be a challenge. Understanding the goals of the different agencies that manage these spaces will help you makes sense of the wide variety of pet policies they impose.

The U.S. Government’s land holdings cover 640 million acres, or about 28% of the nation’s total surface area. That’s an incomprehensible about of space, covering diverse landscapes and encompassing our most precious natural treasures. And some of these federal lands offer fantastic opportunities for off-leash hiking with your dog.

Locating Pet Friendly Off-Leash Hiking

Concentrated in the western part of the United States, federal lands are managed by one of four government agencies: the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service.

When looking for off leash hiking, your best bet is to start with areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service. These two agencies manage a whopping 440.2 million combined acres and have the most welcoming pet policies, which is great news for dog lovers!

Source: NationalMap.gov

Why Are Pets Welcome On Only Some Federal Lands?

The four agencies that manage federal lands have different mandates to protect the land, wildlife, and resources. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service have the broadest directives. Their missions include recreation, sustained harvesting of resources, environmental and wildlife protection, and conservation. Whereas the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service are both focused only on the conservation of the land, plants, and animals.

The differing goals of the agencies determine the pet policies they set. For example, the National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service tend to be very restrictive toward pets, limiting them mostly to developed areas. Whereas the National Forest Service and the BLM balance recreation and conservation, leading to much more pet friendly policies. Generally, pets are welcome on all the trails in the national forests and on BLM land. And many allow off-leash hiking!

Off-leash hiking is prohibited at all national parks. But we want to acknowledge that a handful buck the trend and are truly pet friendly. Visiting these national parks is a special treat.

READ MORE ⇒ Best Pet Friendly National Parks In The U.S.

Etiquette For Off-Leash Hiking

While many national forests and BLM lands have areas where off-leash hiking is allowed, be sure to ask about and follow the rules at each location. Keep pets leashed in developed areas and campgrounds, and always pick up and pack out your dog’s waste. Also, keep your pets safely leashed where predators (like bears) are present and during hunting season.

READ MORE ⇒ Tips for Hiking With Pets

Additional Resources

Now that you have an understanding of the reasons for the different pet polices, it’s time to find a trail! Here are some additional resources to help you locate off-leash hiking on federal lands near you:

We hope this information is helpful and that you and your pup enjoy off-leash hiking! Waggin’ trails!

(Visited 22,257 times, 7 visits today)

[ad_2]

Amy at GoPetFriendly.com

Source link

November 1, 2023
Exploring Big Bend, Texas With Dogs – GoPetFriendly

[ad_1]

Planning to visit Big Bend National Park with your dogs? You’ll need to plan ahead! But don’t let the strict pet policies and harsh desert environment deter you. Big Bend is one of the last remaining wild corners in America. It’s a treasure worth exploring.

The Big Bend National Park is named for a vast curve in the Rio Grande River as it cuts between the mesas in this stunning area of southwest Texas. Encompasses more than 800,000 acres along 118 miles of the Rio Grande, this ruggedly beautiful region has a complex and fascinating history.

Tucked in a corner in southwest Texas, Big Bend is truly an “off-the-beaten-path” destination. But being isolated in this harsh landscape breeds strong community. The people tough enough to inhabit the Big Bend area are close-knit, creative, and friendly.

So when you visit “Big Bend,” remember that the area is also home to the communities of Marathon, Study Butte, Terlingua Ghost Town, and Lajitas. Offering a wide variety of accommodations, services, and entertainment, they provide endless possibilities for adventure and discovery.

READ MORE ⇒ Dog Friendly Far West Texas

Big Bend National Park With Dogs

When we pointed the RV toward Far West Texas our goal was to visit Big Bend National Park. Little did we know how much we’d enjoy our stays in Marfa, Fort Davis, Alpine and Marathon! After two weeks, we finally tore ourselves away and made the 48 mile drive from Marathon down to the national park gates. We were ready to begin exploring Big Bend with dogs!

The most captivating thing about Big Bend is its diversity. The massive canyons, vast expanses of desert, forested mountains, and ever-changing river provide a stunning variety of scenery. And it doesn’t end at the landscapes! The abundance extends to the wildlife and the recreational opportunities. It’s an outdoor lover’s dream!

The Rio Grande River is a source of life as it flows along the border, separating the United States from Mexico. From mountain lions and black bears to the tiny Big Bend gambusia (a fish found only in the park), Big Bend supports an astounding range of animals. In fact, the park boasts more types of birds, bats, butterflies, ants, and scorpions than any other national park in the United States.

While most people simply enjoy touring along the roads, Big Bend offers a full range of things to do. Between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park there’s more than a million acres of public lands to explore! And outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy birding, camping, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, off-roading, paddling, mountain biking, and wildlife spotting.

READ MORE ⇒ The Most Pet Friendly National Parks

Pet Policy At Big Bend National Park

Unfortunately, pets are not allowed on any trails, on the river, or in the backcountry at Big Bend National Park. Leashed pets can walk only on roads, in developed campgrounds, and at primitive roadside campsites. So, your pet can go only where your car can go.

You’re probably thinking, “Then why would I take my dog there?!” But there’s still a lot you and your dog can do together in Big Bend! For example, there are more than 200 miles of dirt roads running through the park, and most of them get very little traffic. Walking your pet along some of these roads is like have a nice, wide trail all to yourself.

READ MORE ⇒ 7 Essentials For Desert Hiking With Your Dog

You can also enjoy some of the more popular scenic overlooks, like Santa Elena Canyon, from the parking areas. It’s the perfect place for a sunset picnic!

And if your heart is set on hiking some of Big Bend’s 200 miles of trails, find a local boarding facility or pet sitter for your pet. Never leave a pet in your vehicle. The temperatures – even in the winter – can climb dangerously high very quickly.

After a couple of days sightseeing in Big Bend National Park with dogs, it’s time to check out the rest of the Big Bend area!

Big Bend Ranch State Park

Just down the road from the national park is Big Bend Ranch State Park. The largest state park in Texas at over 300,000 acres, it’s a must-do when exploring Big Bend with dogs.

The pet policies here are slightly more pet friendly than the national park with two trails, Closed Canyon and Hoodoos, both allowing leashed pets. Dogs are also welcome within a quarter mile of all roads, trail heads and designated campsites throughout the park.

Closed Canyon Trail

Closed Canyon is a short trail that meanders though a narrow slot canyon. Hiking here is nice in warm weather because the canyon walls provide shade. Even in the winter, it’s best to get out early, carry plenty of water, and stay out of the sun.

Hoodoos Trail

Named for the unique geological features in this area, Hoodoos is a short trail that provides great views of the Rio Grande. However, there is no shade, and the trail is a bit rocky. Dogs with sensitive paws might appreciate dog boots.

READ MORE ⇒ Which Dog Boots Are Best For Your Dog?

The Scenic River Road

Much of the scenic River Road from Lajitas to Presidio runs through Big Bend Ranch State Park. And, as you might have guessed, it follows the course of the Rio Grande. But what you may not know is that it’s regularly voted the most scenic drive in Texas!

Watch for the turn-out, overlooks, campgrounds, and picnic areas along the way where you and your pet can stretch your legs and admire the scenery.

Terlingua Ghost Town

Terlingua is a former mercury-mining town, located between the national park and the state park. When mining ended in the 1940s, the ghost town started its new life as an off-beat tourist destination.

Abandoned and decaying buildings, mine shafts, and the old cemetery now stand alongside the trading post, Starlight Theatre, and old jail (now restrooms).

For a real treat, plan to visit during the world-famous international chili cook-off, which takes place each November.

Crossing to Boquillas, Mexico

Boquillas de Carmen sits on the Rio Grande across from Big Bend National Park and is approximately 135 miles from the nearest Mexican town … as the crow flies. The little village survives on tourism from the United States — folks visiting Big Bend who cross the river to have lunch at the taco stands or the restaurant.

Unfortunately, the crossing is a special tourist-class port of entry where only pedestrians are allowed. If you plan to go, pack your passport and find a sitter for your pet, because he won’t be able to join you on this part of the adventure.

The Boquillas Port of Entry is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9am to 4pm in the winter, and Friday to Monday, 9am – 4pm in the summer. Before following the signs to Boquillas Crossing, head to the Visitor Center at Big Bend’s Rio Grande Village to purchase a $5 ticket for the round-trip rowboat ride across the river.

With tickets in hand, head to the immigration building and get details on the purchases you’ll be allowed to carry back into the country. Then you’re ready, take the short path down to the river.

Once across the river, you’ll have the option to rent a horse or burrow, ride in a pick-up, or walk the half-mile into town. Local authorized guides (wearing official ID credentials) are available to assist you.

