Exploring the National Parks

Our Halloween tradition continues! This year, we're chasing three cryptid legends through the national parks – Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Lake Clark National Park, and Yellowstone National Park. 
Are these tales from the spookiest corners of the park fact or fiction? You’ll have to tune in to find out! 
In this episode, we cover:
Why old sailors' maps were covered in dragons, sirens, and sea monsters
What actually separates a cryptid from an animal that science just hasn't caught up to yet
Why the national parks make the perfect hiding place for a cryptid legend
Why there might be something lurking outside Guadalupe Mountains National Park (and what that something might be)
What’s lurking in the water on the way to Lake Clark National Park
Just how deep Lake Clark and neighboring Lake Iliamna really go
The Native American legend behind Beartooth Highway in Yellowstone National Park
Your task for today: Head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and tell us which cryptid creeped you out the most!
Don't miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/haunted-national-parks-vol-4
Planning your own spooky adventure?
5 Things You Can't Miss On Your First Visit to Guadalupe Mountains National Park: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-things-cant-miss-first-visit-guadalupe-mountains-national-park/ 
See a full trip planning itinerary for Yellowstone National Park: https://shop.dirtinmyshoes.com/products/yellowstone-itinerary 
Trip Planning Guide for Alaska’s National Parks (Including Lake Clark National Park): https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/alaska-national-parks/ 
Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/ 
National Park Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/ 
Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/
 

Picture cloud-white sand surrounding you on every side, with the Sacramento Mountains as your backdrop, and a sunset that turns everything a shade of pink and purple.
THAT’s the awe that is waiting for you at White Sands National Park. Well, that and some other fun activities like hiking through nature trails, and even sledding!
We’ll also take you through all the quirky rules this park has that no other national park does — and what makes White Sands so incredibly unique. 
In this episode, we cover:
The two things that make White Sands totally different from every other national park
The working missile range, located next to the park
A driving tour down Dunes Drive, including the Playa Trail, Dune Life Nature Trail, and Interdune Boardwalk
How to sled the dunes (hint: cardboard boxes don't cut it)
Why so many commercials, movies, and music videos have been filmed here
The best ranger program in the park and why sunset is non-negotiable
Where to stay, eat, and detour in nearby Alamogordo
Your task for today: Have you been to White Sands for sunset? Head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page, find your favorite sunset photo from the dunes, and tag us so we can see it too!
Don't miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/exploring-white-sands-national-park/
Planning your own White Sands National Park adventure?
5 Things You Can’t Miss On Your First Visit to White Sands: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-things-cant-miss-first-visit-white-sands/ 
Episode 49: Best National Parks for Young Kids (White Sands National Park makes the list!):  https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/best-national-parks-for-young-kids/ 
Episode 105: 8-Day Spring Break National Parks Road Trip (that includes White Sands National Park): https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/8-day-spring-break-national-parks-road-trip/ 
Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/
National Park Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/
Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/
 

We just spent three days in Zion National Park in the middle of summer, on purpose, in 105-degree heat. Why did we do that, you ask? Because we don’t want you to have to go through all the guesswork that comes with planning a trip to Zion National Park in the summer.
In this episode, we cover:
Why we deliberately visited Zion National Park in the summer, and what we'd tell you before you do the same
Why understanding the Zion Canyon Shuttle and the Springdale shuttle together will save you from many days of frustration
What gear actually works in the Narrows
The new vehicle restrictions through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, and what changed for regular drivers
The bighorn sheep herd, deer, and turkeys we spotted once we slowed down and got quiet
How we weighed location versus price for lodging, and what the South Campground looks like without its shade trees
Your task for today: Have you hiked the Narrows or driven through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel? Tell us about it over on the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page!
Don't miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/zion-national-park-trip-report-2026/
Planning your own Zion National Park adventure?
Zion National Park Itinerary: https://shop.dirtinmyshoes.com/products/zion-itinerary 
The Ultimate Zion Trip Planning Guide: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/zion-national-park/ 
Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/
National Park Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/
Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/
 

