National Parks Illustration

I started a collection of illustrations in 2021 of the National Parks I have visited over the years. I plan to continue illustrating parks I visited, and expanding the collection. Here are some words about each park.

Arches National Park - Moab, Utah

The arch shown is the famous Delicate Arch. I used to drive over to the park from Denver when I lived there, and camp along the Colorado River. Arches is full of natural arches and amazing hiking. I love southern Utah.

I respectfully acknowledge that Arches resides on the ancestral lands of the Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) people.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park - Gunnison, Colorado

Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado became a National Park in 1999, and is located in the middle of Colorado. I feel like its lesser known, but a very cool park nonetheless.

I visited there on two different occasions and both revealed super cool features of the park. The first time I went there my late husband and I had set up camp at one of the parks campgrounds, and then set out to see sunset views. We arrived at one of the look out spaces, and rather than go to the main lookout, looked into the canyon from near our car. We were checking out the falcons dipping into the canyon, when we looked across to the lookout trail to see a huge mountain lion. It was stalking two ladies just on the other side of the stone wall barrier of the lookout. The cat turned its head and looked deep into our souls before it somehow turned on the dime-sized ledge and ran back into the canyon. The ladies walking to the viewpoint had NO IDEA they were almost dinner for this massive cat. I will never forget the way that cat looked at us. It was a magic parks moment and honestly I'm glad we were there to startle the cat!

I respectfully acknowledge that Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP resides on the ancestral lands of the Ute people.

Grand Canyon National Park - Arizona

The Watchtower at Desert View in Grand Canyon National Park is a very cool spot. It resides on the south rim of the canyon and provides a birds eye view of the canyon and Colorado River below.

I respectfully acknowledge that The Watchtower resides on the ancestral lands of the Hopitutskwa, Havasu Baaja (Havasupai), Pueblos, and Hualapai people.

Great Sand Dunes National Park - Colorado

Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado is a little out there, in the high plains of central lower Colorado. The dunes were said to have been formed by sand that blew up against the Sangre de Cristo mountains from lakes and rivers in the San Luis Valley.

I respectfully acknowledge that Great Sand Dunes NP resides on the ancestral lands of the Diné Bikéyah, Cheyenne and Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) people.

Saguaro National Park - Tucson, Arizona

I love the southwest 🌵 probably because it’s so different from the landscape I grew up in. I promise I’ll post other NP’s from around the country 😂 these ones were just the first ones I put together 💛✨

I respectfully acknowledge that Saguaro NP resides on the ancestral lands of the O’odham Jewed, Tohono O’odham, Sobaipuri, and Hohokam people.

Yosemite National Park - California

I visited Yosemite a long time ago, around 2002 or 2003. At the time I was on a cross country road trip that took us from Michigan to Los Angeles and back. We stopped at Yosemite and Kings Canyon - seeing our first giant sequoias and El Capitan for the first time.

What a sight all of these parks must have been for the first people to ever stumble upon them. I'm glad they've been preserved by our government, but also wonder what would be if they were left in the hands of their original stewards - the native people who occupied them long before anyone else.

I respectfully acknowledge that Yosemite NP resides on the ancestral lands of the Me-Wuk people.