Are You a National Parks Wiz?

It's been called 500,000 acres of paradise. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the nation's busiest national park. This year the park celebrated its 75th anniversary. You can tour the park by car, bike, or on foot across 800 miles of stunning trails. The park is also a fishing haven. Anglers can test their skills against wily brook, brown, and rainbow trout on over 700 miles of fishable streams. Nearly 80 historic structures, including homes, barns, churches, schools, and grist mills, have been preserved in the park. Highlights include an amazing variety of wild flowers. In fact, the park has been called the wildflower park by many a visitor. You'll also find elk, black bears, and a slew of white tailed deer amongst a host of other species. Then, of course, there are those magnificent mountain views.

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The U.S. has the largest national park system in the world thanks, in large part, to an early eco-activist named Theodore Roosevelt. President Roosevelt was an avid conservationist. He signed legislation establishing five national parks between 1901 and 1909, including Crater Lake, Ore., Wind Cave, S.D., Sully's Hill, N.D. (later redesignated a game preserve), Mesa Verde, Colo., and Platt, Okla. (now part of Chickasaw National Recreation Area).

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Dry Tortugas National Park encompasses a cluster of seven remote islands, reefs, and shoals about 70 miles off the western coast of Key West. The islands protect the southwest tip of the world's third largest barrier reef system. Start your adventure with a tour of historic Fort Jefferson on Garden key, on which construction began in 1846 though it was never completed. The park is a great place for bird watching, snorkeling, and beautiful sunsets.

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Glacier National Park in West Glacier, Mont., borders Canada and is home to one of the most spectacular drives in the United States. Going-to-the-Sun Road runs straight up the side of glacier laden cliffs and through immaculate mountain passes. Stay in an historic chalet and take a short hike to one of the mirrored lakes hidden in the pristine forests.

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Big Bend National Park is both the largest and least visited national park. At nearly 800,000 acres, this gem in the southwest corner of Texas is truly one of the nation's best kept secrets. A visitor can see this park's beauty on over 200 miles of hiking trails through the Chihuahuan Desert or by rafting the Rio Grande, which tends to be more of a slow float than a white water adventure.

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These are just several reasons why the National Parks Conservation Association wants to amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. You can help by writing your Member of Congress to tell them that you support the bill. You can also support our national park system by volunteering. National Parks rely on a great deal of volunteer help. In 2005, 5.2 million man-hours were donated to the national parks.

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In 2008, the Bureau of Land Management allowed drilling for oil and natural gas on tens of thousands of acres in or near the borders of three national parks in eastern Utah, including Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. And they did this without even notifying the National Forestry Service.

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A standard annual pass is good for admission at each national park for up to four adult visitors for a year from the purchase date. It is a steal at only $80. If you're over 62, the same pass only costs $10. You could spend years just traveling through the park system, so it's a great time to get started.

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If your firewood brings in pests it could harm the park's eco-system. If you're planning on building camp fires for warmth, enjoyment, or cooking, be smart about it. Find out if there are any restrictions for the time of year or dryness in the region. Remember, many areas don't permit burning during droughts. Also, avoid building fires on a windy day; the breeze can transport smouldering ashes and start them burning elsewhere. If you know it's safe to build a fire, make sure you have a fire pit dug out and ringed with stones. Also ensure that you have a bucket of water handy just in case. Do not leave the fire until it has been properly extinguished. And never go to sleep until it is completely out.

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