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Favorite National Parks?
Posted on 5/2/16 at 10:37 pm
Posted on 5/2/16 at 10:37 pm
I've been to 21 national parks so far:
Acadia
Cuyahoga Valley
Congaree
Biscayne
Everglades
Great Smoky Mountains
Mammoth Cave
Hot Springs
Rocky Mountain
Great Sand Dunes
Mesa Verde
Yellowstone
Grand Teton
Crater Lake
Lassen Volcanic
Redwood
Zion
Arches
Canyonlands
Bryce Canyon
Capitol Reef
I've obviously got my favorites and least favorites. I have been overwhelmed and underwhelmed throughout these visits, based solely on my expectation(s) prior to actually seeing them and spending time in them.
Here's my 5 most underwhelming (or least favorite) parks I've visited:
1. Yellowstone
2. Biscayne
3. Cuyahoga Valley
4. Everglades
5. Canyonlands
(Honorable mention: Hot Springs)
On the flip side, my 5 favorite national parks I've visited based on my expectations:
1. Grand Teton
2. Capitol Reef
3. Zion
4. Great Sand Dunes
5. Redwood
(Honorable mention: Arches)
I have not yet visited the Alaska parks, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, any of the Washington parks, or those in Texas/New Mexico.
This summer I'm going back to Acadia, and will be seeing Shenandoah, Cape Breton Highlands, Fundy, & Kouchibouguac (sp) for the first time.
What are yours?
Acadia
Cuyahoga Valley
Congaree
Biscayne
Everglades
Great Smoky Mountains
Mammoth Cave
Hot Springs
Rocky Mountain
Great Sand Dunes
Mesa Verde
Yellowstone
Grand Teton
Crater Lake
Lassen Volcanic
Redwood
Zion
Arches
Canyonlands
Bryce Canyon
Capitol Reef
I've obviously got my favorites and least favorites. I have been overwhelmed and underwhelmed throughout these visits, based solely on my expectation(s) prior to actually seeing them and spending time in them.
Here's my 5 most underwhelming (or least favorite) parks I've visited:
1. Yellowstone
2. Biscayne
3. Cuyahoga Valley
4. Everglades
5. Canyonlands
(Honorable mention: Hot Springs)
On the flip side, my 5 favorite national parks I've visited based on my expectations:
1. Grand Teton
2. Capitol Reef
3. Zion
4. Great Sand Dunes
5. Redwood
(Honorable mention: Arches)
I have not yet visited the Alaska parks, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, any of the Washington parks, or those in Texas/New Mexico.
This summer I'm going back to Acadia, and will be seeing Shenandoah, Cape Breton Highlands, Fundy, & Kouchibouguac (sp) for the first time.
What are yours?
This post was edited on 5/3/16 at 11:38 am
Posted on 5/3/16 at 8:57 am to PNW
Glacier is my favorite in lower 48. Banff in Canada is also quite spactular.
Posted on 5/3/16 at 9:07 am to PNW
Absolute favorite - Mesa Verde
2. Smoky Mountains
3. Yellowstone
4. Grand Teton
5. Rocky Mountains
6. Grand Canyon
![](https://www.desertusa.com/ver/IMG_3392.jpg)
![](https://i.livescience.com/images/i/000/037/033/original/mesa-verde-cliff-palace.jpg?1361560615)
![](https://o.aolcdn.com/os/mapquest/national-parks/photos/park-pano/mesa-verde-national-park.jpg)
2. Smoky Mountains
3. Yellowstone
4. Grand Teton
5. Rocky Mountains
6. Grand Canyon
This post was edited on 5/3/16 at 9:08 am
Posted on 5/3/16 at 9:33 am to PNW
1) Glacier
2) Olympic
3) Grand Teton
4) Yellowstone
5) Canyonlands
6) Badlands
7) Rocky Mountain
8) Mesa Verde
9) Everglades
10) Carlsbad
Least Favorite: Wind Cave
2) Olympic
3) Grand Teton
4) Yellowstone
5) Canyonlands
6) Badlands
7) Rocky Mountain
8) Mesa Verde
9) Everglades
10) Carlsbad
Least Favorite: Wind Cave
Posted on 5/3/16 at 9:40 am to PNW
quote:
Absolute favorite - Mesa Verde
Strongly agree.
