What's your favorite National Park?

yellowstone over Teton ??? I need some pic! of those mountains

 

Yellowstone was the only National Park I've ever been to outside of Florida, Teton and Glacier are on my bucket list, my dream is to visit all the US National parks before I give up my ghost.

 

a little cool for Hawaii 60 degrees at the Volcano

 

@Stink_Bait! Everglades was cool, didnt realize you could just fish it. We went to the Keys on our honeymoon(avoiding any covid island quarantines) and really liked Biscayne. Sailed out to some little NP installation and got to kayak and snorkel in the mangroves. Big change from cornfields!

 

Just got back from visiting 5 NPs in 9 days! Started out at Guadeloupe Mountains. Wanted to do the summit, but rangers advised against due to high winds so I made the loop to Carlsbad and White Sands instead that day.

Big Bend was definitely one of the best parks I have visited! So much ecological diversity. Beautiful night skies and solitude if you're willing to get off the beaten path. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Finally, Hot Springs in Arkansas was a pleasant surprise. The history of the bath houses and character of the city made this urban park a real gem(pun intended).

 

So much to see, so little time…gotta agree Big Bend is phenomenal….I hope you plan a return trip to BB. PM me for some recommendations if you plan another trip to the Big Bend area.

 

Living for 60 years in Utah I’ve been to Zions maybe 50-75 times. Back in the day it wasn’t crowded at all. We could even get out of our car and look through the ports in the tunnels without another car coming for 15+ minutes or more. I’ve done just about every 1 day or less hike. I’ve been many times to the Kobob Canyon side which many don’t even know exist. I worked for the government and when we had to travel from Cedar City to Kanab to do software training, we would always cut through the Park. We got past the entrance for free because we were on “official business” in an official government vehicle. While I still love to visit, it just isn’t the same.

 

I agree, Hot Springs was a nice surprise. Thoroughly enjoyed that area; the history, hiking around the paths behind the bath houses, etc. Still need to get to Big Bend though.

 

Ok. I see why Glacier NP is so highly rated! I was there before the peak season and got lucky in that the Going to the Sun Road was fully-opened. The park was not crowded in the slightest and the weather was pretty decent for late June in the Montana Rockies.

 

Has anyone done Black Canyon of Gunnison or neighboring Curecanti NRA? Thinking about a short trip over there to check it out.

 

Checked off Glacier and the north unit of Teddy Roosevelt last week to get us to 18 in 4 years. TR was a bit of a drag but we knew going in it was only a driveby on the 2nd day of our drive home. 11 hours not including the park meant we did the scenic drive and only got out once to checkout the cannonball rocks.
Glacier was amazing. First park or vacation we've ever booked a return trip too before we even left. Actually staying in the park next June. Cant wait!

 

Yeah, Glacier is pretty special. I stayed in the South Unit of TR on my first night back from there. It's tough because you just went to an AMAZING park and anything else by comparison is kind of meh... I managed to see some bison which was pretty cool and the history of Teddy and the surrounding land was interesting. The campground in the actual park was NOT one of my favorites, however, but it was on the scenic road and the South Unit itself is pretty accessible right off the highway.

 

I would have preferred the see the South Unit, but travel being what it was, we stayed in Watford City, ND and the North Unit was on the way home. South would have been pretty far in the wrong direction and then made the home trip like 14hr+.

 

second hike at Grand Canyon national park with my son……..


Hiking South Kaibab Trail to Phantom Ranch Grand Canyon National Park
https://youtu.be/xpSg5swbnCw

 

I visited Black Canyon a year or two ago. It's definitely worth going - the scenery is unlike anything I've seen elsewhere - but it's also not that big so you won't need to spend much time there. Very few hikes in the area and the couple routes from rim to river are highly sketchy and mostly just wayfinding over loose rock.

While you're in the area don't miss Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction - great stuff.

 

Awesome pics!

 

Thanks for the info! definitely going to get one

 

My wife and I have started this great adventure last year. Did Zion, Bryce Canyon in 2022 and Arches and Canyonlands in UT, Carlsbad Caverns, Guadalupe Mtns, White Sands in NM, Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Badlands and Devils Tower in SD in 2023. Plan on doing Pike Peak this June.

 

Living in Utah.....NP choices are many along with State Parks & National Monuments

Zion......way busy/crowded even in October (pic)

Although great place to ride EBikes while shuttle only is running

Park main canyon road is closed to private vehicles during peak months...shuttle or EBikes/bicycles only

Angles Landing.....just doesn't interest me......crowds & heights

Arches is another busy place....timed entry passes from April-October

Teton & Yellowstone are on my list for summer '24...along with Great Basin NP

Glacier another time

 

Never been west of Chicago, so Acadia, Shenandoah, and Everglades are the only ones I've been to
Looking to up my travel in the next year or two and go west with the Taco