Tennis-ball-sized hail, 100-degree heat, and a weather warning that caused us to miss the glamping trip we’d been looking forward to for weeks. We (almost) risked it all to make the grand opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
In this episode, we're sharing everything we experienced at the brand-new library in Medora, North Dakota. This is a bit different than our usual content, but if you love Teddy Roosevelt as much as we do, and you’ve been keeping up with our Theodore Roosevelt National Park episodes, you’re in for a treat!
In this episode, we cover:
Why we headed to Medora, North Dakota for the Library's July 4th weekend grand opening
The wild weather (including 60 mph winds and tennis-ball-sized hail) that forced an evacuation of our campground
A first look inside the library, including how the building itself was designed to blend into the Badlands
The Man in the Arena exhibit room, where Nick Offerman voices Teddy Roosevelt himself
The Elkhorn Ranch room and the story of the cabin where Teddy Roosevelt went to heal after devastating loss
The AI Teddy Roosevelt you can actually talk to, plus the AI photo booth that inserts your whole family into his story
The 1,776-drone show that closed out the celebration
Your task for today: Head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and tell us which Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library exhibit you'd want to experience first — the Man in the Arena room, the Elkhorn Ranch cabin, or a chat with AI Teddy himself!
Don't miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/theodore-roosevelt-presidential-library-opening/ 
Planning your own Theodore Roosevelt National Park adventure?
Episode 141: Our favorite scenic drive in Theodore Roosevelt National Park and more https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/best-scenic-drives-in-the-national-parks/ 
Episode 149: Exploring Theodore Roosevelt National Park: Best Tips + Activities https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/exploring-theodore-roosevelt-national-park-best-tips-activities/ 
Episode 150: 5 Fascinating Fun Facts About Theodore Roosevelt National Park https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-fascinating-fun-facts-about-theodore-roosevelt-national-park/ 
8 Things You Can't Miss on Your First Visit to Theodore Roosevelt https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/8-things-cant-miss-first-visit-theodore-roosevelt-national-park/ 
Master Reservation List https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/ 
National Park Checklist https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/ 
Trip Packing List https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/ 
 
 
 

This Grand Teton trip report is less about checklists and more about the pull of a place that gets passed down. On this visit, we brought our extended family — parents, siblings, and our four-month-old niece — back to Colter Bay for a summer built around making memories. 
During our stay, we adventured to String Lake, saw a rutting buffalo crossing at Elk Ranch Flats, and had a little detour that was unexpected, but proved to be one of the best parts of the trip. 
It’s different from our usual trip report, but we can’t think of any better way to spend time at Grand Teton National Park than with the people we love most!
In this episode, we cover:
A rundown of Grand Teton's 2026 construction projects, from the new Moose entrance station to the Taggart Lake and Mormon Row parking lot overhauls
Why these construction delays will carry into next summer, too
What makes Grand Teton a multi-generational, legacy park for us
Our day at String Lake doing nothing but relaxing on the water
The rutting buffalo sighting at Elk Ranch Flats and the hike to Moose Ponds
Ash's Jenny Lake "walk of shame" — and the insider timing trick that usually keeps it from happening
Your task for today: Do you have a legacy park — a place your family keeps returning to, generation after generation? Tell us over on the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page. If you don't have one yet, let us know which park you want to claim as yours!
Don't miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/grand-teton-trip-report/
Planning your own Grand Teton adventure?
Grand Teton Itinerary: https://shop.dirtinmyshoes.com/products/grand-teton-itinerary
The Ultimate Grand Teton Trip Planning Guide: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/grand-teton-national-park/
Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/
National Park Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/
Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/
 

