National Recreation Areas - Multi-State

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (Montana, Wyoming)

5/31/1997 Drove to Lovell for the visitor center for the Bighorn Canyon NRA, then into the NRA [MT, WY]. Went up to the Devils Canyon overlook for nice views of the river and canyon, watching amazing little birds swooping and diving so fast we could hear their bodies flying through the air. This area is also the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, so we continued to drive and, sure enough, spotted five beautiful horses on a hillside. They were different colors - dark and light gray, black, dark gray and black, chestnut. Went back down to the lake and boat ramp for a look ...

The park sign

A view into the canyon

Wild horses

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (New Jersey, Pennsylvania)

7/5/1996 ... continued on in the Delaware Water Gap NRA [PA] to a picnic area in Toms Creek. After our usual lunch of bologna and cheese with Pringles, continued up through Milford and then the NY side of the Delaware, looking at canoers and rafters.

7/20/2009 Appalachian Trail

8/10/2015 continued north along the Delaware River, entered the Delaware Water Gap NRA [PA] and parked near the confluence of Raymondskill Creek and the Delaware River where we hoped to officially take credit for the NHL. Donned our hiking boots (a fortuitous last minute idea by Bill) and began bushwhacking along the north bank of the Raymondskill towards the Delaware River. After just a few dozen yards however we ran out of trail along the creek, attempted to cross to a clear spot along the other bank but after a good boot soaking, had to bail. Continued battling through the swampy woodlands, crossing muddy runoffs and pushing through swamp grass and bamboo-like growth. After a good twenty to thirty minutes finally reached our destination – a very scenic rocky beach at the confluence with a great view of both sides of the Delaware. Since this location was known to be a contributing archeological dig site (Manna Site) we thus so declared to have reached Minisink Archeological Site NHL – PA and took pictures of the far bank to take credit for the NJ side of the Archeological Site as well. Slogged back to the car (after going astray for a bit but ultimately picking up most of the trail we created going), photographed a nearby historic marker noting the Wyoming-Minisink Indian Trail ...

Our destination downstream

The PA side ...

... and NJ

Back from the hike

Indian Trail signage

Gateway National Recreation Area (New Jersey, New York)

3/28/1997 Mom and Dad, Maur and I went to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge unit of Gateway NRA [NY]. Continued to the Fort Tilden unit VC.

Maureen on the Refuge trail

Me and the Bay

A park sign

4/26/2008 Quick birthday celebration trip to the Gateway NRA. Left home at 1:30pm, Terry drove Mom, Ken, Kim and I to Canarsie Pier (part of the Jamaica Bay Unit of the Gateway NRA [NY]). Not very impressive and weather was windy and cool, but did the requisite picture op. Drove to Floyd Bennett Field (also a part of the Jamaica Bay Unit) - looked around (fairly lame) visitors center in the old control tower, then drove to a huge hanger where volunteers were restoring about a dozen various aircraft. Pretty cool, especially being able to walk up and touch the aircraft.

A park sign

The family on the pier

Another park sign

Control Tower VC

Restoration hanger ...

... and me in one of the aircraft

4/25/2014 proceeded to the Sandy Hook peninsula. First stop, ... Fort Hancock and Sandy Hook Proving Ground Historic District – The 1895 coastal artillery base defended the Atlantic coast and the entrance to New York Harbor, and between 1874 and 1919, was operated in conjunction with the US Army's Sandy Hook Proving Ground. It is also part of the Gateway NRA, Sandy Hook unit [NJ]. We parked near the main parade ground and walked around, especially enjoying the eighteen Georgian Revival-style homes for officers and their families. We moved the car just a short way to ... Sandy Hook Light NHL – Designed and built in 1764, it was built to aid mariners entering the southern end of the New York Harbor and is the oldest working lighthouse in the country. Interestingly, it originally stood only 500 feet from the tip of Sandy Hook; however, today, due to growth caused by littoral drift, it is almost one and a half miles inland from the tip. We checked out the outside, and stopped in the temporary NPS VC inside, then walked over to the nearby Mortar Battery. This was one of the many weapon emplacements around the Fort, and it was cool walking in the open tunnels where the guns used to be. The whole idea was that all the weapons were as concealed as possible from the sea. Next, we drove up to the north end and parked near Nine Gun Battery to climb an observation tower. From here we had a nice view of the Verrazano, lower Manhattan and Coney Island.

The park sign

Ken and me at Fort Hancock

Sandy Hook Light

Entering the Mortar Battery

A look back at the lighthouse

Another view of the Fort housing area

NYC way off in the distance

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Arizona, Utah)

5/24/1999 Drove across the river (Colorado) to Wahweap Marina and checked in. Took a medium-sized boat (~65 people) on a beautiful 2 hour cruise up Lake Powell (Glen Canyon NRA [UT]). Passed great red rock cliffs, houseboats, etc. Destination – Rainbow Bridge NM. Cruised through a tall, narrow canyon and docked, then walked a short ways to the huge arch. This area can only be accessed by boat or hiking in. Also enjoyed the cruise back (but getting hungry!)

The park sign

Cool formations

A look back from the boat

Me and the arch

Walkway to the arch

The arch

Lake Mead National Recreation Area (Arizona, Nevada)

5/25/1999 Drove down towards Las Vegas, then took a detour through the Lake Mead NRA [NV]. Stopped at the lake (and stepped in some serious mud, which we washed off in the lake).

The park sign

Yuck!

A look at the lake