Exploring the National Parks

144: Hiking Trails Ranked (From the Archive)

It’s going down! 
In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, John and Ash, a former park ranger, are fighting it out in the ultimate trail rumble! Join us as we rank our favorite national park hiking trails. 
Buckle up because there will be some fighting.  We both made our own lists, and we are ready to see who comes out victorious!
Join us as we cover: 
An incredible immersive hike 
A great hike to take during the sunset
Trails to see in Sequoia Kings
Trails full of adventure and amazing sights
A must-see trail in Yosemite 
Trails we love at Acadia 
A couple of epic trails in Mount Rainier National Park
Our favorite mountain trails
It was so hard to rank the trails because there are truly so many amazing ones to see! But we hope you enjoy this fun ranking episode and that it will inspire you to get out on a trail somewhere.
Your task for today:  Have you hiked any of these iconic trails? How would you rank them?  Let us know your favorite hiking trails over on the Dirt in My Shoes 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/episode-11-national-park-hiking-trails-ranked/
 
Planning your own National Parks hiking adventure?
Dirt in My Shoes Itineraries: https://shop.dirtinmyshoes.com/ 
Dirt In My Shoes National Park Planning Resources: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/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/ 

143: Grand Circle Road Trip (From the Archive)

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are talking about what we consider to be one of the top road trips that you can take -- the Grand Circle. This amazing road trip includes nine western national parks! 
You get to see some truly cool stuff on this route, and we are so excited to be sharing what we love about it today. 
Join us as we cover:
Where to start when road tripping the Grand Circle
Cool things to do in Zion National Park
What you have to see at Bryce Canyon
Our favorite stops along Highway 12
What we love about Kodachrome State Park
What’s so amazing about Capitol Reef National Park
Why Goblin Valley is a must-see
Why you should check out Little Wild Horse Canyon
What to check out if you love Native American art
What you need to do at Arches National Park
The views in Dead Horse Point State Park
The districts in Canyonlands
The most underrated park that you need to visit
Why we love the Million Dollar Highway 
The coolest things about Mesa Verde 
Why you should stop at Chaco Canyon
Other off-route stops you might want to check out 
The amazing fossils at Petrified Forest National Park 
Why you should spend some extra time exploring the Grand Canyon
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/episode-15-grand-circle-road-trip-one-trip-nine-national-parks/
 
Planning your own Grand Circle adventure?
Dirt in My Shoes Itineraries: https://shop.dirtinmyshoes.com/ 
Dirt In My Shoes National Park Planning Resources: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/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/

142: Exploring Yellowstone (From the Archive)

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are diving into one of the parks we get the most questions about - Yellowstone! 
Since everyone starts trip planning after the holidays, we figured this was the perfect time to tell you everything you need to know about this beautiful park in case you’re heading there this year. So come along as we explore Yellowstone!
Join us as we cover: 
What we love about Old Faithful
Why Grand Prismatic is so cool
Why the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is a must for your first trip 
Our favorite viewpoint in the Canyon area
Hiking trails you don’t want to miss
Food to try while visiting Yellowstone
What we think of the “Great One Buffalo” 
Our favorite things about the Norris Geyser Basin
The wildlife you can find in Lamar Valley
The differences between the northern and southern loops
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/episode-10-exploring-yellowstone/
Planning your own Yellowstone National Park adventure?
Dirt in My Shoes Yellowstone Itinerary: https://shop.dirtinmyshoes.com/products/yellowstone-itinerary 
Dirt In My Shoes Yellowstone National Park Planning Resources: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/yellowstone-national-park/ 
Episode 73: The Best Places in Yellowstone to See Wildlife: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/best-places-to-see-wildlife-in-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 Park Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/ 
Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/

