U.S. National Parks Quest (NPQ)

We organize 3 to 5-day long weekend trips to National Parks in the US, in a comfortable mode with economy hotels' accommodations and getting around in a locally rented van with no more than 6 people in a group.

In 2026 we want to go to Hawaii Volcanoes, Haleakalā in Hawaii (with a possible stretch to the National Park of American Samoa), Voyageurs and Isle Royale National Parks in Minnesota, Riding Mountain and Theodor Roosevelt National Parks in Canada and North Dakota. Overseas: for 2026 the plan is to explore National Parks in Norway, and in 2027 - in Chile, Peru, South Korea and New Zealand

UPDATE for 2026: see Discussion post #26: https://www.meetup.com/u-s-national-parks-quest-group/discussions/

As to the past - feel free to click on the below photo albums of the parks that we've done in the previous three years:

• Death Valley, Yosemite, Redwood, Lassen Volcanic, Channel Islands, Joshua Tree and Pinnacles in California,
• Saguaro and Petrified Forest, and Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend in Arizona,
• Great Basin in Nevada,
• White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico and Guadalupe Mountain in Texas,
• Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and Mammoth Cave in Kentucky,
• Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Mesa Verde in Colorado,
• Wind Cave, Badlands, and Mountain Rushmore Monument in South Dakota,
• Yellowstone and Grand Teton in Wyoming,
• Indiana Dunes in Indiana and Cuyahoga Valley in Ohio, Niagara Falls in New York,
• Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef, in Utah,
• Mount Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades in Washington,
• Denali and Kenai Fjords in Alaska,
• Crater Lake in Oregon,
• Glacier in Montana,
• Acadia in Maine,
• Shenandoah in Virginia,
• Congaree in South Carolina,
• Everglades, Biscayne NPs and Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida,
• Fall Foliage at Loess Hills and Door County - in Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin,
• Southeast- in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana,
• Midwest and the Ozarks - in Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee.

In Canada:
Pacific Rim National Park - on Vancouver Island,
La Mauricie, Parc National du Mont-Tremblant, and National park of Frontenac - in Quebec,
Kejimkujik and Fundy National Parks - in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick,
Banff, Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho National Parks - in Alberta.

Also, other Americas:
Volcan Poas, Volcan Arenal, Montaverde and Manuel Antonio National Parks - in Costa Rica,
Izta-Popo and Nevado de Toluca National Parks - in Mexico.

In space-limited events (like small group multi-day trips) the preference is given to members who previously attended other NPQ's events and met their fellow group members in-person.
Do not hesitate to sign into a WAIT-LIST when an event if full - chances are you eventually get to the main list: some people in the main list happen to change their mind as the dates coming up. Or they do not respond the organizers' messages about the event. In this case they got moved out and people from the wait list go to the main list.

Other activities in NPQ:

• On many Saturday early mornings Lana takes the group to Alviso's colorful ponds to enjoy the atmospheric environment and an after-hike, optional, networking and having breakfast at a Taco place nearby.
• On lunch-time we occasionally organize hikes at Baylands Nature Preserve and Rancho San Antonio C.P.

These Saturday early morning and weekday lunch-time hikes are often cross-posted with tech pros' Meetup groups: Silicon Valley Indian Professionals Association (SIPA), California Software Professional Association (CSPA), Global Online Tech & Startup Networking & Training Meetup and others. We want to network and build a community of good people!

Our sister group Super Fabulicious Hiking and Outdoor Adventures aka SuperFabs (https://www.meetup.com/superfab/) does even more fun stuff such as:

• Hitting the trail on a Sunday noon for moderate hikes at County Parks: Sanborn, Stevens Creek, Upper Stevens Creek, Uvas Canyon, Santa Teresa, Almaden Quick Silver, Joseph Grant's, Lexington Reservoir, Ed Levin's, Alum Rock, Pulgas Ridge.
• On some Sundays SuperFabs go on a strenuous-level hike led by Ankit. In some evenings you can join Rita for a half-Mission Peak hike to see a sunset. And many Saturday's early mornings you can go with Lana on Alviso's colorful ponds to enjoy the atmospheric environment and an after-hike, optional, networking and breakfast at a Taco place nearby.
• When undertaking backpacking trips to beautiful locations in California, our picks are Desolation Wilderness, Emigrant Wilderness, and the Lyon lake area.

As Meetup skyrocketed the Organizer's subscription price by the beginning of 2025, participation in the above events of our sister group SuperFabs became a paid subscription starting March 2025.

But, members of this group, NPQ who ever went on any number of multi-day National Park trips (even a single one) - you are friends and family from that trip on! And if you are a member of SuperFabs then no dues for you forever! If you are in SuperFabs and Meetup posts some member dues for you to pay there - just poke me with a message, it will be all waved (if not yet.)

See each other on the Happy Trails! 🏔 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️

Disclaimer:
Joining any of our hikes is voluntary and there may be some risks associated with this physical activity. It is each hiker's responsibility to ensure that she/he is physically fit and in good health to participate in hiking activities ; and you also have agreed ( for you and your guests) to the Meetup Usage and Content Policies: Rules for Using Meetup located here: [https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002897532-Usage-and-Content-Policies-Rules-for-Using-Meetup](https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002897532-Usage-and-Content-Policies-Rules-for-Using-Meetup)
Hikers need to be prepared with the appropriate water, food or lunch, layers clothes, sturdy hiking shoes , hiking poles, and first aid supplies. Hike hosts make no warranties about the quality, safety, or supervision of these activities. Hiking organizers/ hosts are not professionals in this field and may occasionally get lost which will extend the time period for the hike. Hikers are ok to go ahead of leader, but wait at trails intersection and maintain visible distance between other hikers.

Liability Waiver:
By signing for the hiking event, you hereby release it's organizers, hosts, and all participants from any and all liabilities, claims, demands or causes of action that you now have, or may have in the future, for illness, injuries, damages, and /or economic loss of any kind or nature, arising in whole or in part out of the activities, advice, or information contained herein . You are acknowledging the requirements, the possible risks and are taking responsibility for your own health and safety issues. And Safety matters!