National Parks

http://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/directions.htm

http://www.nps.gov/pefo/planyourvisit/directions.htm

The drive out of Flagstaff was cloudy and cool. Unseasonably cool for Memorial Day weekend at the end of May. "Snow at the higher elevations, [of the San Francisco Mountains] up to a foot I hear" said the barista at the coffee shop. As we drove toward the canyon, Sam brought up the Death March, a hike he had dreamed of doing since moving to the southwestern desert 7 years ago. It involved hiking from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, to the North Rim, and back in 24 hours. 44 miles, 20,000 feet of elevation change, 24 hours. Sure, it has been done, but the question was could WE do it.

Grand Canyon National Park, a World Heritage Site, encompasses 1,218,375 acres and lies on the Colorado Plateau in northwestern Arizona. The land is semi-arid and consists of raised plateaus and structural basins typical of the southwestern United States. Unique combinations of geologic color and erosional forms decorate a canyon that is 277 river miles (446km) long, up to 18 miles (29km) wide, and a mile (1.6km) deep.

April 19 -27, 2008 is National Park Week.

Specific activities at Petrified Forest National Park during National Park Week include:

April 19: Junior Ranger Activity Day
April 22: Earth Day Park Clean-Up Event
April 24: National Parks Presentation at the Holbrook Public Library
April 26: National Junior Ranger Day