I thought that was funny too, but only because I want one too. I got to see quite a few on my drive from Louisiana to California, but daddy wouldn't let me stop to grab one. LOL
I grew up in the east coast NC and then I got a job in Arizona. The first time I’ve ever seen a tumbleweed was while driving through Texas when one bigger than my car flew across and hit my windshield.
@@glengillham4629 That has never happened to me. I live in New England, I don't think we have tumbleweeds? Not sure. It's mostly tree branches and d e e r
Mountains don’t surround Crater Lake. ONE mountain surrounds Crater Lake, because the entire lake exists inside the caldera of a dead volcano. Yes, looking down into the lake, you are looking into a volcano where the water has replaced what would have been the lava if it was a Hollywood movie volcano.
I honestly love how you aren't afraid to seem stupid while asking questions, even about silly things like axolotls. No shade, we should all be like that, it makes learning so much easier and more fun.
I’ve always dreamed of the UK, England, Ireland etc with their little villages and cottages but thank you to opening my eyes and reminding me how beautiful my own Country can be.
Dude if you think people wont be able to stay and camp in areas with bears you have no idea. People camp in bear territory all the time. I know people who have had bears outside their tent.
Every time I visit my family cabin (Plumas County, CA) I see bears roaming around at night! That's how we know it's too late to be out on the deck lol.
Yeah, America's attitude is basically "There are bears in the area, do what you will with that information and don't blame us if you get eaten." It's generally acknowledged that if bears attack you you are either really unlucky or did something dumb, neither of which the park is responsible for.
the craziest thing about the rockies is how they just appear out of nowhere. when heading west towards them, the land is completely flat, and then BAM there's the fucking huge ass mountains
"Make your life go here, son. Here's where the people is." "Mother Gue", I says "the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world," and by God, I was right. Keep your nose in the wind and your eye along the skyline. -- Del Gue from the movie Jeremiah Johnson
Having driven from the flat area towards and into those mountains, I can confirm that. Although, you actually start slanting up way sooner than you realise (at least, along some routes) but don't _notice_ a big change in elevation until your ears pop. But yeah, coming from Iowa to Utah was a TRIP. In more ways than one.
The US has 63 National Parks, but the National Park *Service* administers 423 sites, which includes things like National Monuments, National Historic Sites, National Battlefields, etc.
@@whatafreakinusername Actually, now that I look at the Wikipedia page, it turns out that Mount Rushmore is a National Memorial and therefore administered by the NPS, even if the surrounding National Forest isn't.
As an Oregonian, his reactions to the trees was precious. They didn't even show the really big trees at Redwoods N.P., they're wider than the Sequoias that they showed. I'm from Southern Oregon, so they're an easy day trip across the border in California and I love visiting, especially when it's really hot in the Summer it's a great way to escape the heat. Crater Lake is even more beautiful in person. I also recommend visiting at the peak of Summer to make sure you have maximum visibility and can access all of the roads. I feel really lucky to have grown up where I did.
Some National parks will have inns or cabins, some have campgrounds you can pay and will have hookups for electric and water for rv camping, and some will have camp areas where you can tent camp for free. Pretty much anytime you’re in a Park it’s at your own risk. There are guides, rangers, and some staff in the main attraction areas but most of the parks are wild and open. Also some parks require payment to get into at the gates. Some you can drive through with no payment. I think it just depends on the park and where the interstates and highways cut through the parks. My husband and I got a National Park pass while on our honeymoon. It’s good for a year and you can go to any National park, monument, etc that’s owned by the National gov.
The redwoods at NP are taller than the sequoias and are the tallest in the world, but the sequoias are actually wider and are the trees with the largest volume in the world.
I would highly recommend looking up a picture of a person standing next to a redwood in the redwood national park. Some of those trees have the circumference of like a bus. It's so intimidating to actually try and fathom the size of those trees.
100%. Even as big as those trees might seem in the video, you can't truly comprehend how big they are until you're staring up at one in person. My family used to go to the redwoods every year(typically Redwood national park since we preferred the coast, though we went to Sequoia a few times), and it was always breathtaking, and humbling to feel just how small we were as humans in comparison.
@@brandonboyd2013 I drove through it on a family vacation when I was a kid! My parents loved taking us to our amazing National Parks. Thanks Mom & Dad!
In September, I took a group of family/friends and we hiked and climbed to the top of Half Dome at Yosemite. It was an all-day event (I have a few short videos on my profile). One of the people in my group was more excited by the experience of standing next to a giant redwood tree (around 300 feet tall) close to my home in the San Francisco Bay Area than the views from the top of Half Dome!
"National Parks are the best idea we ever had." -Wallace Stegner Visiting our national parks is my favorite thing to do. Few things in this world are as awe inspiring.
I was 43 years old before I first visited a national park here in the US. My advice to everyone: START SEEING THESE THINGS MUCH EARLIER THAN I DID! Oh my golly, they are amazing!!
the most overlooked spaces are state parks. my daughter and family have spent weeks camping around the state. you can get a state family pass for pennies. often when they go during the week they may be the only people there. the WPA projects from the 30s are maintained, they have some of the most beautiful nature and it's just down the road.
Of the 417 total NPS sites, only 118 charge admission fees. The proposed rates would significantly increase the costs to enter the parks during their busiest months. Entry at these parks currently costs $25 or $30 per vehicle, no matter the season.
@Doug Sawyer my bad. Honestly I was thinking about state parks. I grew up on OR and there are many that you end up driving through if you are just driving to the beach or something.
Signage: Depends on the National Park. Some have back ways in with no signage. Most have official entrances with arches or signs. Some have a lot roads, some barely have any.
There's a back way into Canyonlands, but you need 4 wheel drive to get there. All there is is a small sign saying "Now entering Canyonlands National Park" and you go over a cattle guard.
Omg yes!!!! I'm soo happy you are reacting to the national parks ive been to quite a few multiple times even and they continue to amaze me time and time again.
I don’t know what all it would entail, but the thought of being paid to live and watch over a huge park with all the wildlife and scenery, sigh. A dream. Probably have to have some random degree or certification that I definitely wouldn’t have.
@@DerDoppelagent my brother has been a park ranger around the country for 5 years or so. He majored in hospitality management n parks and rec im pretty sure. Apply on usajobs . You gotta send out a shit load of apps tho
@@DerDoppelagent usajobs for actual park service, most of the hotels and shops are run by concession companies - Xanterra and Delaware North are the two big ones. I worked for Delaware North in restaurants in Yellowstone, Sequoia, and Shenandoah for a few years and it was pretty fabulous. Honestly I might go back into it someday. Also like half the staff working there were international J-1s, so not being from the US isn't an impossible obstacle
I drove through Arches National Park, stopped to hike a bit, then we continued when it got dark. A lightning storm rolled in and it was incredible, in the dark, then the landscape would suddenly illuminate with jagged lightning bolts in the sky, revealing the otherworldly shapes of the rock formations. It was one of the most breath taking things I’ve ever experienced.
