The Best National Parks to Visit in March

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Although every vacation place is special in its own way, there are certain places that are considered the best simply because of their beauty, their atmosphere, and what they provide to visitors.

While adventure and excitement are important elements of a vacation, ultimately it is the memories created from extraordinary experiences that compel visitors to return year after year, making these spots the best places to vacation. So here are the best national parks you can visit during the month of March.

Arches National Park – The Great Time To Visit Is On Your Spring Break

With over 2,000 arches and rock formations, Arches National Park has some of the most unusual and stunning scenery in the United States. Arches are located in Utah near the city of Moab. The national park was established on April 12, 1929. Once the home of the Shoshone people, the area was settled by the Mormons in 1855. Ranches and farms quickly sprang up and prospectors came looking to find the next big strike.

The Rock Formations

The rock formations seen in Arches National Park have been formed over thousands of years and continue to change today. The park lies over a salt bed, which is thousands of feet thick in some places. This salt bed is covered with debris and sandstone. Movement in the earth’s surface along with erosion caused the formations to appear. Most of the arches are in the red Entrada sandstone or the yellowish Navajo sandstone.

Delicate Arch is one of the most widely known arches in the park and the most outstanding. This arch has been in hundreds of pictures and magazines. As amazing as it is in pictures, the arch is more spectacular in person. At 52 feet tall and made from red Entrada sandstone, it is impressive. Visitors can see the arch by taking a 1.5-mile hiking trail.

The Wildlife

A large variety of animals live in the park. While many are nocturnal, visitors can see many daytime animals including mule deer, coyotes, porcupines, desert cottontails, black-tailed jackrabbits, rock squirrels, antelope squirrels, chipmunks, lizards, snakes, hawks, eagles, and songbirds.

Plantlife

Plant lovers will find cacti, yuccas, mosses, monkey flowers, columbine, and maiden hair fern. Cottonwood trees and willows grace the various rivers and streams with the most seen plant would be the pinion-juniper woodlands.

Capitol Reef Park Is One Of The Most Visited National Park In The Spring Season

If you are planning an outdoor adventure, then visiting Capitol Reef Park is an excellent choice. Capitol Reef Park is located in the state of Utah. It is a popular vacation destination that attracts many visitors from all over the world.

There are quite a few main attractions located at the park that you and your guests can enjoy. Some of the main attractions include Bryce Canyon, Lake Powell, Goblin Valley, Henry Mountains, Grand Staircase, Robbers Roost, and much, much more. There are many activities for you and your guests to enjoy and you will never experience one dull moment.

Some of the activities that you can enjoy while visiting Capitol Reef Park are hiking, cycling, biking, canyoneering, fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, horseback riding, and much more.

Where is it

Capitol Reef Park is located in Wayne County. There are quite a few hotels, motels, inns, campgrounds, and RV parks located in the area of Capitol Reef Park. They offer excellent accommodations to guests. Many of these places accept online reservations and bookings to help you save a good bit of time and money. Capitol Reef Park has a very diverse landscape that offers so much natural beauty.

Many nature lovers are attracted to the area. Many events take place in the Capitol Reef region throughout the year. For those who love to shop, there are many unique shops and galleries that are located nearby. Tour guides are available to ensure that your vacation is enjoyable and you will not miss a thing.

Not far from modern conveniences

The Capitol Reef Natural History Association helps to preserve the park. The park has a long history that dates back to the early 1900s. Quite a few businesses are located nearby the park for your convenience. Some of these businesses include auto repair shops, banks, beauty salons, churches, hospitals, laundromats, marketplaces, shopping centers, fitness centers, convenience stores, and kennels.

You and your guests will surely enjoy a great outdoor adventure by visiting Capitol Reef Park. Many people who come to visit the park often return time and time again. It is an excellent place to relax and enjoy the breathtaking natural beauty. You will surely take back with you a lifetime of memories. This park is open year-round. You can start planning your adventure right away. It is a place for both the young and old to enjoy. You will be happy that you have chosen such a beautiful place to explore.

Bryce Canyon National Park For A Good Time In Late March

The National Park System in the United States is often referred to as America’s crown jewels. The most unique of these jewels is Bryce Canyon.

Bryce Canyon National Park in Southwest Utah is a wonder in the midst of wonders. Southwest Utah is a great place of many wonders: three national parks, four national monuments, and numerous state parks. In addition, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and Pipe Springs National Monument is just within Arizona and easily reached by a road trip through Utah.

Check out the rocks

Bryce Canyon National Park is known for its unique rock formations known as hoodoos and the brilliant colors of the rock. The hues and shapes of the rocks change at every turn of the trails along the rim or on the many trails below the rim.