The folks here are also available as guides if you’re adventuring into the 520,000 acre Maderas del Carmen biosphere reserve. When you reach town, fill out a visitors form at Mexican immigration. Pay a small entrance fee ($3) and get a wrist bracelet as your receipt, then you’re free to explore!

The Village Of Boquillas

Walking around Boquillas is like stepping back in time. It’s a tiny village, eking out a life in the desert. The people are kind, and speak English well. And, while no one was angling for a handout, they were clearly appreciative of the few dollars we spent. Our lunch at the little restaurant consisted of three of the best bean and cheese burritos I’ve ever had and a Corona. It was perfect.

During our visit we learned that the school kids really need supplies. We saw several displays in Big Bend with beaded figures crafted by the children hoping to collect some money for pencils and notebooks. Next time we’ll take some supplies for the kids with us when we go!

Pet Friendly Lodging In Big Bend

There are several pet friendly hotels in Big Bend to choose from. Pets are allowed in the Roosevelt Stone Cottages 101-103 at the Chisos Mountains Lodge inside the national park, for a $50 fee. However, pets cannot be left unattended in the room or in a closed vehicle, and are not allowed on the trails. There are also several pet friendly campgrounds and primitive roadside campsites in Big Bend National Park if you want to camp with your dogs.

The next closest option to the national park is the Big Bend Resort in Study Butte. They have a pet friendly campground and allow two pets per room at the Mission Lodge and the Motor Inn with a pet fee of $25 per night.

The Holiday Hotel is right in the Ghost Town (very near the Starlight Theatre and other restaurants). They have pet friendly rooms, which require approval and a pet fee. Ten percent of those fees are donated to the local animal adoption center.

The El Dorado Hotel in the Ghost Town also has some pet friendly rooms. Their pet fee is $50 per pet.

Down the road a little further, Lajitas Golf Resort allows two pets of any size for an additional fee of $50 per pet, per stay. The resort also has miles of pet friendly trails if you’d like a place where you can hike together.

In addition to those options, there are tons of pet friendly vacation rentals in Big Bend. Many of these are “off the grid” meaning that they use solar (no air conditioning), have water catchment systems, and some have outdoor toilets. Be sure you know what you’re getting when making your reservation!

Where We Stay

Lajitas lies between the national park and the state park, and that’s where you’ll find Maverick Ranch RV Resort. This is our favorite spot to stay in Bend Bend with our dogs. Most of the resort’s visitors come for the golf course, but we love it for the pet friendly hiking trails!

EXPLORE MORE ⇒ Pet Friendly San Antonio: Beyond the River Walk

When it’s time for the dogs to play, we hit the off-leash dog park or head out on a hike. All the trails – miles and miles of them – on the Lajitas property are pet friendly, and staying at the resort gives you access.

Best Time Of Year To Visit Big Bend With Dogs

What you like to do will determine the best time of the year for you to visit Big Bend with dogs. Our favorite season is spring when the wildflowers are blooming and the average temperatures are in the mid-70s°F — perfect for hiking. That said, spring break usually happens in March, and the park is busy that time of the year.

If you’re planning to spend time on the river, the hotter months of June, July, and August will be best bet. High temperatures in the 90s°F will make playing in the water more enjoyable.

Fall is another great season for those who enjoy milder temperatures. It tends to be wetter than spring, but there’s something magical about rain in the desert!

Last but definitely not least, winter is also a lovely time to visit Big Bend. The weather is much cooler during this time of year, but it will seem mild if you’re traveling from the frozen tundra.

Visiting Big Bend with our dogs is one of our favorite experiences. This place might be a way off the beaten path, but that’s what makes it so appealing. We hope you enjoy it as much as we have.

Visit our Amazon store to learn about more products we rely on to make traveling with pets easier, safer, and more fun!

(Visited 39,080 times, 2 visits today)

[ad_2]

Amy at GoPetFriendly.com

Source link

October 30, 2023
The best places — and best times — to take a safari

[ad_1]

In some African cultures, the combination of rain and sunshine means that a leopard and a lioness have given birth to a cub.

I was hoping that this was the case as we traversed Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve in a four-wheel drive jeep in the midst of a sunny downpour.

In the seven years that I’ve been a travel journalist in Africa, the game drive experience has always been one of my favorites. Wildlife is Africa’s treasure, and tourists revel in watching the animals — particularly the cats — in their natural habitats.

Travel journalist Harriet Akinyi watches a herd of elephants in a game drive at Mugie Conservancy, Kenya.

Source: Harriet Akinyi

There are 10 countries in Africa that have a strong wildlife focus: Kenya (my motherland), Tanzania, South Africa, Uganda, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Namibia and Rwanda.

Here are highlights that I recommend.

Kenya

For more than 25 years, professional safari guide Geoff Mayes has taken tourists to the best parks in Africa. He believes that many choose Kenya — and in particular, Maasai Mara — for their first trip to Africa because it’s safe and fairly accessible.

Known as one of the eight wonders of the world because of the wildebeest migration, Masaai Mara is one of Africa’s most renowned parks, said travel journalist Harriet Akinyi.

Wldavies | E+ | Getty Images

“It’s easier to catch flights to Kenya, making it high on peoples’ bucket list,” he said. “Also a game drive experience in Kenya will be able to meet the travelers’ expectations in terms of catching ‘the Big Five.’”

Less than an hour flight from the capital city of Nairobi is Nairobi National Park, where there’s a good chance of seeing lions and rhinos, he said.

And “if you come to the Maasai Mara, you’ll see the elephants and leopards and lions,” he explained as we drove through it.

In total, Kenya has 25 national parks and 16 national game reserves with countless private conservancies, which are smaller, private-owned wildlife reserves.

Amboseli National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is known for its massive elephant population and spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Harriet Akinyi having a bush breakfast with a view of the rhinos after a game drive in Solio Conservancy in Kenya.

Source: Harriet Akinyi

Tsavo National Park, Kenya’s biggest park, is one of the world’s largest game sanctuaries. It was highlighted by President Barack Obama in the five-part Netflix docuseries “Our Great National Parks.”

South Africa

Kenya is not the only country where I’ve gone on game drives.

South Africa is another and is home to some of the oldest and most iconic national parks in Africa. It’s a year-round safari destination, but the best game-viewing conditions are in the cooler winter months from May to September.

A game drive at Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Luis Davilla | Photodisc | Getty Images

There are 20 national parks, including the world–famous Kruger National Park — which has Africa’s “Big Five” game animals: lions, leopards, elephants, rhino and buffaloes.

There’s also Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, near the border of Botswana, and Pilanesberg National Park. The latter is about 150 kilometers (93 miles) from Johannesburg. It’s smaller than Kruger, but rich in wildlife — and, fascinatingly, it’s inside the crater of an ancient volcano believed to be some 1.2 billion years old.

Another highlight, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, has the “Big Five” as well as a thriving population of African wild dogs.

I’ve also been to Addo — the biggest park in the Eastern Cape and third-largest in South Africa — which is famous for its elephants. According to Ncediso Headman Nogaya, a game guard at Addo, October to April is the best time to visit.

“We are more likely to receive rains from May to September and while the season is great because it gives food to the wildlife … it might be a slippery drive and muddy,” he noted.

Uganda

Uganda is known for its diverse wildlife and stunning landscapes in its 10 national parks and 12 game reserves. Of the national parks, seven are located on savannahs and three in forests. In those three, one can track mountain gorillas in Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Around 1,000 mountain gorillas exist today, more than half which live in Uganda, according to the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Jason Edwards | Photodisc | Getty Images

My favorite memories at Queen Elizabeth National Park are of tracking chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge, watching tree-climbing lions and a herd of elephants walking majestically on the plains, and observing buffaloes, warthogs, hippos and Nile crocodiles while cruising the Kazinga Channel.

Another park to consider is the Kidepo Valley National Park, with its sweeping plains and valleys overshadowed by the brooding Mount Morungole. The mountain is sacred to the Ik tribe, one of the smallest tribes in Uganda. The park ranks among the best birding safari destinations in the country too.

I loved my game drive experience at Lake Mburo National Park, even though it’s one of the smallest national parks in the country.

It’s the only park where travelers can enjoy boat cruises, walking safaris and horseback riding, tour operator Dennis Kahungu told CNBC Travel.

A group of big horn Ankole Cattle in Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda.

Christopher Kidd | Photodisc | Getty Images

Plus “it’s the only national park in Uganda with the impalas,” he said. “It’s also where you will find the big horned Ankole cows.”