Theodore Roosevelt National Park — it’s one of those national parks that doesn’t quite get the recognition it deserves. But today, we’re fixing that! 
As the show title suggests, we’re taking you around the churned-up, colorful labyrinth of buttes in the quiet North Dakota prairie to share some of our favorite fun facts about Theodore Roosevelt National Park. 
In this episode, we cover:
Why Theodore Roosevelt National Park was the only unit ever designated a "National Memorial Park"
The real story behind how the teddy bear got its name (yes, it has everything to do with Teddy Roosevelt!)
How glaciers, ancient volcanoes, and the Little Missouri River spent 65 million years carving North Dakota's Badlands
The devastating winter of 1886 that wiped out Roosevelt's cattle herd and changed the direction of his life
Why Roosevelt called this land "the romance of my life" and how it helped him grieve and heal
The last-minute "Midnight Forests" scramble that protected 16 million acres of land before Congress could stop him
Just how much land Roosevelt protected by the end of his presidency
Your task for today: In the episode, we talked about the full list of lands Roosevelt protected through executive action. See if a forest, monument, or refuge near you made the cut, and tell us about it over on the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page!
Don't miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-fascinating-fun-facts-about-theodore-roosevelt-national-park/
Planning Your Own Theodore Roosevelt National Park Adventure?
8 Things You Can’t Miss On Your First Visit to Theodore Roosevelt: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/8-things-cant-miss-first-visit-theodore-roosevelt-national-park/ 
Episode 149: Exploring Theodore Roosevelt National Park: Best Tips + Activites: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/exploring-theodore-roosevelt-national-park-best-tips-activities/
Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/ 
National Parks Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/ 
Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/

We don’t like to rank national parks because we firmly believe that each one speaks to us all differently. However, there are some parks that end up being unexpected surprises, and quickly turn into lifelong favorites. Because of that, we’re crowning Theodore Roosevelt National Park as one of ours. 
Each time we visit, it just gets better and better. And in this episode, we're walking you through all three units of the park, all located in North Dakota, plus our favorite things to see, where to stop, and how we like to experience this hidden gem.
In this episode, we cover:
How to add Theodore Roosevelt National Park to your South Dakota road trip
The South Unit scenic loop drive and the best places to pull off for wildlife
Why Wind Canyon Trail is a must-see at sunset
Why the Elkhorn Ranch Unit is 100% worth the hour-and-a-half dirt road drive
The North Unit and its 14-mile scenic drive
The best overlooks in the park, including River Bend and Oxbow Overlook
The Medora Musical and why it's the thing to do in the gateway town
How long to spend here, and why rushing this park takes away the magic
Your task for today: Which wildlife are you most excited to see in Theodore Roosevelt National Park: the wild horses, the rough-and-tumble bison, the very vocal prairie dogs, or something else? Tell us over on the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page!
Don't miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/exploring-theodore-roosevelt-national-park-best-tips-activities/
Planning your own Theodore Roosevelt National Park adventure?
8 Things You Can’t Miss On Your First Visit to Theodore Roosevelt: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/8-things-cant-miss-first-visit-theodore-roosevelt-national-park/ 
Episode 141:  Best Scenic Drives in the National Parks: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/best-scenic-drives-in-the-national-parks/ 
Episode 37: Funny National Park Stories (Vol. 2): https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/funny-stories-vol-2-hiking/ 
Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/ 
National Parks Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/ 
Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/

Bison jams on the lower loop, a rainbow over the Lower Falls that felt like it was made just for us, prairie dog babies popping out of their burrows mid-traffic-stop, and of course, insane views — this is Yellowstone we’ve come to know and love. 
And it’s what we experienced on our latest trip there, yes, even in the summer! 
Prepare to be amazed, because even after several trips to America’s most well-known national park, there’s still so much to love. 
In this episode, we cover:
Why Yellowstone traffic is wild, but how you can still find peace and solitude in the park 
Why Lamar Valley remains the single best wildlife-watching spot in the country (and what we saw this trip)
Just how big this park really is, and why a good plan makes all the difference
Why the geothermal features in Yellowstone beat anywhere else on earth
Geysers you might not have on your radar yet
Why even frequent visitors to Yellowstone keep getting surprised, including a rainbow at Red Rock Point and a first-ever moose sighting in the park
Your task for today: Have you been to Yellowstone and had one of those moments of pure amazement? Tell us about it over on the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page!
Don't miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/yellowstone-trip-report
Planning your own Yellowstone adventure?
Yellowstone Ultimate Guide: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/yellowstone-national-park/
Episode 112: Yellowstone Tips – What You Need To Know Before You Go!: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/yellowstone-tips-what-you-need-to-know-before-you-go/   
Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/ 
National Parks Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/ 
Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/
 

