Attractions

On the drive north to Yosemite Valley on Highway 41, as anticipation builds for the beauty ahead, you will pass through a dark tunnel. Suddenly the tunnel end, and an epic view appears, a breathtaking valley with magical waterfalls spilling off dramatic granite wall. Pull over the car and take in the full magnificence of Tunnel View. The eastward vantage into spectacular Yosemite Valley serves up a timeless view. ...Read more.

Rim Rock Drive is a 23-mile stretch of road crossing the rugged terrain of Colorado National Monument. The drive delivers dizzying cliff's edge views and is a memorable part of any visit to the park. The winding roadway plots an improbable course along the rim of Monument Canyon. Nineteen overlooks and fourteen trails are along the drive, which is the main artery through the park. ...Read more.

Balanced Rock is a natural attractions in Colorado National Monument, similar to Balanced Rock in Arches National Park. The defiant sandstone statue stands at the edge of a bluff and is easy to see from a turnout along Rim Rock Drive. Those entering the park through the west entrance near the city of Fruita, should make Balanced Rock View their first stop. ...Read more.

The Island in the Sky offers great views for visitors who aren't in favor of exploring too far from their transportation. Even for hikers, every overlook in the Island in the Sky in worth checking out. The two viewpoints should not be missed are Grand View Overlook and Green River Overlook. These provide excellent views along with informative panels. ...Read more.

The Ashford Mill ruins are visible to those driving up route 178 to Badwater Basin and Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park. The ruins rest on the valley floor at an elevation of 121 feet below sea level. They serve as a picturesque example of the rigors of life in this harsh desert. In 1914, Ashford Mill was built to process gold from the Ashford Mine, located in the mountains to the east. ...Read more.

The Charcoal Kilns are a well-preserved attraction in Death Valley National Park. These conical constructions converted lumber to charcoal from 1879 to 1882. During that period, workers burnt logs in these giant airtight ovens, pyrolyzing pine to charcoal, which was then hauled to the nearby Modock Mine smelter. The coal-making process took about two weeks. ...Read more.

A visit to the front country of Sequoia National Park should include a stop at the Giant Forest Museum. Here you can learn a lot about Sequoiadendron Giganteum and ask the ranger stationed inside for advise on what to see during your visit to the park. The rustic building that houses the museum was built in 1928 on a design by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood. ...Read more.

Beetle Rock looks down on the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains from Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park and delivers tremendous views with little effort. While it doesn't really qualify as a hike, (although those determined to hike to this granite dome can do so) the rock is definitely worth checking out. On the south side of the Giant Forest Museum parking lot, a short paved road leads up to the Beetle Rock Center, a facility for educational groups that are studying the park. ...Read more.

Zabriskie Point offers a stunning panorama of the badlands near Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park. The overlook stands at the upper east end of a badlands terrain full of impressive canyons and gulches. A short walk up a paved hill is all that is required to take advantage of this amazing vantage point. The hard drought-plagued sun-baked slopes around Zabriskie Point support almost no vegetation and possess a start beauty. ...Read more.

Just up the road from Zabriskie Point in Death Valley National Park is a canyon that can be experienced right from the driver's seat. This 2.8-mile one-way dirt road is well maintained and passable in any car or truck. The road leads into and across a picturesque Death Valley landscape of canyons and badlands. The scenery is impressive, plus the kids in the backseat can play a game of who-can-spot-the-most-borax-mine-shafts along the way. ...Read more.