America is home to many wonderful national parks, but perhaps none are so picturesque as the ones on the country's West Coast. Here, you will learn more about some of these parks and find out why they are such a great place to visit.
On the northern coast of Washington, there is Olympic National Park. The park gets its name from the Olympic Peninsula, which rises from historic Puget Sound. The park is home to over 6,000 miles of snowy mountains, dense forest land and beautiful lakes. Almost the whole park is protected and managed by the government. This is an ideal spot for hiking and mountain climbing. Be sure to see Hurricane Ridge, and wander through the remains of the rainforests that once covered the West Coast. If you go during the summer, go on Lake Crescent, which was formed by the glacial motions that carved the surrounding mountains.
Crater Lake National park is in southwest Oregon, a hundred miles from the Pacific Ocean. It's one of the oldest and least-visited national parks, but it is truly a geologic wonder. It is actually an extinct volcano, one that reaches over 12,000 feet. It's the deepest lake in the US, and the cleanest body of water in the world. If a visit to Crater Lake leaves you wanting to learn more about volcanoes, visit the Newberry Crater National Monument.
Redwood National Park is located in the north of California, and it is home to the giant redwoods, which are Earth's tallest living things. At a height of over 350 feet, and living more than 2,000 years, these trees cover over forty thousand of the park's acres. Be sure to take a drive down Stout Grove, which runs along Mill Creek. Crescent Beach Overlook and Enderts beach offer spectacular views of the Pacific- you may even see a gray whale.
Not to be outdone, Yosemite National Park is home to giant sequoia trees which have been there for hundreds of years. Yosemite is one of the first wilderness parks in America, and it's best known for its falls, deep valleys, meadows and vast wilderness. Be sure to visit Mariposa Grove, the Wawona Hotel, and the Pioneer Yosemite History Center.