141: Best Scenic Drives in the National Parks

If you love a drive that has you gasping, laughing, and pulling over every few minutes for “just one more” viewpoint, you are going to have so much fun with this episode. We’re sharing 15 of our favorite scenic drives across the national parks and how you can plan your own visit to each!
In this episode, we cover:
Our top 15 national park scenic drives, grouped into big bucket list roads, overlooked drives in popular parks, and hidden gems in lesser known parks
Key logistics for each drive, including typical opening seasons, road lengths, and important vehicle size or road condition notes
The hikes, overlooks, and viewpoints we love along these roads, plus the wildlife you are most likely to see
How these drives fit into a bigger trip so you can plan your time around sunrise, sunset, and trail days
Your task for today: 
Pick one of the 15 scenic drives from this episode and move it to the very top of your national park bucket list, then head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and tell us which drive you are most excited to experience next!
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/best-scenic-drives-in-the-national-parks/ 
Planning your own scenic drive adventure?
Episode 117: Favorite national parks road trips: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/favorite-national-park-road-trips/ 
Episode 23: Scariest national park roads ranked: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/episode-23-scariest-national-park-roads-ranked/ 
Episode 81: Insider tips for driving Going to the Sun Road: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/insider-tips-for-driving-glaciers-going-to-the-sun-road/ 
Dirt In My Shoes Itineraries: https://shop.dirtinmyshoes.com/ 
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/

140: 5 Fascinating Fun Facts about Wind Cave National Park

Wind Cave National Park is one of the most surprising, mysterious, and underrated parks in the Black Hills. Today we are diving into Wind Cave fun facts that will completely change the way you see this small-on-the-surface but massive-underground national park.
In this episode, we cover:
Why Wind Cave National Park gets bypassed, and why we think it should not
The human history that makes Wind Cave feel like an adventure story, including the cave’s Lakota name, Maka Oniye, or “Breathing Earth”
The teen explorer who mapped the first miles of the cave with string, candlelight, and a whole lot of bravery
The rare cave formations Wind Cave is famous for, including boxwork and giant helictite bushes
The secret behind the wind, and why scientists think we have only discovered about 10% of the cave so far
Your task for today: 
Spend 15 to 20 minutes on the Wind Cave National Park Service website and look up one thing we talked about, like the Lakota emergence story, Alvin McDonald’s diary entries, or the cave formation photos.
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-wind-cave-national-park/ 
Planning your own Wind Cave National Park adventure?
Dirt in My Shoes South Dakota Itinerary: https://shop.dirtinmyshoes.com/products/south-dakota-itinerary 
Dirt In My Shoes Wind Cave National Park Planning Resources: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/wind-cave-national-park/ 
Episode 135: 139: Exploring Wind Cave National Park: Best Tips + Activities: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/exploring-wind-cave-national-park-best-tips-activities/ 
Episode 29: The Black Hills (Wind Cave, Custer State Park, Wind Cave, and more!): https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/29-the-black-hills-wind-cave-custer-state-park-jewel-cave-and-more/ 
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/

139: Exploring Wind Cave National Park: Best Tips + Activities

Wind Cave National Park is one of the most underrated stops in the Black Hills, and it is absolutely worth digging a little deeper for. Come with us into the prairies of South Dakota for rare cave beauty, bison sightings, and the kind of quiet that makes you exhale.
In this episode, we cover:
Why Wind Cave is so underrated, and why I recommend it even when people say Jewel Cave is “prettier”
How to get cave tour tickets (and why you should not wait until the day of)
Which three tours to choose from as a first time visitor, plus options for special tours
What to expect on your tour (temperature, what you can and cannot bring, and tips if you have kids)
Easy, high reward things to do above ground, including wildlife drives, a short scenic hike, and a quick trip to Hot Springs
Your task for today: Have you been to Wind Cave National Park? Tell us what you loved, and share your best photos (because this park is famously hard to photograph!). Head over to our post on the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and share with us!
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-wind-cave-national-park-best-tips-activities/ 
Planning your own Wind Cave National Park adventure?
Dirt in My Shoes South Dakota Itinerary: https://shop.dirtinmyshoes.com/products/south-dakota-itinerary 
Dirt In My Shoes Wind Cave National Park Planning Resources: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/wind-cave-national-park/ 
Episode 29: The Black Hills (Wind Cave, Custer State Park, Wind Cave, and more!): https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/29-the-black-hills-wind-cave-custer-state-park-jewel-cave-and-more/ 
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/