I have been watching your channel for about a year now, and no worries man, the rambling and stumbling is part of the charm of your channel. You don't take yourself too seriously, or put on an act for the camera, no overediting, ect. Just Luka being Luka haha.
Most, though not all, national parks, have places where a person can stay - lodges and/or camping grounds. And yeah, many parks do have bears and the like.
You have to remember that when people compare something to Rhode Island it's not THAT big, Rhode Island is a fraction of the size of pretty much every other state.
Luka, if you're visiting the U.S. and can only visit one coast, I'd recommend the west coast. Most notably, California, Washington state, and Oregon. These have the sorts of scenery you seem interested in (including Mt. Ranier and the giant redwoods), as well as vineyards in the wine country of Northern California, lakes and rivers, and everything else. Plus the cities of Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, and so on. Even just visiting the San Francisco Bay area is worth it. They all have decent transportation infrastructure, population diversity (visiting Chinatown in San Fran is a must), and more.
It’s a shame Mt St Helens misses this list because it’s a volcanic monument and not a national park. As an Oregonian, it is the first place I recommend to anyone visiting Washington. Is it so very unique.
You weren't hallucinating or anything: there's a list that claims Australia has over 600 national parks and claims the US has 61. Obviously, it's not very accurate. Really, the US has 60+ that have National Park in their name, but 423 actual national parks. Australia has 65 total national parks, 6 with National Park in their title.
@@Aggromerchant don’t forget about national seashores , national lakeshores , national preserves , national rivers , national senic trails , national historic trails ,national military park, national battlefield park, national battlefield site, national battlefield,national historical parks,national recreation areas ,National parkways , and most recently the first national park for the arts was made .
Crater lake was a volcano. That “island” is a volcanic cone. I live in California on the flanks of the Northern Sierra Nevada range. We have a “Mini Grand Canyon” of our own (Butte Creek Canyon) bears & mountain lions roam our streets as do deer & smaller creatures. I moved here from the Bay Area & I love it! One of my favorite canyons is the Feather River Canyon. It’s striking! Maybe you’ll Google?
Yosemite has camp grounds, tents, lodge, and an expensive hotel...lots of people go to National parks to camp, and you can buy annual passes to the parks. You are warned not to leave food around in Yosemite, and they love to show you videos of bears peeling back car doors like a tinned can...:).
I once accidentally left a camera on a picnic table overnight in Yosemite and found the next morning that animals had been playing with it while we slept. Somehow it wasn't damaged, but if it had been a larger animal, such as a bear, I might not have had a camera to take home. This was in a campground. You can get back country permits to hike and camp in areas with a lot fewer visitors and a much higher chance of encountering wildlife. It's wise to learn what to do to avoid or deal with dangerous situations before going into those areas.
Sequoia Nat'l Park was basically in my backyard growing up in California! It's fun to camp there, and although there are bears, I would be more wary of mountain lions- but sightings are rare. I've seen bears plenty of times going hiking at Sequoia, and as long as you keep your distance, you should be fine 🙂
When they say, at Crater Lake, that snow covers the trails in winter, they mean it. Crater lake gets about 42 feet (almost 13 meters) of snow per year (except this year, darn it). Google some images of snow at Crater Lake, and you'll see some where cars are driving through plowed roads where the snow is quite a bit higher than the cars.
I went camping there one year in late June and we got one of the only campsites that wasn't still covered with 2 feet of snow. All that snowmelt made a crazy amount of mosquitos, though...
Dude, you need to visit the US! I've traveled a decent amount and nowhere in the world compares to the natural geological, botanical, etc. beauty of the western United States. The deserts of the southwest, the rain-forests of the NW, Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, the big 5 parks of Utah, Grand Teton..... there's nowhere with such an incredible range of different, magnificent natural wonders to be seen. The Grand Canyon alone is unrivaled when compared to the rest of the world. I really encourage you to visit the US and especially the Rocky Mountains and everything west of them (Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, CA, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, etc) because there's nothing else like it in the world!
@@johonanandrewgomes7593 Oh, yeah. We all have our distinctions. The human settlements in much of the US compliment the scenery, and, of course, detract.
@@Aggromerchant I think the main thing the US has as an advantage is, people know what the most beautifull national parks are, in Canada its the opposite. You have very popular over rated national parks. All people think of is Banff or Jasper. They forget about entire Provinces and Territories. I mean some of the most beautiful national parks like Auyuittuq, Gros Morne, Nahanni, Nááts'ihch'oh, Quttinirpaaq, Torngat, Fundy, Forillon, etc... Most people have never heard of, when they are some of the most beautiful national parks on earth.
Crater lake is one of the best places to ski during the winter. Always snow and most days are beautiful even when it's snowing. I grew up an hour from it and my family used to go there every winter and often in the summer to hike. So beautiful and never gets old.
I am thoroughly enjoying your videos, it's become my favorite thing to watch. I love how genuinely interested you are and you don't have set opinions before learning about something. I learn some stuff too. Even living in the US, there are tons of things we don't know about each state and the people in it. Also love the fact that you ask questions out loud and instantly go Google it. lol. I'm the same way, I Google everything lol
Crater Lake was formed by a massive volcanic eruption about 8000 years ago. So those are mountains surrounding it those are the rocks and plates that were thrown up after the eruption around the crater. The island that you saw is the cone of another Volcano that has risen up through the water. But it is inactive at this point.
Canyons are formed by rivers. Over time the moving water erodes the sandstone, working it's way deeper and deeper. You were thinking of Niagara Falls on the US Canadian Border.
There are areas in the Redwoods where the canopy is so dense that you could be walking through it while it's raining and never know (or feel it rather).
We get them where I live in northern Utah and we're constantly pulling them from under our cars and grilles in the summer and fall. We have a highway where they get caught by the fence that runs alongside the road and it always looks like someone was using them to try and build the Great Wall of Tooele! LOL They make great kindling in the fire pit in my backyard tho!
I love your videos! Ur content, personality. The things you say and when you pause vids makes me wish I could talk thru my tv to have a conversation with you or laugh. I get some good laughs watching ur videos.
I had no idea that the Undertaker was born in Death Valley til I watched this....LOLOL...That was priceless!! you really make me laugh, and goodness knows I need it these days...I watch you every day..Thank you so much for all the reaction vids, Thurston.
While it's not technically a national park, Oregon and Washington also have the Colombia River Gorge national scenic area. As well, there are also State Parks, many of which are as good as National Parks.
I love learning things about my own country here with you on your channel. Like when the Crater Lake came up, and you said "Oh, I remember this from another video," I was like ME TOO!! I was here during that video too 🤩🖐
Crater lake is in the Cascade mountains. So is Mount St Helens. They both had a similar event. They are volcanoes that blew up. Crater lake is a caldera. The hole that remained after the eruption and it filled with water, forming the lake. That is why it is so deep
Big trees are very common here in the Pacific Northwest too. We often have trees up to 7 feet wide at the base, and sometimes much, much more. They are called old growth, and they are everywhere in pockets of old growth forest (sometimes in protected areas, like national parks or wilderness, and sometimes unprotected).
