As one of the most intriguing and *potentially* deadly volcanoes in America, Mount Rainier has been on people’s radars for a long time. So today, we're thrilled to be delving into the wonders of the one and only Mount Rainier National Park!

This incredible mountain and its surrounding area was created as the fourth national park in the United States! And after our first visit, it quickly earned a spot in our top five favorite national parks. Towering majestically over the surrounding cities, Mount Rainier is impossible not to love! So join us as we explore everything that makes this park such a phenomenal place to visit.

• Sights to see and things to do on the Paradise side of Mount Rainier
• The best places to see waterfalls in Mount Rainier
• The healing power of nature
• The biggest mistake people make when visiting this park
• Tips for hiking our favorite trail in the park
• Other trails and sights in the area
• What you can’t miss on the Sunrise side of the park
• How to get to the most epic viewpoints
• Where to stay when you visit

We hope you enjoyed exploring Mount Rainier with us! This national park will blow you away, and we hope you get a chance to get out there soon.

Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Sunrise or Paradise?! Paradise or Sunrise?! We are posting photos so you can see what each area looks like, and you can tell us which one you prefer - even if you haven’t been there yet! Head over to the Dirt In My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know!

Check out the full show notes here.

Today, we are going on an adventure in Ash’s favorite national park—Grand Teton! We’re hiking through Cascade Canyon, the most popular longer trail in the Tetons.

Join us as we visit Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point, and even Lake Solitude along the Cascade Canyon Trail! Whether you’re going for a multi-day backpacking trip or a quick hike, you will love the Teton views from up here!

In this episode, we discuss:

• The best season for hiking this trail
• How to see the “Disneyland” of Grand Teton
• Helpful tips to keep in mind while hiking this trail
• All of the must-see spots in Cascade Canyon
• The animals you can see while hiking this trail
• The two forks in this trail and what you need to know about each

We hope you enjoy exploring the gorgeous Cascade Canyon in Grand Teton National Park. It truly is a choose-your-own-adventure kind of hike, and there are so many beautiful and iconic views on this trail.

Click over to Dirt In My Shoes to start planning your next epic vacation to Grand Teton National Park!

Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Are you Team North Fork or Team South Fork?? Head over to the Dirt In My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know!

Check out the full show notes here.

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are headed back to one of our favorite National Parks — Mesa Verde! We are diving into the fun facts about this park and focusing on the people who lived here.

The incredible human history in this area is what this park is all about, and we are so excited to share it with you! Join us as we take a deep dive into the Ancestral Puebloans who called Mesa Verde home.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The surprising number of cliff dwellings in this national park
• The number of tribes that have special ties to Mesa Verde
• The largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde
• The insanely cool things that archeologists have found in this park
• The magic and the mystery of this park

This park protects the heritage of our country in a sacred and beautiful way, and it’s up to us to learn about it and how we can preserve it.

We hope these fun facts will help you cherish this amazing place as you explore it with your family and friends!

Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Do you think Long House is the *actual* largest cliff dwelling in North America? Or do you stand by the NPS and vote for Cliff Palace? Head over to the Dirt In My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and cast your vote!

Check out the full show notes here.