Explore National Parks of the Southeast - United Van Lines

NATIONAL PARKS OF THE

Southeast

A Fascinating Fort Explore the remote Dry Tortugas and its never-completed structure.

Above Ground and Below

Diversity Beyond Belief

Descend into the longest cave system Marvel at the Great Smoky Mountains, of the world at Mammoth Cave. home to 1,000 unique species.

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Exuding an entirely different vibe than their West Coast counterparts, national parks in the Southeastern U.S. have a magnificence all their own. While spring and summer are high season at most of America’s managed lands, fall and winter are when this region truly shines.

Home to the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States — along with coral reefs, mist-hung mountains and even restorative hot springs — there are varied wonders that await. Whether you favor swamps, shoreline or peaks, the Southeastern U.S. brims with possibility. And if you’re fortunate enough to live in the region, America’s breathtaking backyards — National Park Service-managed lands — are a hop, skip and a jump from home.

Considering a move to the southeastern United States? United Van Lines can not only get you there, but also help you settle in, get familiar with your new neighborhood, and embrace the beauty and natural resources that surround you. The mountains, mangroves and rugged, whitewater rivers are calling — and so much more.

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Contents U. S . V IRG IN IS LA N DS

32 Virgin Islands National Park

V IRG IN IA

36 Shenandoah National Park

W E ST V IRG IN IA

40 New River Gorge National Park

ARKA NSAS

04 Hot Springs National Park

NO RT H CA R O L IN A A ND T ENNESS E E

24 Great Smoky Mountains National Park

F LORIDA

08 Biscayne National Park

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SO UT H CA R O L IN A

28 Congaree National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park

16 Everglades National Park Considering a move to the Southeastern United

KEN T U C KY

20 Mammoth Cave National Park

States? Already settled in? The mountains, mangroves and rugged, whitewater rivers are calling — and so much more.

Written by

Jennifer Olvera

Designed by

Emily Rhodes

Cover Art

Getty

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Tips for Visiting National Parks

Adventure Awaits in Your Own Backyard P RE P E A RLY Get an annual national park pass

Get a Lay of the Land

your routes and map out everything in advance. It’s also a good idea to purchase hard-copy maps, like National Geographic’s waterproof

Whether you prefer a quick weekend

trail map series. They not only include

jaunt or a full-on vacation, it’s

topography, but also roads and routes

important to get the lay of the land

not detailed on regular maps — or,

before visiting the Southeast’s national

frankly, the ones you receive at

parks. These destinations are among

the gate.

the remotest areas on Earth. As such, you’ll lack access to certain necessities; cell service can be spotty; and weather

Time it Right

and road conditions can change in the blink of an eye.

Because the parks are so vast, timing is everything. The Everglades, for example, spans 1,509,000 acres. Group

Check the Park Website

viewpoints and hikes by regions within

Buy a park passport — and stamp it at each visitor’s center Book early — nearby accommodations fill up well in advance

TA K E S E L F C A RE Bring proper gear — and prepare for weather changes Dress in layers and bring a daypack Drink water — and lots of it Slather on sunscreen, regardless of the weather

the park; note the distance and time between destinations; and know how far it is to your must-sees in advance.

Check the park’s official website for things like road and trail closures before you go — otherwise you could be met with a closed road, entrance or trail that can derail an otherwise well-planned adventure. This is the wilderness, after all, and you’re at the mercy of mother

No one wants to end up mid-mountain and crunched for time. Account for the

T IM E TO G O !

fact that these drives can take longer than expected — mountain, unpaved and meandering roads are that way.

Consider, too, what time of year is right for your visit. In some parts

nature every single day.

Pack a picnic, as dining options are limited to non-existent

of the country, the summer heat

Stop by the gift shop — they tend to be great Gas up the night before — hours vary and options are few and far between

is oppressive, while winter brings

Plan Your Routes and Pack a Map

seasonal road closures that render parks, or parts of parks, off-limits for months at a time. By contrast, offseason visits — spring and fall — prove

It’s often an hours-long drive through

more peaceful and less populated,

challenging — not to mention

while providing a beauty of their own.

exhilarating — driving conditions

However, these can also be times when

when traveling from one end of most

certain regions receive the most rain.

Combine camping with a stay in a historic lodge or Airbnb Befriend park rangers for insider information Download park, weather and GPS apps in advance Check the park website for time entry requirements

national parks to the other. Plan

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NATIONAL PARKS OF

Arkansas

Hot Springs National Park GETTY SOUTHEAST

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ARKANSAS

Hot Springs National Park Mountainous and marked by ancient thermal springs, Hot Springs National Park has something for everyone, from a rich cultural past to historic bathhouses, jaw-dropping geology and pine, oak and hickory forests cut by creeks.

Spanning a nearly 5,400-acre preserved area surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest, adjacent to the city of Hot Springs, Arkansas, its waters ultimately are managed to conserve the production of uncontaminated hot water for public use.

Having become a United States territory in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase and designated as Hot Springs Reservation in 1832, its verdant valleys, rocky mountains, densely forested slopes and novaculite outcrops also offer a welcome habitat for a wide array of species.

Outside of the Bathhouse Row National Historic Landmark District, expect to mostly encounter forested hills and valleys, with a smattering of vibrant wildflowers when spring arrives.

Lush grasses serve as food for resident wildlife, while mosses and liverworts help stabilize and regulate the soil. Be sure to pause and appreciate the seasonal southern magnolias along the promenade at Bathhouse Row. Also, keep watch for lush foliage — including ferns, spleenworts and diatoms — near thermal springs.