So the idea that we don't know what happened to the people who lived in Mesa Verde is a myth. Their decedents are still alive and we have archeological evidence to back up that their story is indeed true. They just left. Yup thats it! They packed up and left. Theres like 5-7 cities in Mesa Verde National park and about 10 small villages, you can only visit one. Their population became far to large for the local desert ecology to support and they ended up over hunting and over fishing. So rather than starving they packed up and left. The decedents of Mesa Verde are the Pueblo.
There's usually a sign saying you are entering a National Park/Wildlife Reserve if there is no charge. Yellowstone has fees so you have to stop. Some are listed as a National Wildlife Reserve and those you don't pay to get in. Honestly, out west there are a lot of state parks that are just as beautiful and way less crowded.
I think all National Parks have fees, but National Forests, Preserves, etc. don’t. This is because Parks are better staffed, better maintained, and have more amenities, which in turn makes them more of a draw for more casual visitors, whereas Forests, Preserves, etc. are more rudimentary. I agree they can be just as beautiful and definitely far less crowded.
The landmarks that you mentioned looked like canyons but stand solitary at Arches National Park are called Mesas (bigger ones) or Buttes (smaller ones). Usually are defined by steep cliffsides and a flat top like a table. They are super cool and awe inducing in person.
You trying to find the word or words is so relatable. If I’m writing something I can be so slick. Trying to just speak without a script, I forget every word or phrase ever.
7:35 It absolutely varies from park to park. Some parks have specific entry points (some of which charge fees), while others have public roads (even freeways) running through them.
I love your curiosity and you enthusiasm, especially when it’s some place or thing I’m familiar with. My husband and I camped with our four kids all over the country. We have camped in many of these parks and had some great experiences. One of my sons works for Amazon in Seattle. I love to visit, not just to see family, bit to see The Mountain. You can actually see about five volcanoes depending on which way you turn. My son has summitted Rainier twice. They start their final accent to the summit in the dark of night while the snow is in the best shape for climbing. The sun of day can affect the ice in dangerous ways, so they try to climb down the next day before conditions get bad. I swear you sought start collecting names of people who would put you up for a few days. You could make it across the country for cheap. I’ve got a son in Washington DC area, a daughter in Galway Ireland, the son in the Seattle area and a daughter in Studio City, California (las Angela’s) that daughter’s second job is a scuba Dive teacher and Dive Master. My husband live in southeastern Michigan, not too far from Lake Erie.
Mt. Rainier is covered by clouds for long periods of time. I remember when I lived in Tacoma, people who had lived there for years would stop me on the street and ask me if I had seen “the Mountain “ that day. It’s nearly due east of Tacoma and Seattle and the parks and the passes through the range, that runs north and south nearly through the center of Washington state, are breathtaking to say the least. It’s been over 40 years since I lived there but it still stands out in my mind as a monument to God’s magnificent creativity!
We still say the mountain is out today or comment on what style of hat she's wearing when there are just lenticular clouds over the peak. One of my favorite times to visit Rainier is in the middle of summer when there are clouds over the peak. It's a wonderful escape from the heat into a beautiful misty mountain world.
I visited Crater Lake and hiked down to the water. The weirdest thing is that the sharp angle of the surrounding slope continues in the water. You can't really wade. One step in and you're up to your shins, another and you'd be above your knees, a third up to your thighs. And it's COLD.
All America lies at the end of the wilderness road, and our past is not a dead past, but still lives in us. Our forefathers had civilization inside themselves, the wild outside. We live in the civilization they created, but within us the wilderness still lingers. What they dreamed, we live, and what they lived, we dream.-T. K. Whipple, Study Out the Land
You should do like POV or like walking tours of big cities like LA or New York to kind of give you like a better perspective of the cities and it’ll be interesting to see.
Welcome to traveling the USA with Lav ! As kids my parents took us across the United States by car twice. Thanks for reminding me of many of these places I have seen before !
I'll answer a few questions because I know a lot about America's National Parks. Canyons are created by wind and water over thousands of years which is why most canyons have rivers running through them. A lot of national parks have entrance stations where you pay a small fee to get in so usually you know if you're in a national park. Some national parks have employee housing for rangers and such, but I know there are some parks that have actual cities and towns within the park boundaries where people live. Most national parks have campgrounds and the more developed parks have lodges or hotels to stay in while you're in the park. There are wildlife safety rules for each park and most people don't experience animal attacks in developed areas. While Google said 423 national park sites, that includes national recreation areas, national monuments, national forests, national historic cites etc. But as for the number of actual National Parks themselves, last I checked there was 62
because of the sheer volume of the national park system, highways and roads often go through parts of them. that being said, you'll generally know when you're close to one due to the number of signs and "advertisements" for the parks. the parks generally aren't gated or anything; just open wilderness with places you can park and wonder off into the wild to camp or hunt for the weekend if you wanted to. also tons and tons of pre-set camping spots with permanent fire pits for safety where you can just setup a tent near your car but still be out in the woods with a nice, private campfire. oh, and yeah..you're responsible for your own safety regarding wildlife (bears, mountain lions, wolfs, etc.) if you go out on your own into uncharted territory. there are park rangers but a charging bear isn't going to stop and wait a few hours while you try to actually call one, have them triangulate your location and make their way to you.
I definitely recommend visiting and camping in a national park if you can. Waking up to the views is amazing not to mention falling asleep under the stars can also be amazing especially in parks where you’re far away from any light pollution. I’ve camped at Devils Tower and the Badlands. The badlands offered programs to do star gazing at night and devils tower was where they had filmed close encounters of the third kind and did a nightly viewing of the movie with devils tower visible behind the screen. It was a really good time spent with friends in nature and I’m not an outdoorsy person! My parents took me to so many parks when I was a kid and I never appreciated them, now that I’m an adult I want to go back and revisit all of them to truly appreciate all of their beauty!
There will always be a chance you'll come across wild animals, often, dangerous animals. I live in Nevada and I camp at Tahoe and Great Basin a lot. There are designated campgrounds and a lot of these grounds have "bear boxes" and you place all your food inside before you sleep and it will keep the bears away or make it hard for them to access the food. All 10 years I've been in the outdoors, I've only come across snakes and heard a mountain lion nearby. Scary but I love being in nature once in a while 😉
Luka you know if you’re in a national park. They’re normally remote, with a few parking lots and trails. To get into one, you pay a fee at a tollbooth and drive in.
That’s not really correct. Look at a map of Yellowstone, for example. Or Death Valley. There are towns and highways and other roads within the boundaries of the national parks. The thing you’re talking about is a specific attraction within a national park, or smaller state parks.
@@Ojisan642 I’m aware there are some exceptions, but I’ve been to numerous national parks. And most of them, I had to pass a check point. Whether there was a fee or not changed depending on the park. Some parks, like Rock Mountain, are split up, and those smaller sections you don’t need to pass a checkpoint. But the main parts of most parks you need to pass a checkpoint, like Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Yosemite, etc.
