Plants - Colorado State Parks: Fill & Download for Free

ALABAMADauphin islandThis beautiful place just off the coast of Alabama is quieter and less crowded than most touristy beaches. There are tonnes of activities to chose from, like fishing, golf and bird watching. Some places to visit on this island are Fort Gaines and Dauphin island sea lab.ALASKAMendenhall glacier cavesThe beautiful Ice Caves are inside the glacier and accessible only by kayak and then ice climb over the glacier. Since the glacier is retreating increasingly fast due to global warming, this place should be on everyone's bucket list.ARIZONAHorseshoe bendThis horseshoe-shaped meander of the Colorado River is one of the most photographed places in the U.S.ARKANSASWhitaker pointThis popular spot in the Buffalo river county is famous for proposals, scenic photographs, and stunning views.CALIFORNIAGolden gate bridgeThough this state is blessed with so many beautiful places, if I had to choose one place it will be golden gate bridge. This bridge is one of the most internationally recognized symbols of San Francisco and is truly an engineering wonder.COLORADOMaroon bellsMajestic views of the Rockies, beautiful mountain lakes , green forests and a variety f wildlife. Clearly a must-visit place in Colorado.CONNECTICUTGillette Castle State ParkThis castle is one of the most magical places on the Connecticut landscape. It is perched atop one of the Seven Sisters, the hills overlooking the Connecticut River and was built by William Gillette, an actor who is most famous for his portrayal of Sherlock holmes on stage.DELAWARECape henlopen state parkCape Henlopen State Park is located where the Deleware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean and has approximately six miles worth of beaches. This place is ideal for camping on the beach.FLORIDADry Tortugas national parkThis isolated island of bliss sits roughly 68 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico, surrounded by clear waters. The coral reefs in this area are the least disturbed of the Florida Keys reefs and this place is only accessible by boat or seaplane.GEORGIASavannahThe oldest city in the state of Georgia, is known for it's parks, horse-drawn carriages and ornate antebellum architecture. Its historic district is filled with squares and parks shaded by magnolia blossoms and oak trees covered with Spanish moss.HAWAIIHaiku Stairs of OahuAlso known as the Stairway to Heaven, this is a steep hiking trail on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaii. The total 3,922 steps span along Oahu's Ko'olau mountain range. This is currently closed.IDAHOShoshone fallsThis beautiful waterfall on the Snake river in southern Idaho, is often refered as the 'Niagara of the west'.ILLINOISStarved rock state parkThis state park is characterized by several canyons, lush greenery and beautiful waterfalls.INDIANATurkey run state parkThis state park got its name from wild turkeys. Legend says that wild turkeys would congregate in the gorges (or "runs") for warmth where early settlers in the area would trap them in dead-end gorges and hunt them with ease. The most famous trail is known for its ruggedness and ladders down the narrow deep gorges.IOWAMaquoketa Caves state parkThis state park is home to many beautiful caves and provides a scenic hiking experience.KANSASCastle rockCastle Rock is a large limestone pillar landmark formed by deposition of chalk in the area by an ancient inland sea. It received its name because it is said to look like a castle rising above the prairie.KENTUCKYMammoth cave national parkThis National Park encompasses portions of Mammoth Cave, which is the longest cave system known in the world.LOUSIANAOak alley plantationOak Alley is named for its distinguishing visual feature, a canopied path created by a double row of southern oak trees planted in the early 18th century.MAINEPortland Head Light in Cape ElizabethThis historic lighthouse is the oldest in the state of Maine. It is said that George Washington himself oversaw construction on this lighthouse, which originally burned on lamps made with whale oil.MARYLANDOcean cityThis beautiful east coast beach town is known for it's distinct beach culture and night life.MASSACHUSETTSFreedom trail, BostonThis 2.5 mile long path through downtown Boston passes through 16 locations significant to the history of United states.MICHIGANMackinac islandThis beautiful island on lake huron is a national historic monument and is known for it's architecture and delicious fudge.MISSOURISt Louis Gateway ArchThis stainless steel arch is the world's tallest arch and the tallest monument in the western hemisphere.MISSISSIPPIWindsor ruinsThese ruins have an interesting backstory. A wealthy landowner used slave labor to build this expansive plantation house in the 1800s. He died a few weeks after moving in, and a fire later burned down the building. All that remain are 23 crumbling, solitary columns.MINNESOTASplit rock lighthouse state parkThis state park on the north shore of Lake superior is best known for the picturesque split rock lighthouse, one of the most photographed lighthouses in the United States.MONTANAGlacier national parkThis national park on the Canada-US border is home to about 130 lakes and various species of plants and animals. It was initially inhabited by native americans.NEBRASKAChimney rockThis prominent geological rock formation