You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Great Basin<br />
Traveling along The Loneliest Road in America to get to this National<br />
Park located on the border of eastern Nevada and western<br />
Utah, its situated in the Great Basin Desert. One of the highlights<br />
is the Wheeler Peak scenic drive. A 12-mile drive hugging the South<br />
Snake Range, you will find yourself heading into the clouds to over<br />
10,000 feet above sea level, with the summit at 13,065. You will<br />
be met with far reaching vistas and panoramic views of the pine<br />
forests, lower mountains, lakes and the desert below you. Lehman<br />
Caves is another ‘must-do.’ Only allowing entry with a guided tour,<br />
you will be met by familiar cave formations, stalagmites stalactites,<br />
columns, draperies, flowstone and soda straws but the caves are<br />
most famous for their abundance of shields. This park also attracts<br />
people interested in birdwatching, stargazing and wildflowers.<br />
Hiking one of the 25 trails will also give you amazing views. Recommendations<br />
are Bristlecone and Glacier Trail to see the glacier,<br />
moraine and the bristle cones and the Alpine Lakes Trail for lakes,<br />
meadows, woodlands, spruce, aspen and pines! There are no lodging<br />
facilities in the park, but the community of Baker, 5 miles east<br />
of the park entrance, has several places to stay including motels,<br />
B&B’s, cabins and more. Camping is allowed inside the National<br />
Park but is extremely limited. This is the least visited National Park<br />
and consequently there are fewer people offering almost no litter<br />
and tranquil, quiet trails. Visit www.nps.gov/grba.<br />
Great Sand Dunes<br />
This National Park and Preserve is in southern Colorado. As the<br />
name depicts, it is known for its huge sand dunes, the tallest,<br />
Star Dune at 750 feet high. Year round, visitors can sled down the<br />
dunes descending into the soft sand at the bottom. When Sangre<br />
de Cristo Mountains begin melting into Medano Lake and flowing<br />
around the basin of the area’s dunes, it turns into a vast outdoor<br />
68 | may <strong>2022</strong> | www.<strong>Atlantic</strong><strong>Ave</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.com<br />
COPYRIGHTED<br />
great sand dunes national park<br />
great basin national park<br />
waterslide and most unique beaches for its visitors. It’s no secret<br />
that National Parks host some of the darkest skies in the country. In<br />
some areas of the Great Sand Dunes National Park, it’s possible to<br />
see up to 15,000 stars throughout the night. Stargazing at its best!<br />
There is no lodging inside the park but at the entrance you will find<br />
Great Sand Dunes Lodge, an excellent alternative to those not wanting<br />
to pitch a tent. There are several options for camping inside the<br />
park, mostly on a first-come-first-served basis. If you enjoy fishing,<br />
hiking or photography this might be the National Park for you. Visit<br />
www.nps.gov/grsa.
Change language