Calling All U.S. National Park Nerds - National Park Week Trivia 2023!
Love National Parks? Earth Day kicks off the Annual National Park Week sponsored by the National Park Service. As self-proclaimed National Park Nerds who have visited nearly every national park in the nation, we’ve made it an annual tradition to share our own National Park Week Trivia Game to celebrate this fun week! Each year, we give away an annual U.S. National Park Pass (aka the America the Beautiful Pass worth $80) and a 1-year subscription to The Dyrt PRO (our favorite campground locator app worth $35.99) to the person who answers the most trivia questions correctly during the 9 days of National Park Week.
Question #2: Name the 2 national parks located on islands which are famous for watching the sunrise and sunset from their highest summits?
Answer #4: Bison are the largest land mammal in North America and roam in Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Wind Cave, Badlands, and Theodore Roosevelt National Parks. In fact, Yellowstone National Park is the only place in the U.S. where bison have continuously lived since prehistoric times. Males weigh in at around 2K pounds, while females are about half that size. They can live up to 20 years.
DRUM ROLL PLEASE…
Huge thanks to all who participated in our 2023 National Park Week Trivia Contest! We created some very difficult questions this year and y’all are National Park Rockstars. It looks like **RACHEL GOSSES** scored the most points with a total of 13.5! So Rachel, you are our official National Park Nerd of the Year…VERY WELL DONE! You will receive an America the Beautiful Annual Pass (good for entrance into all federal land which charges a fee) and a 1-year subscription to The Dyrt PRO, our favorite campground and public land locator app from Freedom in a Can. This super helpful app helps you find public land near national parks where you can camp for FREE and they’ve recently added a new feature called Dyrt Alerts which helps you find cancellations at sold out campgrounds in/near where you want to camp…especially helpful for national park nerds like us who don’t plan too far ahead.
Planning your own national park road trip? Check out our Tips, Tricks, & Favorite Resources for Exploring Your National Parks here! Explore The Dyrt PRO campground locator app and get 30 days for FREE!
Here's a recap of the questions (and answers) from our 2023 National Park Trivia Contest...
QUESTIONS:
Question #1: How many U.S. states claim at least 1 of the 63 national parks? Bonus question (for an extra point!): Which 3 national parks are located in more than 1 state?
Question #1: How many U.S. states claim at least 1 of the 63 national parks? Bonus question (for an extra point!): Which 3 national parks are located in more than 1 state?
Which of these parks have you explored?
Question #2: Name the 2 national parks located on islands which are famous for watching the sunrise and sunset from their highest summits?
Question #3: How many national parks are located in Alaska? Of these parks, which are accessible via the road (no ferry or flight required)? Bonus Question (for an extra point!): Which of these parks is the largest national park in the U.S.? How many parks in Alaska have you explored?
Question #4: Name the 5 U.S. national parks where America’s largest land mammal roams. Bonus Question: Name the two different subspecies of this animal and where they are found in North America.
Question #5: Name the park associated with each image below. What do all of these parks have in common?
Question #6: At 8,749 feet, an ancient fossil reef forms the highest peak in this park. What is the name of this park and in which state is it located? Tell a story about your experience in this park.
Question #7: Geographically speaking, what is unique about the 2 iconic national parks pictured here AND who are the Indigenous Americans that live in these parks? Bonus Question: What does the shape of the NPS symbol represent?
Question #8: There are 3 national parks (located in very different ecosystems) which were specifically designated to protect their sand dunes as well as the flora and fauna which live within them. Name each park and one **very unique** aspect about each of the ecosystems in which these dunes are located. Bonus Question: Which of these 3 parks host critters that are endemic (i.e., the only place on Earth that they live) to these dunes?
Question #9: Which 12 of the 63 national parks contain ACTIVE alpine glaciers? Bonus question (for an extra point!): Name 2 national parks that were shaped by alpine glaciers and 2 which were shaped by continental glaciers, but no longer have active glaciers.
ANSWERS:
Answer #1: There are a total of 30 U.S. states that claim at least 1 national park.
ANSWERS:
Answer #1: There are a total of 30 U.S. states that claim at least 1 national park.
Bonus Answer: The 3 national parks which are located in more than one state include: Death Valley (CA/NV), Yellowstone (WY, MT, ID), Great Smoky Mountains (NC/TN).
Answer #2: Haleakala National Park (Island of Maui, Hawaii; summit @ 10,023ft ) and Acadia National Park (Mt Desert Island, Cadillac Mountain, Maine; summit @ 1,530ft) are the two national parks located on islands which are famous for watching the sunrise/sunset from their summits. If you want to watch a sunrise from these summits, be sure to obtain a sunrise/sunset permit ahead of time from the park’s website so you don’t miss out on the fun. Tip: If you camp at Hosmer Grove in Haleakala NP the night before you head up for sunrise, no additional permit is required…and you don’t have to get up as early to drive all the way up the mountain. For either park, it’s ridiculously cold and windy up there at both sunrise and sunset no matter what time of year, so bring your winter parkas!