is visible many miles from the east and served as a landmark along the Oregon trail, the California trail, and the Mormon trail during the 19th century.NEVADALas vegasKnown all over the world for gambling, fine dining and nightlife, this is probably the most happening place in America.NEW HAMPSHIREMount WashingtonMount Washington is the highest peak in the North eastern united states and is famous for dangerously erratic weather.NEW JERSEYPaterson great fallsThis beautiful place is an underrated tourist destination. It played a significant role in the early industrial development of New Jersey starting in the earliest days of the nation.NEW MEXICOWhite sands national monumentThis beautiful place is covered with white sand dunes composed of gypsum crystals. It is the largest gypsum dune field in the world.NEW YORKNiagara fallsFor many, New York state is mainly about New York City. Surely it is one of the best cities in the world but if I had to chose just one place in the state,it has to be Niagara falls. These beautiful falls are truly a natural wonder.NORTH CAROLINAOuter banksThese 200 mile narrow string of barrier islands are one of the most popular tourist destinations in the US. This was the place where the The Wright Brothers' first flight took place on December 17, 1903.NORTH DAKOTATheodore Roosevelt National ParkThis place has an interesting history. Theodore Roosevelt used to visit this place frequently seeking solitude. This place was named after him and it was influential in Theodore Roosevelt's pursuit of conservation policies as President of the United States. The scenery in this place changes according to seasons, and this place also has beautiful sunset.OHIOHocking Hills State ParkThis park has towering cliffs, waterfalls and deep hemlock-shaded gorges ideal for hikers and nature lovers.OKLAHOMAWichita mountains wildlife refugeWichita mountains wildlife refuge is the oldest managed wildlife facility in the United states, and is known for its beautiful views and spring wildflowers.OREGONThor's wellThis place is located on the edge of the Oregon coast and appears to be a gaping sinkhole that never seems to fill despite the stream of sea water that drains into it. Thor's Well is a natural wonder that attracts tourists from all over the world.PENNSYLVANIAPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia is the only World heritage city in the United States and has so much historical importance. It had served as temporary U.S. capital while Washington DC was under construction.RHODE ISLANDThe Narragansett towersThe Narragansett Pier Casino was the center of social life in Narragansett during the late 19th century. The Great Fire of September 12, 1900 destroyed the entire casino and what remained of it was The Towers, also known as the Twin Towers. Today this place is a historic monument.SOUTH CAROLINAConagree national parkThe lush trees growing in this floodplain forest are some of the tallest in the Eastern U.S. Congaree National Park preserves the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States.SOUTH DAKOTAMount Rushmore national monumentMount Rushmore National Memorial is a sculpture carved into the granite face of the mountains. Mount Rushmore features the heads of four United states presidents: George Washington , Thomas Jefferson , Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.TENNESSEESmoky mountainsThe beautiful landscape encompases lush forests, streams, rivers and waterfalls that appear along hiking routes which includes a segment of the Appalachian Trail.TEXASHamilton poolThis beautiful natural pool that was created when the dome of an underground river collapsed due to massive erosion thousands of years ago. This is a great place for hiking, swimming and picnic.UTAHZion National parkThis beautiful national park in southern Utah is a popular destination for adventure and nature lovers. The park is also known for it's beautiful emerald pools and hiking trails.VERMONTMount MansfieldMount Mansfield is the highest mountain in Vermont. What makes this place interesting is that when viewed from the east its summit ridge resembles the profile of a human face, and the names of its prominent features reflect this: Adams Apple, Chin, Nose and Forehead.VIRGINIAShenandoah national park in fallShenandoah National Park encompasses a part of the Blue ridge mountains and is known for its scenic skyline drive, which is at its best during fall.WASHINGTONSkagit valley tulip fieldsThe Skagit valley tulip fields attract thousands of visitors in the month of April when these flowers are in full bloom and create a breathtaking sight.WEST VIRGINIAGreenbrier resortSet in the Allegheny Mountains, this iconic 10,000-acre resort is located near the White Sulphur Springs train station. Living in this historic property is an experience in itself.WISCONSINApostle islandsThe Apostle Islands National Lakeshore consists of 21 islands on the northern tip of Wisconsin on the shore of Lake Superior. This place has beautiful caves accessible by kayak.WYOMINGGrand prismatic spring, YellowstoneThis natural pool of rainbow-like colors is the largest hot spring in the U.S. and the third largest in the world.P.S - This list is more of a personal wishlist. I have been to 10 of these states and looking forward to visiting the other 40 states. If you think I have missed out some great places, please feel free to suggest edits.

