Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1096066
AACREDITUNION.ORG | 23 cave trips runs the gamut from the family-friendly Frozen Niagara Tour (a quarter-mile stroll through a wonderland of impossible limestone formations) to the hardcore Wild Cave Tour (an intense six-hour underground odyssey full of free-climbs and suffi ciently tight belly-wriggles). nps.gov/maca COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT COLORADO: Roll through red rock country! Hiding across a state line from bigger names like Utah's Moab, Arches and Canyonlands, Colorado National Monument's signature scenic road — Rim Rock Drive — features one of the most mesmerizing rolls through red rock country that too many people beelining to other parks miss. The route winds through 23 miles of juniper-studded canyon adorned with surreal natural sculptures like the park's 450-foot Independence Monument. In a car, it's a swift checklist-worthy detour off Interstate 70 with bighorn sheep and golden eagle sightings. On a road bike, it's been called "about as close to fl ying as you can get without acquiring a pair of wings" on some of the best quad- and nerve-testing cycling roads on park service land. nps.gov/colm CAMPING PREP PRIMER Here are a few savvy camping laws to bear in mind when gearing up for your next adventure in the parks. Get booked: Even at the lesser-known parks, campsites can fi ll up during high season or close in low season, and backcountry permits may be limited. Once your dates are pegged and trip sketched out, log on to ReserveAmerica.com to book your site and call the park directly for specifi c information to avoid surprises at the gate. Go light: Thinking less-is-more when loading up your backpack, car trunk, truck bed or RV will help you save space and weed out all the dead-weight, oxygen- depriving nonessentials. Garb in layers: Park conditions can be frigid, sweltering, wet, windy and just right — all on the same day. Your armor: A light but sturdy wardrobe of non-cotton, moisture-wicking layers that will keep you warm, cool and dry the moment the weather turns. Give yourself (more than) enough time: Traveling, setting up camp and breaking down takes time and energy, especially when doing it repeatedly. Several days in a single spectacular park is just way more fun and fulfi lling than cramming a type-A checklist of multiple parks into the same window. If it means rushing, save Bryce Canyon for next time. K E N T U C K Y C O L O R A D O A L A S K A AACREDITUNION.ORG | 23