'I just love the outdoors': Hartville man seeks to visit all 424 national parks in 1 year

Tom Wright of Hartville has visited all of America's 424 national parks and sites. Now, he's doing it again — but faster.

Wright is on a quest to learn and understand America's heritage by visiting all 424 National Park Service sites and doing it in a potentially world-record time of just one year.

It's always better the second time, right?

With a little over half a year to go, Wright has already conquered 209 National Park Service locations as of May 24.

Despite challenges of last-minute changes and having to think on-the-fly, there is no slowing Wright down on his self-proclaimed quest to see America's national parks and the history that comes with them.

Wright began planning this hefty endeavor in December of 2021, in order to figure out where he would stay and in what sequence of parks he would visit.

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His journey includes stop at national parks and other sites managed by the National Park Service, including historical sites, national lakeshores, memorials, monuments, preserves and more.

The yearlong endeavor finally works with Wright's schedule. He retired last year after working for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. since 1982.

To prepare for this journey, Wright developed a website — anationalparksquest.com — to keep others who are interested in his quest updated.

"I extend an invitation for you to follow along, maybe inspiring folks to step foot outside their homes and comfort zones, to explore and experience America's heritage," Wright wrote on his blog.

On his website, Wright also shares advice and tips for road-tripping and all things national parks. He has created lists of must-see tourist spots, including the best food stops in America. Looking for a cinnamon roll bigger than your head? Check out Johnson's Corner Restaurant and Bakery in Johnstown, Colorado.

To stay organized and keep a solid plan in line, Wright created a series of "loops." These loops define certain areas he will visit within one trip. His last loop consisted of national parks and other sites in five states: Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico.

Wright's current conquests are in Alaska, where he arrived on May 28.

Although there have been many postponed trips this past year due to heavy snow storms or unexpected visitor center closures due to staffing shortages, Wright is confident he can finish his quest by mid-November.

Where it all began

Wright's passion and fascination for the national parks started at an early age, all thanks to a classic family road trip.

"My first experiences with these cultural and historical gems of our country were during those annual 'are we there yet?' treks taken by young families for their summer vacations," he wrote in his blog.

During the 1960s, his mom decided to take him and his brother to Yellowstone National Park when their father attended an economics conference at Montana State University.

"Bison, Old Faithful geyser, Yellowstone Falls and bubbling mud pots made a lasting impact," he recalled. "Watching bears stretch their bodies vertically, noses and paws squeezing through tiny, human-created openings at the tops of car windows, begging for culinary treats, is an unforgettable memory."

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Unforgettable memories are not the only motivation for his year-long quest to sight see these parks for the second time — it's also his overall admiration for America's national parks and the experience of trying something new.

"Their representation in our country’s heritage and history is unequaled...One of my objectives on this quest was to do something new in each park.  I have been about 75% successful, so far." Wright said.

He shares this love of traveling and experiencing new landscapes with his family similar to how he grew up. He often travels alongside his wife, Elizabeth, and their two children, Anne and Kyle.

Breaking a world record?

According to Wright, he's doing what he loves. He knows his quest can be done without having the title of a world record holder, but he figured he should at least try to reach out to Guinness World Records.

The current world record for the fastest time visiting all U.S. National Parks is three years and 25 days according to Wright. Guinness World Records could not be reached to confirm the record.

Wright is hoping his quest brings attention to national parks and encourages others to explore and support them, and beating a world record would make it even more interesting.

"People love world records, and they are intrigued when someone is trying to do something the fastest," Wright said.

However, Wright said he's experienced frustrations with the process of working with Guinness World Records.

"The effort to meet GWR’s rules would make this journey more work than enjoyment. My objective is to excite people to visit and learn about our national parks, and to have fun in the process. I can make my own certificate at the end of my quest," he wrote.

Wright is aware of a few other people who have visited all 424 parks within a year; however, they never submitted anything to GWR, as breaking a record was not the objective of their journey, according to Wright. For his quest, he is keeping tabs through daily logs and his GPS — hoping that's enough for the officials at GWR to give him the title of a world record holder.

Walking the line of adventurous and just out-right dangerous

Wright describes a lot of his experiences as sometimes "foolish" or "idiotic." From a steep climb in some classic "dad shoes" to a close call with a not-so-cuddly grizzly bear, Wright has always made it out just fine. Dad shoes intact.

"If the word 'crazy' could be replaced by 'foolish' or 'naive,' the activity would be climbing down to the Gunnison River from the rim at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park... then trying to climb back up," he said. "The Gunnison Route is 1,800-feet elevation change, and 2.7 miles roundtrip. Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine a hike being so dangerous and strenuous. And I did this in tennis shoes.

"Maybe the most idiotic trek was walking alone in Katmai National Park, to go to Brooks Falls for viewing bears catching salmon.  This area has the largest grizzly bears on the planet," he shared on his blog. "One wrong turn and I could have been face-to-face with a furry resident. One should hike with three or more people, at all times."

Wright did not have three companions — he actually didn't have even a single companion.

Where to next?

After Wright gets through his Alaskan loop of his quest, he will travel back to the Midwest to complete his 12th loop: Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Dakotas. A total of nineteen loops will satisfy the completion of all 424 parks and sites.

Even when his journey is complete, Wright said he will always continue to show his appreciation and admiration for the landscape of America.

"I just love the outdoors and seeing the great landscapes of our country," he said. "That is what keeps me going."

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Hartville man on quest to visit all 424 national parks in 1 year