Autum Prairie, Pipestone National Monument
- By Rebecca Latson - November 9th, 2023 3:00am
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"Whether you see them from your car or hike to a remote grove, giant sequoias inspire awe and wonder." You might also find brightly-colored autumn foliage surrounding those sequoias if you visit during the fall season.
Shenandoah National Park in Virginia is one of those bucket list parks for autumn "leaf peepers," and with good reason.
The Stoney-Nakoda First Nation believes everything around them is alive and has a spirit: people, mountains, rocks, water, wildlife, insects. The mountains surrounding Maligne (Muh-LEEN) Lake in Jasper National Park are the embodiments of Stoney-Nakoda ancestors and the small Spirit Island connected to the mainland by an isthmus is the beating heart of the lake as well as the focus of Stoney-Nakoda traditions and ceremonies. You cannot set foot upon this "island" but you can photograph it. As such, Spirit Island is one of the most-photographed places in Canada.
Fed by the waters of the Athabasca Glacier, Sunwapta Falls in Jasper National Park is beautiful even on a rainy, overcast day. The view here is of the upper falls.
How many of you have ever stopped at Howse Pass Viewpoint in Banff National Park, located between the bridge over the Saskatchewan River and the developed area called "The Crossing" along the Icefields Parkway? Even on a cold, rainy day, the view from there of the North Saskatchewan River and surrounding landscape is spectacular.
Herbert Lake is not a large lake, but it's a beautiful lake, especially when the water is mirrir-smooth to reflect the clouds and mountains. You'll see the turnoff for the parking area shortly after passing the entrance booths to the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park.
I spy with my little eye: a couple of bright red Muskoka chairs (that's Canadian for Adirondack chairs). You can find these bright red chairs all over Canada, with 100 of them spread out in Canadian national parks looking out toward magnificent scenery. They are made from 100 percent recycled plastic from Canadian landfills and make a great "red chair moment" for your camera.
Yoho National Park is the smallest of the four contiguous Canadian Rockies national park, but as you drive from west to east, the mountains begin to loom larger in your vehicle's windows. You're getting more of a taste of the immensity of the landscape.
Kootenay National Park is a park of rivers and mountains. It's a great introduction to the snaggle-toothed mountain ranges you'll see closer and closer as you continue your road trip through these Canadian Rockies national parks.
The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.
This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.
You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.
So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.