Rwanda

Located in eastern Rwanda, Akagera National Park is a protected wetland and the last remaining refuge for savannah-adapted species in Rwanda. Park visitors can take boat safaris along Lake Ilhema, the second largest lake in Rwanda, for wildlife and birdwatching.

Weaver birds and nests over Lake Ihema, Rwanda.

Inti St. Clair | Photodisc | Getty Images

Travelers in search of mountain gorillas usually go to Volcanoes National Park in the northern part of the country. It’s also home to golden monkeys, and well regarded for hiking and mountain climbing.

Recently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Nyungwe National Park is another part to explore and is situated in southwest Rwanda and is known for its chimpanzees and colobus monkeys. It’s also popular for canopy walks on a suspended bridge some 70 meters (230 feet) above the forest floor.

While the parks can be visited all year round, it’s best to avoid April, as that’s when Rwanda typically receives heavy rains.

Botswana

Botswana is a fast-emerging ecotourism destination — visitors are drawn to the vast elephant herds of Chobe National Park and the canoe-based wildlife safaris in the Okavango Delta.

A herd of elephants at Chobe National Park, Botswana.

Williececogo | Moment | Getty Images

One can also see the “Big Five” at Moremi Nature Reserve, Nxai Pan National Park, Makgadikgadi Pans National Park as well as Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

Tanzania

In Tanzania, I visited the iconic UNESCO-listed Serengeti National Park, which rivals Kenya for one of the best wildlife experiences in Africa.

Tourists watch a herd of wildebeest from a land cruiser in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

Patrick J. Endres | Corbis Documentary | Getty Images

My first time there was during the calving season when the wildebeests and the zebras give birth on their way to Kenya during the Great Migration.

Another wonder is the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the largest calderas in the world.

Some consider it one of the best places to go on safari in Africa.

Zimbabwe

Apart from the renowned Hwange National Park, I have also visited Matobo National Park, which has a wide diversity of fauna and plenty of white rhinos. The area around Matobo Hills is home to the remains of early settlements and the graves of historical figures like Cecil Rhodes.

The rock formation in Matobo National Park in Zimbabwe, Africa, which is home to the grave of Cecil Rhodes.

Westend61 | Getty Images

The best time to visit the parks is during the dry season, from June to October. That’s when the bush is thinner — making wildlife easier to spot.

Mayes said the best time for safaris in Kenya and Tanzania is, of course, during the migration season. But he recommends visiting Zimbabwe and Zambia from July to October.

In other parts of the continent, months like February, June and September can be very rewarding too.

“The wildlife is fantastic and there are fewer vehicles around,” he said. “And you can often benefit from a low season price structure which of course is always nice.”

[ad_2]

Source link

October 24, 2023
Exploring America’s National Grasslands With Dogs

[ad_1]

America’s national grasslands certainly aren’t as popular as our national parks. But that can work to your advantage when traveling with pets! Actually, national grasslands are the perfect place to explore with your dogs.

A field of grass—uh, really? What am I supposed to do there? And, more importantly, how am I going to entertain the dogs? These were my thoughts as I scoured the map for fun pit stops on our road trip through the Midwest.

I was on the hunt for dog friendly places with room to explore on our impromptu trip. But the national and state park campgrounds were already full. So I booked a campsite at Pawnee National Grassland. And when we arrived, the dogs and I realized we’d stumbled upon a gem!

READ MORE ⇒ Camping With Dogs – A Beginner’s Guide

History Of America’s National Grasslands

The grasslands were originally home to native tribes and vast herds of bison, elk, and other wildlife. In the 1860s, European settlers arrived and saw these expansive prairies as prime locations for hunting and agriculture. The farmers, however, were not accustomed to managing the arid soils of the grasslands, particularly during years of drought.

Without the native grasses to hold down the thin topsoil, the dry, sandy dirt simply blew away. This triggered the Dust Bowl period of the 1930s, when 20,000-foot walls of blowing dust and sand ripped across the Midwest.

Finally, the government stepped in during the Great Depression to purchase the land from farmers. This helped the families with financial troubles and benefited the land as efforts began to restore the original ecosystem.

The national grasslands are now managed by the Unites States Forest Service. And that is great news for those of us traveling with dogs, because the Forest Service tends to be very pet friendly! They work to maintain the natural ecosystem, while making the land accessible to us all to enjoy.

READ MORE ⇒ Complete List of Pet Friendly National Park Campgrounds

National Grasslands To Visit With Dogs

There are 20 national grasslands totally almost 4 million acres across the United States. Most are located west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains, in an area commonly referred to as “The Great Plains.”

Copyright: David Burns at https://www.fasttrackteaching.com/

Visit the National Grasslands website for details on each of the grasslands listed below and the contact information for the Forest Service Ranger District managing each location.

California — Butte Valley National Grassland – California’s only national grassland, Butte Valley’s 18,425 acres are located in the southern Cascade Range in northern California.

Colorado — Comanche National Grassland – Located in Baca, Las Animas, and Otero counties southeastern Colorado, the preserve covers more than 440,000 acres.

Colorado — Pawnee National Grassland – Covers 193,060 acres in northern Colorado (35 miles east of Fort Collins).

Idaho — Curlew National Grasslands – Beginning in a wide valley near Snowville, Utah, this 47,000-acre grassland spreads in a checker board pattern of public and private land north into Idaho.

Kansas — Cimarron National Grassland – Located within Morton and Stevens Counties in southwestern Kansas, this grassland covers 108,175 acres.

Nebraska — Oglala National Grasslands – Located in northwestern Nebraska, north of Crawford, this 94,000-acre preserve is also home to Toadstool Geologic Park.

New Mexico, Oklahoma & Texas — Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands – Encompassing 230,000 acres, these grasslands are intermingled with privately-owned land in six counties within New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma.

North Dakota — Little Missouri National Grassland – Located in western North Dakota, the Little Missouri is the largest national grassland in America at 1,033,271 acres. In fact, Theodore Roosevelt National Park is completely encompassed within its borders.

READ MORE ⇒ Tips For Visiting Theodore Roosevelt National Park with Pets

North Dakota — Sheyenne National Grassland – The only national grassland in the tallgrass prairie region of the United States, Sheyenne covers 70,180 acres in southeastern North Dakota. It provides habitat for greater prairie chickens in North Dakota as well as several other sensitive species, like the Dakota skipper and Regal Fritillary.

North Dakota & South Dakota — Cedar River and Grand River National Grasslands – Combined, these two grasslands cover more than 160,000 acres in southwestern North Dakota, and northwestern South Dakota.

Oklahoma & Texas — Black Kettle and McClellan Creek National Grasslands – Covers more than 31,000 acres in western Oklahoma and the eastern part of the Texas panhandle.

Oregon — Crooked River National Grassland – Located within a triangle between Madras, Prineville and Terrebonne, Oregon, this 173,629-acre grassland is popular for hunting, fishing, boating, hiking, rock climbing, and OHV riding.

South Dakota — Buffalo Gap National Grassland – This national grassland is divided into two areas in southern South Dakota. One area is in the Black Hills, near Hot Springs. The other is near Badlands National Park.

South Dakota — Fort Pierre National Grassland – Extends over 116,000 acres south of Fort Pierre, South Dakota and north of Interstate 90.

Texas — Caddo and Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) National Grasslands are located in two areas, one to the northeast and one to the northwest of Dallas-Fort Worth. They are popular destinations for hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, and photography.

Wyoming — Thunder Basin National Grassland – Encompasses 547,499 acres in northeastern Wyoming in the Powder River Basin between the Big Horn Mountains and the Black Hills.

READ MORE ⇒ Tips For Planning A Pet Friendly Road Trip

What To Expect

You and your dog can experience these national grasslands through a variety of activities: hiking, mountain biking, camping, fishing, sightseeing, and more. And keep in mind that these lands are more than just a field of grass! Many contain rivers, lakes, canyons, and badlands.

If you and your dog like to explore, the national grasslands are perfect as either a pit stop to stretch your legs, or spend several days enjoying.

Cool Whip, Hercules, and I explored two grasslands in particular: Pawnee and Buffalo Gap. We camped and hiked along buttes and badlands, and relaxed with some of the best sunsets and sunrises we’ve caught in a long while.

READ MORE ⇒ The Ultimate Pet Friendly American Road Trip

Pawnee National Grassland – Colorado

As you leave the pavement for a few long dirt roads, driving to Pawnee National Grassland feels like you’re heading into the middle of nowhere. After crossing the cattle guards (and possibly waiting for a herd of cows to mosey by), follow the signs to Pawnee Buttes Trailhead. Cresting a hill, the buttes jutting up from this otherwise smoothly flowing landscape appear suddenly. It’s almost a surprise, even when you’re expecting them.

