Our Halloween tradition continues! This year, we're chasing three cryptid legends through the national parks – Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Lake Clark National Park, and Yellowstone National Park.

Are these tales from the spookiest corners of the park fact or fiction? You’ll have to tune in to find out!

• Why old sailors' maps were covered in dragons, sirens, and sea monsters
• What actually separates a cryptid from an animal that science just hasn't caught up to yet
• Why the national parks make the perfect hiding place for a cryptid legend
• Why there might be something lurking outside Guadalupe Mountains National Park (and what that something might be)
• What’s lurking in the water on the way to Lake Clark National Park
• Just how deep Lake Clark and neighboring Lake Iliamna really go
• The Native American legend behind Beartooth Highway in Yellowstone National Park

Your task for today: Head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and tell us which cryptid creeped you out the most!

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/haunted-national-parks-vol-4

• 5 Things You Can't Miss On Your First Visit to Guadalupe Mountains National Park: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-things-cant-miss-first-visit-guadalupe-mountains-national-park/
• See a full trip planning itinerary for Yellowstone National Park: https://shop.dirtinmyshoes.com/products/yellowstone-itinerary
• Trip Planning Guide for Alaska’s National Parks (Including Lake Clark National Park): https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/alaska-national-parks/
• Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/
• National Park Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/
• Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/

Picture cloud-white sand surrounding you on every side, with the Sacramento Mountains as your backdrop, and a sunset that turns everything a shade of pink and purple.

THAT’s the awe that is waiting for you at White Sands National Park. Well, that and some other fun activities like hiking through nature trails, and even sledding!

We’ll also take you through all the quirky rules this park has that no other national park does — and what makes White Sands so incredibly unique.

• The two things that make White Sands totally different from every other national park
• The working missile range, located next to the park
• A driving tour down Dunes Drive, including the Playa Trail, Dune Life Nature Trail, and Interdune Boardwalk
• How to sled the dunes (hint: cardboard boxes don't cut it)
• Why so many commercials, movies, and music videos have been filmed here
• The best ranger program in the park and why sunset is non-negotiable
• Where to stay, eat, and detour in nearby Alamogordo

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-white-sands-national-park/

• 5 Things You Can’t Miss On Your First Visit to White Sands: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-things-cant-miss-first-visit-white-sands/
• Episode 49: Best National Parks for Young Kids (White Sands National Park makes the list!): https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/best-national-parks-for-young-kids/
• Episode 105: 8-Day Spring Break National Parks Road Trip (that includes White Sands National Park): https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/8-day-spring-break-national-parks-road-trip/
• Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/
• National Park Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/
• Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/

We just spent three days in Zion National Park in the middle of summer, on purpose, in 105-degree heat. Why did we do that, you ask? Because we don’t want you to have to go through all the guesswork that comes with planning a trip to Zion National Park in the summer.

• Why we deliberately visited Zion National Park in the summer, and what we'd tell you before you do the same
• Why understanding the Zion Canyon Shuttle and the Springdale shuttle together will save you from many days of frustration
• What gear actually works in the Narrows
• The new vehicle restrictions through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, and what changed for regular drivers
• The bighorn sheep herd, deer, and turkeys we spotted once we slowed down and got quiet
• How we weighed location versus price for lodging, and what the South Campground looks like without its shade trees

Your task for today: Have you hiked the Narrows or driven through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel? Tell us about it over on the @DirtInMyShoes 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/zion-national-park-trip-report-2026/

• Zion National Park Itinerary: https://shop.dirtinmyshoes.com/products/zion-itinerary
• The Ultimate Zion Trip Planning Guide: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/zion-national-park/
• Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/
• National Park Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/
• Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/