T H E W E AT H E R Featuring fairly mild weather all year long, temperatures in Hot Springs can range from about 90 F to less than 27 F. Summers tend to be hot and

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THE FLORA A ND FAUNA

and more than 70 kinds of reptiles and

humid, between 80 F and 90 F, with

An integral sanctuary for over 50

amphibians, many of them most active

the potential for sudden changes in

species of mammals — including

at night. Given Hot Springs’ woodland

conditions.

groundhogs, white-tailed deer,

landscape, wildlife viewing is most

Meanwhile, March through May sees

squirrels and chipmunks — the park is

visible during winter, when deciduous

average lows of 43 F to 61 F and highs

also a haven for about 50 fish species

trees have dropped their leaves.

up to around 82 F. From September

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through November, low temps generally range from 42 F to 64 F, with highs that hover between 63 F to 86 F. Bundle up accordingly when visiting in the winter — lows of 15 F give way to daytime highs between 52 F and 56 F, with the potential for some ice or snow.

Although weather at the park is less tumultuous than many of its counterparts, it’s still a good idea to be aware of the day’s conditions.

THE HIK ES , DRIVES A ND VI EW PO I NTS GOAT ROCK TRAIL Set in the center of the park, the moderately challenging, 2.4-mile, out-and-back Goat Rock Trail journeys through the forest to a vista with Ouachita Mountain and Gulpha Gorge views.

WEST MOUNTAIN TRAILS Traverse the interconnected, dirt West Mountain Trails through deep forest, reached via Whittington Park and Canyon Trailheads, perhaps tackling the 3.3-mile loop around the top of the mountain.

HOT SPRINGS MOUNTAIN TRAIL A 3.3-mile loop, the Hot Springs Mountain Trail meanders

SUNSET TRAIL

through rolling hillsides and deciduous and coniferous forests,

The 13-mile Sunset Trail — among the park’s most challenging

with sweeping vistas of central Arkansas from atop Hot

— serves as a peaceful respite from the crowds. Crossing

Springs Mountain Tower.

diverse, remote terrain, it’s divided into three sections: West Mountain (2.8 miles), Sugarloaf Mountain (2.6 miles) and Stonebridge Road (3.8 miles).

WEST MOUNTAIN SCENIC DRIVE Prefer a picturesque drive? Motor along West Mountain Scenic Drive, built as a carriage road in the 1880s. Beginning at the end of Fountain Street off Central Avenue downtown, it features pause-worthy overlooks, a picnic area and — up top — an outcrop of Arkansas novaculite. Used by the Caddo peoples for making tools and weapons, it was later utilized

by European settlers for whetstones. Next, for an aerial view of Bathhouse Row and the former Army-Navy hospital, follow North Mountain Scenic Drive, which has entrances on Prospect Avenue and Whittington Avenue.

A B O U T T H E PA RK LO C AT I O N

Central Garland County, Arkansas ESTA B L I S H ED

A REA

March 4, 1921

5,500 acres

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NATIONAL PARKS OF

Florida

Biscayne National Park GETTY SOUTHEAST

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FLORIDA

Biscayne National Park Preserving its namesake bay — one of the top scuba diving areas in the country — Biscayne Bay National Park is located 20 miles south of Miami. About 95% water and fringed by shoreline mangrove forests, Biscayne also contains part of the world’s third-longest living coral reef, along with the northernmost Florida Keys.

With reefs and islands accessible only by boat, the 270-squaremile preserve is the largest marine sanctuary in the National Park Service. Find 10,000 years of human history here as well, involving everything from prehistoric tribes to shipwrecks, pineapple farmers and U.S. presidents.

THE FLORA A ND FAUNA Protecting four distinct ecosystems, Biscayne Bay National Park harbors a staggering diversity of life, including over 600 native fish, neo-tropical water birds, and threatened and endangered species like manatees, sea turtles and the Schaus’ swallowtail butterfly.

Underwater, seagrasses sway with the currents. Along the land lies one of the longest, continuous stretches of mangroves on Florida’s east coast, giving way to rare and endangered plants like the Florida semaphore cactus and buccaneer palm, the rarest palm native to Florida.

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THE WEAT HER Featuring a subtropical climate, the park is bathed in year-round sunshine.

Don’t forget to keep watch of

Jetty Trail at Convoy Point is a short,

weather conditions before arriving at

easy walk along the park’s mangrove-

the park.

lined shore to the Colonial Bird

Winters are generally dry and mild,

Protection Area at the end of a jetty.

though occasional fronts do bring

T HE ST R O L L S A N D SA IL IN G S

wind and light rain. Summers, by

While they’re not exactly “hiking”

contrast, are hot and humid; afternoon

trails, five walking paths do exist in

The .5-mile Adams Key Loop Trail takes

thunderstorms are par for the course.

Biscayne National Park. Remember to

you through a wooded area on Adams

Offering warm weather throughout

wear bug spray since mosquitoes are

Key.

the year, January (the driest month)

out in full force.

ELLIOTT KEY LOOP TRAIL

sees average highs of 77 F, while JETTY TRAIL

August soars to around 90 F. Note

Cutting across Elliott Key on the bay

that hurricane season runs from June 1

Starting at the Dante Fascell Visitor

side to the Atlantic Ocean, the 1.1-

through November 30.

Center, the .25-mile, out-and-back

mile Elliott Key Loop Trail is rough at

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ADAMS KEY LOOP TRAIL

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ABOU T THE PA R K LOCATION

Northern Florida Keys ESTABLISHED

June 28, 1980 A REA

172,971 acres

times but offers water views along boardwalks and sandy stretches.

SPITE HIGHWAY TRAIL The only true hiking trail in Biscayne Bay, the 7-mile, out-and-back Spite Highway Trail skirts, in part, the Atlantic Ocean and travels through tunnel-like hardwood forest.

