On the list of best jobs ever, working in the U.S. National Parks has to be somewhere near the apex. And Emma Forthofer’s job — shooting documentary film in the park sites — must be among the best of the best. We asked her to tell us about her favorite national parks. Since she’s been to many and knows them from the inside, we also asked which hasn’t she visited that she most wants to get to. Below are her favorites list and her bucket list. —The Editor
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
With an average annual snowfall of about 172 inches, Jackson, Wyoming, is a popular winter destination for snow sports. I visited Grand Teton only once, during summertime, and found it to be enchantingly beautiful then. With large animals such as moose, bears, and elk seemingly at every turn, this park is a wildlife lover’s dream. The Teton Range for which the park is named is a breathtaking site to behold, especially painted in pink sunlight at sunrise.
Channel Islands National Park, California
Channel Islands, just 70 miles from Los Angeles, is high on my list to explore next. Five remote islands, accessible via a boat concession, make up the park, and together they host nearly 60 plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth. I hope to camp out on one of the islands someday, to hike, kayak, birdwatch, and simply enjoy the serenity found in the quiet away from the bustling city. The visitors center is in Ventura.
Acadia National Park, Maine
Described by the National Park Service as the “Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast,” Acadia boasts 60 miles of coastline, 33 miles of scenic motor roads, 45 miles of historic carriage roads, and more than 150 miles of hiking trails. Located primarily on Maine’s largest island, Mount Desert Island, this park offers stunning vistas of mountains, lakes, wetlands, meadows, forests, and the Atlantic Ocean. Can’t-miss hikes include Cadillac Mountain, Jesup Path, and both the Beehive and Precipice Trail’s famous ladder rungs ascending exposed cliff faces.
Everglades National Park, Florida
The watery landscape known as the Everglades, No. 2 on my bucket list, hosts an abundance of wildlife: from turtles, herons, and dolphins to endangered species like the manatee, American crocodile, and Florida panther. Exploring these tropical wetlands by land or boat sounds unforgettable. Paddling around the mangroves and manatees would be extraordinary!
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho
Entering Yellowstone, America’s first national park, feels like arriving on an alien planet. With unique hydrothermal and geologic features, watching active geysers such as Old Faithful is a big draw to this strange and fascinating land. Bison frequently dot the landscape. A bonus of this park is that it neighbors Grand Teton National Park. You can likely plan a visit to both during your stay.
Yosemite National Park, California
Especially for those living in California, Yosemite is a must-see. Driving into Yosemite’s great valley is awe-inspiring, passing numerous massive waterfalls and granite mountains looming overhead on either side. The famous Half Dome hike is well worth the permitting process, but with 1,200 square miles of protected lands in Yosemite, there’s more than enough hiking, birdwatching, backpacking, and scenic driving available for all. And just a six-hour drive from LMU’s campus!
Zion National Park, Utah
A world-famous hike called Angels Landing is what first drew my eye to Zion, with its daunting, narrow path: It’s lined with iron chains for hikers to cling to as they snake their way to the top of a cliff face approximately 1,488 feet above the canyon floor. From the striking massive red sandstone cliffs to the narrow slot canyon floor of the park, there is tons to explore.
Emma Forthofer ’21 is a cinematographer based in Los Angeles who shoots documentary film of preservationists in national park sites across the country for the Historic Preservation Training Center of the National Park Service.