It’s going down! 

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, John and Ash, a former park ranger, are fighting it out in the ultimate trail rumble! Join us as we rank our favorite national park hiking trails. 

Buckle up because there will be some fighting.  We both made our own lists, and we are ready to see who comes out victorious!

Join us as we cover: 

It was so hard to rank the trails because there are truly so many amazing ones to see! But we hope you enjoy this fun ranking episode and that it will inspire you to get out on a trail somewhere.

Your task for today:  Have you hiked any of these iconic trails? How would you rank them?  Let us know your favorite hiking trails over on the Dirt in My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page!

Don’t miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/episode-11-national-park-hiking-trails-ranked/

Planning your own National Parks hiking adventure?

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are talking about what we consider to be one of the top road trips that you can take -- the Grand Circle. This amazing road trip includes nine western national parks! 

You get to see some truly cool stuff on this route, and we are so excited to be sharing what we love about it today. 

Join us as we cover:

Don’t miss the *full show notes* packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/episode-15-grand-circle-road-trip-one-trip-nine-national-parks/

Planning your own Grand Circle adventure?

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are diving into one of the parks we get the most questions about - Yellowstone! 

Since everyone starts trip planning after the holidays, we figured this was the perfect time to tell you everything you need to know about this beautiful park in case you’re heading there this year. So come along as we explore Yellowstone!

Join us as we cover: 

Don’t miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/episode-10-exploring-yellowstone/

Planning your own Yellowstone National Park adventure?

If you love a drive that has you gasping, laughing, and pulling over every few minutes for “just one more” viewpoint, you are going to have so much fun with this episode. We’re sharing 15 of our favorite scenic drives across the national parks and how you can plan your own visit to each!

In this episode, we cover:

Your task for today: 

Pick one of the 15 scenic drives from this episode and move it to the very top of your national park bucket list, then head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and tell us which drive you are most excited to experience next!

Don’t miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/best-scenic-drives-in-the-national-parks/ 

Planning your own scenic drive adventure?

Wind Cave National Park is one of the most surprising, mysterious, and underrated parks in the Black Hills. Today we are diving into Wind Cave fun facts that will completely change the way you see this small-on-the-surface but massive-underground national park.

In this episode, we cover:

Your task for today: 

Spend 15 to 20 minutes on the Wind Cave National Park Service website and look up one thing we talked about, like the Lakota emergence story, Alvin McDonald’s diary entries, or the cave formation photos.

Don’t miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-fascinating-fun-facts-about-wind-cave-national-park/ 

Planning your own Wind Cave National Park adventure?

Wind Cave National Park is one of the most underrated stops in the Black Hills, and it is absolutely worth digging a little deeper for. Come with us into the prairies of South Dakota for rare cave beauty, bison sightings, and the kind of quiet that makes you exhale.

In this episode, we cover:

Your task for today: Have you been to Wind Cave National Park? Tell us what you loved, and share your best photos (because this park is famously hard to photograph!). Head over to our post on the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and share with us!

Don’t miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/exploring-wind-cave-national-park-best-tips-activities/ 

Planning your own Wind Cave National Park adventure?

Cactus, sunshine, and desert drama: this is the episode where we go all in on the most iconic plant of the American West. Saguaro National Park is bursting with towering giants and incredible stories of survival, and we’re digging into all of it!

In this episode, we cover:

Your task for today: Visit Saguaro National Park’s Facebook or Instagram and thank a ranger! Their work protects plants that won’t even reach full height in their lifetimes, and it’s incredible. 

Don’t miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-incredible-fun-facts-about-arizonas-saguaro-national-park/ 

Planning your own Saguaro National Park adventure?

The wildlife showdown is on! We’re covering the best national parks to see animals in the wild. Whether you’re hoping to see wolves in Yellowstone or whales in Glacier Bay, we share our favorite parks for seeing animals across the U.S., from the great plains of Yellowstone to the coastal coves of Glacier Bay. 

In this episode, we cover:

Your task for today: What wildlife have you not seen yet that you really want to see in a national park? Head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know!

Don’t miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/the-best-national-parks-for-wildlife-viewing/ 

Planning your own wildlife viewing adventure?

The silhouettes of giant saguaros against a glowing desert sky are the kind of view that stops you in your tracks. If you want one park that delivers pure golden hour magic, spicy Tucson flavor, and a choose-your-own-adventure split right down the middle, Saguaro National Park is it.

In this episode, we cover:

Your task for today: Pick your side! Are you a West Saguaro person who wants more solitude, or an East Saguaro person who wants the biggest, oldest saguaros you can find? Head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know what you think!

Don’t miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/136-exploring-saguaro-national-park-best-tips-activities/ 

Planning your own Saguaro National Park adventure?

What do an erupting volcano, a flooded forest, and the 250th anniversary of American independence have in common? They all made our list of top national park adventures from 2025! This year gave us some unforgettable experiences, and we can't wait to share them with you.

In this episode, we cover:

Your task for today: Check the USGS or NPS website to see if Kilauea is still erupting, and start planning your own once-in-a-lifetime lava-viewing trip. Or, if volcanoes aren’t in the cards, look up Revolutionary War sites in the national park system to help plan your 250th anniversary celebration in 2026. Head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know what you think!

Don’t miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/our-top-3-national-park-experiences-in-2025/ 

Planning your own 2026 adventure?