Cathy’s post on Yosemite got me thinking about our great National Park system here in the US. I just returned from a long trip where we visited Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyon NPs. Having visited Yosemite a few years back, I’m now in the planning stages for next year’s trip. We’re thinking Alaska and Denali NP or maybe something else entirely. I’m curious to hear from some in the ST community as to what NPs they enjoyed.
My personal rankings are Yellowstone (mainly because of the wildlife that’s so abundant), Yosemite, Grand Tetons, and Zion. I’m in Florida and will be traveling with an 8 year old daughter, so I’m not sure something as remote as Denali is the right place. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If I hadn’t just gone to Yellowstone, I’d be headed right back…
Being a West Coaster, here would be my choice out west, since you have seen a lot of the southwesternern parks already.
One of the most uncrowded parks in the US is Glacier National Park (Montana). It’s a bit remote, but absolutely breathtaking. Sequioa & Kings Canyon, just south of Yosemite is superb as well, home of the giant redwoods, without the crowds of Yosemite. Beautiful temperate rainforest at Olympic National Forest in Washinton is a must see in one’s lifetime too. If you are driving through, take the girl to Mt. Rushmore, everone needs to see that one at least once.
Because they are so close to me (only 700 miles each way) my favorites are Big Bend National Park and Guadalupe National Park. Zion, Grand Canyon (North Rim) and Bryce are awesome, just a bit too much traveling time and distance as we drive and primative camp.
I’m going to Glacier for the first time in a couple of weeks, I’m really excited. I love Olympic National Forrest; it’s the most tranquil place I’ve ever been. I love Yosemite and was lucky enough to go on several school field trips there, all lasting a week at a time. It truly is magnificent, but always a bit on the crowded side so you never really get that one-with-nature feel. The most unique park I’ve been to was Glacier Bay in Alaska. We stayed in a lodge around Bartlett Cove and did a lot of hiking, kayaking and a couple of boat tours to see the glaciers calving up close. You could camp I guess, but there was no way I was going to camp for a week in the rain. We went the first week of August and it rained the entire time.
I swim, bike, run and hike in Glacier several times a year, since I live 45 minutes away. I suppose I could go every week if I wanted to. Lucky me.
I think Zion is way cool. Yosemite is amazing but its not easy to avoid the crowds there. Crater Lake is worth a day, if you are in the area. Haven’t been to Yellowstone or Tetons or Grand Canyon since childhood.
Canada’s Parks blow Glacier away. And I love Glacier.
I have been to Mt. Zion and Bryce Canyon and loved them. Arches National Monument is not too far from there too and I have visited them on the same trip. I have been to Rocky Mountain National Park twice which provided some excellent hiking trails.
Here in Michigan we have some cool National Parks along our coastlines. In the Lower Peninsula there is the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes along the Lake Michigan shore. It is one of those things that you have to see in order to believe. In the Upper Peninsula, Michigan has the Pictured Rocks National Park. This park is on the Lake Superior Shore. On the water side of that same park has been designated a National Waterway too. THere are 40 miles of water that are for kayakers and canoers in Lake Superior. There are also dunes and inland lakes that are completely pristine. You can hike around them and see moose, deer, bear, beaver, porcupine and loons. What makes them unique in my opinion is that these are the only places that you can go to see these sorts of geological formations and can be contrasted to each other from what the glaciers left behind on their retreat.
The Upper Peninsula alone is worth a whole vacation if you are into that sort of thing. The forests of the UP are a 50/50 blend of coniferous and deciduous trees which is unique because of how far north you actually are. If you compare to similar northern areas there are many more coniferous trees by percent. The reason for this is the peninsula effect and the waters keeping the weather cycle more temperate during the growing season. But the terrain is completely different as soon as you cross the bridge from the LP. The difference is much more gradual if you come up from the Wisconsin side.
Glacier is definitely a top choice. My wife loves Montana. I’ve never been, but I heard the wildlife is just as abundant in Glacier as in Yellowstone. If you’re into photography, like I am, it’s hard to beat Yellowstone’s wildlife; buffalo, grizzly bears, etc…
Yellowstone in the winter is something to behold. Stay at Mammouth Hotsprings and bring your crosscountry (backcountry) skis. there a fewer snowmobiles near Mammouth than down near old faithful.
Maybe it’s twisted of me, but I wanted to see Yellowstone in the winter after the big fires. Something about matchsticks in the snow. Probably would have made for some beautiful (again, in a twisted way) photographs.
Everyone forgets the other Michigan National Park, Isle Royale in lake Superior. You must either take a 7 hour ferry ride, or you need to fly in on a seaplane. No vehicles and no roads on the Island, trails, tents, hiking shelters and wildlife. I have spent many happy weeks on the island and the peace and scenery cannot be beat
Darn you! Honestly I was just going to find this thread and put in a plug for Isle Royale. You are right, not a lot of people know about this gem, and those that do are often daunted by its inaccessibilty. But worth the trip, despite the logistics involved. Good one!