1. Mesa Verde
2. Grand Canyon
3. Great Smoky Mountains
4. Petrified Forest
5. Canyonlands
6. Great Sand Dunes
Want to visit:
1. Big bend
2. Glacier and Glacier Bay
3. Redwood
4. Yellowstone
5. Yosmite
6. Zion
Posted on 5/3/16 at 10:07 am to PNW
1. Zion
2. Virgin Islands
3. GSMNP
4. Rocky Mountain
5. Bryce Canyon
6. Rainer
7. Channel Islands
8. Everglades
These are the 8 NP's I've been too...there's a few other National Monuments and National Forests I'd include in there in between 5 and 7
2. Virgin Islands
3. GSMNP
4. Rocky Mountain
5. Bryce Canyon
6. Rainer
7. Channel Islands
8. Everglades
These are the 8 NP's I've been too...there's a few other National Monuments and National Forests I'd include in there in between 5 and 7
Posted on 5/3/16 at 10:35 am to PNW
I haven't been to a lot, but I love Glacier.
Posted on 5/3/16 at 11:05 am to PNW
#1 Yosemite (nothing like it-the most majestic)
Tier 1:
Grand Canyon
Yellowstone
Glacier
Sequoia
Death Valley
Tier 2:
Rocky Mountain
Redwoods
Tier 3:
Smokey Mountains
Mammoth Caves
Petrified Forest
Hot Springs
Tier 1:
Grand Canyon
Yellowstone
Glacier
Sequoia
Death Valley
Tier 2:
Rocky Mountain
Redwoods
Tier 3:
Smokey Mountains
Mammoth Caves
Petrified Forest
Hot Springs
Posted on 5/3/16 at 12:48 pm to PNW
I've been to 21 as well:
Arches
Bryce Canyon
Canyonlands
Capitol Reef
Congaree
Cuyahoga Valley
Death Valley
Glacier
Grand Canyon
Grand Teton
Great Smoky Mountains
Hot Springs
Isle Royale
Mammoth Cave
Mount Rainier
Petrified Forest
Rocky Mountain
Voyageurs
Yellowstone
Yosemite
Zion
Top 5 least favorite:(In Order)
1. Cuyahoga Valley
2. Congaree
3. Hot Springs
4. Mammoth Cave
5. Voyageurs
(Honorable Mention: Petrified Forest)
My top 5 favorites: (In Order)
1. Yosemite
2. Grand Teton
3. Glacier
4. Yellowstone
5. Rocky Mountain
(Honorable Mention: Zion)
Arches
Bryce Canyon
Canyonlands
Capitol Reef
Congaree
Cuyahoga Valley
Death Valley
Glacier
Grand Canyon
Grand Teton
Great Smoky Mountains
Hot Springs
Isle Royale
Mammoth Cave
Mount Rainier
Petrified Forest
Rocky Mountain
Voyageurs
Yellowstone
Yosemite
Zion
Top 5 least favorite:(In Order)
1. Cuyahoga Valley
2. Congaree
3. Hot Springs
4. Mammoth Cave
5. Voyageurs
(Honorable Mention: Petrified Forest)
My top 5 favorites: (In Order)
1. Yosemite
2. Grand Teton
3. Glacier
4. Yellowstone
5. Rocky Mountain
(Honorable Mention: Zion)
This post was edited on 5/3/16 at 12:50 pm
Posted on 5/3/16 at 12:48 pm to PNW
Basically the area from Glacier Bay National Park through Wrangell-St. Elias. It's a world heritage site and includes two Canadian Parks (Kluane, Tatshenshini-Alsek)
The area is roughly 32 million acres or 50,000 sq. miles. Contains many of the highest peaks in North America including Mt. Logan and Mt. St. Elias, both over 18,000 ft. Some of the best hiking, wildlife, rafting (Tatshenshini) and fishing opportunities in the world. Volcanoes, ghost towns, heli-skiing...
