RV Lifestyle Zion National Park in Utah Zion is a park that you have to see to believe. It is a true desert oasis and an American icon. The surrounding area looks desolate, dry and barren but, when you drive into Zion Canyon, a massive formation − miles wide, with sheer rock walls that rise hundreds of metres − awaits you. There is something so incredible about seeing the oranges and yellows of sandstone mixed with the greens of the Virgin River and the vegetation that grows so easily there. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona The remote Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a gem tucked away in southern Arizona’s vast Sonoran Desert. Thanks to its unique crossroads locale, the monument is home to a wide range of specialized plants and animals, including its namesake. This stretch of desert marks the northern range of the organ pipe cactus, a rare species in the U.S. With its multiple stems, the cactus resembles an old-fashioned pipe organ. There are 28 different species of cacti in the park, ranging from the giant saguaro to the miniature pincushion. Congaree National Park in South Carolina Preserving the largest tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the U.S., Congaree National Park is an International Biosphere Reserve. Visitors can explore the natural wonderland by canoe, kayak, or on hiking trails and the Boardwalk Loop Trail. The park is also one of the most diverse in the country − with dense forests giving way to massive expanses of swampland. The forests are some of the biggest and oldest old-growth in America and offer great opportunities for recreation of all kinds. Big Bend National Park in Texas Big Bend National Park is home to more than 1,200 species of plants, more than 450 species of birds, 75 species of mammals and 56 species of reptiles. Big Bend is named after a stretch of 180 or so kilometres of the Rio Grande, one part of which forms a large bend in the river at the Texas-Mexico border. More than 240 kilometres of trails give visitors the opportunity to venture out on a day hike on your own, or participate in a ranger-led programwith a ranger as your guide, teaching you about the science, history, nature and culture of Big Bend National Park. There is a little bit of everything for those visiting this unique part of the world. CSANews | WINTER 2019 | 25
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