National Parks Archives

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

November 26, 2018August 22, 2015 by Tom Bartel

The drive to see the vaunted Crater Lake National Park was interrupted before it got started. We’d stayed north of the park the night before and planned on getting an … Read more

Fog, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

October 20, 2023August 16, 2015 by Tom Bartel

trees in fog Mount Rainier National Park

Since we started this western road trip, every day has been hot and relentlessly sunny. So when we woke to a foggy, cloudy and rainy sky on the day of … Read more

Sunset on the River, Glacier National Park, Montana

October 20, 2023August 15, 2015 by Tom Bartel

As we were leaving Glacier National Park late in the evening, the sun began to set behind the mountain tops, and as it did, it illuminated McDonald Creek in the … Read more

The Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA

October 20, 2023August 9, 2015 by Tom Bartel

The easiest way to see Badlands National Park is to enter the park at the Northeast Entrance and take the Badlands Loop Road, which runs all along the rim of … Read more

Our 2014 Travels in 50 Photos

October 20, 2023January 8, 2015 by Tom Bartel

2014 was our biggest year of traveling yet. We visited 19 countries, including a long driving trip in the western United States. We saw, in order, the United States, Belgium, … Read more

Big Horn Sheep and Elk, Rocky Mountain National Park

October 20, 2023October 4, 2014 by Tom Bartel

When you’re driving along Trail Ridge in Rocky Mountain National Park, there are many pullouts where you can stop and admire the scenery. But when you see cars slowing to … Read more

Inspiration Point, Bryce Canyon at Sunrise, Sunset

October 20, 2023October 2, 2014 by Tom Bartel

We got up an hour before sunrise to drive to Inspiration Point at Bryce Canyon National Park. Although we got there 45 minutes before scheduled dawn, a couple of photographers … Read more

Trees, Bottom of Bryce Canyon Hike

October 20, 2023September 30, 2014 by Tom Bartel

On our second day at Bryce Canyon National Park, after getting up before dawn to photograph the sunrise over the canyon, we hiked down to the base of the canyon … Read more

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park

October 20, 2023September 19, 2014 by Tom Bartel

I can’t say they didn’t warn us. At the trail head for the Delicate Arch at Arches National Park, there’s a big red, black, and yellow sign telling you emphatically … Read more

Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde National Park

October 20, 2023September 14, 2014 by Tom Bartel

We spent 11 hours in the Mesa Verde National Park, including driving over 100 miles (160 km) within the park to see many of the cliff dwellings. We went back … Read more