The 5 National Parks We Visited in 2023
I’ve never been particularly drawn to National Parks or gone out of my way to visit them. But it felt like this year, I just stumbled into them more. When my husband and I met in 2021, we bought a National Park Passport together with the goal of filling it with our visits to each park. Together, we’ve visited 9 parks in the last few years.
This year, 2023, we saw a lot more of the Southwest than before, driving through Southern Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. The desert has always felt like home to me and I’m so happy I got to share it with Gabriel this year.
The 5 National Parks we visited in 2023:
1) Redwoods National Park
Technically, I visited this one without Gabriel in February on a road trip down the Pacific Coast Highway with Berty and Emily Mandagie. I haven’t spent much time on the West Coast but I absolutely love seeing the lush green forests and unpredictable tides.
I took so many photos of these incredible trees and every time I look back, I’m reminded of how small I felt in the midst of these ancient beings. If you have a chance to drive through, take it. You won’t be disappointed. I can’t wait to go back with Gabriel and the baby soon.
2) Great Sand Dunes
This was such a fun way to kick off the summer! We visited in May when the crowds hadn’t arrived and enjoyed hiking up the dunes with our pup. I visited in the summer as a kid and I must say, it’s more enjoyable and easier to explore when the blistering heat hasn’t set in.
The waves of sand are remarkable and some of my favorite subjects to photograph. We kicked off our shoes and walked barefoot through the sand, snapping photos and chasing Chloe through the trickles of water.
3) Capitol Reef
This was the first National Park we visited together after we got engaged in June. We left Colorado and headed toward Utah to see whatever we could on our four-day trip. Capitol Reef is a smaller park that didn’t feel too crowded when you ventured deeper into the trails.
We woke up early to climb to Cassidy’s Arch and watch the sunset, running up the trail because we woke up a little late, hauling my camera gear between the two of us. To this day, I truly believe that was the most magical sunrise I’ve ever seen.
4) Canyonlands
This was a fast stop on our way out of Utah and we lucked out in snagging a campsite in the park. Because we were only stopping through, we stayed in the Needles district and took a long drive around the park to see all the different lookout points and hiked further out than the crowds to get a better look into the impossibly deep canyon.
I had driven the White Rim Trail back in 2021 with a few friends of mine and fell in love with this hidden part of the desert. Hopefully one day I can return with my family and show them the incredible landscapes Utah has hidden away in the Canyonlands. But for this trip, we stuck to the top and woke up early for another grand sunrise before hitting the road home.
5) Grand Canyon
Like many, we’ve both been the the Grand Canyon before this trip but we were able to go with Gabriel’s family and enjoy the 4th of July weekend in the heat, playing card games and eating around the campfire. It was fun to take the pups but it definitely limited where we could go and we tried to get them off the pavement by the time it warmed up.
One day, I would love to venture down into the canyon and explore further than I have. This was the perfect, low-key trip with family that we needed so I’m okay that I took only a handful of photos and spent most of the time walking slowly with a one-year-old and at camp chilling with these two pups.
Next year, we’re hoping to see more National Parks and venture to new places. With the baby coming in April, we’ll be ready for summer adventures! What parks should we add to the schedule? Let me know in the comments or shoot me a message on Instagram!