I think everybody is thinking of the "touristy" areas of national parks. I live in PA and you can be driving down the highway and just see a sign telling you you're in a national forest.
@@ameliaweights that’s true, national forests do that, but I’ve been to like 9 national parks and that never happened to me, probably since we went to the “touristy” area like you said so we went through the main entrance almost every single time.
Crater Lake is actually a remnant of a volcano that completely destroyed itself thousands of years ago, it's what left of Mt. Mazama. Imagine the force of 10,000 nuclear bombs detonated all at once. The island in the middle called Wizard Island is the vent that formed after it left the massive crater in the ground. The surrounding areas are covered with lava beds and obsidian.
Mesa Verde was a lot of fun as a kid, climbing in and around those old ruins, camping there and going to the Ranger talks around a big campfire. Teton was fun too, we went horseback riding there. I share your wonder at the beauty of the US, and I love the UK and would love to visit/live there as well.
In Utah. There are giant brown signs that say you are entering a national park or forest. So yes you can see when you are driving right through park or forest territory.
My brother has worked in Alaska, Colorado, Washington, and Wyoming for park ranger jobs n I've gone to visit him. They are all insane. My pfp is in Washington if I remember correctly lol. I miss them
Those Martian towering rocks are called buttes. Every morning, five days a week, I drive through two national parks and they have signs letting you know you’re entering national park territory. This is another great video. Thanks.
It's not mountains around Crater Lake. It's a giant dormant volcano. Mt.Manzama, that has filled with water, since it's eruption. Video doesn't do it justice. The place is amazing.
22:42 Those are called “mesas”. They are large rock formations that end up being relatively flat at the top. They get their names because it’s the Spanish word for “table”
I used to hike Mount Rag with my family every year in October. It was amazing every time. Especially the boulder that seems to defy gravity. It was chilly, and we'd always get warm apple cider afterwards.
You have to pay to enter the parks. It’s like a toll road you use to enter. So yeah you know when you’re in one but the whole thing isn’t fenced in or anything so the wildlife is free to roam.
Nice reaction! You can purchase a yearly pass that can be used in all 423 of the national parks, recreation areas, monuments, seashores, etc. There are also "free days." I live in California, so I use this pass very often. In fact, I've been to places like Yosemite, Sequoia, Point Reyes, Muir Woods, Lassen Volcanic National Park and Redwoods National and State Parks more times than I can count!
LOL "I want to see tumbleweeds"
Most Americans: "I hate these fuckin tumbleweeds"
I thought that was funny too, but only because I want one too. I got to see quite a few on my drive from Louisiana to California, but daddy wouldn't let me stop to grab one. LOL
I grew up in the east coast NC and then I got a job in Arizona. The first time I’ve ever seen a tumbleweed was while driving through Texas when one bigger than my car flew across and hit my windshield.
I drive through tumbleweeds all the time. I’m sick of pulling them them my bumper 😬
Me: WhAt ArE tUmBlEwEeDs???
@@glengillham4629 That has never happened to me. I live in New England, I don't think we have tumbleweeds? Not sure. It's mostly tree branches and d e e r
Mountains don’t surround Crater Lake. ONE mountain surrounds Crater Lake, because the entire lake exists inside the caldera of a dead volcano. Yes, looking down into the lake, you are looking into a volcano where the water has replaced what would have been the lava if it was a Hollywood movie volcano.
I was gonna say. It dosent seem like he realizes that crater lake is a caldera and those islands are new volcanoes
Did you hear the description of 90 million trails? She meant to say 90 miles of trails. 🤦
There’s signs on interstates and highways that tell you you’re entering or leaving national parks in most states.
Yes, you know when you are entering or leaving a national park on a highway...
And usually there is no gates or walls, so animals can freely enter and exit the park, at least from what I’ve seen
@@rocksjoshua Usually thats the case.
Pretty hard to miss that you're entering a national park. It's not as hard to miss that you're entering a national forest or something like that.
They’re usually marked with brown road signs, while regular road signs are mostly only in green. Some in white or black, rarely in yellow.
I honestly love how you aren't afraid to seem stupid while asking questions, even about silly things like axolotls. No shade, we should all be like that, it makes learning so much easier and more fun.
the water fall you were talking about is called niagara falls
Such an amazing place to visit 💖
@@artsysabs for sure. I live there and it’s still great every time I’ve went there
It is not a national park though.
@Dave Leo uhm yeah I believe so cuz I remember thinking "it would suck to slip going down the stairs"
@@thegrimsbaby5085 that's awesome :D
I’ve always dreamed of the UK, England, Ireland etc with their little villages and cottages but thank you to opening my eyes and reminding me how beautiful my own Country can be.
Dude if you think people wont be able to stay and camp in areas with bears you have no idea. People camp in bear territory all the time. I know people who have had bears outside their tent.
There are bears in my backyard lol
Yeah as long as you keep your food in bear-safe containers you're probably fine. Plus you can buy/rent bear-mace spray for last resort if you need it.
Hand one sneak up on my camp while i was asleep in a hammock. Nothing happened.
Every time I visit my family cabin (Plumas County, CA) I see bears roaming around at night! That's how we know it's too late to be out on the deck lol.
Yeah, America's attitude is basically "There are bears in the area, do what you will with that information and don't blame us if you get eaten." It's generally acknowledged that if bears attack you you are either really unlucky or did something dumb, neither of which the park is responsible for.
the craziest thing about the rockies is how they just appear out of nowhere. when heading west towards them, the land is completely flat, and then BAM there's the fucking huge ass mountains
"Make your life go here, son. Here's where the people is." "Mother Gue", I says "the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world," and by God, I was right. Keep your nose in the wind and your eye along the skyline.
-- Del Gue from the movie Jeremiah Johnson
Having driven from the flat area towards and into those mountains, I can confirm that. Although, you actually start slanting up way sooner than you realise (at least, along some routes) but don't _notice_ a big change in elevation until your ears pop. But yeah, coming from Iowa to Utah was a TRIP. In more ways than one.
The US has 63 National Parks, but the National Park *Service* administers 423 sites, which includes things like National Monuments, National Historic Sites, National Battlefields, etc.
For example, Mount Rushmore is in the Black Hills National Forest, which is to the direct west of the Badlands National Park.
So we still have more than Australia. 😛
@@whatafreakinusername Except that National Forests are administered by the US Forest Service, and aren't part of the NPS.
@@KBOB-b0b Oh. Well it still functions like a National Park/Historic Site/Monument, etc.
@@whatafreakinusername Actually, now that I look at the Wikipedia page, it turns out that Mount Rushmore is a National Memorial and therefore administered by the NPS, even if the surrounding National Forest isn't.