Answer #3: There are 8 national parks in Alaska, with only 3 accessible via the road. They are Denali, Kenai Fjords, and Wrangell-St. Elias National Parks. Technically, you can only get to part of Kenai Fjords by land, but you can get to the visitor center, Exit Glacier, campground, and some trails. The other 5 Alaskan national parks require a ferry or flight: Glacier Bay, Katmai, Lake Clark, Gates of the Arctic, and Kobuk Valley.
Answer #2: Haleakala National Park (Island of Maui, Hawaii; summit @ 10,023ft ) and Acadia National Park (Mt Desert Island, Cadillac Mountain, Maine; summit @ 1,530ft) are the two national parks located on islands which are famous for watching the sunrise/sunset from their summits. If you want to watch a sunrise from these summits, be sure to obtain a sunrise/sunset permit ahead of time from the park’s website so you don’t miss out on the fun. Tip: If you camp at Hosmer Grove in Haleakala NP the night before you head up for sunrise, no additional permit is required…and you don’t have to get up as early to drive all the way up the mountain. For either park, it’s ridiculously cold and windy up there at both sunrise and sunset no matter what time of year, so bring your winter parkas!
Answer #3: There are 8 national parks in Alaska, with only 3 accessible via the road. They are Denali, Kenai Fjords, and Wrangell-St. Elias National Parks. Technically, you can only get to part of Kenai Fjords by land, but you can get to the visitor center, Exit Glacier, campground, and some trails. The other 5 Alaskan national parks require a ferry or flight: Glacier Bay, Katmai, Lake Clark, Gates of the Arctic, and Kobuk Valley.
Bonus Answer: Despite the fact that many people have never heard of it, Wrangell-St. Elias NP is the largest in the U.S. @ 13.2M acres -- ranging from sea level to over 18K ft. This massive landscape contains 9 of the highest peaks in the U.S., as well as 1 of the largest volcanoes and 1 of the largest and most active tidewater glaciers in North America. We are lucky enough to have a friend who lives just on the edge of the park and we took picture #? (from previous question) from her backyard last fall.
Answer #4: Bison are the largest land mammal in North America and roam in Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Wind Cave, Badlands, and Theodore Roosevelt National Parks. In fact, Yellowstone National Park is the only place in the U.S. where bison have continuously lived since prehistoric times. Males weigh in at around 2K pounds, while females are about half that size. They can live up to 20 years.
Bonus Answer: The Plains Bison and the Wood Bison are the 2 sub-species living in North America. Typically, Plains Bison are found in the lower 48 states and Wood Bison (which are larger and have a taller hump that sits more forward) are found in Canada and Alaska. There are some Plains Bison in Alaska as well, descendants from some transplants from Montana nearly 100 years ago. There are 4 free roaming herds in Alaska’s interior, with the majority of the 900 animals near Delta Junction. Learn more about the bison that call America’s national parks home. Much has been done to bring these beautiful beasts back from near extinction. Learn more about bison conservation efforts.
Answer #5: In order (left to right, top to bottom) Redwood, Death Valley, Kings Canyon, Joshua Tree, Lassen Volcanic, Pinnacles, Yosemite, Channel Islands, and Sequoia. The state of California is home to these 9 national parks, covering 6,353,094 acres of protected land found in mountains, islands, deserts, coast, and coastal foothills. This collection of parks is the most of any state and perhaps the most ecologically diverse.
Answer #6: Guadalupe Peak in Guadalupe Mountains National Park protects the world's most extensive Permian fossil reef, the four highest peaks in Texas, and a diverse collection of flora and fauna. Images 2 & 3 were taken just before the big ice storm in February 2012 hit Texas! As we drove up the campground, we encountered some ice, snow, and very low clouds, so decided we’d return another time. Glad we did or we could have been stuck for a couple of weeks!
Answer #7: Denali and Death Valley boast the highest and lowest elevations in North America, respectively 20,310 feet and -282 feet. Indigenous (Native) Americans of Denali are the Ahtna, Dena’ina, Koyukon, Upper Kuskokwim, and Tanana. Indigenous (Native) Americans of Death Valley are the Timbisha Shoshone. These peoples continue to live and hunt within these parks.
Answer #5: In order (left to right, top to bottom) Redwood, Death Valley, Kings Canyon, Joshua Tree, Lassen Volcanic, Pinnacles, Yosemite, Channel Islands, and Sequoia. The state of California is home to these 9 national parks, covering 6,353,094 acres of protected land found in mountains, islands, deserts, coast, and coastal foothills. This collection of parks is the most of any state and perhaps the most ecologically diverse.
Answer #6: Guadalupe Peak in Guadalupe Mountains National Park protects the world's most extensive Permian fossil reef, the four highest peaks in Texas, and a diverse collection of flora and fauna. Images 2 & 3 were taken just before the big ice storm in February 2012 hit Texas! As we drove up the campground, we encountered some ice, snow, and very low clouds, so decided we’d return another time. Glad we did or we could have been stuck for a couple of weeks!
