Deserts In The Winter - Adventure Journal's 11 Favorite Things About The Desert

Spring is almost upon us. Or is winter in full swing? Either way, some folks are looking forward to the days of one less layer and a pint on the porch, instead of a mug by the fire. If you're not one of those, keep enjoying the powder. If you are looking forward to warmer days and... shorts, Adventure Journal gives a timely reminder that the desert is still there, waiting for you.

Out west, many of the US National Parks (11, by Adventure Journal's count) have enough sand and scree and sun to make you completely forget that you were wearing tights and gloves on your run last week. So, shrug off your anxious twitch and get some inspiration with AJ's 'The List: The 11 Best Things About The Desert.'

Our favorite from The List? The Rivers (#6). Nothing feels more like summer that sunning on the burning-hot side of a whitewater raft in nothing but a swimsuit and life jacket, and there's no better way to cheat Old Man Winter out of his due than by grabbing a mid-winter raft trip in the American Southwest.

Enjoy the read, pack a bag, and get ready for your out west road trip (don't forget oft overlooked Canyon de Chelly). Or you could always go to Thailand.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park To Charge For Backcountry Camping

A measure to introduce a fee for backcountry camping in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which was adopted last year, goes into effect 2 days from now, on February 13th. The National Park Service has said that fees collected will allow for more staff and longer hours in the Backcountry Office, in order to provide more trip planning assistance for potential visitors.

The system for obtaining permits is still being finalized and the latest information can be found at the Great Smoky Mountains Backcountry Camping website, but the word so far is that it will be $4 per person per night to camp in the backcountry and that an online reservation system is in the works.

Reservations may be made up to 30 days in advance, so be sure familiarize yourself with the new system in advance and nab your reservations before someone beats you to it!

While You're In The Neighborhood - Canyon de Chelly

The Grand Canyon is one of the most well-known natural landscapes in the world, visited by almost five million people annually. Only a few hours away lies another canyon with a fascinating history and unsung beauty - Arizona's Canyon de Chelly National Monument.

Spider Rock in Arizona's Canyon de Chelly

The Four Corners region - the area of the southwest United States where the states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona meet at Four Corners Monument, is only hours from the eastern rim of the Grand Canyon National Park and has an abundance of breathtaking landscapes and national parks, but most of these incredible vistas are too often missed by visitors in their rush to get to the Grand Canyon. A beautiful crimson-and-coral hued sandstone canyon, Canyon de Chelly is one such locale.

National Parks - The United States' Gift

With the founding of Yellowstone National Park in 1872, what had only been a idea up to that point became a reality - government protected parks for public enjoyment and conservation purposes.

Now, there are 58 national parks in the United States and over 6,500 national parks around the globe, including the world's largest - Northeast Greenland National Park.

Glacier at sunset, Northeast Greenland National Park

This Christmas season, enjoy the gift the nations of the world have made available to us: access to their natural splendor. Take the family, plan a trip to see one of these magnificent landscapes.

Loktak Lake - Keibol Lamjao National Park, India