| If you enjoy hiking then there can be no better | | | | of the most beautiful places on Earth. |
| setting for a day's hiking than the many wonderful | | | | For nature lovers a hike through Crater Lake in |
| national parks of the United States. | | | | Oregon is also a must where the giant lake is |
| At one extreme you have the Badlands of South | | | | surrounded by high and densely forested |
| Dakota and the Petrified National Forest in Arizona | | | | mountains which are home to both bears and |
| and at the other you have the lush green scenery | | | | soaring hawks. If you enjoy fishing then you will |
| of Crater Lake in Oregon or the Great Smoky | | | | find that Crater Lake has an abundant supply of |
| Mountains in Tennessee. Then, in between, you | | | | trout. |
| have the thick forests, icy lakes and majestic | | | | Although everyone has their own favorite national |
| mountains of Glacier Park in Montana or the | | | | park (mine is unquestionably Great Teton) for |
| Rocky Mountains of Colorado, whose 14,000 foot | | | | many millions of people the prize goes to |
| peaks offer some truly exciting hiking. | | | | Yosemite. |
| Of course if you are looking for something truly | | | | Yosemite National Park offers many spectacular |
| spectacular then there is nothing quite as stunning | | | | views including that of El Capitan which is the |
| as the Grand Canyon in Arizona which many | | | | largest granite outcrop on the planet and whose |
| people quite rightly refer to as the eighth wonder | | | | 3,000 foot sheer face attracts climbers from all |
| of the world. This gash which Mother Nature has | | | | over the world. There are also of course |
| gouged out of the earth runs for nearly 300 | | | | Yosemite's many magnificent waterfalls, of which |
| miles, is 18 miles wide at its widest point and is a | | | | Yosemite Falls itself is the best known, which |
| breathtaking one mile in depth. | | | | splash their way down the mountain sides through |
| Nature truly provides some wonderful settings for | | | | dense forest which is crisscrossed by hundreds of |
| the hiker and another is the Hawaii Volcanoes | | | | hiking trails. |
| National Park which boasts several different | | | | Yosemite is also home to some of the most |
| ecosystems and allows you hike across black lava | | | | spectacular sequoia trees to be seen anywhere in |
| sands one day and through dense rainforest the | | | | the world and no visit to Yosemite would be |
| next. | | | | complete without a hike through Mariposa Grove |
| And speaking of volcanoes, is there any more | | | | and the lesser know, but no less spectacular, |
| spectacular experience than standing right beside | | | | Merced Grove and Tuolumne Grove. |
| Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park when it | | | | The list of national parks and their memorable |
| sends its pillar of spray high into the air. | | | | attractions could go on and on and for those living |
| Yellowstone provides some excellent hiking trails | | | | in the United States they fortunately provide |
| as does the nearby Grand Teton National Park | | | | more than a lifetime worth of incredible hiking |
| which, in the opinion of many people, is simply one | | | | experiences. |