At the trailhead, you’ll find bathrooms, picnic tables, and a sign with general trail and landscape information. Head out with your dog for a relatively easy 4-mile roundtrip hike to see Pawnee Buttes up close. Or, for a shorter hike, just walk to the viewpoint, which is about 1 mile, roundtrip.

If you’re planning to spend the night, there are several locations along the trailhead road suitable for dispersed camping. Or opt for the campground. It’s about 45 minutes away at the Crow Valley Recreation Area in the eastern section of preserve.

Buffalo Gap National Grassland – South Dakota

Buffalo Gap National Grassland wind across the southwestern corner of South Dakota in a stretched-out S-shape. The northern portion hooks around Badlands National Park and is just a few minutes from the National Grasslands Visitor Center in Wall, South Dakota.

Make a point to stop by the Visitor Center before you head into the grasslands. They can provide maps and suggestions for making the most of your visit.

This is also a great place to camp if you’re visiting Badlands National Park, but want more freedom for your dog. The views combined with the peace and quiet make for outstanding camping.

National grasslands are wonderful places to visit with your dogs — especially when you respect the rules and keep your dog under control at all times. This is not just for the safety of other visitors and local wildlife, but also for you and your dog.

The tall grasses can hide cliffs and small cacti, which you don’t want to stumble into. Also, certain areas of the grasslands are used for livestock grazing, so you never know when you’ll wake up to find a cow has stopped by for morning coffee.

Keep an eye on your furry adventure pals and have a pawsome visit!

(Visited 4,996 times, 1 visits today)

[ad_2]

Kristen Radaich

Source link

October 23, 2023
Biden to announce historic Grand Canyon monument designation during Arizona visit

[ad_1]

TUSAYAN, Ariz. — President Joe Biden will use his visit to Arizona on Tuesday to formally announce a national monument designation for the greater Grand Canyon, making Native American tribes’ and environmentalists’ decades-long vision to preserve the land a reality.

Biden is expected to announce plans for a new national monument to preserve about 1,562 square miles (4,046 square kilometers) just outside Grand Canyon National Park, National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi confirmed a day earlier. It will mark the president’s fifth monument designation.

Tribes in Arizona have been pushing Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to create a new national monument called Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni. “Baaj Nwaavjo” means “where tribes roam,” for the Havasupai people, while “I’tah Kukveni” translates to “our footprints,” for the Hopi tribe.

Tribes and environmentalists for decades have been trying to safeguard the land north and south of Grand Canyon National Park, while Republican lawmakers and the mining industry tout the economic benefits and raise mining as a matter of national security.

Biden arrived Monday evening at Grand Canyon National Park Airport, where he was greeted by Democratic congressmen Raúl Grijalva and Ruben Gallego. Biden embraced them when he got off Air Force One and the trio chatted for a few minutes. Grijalva, who serves on the House Natural Resources Committee, has repeatedly introduced legislation to create the monument.

He will be speaking in an area that is between Pinyon Plain Mine, which is being developed and has not opened, and Red Butte, a site culturally significant to the Havasupai and Hopi tribes.

Representatives of various northern Arizona tribes have been invited to attend the president’s remarks. Among them are Yavapai-Apache Nation Chairwoman Tanya Lewis, Colorado River Indian Tribes Chairwoman Amelia Flores, Navajo President Buu Nygren and Havasupai Tribal Councilwoman Dianna Sue White Dove Uqualla. Uqualla is part of a group of tribal dancers who will perform a blessing.

“It’s really the uranium we don’t want coming out of the ground because it’s going to affect everything around us — the trees, the land, the animals, the people,” Uqualla said. “It’s not going to stop.”

The Interior Department, reacting to concerns over the risk of contaminating water, enacted a 20-year moratorium on the filing of new mining claims around the national park in 2012.

A U.S. Geological Survey in 2021 found most springs and wells in a vast region of northern Arizona known for its high-grade uranium ore meet federal drinking water standards despite decades of uranium mining.

In 2017, Democratic President Barack Obama backed off a full-on monument designation. The idea faced a hostile reception from Arizona’s Republican governor and two senators. Then-Gov. Doug Ducey threatened legal action, saying Arizona already has enough national monuments.

Opponents of establishing a monument have argued it won’t help combat a lingering drought and could prevent thinning of forests and stop hunters from keeping wildlife populations in check. Ranchers in Utah near the Arizona border say the monument designation would strip them of privately owned land.

The landscape of Arizona’s political delegation has since changed considerably. Gov. Katie Hobbs, Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an independent, are all on board. Hobbs, a Democrat, has openly urged Biden to issue a designation. In a letter sent to Biden in May, Hobbs claimed that she heard from people across the political spectrum, including sporting groups and outdoor groups, in support of a monument.

Mining companies and the areas that would benefit from their business remain vehemently opposed. Buster Johnson, a Mohave County supervisor, said the monument proposal feels solely politically driven and there should have been another hearing on the matter. He doesn’t see the point of not tapping into uranium and making the country less dependent on Russia.

“We need uranium for the security of our country,” Johnson said. “We’re out of the game.”

No uranium mines are operating in Arizona, although the Pinyon Plain Mine just south of Grand Canyon National Park has been under development for years. Other claims are grandfathered in. The federal government has said nearly a dozen mines within the area that has been withdrawn from new mining claims could still potentially open, even with the monument designation, because their claims were established before 2012.

After Arizona, Biden will go on to Albuquerque on Wednesday, where he will talk about how fighting climate change has created new jobs. He’ll then visit Salt Lake City on Thursday to mark the first anniversary of the PACT Act, which provides new benefits to veterans who were exposed to toxic substances. He’ll also hold a reelection fundraiser in each city.

[ad_2]

Source link

August 8, 2023
Biden to announce historic Grand Canyon monument designation during Arizona visit

[ad_1]

TUSAYAN, Ariz. — President Joe Biden will use his visit to Arizona on Tuesday to formally announce a national monument designation for the greater Grand Canyon, making Native American tribes’ and environmentalists’ decades-long vision to preserve the land a reality.

Biden is expected to announce plans for a new national monument to preserve about 1,562 square miles (4,046 square kilometers) just outside Grand Canyon National Park, National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi confirmed a day earlier. It will mark the president’s fifth monument designation.

Tribes in Arizona have been pushing Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to create a new national monument called Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni. “Baaj Nwaavjo” means “where tribes roam,” for the Havasupai people, while “I’tah Kukveni” translates to “our footprints,” for the Hopi tribe.

Tribes and environmentalists for decades have been trying to safeguard the land north and south of Grand Canyon National Park, while Republican lawmakers and the mining industry tout the economic benefits and raise mining as a matter of national security.

Biden arrived Monday evening at Grand Canyon National Park Airport, where he was greeted by Democratic congressmen Raúl Grijalva and Ruben Gallego. Biden embraced them when he got off Air Force One and the trio chatted for a few minutes. Grijalva, who serves on the House Natural Resources Committee, has repeatedly introduced legislation to create the monument.

He will be speaking in an area that is between Pinyon Plain Mine, which is being developed and has not opened, and Red Butte, a site culturally significant to the Havasupai and Hopi tribes.

Representatives of various northern Arizona tribes have been invited to attend the president’s remarks. Among them are Yavapai-Apache Nation Chairwoman Tanya Lewis, Colorado River Indian Tribes Chairwoman Amelia Flores, Navajo President Buu Nygren and Havasupai Tribal Councilwoman Dianna Sue White Dove Uqualla. Uqualla is part of a group of tribal dancers who will perform a blessing.

“It’s really the uranium we don’t want coming out of the ground because it’s going to affect everything around us — the trees, the land, the animals, the people,” Uqualla said. “It’s not going to stop.”

The Interior Department, reacting to concerns over the risk of contaminating water, enacted a 20-year moratorium on the filing of new mining claims around the national park in 2012.

A U.S. Geological Survey in 2021 found most springs and wells in a vast region of northern Arizona known for its high-grade uranium ore meet federal drinking water standards despite decades of uranium mining.

In 2017, Democratic President Barack Obama backed off a full-on monument designation. The idea faced a hostile reception from Arizona’s Republican governor and two senators. Then-Gov. Doug Ducey threatened legal action, saying Arizona already has enough national monuments.

Opponents of establishing a monument have argued it won’t help combat a lingering drought and could prevent thinning of forests and stop hunters from keeping wildlife populations in check. Ranchers in Utah near the Arizona border say the monument designation would strip them of privately owned land.

