Summer Vacations : A Guide to Our Grand National Parks, Forests

Since Yellowstone National Park opened in 1872, the national park system has grown to a collection of scenic and historic areas that includes about 50 national parks and 156 national forests.

The parks and forests peppered across the nation make excellent vacation destinations.

Many of the parks have accommodations as varied as the parks themselves, from modest campsites to handsome hotels and lodges. Contact the individual parks for more information on peak times to visit, the need for reservations, and costs.

Addresses and phone numbers of some of the U.S. national parks and forests are as follows:

ALASKA

Denali National Park and Preserve: Denali National Park, P.O. Box 9, McKinley Park 99755; (907) 683-2294.

Glacier Bay National Park: Superintendent, Glacier Bay National Park, P.O. Box 140, Gustavus 99826; (907) 697-2231.

Katmai National Park: Superintendent, Katmai National Park, P.O. Box 7, King Salmon 99613; (907) 246-3305.

Lake Clark National Park: Superintendent, Lake Clark National Park, 222 West 7th Ave., No. 61, Anchorage 99513-7539; (907) 271-3751.

ARIZONA

Grand Canyon National Park: Superintendent, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon National Park 86023; (602) 638-7770.

CALIFORNIA

Inyo National Forest: Inyo National Forest, P.O. Box 148, Mammoth Lakes 93546; (619) 934-2505.

Lassen Volcanic National Park: Lassen Volcanic National Park, P.O. Box 100, Mineral 96063; (916) 595-4444.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, Three Rivers 93271; (209) 565-3341.

Tahoe National Forest: Tahoe National Forest, Highway 49 and Coyote Street, Nevada City 95959; (916) 265-4531.

Yosemite National Park: National Park Service, P.O. Box 577, Yosemite 95389; (209) 372-0264.

COLORADO

Mesa Verde National Park: Superintendent, Mesa Verde National Park 81330; (303) 529-4465.

FLORIDA

Everglades National Park: Everglades National Park, P.O. Box 279, Homestead 33030; (305) 247-6211.

GEORGIA

Chattahoochee/Oconee National Forest: Chattahoochee/Oconee National Forest, 508 Oak St., Gainesville 30501; (404) 536-0541.

HAWAII

Haleakala National Park: Haleakala National Park, P.O. Box 369, Makawao, Maui 96768; (808) 572-9306.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Superintendent, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, P.O. Box 52, Hawaii 96718; (808) 967-7311.

KENTUCKY

Mammoth Cave National Park: Superintendent, Mammoth Cave National Park, Mammoth Cave 42259; (502) 758-2251.

MICHIGAN

Isle Royale National Park: Isle Royale National Park, 87 N. Ripley St., Houghton 49931; (906) 482-0984.

MINNESOTA

Superior National Forest: 515 West 1st St., Duluth 55801; (218) 720-5324.

MONTANA

Glacier National Park: Glacier National Park, West Glacier 59936; (406) 888-5441.

Kootenai National Forest: Supervisor, Kootenai National Forest, 506 U.S. Highway 2 West, Libby 59923; (406) 293-6211.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

White Mountain National Forest: Supervisor, White Mountain National Forest, P.O. Box 638, Laconia 03247; (603) 524-6450.

NORTH CAROLINA

Nantahala National Forest: U.S. Forest Service, P.O. Box 2750, Asheville 28802; (704) 257-4200.

Pisgah National Forest: 1001 Pisgah Highway, Pisgah Forest 28768; (704) 877-3350.

OREGON

Crater Lake National Park: Superintendent, Crater Lake National Park, P.O. Box 7, Crater Lake 97604; (503) 594-2211.

Mount Hood National Forest: 2955 N.W. Division, Gresham 97030; (503) 666-0700.

Umpqua National Forest: P.O. Box 1008, Roseburg 97470; (503) 672-6601.

PENNSYLVANIA

Allegheny National Forest: Allegheny National Forest, P.O. Box 847, Warren 16365; (814) 723-5150.

SOUTH DAKOTA

Badlands National Park: Badlands National Park, P.O. Box 6, Interior 57750; (605) 433-5361.

TENNESSEE

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg 37738; (615) 436-5615.

TEXAS

Big Bend National Park: Superintendent, Big Bend National Park 79834; (915) 477-2251.

UTAH

Bryce Canyon National Park: Superintendent, Bryce Canyon National Park, Bryce Canyon 84717; (801) 834-5322.

Zion National Park: Zion National Park, Springdale 84767; (801) 772-3256.

VIRGINIA

Jefferson National Forest: Caller Service 2900, Roanoke 24001; (703) 982-6273.

Shenandoah National Park: Shenandoah National Park, Route 4, P.O. Box 348, Luray 22835; (703) 999-2266.

WASHINGTON

Mt. Rainier National Park: Superintendent, Mount Rainier National Park, Tahoma Woods, Star Route, Ashford 98304; (206) 569-2211.

North Cascades National Park: Superintendent, North Cascades National Park, 2105 Highway 20, Sedro-Woolley 98284; (206) 873-4590.

Olympic National Park: Visitor Center, Olympic National Park, 600 E. Park Ave., Port Angeles 98362; (206) 452-4501.

WISCONSIN

Nicolet National Forest: Nicolet National Forest, 68 S. Stevens, Rhinelander 54501; (715) 362-3415.

WYOMING

Grand Teton National Park: Superintendent, Grand Teton National Park, Drawer 170, Moose 83012; (307) 733-2880.

Medicine Bow National Forest: Supervisor, Medicine Bow National Forest, 605 Skyline Drive, Laramie 82070; (307) 745-8971.

Shoshone National Forest: Shoshone National Forest, P.O. Box 2140, Cody 82414; (307) 527-6241.

Yellowstone National Park: Public Affairs Office, Yellowstone National Park, P.O. Box 168, 82190; (307) 344-7381.