BOCA CHITA KEY LOOP TRAIL On its namesake island and reached by boat, the .4-mile, out-and-back Boca Chita Key Loop Trail on Boca Chita Island starts east of the restrooms, continuing to the south end of the island and emerging near the pavilion.

If it’s open, be sure to climb the stairs of the historic lighthouse — its observation deck offering fantastic views of the ocean, islands, bay and Miami skyline. If you’re lucky, you may even spot sharks or ’rays from above.

BISCAYNE BAY NATIONAL PARK INSTITUTE CRUISE Operated by the Biscayne Bay National Park Institute, cruises are one of the best ways to fully experience that water-filled landscape. Departing from Homestead, Coconut Grove or the Deering Estate, the guided journeys cover themes that include the park’s heritage. Others feature active elements, like snorkeling, paddling, camping or hiking.

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Dry Tortugas National Park Consisting mostly of open, aquamarine water, remote, 100-square-mile Dry Tortugas National Park lies 70 miles west of Key West. An assemblage of seven islands, plus protected coral reefs, it was established to protect the island and marine ecosystems and is accessible only by private boat, ferry or seaplane.

On 14-acre Garden Key, you’ll find the park’s headquarters, beaches and impressive, historic, 19th-century Fort Jefferson, the park’s crown jewel.

Fort Jefferson National Monument was designated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt under the Antiquities Act on January 4, 1935. The largest allmasonry fort in the United States, the never-completed structure was built between 1846 and 1875 to guard the gateway to the Gulf of Mexico — a very lucrative shipping channel. Featuring decorative brickwork and 2,000 arches, it also has a moat that requires crossing a bridge.

Meanwhile, a lighthouse and sea turtles star on Loggerhead Key and nearby Loggerhead Reef reveals the 1875 Windjammer Wreck, a popular dive site. Bush Key serves as a nesting site for seabirds, such as sooty terns.

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T H E F LO RA A N D FAU N A Closer to Cuba than the U.S. mainland, the Tortugas are a very remote ocean wilderness replete with historical and natural wonders.

Here, coral and seagrass communities flourish, hosting colorful coral and reef fish that entice snorkelers. Above the surface, nearly 300 species of birds — many migratory — await observation, while large sea turtles lounge and lay their eggs on sun-drenched arcs of sand.

The park’s native flora is typical of that seen on the Caribbean islands,

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including grasses, herbaceous flora, shrubs, sedges and trees.

Summer stretches from May through October, when the

Mostly native species exist on the smaller islands, though

Atlantic hurricane season occurs (June 1- November 30).

the larger ones — Garden and Loggerhead — also contain

Visitors can typically expect little to no wind, along with great

a bevy of exotic plant species, given their history of human

visibility for snorkeling and viewing marine life.

habitation and disturbance.

Be sure to visit the park’s website to stay informed about conditions and closures, especially when visiting by personal

THE WEAT HER

vessel.

Experiencing two seasons — winter and summer — it’s essential that visitors remain on the pulse of weather, water

H IK E S A N D OT H E R AC T IV IT IE S

and ground when visiting Dry Tortugas.

The winter season — generally November through April —

FORT JEFFERSON LOOP

brings strong cold fronts from the North and West, creating

Located in the southwest corner of the Florida Keys reef

large swells, rough seas, powerful wind and poor visibility for

system, more than 99% of Dry Tortugas National Park is

snorkeling. That said, the weather is cooler, the crowds fewer

comprised of water. If you’re looking to “hike,” your options

and birds plentiful, the latter having blown in with the passing

are limited. The easy, .5-mile Fort Jefferson Loop, which

fronts.

encircles the 19th-century fort, is a must.

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SHORELINE TRAIL When Bush Key is open, walk the onemile, out-and-back Shoreline Trail from sunrise to sunset. Note that the island is closed from February to September.

Time it right and witness upward of 80,000 sooty terns and 4,500 brown noddies, who nest and raise their young on the island — the only significant breeding colonies of their kind in the United States.

GARDEN KEY CAMPING Although doing so requires careful advance planning, campsites at Dry Tortugas are available on Garden Key, where Fort Jefferson resides.

WATER ACTIVITIES Other popular pastimes include fishing, snorkeling, kayaking and paddleboarding. However, you need to bring your own equipment and ensure your mode of transportation has space to accommodate it.

BRYAN GOFF

A B O U T T H E PA RK LO C AT I O N

Gulf of Mexico, west of Key West ESTA B L I S H ED

January 4, 1935 A REA

64,701 acres

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F LO R IDA T H E F LO RA A N D FAU N A A key habitat for migratory birds, the Everglades are also a nursery for nearly 300 species of fish, as well as wading birds. Here, too, are 50 distinct kinds of reptiles, including the American alligator, American crocodile, endangered green turtle, Atlantic leatherback, Atlantic hawksbill, Atlantic ridley and venomous eastern indigo snake.

Set at the confluence of temperate North America and the tropical Caribbean, the park is rich with flora from both, including endemic and legally protected species. Among its ever-evolving collection of plants are 164 identified plant species, 47 of which are threatened, 113 of which are endangered and four of which have been identified as commercially exploited.

From grasses and sedges to moisture-loving orchids, ferns, trees, GETTY

shrubs and a year-round proliferation of wildflowers, Everglades National

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Everglades National Park

Park is filled with intrigue.

The nation’s largest subtropical wilderness, Everglades National Park is as beautiful as it is foreboding. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve, it’s also designated as a Wetland of International Importance and is protected under the Cartagena Treaty.

An integral habitat for several rare and endangered species, its swamps, tropical forests and waterways are home to manatees, American crocodiles and elusive Florida panthers, too.

