RV Your Way Through National Parks

Which national park is on your bucket list? When nature is calling, you have plenty of places to choose from if your heart is set on the American West and Southwest.

Let's start with Rocky Mountain NP in northern Colorado. An expanse of 415 square miles features a wonderland of forests, tundra and mountains, including the "fourteener," Longs Peak. On Trail Ridge Road, you can't help but get a natural Rocky Mountain high driving along the 12,000-foot roadway that cuts through the park's spectacular scenery. But step out of your RV - this Alpine playground offers hundreds of miles of hiking trails to view wild things like animals and flowers.

Keep moving west to experience Wyoming's Yellowstone NP, the oldest designated national park in the United States. President Ulysses S. Grant signed it into effect in 1872. Abundant eye candy is yours for the taking, thanks to tectonic activity and glaciers that created mountains, valleys and those famous geysers. More than 300 of them dot the park, some erupting 100 feet or more, including Old Faithful, which spouts about every 90 minutes. Five dozen animal species roam the locale, and it's not uncommon to see a bear and her cubs or buffalo crossing the roads.

Heading south of this geological wonderland, you can explore a number of national parks in Utah. Plan on staying awhile if you want to catch all of them. At Zion NP, giant sandstone cliffs tower above narrow canyons, home to a multitude of wildlife. The Human History Museum within the park showcases early Native American occupation and historic pioneer settlements.

Hoodoos (that's really what they're called), or spire-shaped rock formations, reach to the sky at Bryce Canyon NP. A visit to the amphitheater reveals the area's geologic history that created a colorful sequence of rocks, and the Paunsaugunt Plateau is carpeted with forests and meadows. Lots of wildlife here, too.

Additional national parks in Utah offer enchanting scenery and fascinating geological features, including Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Arches.

Okay, let's drop even further south for a spectacle that's on everyone's bucket list - Grand Canyon National Park. Known for its size, depth and exposed layers of Precambrian rock, the canyon was created by the Colorado River millions of years ago. The result? A mile-deep chasm that attracts tourists from around the globe. Besides the blinding beauty, there is plenty to do here, too. Hike, raft and bicycle your way through one of the Wonders of World. If you want to experience it from the saddle, opt for a mule trip into the canyon. Always popular, mule excursions sell out months in advance. You'll want to plan accordingly.