Day Hiking Trails: Places to hike: National Natural Landmarks

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Places to hike: National Natural Landmarks

Burney Falls National Natural Landmark, California. Photo courtesy of NPS

Nearly 600 locations across the country have been named landmarks for the geological and ecological uniqueness in a National Park Service program. They range from volcanic calderas to caves. Though lacking the amenities of a national park, many of these areas are magnificent sites that few people visit or even know about. Hiking trails run through many of them. They’re also all free.

More great places to day hike with kids:
g Gem and fossil trails
g BLM land

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

Meet the Author

My name is Rob Bignell. I'm a long-time hiker, journalist and editor. My son Kieran and I have been hiking together for the past decade. Before Kieran, I taught middle school students in New Mexico and Wisconsin, served as an infantryman in the Army National Guard, and worked in newspapers. I've won several journalism awards, from editorial writing to sports reporting. In 2001, The Prescott Journal, which I served as managing editor of, was named Wisconsin’s Weekly Newspaper of the Year. Currently I own and operate an online editing business, Inventing Reality Editing Service. After spending several years in Southern California, my son and I now live in Wisconsin on the scenic Red Cedar River.