As an Oregonian, his reactions to the trees was precious. They didn't even show the really big trees at Redwoods N.P., they're wider than the Sequoias that they showed. I'm from Southern Oregon, so they're an easy day trip across the border in California and I love visiting, especially when it's really hot in the Summer it's a great way to escape the heat. Crater Lake is even more beautiful in person. I also recommend visiting at the peak of Summer to make sure you have maximum visibility and can access all of the roads. I feel really lucky to have grown up where I did.
Some National parks will have inns or cabins, some have campgrounds you can pay and will have hookups for electric and water for rv camping, and some will have camp areas where you can tent camp for free. Pretty much anytime you’re in a Park it’s at your own risk. There are guides, rangers, and some staff in the main attraction areas but most of the parks are wild and open.
Also some parks require payment to get into at the gates. Some you can drive through with no payment. I think it just depends on the park and where the interstates and highways cut through the parks. My husband and I got a National Park pass while on our honeymoon. It’s good for a year and you can go to any National park, monument, etc that’s owned by the National gov.
The redwoods at NP are taller than the sequoias and are the tallest in the world, but the sequoias are actually wider and are the trees with the largest volume in the world.
I would highly recommend looking up a picture of a person standing next to a redwood in the redwood national park. Some of those trees have the circumference of like a bus. It's so intimidating to actually try and fathom the size of those trees.
100%. Even as big as those trees might seem in the video, you can't truly comprehend how big they are until you're staring up at one in person. My family used to go to the redwoods every year(typically Redwood national park since we preferred the coast, though we went to Sequoia a few times), and it was always breathtaking, and humbling to feel just how small we were as humans in comparison.
Nature’s skyscrapers 😁
There used to be 1 that you could drive through but I think it fell years ago
@@brandonboyd2013 I drove through it on a family vacation when I was a kid! My parents loved taking us to our amazing National Parks. Thanks Mom & Dad!
In September, I took a group of family/friends and we hiked and climbed to the top of Half Dome at Yosemite. It was an all-day event (I have a few short videos on my profile). One of the people in my group was more excited by the experience of standing next to a giant redwood tree (around 300 feet tall) close to my home in the San Francisco Bay Area than the views from the top of Half Dome!
"National Parks are the best idea we ever had." -Wallace Stegner
Visiting our national parks is my favorite thing to do. Few things in this world are as awe inspiring.
I love our national parks
I was 43 years old before I first visited a national park here in the US. My advice to everyone: START SEEING THESE THINGS MUCH EARLIER THAN I DID!
Oh my golly, they are amazing!!
then there's us who practically grew up in them so they're commonplace and taken for granted
the most overlooked spaces are state parks. my daughter and family have spent weeks camping around the state. you can get a state family pass for pennies. often when they go during the week they may be the only people there. the WPA projects from the 30s are maintained, they have some of the most beautiful nature and it's just down the road.
Dude acts like he don't know things, then busts out axolotl references.
It be like that sometimes you know?
They are not fenced off, but they do have signs at common entrances.
And you usually have to pay to get in.
@@Flernaffinor Most national parks are free. The only ones that cost money are the super popular ones.
Of the 417 total NPS sites, only 118 charge admission fees. The proposed rates would significantly increase the costs to enter the parks during their busiest months. Entry at these parks currently costs $25 or $30 per vehicle, no matter the season.
You dont usually have to pay except for the parking lots. Easy to be in one with out knowing if you are on a road trip.
@Doug Sawyer my bad. Honestly I was thinking about state parks. I grew up on OR and there are many that you end up driving through if you are just driving to the beach or something.
I swear when I was in the Redwoods I was convinced a dinosaur would crash through the underbrush at any moment
Signage:
Depends on the National Park. Some have back ways in with no signage. Most have official entrances with arches or signs. Some have a lot roads, some barely have any.
There's a back way into Canyonlands, but you need 4 wheel drive to get there. All there is is a small sign saying "Now entering Canyonlands National Park" and you go over a cattle guard.
@@Wowee2012 To get into voyageurs you have to get in a boat to get to it. At least I think
Omg yes!!!! I'm soo happy you are reacting to the national parks ive been to quite a few multiple times even and they continue to amaze me time and time again.
Not only can you stay there, you can get a job and spend the whole season there.
Not too bad to be paid to essentially live in areas like that and take care of them
@@DerDoppelagent Contact the US Parks Department
I don’t know what all it would entail, but the thought of being paid to live and watch over a huge park with all the wildlife and scenery, sigh. A dream. Probably have to have some random degree or certification that I definitely wouldn’t have.
@@DerDoppelagent my brother has been a park ranger around the country for 5 years or so. He majored in hospitality management n parks and rec im pretty sure. Apply on usajobs . You gotta send out a shit load of apps tho
@@DerDoppelagent usajobs for actual park service, most of the hotels and shops are run by concession companies - Xanterra and Delaware North are the two big ones.
I worked for Delaware North in restaurants in Yellowstone, Sequoia, and Shenandoah for a few years and it was pretty fabulous. Honestly I might go back into it someday.
Also like half the staff working there were international J-1s, so not being from the US isn't an impossible obstacle
You'll need to look up "mesa", "butte", and "chimney", three most common terms describing the rock formations in the colorado plateau and elsewhere.
I drove through Arches National Park, stopped to hike a bit, then we continued when it got dark. A lightning storm rolled in and it was incredible, in the dark, then the landscape would suddenly illuminate with jagged lightning bolts in the sky, revealing the otherworldly shapes of the rock formations. It was one of the most breath taking things I’ve ever experienced.
Catherine LW That sounds like an incredible experience!
The best lightening shows are on top of canyons where you can see them rolling in from miles away.
I like that you are so down to earth. So many youtubers edit out the "rambling" moment, and those are the moments that I really enjoy.
I have been watching your channel for about a year now, and no worries man, the rambling and stumbling is part of the charm of your channel. You don't take yourself too seriously, or put on an act for the camera, no overediting, ect.
Just Luka being Luka haha.
I love it when this man gets confused, which happens multiple times in a video. It's what makes his channel so genuine for me.
Most, though not all, national parks, have places where a person can stay - lodges and/or camping grounds. And yeah, many parks do have bears and the like.
I stayed in Shenandoah and Mammoth cave
These national park videos were exactly what I needed today. Thank you, man!
You have to remember that when people compare something to Rhode Island it's not THAT big, Rhode Island is a fraction of the size of pretty much every other state.
The smallest!
But fascinating in its own right.
Luka, if you're visiting the U.S. and can only visit one coast, I'd recommend the west coast. Most notably, California, Washington state, and Oregon. These have the sorts of scenery you seem interested in (including Mt. Ranier and the giant redwoods), as well as vineyards in the wine country of Northern California, lakes and rivers, and everything else. Plus the cities of Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, and so on. Even just visiting the San Francisco Bay area is worth it. They all have decent transportation infrastructure, population diversity (visiting Chinatown in San Fran is a must), and more.
It’s a shame Mt St Helens misses this list because it’s a volcanic monument and not a national park. As an Oregonian, it is the first place I recommend to anyone visiting Washington. Is it so very unique.
You weren't hallucinating or anything: there's a list that claims Australia has over 600 national parks and claims the US has 61. Obviously, it's not very accurate.