Tucked between two of Colorado's most towering mountain ranges is a landscape that feels almost fictional. 30 square miles of dunes rising taller than the Gateway Arch, somehow thriving in the heart of the Rockies — it’s a place that you have to see to believe.
In this episode, we're digging into some fun facts that will show you why the Great Sand Dunes National Park is so incredible – including how it came to be and why it almost didn’t survive.
In this episode, we cover:
How the tallest dunes in all of North America came to be
The three main dunes: Star Dune, Hidden Dune, and High Dune
The rare surge flow phenomenon that can send waves 12 to 20 inches high
The naturally magnetic black sand called magnetite, and why a lightning storm can make your compass spin
Why geologists still can't agree on how old these dunes actually are
The Great Sand Dunes gold rush of the 1920s — and the local women's organization that saved the park from becoming a gravel pit
How a water development threat decades later nearly destroyed the sand recycling system
The 2004 legislation that made the park four times larger and solidified its protection
Your task for today: Find the nonprofit partner for your favorite national park, follow them on social, and let us know who they are over on the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram so we can support them too!
 
Don’t miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/great-sand-dunes-fun-facts-everything-that-makes-this-park-so-incredible/
Planning your own Great Sand Dunes adventure?
5 Things You Can't Miss On Your First Visit to Great Sand Dunes: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-things-cant-miss-first-visit-great-sand-dunes-national-park/
Episode 146: Prepare to be Wowed at Great Sand Dunes National Park! (Best Tips + Activities): https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/exploring-great-sand-dunes-national-park-best-tips-activities/
Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/ 
National Parks Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/ 
Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/ 
 

Picture this: you’re standing at the foot of the tallest dunes in North America, a snow-capped mountain towering behind you, and nature singing all around you. If it sounds awe-inspiring, that’s because it is! And it’s exactly why  Great Sand Dunes National Park needs to be next on your national park bucket list.
It may not be the country’s most well-known park, but it’s a gem in and of itself! Today, we are exploring Great Sand Dunes and walking you through everything you need to know to plan a perfect day in one of Colorado's most underrated parks.
In this episode, we cover:
The geography that makes this place so amazing
Where to stay near the park
The quiet little nature trail that will soothe your soul
The full Medano Creek experience, including when to come for "Colorado's beach" (yes…it is as interesting as it sounds!)
Sand sledding tips (and why it is so much better here than at White Sands)
Everything you need to know about hiking High Dune
Our perfect day at Great Sand Dunes from sunrise to sunset
 
Your task for today: Have you been to Great Sand Dunes National Park? Tell us your best (or most sand-blasted) memory over on the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram pages — and bonus points if you have a video of yourself sand sledding (gracefully…or ungracefully, no shame)!
 
Don’t miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/exploring-great-sand-dunes-national-park-best-tips-activities/
 
Planning your own Great Sand Dunes National Park adventure?
5 Things You Can't Miss On Your First Visit to Great Sand Dunes: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-things-cant-miss-first-visit-great-sand-dunes-national-park/
Episode 35: Swimming Holes in the Parks: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/swimming-holes-in-the-parks-olympic-great-sand-dunes-and-dry-tortugas/
Episode 110: Colorado National Parks Road Trip!: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/colorado-national-parks-road-trip/
Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/
National Parks Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/
Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/