The landscape of Arizona’s political delegation has since changed considerably. Gov. Katie Hobbs, Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an independent, are all on board. Hobbs, a Democrat, has openly urged Biden to issue a designation. In a letter sent to Biden in May, Hobbs claimed that she heard from people across the political spectrum, including sporting groups and outdoor groups, in support of a monument.

Mining companies and the areas that would benefit from their business remain vehemently opposed. Buster Johnson, a Mohave County supervisor, said the monument proposal feels solely politically driven and there should have been another hearing on the matter. He doesn’t see the point of not tapping into uranium and making the country less dependent on Russia.

“We need uranium for the security of our country,” Johnson said. “We’re out of the game.”

No uranium mines are operating in Arizona, although the Pinyon Plain Mine just south of Grand Canyon National Park has been under development for years. Other claims are grandfathered in. The federal government has said nearly a dozen mines within the area that has been withdrawn from new mining claims could still potentially open, even with the monument designation, because their claims were established before 2012.

After Arizona, Biden will go on to Albuquerque on Wednesday, where he will talk about how fighting climate change has created new jobs. He’ll then visit Salt Lake City on Thursday to mark the first anniversary of the PACT Act, which provides new benefits to veterans who were exposed to toxic substances. He’ll also hold a reelection fundraiser in each city.

[ad_2]

Source link

August 8, 2023
Young man died after fall at a Rocky Mountain waterfall

[ad_1]

ESTES PARK, Colo. (AP) — A 25-year-old Rhode Island man died after falling and being pulled underwater at a waterfall in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park on Sunday, according to the National Park Service.

The man from Providence has not yet been publicly identified and his body was recovered Sunday evening, officials said.

Rocky Mountain National Park covers over 400 square miles (1,036 square kilometers) of rugged mountains and high tundra, drawing typically over 4 million hikers annually.

Authorities say that the body of a hiker who went missing in Yosemite National Park over the Fourth of July weekend after being swept away by a cold and fast-flowing creek has been found.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — Much of the famed valley at California’s Yosemite National Park will be temporarily closed starting Friday due to a forecast of flooding as rising temperatures melt the Sierra Nevada’s massive snowpack.

The deceased man fell at West Creek Falls, on the east side of the park. The body was moved to the Larimer County Coroner, on the northern edge of Colorado, who will determine the cause of death.

At this time of year, rivers, streams and waterfalls are dangerous cold and swift, said the National Park Service, warning visitors to stay a safe distance from quick-flowing waters.

[ad_2]

Source link

July 14, 2023
Yellowstone Visitor Pleads Guilty To Touching Bison Calf Killed By Park Staff

[ad_1]

Clifford Walters pleaded guilty to one count of feeding, touching, teasing, frightening or intentionally disturbing wildlife on Wednesday, and was made to pay about $1,000, half of which will go to the park’s wildlife fund, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

Walters had tried to help the bison calf after it was separated from its mother and struggling to get out of the Lamar River on May 20, park officials said.

But that contact led the bison’s herd to reject the calf, in spite of park rangers’ repeated unsuccessful attempts to reunite them.

The calf was later euthanized by park staff because it was causing a hazard by approaching cars and people on the road.

Prosecutors said there was nothing that indicated Walters acted with malice.

According to the park, the calf was euthanized instead of being sent to a sanctuary because federal and state regulations prohibit the transport of bison out of the park unless they are sent to meat processing or scientific research facilities.

In a statement, Yellowstone National Park reminded visitors to stay at least 25 yards away from all wildlife and at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves.

Subscribe to our true crime newsletter, Suspicious Circumstances, to get the biggest unsolved mysteries, white collar scandals, and captivating cases delivered straight to your inbox every week. Sign up here.

[ad_2]

Source link

June 1, 2023
USS Arizona survivor: Honor those killed at Pearl Harbor

[ad_1]

HONOLULU (AP) — USS Arizona sailor Lou Conter lived through the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor even though his battleship exploded and sank after being pierced by aerial bombs.

That makes the now 101-year-old somewhat of a celebrity, especially on the anniversary of the Dec. 7, 1941, assault. Many call him and others in the nation’s dwindling pool of Pearl Harbor survivors heroes.

Conter rejects the characterization.

“The 2,403 men that died are the heroes. And we’ve got to honor them ahead of everybody else. And I’ve said that every time, and I think it should be stressed,” Conter said in a recent interview at his Grass Valley, California, home north of Sacramento.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Navy and the National Park Service will host a remembrance ceremony at Pearl Harbor in honor of those killed.

Last year about 30 survivors and some 100 other veterans of the war made the pilgrimage to the annual event. But the U.S. Navy and the National Park Service anticipate only one or two survivors will likely attend in person this year. Another 20 to 30 veterans of World War II are also expected to be there.

Conter won’t be among them. He attended for many years, most recently in 2019. But his doctor has told him the five-hour flight, plus hours of waiting at airports, is too strenuous for him now.

“I’m going on 102 now. It’s kind of hard to mess around,” Conter said.

Instead he plans to watch a video feed of this year’s 81st anniversary observance from home. He’s also recorded a message that will be played for those attending.

Conter’s autobiography “The Lou Conter Story” recounts how one of the Japanese bombs penetrated five steel decks on the Arizona and ignited over 1 million pounds of gunpowder and thousands of pounds of ammunition.

“The ship was consumed in a giant fireball that looked as if it engulfed everything from the mainmast forward,” he wrote.

He joined other survivors in tending to the injured, many of whom were blinded and badly burned. The sailors only abandoned ship when their senior surviving officer was sure they had rescued all those still alive.

The Arizona’s 1,177 dead account for nearly half the servicemen killed in the bombing. The battleship today sits where it sank 81 years ago, with more than 900 of its dead still entombed inside.

Conter wasn’t injured at Pearl Harbor, during World War II or the Korean War.

This year’s remembrance ceremony is the first to be open to the public since the 2019. The pandemic forced the adoption of strict public health measures for the last two years.

David Kilton, the National Park Service’s chief of interpretation for Pearl Harbor, said he’s not sure how many people will attend but they’re anticipating between 2,000 to 3,000 people.

It will be held at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial visitors center which overlooks the water and the white structure built to honor those killed on the Arizona.

Organizers have set a theme of “Everlasting Legacy” for this year’s ceremony, highlighting how fewer and fewer survivors remain.

“We honestly have to know and be prepared that eventually we won’t have the ability to connect with their stories and have them with us anymore,” Kilton said. “And it’s hard to to come to grips with that reality.”

Conter went to flight school after Pearl Harbor, earning his wings to fly PBY patrol bombers, which the Navy used to look for submarines and bomb enemy targets. He flew 200 combat missions in the Pacific with a “Black Cats” squadron, which conducted dive bombing at night in planes painted black.

One night in 1943 he and his crew had to avoid a dozen or so nearby sharks after they were shot down near New Guinea.

When one sailor expressed doubt they would survive, Conter responded “baloney.”

“Don’t ever panic in any situation. Survive is the first thing you tell them. Don’t panic or you’re dead,” he said. They were quiet and treaded water until another plane came and dropped them a lifeboat hours later.

In the late 1950s, he was made the Navy’s first SERE officer — which is an acronym for survival, evasion, resistance and escape. He spent the next decade training Navy pilots and crew on how to survive if they’re shot down in the jungle and captured as a prisoner of war. Some of his pupils used his instruction to live through years as POWs in Vietnam.

These days, he spends his time going to his favorite breakfast spot twice a week and going out for Mexican food every Friday night. He enjoys visiting with friends and watching TV.

Conter hasn’t forgotten his shipmates. He said he’d like the military to try to identify 85 Arizona sailors who were buried as unknowns in a Honolulu cemetery after the war.

“They should never give up on that issue. If they’re ever identified, I’m sure their families would want to bury them at home or wherever, but they should never give up on trying to identify them,” he said.

____

Daley reported from Grass Valley, California.

[ad_2]

Source link

December 5, 2022
Hawaii volcano’s lava oozes toward key Big Island highway

[ad_1]

KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii — Rivers of glowing lava oozing from the world’s largest volcano could swallow the main highway linking the east and west coasts of Hawaii’s Big Island as early as this weekend, and there’s nothing humans can do to stop it, experts said.

Mauna Loa awoke from its 38-year slumber Sunday, spewing volcanic ash and debris into the sky. The molten rock is drawing thousands of awestruck viewers to Route 200 as it passes near Volcanoes National Park, and they endure a thick smell of volcanic gases and sulfur to watch the wide stream of lava creep closer.