Really, the US has 60+ that have National Park in their name, but 423 actual national parks. Australia has 65 total national parks, 6 with National Park in their title.
Indeed, the US also has National Forests and National Monuments.
And National Seashores...
@@Aggromerchant don’t forget about national seashores , national lakeshores , national preserves , national rivers , national senic trails , national historic trails ,national military park, national battlefield park, national battlefield site, national battlefield,national historical parks,national recreation areas ,National parkways , and most recently the first national park for the arts was made .
@@masonscaggs3554 especially here in South Carolina. The First shots of the civil war (Fort Sumter)
And state parks
Crater lake was a volcano. That “island” is a volcanic cone.
I live in California on the flanks of the Northern Sierra Nevada range. We have a “Mini Grand Canyon” of our own (Butte Creek Canyon) bears & mountain lions roam our streets as do deer & smaller creatures. I moved here from the Bay Area & I love it! One of my favorite canyons is the Feather River Canyon. It’s striking! Maybe you’ll Google?
Yosemite has camp grounds, tents, lodge, and an expensive hotel...lots of people go to National parks to camp, and you can buy annual passes to the parks. You are warned not to leave food around in Yosemite, and they love to show you videos of bears peeling back car doors like a tinned can...:).
I camped in Yosemite this past October... a bear walked right through our campsite one night while we were just sitting around.
I once accidentally left a camera on a picnic table overnight in Yosemite and found the next morning that animals had been playing with it while we slept. Somehow it wasn't damaged, but if it had been a larger animal, such as a bear, I might not have had a camera to take home. This was in a campground. You can get back country permits to hike and camp in areas with a lot fewer visitors and a much higher chance of encountering wildlife. It's wise to learn what to do to avoid or deal with dangerous situations before going into those areas.
Sequoia Nat'l Park was basically in my backyard growing up in California! It's fun to camp there, and although there are bears, I would be more wary of mountain lions- but sightings are rare. I've seen bears plenty of times going hiking at Sequoia, and as long as you keep your distance, you should be fine 🙂
Grew up in Exeter... always loved it
When they say, at Crater Lake, that snow covers the trails in winter, they mean it. Crater lake gets about 42 feet (almost 13 meters) of snow per year (except this year, darn it). Google some images of snow at Crater Lake, and you'll see some where cars are driving through plowed roads where the snow is quite a bit higher than the cars.
I went camping there one year in late June and we got one of the only campsites that wasn't still covered with 2 feet of snow. All that snowmelt made a crazy amount of mosquitos, though...
We went in June one year and there was so much snow still, of course it was the same year that snowmageddon happened in Oregon 😂
The island in Crater Lake National Park, Oregon is named Wizard Island.
Rocky Mountains in Colorado.
Some of these parks are large enough, you could hike a lifetime and still not have seen the entirety of a single park. They are truly amazing!
Narrator: "The USA is a really big place"
Luka: "You don't say" Gold quote right there
Dude, you need to visit the US! I've traveled a decent amount and nowhere in the world compares to the natural geological, botanical, etc. beauty of the western United States. The deserts of the southwest, the rain-forests of the NW, Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, the big 5 parks of Utah, Grand Teton..... there's nowhere with such an incredible range of different, magnificent natural wonders to be seen. The Grand Canyon alone is unrivaled when compared to the rest of the world. I really encourage you to visit the US and especially the Rocky Mountains and everything west of them (Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, CA, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, etc) because there's nothing else like it in the world!
I think Canada can compete easily, So can China and India(ignoring the pollution). Also, Alaska is hands down imo the most beautiful state!
@@johonanandrewgomes7593 Oh, yeah. We all have our distinctions. The human settlements in much of the US compliment the scenery, and, of course, detract.
@@Aggromerchant I think the main thing the US has as an advantage is, people know what the most beautifull national parks are, in Canada its the opposite. You have very popular over rated national parks. All people think of is Banff or Jasper. They forget about entire Provinces and Territories.
I mean some of the most beautiful national parks like Auyuittuq, Gros Morne, Nahanni, Nááts'ihch'oh, Quttinirpaaq, Torngat, Fundy, Forillon, etc... Most people have never heard of, when they are some of the most beautiful national parks on earth.
@@johonanandrewgomes7593 Quttinirpaaq is the northern most park yes?
@@aymarafan7669 yeah in Ellesmere island
Crater lake is one of the best places to ski during the winter. Always snow and most days are beautiful even when it's snowing. I grew up an hour from it and my family used to go there every winter and often in the summer to hike. So beautiful and never gets old.
Redwood National Park is where Return of the Jedi was filmed (for Endor).
I am thoroughly enjoying your videos, it's become my favorite thing to watch. I love how genuinely interested you are and you don't have set opinions before learning about something. I learn some stuff too. Even living in the US, there are tons of things we don't know about each state and the people in it. Also love the fact that you ask questions out loud and instantly go Google it. lol. I'm the same way, I Google everything lol
Better Title: British man learns that England is flat.
England's adorably hilly. And awesome. And, Lav, are you going to get your East Anglian butt over here, or what, pal?
@@Aggromerchant damn
@@Aggromerchant flat Englander
i assumed england was hilly rather than flat? the raiiin though mmmm i would love more rain, without moving to seattle.
@@Aggromerchant When it's safe to travel I hope he comes to visit us in the US.
Crater Lake was formed by a massive volcanic eruption about 8000 years ago. So those are mountains surrounding it those are the rocks and plates that were thrown up after the eruption around the crater. The island that you saw is the cone of another Volcano that has risen up through the water. But it is inactive at this point.
I meant to say those aren't mountains they are what was uplifted after the massive eruption.
Canyons are formed by rivers. Over time the moving water erodes the sandstone, working it's way deeper and deeper.
You were thinking of Niagara Falls on the US Canadian Border.
Can also be formed by glaciers! U shaped valleys are glaciers, V shaped are streams
There are areas in the Redwoods where the canopy is so dense that you could be walking through it while it's raining and never know (or feel it rather).
My mom grew up in Phoenix, AZ and they used to make Tumbleweed Snowmen at Christmas time.
Julie LL I’m in Tucson & you have to be careful on your bike. On windy day they’ll attack you🤣
We get them where I live in northern Utah and we're constantly pulling them from under our cars and grilles in the summer and fall. We have a highway where they get caught by the fence that runs alongside the road and it always looks like someone was using them to try and build the Great Wall of Tooele! LOL They make great kindling in the fire pit in my backyard tho!
I love your videos! Ur content, personality. The things you say and when you pause vids makes me wish I could talk thru my tv to have a conversation with you or laugh. I get some good laughs watching ur videos.
While America has its downfalls, gotta admit it has some incredible nature.
Too bad it's always trying to kill us though lol
@@emperorofrome692 dude WE’RE trying to kill us too half the time💀
We always discount the positive here, and obsess over the less than perfect. A mere concentration on the positive would solve a lot of the crap.
