This completely updated guide is the ultimate tool for planning the perfect trip to one or more of America's 391 magnificent national parks. Focusing on the most trafficked parks as well as the lesser-known gems, this guide includes seashores, trails, wild and scenic rivers, battlefields, and historic sites.

Reviewed by the park rangers themselves, this is also the only guide officially endorsed by the National Park Foundation.

More than ever, our national parks are being discovered and rediscovered by travelers who want to spend their vacations appreciating nature, watching wildlife, and taking adventure trips. But as the number of visitors to the parks increases, so does stress on wildlife and plant life. Tourism can drum up concern for the environment, but it can also cause great physical damage to parks. As you visit the parks, please keep in mind that these lands will not thrive without your care, nor will they last without your support. And use common sense to keep your visit as safe as it will be enjoyable.

Entrance Fees

The entrance fees charged by many national park areas are noted in the text. If your travels will take you to many national parks, consider purchasing the Federal Recreation Lands Pass ($80), which admits you and your companions to all parks that charge entrance fees for one year at no additional charge. (Camping and parking cost extra.) A percentage of the proceeds from sales of the pass helps to fund important projects in the park. The Federal Recreation Lands Pass-Senior Pass ($10), for those 62 and older, and the Federal Recreation Lands Pass-Access Pass (free), for travelers with disabilities, both entitle holders to free entry to all national parks, plus 50% off fees for the use of many park facilities and services. You must show proof of age and of U.S. cit-izenship or permanent residency (such as a U.S. passport, driver's license, or birth certificate) and, if requesting the Access Pass, proof of your disability. You must get your Access or Senior Pass in person; both are available at participating federal recreation sites or online at www.nps.gov. You can purchase the Federal Pass by phone at S88/275-8747 extension 1. via e-mail at fedreepass@ usgs.gov. via the Internet at http://store.usgs.gov/pass, or at any participating Federal recreation site.

Staving Safe

Motor-vehicle accidents, drownings, and falls are among the leading causes of death in the national parks. These are accidents that common sense can help you avoid. If you find yourself in an emergency situation, call 911 and the park rangers: there are telephone booths at the visitor centers and other locations throughout the parks. Some parks have their own emergency numbers as well.

Before you go, be sure to pack a first-aid kit, including a first-aid manual. Keep in mind that even in summer the weather can change unexpectedly - especially in mountainous parks. Temperatures can rise into the 90s during the day and drop into the teens or lower at night. Always have warm clothing and rain gear handy, no matter how promising the day.

Wild Animal Encounters

As human development shrinks wildlife habitats, animal encounters are increasingly common in national parks. To avoid attracting bears, raccoons, and other scavengers, be sure to animal-proof your food supplies. At many developed campsites, animal-proof containers are available; in the backcountry, hang food in a bag or container at least 15 feet above ground and as far away from the trunk of the tree as possible. Stay away from bears and their cubs, and try not to hike at dawn or dusk, when encounters with mountain lions are most common. If you do see one, inch away steadily without turning your back or bending down.

© 2009 by Fodor's

Tags: Travel

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