Historically speaking, the Everglades served as hunting grounds for many over time, including Native Americans and, later, Anglo-American settlers (or “Gladesmen”), who relied on its abundant natural resources. Dubbed the River of Grass on account of Marjory Douglas’s novel, “The Everglades: River of Grass,” it has been described as such ever since.

freshwater wildlife.

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The dry season — and more pleasant weather — occurs in winter, making it the best time to view wildlife in the park. Because standing water levels are low, wildlife congregate at central water locations. Shark Valley, the Anhinga Trail (at Royal Palm) and Eco Pond are ideal for observing alligators, wading birds and other

T H E H IK E S , D RIV E S A N D V IE W P O IN TS ANHINGA TRAIL If you walk one trail, make it the .8mile Anhinga Trail, a paved walkway and boardwalk that starts at the Royal Palm Visitor Center and offers frequent sightings of alligators, anhingas, turtles, herons and egrets, to name a few.

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T HE WEAT HER Two seasons — wet and dry — occur in South Florida, leading to hot, muggy, rainy summers with frequent thunderstorms and mild, GETTY

dry, temperate winters, with periods of cool air.

Come prepared, bring plenty of water and be sure to check out the following for current weather conditions prior to exploring the park.

Flamingo Campground

SHARK VALLEY TRAM TRAIL The Shark Valley Tram Trail, a 15.8-

WAGON WHEEL AND BIRDON

mile loop, journeys through the park’s

ROAD SCENIC DRIVE

freshwater marsh, with the option to

To observe and fully appreciate

explore on foot, bike or guided tram.

the park’s open prairies and areas populated by wading birds, hop on

and Visitor Center Shark Valley Entrance - Shark Valley Visitor Center and Shark Valley Loop Road Everglades City Entrance

GUMBO LIMBO TRAIL

Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center and Royal Palm Wherever you’re headed,

Birdon Road Scenic Drive, a 20-mile

beauty on the .5-mile, paved Gumbo

loop.

Limbo Trail, taking time to appreciate its namesake trees and other verdant, tropical flora.

TAMIAMI TRAIL Drive Tamiami Trail, which links Miami and Florida’s west coast, keeping

conditions.

Miami-Dade, Monroe, & Collier counties, Florida ESTA B L I S H ED

scenery enroute.

December 6, 1947

LOOP ROAD Parallel to Tamimai Trail, the 24-mile Loop Road is teeming with wildlife.

South Florida’s undeveloped center.

UNITED VAN LINES NATIONAL PARKS GUIDE

LO C AT I O N

and marveling at the Everglades’

It’s an opportunity to putter through

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A B O U T T H E PA RK

watch for alligators in cypress swamps

visit the park website beforehand so you’re aware of

Turner River, Upper Wagon Wheel and

Absorb the Everglades’ lush, forested

- Gulf Coast Visitor Center Homestead Entrance -

TURNER RIVER, UPPER

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A REA

1,509,000 acres

NATIONAL PARKS OF

Kentucky

Mammoth Cave National Park GETTY SOUTHEAST

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K E N TU C KY

Mammoth Cave National Park

ABO U T THE PA RK LO C ATION

South-central Kentucky E STABLISHED

July 1, 1941 AR EA

52,850 acres 20

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With rolling hills, lavish forests and deep, green river valleys that give way to the world’s largest known cave system below, Mammoth Cave National Park is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve.

The human history of the Mammoth Cave area reaches back 12,000 years to prehistoric peoples, though the cave itself was not explored until at least 7,000 years later. Hunter-gatherers discovered Mammoth Cave — and mined for minerals like gypsum — thousands of years before European settlers arrived, benefiting from the abundant resources.

To this day, Mammoth Cave staff continue to consult with those traditionally affiliated with the park lands. This includes the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Cherokee Nation, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, Shawnee Tribe, Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, Absentee Shawnee Tribe, and the Chickasaw Nation.

From cave tours to ranger-led programs, fishing and canoeing, there are many ways to walk in their footsteps and appreciate the breadth — and rarity — the park has to offer.

cave-dwelling fish, there’s something fascinating wherever you turn.

Nutrients are fed from the surface to the caves deep below from the verdurous Green River Valley and leafy deciduous forests. In fact, 160 animal

T HE F LO RA A N D FAU N A

species regularly inhabit the caves,

While the park’s subterranean

adapting to — and prospering in — the

karst topography and limestone

damp, dark environment. Among them

layers steal the show, there’s much

are Allegheny woodrats, cave crickets

waiting to be explored above ground,

and big-eared bats.

too. Complex and intertwined, the

Within the park’s 52,830 acres,

surface and the subsurface support

over 1,300 plant species have been

a diversity of species — 70 of which

identified as well, 25 of which are

are endangered, threatened or

listed as endangered, threatened or

of special concern. From winged

of special concern. Hardy cedars and

wonders to mammals, insects, reptiles,

pines in higher elevations contrast

crustaceans, mussels and even eyeless,

valleys dotted with beeches and tulip

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poplars, with their showy blooms. A

happen year-round.

rainbow’s-worth of flowers blanket

Before visiting the park, visit its

the park during spring and summer,

website for up-to-date weather

from ornate passionflower vines to 20

conditions and trail and road closures.

species of goldenrod. Mosses, lichens and liverworts cling to rocks, tree trunks and forest floors. And freshwater

T HE HI KES , DRIV E S A N D VI EW PO I NTS

flora — cattails, waterlilies and black GREEN RIVER BLUFF, ECHO

willows, to name a few — grow along rivers, streams and small ponds.