“It’s a thrill,” said Kathryn Tarananda, 66, of Waimea. She set two alarms to make sure she didn’t miss her chance to see the sun rise against the backdrop of the eruptions. “We’re out in the middle of raw nature. It’s awe inspiring that we live in this place. … I feel really, really fortunate to be an islander.”

The lava tumbling slowly down the slope has drawn within several miles of the highway, which runs through old lava flows. Known as Saddle Road, it bisects the island, connecting the cities of Hilo and Kailua-Kona. If it becomes impassable, the alternative is a longer coastal road, adding several hours of driving time.

Ken Hon, scientist in charge at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, said Wednesday that at the current flow rate, the lava could reach the road in as little as two days, though it will likely take longer. “As the lava flow spreads out, it will probably interfere with its own progress,” Hon said.

Lava crossed the Mauna Loa Observatory access road Monday night and cut off its power, Hon said. It’s the world’s premier station that measures heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The federal government is looking for a temporary alternate site on the Hawaiian island and is contemplating flying a generator to the observatory to get its power back so it can take measurements again.

Meanwhile, scientists are trying to measure the gas emitted from the eruption.

Anne Andersen left her overnight shift as a nurse to see the spectacle Wednesday, afraid the road would soon be closed.

“It’s Mother Nature showing us her face,” she said, as the volcano belched gas on the horizon. “It’s pretty exciting.”

Gordon Brown, visiting from Loomis, California, could see the bright orange lava from the bedroom of his rental house, so he and his wife went out for a closer view. “It is so bright, it just blows my mind,” Brown said.

Mauna Loa last erupted in 1984. The current eruption is its 34th since written record keeping began in 1843. Its smaller neighbor, Kilauea, has been erupting since September 2021, so visitors to the national park were treated to the rare sight of two simultaneous eruptive events: the glow from Kilauea’s lava lake and lava from a Mauna Loa fissure.

Officials were initially concerned that lava flowing down Mauna Loa would head toward the community of South Kona, but scientists later assured the public the eruption had migrated to a rift zone on the volcano’s northeast flank and wasn’t threatening communities.

Gov. David Ige has issued an emergency proclamation to allow responders to arrive quickly or limit access as needed. He’s dealt with multiple volcanic eruptions during his eight years as governor, and said it’s impossible to redirect the glowing rock.

“There is no physical way or technological way to change the course of where the lava flows,” Ige told a news conference, recalling how many wished it was possible in 2018, when Kilauea sent lava pouring across homes, farms and roads.

“The power of Mother Nature and Madam Pele overwhelms anything that we can do,” Ige said, referring to the Hawaiian deity of volcanoes and fire.

If lava does cross the highway, the Hawaii National Guard can help plan for alternatives and try to set up bypass routes, the governor said.

———

Kelleher reported from Honolulu. Selsky reported from Salem, Oregon. Contributing to this report were Associated Press journalists Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu and Greg Bull and Haven Daley in Hilo.

[ad_2]

Source link

December 1, 2022
Hawaii volcano eruption has some on alert, draws onlookers

[ad_1]

HILO, Hawaii — The first eruption in 38 years of the world’s largest active volcano is attracting onlookers to a national park for “spectacular” views of the event, and it’s also dredging up bad memories among some Hawaii residents who have been through harrowing volcanic experiences in the past.

It was just four years ago that Nicole Skilling fled her home near a community where more than 700 residences were destroyed by lava. She relocated to the South Kona area, only to find herself packing her car with food and supplies this week after Mauna Loa erupted late Sunday.

Officials were initially concerned that lava flowing down the side of the volcano would head toward South Kona, but scientists later assured the public that the eruption migrated to a rift zone on Mauna Loa’s northeast flank and wasn’t threatening any communities.

Still, the uncertainty is somewhat unnerving.

“It just happened last night, so I really haven’t had a lot of time to worry about it yet, basically,” Skilling said Monday. “And thankfully, right now, it’s at the northeast rift zone. But if it breaks on the west side, that’s when we’re talking about coming into a large populated area. … That’s why I do have a little bit of PTSD.”

Even though there were no evacuation orders, some people decided to leave their homes, prompting officials to open shelters in the Kona and Kau areas. Very few if any stayed in them overnight, Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth said, and they would be closing Tuesday.

“Cleary the danger for the Kau area and Kona area has gone, so there’s really no need to have the shelter up there any longer,” Roth said.

Despite that, some in the area were preparing for unpredictable changes.

Kamakani Rivera-Kekololio, who lives in the south Kona community of Hookena, was keeping supplies like food and blankets in his car.

“We’re being makaukau for anything,” Rivera-Kekololio said, using the Hawaiian word for “ready.”

Ken Hon, scientist-in-charge at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, said Tuesday that the lava was flowing “not super fast” at less than 1 mph. It was moving downhill about 6 miles (10 kilometers) from Saddle Road, which connects the east and west sides of the island. The flow was likely to slow down about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) from the road when it hits flatter ground.

Lava crossed the Mauna Loa Observatory access road Monday night and cut off power to the facility, Hon added. It could move toward the county seat of Hilo, but that could take a week or longer.

Meanwhile, scientists are trying to measure the gas emitted from the eruption.

“It’s just very early in this eruption right now,” Hon said.

The eruption is drawing visitors to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which is open 24 hours a day. “The viewing has been spectacular” especially before sunrise and at night, park spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane said.

Visitors there are currently able to witness two eruptive events: the glow from Kilauea’s lava lake and lava from a Mauna Loa fissure.

“This is a rare time where we have two eruptions happening simultaneously,” Ferracane said.

Hilo resident Lea Ferreira said she doesn’t plan to be one of those spectators. And she’s not worried about this eruption because she remembers the last one in 1984.

“This is nothing. She came out quiet, very quiet,” she said, referring to Pele, the Hawaiian deity of volcanoes and fire. “In 1984, you could see the flow high in the air.”

Ferreira said she could see only a bit of the glow and a “very small amount of lava” from Hilo.

Some people were driving to get a closer look, but Ferreira won’t: “I’ll let her do her thing.”

———

Kelleher reported from Honolulu. Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu contributed.

[ad_2]

Source link

November 29, 2022
Grand Canyon park changes campground name that haunted tribe

[ad_1]

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) — For years, the Indian Garden name assigned to a popular Grand Canyon campground has been a painful reminder for a Native American tribe that was displaced by the national park.

Now, the name will finally be changed.

The Havasupai Tribe and Grand Canyon National Park announced Monday that Indian Garden will be renamed Havasupai Gardens.

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names gave unanimous approval this month to the request from the National Park Service on behalf of the tribe, known internationally for the towering blue-green waterfalls on its reservation.

The area, about 4½ miles (7.2 kilometers) down the popular Bright Angel Trail on the South Rim, originally was called Ha’a Gyoh by the tribe. But by 1928, the park service had forcibly removed the last Havasupai resident from the inner canyon where his family had farmed for generations to make way for trails and a ranger station.

The park service later built a handful of small cabins for tribal members on the South Rim. The Havasupai reservation lies deep in a gorge off the Grand Canyon and is accessible only by mule, foot or helicopter.

“The eviction of Havasupai residents from Ha’a Gyoh coupled with the offensive name, Indian Garden, has had detrimental and lasting impacts on the Havasupai families that lived there and their descendants,” Tribal Chair Thomas Siyuja Sr. said in a statement. “The renaming of this sacred place to Havasupai Gardens will finally right that wrong.”

Grand Canyon Superintendent Ed Keable said he is proud of the collaboration with the Havasupai Tribal Council.

“This renaming is long overdue,” Keable said in a statement. “It is a measure of respect for the undue hardship imposed by the park on the Havasupai people.”

[ad_2]

Source link

November 25, 2022
Bison spread as Native American tribes reclaim stewardship

[ad_1]

BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK, S.D. — Perched atop a fence at Badlands National Park, Troy Heinert peered from beneath his wide-brimmed hat into a corral where 100 wild bison awaited transfer to the Rosebud Indian Reservation.

Descendants of bison that once roamed North America’s Great Plains by the tens of millions, the animals would soon thunder up a chute, take a truck ride across South Dakota and join one of many burgeoning herds Heinert has helped reestablish on Native American lands.

Heinert nodded in satisfaction to a park service employee as the animals stomped their hooves and kicked up dust in the cold wind. He took a brief call from Iowa about another herd being transferred to tribes in Minnesota and Oklahoma, then spoke with a fellow trucker about yet more bison destined for Wisconsin.

