Southwest National Parks

While every national park in the United States is noteworthy some of the finest are located in the Southwest portion of the country. Southwest national parks include those located in Arizona, California, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. Within these states are beautiful natural wonders just waiting to be enjoyed. Each of these states is home to at least one park and various other government land areas like forests and monuments. If you are lucky enough to be in the vicinity of a park in the Southwest or are planning a vacation there read on to learn more.

In Arizona you'll find a variety of different parks including the extremely popular Grand Canyon National Park. This park is of course home to the spectacular gorge of the same name through which the Colorado River runs. Another park to consider visiting in Arizona is the Petrified Forest National Park. Established in 1962, this park is home to a large number of ancient petrified wood with the majority being of the Araucarioxylon arizonicum species.

In California are two great parks -- Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park. Yosemite is open all year round and is a prime spot for hiking, camping and other outdoor activities. Sequoia National Park, as its name suggests, is a place where you can see many groves of majestic sequoia trees. If heading to Colorado, you cannot miss the Mesa Verde National Park. This is the only park of its type that was designated for protection of man-made historic ruins instead of the natural landscape.

Nevada has the Great Basin National Park. Although this park is one of the lesser known and newer national parks it has a lot to offer visitors to the state, including cool caverns to explore and native wildlife to behold. Although not officially a park, the Lake Mead National Recreation Area is also in Nevada. New Mexico has Carlsbad Caverns National Park, a location where you can explore this ancient system of caves. In Texas parks include Big Bend National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Rounding out our list of Southwest National Parks are those in Utah and Wyoming which include the very famous Yellowstone National Park. There's no doubt that the southwestern portion of the U.S. is a rich source of natural beauty and protected land.

 



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National Park News:

 

Controversial glacier project in Jasper National Park wins approval - Globe and Mail

Globe and Mail

Controversial glacier project in Jasper National Park wins approval
Globe and Mail
Parks Canada's stamp of approval for a multimillion dollar observation deck in Jasper National Park has sparked a debate if the country's national parks are headed on a slippery slope towards privatization. The Glacier Discovery Walk, the brainchild of .
Controversial Jasper Park 'glacier walk' to go aheadCTV.ca
For-profit doesn't equal evilOttawa Citizen
Glacier tourism plan in Jasper park approvedCBC.ca
Calgary Herald -Toronto Star -Vancouver Sun
all 129 news articles »
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Tourist tax mooted for national parks
International tourists could be charged for access to the country's national parks. read more..


Preserved Habitat Near National Parks Helps Preserve Species
National parks often are established to help preserve species native to a particular region, but it appears that some species preservation is more successful if a significant portion of land adjacent to a park also is left as natural habitat. The Cerrado region in Brazil has been identified as the most biologically diverse savanna on Earth, and Emas National Park is an important protected area ...


Grand Canyon to ban bottled water sales - Reuters

Mother Nature Network

Grand Canyon to ban bottled water sales
Reuters
The National Park Service has approved a plan that will eliminate the sale of bottled water within 30 days, after nearly $290000 was spent to install 10 water stations inside the park. Visitors can use the stations to refill their own water bottles, .
Arizona: Disposable Bottles to Be Banned at ParkNew York Times
Grand Canyon Will Ban Sale of Bottled WaterIndian Country Today Media Network.com
Grand Canyon NP bans sale of disposable water bottlesSummit County Citizens Voice

all 105 news articles »
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See California state parks closure list - Sacramento Bee (blog)

See California state parks closure list
Sacramento Bee (blog)
Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area - City of Colusa 3. Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park - National Parks Service 4. Samuel P. Taylor State Park - National Parks Service 8. Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve - Concession agreement 9.

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Martin Luther King statue will be 'scarred' by quote fix - BBC News

CBS News

Martin Luther King statue will be 'scarred' by quote fix
BBC News
The US National Park Service has confirmed that the work will happen. The quotation "I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness" was originally part of a longer sentence but was inscribed out of context. Executive architect Ed Jackson said .
National Park Service will change quote on Martin Luther King Jr. MemorialExaminer.com
King memorial 'drum major' quote will be fixed with full passageWashington Post (blog)
Park Service to remove inscription on MLK MemorialCBS News

all 365 news articles »
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National Park Service Looking For Operator of Grand Teton National .
Wanted: Operator for historic lodge nestled in the scenic grandeur of Wyoming's Teton Range. Must assume $70000 maintenance backlog. Annual revenues pegged at $72228. That's the gist of a request for proposals Grand ...


