Lower Yellowstone Falls is one of the most popular places to visit in Yellowstone, coming in just behind the geyser, Old Faithful. The tallest waterfall in the park, Lower Yellowstone Falls is about 308 ft. Upper Yellowstone Falls feeds this waterfall and can be accessed through a trail before reaching Lower Yellowstone Falls. Because of a turn in the river, both waterfalls are not visible at one time, instead visitors can see just one waterfall at a time. 

Both falls are located in a 20 mile long canyon nicknamed the Yellowstone Grand Canyon. The Yellowstone River feeds the falls and it is the longest undamed river in the continental United States. The canyon was created through water eroding the volcanic rock. Lower Yellowstone Falls is particulary beautiful because the large waterfall contrasts with the yellow "rusting" rocks that make up the canyon walls. The iconic "yellow" color in Yellowstone is from the many rocks that oxidize because of the rust and iron found in the rock. 

The 308 foot waterfall is taller than Niagra Falls and has many lookout points, offering a variety of views from up close to miles away. There are several trails that can be taken to experience all the views, each with a parking lot before the trailhead. The trails are still open in the winter, however please be aware that they may be icy, as well there are steep drops and switchbacks. In the winter, the trails can only be accessed by snowmobile or snow coaches.

Following the Grand Loop Road, visitors will be able to see the waterfall and access the various trailheads.  The summer time will be the busiest time as toursits from all over are enjoying the park. Spring and Fall are especially beautiful, however the road to access the falls opens in mid-April and closes in late October. Turning onto North Rim Drive, visitors will have access to all the view points on that side of the waterfall. The first viewpoint is the Brink of the Lower Falls. Visitors are able to get quite close to the falls, putting them right next to the mouth of the falls as the water goes cascading down below them. The trail is a steep hike down, but a must see. While right at the mouth of the waterfall, visitors can turn and look out at the canyon and see it continue on its 20 mile journey.  

Next is the Lookout Point. This offers a panoramic view of the surrounding canyons and waterfall. Though it is several miles away from the actual waterfall, visitors can still hear the booming of water flowing over the falls. The Lookout Point is also the trailhead for Red Rock Point, which gives the closest full view of the waterfall for visitors. It is a steep trail as well, with a sign warning "A steep descent to Red Rock will take you to the North Rim’s closest full view of Lower Falls. Please be prepared for steep grades, steps, and a rough surface. The trail descends rapidly—about 500 feet (150 m) in 3/8 mile (0.6 km). Wear sturdy walking shoes with good tread, and be prepared for a steep uphill return". 

Grandview is another lookout point along the North Rim Drive. It provides another panoramic view of Lower Falls, though not as close as the one found at lookout point. 

Inspiration Point is the last viewpoint along North Rim Drive. Not much of the Lower Falls are visible from here, but a panoramic view of the canyon reminds visitors just how small they really are when compared to the towering canyon walls. 

On the opposite side of the Lower Falls are two additional trails, Uncle Tom's Trail and Artist Point. Taking South Rim Road, visitors will first see the trailhead for Uncle Tom's Trail. This trail consists of 328 steel steps that take visitors about 3/4 of the way down the Canyon. Like the view from the Brink of Lower Falls, visitors will be very close to the falls as the water goes tumbling down below them. 

Artist Point is one of the most photographed views in Yellowstone. It is a very easy hike with little elevation gain. Visitors will be awed when looking at the canyon from Artist Point, for it shows just how wide and deep the canyon has become from thousands of years of erosion. 

Located in Yosemite National Park, Glacier Point gives a birds-eye-view of the park you can't find anywhere else. It can be accessed by both hiking and driving through the park, though the roads may be closed until early to late May due to snow. Glacier Point towers over Yosemite Valley, sitting at 7,214 ft compared to the 4,000 ft valley floor. 

From Glacier Point visitors are able to see the famous Half Dome, Vernal Falls, Nevada Falls, Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, and the Yosemite High Country. Each season offers a different view and feel for visitors. Come in the winter and you will see a snow covered Half Dome and High Country. Spring comes with the promise of new green leaves and roaring, snowmelt fed waterfalls. The summer still offers plenty of views, though a lot of tourists will be visiting. Fall brings a change of leaves throughout the park, and so it provides a beautiful contrast to the granite cliffs all around. 

