As warm weather sweeps across the country, our national parks, forests, state and local campgrounds, beaches, trails, and other outdoor hotspots fill up with Americans seeking fun in the sun. As part of our #SaveLWCF effort, we have compiled a list of some of our favorite places that have received LWCF funds. Wondering if your lakefront, campsite, fishing spot, or running path has received LWCF? Check out our interactive map to find LWCF dollars going into your favorite places and share your LWCF summer adventure on social media using #SaveLWCF and #LWCFsummer.
Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
"Lassen Volcanic National Park is fantastic! I just visited this little known national park which, unlike most of my favorite places, was not crowded with tourists. It has a volcano that you can hike up and also alpine lakes, flowers, great hiking trails, and a drive through the park with portions that rival Going to the Sun Road in Glacier. I rate it among my top five parks. Thanks LWCF, for investing in Lassen Volcanic National Park!" -Bob S. from Evanston, IL in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
"Great Sand Dunes National Park, with its snow-capped peaks towering over the sand dunes, is a unique and beautiful place. Sledding down the dunes was exhilarating, and Medano Creek provided the perfect way to cool down in the hot afternoon. But camping overnight on the dunes was the most special experience of all: nowhere else have I seen the Milky Way shine so brightly overhead. I am grateful that LWCF helped protect Great Sand Dunes National Park so that I and many others could experience such a beautiful night sky." -Rachel B. from Boulder, CO in Great Sand Dunes National Park
South Fork Snake River and Upper Salmon River, Idaho
"In Idaho our big rivers are hubs for our recreation economy as well as great places for us locals to recreate, enjoy wild nature, catch trout and cool off on a hot summer day. The South Fork Snake River and Upper Salmon River continue to be beautiful and unspoiled river corridors owing to great conservation work enabled by the Land and Water Conservation Fund. I am very happy that my grandchildren will be able to access and enjoy the splendid natural vistas along these rivers that I love." -Michael W. from Driggs, ID at South Fork Snake River
Acadia National Park, Maine
"Acadia is one of my absolute favorite places to visit any time of year, but especially in the summer. One of the best hikes I’ve done in the park was up Beech Cliff with an Appalachian Mountain Club group. Our guide was Carey Kish, author of the Maine Mountain Guide and Acadia tour guide. He brought us on this great adventure through a part of the park I hadn’t explored. We finished with lunch and a swim in Echo Lake. I’m so glad LWCF has been able to support amazing places like Acadia National Park!" -Kaitlyn B. from Portland, ME in Acadia National Park
Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland
"The pastoral rolling fields and woods along Antietam Creek hide a savagery almost unseen anywhere on the continent. On September 17, 1862 during the Civil War, two armies clashed on what has become the most historic ground in Maryland. As a Baltimorean, the battlefield has always been a short day trip away and a place to learn and ponder: with my grandparents, 8th grade history class, my dad, my friends, and even my boss. While the battlefield was first protected through congressional action in 1890, the Land and Water Conservation Fund still is being used to protect critical tracts of land at Antietam. Future generations will be able to visit the battleground and remember their forebearers’ sacrifices." -Dan C. from Baltimore, MD at Antietam National Battlefield
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan
"In the course of undertaking an artist residency at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, I received that rarest of gifts, TIME. At Sleeping Bear Dunes, I lingered. My writing studio was the historic Tweddle farmhouse, a short walk from wild perched dunes, and the whole park was mine to explore – all 71,000 acres, including wild islands, miles of shoreline, historic farmsteads, and more!" -Kathleen H. from the Upper Peninsula at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota
"The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is our favorite place in Minnesota. There's nothing better than spending the day canoeing through beautiful lakes, eating dinner over the campfire, and falling asleep to the call of a loon. Thanks to the Land and Water Conservation Fund for protecting this national treasure and ensuring that everyone can experience the beauty of the Boundary Waters." -Mark R. and Amy D. from St. Paul, MN in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Glacier National Park, Montana
"Going to Glacier National Park was one my favorite family vacations. It was the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. We had a great time exploring the park and experiencing the majesty of it all. We saw lots of wildlife including elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and even a few grizzlies (from a distance!). I will always remember this experience and thank the Land and Water Conservation Fund for protecting GNP so myself and all Americans can enjoy it." - Allison S. from Ann Arbor, MI in Glacier National Park
New York State Parks
"Returning to my hometown of Ithaca for graduate school reintroduced me to all of the great hiking and outdoor adventures in my own backyard. Going on hikes at Buttermilk, jumping off the diving board at Treman, and watching the thunderous falls at Taughannock are all great memories from my childhood that I had the joy of experiencing again as an adult. All three of these awesome NY State Parks have received LWCF funding and are a central part of what makes Ithaca Gorges!" -Aidan R. from Ithaca, NY in Robert H. Treman State Park
Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Tennessee
"The weather can be quite unpredictable along the People’s Trail! My friend and I decided to visit Tennessee’s Blue Ridge Mountains on a whim in May 2017, leaving Durham, NC in our shorts and t-shirts and arriving to freezing temperatures and the snow topped balds along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Luckily we came prepared and had clothing to layer, but it made for a summer vacation unlike any other! Thanks to LWCF for protecting this beloved trail, I was able to experience these spectacular views and respite from the southern summer heat." -Kristin M. from Washington, D.C. on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin
"The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is a unique gem at the tip of my beautiful home state of Wisconsin. This unexpected collection of islands jutting out into Lake Superior from the tip-top of the state is the perfect balance between exciting wilderness and accessibility to all ages and adventure levels. This is where I first learned to kayak, fearlessly dodging in and out of little sea caves carved into the sandstone cliffs with my brothers. Where I learned about edible (and poisonous!) mushrooms from a ranger after a ferry ride to the more remote Stockton Island. It is even the site of my first all-out multi-day backpacking/kayaking trip as a university student with our outdoor recreation club. Home to many wonderful memories that brought my family closer together, the Apostle Islands is an amazing place to experience stunning landscapes and unexpected adventures. I am always looking forward to my next visit and hope there will be many more to come thanks to the Land and Water Conservation Fund's support of this amazing place!" -Elissa T. from Delafield, WI at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
