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National Treasures

Sign for Firehole Canyon Recreation Complex in the foreground, with boat launch and camping details. Expansive desert landscape and flat-topped mesas under a clear blue sky stretch across Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. Sparse vegetation and a paved road lead into the area.
Firehole Canyon in Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
Having camped at the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area a few years ago, I wanted to return and check out one of the more isolated areas, and Firehole Canyon was perfect.
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A black Rubicon Jeep is parked on a dirt road, towing a small gray teardrop camper trailer. Nestled within the City of Rocks, this mountainous, wooded area under a blue sky and scattered clouds offers a serene escape. Bushes and rugged terrain frame this peaceful outdoor scene, perfect for climbing enthusiasts.
Climbing in the City of Rocks National Reserve
There's a fantastic little bit of BLM land just outside of the City of Rocks that offers free camping. There is easy access into the city and, of course, into Almo for a beer and a burger.
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A black Jeep with a roof rack tows a teardrop-shaped camper on a grassy clearing along Franklin Basin Road. Surrounded by leafless trees, in the backdrop of Cache National Forest, tall evergreens and snow-capped mountains rise under the clear blue sky, their shadows stretching across the ground.
Franklin Basin Road – Cache National Forest
Needing someplace for one night between the Sand Wash BLM land and the City of Rocks, I elected to spend a night in the forest, happy that the forest roads were finally melting.
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A man wearing a blue cap and glasses stands in front of a parked RV nestled in the scenic Modoc National Forest. With tall trees and clear skies overhead, the dirt path along Tickner Road is framed by scattered greenery, while part of a bicycle leans against the RV.
Tickner Road in the Modoc National Forest
I was very excited to get out of Nevada and roll into California. It had been too long since I'd seen pine trees and felt the forest, so I headed down a forest road and found a campsite.
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A small camper trailer with two bikes mounted on top is parked in a rocky desert area next to a black SUV under a blue sky with scattered clouds. Desert shrubs and large tan boulders are visible in the foreground and background.
Mojave National Preserve
A decision late in the evening before puts me on the road to California.
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A compact teardrop trailer, with a bicycle mounted on its roof, is parked on the rocky terrain of the Sonoran Desert. The trailer's rear hatch is open, revealing a small kitchen area. As warmth radiates from the pink and orange sky, dark clouds loom over a distant mountain range like a national monument.
The Warmth of the Sonoran Desert National Monument
As has been the case for much of this adventure, I hadn't planned on being to the Sonoran Desert National Monument for a few weeks, but crappy weather pushed me Westward.
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Amidst rugged mountainous terrain lies the ruins of Van Patten's Mountain Camp. Scattered rocks and dry grass surround the crumbling walls. Sunlight casts a warm glow on the rocky cliffs, while shadows accentuate the jagged landscape.
Dripping Springs, Boyd Sanitarium, Van Patten’s Mountain Camp
Explore the ruins of Van Patten’s Mountain Camp and Boyd Sanitarium at Dripping Springs in New Mexico’s Organ Mountains—rich in history, desert beauty, and healing lore.
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The image portrays the entrance to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. A stone sign engraved with "Carlsbad Caverns National Park" is flanked by desert plants. Buildings equipped with solar panels stand in the backdrop under a cloudy sky, as a brick-paved path guides visitors into the descending darkness of the caverns.
Descending into the Darkness at Carlsbad Caverns
Finally! After the long and painful days of terrible weather in the desert, I had a reservation for the self-guided tour and planned to explore the caverns and enjoy the windless world.
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Under a blue sky with wispy clouds, the wooden watchtower and brown building stand in open grassland. A solitary windmill marks the horizon at Amache National Historic Site, a path leading toward this poignant reminder of a darker chapter in U.S. history. Leafless trees scatter the background.
Visiting a Dark Chapter of U.S. History: Amache National Historic Site
It's still hard to believe that at the beginning of World War II, the United States turned over 110,000 Japanese in concentration camps, including this one in southeastern Colorado.
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Sign at the entrance to Washita Battlefield National Historic Site and Black Kettle and McClellan Creek National Grasslands. Featuring logos, it stands against a clear blue sky with a nearby leafless tree. The ground is covered in dry grass, echoing the site's historical significance.
Washita Battlefield National Historic Site
After visiting the Sand Creek Massacre site a few years ago, I knew that visiting where Peace Chief Black Kettle was killed was high on my list of National Treasures to experience.
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A black Jeep SUV with a small, grey teardrop trailer is parked near a sign for the Skipout Lake Recreation Area. The arid landscape features sparse trees and a wooden fence running along the road under a clear blue sky.
Skipout Lake Recreation Area
After a fantastic day at the Stafford Air & Space Museum, I needed a quiet place to camp and work for the weekend. Skipout Lake provided that plus a peaceful setting to enjoy the water.
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Brick building with a glass entrance and American flag on a pole in front. A pathway leads to the entrance, flanked by grassy areas and small black lampposts. A wall with a silhouette design runs along the right side under the overcast sky, creating a homestead feel in this National Historical Park setting.
Homestead National Historical Park
This national park came as a complete surprise. I didn't have a strong sense of how much of the United States has been homesteaded and its impact on our history and culture.
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In the quaint town of Marysville, a small street with red brick pavement is flanked by historic buildings. Wandering past storefronts with large windows and trees rustling gently, cars park along the roadside. The overcast sky hints at faint traces of distant fog, adding to the charm.
Wandering Marysville
Marysville is an adorable little town, and I headed out to walk around and see what I could see. I always love finding small towns that have figured out how to make themselves relevant.
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The historic stone building, with its gabled roof, proudly hosts the Pony Express Barn and Museum. A large sign featuring a horse silhouette marks the entrance, flanked by American flags. Surrounded by a quaint flower bed, utility poles stand in the background.
Pony Express Barn & Museum
There is only one barn remaining from the famous Pony Express, and it's right here in Marysville, Kansas, so there was no way I would miss this fabulous attraction from the Wild West.
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A covered wagon sits proudly on a raised stone platform, guided by two black oxen statues. Informational plaques serve as historical markers for the California-Oregon Trail. The scene is set against autumn trees with yellow leaves under an overcast sky, connected by a path from lush green grass.
The California-Oregon Trail Historical Marker
Wandering and meandering on back roads and uncrowded highways allows me to find many unexpected and unusual sites, such as this historic trail marker and gravestone.
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A two-story brick building with a red-tiled roof, large windows, and an arched entrance stands under an overcast sky at the National Historical Park. Trees with autumn leaves frame the scene, while a grassy field with patches of dirt stretches out in the foreground.
Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
Let's get real. America has some very dark chapters of our history, and segregation is absolutely one of those areas. This site makes the progress we've made real, along with where we started.
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