Tourists may face national park fees
International tourists could be charged to enter national parks under plans presented to Tourism Minister John Key.The briefing warns Mr Key, who is also Prime Minister, that Government policy, coupled with increasing demand from...


Parks tourist tax mooted
International tourists could be charged for access to the country's national parks. read more..


Yangmingshan prepares for national park - China Post

Yangmingshan prepares for national park
China Post
This is likely to become the largest-ever BOT project related to national parks to be handled by the Construction & Planning Agency (CPA) under the Ministry of the Interior which oversees the operations of the country's national parks.

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New plan to get families outdoors
The National Park Foundation and retail outfitter L.L.Bean are on a mission. The groups recently embarked on a year-long effort to increase outdoor recreation among families and introduce more children to America's national parks...


Acadia National Park Accepting Applications for Education Interns .
Acadia National Park is now accepting applications for interns for its education programs, which provide hands-on experience working with 3rd-8th grade school groups. Interns work with park staff in preparing and presenting ...


Financing at issue for Tubman parks - Elmira Star-Gazette

Financing at issue for Tubman parks
Elmira Star-Gazette
As I write this, the temperature in downtown WASHINGTON -- Two Republican House lawmakers introduced legislation Thursday to create a national park honoring abolitionist Harriet Tubman, but they're not proposing to give the project any federal money.

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National Park Service Looking For Operator of Grand Teton National Park's . - National Parks Traveler

National Parks Traveler

National Park Service Looking For Operator of Grand Teton National Park's .
National Parks Traveler
Consider bidding for the concessions contract to operate the Grand Teton Climbers' Ranch in Grand Teton National Park. Photo by Acroterion via Wikipedia Commons. Wanted: Operator for historic lodge nestled in the scenic grandeur of Wyoming's Teton .

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Callers equivocal on park tourist fees
Public responses appear to be evenly split on whether international tourists should be charged for access to the country's national parks. read more..


Big Bend National Park Recognized For Its Dark Skies By .
Stars Above, Earth Below: A Guide to Astronomy in the National Parks, is a great resource to better understand what's overhead during your national park vacation. Natural Bridges National Monument was the very first unit of ...


Park, wildlife agencies opposed to strip mine near Utah's Bryce Canyon . - Washington Post

National Parks Traveler

Park, wildlife agencies opposed to strip mine near Utah's Bryce Canyon .
Washington Post
SALT LAKE CITY EUR” Federal biologists say a strip mine at the backdoor to Utah's storybook Bryce Canyon National Park will wipe out the southernmost population of sage grouse, even as their agency resists a broader effort to protect the bird across the .
Court Rules That Sequoia National Park Officials Violated Wilderness Act By .National Parks Traveler
Grand Canyon National Park to Eliminate Sale of Water in Disposable ContainersKCSG
Coal expansion causes riftSt. George Daily Spectrum
Utah Pulse
all 51 news articles »
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Locals, park officials work through 'trust issues' - Half Moon Bay Review

Locals, park officials work through 'trust issues'
Half Moon Bay Review
Sadie's owners Heidi and Jim Kain wore similarly subversive messages on shirts made especially for a Saturday morning community gathering at the Coral Reef entrance to Rancho Corral de Tierra with National Parks and Golden Gate National Parks .

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National Poll Finds Accredited Marine Parks, Aquariums and Zoos Best Places for Children to Learn About, Connect with .
Children have a natural curiosity about dolphins, whales and other marine mammals. The best way for parents to encourage this interest EUR and to inspire a lifelong passion for wildl..


Parks Canada Approves Glacier Discovery Walk Project
Government Confirms Project in Accordance with National Park Policy FrameworkBANFF, AB, Feb. 9, 2012 /CNW/ - Parks Canada officially announced today that the Glacier Discovery Walk project has met all ...




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