It covers parts of Alaska, BC and the Yukon Territory
![](https://photos1.usa-pictures.com/pictures/USA/AK/USA-Alaska-Glacier%20Bay-0--47525673-.jpg)
![](https://www.bcliving.ca/sites/default/files/u959/bcl_heritage_week_bc_parks_3_tatshenshini.jpg)
![](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Active/Alaska1-plane-alamy-large.jpg)
![](https://www.leonardslanding.com/Wilderness%20Wrangell%20St%20Elias%20Skiffs%20with%20St%20Elias.jpg)
The area is roughly 32 million acres or 50,000 sq. miles. Contains many of the highest peaks in North America including Mt. Logan and Mt. St. Elias, both over 18,000 ft. Some of the best hiking, wildlife, rafting (Tatshenshini) and fishing opportunities in the world. Volcanoes, ghost towns, heli-skiing...
It covers parts of Alaska, BC and the Yukon Territory
![](https://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/2004/2819/images/thumbnail.jpg)
This post was edited on 5/3/16 at 12:52 pm
Posted on 5/3/16 at 6:09 pm to PNW
Olympic
Bryce Canyon
Zion
Yosemite
Everglades
Bryce Canyon
Zion
Yosemite
Everglades
Posted on 5/3/16 at 6:13 pm to PNW
quote:
Here's my 5 most underwhelming (or least favorite) parks I've visited:
1. Yellowstone
quote:
On the flip side, my 5 favorite national parks I've visited based on my expectations:
1. Grand Teton
Some one's going to slam you for that, but I agree. The Tetons are just more impressive.
Posted on 5/3/16 at 6:23 pm to PNW
Favorite is so difficult for me.
Watching the sunset at delicate arch makes arches among one of the most incredible places in the world IMO. Great Sand Dunes are just incredible if you study the science behind it all (I'm a geoscientist, so it is my wheelhouse), as is Death Valley. Yellowstone wildlife is great. Zion is incredible all around. Glacier is on my soon list.
Watching the sunset at delicate arch makes arches among one of the most incredible places in the world IMO. Great Sand Dunes are just incredible if you study the science behind it all (I'm a geoscientist, so it is my wheelhouse), as is Death Valley. Yellowstone wildlife is great. Zion is incredible all around. Glacier is on my soon list.
Posted on 5/3/16 at 10:45 pm to PNW
I can't imagine any of them not having some extraordinary characteristics. I haven't been to enough of them, but surely Yosemite would still be my favorite if I went to all of them. (Maybe some of the Alaska ones would outrank Yosemite)
Posted on 5/4/16 at 12:40 am to PNW
I have been to over forty National Parks and don't have a favorite.
For example, the ones I've been to in Hawai'i were all wonderful, except Pearl Harbor (technically the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument) which was remarkable in its own way but not nearly wonderful.
(Sidebar: Not a NP, but a memorable gov't. site I'm glad I've seen, the Punchbowl- VA Link)
Even as to just scenery, I couldn't recommend Joshua Tree or Death Valley over Grand Canyon or San Juan Islands or vice-versa.
Historically, taking a battlefield over a Jamestown or Fort Jefferson on Dry Tortugas?
I would have to know what someone liked and disliked (or didn't care about) to recommend a specific park to them.
I've personally enjoyed every one I've been to and visited.
![](https://images.tigerdroppings.com/Images/Icons/Iconusaflagsmiley.gif)
For example, the ones I've been to in Hawai'i were all wonderful, except Pearl Harbor (technically the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument) which was remarkable in its own way but not nearly wonderful.
(Sidebar: Not a NP, but a memorable gov't. site I'm glad I've seen, the Punchbowl- VA Link)
Even as to just scenery, I couldn't recommend Joshua Tree or Death Valley over Grand Canyon or San Juan Islands or vice-versa.
Historically, taking a battlefield over a Jamestown or Fort Jefferson on Dry Tortugas?
I would have to know what someone liked and disliked (or didn't care about) to recommend a specific park to them.
I've personally enjoyed every one I've been to and visited.
![](https://images.tigerdroppings.com/Images/Icons/Iconcheers.gif)
![](https://images.tigerdroppings.com/Images/Icons/Iconusaflagsmiley.gif)
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