They prefer you to remain on the trails to prevent erosion. to the best of my knowledge. This is especially so 9000′ and above due to severe damage to plant life

This little Asian beetle has proven to be hugely beneficial in American Southwest—and what’s more, it was introduced on purpose with the goal of irrevocably changing the landscape.Diorhabda carinulata, or the tamarisk beetle, can explode into huge populations very quickly. It’s agressive enough to overwhelm, defoliate and kill tamarisk plants—and that is its advantage.When I was a teenager in Boy Scouts, our troop would pick a river somewhere in the canyonlands of Western Colorado or Utah each year and canoe downstream. As one of the more challenging backcountry ventures, the rule was that there must be one adult chaperone per youth, and I always went with my dad, an outdoorsman in his own right and environmentalist who would teach me about the plants, wildlife, and dramatic rock formations around us.(Pictured: Green river near Canyonlands in Utah)Camping on sandy river banks and traveling between 70 and 100 miles each trip, it was a 3 day journey over some of the most stark and picturesque landscapes I’ve encountered: pink, beige or rust-red cliffs (depending on which river we were on), thousands of feet high, set against a pale blue sky and and dotted with swarms of cicadas, swallows, ducks, cormorants and lazy circling vultures high up overhead.(Yampa River near Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado)We spent a lot of time joking, spraying squirt guns and screwing around on our canoes, but long stretches of each trip were spent sitting in profound silence on the river, under the merciless sun, enjoying the absolute lack of any sign of human inhabitance.(Colorado River near Arches National Park in Utah)That is, except for the tamarisk. Planted in the Southwest in the 1800s with the goal of erosion control, Eurasian tamarisk, or saltcedar, proved to be one of the worst ecological disasters to hit the Colorado Plateau. With deep roots and leafless water-conserving branches, a tamarisk plant resembles a juniper or cypress tree, although it is an angiosperm. Well-adapted to the desert, and without natural enemies in North America, it spread throughout the canyonlands and beyond, conquering the landscape. The native riparian willows and cottonwoods were displaced, and the aggressive, salt-tolerant invading tamarisk drained the water table from the side-canyons and gulleys that were once hotspots for desert biodiversity. We’d canoe past miles-long stretches of canyon in which it seemed like tamarisk was the only thing growing at all.(Colorado river)It isn’t necessarily an ugly plant, but it’s never a good thing to create monoculture, and deserts happen to be the one of the most fragile types of ecosystem to begin with. Additionally, by draining the water table above the canyons, tamarisk proved a headache for farmers in a region where water is a precious commodity and a subject of constant litigious conflict.The tamarisk beetles were introduced to North America in 2001. After extensive research to ensure that they would successfully suppress their target plants and wouldn’t kill anything else, they were set loose by the United States Department of Agriculture in a decision that proved somewhat controversial.It did not take the insects long to get going. The larvae, which look like caterpillars, completely cover infested plants and quickly chew whole branches down to stems. The plants, sensing a crisis, will react by yellowing and dropping remaining foliage in an attempt to starve the bugs off, but it’s too late—the beetles are well adapted to exploit their hosts and at this point have already pupated, hatched as beetles and moved on.Tamarisk can regrow its foliage after the beetles finish with it, but it spends precious energy reserves and experiences some dieback in its battle with the bugs. It takes a few waves of infestation to kill a tamarisk stand completely. Total eradication is actually not necessary—the ideal would be for the beetle to knock the plants’ invasiveness back to a low level and allow it to “play nice” with competing species, leaving a few scattered individuals here and there, at which point the beetle populations will settle down into an equilibrium with the no-longer-ubiquitous tamarisk.(Colorado river in Arizona)I went back to the Colorado River in 2016, now 31 years old, volunteering for an organization called the Grand Canyon Trust based in Flagstaff, Arizona, collecting field data for an unrelated study on native plants responding to climate change. For an extra-curricular adventure on that trip, we made stops at the Grand Canyon and other riparian zones to appreciate the local wildlife. It was amazing to see whole forests of tamarisk had browned or died completely—leaving in its place an opportunity for new life to emerge. The native willows and grasses were returning, and with them came a chance for native insects and birds to repopulate and enjoy a landscape that looks like it did centuries ago.All of that is thanks to a little beetle invading the landscape as an invasive species, brought in by scientists to keep another invasive species in check.