Answer #7: Denali and Death Valley boast the highest and lowest elevations in North America, respectively 20,310 feet and -282 feet. Indigenous (Native) Americans of Denali are the Ahtna, Dena’ina, Koyukon, Upper Kuskokwim, and Tanana. Indigenous (Native) Americans of Death Valley are the Timbisha Shoshone. These peoples continue to live and hunt within these parks.
Bonus Answer: The NPS arrowhead represents historical and archeological values.
Answer #8: Three national parks were specifically created to protect their sand dunes: White Sands (New Mexico), Indiana Dunes (Indiana), and Great Sand Dunes (Colorado). There are many correct answers for why each of these dunes are unique, but here are a few. White Sands is very unique because it is gypsum sand, the only gypsum dunefield in the world. So, yes, that stuff in drywall and toothpaste, that’s the material these dunes are made of, making them slippery and oh so fun to slide down! Plus there’s the fossilized footprints from the Paleolithic period which show up from time to time. Great Sand Dunes are the tallest sand dunes (750ft!) in North America and are a complex interaction of 4 distinct eco-geological systems that come together to form the dunefield. Finally, Indiana Dunes is comprised of only 15K acres, but is one of the most biologically diverse national parks; it contains several ecological transition zones (i.e, flora and fauna from all compass directions exist here because of its central location).
Answer #8: Three national parks were specifically created to protect their sand dunes: White Sands (New Mexico), Indiana Dunes (Indiana), and Great Sand Dunes (Colorado). There are many correct answers for why each of these dunes are unique, but here are a few. White Sands is very unique because it is gypsum sand, the only gypsum dunefield in the world. So, yes, that stuff in drywall and toothpaste, that’s the material these dunes are made of, making them slippery and oh so fun to slide down! Plus there’s the fossilized footprints from the Paleolithic period which show up from time to time. Great Sand Dunes are the tallest sand dunes (750ft!) in North America and are a complex interaction of 4 distinct eco-geological systems that come together to form the dunefield. Finally, Indiana Dunes is comprised of only 15K acres, but is one of the most biologically diverse national parks; it contains several ecological transition zones (i.e, flora and fauna from all compass directions exist here because of its central location).
Bonus Answer: White Sands and Great Sand Dunes boast numerous endemic species, meaning that these dunes are the only place on Earth that these critters exist! They have truly fascinating adaptations too…like the creatures in White Sand Dunes turning completely white over time!
Here’s more info about these truly fascinating critters at:
Answer #9: There are 12 national parks where you can get face-to-face with active glaciers – including alpine glaciers, icefields, and tide/freshwater glaciers (it is a true spectacle to watch calving glaciers in the summer months)! They include 7 of the 8 parks in Alaska (Glacier Bay, Denali, Kenai Fjords, Wrangell-St. Elias, Katmai, Lake Clark, and Gates of the Arctic), all 3 of the parks in Washington (Mt. Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic), Grand Teton in Wyoming, and of course, Glacier National Park in Montana.
Here’s more info about these truly fascinating critters at:
Answer #9: There are 12 national parks where you can get face-to-face with active glaciers – including alpine glaciers, icefields, and tide/freshwater glaciers (it is a true spectacle to watch calving glaciers in the summer months)! They include 7 of the 8 parks in Alaska (Glacier Bay, Denali, Kenai Fjords, Wrangell-St. Elias, Katmai, Lake Clark, and Gates of the Arctic), all 3 of the parks in Washington (Mt. Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic), Grand Teton in Wyoming, and of course, Glacier National Park in Montana.
Bonus Answer: There are 8 national parks which have been sculpted by alpine glaciers, but no longer have active glaciers as well as 5 parks which were shaped by continental glaciers during the last ice age. Each of these parks has a unique geological story and are absolutely worth a visit! More info here. Glaciers store more than ½ of the world’s fresh water and are one of the most important indicators of climate change. Over the past couple of years, we’ve visited both the Columbia Icefield along the Icefields Parkway near Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada as well as Exit Glacier located in Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska. Both of the areas have signage showing how much these glaciers have receded since a specific year, as pictured here. It is not a coincidence that National Park Week kicks off on Earth Day each year, as there is not a single national park which has NOT been affected by our changing climate. We hope you join us in doing your part to reduce your carbon footprint!
DRUM ROLL PLEASE…
Huge thanks to all who participated in our 2023 National Park Week Trivia Contest! We created some very difficult questions this year and y’all are National Park Rockstars. It looks like **RACHEL GOSSES** scored the most points with a total of 13.5! So Rachel, you are our official National Park Nerd of the Year…VERY WELL DONE! You will receive an America the Beautiful Annual Pass (good for entrance into all federal land which charges a fee) and a 1-year subscription to The Dyrt PRO, our favorite campground and public land locator app from Freedom in a Can. This super helpful app helps you find public land near national parks where you can camp for FREE and they’ve recently added a new feature called Dyrt Alerts which helps you find cancellations at sold out campgrounds in/near where you want to camp…especially helpful for national park nerds like us who don’t plan too far ahead.
Comments
Post a Comment