RIVER SPRINGS, SINKHOLE AND HERITAGE TRAILS

THE WEAT HER

Combined, the moderately challenging,

Home to KY Bowling Green 21

4.5-mile Green River Bluff, Echo River

NNE — an observation station

Springs, Sinkhole and Heritage Trails

established by the National Oceanic

traverse a bluff area along the Green

and Atmospheric Administration —

River; past hidden caves, waterfalls and

Mammoth Cave tracks long-term

captivating rock formations; through

temperature, precipitation, soil

tunnels and flora; and even past

moisture and temperature.

babbling brooks.

Climatically moderate with warm, ECHO RIVER AND RIVER STYX

moist conditions, summers see averages in the high 80s F, while

SPRING TRAIL

winters are typically in the low 40s F.

The 3.4-mile, out-and-back Echo River

Situated in the wettest park of

and River Styx Spring Trail reveals rich

CEDAR SINK TRAIL

the state, Mammoth Cave sees an

geologic and biological diversity, taking

See seasonal wildflowers on the

average of 50 inches of precipitation

you to the underground Echo River,

diverse, forested, one-mile Cedar Sink

per year, mostly in spring. Snow and

which emerges from Mammoth Cave

Trail, which descends into the sink hole

ice do occur in winter. Tornadoes

to the surface.

before climbing back out via a total of

and flooding in low-lying areas may

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295 stairs.

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NATIONAL PARKS OF

North Carolina and Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains National Park GETTY MIDWEST

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N O RT H C A R O L IN A A N D T EN N ESS EE

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Straddling the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is best-known for its misthung peaks and valleys, incredible biodiversity, bountiful, leafy forests and proliferation of year-round wildflowers.

Featuring a segment of the Appalachian Trail, plentiful streams, rivers and waterfalls appear along hiking routes.

There is an observation tower atop Clingmans Dome, the park’s highest peak, offering sky-high

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UNITED VAN LINES NATIONAL PARKS GUIDE

panoramas of the ancient, fogshrouded mountains.

Preserving rich Southern Appalachian history, the human history in the park dates back thousands of years, from the prehistoric Paleo Indians to early European settlers, loggers and — in the 20th century — the Civilian Conservation Corps.

documented species, though experts believe an additional 80,000100,000 species may live within the 800-square-mile boundary.

Set in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, no other area of equal size in a temperate climate hosts this level of diversity. In fact, there are more than 1,000 species never seen anywhere else in the world.

With elevations ranging from

T HE F LO RA A N D FAU N A

approximately 875 to 6,643 feet, the

The most biodiverse park in the

park’s gently contoured mountains —

National Park System, Great Smoky

formed as far back as 300 million years

Mountains protects over 19,000

ago — are blanketed in plants. In fact,

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ABOU T THE PA RK LO CATION

E STA B L I S H ED

A REA

Borders North Carolina and Tennessee

June 15, 1934

522,427 acres

about 95% of the park is forested, 25%

squirrel, flying squirrel and rock vole.

weather. Hazy June through August

of that land consisting of old-growth

These creatures are joined by

ushers in heat and humidity, plus

trees. Of those, 100 kinds are native to

a dizzying array of wildlife that is

common afternoon showers and

the Smokies.

threatened, endangered or of special

thunderstorms. Although the winter

Additionally, 1,600 flowering plant

concern, like grey, northern long-

months — mid-November through

species — many rare or endangered

horned and Indiana bats; rusty-

February — are moderate, extremes

— have been identified in the park, as

patched bumble bees; and yellowfin

do occur, with snow in the highest

have 200 species of birds, 68 mammal

madtoms.

elevations and warm temperatures down low. Perhaps the most beautiful

species, 67 native fish species, 39 reptile species and 43 species of

T HE W EAT HER

time to plan a visit is fall, with its cooler

amphibians. As the “Salamander

Given its wide range of elevations

weather and the onset of fall colors.

Capital of the World,” you can also

and varied topography, weather can

Current weather conditions are

keep watch for 24 species of these

differ drastically here, depending on

available on the park’s website or by

amphibians alone.

where you are. Expect a 10 F to 20 F

phone at (865) 436-1200, ext. 630.

As its unofficial mascot, about 1,500 American black bears roam the landscape, totaling — if you can believe it — two per square mile.

difference from the base of mountains

T H E H IK E S , D RIV E S A N D V IE W P O IN TS

to their peaks.

Rain in the park is significant.

Averaging 55 inches of rainfall per year

ALUM CAVE TRAIL TO

Rising from warm lowlands, it’s

in the lowlands, the Smokies pinnacle,

cool and moist in the park’s highest

Clingmans Dome, averages 85 inches

MOUNT LECONTE

elevations, allowing many northern

annually.

Located near Gatlinburg, the 11-

species to live farther south than they would otherwise. That includes the red

From March through May, expect unpredictable, rapidly changing

mile, out-and-back Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte, is challenging,

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combining geological wonders with

summit of Cove Mountain, where the

you to the highest point in the park for

history, unforgettable panoramas

Cove Mountain fire tower resides.

360-degree views of the Smokies and

and high elevation adventure — not

beyond.

CHIMNEY TOPS TRAIL

to mention an elevation gain of 2,763

Steep and utterly breathtaking, the 3.6-

CLINGMANS DOME ROAD

mile Chimney Tops Trail gains 1,400 feet

AND CADES COVE LOOP ROAD

in elevation, crossing rushing streams

With 384 miles of road to choose

Extending 5.4 miles, the Rainbow

and ascending the steep mountainside,

from in the Smokies, there are many

Falls Trail journeys from the Roaring

with views of Mount Le Conte. Note that

ways to explore by car. Clingmans

Fork area through dense forest to its

the upper portion of this trail is closed

Dome Road, for example, brims with

plunging, eponymous, 80-foot-tall falls.

due to fire damage.

scenic pullouts overlooking ridges and

feet.

