One Moment In Time Photography's Top 5 Favorite National Parks

#5 - Redwood National Park

Redwood National Park was established in 1968 and is located in Northern California along the Oregon border. Home of the tallest trees and magical forest, this national park is 139,000 acres. Trails will lead you through old rugged forest filled with groves of redwood trees and a forest floor filled with of ferns. Walk along the beautiful turquoise waters of the Smith River. The park also includes the coastline of the Pacific Ocean at Crescent City, California.

The main attraction to Redwood National Park is the most massive tree species on Earth.

Fun facts about Redwood Trees:

Tallest known redwood tree is 379 feet tall
Redwood trees can be up to 16-20 feet in diameter
Average life of a redwood tree is 500-700 years

The Redwood National Park hits our top 5 National Park list because of the photo ops. The oceanic temperate rainforest climate often brings in fog which makes the sun rays beam through the trees. The crystal clear turquoise waters of the Smith Rivers contrasted against the rocks offers unique photos. There is an overwhelming sense of peace walking through these forests, hearing nothing more than the song of nature. Hear the trickles of the streams meandering through the woods. Looking up at a tree that is over 300 feet tall, you feel pretty insignificant. You then realize there is a greater power that created such a beautiful, magical place. All you want to do is take photos to capture the surreal and magical beauty.

You can check out some of our recent photos in our Redwood Gallery

#4 - Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Great Smoky Mountain National Park was established in 1926 and is located along the North Carolina and Tennessee borders. This national park is over 500,000 acres, world renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life mixed with this historic mountain life and scenic overviews. Trails will lead you through Southern Appalachian mountains and along streams that lead to rushing waterfalls. Adventure through an area full of historic homesteads planted among the forest.

Fun facts about the Great Smoky Mountains:

Over 2,000 miles of streams and rivers that create over 100 waterfalls to discover in the park.
A third of the trees in the park are over 100 years old.
This is America's most visited national park.

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park hits our top 5 National Park list because of the wildlife, waterfalls, seasons and history. The scenic overlooks puts you above the forests that blanket the earth in an array of fall colors. Miles of trails bring adventures along streams and amongst the wildlife. Don't forget to look up! Black bears like to sleep in trees. The park is dispersed with historic churches, cemeteries, homesteads and wildlife. Beautiful streams lead through a forest, sprinkled with old historic buildings. The Great Smoky Mountains open up to the Blue Ridge Parkway which leads to miles and days of beautiful back country road adventures.

You can view some of our Great Smoky Mountain National Park photos in our Landscape Gallery

#3 - Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park was established in 1827 and is located in corners of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. This national park is over 2.2 million acres with opportunities to view wildlife and experience geologic wonders. Yellowstone has so much to offer between the beautiful winding rivers to the active geysers. Adventure through a whole ecosystem full of lakes, winding rivers, waterfalls, and forests to hot springs, active geysers, canyons and vast valleys. Yellowstone has it all.

Fun facts about Yellowstone National Park:

Yellowstone was the first National Park in the US.
Home to the largest concentration of mammals with 67 different species that can be found in the park.
The park gets over 4 million visitors a year.

Yellowstone National Park hits our top 5 National Park list because of the wildlife and vast ecosystem. This large park offers so many opportunities for wildlife such as bears, buffalo, elk, deer, fox, coyote, wolf, bald eagles and more. Lamar Valley is our favorite area for the beautiful valley and greatest opportunities for wildlife viewing. This park offers such a variety of beauty and adventures, it keeps you driving to see what you will find around the next corner.

You can view some of our Yellowstone National Park photos in our Yellowstone and Grand Teton Gallery

#2 - Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park was established in 1929 and is located in Wyoming. This national park is about 310,000 acres with views of the majestic peaks of the Teton Range. Grand Teton National includes beautiful lakes, rivers and forest land to offer homes to a variety of wildlife. The outdoor recreation attracts visitors all year round. The serenity of the mountains generates magic in your soul that keeps you coming back year after year.

Fun facts about Grand Teton National Park:

The Teton range consists of eight peaks towering above 12,000 feet with the highest peak, the Grand Teton, sitting 13,770.
Home to the famous Grizzly Bear #399.
Grand Teton National Park borders Yellowstone National Park.

Grand Teton National Park hits our top 5 National Park in a very close runner up. The pristine beauty of the mountains and this area stole our hearts years and years ago. For a long time, Grand Teton was our number one favorite National Park. However, in recent years, the opportunity for wildlife viewing has diminished so it has now become our second most favorite park. Although it is harder than it used to be to view wildlife, we still continue to have amazing wildlife encounters in this park. The aspen trees changing colors in the fall, miles of hiking and photo opportunities will keep us returning. Some of our favorite spots are Moose/Wilson road, Schwabacher Landing and Oxbow Bend. When someone says "mountains", the Tetons are what we see. The fresh mountain air mixed with beauty beyond imagination fuels our souls.

You can view some of our Grand Teton National Park photos in our Grand Teton and Yellowstone Gallery

#1 - Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park was established in 1915 and is located in Colorado. This national park is over 265,000 acres with views of the spectacular Colorado Rocky mountain range. Rocky Mountain National park makes you feel like you are on top of the world with the spectacular scenery. Beautiful valleys sitting between the mountain tops offer wildlife viewing, hiking and fly fishing. Miles of hiking trails will lead you to beautiful snow melt fed lakes. Home to the Rocky Mountain elk, will entertain you for hours during the fall rut when the elk bugle and fight for the lady elk. The aspen trees will whisper sweet sounds and create a beautiful canvas no matter what season.

Fun facts about Rocky Mountain National Park:

One of the highest national parks with the tallest mountain top reaching 14,259 ft.
Estes Park, quaint mountain town, sits at the base of the east side of the park where you can find elk roaming downtown among the golf courses and stores.
Shad grew up about 40 minutes from the park.

Rocky Mountain National Park is our #1 favorite National Park. Early summer brings wildlife babies and snowcapped mountains. Fall brings the elk rut. Moraine Valley is the perfect location to sit and listen to the bugles echo across the valley floor while we watch the incredible behavior of the elk running their herds. We are up before the sun to make our way to Sprague Lake in hopes to catch moose (or elk) in the lake as the alpenglow hits the mountain tops. A walk around the lake will bring amazing reflections and the chance to start a conversation with people from all over the world. A slow meander up Fall River Road takes us through the aspen trees and up the mountain side as we make our way across the Continental Divide to the west side of the park. The river curves its way through the valley as the moose, elk and deer appear on the west side. Making our way back to the east side of the park, we brave the cold temps to stop and watch the Pika's on top of Trail Ridge road, hoping we might see a herd of big horn sheep. We make our way to Sheep Lake to watch for moose in the pond, elk in the fields or big horn sheep on the rocky hill side. Finish our day in Estes Park for a meal, shopping and photo ops of hummingbirds.

Rocky Mountain National Park ignites a fire in our soul. We have experienced some of our most incredible, intimate wildlife encounters in this park. Memories of sharing the special landscape with our parents, family, friends, and grandkids etches treasured memories in our hearts. The beauty we have experienced in this national park has touched our souls in a way that words cannot describe.

Make plans to visit this amazing piece of earth...you don't want to miss it.

If you are visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, be sure and connect with us. We are happy to share our knowledge and experience with you.