By nightfall, the last of the American buffalo shipped from Badlands were being unloaded at the Rosebud reservation, where Heinert lives. The next day, he was on the road back to Badlands to load 200 bison for another tribe, the Cheyenne River Sioux.

Most bison in North America are in commercial herds, treated no differently than cattle.

“Buffalo, they walk in two worlds,” Heinert said. ”Are they commercial or are they wildlife? From the tribal perspective, we’ve always deemed them as wildlife, or to take it a step further, as a relative.”

Some 82 tribes across the U.S. — from New York to Alaska — now have more than 20,000 bison in 65 herds — and that’s been growing in recent years along with the desire among Native Americans to reclaim stewardship of an animal their ancestors lived alongside and depended upon for millennia.

European settlers destroyed that balance when they slaughtered the great herds. Bison almost went extinct until conservationists including Teddy Roosevelt intervened to reestablish a small number of herds largely on federal lands. Native Americans were sometimes excluded from those early efforts carried out by conservation groups.

Such groups more recently partnered with tribes, and some are now stepping aside. The long-term dream for some Native Americans: return bison on a scale rivaling herds that roamed the continent in numbers that shaped the landscape itself.

Heinert, 50, a South Dakota state senator and director of the InterTribal Buffalo Council, views his job in practical terms: Get bison to tribes that want them, whether two animals or 200. He helps them rekindle long-neglected cultural connections, increase food security, reclaim sovereignty and improve land management. This fall, Heinert’s group has moved 2,041 bison to 22 tribes in 10 states.

“All of these tribes relied on them at some point, whether that was for food or shelter or ceremonies. The stories that come from those tribes are unique to those tribes,” he said. “Those tribes are trying to go back to that, reestablishing that connection that was once there and was once very strong.”

HERDS SLAUGHTERED

Bison for centuries set rhythms of life for the Lakota Sioux and many other nomadic tribes that followed their annual migrations. Hides for clothing and teepees, bones for tools and weapons, horns for ladles, hair for rope — a steady supply of bison was fundamental.

At so-called “buffalo jumps,” herds would be run off cliffs, then butchered over days and weeks. Archaeologists have found immense volumes of bones buried at some sites, suggesting processing on a major scale.

European settlers and firearms brought a new level of industry to the enterprise as hunters, U.S. troops and tourists shot bison and a growing commercial market used their parts in machinery, fertilizer and clothing. By 1889, few bison remained: 10 animals in central Montana, 20 each in central Colorado and southern Wyoming, 200 in Yellowstone National Park, some 550 in northern Alberta and about 250 in zoos and private herds.

Piles of buffalo skulls seen in haunting photos from that era illustrate an ecological and cultural disaster.

“We wanted to populate the western half of the United States because there were so many people in the East,” U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American cabinet member, said in an interview. “They wanted all of the Indians dead so they could take their land away.”

The thinking at the time, she added, was “‘if we kill off the buffalo, the Indians will die. They won’t have anything to eat.’”

HARVESTING A BULL

The day after the bison transfer from the Badlands, Heinert’s son T.J. sprawled flat on the ground, his rifle scope fixed on a large bull bison at the Wolakota Buffalo Range. The tribal enterprise in just two years has restored about 1,000 bison to 28,000 acres (11,300 hectares) of rolling, scrub-covered hills near the Nebraska-South Dakota border.

Pausing to pull a cactus paddle from the back of his hand, Heinert looked back through the scope. The 28-year-old had been talking all morning about the need for a perfect shot and the difficulty in 40-mile (64-kilometer) an hour winds. The first bullet went into the animal’s ear, but it lumbered away a couple hundred yards to join a larger group of bison, with the hunter following in an all-terrain vehicle.

Two more shots, then after the animal finally went down, Heinert drove up close and put the rifle behind its ear for a final shot that stopped its thrashing. “Definitely not how it’s supposed to go,” Heinert kept repeating, disappointed it wasn’t an instant kill. “But we got him down. That’s all that matters at this point.”

BUFFALO DREAMS

Coinciding with widespread extermination of bison, tribes such as the Lakota were robbed of land through broken treaties that by 1889 whittled down the “Great Sioux Reservation” established in 1851 to several much smaller ones across the Dakotas. Without bison, tribal members relied on government “beef stations” that distributed meat from cattle ranches.

The program was a boon for white ranchers. Today, Cherry County, Nebraska — along Rosebud reservation’s southern border — boasts more cattle than any other U.S. county.

Removing fences that crisscross ranches there and opening them to bison is unlikely, but Rosebud Sioux are intent on expanding the reservation’s herds as a reliable food source.

Others have grander visions: The Blackfeet of Montana and tribes in Alberta want to establish a “transboundary herd” ranging over the Canada border near Glacier National Park. Other tribes propose a “buffalo commons” on federal lands in central Montana where the region’s tribes could harvest animals.

“What would it look like to have 30 million buffalo in North America again?” said Cristina Mormorunni, a Métis Indian who’s worked with the Blackfeet to restore bison.

With so many people, houses and fences now, Haaland said there’s no going back completely. But her agency has emerged as a primary bison source, transferring more than 20,000 to tribes and tribal organizations over 20 years, typically to thin government-controlled herds so they don’t outgrow their land.

“It’s wonderful tribes are working together on something as important as bison, that were almost lost,” Haaland said.

Transfers sometimes draw objections from cattle ranchers who worry bison carry disease and compete for grass. Such fears long inhibited efforts to transfer Yellowstone National Park bison.

Interior officials work with state officials make sure relocated bison meet local veterinary health requirements. But they generally don’t vaccinate the animals and handle them as little as possible.

Bison demand from the tribes is growing, and Haaland said transfers will continue. That includes up to 1,000 being trucked this year from Badlands, Grand Canyon National Park and several national wildlife refuges. Others come from conservation groups and tribes that share surplus bison.

“WAY OF LIFE”

Back at Wolakota range, Daniel Eagle Road approached the bison shot by T.J. Heinert. Eagle Road rested a hand on the animal’s head. Heinert got out some chewing tobacco, tucked some behind his lip and passed the tin to Eagle Road who did the same. Heinert sprinkled tobacco along the bison’s back and prayed.

Chains fastened around the front and hind legs, the half-ton animal was hoisted onto a flatbed truck for the bouncy ride to ranch headquarters. About 20 adults and children gathered as the bison was lowered onto a tarp, then listened solemnly to tribal elder Duane Hollow Horn Bear.

“This relative gave of itself to us, for our livelihood, our way or life,” Horn Bear said.

Soon the tarp was covered with bloody footprints from people butchering the animal. They quartered it, sawing through bone, then sliced meat from the legs, rump, and the animal’s huge hump. Children, some only 6, were given knives to cut away skin and fat.

The adults took turns dipping pieces of kidney in the animal’s gall bladder bile. “Like salsa,” someone called out as others laughed.

The stomach was washed out for use in soup. The pelt was scraped and spread on a railing to dry. The skull was cleaned and the tongue, a delicacy, cut out.

Then came an assembly line of slicing, grinding and packaging of meat distributed to families through a food program run by the tribal agency that operates the ranch. The work lasted into the night.

A first for many, the harvest illustrates a challenge for the Rosebud Sioux and other tribes: few people have butchering skills and cultural knowledge to establish a personal connection with bison.

Katrina Fuller, who helped guide the butchering, dreams of training others so the reservation’s 20 communities can come to Wolakota for their own harvest. “Maybe not now, but in my lifetime,” she said. “That’s what I want for everyone.”

Horn Bear, 73, said when he was very young his grandparents told him creation stories revolving around bison. But then he was forcibly enrolled in an Indian boarding school — government-backed institutions where tribal traditions were stamped out with beatings and other cruelties. The bison were already gone, and the schools sought to erase the stories of them too.

Standing on the blood-spattered tarp, Horn Bear said the harvest brings back what was almost totally taken away — his people’s culture, economy, social fabric.

“It’s like coming home to a way of life,” he said.

———

Follow Matthew Brown on Twitter: @MatthewBrownAP

———

Video journalist Emma H. Tobin contributed to this report.

———

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

[ad_2]

Source link

November 21, 2022
The Best National Parks To Visit In The Winter

[ad_1]

When people plan their national parks vacations, they typically don’t target the winter season. But the low-traffic cooler months are actually a perfect time to visit many parks across the U.S.

“Winter is such an underrated time of year to visit the national parks if you’re willing to put in some extra time planning around seasonal closures and packing those winter clothes,” Jim Pattiz, co-founder of the organization More Than Just Parks, told HuffPost.

Of course, some parks are better suited for winter visits than others. We asked experts to share the national parks they believe are best to explore during the winter season.

