Snowshoeing
Capitol Reef, Waterpocket Fold, Land of the Sleeping Rainbow—all are colorful names to describe a park with many striking characteristics.
Waterpocket Fold, the main feature of the park, is the name of a 100-mile-long fold in the earth's surface. This uplift contains innumerable eroded basins or pockets that hold thousands of gallons of rainwater. These pockets of water have affected the history of humanity within the park and the flora and fauna of the region.
Entering the park from the west gives the most impressive view of the 1,000-foot-high stone barrier into which erosive forces have sculpted fascinating canyons, mesas, buttes and mazes. Once in the park, other astonishing panoramas await you.
Within a short distance of the visitor center, you will see Capitol Dome, Chimney Rock, the Goosenecks and the Egyptian Temple. Hickman Bridge, the Golden Throne and Capitol Gorge reward you after easy to moderate hikes. Prehistoric petroglyphs, the Fruita Schoolhouse, the Gifford Farmhouse and the Behunin Cabin speak of bygone eras and can be reached by car. The 20-mile round-trip Scenic Drive will take you past the Ripple Rock Nature Center and many of the park's features.
If you are seeking a remote wilderness experience, Capitol Reef has it. To the north of Route 24, dirt roads, which generally require high-clearance or 4-wheel-drive vehicles, lead into the park's north end through the heart of Cathedral Valley, an area of monolithic formations of Entrada and Curtis sandstones, some of which are 500 feet high. South of Route 24, graded roads, usually suitable for high-clearance vehicles, lead into some very fine hiking country. Besides good hiking opportunities, the southern part of the park also offers spectacular views of the folded strata of Capitol Reef and the Henry Mountains. Muley Twist Canyon is in the southern end of the park, as is Brimhall Bridge. Check with a park ranger before setting out for any of these more remote locations. Weather conditions may make the roads slick and impassable.
While Crater Lake National Park is open year-round, the Lodge itself is only open from the end of May typically (it is scheduled to open 5/26 in 2010) through mid-October. The lodge is closed for this season
Crater Lake receives A LOT of snow up into the spring season and starting again in early fall. So, if your vehicle is prepared for it, snowy months can be beautiful times to explore the park. Just make sure to check ahead that the roads have been plowed. The "Rim Road" is usually in pretty good shape for most of the year.
There is no van or shuttle directly to the lodge. For reservations or more information call Xanterra at (888) 774-2728.
Have a great trip!
On the bottom of every page on OhRanger.com there is a square box that offers a link to ordering guides. The guides are not 100% free, but they are offered for less than $1/piece to cover handling.
If you want to find out where the guides are locally, you can send an email to [email protected]
Here's the link just in case:
Rocky Mountain National Park is quite beautiful in the fall and winter. It's hard to predict the weather, though snow is certainly a possibility. If there is snow on the ground, the park has a reflective appeal that really brings the mountains to the forefront. If there's no snow, the fallen Aspen leaves will dot the soft ground in an "otherworldly" mix of orange and yellow hues.
Longs Peak, Aspenglen and Timber Crook campgrounds are the only in-park campgrounds open all year. Note that once the snows begin, Longs Peak and Timber Crook are not plowed, so you'll have to carry supplies to your campsite... None of these campgrounds has water in winter.
If you we going into the Park backcountry overnight, you will need a special permit, available free at park headquarters, or the Kawuneeche Visitor Center. Surely the park will tell you the same, but please note that temps will most certainly be cold, so please pack enough warm clothing and appropriate sleep gear, and be aware of Hypothermia if you are planning to spend significant time outdoors.
For over 9,000 years people have been coming to the powerful Columbia River of Lake Roosevelt National Monument. Once upon a time, the rich fishery of the river was used for survival and prosperity, and today visitors continue to enjoy the river’s recreational opportunities of fishing, camping, hunting and boating. Experience life on the river past and present when you visit Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area.
READ MORENative Americans utilized the Mississippi River for trade, food and water supply long before Europeans visited the “New World.” Its watersheds have shaped the continent and its cultures, and today the “Father of Waters” is still just as powerful as it once was. Millions of people get their drinking water from the watershed, and also use it as a playground, a shipping lane, and a political boundary. Millions of plants, animals and other living things thrive in the river’s ecosystem.
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