RAINBOW FALLS TRAIL

valleys, culminating in a steep, .5-mile LAUREL FALLS TRAIL

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CLINGMANS DOME

trail up to the summit if you choose.

The longest of four paved trails in Great

OBSERVATION TOWER TRAIL

By contrast, a drive along Cades Cove

Smoky Mountains National Park, the

For soaring vistas, hike the 1.3-mile,

Loop Road reveals some of the park’s

2.4-mile Laurel Falls Trail ascends Cove

out-and-back Clingmans Dome

best wildlife, though it is closed to

Mountain, past Laurel Falls and to the

Observation Tower Trail, which takes

vehicles from May through September.

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SO UT H C ARO L I N A

Congaree National Park Containing the largest intact old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern United States, Congaree National Park is a dynamic landscape where the Congaree and Wateree Rivers wash through a floodplain, bringing nutrients and sediments that nourish and replenish this ecosystem and support sustained growth.

Recognized for its exceptional biodiversity and stately stands of bald cypress, humans have used its floodplain for many reasons over 13,000 years, including prehistoric natives and Spanish explorers, as well as patriots of the Revolutionary War, escaped slaves, loggers and conservationists.

THE FLORA A ND FAUNA

among the other species-in-residence.

pleasant temperatures in the 70 F

Congaree’s mysterious-looking —

While not common, alligators can be

range. Hottest from June to August,

found in the park as well.

daily temperatures hover in the 90s

some might say spooky — old-growth bottomland forest is a real draw. Of

F, often exceeding 100 F. Then there’s

particular note? The park’s many

T HE W EAT HER

the matter of rain, which averages 4.5

national and state champion trees.

Situated in South Carolina’s

inches per month at that time of year.

Midlands region, Congaree has a

Peak fall colors occur between

By contrast, an upland pine forest stretches across the northern edge of

humid subtropical climate, with mild

October and early November, with

the floodplain, one dominated by fire-

winters and hot, wet summers.

temperatures in the 70s F and monthly

resistant loblolly pines, which depend

Although rain and thunderstorms

precipitation around three inches.

on wildfires to eliminate competitors.

are also common in spring, so too are

Snow can occur in winter, but

The fires also help maintain

it is not common. Mild,

vast, grassy pine savannas

with average daytime

populated by creatures

temperatures in the mid

like the indigo snake and

50s F, November through

red-cockaded woodpecker,

February can see nighttime

threatened or endangered

temperatures that dip below

because of habitat loss.

freezing.

From its biodiverse

This is also when flooding

forested wetlands and

is most frequent, with little or

oxbow lakes to its sloughs

no warning. The prevalence

and meandering creeks,

of flooding is deceptive:

Congaree provides a rich

it doesn’t have to rain at

habitat for aquatic life,

Congaree for it to occur,

including a diversity of fish

being that the park resides

and amphibians.

in a watershed and rain in

Bobcats, wild pigs and

upstate South Carolina can

foxes — as well as opossums,

quickly raise water levels.

deer and river otters — are

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Arrive prepared for varying

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BLUFF TRAIL

conditions and keep watch for weather hazards and road and trail closures on

From the 1.7-mile Bluff Trail, which cuts

the park’s website.

through a longleaf pine forest, catch the 3-mile Sims Trail to Cedar Creek,

THE HIK ES , DRIVES A ND V IEWPOINTS

keeping watch for otters. Alternately, hook up with the .6-mile spur trail to Longleaf Campground, or the 2.6-mile

BOARDWALK LOOP

Weston Lake Loop Trail.

Featuring over 25 miles of hiking RIVER TRAIL

trails, the star of the show is the 2.4mile elevated boardwalk. Wheelchair

Explore the lifeblood of the national

and stroller accessible, it starts at

park via the River Trail, a 10.4-mile loop

the Harry Hampton Visitor Center,

to the Congaree River, which is among

looping through the bottomland forest,

the most wildlife-rich spots in the park.

where giant tupelos and bald cypress trees rise from standing water. Note, however, this can temporarily close when flooding occurs.

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A B O U T T H E PA RK LO C AT I O N

Central South Carolina, southeast Columbia ESTA B L I S H ED

November 10, 2003 A REA

26,000 acres

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U.S. Virgin Islands

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U.S. VIRGIN ISLA N DS

Virgin Islands National Park Occupying the majority of the U.S. Virgin Island of St. John, Virgin Islands National Park is more than stunning white sand beaches — though there are plenty of those.

Whether you hike to historic plantation sites — gaining insight into the park’s complex (and troubling) past — or observe the indigenous Taino’s ancient petroglyphs, an education in scenic surrounds is in store.

Nomadic hunter-gatherers first arrived on the island from South America between 2,500 and 3,000 years ago. Then, between 1,000 and 1,300 years ago, the Taino people — who spoke an Arawakan language — established a unique culture all their own, building communal villages; farming cassava, potatoes and corn; using stone tools; and practicing a complex religion based on ancestor worship.

By the early 1600s, European slave ships transported millions of African people from their homes to the Caribbean, a brutal legacy that echoes throughout the island today.

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Keep up on park conditions on the NPS website.

T H E H IK E S , D RIV E S A N D V IE W P O IN TS REEF BAY TRAIL Travel through forests, see the remnants of a sugar mill and end on the beach when hiking the 4.4-mile Reef Bay Trail.

RAM HEAD TRAIL

When abolition came to the British Virgin Islands in 1834, many enslaved people escaped to the freedom found there.

After emancipation in the Danish West Indies in 1848, the formerly enslaved people of St. John utilized the networks and skills they had developed to produce things like bay rum oil and charcoal on their own accord.

to St. John, however, is the bat. Other inhabitants — like deer, donkeys, goats, sheep, cats, dogs, pigs and mongoose — arrived from elsewhere.