These famous hoodoos are created by erosion. A fin or thin wall of limestone was created by the tributaries of the Paria River eroding the Paunsaugunt Plateau. The wind erosion then adds windows to these fins and finally the windows break away leaving the hoodoos which stand, like giant men or any other shape that can be imagined, in the various amphitheaters of the Bryce Canyon Area.

The rocks of Bryce Canyon are among the most colorful on earth. The mineral content of the limestone provides various colors and each color amplifies the beauty of the scenes, whether viewed from the rim looking down or from below the rim looking directly into the massive shapes.

Pinnacles National Monument Is One Of The Best Things To See On Sunny Days

Pinnacles National Monument is a protected area of nearly 25,000 acres, located on the West coast of California just south of Santa Cruz. Established as a national monument by Theodore Roosevelt in 1908, Pinnacles is under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service and is named for the distinctive rock formations that dot its landscape. It is also known as an important habitat for condors.

Landscape

Pinnacles National Monument exists in a desert climate and features dramatic natural sculptures formed from volcanic rock. There are also caves within some of the stone features, made of the same material.

Much of the dramatic landscape in this area was created by seismic activity related to the San Andreas Fault, which is nearby. The shifting of tectonic plates forced much of the stone out of the surface of the earth, where it was subsequently sculpted and formed into its present shape through the action of millions of years of wind and rain.

Wildlife

Pinnacles provide habitat to a wide variety of animals, most notably the California Condor, which has been the subject of a human re-introduction program beginning in 2003.

In addition to condors, the Pinnacles ecosystem supports birds including prairie and peregrine falcons, turkeys, and quail, as well as mammals including coyotes, mountain lions, and bobcats. In addition to these very noticeable creatures, there are many amphibians, reptiles, and insects.

Plants

A variety of plant ecosystems exist within Pinnacles. Chaparral is one of the dominant plants. Chaparral is a low bush with small, waxy leaves that has adapted to survive within arid desert environments. Woodlands cover parts of Pinnacle and are comprised primarily of oak, pine, and buckeye trees.

There are also riparian areas and grasslands, with significant areas comprised of no vegetation at all. These latter areas are where unusual rock formations can be found. The volcanic rocks are free of covering soil, which is why nothing has grown to cover them.

Activities For An Excellent Time

There are a number of popular outdoor activities that happen at Pinnacle. Over 30 miles of hiking trails are available for hikers, ranging from easy and relatively flat routes to more challenging hikes over rougher terrain. Camping is available in a specified area within the national monument. There are also opportunities for rock climbing and exploring caves.

Big Bend National Park Is Great To Visit In Late Spring

At the base of the Chiso mountains, visitors to the park will find a lodge, restaurant, gift store, and campground. Plant lovers from all over the world are drawn to the park to view its wide variety of plant life. The park is home to more than 1,200 plant life species.

Watch for bugs

On the plants are 3,600 species of insects. The park encompasses 801,000 acres of rugged landscape. Some of the roads that run through the park are maintained and paved but others are nothing but dirt trails.

Visitors to the park will find a diverse trail system that offers day hikes or more extensive outings that span multiple miles. Remember to dress appropriately when hiking in the Big Bend National Park. The weather during the summer months is extreme so the perfect time of year to visit is in early spring, meaning early march which has the perfect weather and fewer crowds and fewer visitors.

Be smart and safe

Pack plenty of water and supplies. Always let someone know exactly where you will be and when to expect your return. Some of the trails are suitable for mountain biking. Be sure to check with the park rangers to make sure the trail is open to bike use. Pets are not allowed on any of the maintained park trails.

Watch the wild

Birdwatching draws many visitors to the park each year. River enthusiasts may wish to float the river on a leisurely river ride while catching glimpses of birds or other wildlife species. The park is also home to 22 species of bats. One, the endangered Mexican long-nosed bat draws hopefuls to the park each year who desire a glimpse of the rare creature.

Black bears and grizzly bears do reside within the park so always be on the lookout and watchful. Promptly pick up any garbage and never feed the wildlife.

Low Tech

Cell phones rarely work within the park so let someone know exactly where in the park you will be from day to day. The remoteness of the park makes it difficult to reach for help in the event of an emergency.

Familiarize yourself with where the public phones are located within the park so you can promptly locate one when in need of assistance.

For the kids

The park system offers numerous chances for children to enjoy ranger-led hikes and educational lectures throughout the park. Children’s exhibits exist at the Hot Springs area, Panther Junction Visitor Center, and the Fossil Bone Exhibit.

Visitors should try to stay until dark in the park. The park is the perfect place for stargazing and has a reputation for stunning sunsets followed by its vast expanse of stars.

Final Thoughts

March is a great time in these national parks – from bird watching to hiking and checking out their unique scenery, there is plenty of outdoor activities to keep you entertained. Just remember to be safe and dress appropriately for the weather, and leave no trace of your visit when you go. Enjoy!

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