National Parks/Monuments

Zabriskie Point

Posted on by AdventureDavid

DVpainted1

Zabriskie Point is one of Death Valley’s most popular viewpoints, especially at sunrise and sunset.  Located east of Furnace Creek on Hwy 190, it was named for Christian Brevoort Zabriskie, VP and general manager of the Pacific Coast Borax Company in the early 1900’s when the company’s twenty-mule teams were used to haul borax from its mines in Death Valley.   This location was used to represent the surface of Mars in the film Robinson Crusoe on Mars and was also featured in the 1970 film Zabriskie Point.

Links:   NPS      previous related post

Badwater Basin

Posted on by AdventureDavid

DVfloor

Badwater Basin is a closed drainage basin in Death Valley National Park that is the lowest point in North America, with an elevation of 282 feet below sea level.  The basin is about 7.5 miles long and 5 miles wide.  Telescope Peak, the highest point within Death Valley NP at 11,049 feet, is seen in the distance.

Links:     Previous related post

 

Inspiration Point

Posted on by AdventureDavid

Joshua4

Inspiration Point in Joshua Tree National Park is reached via a 0.3 mile loop trail and features great desert and mountain views and beautiful wild flowers when in season.

Links:   Joshua Tree NP         previous related post

Alcatraz Island

Posted on by AdventureDavid

alcatraz

Although most famous as a federal prison (from 1934-1963), Alcatraz Island has also served as a Civil War fortress, an active bird sanctuary, the first lighthouse on the West Coast, and the birthplace of the Native American Red Power movement which occupied the island for 19 months beginning in November 1969.  It is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Links:     Golden Gate NRS

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo

Posted on by AdventureDavid

Cabrillo1

This beautiful statue and coastal view is in Cabrillo National Monument near where Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo landed in 1542 as the first European to set foot on the west coast of the United States.

link to more info

San Diego Skyline from Point Loma

Posted on by AdventureDavid

DowntownSD

Point Loma/Cabrillo National Monument offers some great views of downtown San Diego as you look back across San Diego Bay, but the pilots of these two sailboats have an even better view.

Links:    Previous related post          Previous related post

 

Yosemite Tunnel View

Posted on by AdventureDavid

Yo1

Tunnel View is a scenic overlook on State Route 41 in Yosemite National Park that offers that iconic, expansive view of Yosemite Valley including El Capitan, Half Dome, and  Bridalveil Fall.

Links:    Yosemite Viewpoints

Dante’s View

Posted on by AdventureDavid

DanteView

Dante’s View is a scenic viewpoint overlooking Death Valley from an altitude of 5,476 feet, located on the north side of Coffin Peak and is considered one of the best photographic spots in Death Valley National Park.

Link to more info

Kelso Depot

Posted on by AdventureDavid

K1

The Kelso Depot was constructed in the Spanish Colonial Revival architectural style in 1923 by the Union Pacific railroad and served as a depot until 1962.  The restaurant and boarding rooms remained open until 1985 when the depot was closed.  It fell into disrepair and was scheduled for demolition but a group of local citizens was able to forestall its removal.  Ownership was transferred to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in 1992.  With the creation of the Mojave Preserve in 1994, the Depot became part of the National Park Service (NPS).  Restoration began in 2002 and the landmark was reopened in 2005 as the visitor center for the Mojave Preserve.

Link to more information

Arch Rock

Posted on by AdventureDavid

Joshuaarch

Arch Rock is a 25-foot natural arch located in Joshua Tree National Park.  It is accessed from the Arch Rock Nature Trail (less than 1/2 mile loop) which begins by campsite #9 in White Tank Campground off the Pinto Basin Road.  You’ll see many other examples of sculpted granite along the way.

Links:  Joshua Tree Nature Trails