The trails to get to Glacier Point are the Four Mile Trail and the Panoramic Trail. The Four Mile Trail starts at the valley floor and like the name says, it is about 4.7 miles one way. Hiking up to Glacier Point has a significant level of elevation gain (Valley Floor is 4,000 ft and Glacier Point is 7,214 ft). The trail offers views of the Yosemite Valley that belong in a postcard. Those who hike to the top can enjoy an ice cream at the general store, while taking in the views. On the way down, hikers will see Yosemite Falls constantly in front of them, while the other sights of the valley floor come into view as the trail descends. 

The Panoramic Trail is an alternative for going down from Glacier Point. Many hikers alternate between taking the Four Mile Trail up and the Panormaic Trail down (or vice versa). While the sights of the Four Mile Trail include many of the valley floor sights, the Panoramic Trail offers views of Illilouette, Nevada, and Vernal Falls. The trail ends at a different point than the Four Mile Trail, but hikers can take one of the free shuttles throughout the park. 

One of the four types of volcanos found in Lassen Volcanic National Park, Cinder Cone stands at 6,907 ft elevation and 750 ft above the surrounding landscape. Cinder Cone was formed in the 1600's, though lava flows at its base caused the then active volcano to die down. Today, Cinder Cone is not active, and is a hike that allows visitors to experience a cinder cone first hand. Along the way, hikers will see the Painted Dunes and the Fantastic Lava Beds. 

The trail begins from the Butte Lake parking lot and is about four miles round trip, taking approximately 3 hours to hike it all. Similar to hiking in sand, the trail is very loose terrain and can be very taxing regardless of how short of a hike it seems. When hikers reach the top they will have the option to take in the view from the summit or continue down into the crater of the cinder cone.

From the top hikers will see the Painted Dunes, which were formed after the erruption of the cinder cone, and as the lava cooled off, left behind orange hills at the base of the cinder cone. The Fantastic Lava Beds are also visibile and create stark contrast from the forested landscape. The lava beds actually helped to form the two lakes in the area, damming the lakes when the lava beds were first created. 

Within Sequoia National Park, the biggest attraction is General Sherman, the world's largest tree. It is believed that the tree is about 2,000 years old, and was named after the Civil War general, General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1879. Nestled in the section of the park, can drive or hike to the tree. There are walking trails that take visitors right up to the tree and allow them to marvel at the vast size of the tree. Two trails can take visitors to the tree, the General Sherman's trail and Big Tree's trail. A free shuttle is also available for visitors to take and runs from May through September each year. 

The General Sherman Tree is the world's largest tree, measured by volume. It stands 275 feet (83 m) tall, and is over 36 feet (11 m) in diameter at the base. Sequoia trunks remain wide high up. Sixty feet above the base, the Sherman Tree is 17.5 feet (5.3 m) in diameter.Courtesy of nps.gov

Calaveras Big Trees State Park is a little known grove of Sequoias located in the beautiful Northern California gold country. The area became a State Park in 1931 in order to preserve the trees found in the North Grove, including the "Discovery Tree". There are two groves of Sequoias, the North and South Grove, which are connected through boardwalk style trails. The North Grove has about 100 mature Giant Sequia trees and the South Grove has about 1,000 mature Giant Sequoias. Weaving through the different trees, visitors will be able to stand up close and even crawl their way through a few of them. During the spring and summer the temperature is perfect for hiking and camping, and the area provides a great escape from the heat of the Central Valley. 

Some of the more famous attractions are "Discovery Tree", which was actually cut down in 1853 and is now referred to as "The Stump". The stump is about 24 ft in diameter and visitors can walk up on top, which has been smoothed over time from the many visitors and dances that used to be held there. 

Pioneer Tree is a famous drive through tree, though due to a winter storm has since fallen. Many of the large trees throughout the park will show scars from attempts to cut them down or to remove their bark. Each tree in the park has its own story and history. The largest tree in the park is the Louis Aggasiz tree. This tree was named after an early naturalist and stands over 250 ft tall.  

There is plenty to do in the park from ranger guided tours and activities for children, to hiking and camping. There are seven different trails that visitors can follow and the day can quickly be spent meandering through the forest and staring up at the trees. Spring time brings with it a blooming of mountain dogwood flowers, and the fall offers a changing of tree leaves throughout the park. The park is open in the winter, though some roads are closed, and the trails are not groomed.