Sequoia National Park

Digital Vision. via Getty Images

“Without a doubt my favorite national park to visit in the winter is Sequoia National Park in California,” Pattiz said. “Walking through a grove of the park’s magnificent giant sequoias draped in feet of white snow is truly an awe-inspiring experience. The crowds and frequent wildfires of summer are long gone here and replaced by the serene quiet of snow dropping from overburdened branches and the wind gently passing through the giant trees’ upper canopies.”

He noted that many of the park’s roads are closed seasonally, so it’s important to check the website ahead of time to ensure you can reach the specific destinations you want to visit.

“Be flexible and bring your best winter clothing!” Pattiz added.

Everglades National Park

Douglas Rissing via Getty Images

“So many people make Florida their summer vacation spot because it’s a convenient time for a family getaway. However, it is not a good time to visit Everglades National Park,” said national parks travel expert Mikah Meyer.

This impressive wetlands ecosystem is located just outside Miami, and as Meyer alluded to, the area’s summer heat, humidity and swarms of mosquitos make it less enjoyable to visit during that time of year compared to other months.

“Having spent time in every section of the park in January, I can confirm it is an entirely different ― and pleasant ― experience,” he said. “The lower temperatures make every activity more enjoyable, including it being more comfortable to wear long pants on a muddy ‘slough slog’ hike to a cypress dome.”

Airboat rides feel less blistering in the sun during this time of year, and there’s a nice coolness in the air as you watch dolphins in the southwest section.

“It also means you’ll be less dehydrated during a Shark Valley Tram Tour, and in general will make you want to spend more time admiring the park’s multitude of wildlife than rushing back to the AC of your car,” Meyer said. “While there are other nearby national parks to Miami, Biscayne Bay and Dry Tortugas, both of these are less enjoyable in the winter because they are so heavily reliant upon water activities. The ocean water is cold during this time of year, which also takes away recreation options at the beach.”

Yellowstone National Park

ferrantraite via Getty Images

“Yellowstone is one of the best parks to visit in the winter because it offers a unique glimpse at the world’s first national park,” said Jack Steward, co-host of the “Rock the Park” TV series. “The park has a quieter, less active feel in the winter, and with the bears hibernating, you can really sense the stillness in the air.”

The winter provides rare opportunities for exploration with fewer crowds and incredible snowy vistas, creating the sense that you’re the only people in the vast landscape.

“You can’t drive through or [camp] inside the park in winter,” said Joe Yogerst, travel expert and author of National Geographic’s “50 States, 500 Campgrounds.” “But you can hop a snowcoach or snowmobile tour or join a guided snowshoe or cross-country ski trip in the parks. There’s nothing quite like seeing ― and photographing ― a herd of snow-mantled bison in Yellowstone.”

Make sure you do your research, so you know how you’ll be getting around and which areas are accessible during the winter. You’ll be mentally and logistically prepared for a unique experience.

“Mammoth Hot Springs and the Lamar Valley are two locations that must be visited, both for the wildlife and to see the transformative nature of winter,” Derek Wright and Amy Beth Wright, outdoor enthusiasts and creators of Parks and Points, told HuffPost in an email. “Old Faithful blasts out steaming water, but then watch as it cools in the winter air. Ghost trees (trees covered with the frozen water spray), geysers where water turns from steam to ice, and bison whose exhales come with wisps of steam as well are just a few images of the natural world that are only visible at this time of year.”

Although camping outdoors isn’t an option, they recommended exploring the lodging options inside and outside the park, like the gateway towns of West Yellowstone and Gardiner.

“It is cold, but pack warm clothes and enjoy a hot cocoa at the end of the day, as you’ll never have a winter adventure quite like this,” the Wrights added.

Big Bend National Park

Rebecca L. Latson via Getty Images

“Big Bend National Park in West Texas is a massive park that borders the Rio Grande River and Mexico, and makes for a great winter visit,” the Wrights said. “The summer temperatures will have abated, making it a perfect time to hike or stroll through a unique mountain landscape that formed from volcanic activity 35 million years ago.”

Winter is part of the park’s high season, so make sure you plan ahead if you want to camp or stay at the lodge.

“In particular, skygazing is perfect at this time of year,” the Wrights noted. “If you are into astral photography or simply enjoy being absorbed by the night sky in an amazing location, Big Bend National Park is an official International Dark Sky Park. With the timing of winter sunsets, stargazing can start before 8:00 p.m.”

Travel blogger Renee Hahnel also advised taking advantage of the winter weather conditions in southwest Texas.

“It can get really hot in Big Bend National Park, so visiting during winter is optimal,” Hahnel said. “There’s tons to do, including hiking, sightseeing, bouldering, scenic drives, and soaking in hot springs.”

Bryce Canyon National Park

Dana Michelle Allen / EyeEm via Getty Images

“The hoodoo-spired landscape of Bryce Canyon National Park adds another dimension entirely when snow falls on its peaks,” said James Brockbank, founder of The Family Vacation Guide.

Beyond the magical vibes, you won’t have to contend with crowds and struggle to find parking during the low winter season, and there are still plenty of activity options.

“The red rock amphitheater remains open year-round, and families can head to popular lookouts such as Sunset Point or hike recommended routes including the Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden trails,” Brockbank said. “There are a multitude of things to do ― from daytime hiking, ice fishing and snowmobiling to a nightfall stargazing and camping experience for families. Its photogenic landscape makes for a great excuse for sightseeing and plenty of photo opportunities to cherish for life.”

Acadia National Park

Patryce Bak via Getty Images

“Acadia National Park is typically covered in 5 feet of blanketed snow during the colder months,” Brockbank said. “The park contains the tallest mountain on the Atlantic coast of the U.S. Great for cross-country skiers that can enjoy a 45-mile stretch of carriage roads.”

Parkgoers can grab a hot chocolate and explore the nearby Mount Desert Island town of Bar Harbor, Maine, before and after their Acadia adventures.

“The park is rich in human history dating back 10,000 years,” Brockbank said. “Here you can include your kids of all ages, as there are a plethora of child-friendly excursions for educational purposes along with fun-filled activities.”

From snowshoeing to snowmobiling to ice fishing, the options are vast.

Death Valley National Park

Nikhil Nagane / 500px via Getty Images

Death Valley National Park, California.

“Winter is the prime time to visit Death Valley National Park,” said Janel Jensen, program manager for adventure travel at REI. “Temperatures are usually mild (for the ‘hottest place on Earth’), and there are good opportunities to still soak up some sun.”

The snow-capped peaks and low-angled winter light make for some lovely views, and you can spend more time outdoors than is advisable during the hotter months.

“Hiking is an ideal activity along with cycling the less-trafficked roads during offseason,” Jensen said.

Yosemite National Park

Provided by jp2pix.com via Getty Images

“My favorite winter national park is Yosemite, mainly because the valley and the high Sierra look so gorgeous when covered in snow,” Yogerst said.

He recommended snowy activities like snowshoeing through the redwood groves, family-style downhill skiing or snowboarding at Badger Pass, ice skating beneath the stars at Curry Village, and cross-country skiing along Glacier Point Road.

“Yosemite National Park is one of the busiest national parks during the warmer months, so visiting during winter is a great time to escape the crowds,” Hahnel said. “I recommend traveling with tire chains, unless you have a 4×4 vehicle and winter tires. The roads can get icy!”

Photography enthusiasts will also enjoy the season’s low lighting and easy wildlife spotting, added Jensen.

“Yosemite National Park is a winter wonderland of iced granite peaks, snow-topped giant sequoias and snow blanketing the valley floor,” she said. “My favorite snowshoe trip is from Badger Pass to Dewey Point, where you are rewarded with one of the best views of the valley and El Captan and Half Dome on a clear day.”

Zion National Park

Taylor Reilly via Getty Images

“Winters in Zion National Park are spectacular,” Jensen said. “The potential fresh snow on the landscape adds a dramatic contrast to the already unique scenery and the noise-dampening quality of snow makes this less crowded season that much more peaceful.”

She touted the crowd-free solitude of Zion in the winter and variety of hiking options open year-round due to the low elevation and mild conditions.

“Take in breathtaking views of snow-dusted cliffs contrasted against the warm orange tones of Zion Canyon,” Jensen recommended. “Hike to Observation Point, exploring slot canyons along the way and incredible views of iconic Angels Landing. It’s easier to see wildlife this time of year as they move to lower elevation. Wild turkeys, bald eagles, elk and bighorn sheep are a few of the resident wildlife.”

[ad_2]

Source link

November 18, 2022