Lol pretty sure this country would be amazing if it weren't for all of the people 🤣🤣
This issue is one of the reasons why Americans tended to lag behind when it came to visas versus citizens of other counties rate of visa ownership.
Thank You for reminding me what a beautiful country I love in! I feel we sometimes take it for granted. 💜
Yes some Interstate highways go through National Parks
Which ones? I can't think of any, and I know National Parks WELL
@@mset510 route 66
Route 66 is not an interstate highway. It does go through multiple states but it's not an official interstate highway
@@mset510 Scroll the other comments because so far, I've seen 4-5 listed that are split by interstate highways.
I had no idea that the Undertaker was born in Death Valley til I watched this....LOLOL...That was priceless!! you really make me laugh, and goodness knows I need it these days...I watch you every day..Thank you so much for all the reaction vids, Thurston.
I would put our scenery against any other country’s. The US is one of a kind in terms of scenery and landscapes
The sheer variety of landscapes blows my mind. Mountains, beaches, deserts, swamps/wetlands, forests, etc.
We have the best scenery, no other country has the variety that the U.S has.
Scotland has better scenery
I would argue that China has the same variety of sceneries as the mainland US
@@andod881 And Russia. Russia is so huge and isolated that most people have never seen a lot of their scenery.
Also, just a bit of trivia about the Grand Teton… The name means “Big tit” and was so named by French fur trappers.
Most people have no idea that's what it means. :)
The lizard with the short legs looks like a "Skink". It's like a lizard half way evolved into a snake.
salamander
i think it's an alligator lizard but yeah it does look like a skink
I just found out that skinks are the most know lizard thing in Michigan ( where i live)
I nearly commented this, but sadly that lizard is not a skink
Could it be a terrestrial salamander?
While it's not technically a national park, Oregon and Washington also have the Colombia River Gorge national scenic area. As well, there are also State Parks, many of which are as good as National Parks.
Brother, I've been to most of these parks and there's no exaggeration happening here. They're really that incredible!
Quality of the channel is going up. You are about to blow up.
Don't forget City, state, and county parks as well.
Yes
👍
And in some places those are also pretty spectacular.
There is county parks? I hike a lot but I've never seen a county park but I've only lived in 4 states. One of which was only when I was young.
I love learning things about my own country here with you on your channel. Like when the Crater Lake came up, and you said "Oh, I remember this from another video," I was like ME TOO!! I was here during that video too 🤩🖐
Crater lake is in the Cascade mountains. So is Mount St Helens. They both had a similar event. They are volcanoes that blew up. Crater lake is a caldera. The hole that remained after the eruption and it filled with water, forming the lake. That is why it is so deep
Big trees are very common here in the Pacific Northwest too. We often have trees up to 7 feet wide at the base, and sometimes much, much more.
They are called old growth, and they are everywhere in pockets of old growth forest (sometimes in protected areas, like national parks or wilderness, and sometimes unprotected).
So the idea that we don't know what happened to the people who lived in Mesa Verde is a myth. Their decedents are still alive and we have archeological evidence to back up that their story is indeed true. They just left. Yup thats it! They packed up and left. Theres like 5-7 cities in Mesa Verde National park and about 10 small villages, you can only visit one. Their population became far to large for the local desert ecology to support and they ended up over hunting and over fishing. So rather than starving they packed up and left. The decedents of Mesa Verde are the Pueblo.
Thanks for the reminder.
Another great video! It's so cool that you actually listen to suggestions love your content
We have hundreds of parks, reserves, monuments, wildlife areas...many states have their own parks as well.
Very good point. Let's not forget the state parks. Nice one.
I live in Washington state and you can tell how clear a day it is by how much you can see Mt Rainier when you at driving around
There's usually a sign saying you are entering a National Park/Wildlife Reserve if there is no charge. Yellowstone has fees so you have to stop. Some are listed as a National Wildlife Reserve and those you don't pay to get in. Honestly, out west there are a lot of state parks that are just as beautiful and way less crowded.
I think all National Parks have fees, but National Forests, Preserves, etc. don’t. This is because Parks are better staffed, better maintained, and have more amenities, which in turn makes them more of a draw for more casual visitors, whereas Forests, Preserves, etc. are more rudimentary. I agree they can be just as beautiful and definitely far less crowded.
@@Rose-yt5hi You're probably right. You get full access on state parks if you want in Montana with a $5 or $10 fee on your vehicle registration.
The landmarks that you mentioned looked like canyons but stand solitary at Arches National Park are called Mesas (bigger ones) or Buttes (smaller ones). Usually are defined by steep cliffsides and a flat top like a table. They are super cool and awe inducing in person.
You trying to find the word or words is so relatable. If I’m writing something I can be so slick. Trying to just speak without a script, I forget every word or phrase ever.
7:35 It absolutely varies from park to park. Some parks have specific entry points (some of which charge fees), while others have public roads (even freeways) running through them.
Those big ol random spire formations that randomly come out of the ground are called "buttes"
Which is pronounced byoot, FYI.
I love your curiosity and you enthusiasm, especially when it’s some place or thing I’m familiar with. My husband and I camped with our four kids all over the country. We have camped in many of these parks and had some great experiences. One of my sons works for Amazon in Seattle. I love to visit, not just to see family, bit to see The Mountain. You can actually see about five volcanoes depending on which way you turn. My son has summitted Rainier twice. They start their final accent to the summit in the dark of night while the snow is in the best shape for climbing. The sun of day can affect the ice in dangerous ways, so they try to climb down the next day before conditions get bad. I swear you sought start collecting names of people who would put you up for a few days. You could make it across the country for cheap. I’ve got a son in Washington DC area, a daughter in Galway Ireland, the son in the Seattle area and a daughter in Studio City, California (las Angela’s) that daughter’s second job is a scuba Dive teacher and Dive Master. My husband live in southeastern Michigan, not too far from Lake Erie.
Mt. Rainier is covered by clouds for long periods of time. I remember when I lived in Tacoma, people who had lived there for years would stop me on the street and ask me if I had seen “the Mountain “ that day. It’s nearly due east of Tacoma and Seattle and the parks and the passes through the range, that runs north and south nearly through the center of Washington state, are breathtaking to say the least. It’s been over 40 years since I lived there but it still stands out in my mind as a monument to God’s magnificent creativity!
We still say the mountain is out today or comment on what style of hat she's wearing when there are just lenticular clouds over the peak. One of my favorite times to visit Rainier is in the middle of summer when there are clouds over the peak. It's a wonderful escape from the heat into a beautiful misty mountain world.
I visited Crater Lake and hiked down to the water. The weirdest thing is that the sharp angle of the surrounding slope continues in the water. You can't really wade. One step in and you're up to your shins, another and you'd be above your knees, a third up to your thighs. And it's COLD.
Same! 😊
A river creates a canyon through erosion.
One live Red Wood tree was so big I was able to drive my car through it. Really. It's a must see.
Yup, we did that when we were kids on a camping trip many years ago.
