What's your favorite National Park?

I loved riding up the road in the bus. You get little peeks of it here and there. At first it looks like some sort of white ghost and you're not sure it's really it. The you come over that one hill and Bam, there it is.

 

North cascades,Olympics,Denali

 

I was just at Arches last week. Some of the most jaw dropping scenery and amazing geology I've ever seen. You've got Dead Horse Point State Park and Canyonlands right up the road along with some of the most famous rock crawling trails in the world. Now that I know the area I'm going to plan another trip and hit some trails in my old truck.

 

During peak season, none of them. Usually, it's way too crowded for me. During the offseason, I would have a hard time deciding. Mt. Rainier NP is a stone through away from where I live and has some fantastic hiking trails. The diversity of Olympic NP is amazing between the beaches, old-growth forest, and alpine meadows. Wondering the ruins of Chaco Canyon NHP will leave you in awe and wonder. The canyons and spires Canyonlands NP will take your breath away (no seriously, there is a pucker factor to some of those trails). Honestly, every NP is unique in its own right and trying to decide which one is my favorite is like trying to decide between a good IPA, a good sour beer, or a good barrel-aged stout. It depends on what mood you're in and the alignment of the moon and stars. This is going to take some pondering.

 

Yellowstone.

 

Glacier.

 

(Read the following with an Aussie accent.) “That’s not a Yellowstone. This is a Yellowstone.,”

 

Awwww he's cute!

 

petting distances lol?

 

When I took it my wife asked me if I was scared. Of course my comeback line was “No. I could outrun two or three of the people around me.

 

Just recently got back from Yosemite!! A whole week wasn't enough

 

Bison of Yellowstone.

 

Yosemite is very cool!

 

Are the bison shedding?

 

I don't know. Many of them had kinda patchy fur.

 

They look like hairy water buffalo lol.

 

In order of awesomeness (with some national monuments thrown in):

Canyonlands - Only way to truely appreciate it is with a capable 4x4 vehicle and making campsite reservations early. All three parts are awesome in their own way. Driving the White Rim Trail is simply the definition of epic.

Voyaguers - Hugh area only accessible by boat. Go when school is in session if you want the place to yourself. Rent a house boat and a small motorboat and stay on a different island every night. The definition of peace and quiet.

Arches NM - Unique scenery and great hikes.

Glacier - Best drive while staying on pavement. Make early reservations for a room at the Lake McDonald Lodge. Back country hikes are very scenic.

Grand Canyon North Rim - Make early reservations for a room at the lodge and a mule ride.

Grand Canyon South Rim - Too many people, but if you can snag a mule ride and phantom ranch reservation at the bottom, totally worth it.

Yellowstone / Grand Teton- Very unique features ruined by too many people. Back country packing the only way to really appreciate it.

Rocky Mountain - Also too many people, but good hikes and the view from the top of the continental divide is quite spectacular.

Black Hills / Wind Cave - A lot of great things to see and do in the area, if you do your research.

Badlands - Pretty.

White Sands - Sledding on sand dunes.

Petrified Forest - Worth it if you are in the area. Get some over price wood in Holman.

Scotts Bluff NM - Neat history (wagon ruts are still quite visible) and a nice short hike.

Devils Tower NM - Nice hike around the base, more fun if you are a rock climber.

Saguaro - Nice drive if you are into cacti.

 

As so many said: All of them! Seriously, we should treasure them.

My favorites? How do we decide this?

Do we mean favorites by most visited?

1) Sleeping Bear Dunes
2) Pictured Rocks
3) Keweenaw National Historic
4) Smokey Mountains
5) Rocky Mountains


Favorites I've visited?

1) Yellowstone
2) Yosemite
3) All of Utah (missed out on Zion, gotta return)
4) Isle Royale
5) Keweenaw National Historic
6) Grand Teton
7) Rocky Mountains
8) Pictured Rocks
9) Sleeping Bear Dunes
10) Grand Canyon
11) Smokey Mountains
12) Theodore Roosevelt
13) Death Valley

Very hard to rank actually... the order of the list will probably change all of the time

Least Favorite?
Indiana Dunes (But I did like the Future Homes)

 

You would probably appreciate Keweenaw National Historic Park, Lots of mining history.