A place where moist forests give way to dry cactus scrubland, Virgin Islands’ native botanicals include flowering lignum vitae and gumbo limbo trees, in addition to woolly nipple cacti that spring from rocky outcrops; showy locustberry; and Eugenia earhartti, a rare shrub found

THE FLORA A ND FAUNA

only in two locations, both of which are

Set in the tropical Atlantic, this lush,

on the island of St. John.

mountainous park features terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems that

T HE W EAT HER

include dry to moist forests, beaches,

Mid-December to April,

salt ponds, mangroves, coral reefs and

temperatures average around 76 F,

seagrass beds.

with about three inches of monthly

Abundant in natural resources,

rainfall. Mid-April to mid-December —

Virgin Islands National Park hosts 140

St. John’s low season — hovers around

species of birds, 302 species of fish,

83 F, with about four inches of rain

22 mammal species, seven species of

each month.

amphibians and an impressive 740

Hurricane season in the U.S. Virgin

species of plants.

hikes, the 2.3-mile Ram Head Trail — accessed via the Salt Pong Trail — sits at the island’s southernmost point, passing beaches, winding around Salt Pond and concluding at grassy, rocky Ram Head point.

LINDT POINT TRAIL Connecting the visitor’s center and ocean, the 2.3-mile Lindt Point Tail to Honeymoon Beach passes through open, dry forest punctuated by scrubby cacti.

PETROGLYPH TRAIL A 3.7-mile out-and-back hike, the .5mile Petroglyph Trail starts 1.5 miles down the Reef Bay Trail, revealing rock carvings at the base of the valley’s highest waterfall, amid lush, tropical vegetation.

A B O U T T H E PA RK

Islands — St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John — occurs from July

LO C AT I O N

Monument, the submerged lands

through November, the peak being in

along a three-mile belt off St. John,

September and October.

The majority of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands Coral Reef National

are a diver and snorkeler’s delight. It

During winter, cold fronts can bring

protects 50 species of coral, along

the Christmas winds down from the

ESTA B L I S H ED

with many sponges and gorgonians, in

north. While temperatures don’t dip

August 2, 1956

crystal-clear waters.

significantly, the fronts can create large, potentially dangerous waves

A REA

leatherback sea turtles nest on St.

that break on St. John’s north shore

14,737 acres

John. Of note, the only mammal native

beaches.

Endangered hawksbill, green and

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Among the park’s most unique

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Virginia

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VIR G I N I A

Shenandoah National Park

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Just 75 miles — yet worlds away — from Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a natural playground of plummeting waterfalls, wildflower-stippled meadows, magnificent panoramas and peaceful woodlands echoing with songbirds.

The Blue Ridge Mountains have been occupied by humans for at least 9,000 years, including by the native peoples, who hunted and gathered game, fruit, nuts and berries. Some eventually constructed villages at low elevations in the surrounding Piedmont and Shenandoah Valleys.

By the 1750s, early European settlers moved into the foothills, seeking land to farm, raise livestock and develop orchards.

Later, land was purchased to

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extract resources, such as water, copper and lumber. Resorts were soon built, attracting city dwellers. Eventually, the Civilian Conservation Corps built roads and trails, re-establishing and helping to preserve the wilderness we know today.

Rising above the Virginia Piedmont and the Shenandoah Valley, the national park boasts a range of elevations, rocks and slopes — as well as variable precipitation and latitude — resulting in a diversity of habitats for tens of thousands of living creatures, plants, fungi and lichens.

or disappeared. Fortunately, over the last century, many of these species returned through natural population recovery or due to re-introduction on Virginian land outside of the park.

Today, Shenandoah is a haven for 190 resident and migratory bird species, 50-plus species of mammal, over 20 reptile and amphibian species, over 40 fish species, and an untold number of spiders, insects and other invertebrates.

From black bears and bobcats hidden deep within forests to rarely seen spotted skunks, shrews, moles and voles; wild turkeys, red-tailed hawks and Carolina chickadees; and reptiles like box turtles and timber

T HE F LO RA A N D FAU N A As land was cleared and hunting

rattlesnakes, life unfolds at every turn.

The park’s Mid-Atlantic location

occurred, animal populations in the

rests between the Northern and

area decreased, drastically declined

Southern Appalachian Mountains,

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains ESTA B L I S H ED

December 26, 1935 A REA

198,000 acres

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allowing 1,400 species of vascular

considerably. Dress accordingly and

360-degree vistas of the Shenandoah

plants to thrive. Cove hardwood and

check the park’s website for the latest

Valley, Blue Ridge Mountains and

chestnut oak forests are underpinned

weather, trail and road conditions.

Virginia’s Piedmont region.

by jack-in-the-pulpit, ferns, azaleas, blueberries and lady slipper orchids.

Moist areas are decorated with mosses

T HE HI KES , DR IV E S A N D VI EW PO I NTS

and liverworts. Time it right and

APPALACHIAN TRAIL Near the town of Syria, Virginia, the

OLD RAG MOUNTAIN LOOP

there are also wildflowers in every

1.6-mile Stony Man Loop via the

imaginable hue, a display that begins

Among the park’s most popular

Appalachian Trail delivers magnificent

in early spring.

and rigorous hikes, the 9.3-mile Old

views of the Shenandoah Valley,

Rag Mountain Loop requires both

Massanutten Mountain and scenic land

THE WEAT HER

caution and an adventurous spirit, for

beyond.