138: 5 Incredible Fun Facts about Arizona’s Saguaro National Park

Cactus, sunshine, and desert drama: this is the episode where we go all in on the most iconic plant of the American West. Saguaro National Park is bursting with towering giants and incredible stories of survival, and we’re digging into all of it!
In this episode, we cover:
Why the saguaro cactus is an American icon (and possibly a giant green lightsaber)
What makes saguaros so tough, and why they only grow in certain parts of the desert
The mind-blowing slow growth of a baby saguaro, and how nurse trees help them survive
The park's wild history of cactus rustling and near collapse
How the saguaro population is finally bouncing back
Your task for today: Visit Saguaro National Park’s Facebook or Instagram and thank a ranger! Their work protects plants that won’t even reach full height in their lifetimes, and it’s incredible. 
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-incredible-fun-facts-about-arizonas-saguaro-national-park/ 
Planning your own Saguaro National Park adventure?
Episode 136: Exploring Saguaro National Park: Best Tips + Activities: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/136-exploring-saguaro-national-park-best-tips-activities/
5 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit to Saguaro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-things-cant-miss-first-visit-saguaro/ 
8 Day Spring Break National Parks Road Trip!: 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/

137: The Best National Parks for Wildlife Viewing!

The wildlife showdown is on! We’re covering the best national parks to see animals in the wild. Whether you’re hoping to see wolves in Yellowstone or whales in Glacier Bay, we share our favorite parks for seeing animals across the U.S., from the great plains of Yellowstone to the coastal coves of Glacier Bay. 
In this episode, we cover:
Our favorite national parks for wildlife overall, plus why Alaska is in a whole different weight class
Where to go for specific animals, including black bears, grizzlies, moose, wolves, and buffalo (yes, we said buffalo)
The best parks for sea life, from dolphins and manatees to whales you can literally hear from your room
A rapid-fire list of parks for some surprising creatures, like condors, bats, bighorn sheep, and birds
Your task for today: What wildlife have you not seen yet that you really want to see in a national park? Head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know!
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/the-best-national-parks-for-wildlife-viewing/ 
Planning your own wildlife viewing adventure?
Dirt In My Shoes Itineraries: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-park-trip-itineraries/ 
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/

136: Exploring Saguaro National Park: Best Tips + Activities

The silhouettes of giant saguaros against a glowing desert sky are the kind of view that stops you in your tracks. If you want one park that delivers pure golden hour magic, spicy Tucson flavor, and a choose-your-own-adventure split right down the middle, Saguaro National Park is it.
In this episode, we cover:
Why Saguaro is basically two parks in one, with a whole city in between, and how that changes your planning.
The best time of year to visit, plus why sunrise and sunset matter here more than almost anywhere else.
Our go-to stops on West Saguaro, including our favorite campground, a tiny trail we do every time, and quick hikes with big payoff.
Our go-to stops on East Saguaro, where the saguaros get huge, the loop drive is paved, and bikers are everywhere.
The Tucson extras that make the trip even better, including Sonoran hot dogs, two museums we love, and one oddly specific RV tip.
Your task for today: Pick your side! Are you a West Saguaro person who wants more solitude, or an East Saguaro person who wants the biggest, oldest saguaros you can find? Head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know what you think!
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/136-exploring-saguaro-national-park-best-tips-activities/ 
Planning your own Saguaro National Park adventure?
5 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit to Saguaro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-things-cant-miss-first-visit-saguaro/ 
8 Day Spring Break National Parks Road Trip!: 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/

135: Our Top 3 National Park Experiences in 2025!

What do an erupting volcano, a flooded forest, and the 250th anniversary of American independence have in common? They all made our list of top national park adventures from 2025! This year gave us some unforgettable experiences, and we can't wait to share them with you.
In this episode, we cover:
Why Boston is the perfect place to celebrate America’s 250th birthday in 2026
What it’s like to kayak Cedar Creek in Congaree National Park
How we managed to see Kilauea erupting in real time at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Your task for today: Check the USGS or NPS website to see if Kilauea is still erupting, and start planning your own once-in-a-lifetime lava-viewing trip. Or, if volcanoes aren’t in the cards, look up Revolutionary War sites in the national park system to help plan your 250th anniversary celebration in 2026. Head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know what you think!
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/our-top-3-national-park-experiences-in-2025/ 
Planning your own 2026 adventure?
Dirt In My Shoes Itineraries: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-park-trip-itineraries/ 
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/