Someone may have already mentioned this.... The US/Canadian Border has "Niagra Falls".
All America lies at the end of the wilderness road, and our past is not a dead past, but still lives in us. Our forefathers had civilization inside themselves, the wild outside. We live in the civilization they created, but within us the wilderness still lingers. What they dreamed, we live, and what they lived, we dream.-T. K. Whipple, Study Out the Land
You should do like POV or like walking tours of big cities like LA or New York to kind of give you like a better perspective of the cities and it’ll be interesting to see.
Welcome to traveling the USA with Lav !
As kids my parents took us across the United States by car twice. Thanks for reminding me of many of these places I have seen before !
when driving through a national park, there's no gates, just official entrances. you can totally pass through a national park or forest just driving
I'll answer a few questions because I know a lot about America's National Parks. Canyons are created by wind and water over thousands of years which is why most canyons have rivers running through them. A lot of national parks have entrance stations where you pay a small fee to get in so usually you know if you're in a national park. Some national parks have employee housing for rangers and such, but I know there are some parks that have actual cities and towns within the park boundaries where people live. Most national parks have campgrounds and the more developed parks have lodges or hotels to stay in while you're in the park. There are wildlife safety rules for each park and most people don't experience animal attacks in developed areas. While Google said 423 national park sites, that includes national recreation areas, national monuments, national forests, national historic cites etc. But as for the number of actual National Parks themselves, last I checked there was 62
because of the sheer volume of the national park system, highways and roads often go through parts of them. that being said, you'll generally know when you're close to one due to the number of signs and "advertisements" for the parks. the parks generally aren't gated or anything; just open wilderness with places you can park and wonder off into the wild to camp or hunt for the weekend if you wanted to. also tons and tons of pre-set camping spots with permanent fire pits for safety where you can just setup a tent near your car but still be out in the woods with a nice, private campfire.
oh, and yeah..you're responsible for your own safety regarding wildlife (bears, mountain lions, wolfs, etc.) if you go out on your own into uncharted territory. there are park rangers but a charging bear isn't going to stop and wait a few hours while you try to actually call one, have them triangulate your location and make their way to you.
I definitely recommend visiting and camping in a national park if you can. Waking up to the views is amazing not to mention falling asleep under the stars can also be amazing especially in parks where you’re far away from any light pollution. I’ve camped at Devils Tower and the Badlands. The badlands offered programs to do star gazing at night and devils tower was where they had filmed close encounters of the third kind and did a nightly viewing of the movie with devils tower visible behind the screen. It was a really good time spent with friends in nature and I’m not an outdoorsy person! My parents took me to so many parks when I was a kid and I never appreciated them, now that I’m an adult I want to go back and revisit all of them to truly appreciate all of their beauty!
There will always be a chance you'll come across wild animals, often, dangerous animals. I live in Nevada and I camp at Tahoe and Great Basin a lot. There are designated campgrounds and a lot of these grounds have "bear boxes" and you place all your food inside before you sleep and it will keep the bears away or make it hard for them to access the food. All 10 years I've been in the outdoors, I've only come across snakes and heard a mountain lion nearby. Scary but I love being in nature once in a while 😉
I’ve been to Crater Lake, Redwood, Grand Teton and Sequoia. All such beautiful spots
Luka you know if you’re in a national park. They’re normally remote, with a few parking lots and trails. To get into one, you pay a fee at a tollbooth and drive in.
(There are some exceptions)
That’s not really correct. Look at a map of Yellowstone, for example. Or Death Valley. There are towns and highways and other roads within the boundaries of the national parks. The thing you’re talking about is a specific attraction within a national park, or smaller state parks.
@@Ojisan642 I’m aware there are some exceptions, but I’ve been to numerous national parks. And most of them, I had to pass a check point. Whether there was a fee or not changed depending on the park. Some parks, like Rock Mountain, are split up, and those smaller sections you don’t need to pass a checkpoint. But the main parts of most parks you need to pass a checkpoint, like Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Yosemite, etc.
I think everybody is thinking of the "touristy" areas of national parks. I live in PA and you can be driving down the highway and just see a sign telling you you're in a national forest.
@@ameliaweights that’s true, national forests do that, but I’ve been to like 9 national parks and that never happened to me, probably since we went to the “touristy” area like you said so we went through the main entrance almost every single time.
Crater Lake is actually a remnant of a volcano that completely destroyed itself thousands of years ago, it's what left of Mt. Mazama. Imagine the force of 10,000 nuclear bombs detonated all at once. The island in the middle called Wizard Island is the vent that formed after it left the massive crater in the ground. The surrounding areas are covered with lava beds and obsidian.
One of the national parks that a freeway,(I-90), drives through, is Roosevelt NP, in North Dakota. No gates, no fences.
Had a herd of bison walk right by my car there!
@@cehghanzi6477 they were, maybe 15 yards from the pavement when I drove through. So.... You win.
Mesa Verde was a lot of fun as a kid, climbing in and around those old ruins, camping there and going to the Ranger talks around a big campfire. Teton was fun too, we went horseback riding there. I share your wonder at the beauty of the US, and I love the UK and would love to visit/live there as well.
Luka: wondering how canyons are formed
Also Luka, with google open: doesn’t look up how canyons are formed
Hahaha I noticed that too 🤓
In Utah. There are giant brown signs that say you are entering a national park or forest. So yes you can see when you are driving right through park or forest territory.
The rock formations you asked about (shown at Arches NP) are called "buttes."
My brother has worked in Alaska, Colorado, Washington, and Wyoming for park ranger jobs n I've gone to visit him. They are all insane. My pfp is in Washington if I remember correctly lol. I miss them
You know when you’re entering a national park because they have big signs saying so. And you usually have to pay a fee to enter.
Those Martian towering rocks are called buttes. Every morning, five days a week, I drive through two national parks and they have signs letting you know you’re entering national park territory. This is another great video. Thanks.
It's not mountains around Crater Lake. It's a giant dormant volcano. Mt.Manzama, that has filled with water, since it's eruption. Video doesn't do it justice. The place is amazing.
22:42 Those are called “mesas”. They are large rock formations that end up being relatively flat at the top. They get their names because it’s the Spanish word for “table”
I live in Tucson and Saguaro is amazing. Its all I've ever known as a home and the trails are very fun here
I used to hike Mount Rag with my family every year in October. It was amazing every time. Especially the boulder that seems to defy gravity. It was chilly, and we'd always get warm apple cider afterwards.
You have to pay to enter the parks. It’s like a toll road you use to enter. So yeah you know when you’re in one but the whole thing isn’t fenced in or anything so the wildlife is free to roam.
Not always. Sometimes interstates go right through them if you just drive by
Nice reaction! You can purchase a yearly pass that can be used in all 423 of the national parks, recreation areas, monuments, seashores, etc. There are also "free days." I live in California, so I use this pass very often. In fact, I've been to places like Yosemite, Sequoia, Point Reyes, Muir Woods, Lassen Volcanic National Park and Redwoods National and State Parks more times than I can count!