Warm, humid summers and

which hikers are rewarded with rock

very cold winters can be expected

scrambles and 360-degree views.

at Shenandoah, with mountain

SKYLINE DRIVE The only public road through the

DARK HOLLOW FALLS TRAIL

temperatures usually 10 F cooler than

park runs 105 miles north and south

the valley floor. Hottest between late

The 1.6-mile Dark Hollow Falls Trail

along the crest of the Blue Ridge

May and mid-September, with average

follows a stream and features a steep

Mountains, amid a vast network of

daily highs above 79 F, November

descent to — and rocky, slippery climb

trails that includes a section of the

through early March sees an average

up from — the cascades.

fabled Appalachian Trail. Journeying to

daily high below 53 F. January, the

awe-inspiring overlooks and through HAWKSBILL SUMMIT TRAIL

coldest month of the year, has an average low of 26 F and high of 45 F.

A short — and steep — trek to

Sprawling across roughly 100 miles, Shenandoah’s temperatures vary

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STONY MAN LOOP VIA THE

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Shenandoah’s highest peak, the 1.6mile Hawksbill Summit Trail wows with

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untamed wilderness, it’s a destination in its own right.

NATIONAL PARKS OF

West Virginia

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W E ST VI RG I N I A

New River Gorge National Park & Preserve

ABO U T THE PA RK LO CATION

Southern West Virginia in the Appalachian Mountains E STABLISHED

November 10, 1978 AR EA

70,000 acres

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Intersected by one of the continent’s oldest rivers, New River Gorge National Park is a special place where the rugged, whitewater New River flows northward through deep canyons, intersecting southern West Virginia in the Appalachian Mountains.

First explored by fur traders in the 1600s, native peoples lived in the region for centuries prior.

Established by Congress in 1978 to preserve and protect this important free-flowing waterway, today 53 miles of the river and its gorge — along with 40 miles of tributaries — are officially protected as New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River.

The New River was born when the North American and African plates collided to form the supercontinent Pangaea, uplifting the Appalachian Mountains to Himalayan heights.

These headwaters and this basin have remained in their current configurations for over 300 million years, a true testament to the endurance of nature.

Exposing eons of geologic history as it slices through the rock layers that tilted as the Appalachians rose, New River Gorge is now a popular fishing, hiking, biking and rafting destination that should top your to-dos.

T H E F LO RA A N D FAU N A Emergent rocks, rock outcrops, trails and coal mines serve as diverse habitats for a dizzying array of flora and fauna. The New River corridor shepherds the movement of southern plant and animal species into West

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Virginia, while limiting the east-west

the Grandview parking areas; and

cold winters, with temperatures that

distribution of other species.

mountain laurel at overlooks.

are considerably cooler in higher

At the heart of the world’s

Long a migration corridor for both

elevations.

largest remaining block of almost-

plants and animals, the park also

Prone to sudden storms,

unfragmented, mid-latitude forest

protects reclusive, mostly nocturnal

unpredictable weather in the

landscape, find oak-hickory, oak-

black bears and bobcats; coyotes and

Appalachian Mountains can quickly

maple, mixed oak, oak-yellow pine,

red and gray foxes; and endangered

change. Although the park’s warmest

hemlock-hardwoods, cove hardwoods,

Virginia big-eared and Indiana bats.

month is July, that’s also when it

northern hardwoods, and bottomland

Nearly 40 reptile species share

receives the most precipitation. Expect

the land with hellbenders, benthic

average highs around 101 F and lows

macroinvertebrates and migratory

of about 78 F. The coldest month is

and river support the most diverse

birds, such as thrushes, wood warblers

December, seeing an average low of 42

assemblage of plants of any river

and vireos. Bald eagles nest on

F and high of 63 F.

gorge in the central and southern

Brooks Island and a peregrine falcons

Appalachians. Significantly, along the

reintroduction program aims to initiate

check the park website so you’re aware

New River’s flat sandstone ledges

and foster a population. Meanwhile,

of conditions and closings..

grows a rare Appalachian Flatrock

the New River watershed serves as a

plant community of cedars, sedges

habitat for 89 species of fish, eight of

and pines.

which are endemic.

T H E H IK E S , D RIV E S A N D V IE W P O IN TS

rhododendron in forests; showy rose-

T HE W EAT HER

ENDLESS WALL TRAIL

purple catawba rhododendron around

Sweltering summers give way to

and floodplain hardwoods.

Gradient extremes between the rim

Plan for changing weather and

Keep watch for whiteish-pink great

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Passing through dense forest, crossing

Fern Creek and following the cliffedge, the moderate, 2.3-mile Endless Wall Trail gains 400 feet in elevation, rising to 2,030 feet to an overlook with views of “Endless Wall,” Nuttall sandstone ridges high above the gorge. This can be hiked as a loop or as an out-and-back trek depending on the route you choose.

LONG POINT TRAIL Ending at its namesake viewpoint, the 3-mile Long Point Trail gains 400 feet of elevation for gorgeous views of the gorge, river and 3,030-foot steel arch New River Gorge Bridge.

KAYMOORE MINERS TRAIL The 1.6-mile, out-and-back Kaymoor Miners Trail is strenuous, ascending 1,000 feet beginning at the upper rim of the gorge; descending rapidly toward the river; and heading to the historic Kaymoor One mining complex.

CASTLE ROCK TRAIL The moderately challenging, .6-mile Castle Rock Trail traverses several large cliffs and coal steams along Grandview Rim, intersecting with the Grandview Rim Trail.

NEW RIVER GORGE SCENIC DRIVE For a beautiful, winding exploration on wheels, take the 83-mile New River Gorge Scenic Drive, revealing many of the park’s wonders — including the gorge and its river. Two park visitor centers, Canyon Rim and Sandstone, are situated along the picturesque road.

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