Ross Lake National Recreation area is marked by jagged peaks, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and magnificent glaciers. United together with Lake Chelan and North Cascades National Park by a contiguous overlay of Stephen Mather Wilderness, the beauty of Ross Lake provides a rich tapestry for visitor experience of all abilities and interests. The trails and vast undeveloped wilderness allow visitors to experience nature with minimal human-caused intrusions.
Close to Hollywood, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area portrays the imagination of big time movies with the beauty of natural surroundings such as beaches, grasslands, canyons and oak woodlands. This diverse landscape inspires preservation and creativity, and truly is star quality! Hikes, walks, tours and rides are just some of the activities that abound in the park, so come and meet Santa Monica Mountains in person.
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is located 8 miles west of Redding, at the juncture of the Klamath Mountain range and the northern edge of the Sacramento Valley. It is home to a special collection of animal and plant life. The parks attractive features include Whiskeytown Lake, Shasta Bally (6,209 ft.) and numerous waterfalls, providing outdoor enthusiasts opportunities for water recreation, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.
There are a plethora of things to do and see at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Its magnificent lakes cater to boaters, swimmers, sunbathers, and fishermen. Its deserts entertain hikers, wildlife photographers, and roadside sightseers. Thousands of desert plants and animals also live in the park, and have adapted to survive in extreme conditions.
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.
Native 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.
Welcome to Lake Meredith, which lies on the dry and windswept High Plains of the Texas Panhandle. Magnificent 200-foot canyons carved by the Canadian River surround this 10,000-acre reservoir. The lake, contrasting spectacularly with its surroundings, was created to supply water to surrounding cities and to create recreational activities such as fishing, boating, waterskiing, sailing, sail-boarding, scuba diving and swimming. The backcountry surrounding the lake provides areas for hunting, camping, horseback riding, wildlife viewing and hiking.
Alcatraz Island, referred to as "The Rock," is the site of the first lighthouse and US fort on the West Coast, the infamous federal penitentiary now off-limits to the public, and the 18-month occupation by Indians of All Tribes that saved the tribes. Along with the rich history of the island, there is also a natural side with gardens, tide pools, bird colonies and magical bay views.
It’s obvious why Golden Gate National Recreation Area is one of the most visited units of the National Park System, with over 13 million visitors a year. The two hundred years of history boast Native American culture, the Spanish Empire frontier, the Mexican Republic, maritime history, the California Gold Rush, the evolution of American coastal fortifications and the growth of urban San Francisco. Explore the many areas of the park, stretching from northern San Mateo County to Southern Marin County and including several areas of San Francisco.
Gateway National Recreation abounds with recreational and learning opportunities, ranging from swimming, boating and fishing to team sports, bicycling and nature study. Travel to days of old when you visit the nation’s oldest operating lighthouse, forts that defended America, and sites that trace aviation’s early days. A wildlife refuge, holly forest, ocean dunes and coastal uplands in one, Gateway is a park that you don’t want to miss!
