People like lists. No, check that, they love them. Particularly when they disagree with them and think they have a better list. So, here's my personal Top 10 list of national parks.* How does it match up with yours?
1. Yellowstone. Does this selection really need to be explained? It's the world's first national park, it features the world's greatest collection of thermal features (hot springs, fumaroles, geysers, etc.), has wolves, two species of bears, eagles, osprey, moose, bighorn sheep, streams for angling, lakes for paddling and angling, and an incredible backcountry for getting away from it all.
You could spend an entire vacation watching the surf at Acadia. NPS photo.
2. Acadia. Perhaps because this was the very first national park I ever visited, this deserves to be in my Top 10. That said, it can stand on its own. The wonderful mix of forests and surf, the carriage paths, the eclectic vibe that runs through Bar Harbor, the great B&Bs and cottages, and, of course, the fresh lawbsta make this park a crowd pleaser.
3. Olympic. One park, three vastly different experiences: Surf, rainforest, and alpine. Just one of those three would justify a visit to this park overlooking the Pacific Ocean from Washington state's peninsula. But when you have all three in one visit...well, it's a no brainer.
Great Smoky is rife with hiking options. Kurt Repanshek photo.
4. Great Smoky. Family friendly, rich in American history, fantastic hiking, it's all here. When the dog days of summer get hot and lazy, there are more than a few streams to cool off in. The historic structures found in Cades Cove, (Big and Little) Cataloochee, and Oconaluftee allow you to peer into an earlier, somewhat simpler, more self-reliant time.
5. Canyonlands. This park likely won't make everyone's list, but then, that's probably because they haven't visited. There's prehistory on display in the form of granaries, petroglyphs and pictographs, vestiges of cowboy history, bizarre geology, bucking rivers for white-water cowboys, and vast expanses to walk into.
6. Glacier Bay. Again, not likely to make everyone's list. But it's rich in glacial history, boasts a cornucopia of wildlife (both terrestrial and marine), and is most definitely wild. And the fishing is not lacking.
You want glaciers? Glacier Bay has glaciers. Kurt Repanshek photo.
7. Sequoia. Big trees, big backcountry, great backcountry and front-country trails, a kid-pleaser. A bonus is that it's connected by border, and administratively, to Kings Canyon National Park.
8. Yosemite. While the Yosemite Valley is the main attraction, if you spend all your time there with the millions of other visitors, you won't really get to know this park. The high country with its granite domes, peaks, and hiking trails is sublime.
9. Everglades. Sure, it's hot in summer, but show up between November and April and you've got a reasonable climate in which to explore the paddling trails, go birding, take in a hike or two, explore the largest officially designated wilderness east of the Rockies, and the fishing is waiting for you.
You haven't experienced Yosemite if you neglect the high country. Kurt Repanshek photo.
10. Virgin Islands. Another personal favorite that might not show up on many lists. But if you're looking for relaxation in the form of reclining in your beach chair on the park's sugar-sand beaches, want to explore some dazzling marinelife while snorkeling the park's coral reefs, or study Caribbean history, this is the place to head.
* For the purposes of this list, I considered just the 58 "national" parks.
Comments
Sadly I have not made it to Yellowstone (or Acadia, or Isle Royale, or many others) so I won't aim for 10 favorites, but of the parks I've been to, my memories are fondest of:
Hawaii Volcanoes -- I've been there twice, and it was awesome (really) both times, but on my second visit the ground was rumbling, the lava was flowing -- hard to beat for geologic drama.
Glacier Bay -- Still, crystalline beauty vs. booming bergs as they tumble into the sea.
Olympic -- For the reasons Kurt listed: It's three parks in one.
Mount Rainier -- The Lonely Mountain of the West, brooding and beautiful.
Zion -- Great views, great hikes.
Glacier -- The most wildlife I've seen on one trip, and mostly camera-close.
Mammoth Cave -- For the fun of exploring such an alien environment.
Everglades -- Especially the southern tip of the park, where the land just seems to break up and float off to sea.
(This list is West to East, by the way, though I'd keep Hawaii Volcanoes at the top no matter what.)
Restricting it to those titled "national parks"
1) Yellowstone; 2) Acadia; 3) Arches; 4) Everglades; 5) Zion; 6) Mount Rainier; 7) Glacier;
8) Isle Royale; 9) Olympic; 10) Yosemite.
It gets much more interesting when you talk about naming favorite units (no matter the designation). That brings in the smaller, more intimate treasures: Devils Tower, Fort Frederica, Montezuma Well unit of Montezuma Castle - three of my favorite places.
We're taking it a step at a time, Anonymous, a step at a time. We'll get more specific regarding other units in future posts....
Of the 39 Parks that I have been to so far, I have ranked my top ten based off of a combination of the enjoyment that I had while there and the degree of longing I feel to go back:
Yosemite
Glacier
Zion
Grand Teton
Yellowstone
Acadia
Mt. Rainier
Shenandoah
Great Smoky Mountions
Kings Canyon
1.) Capital Reef NP
2.) Sequoia NP
3.) Grand Canyon NP-North Rim
4.) Redwoods NP
5.) Death Valley NP
6.) Mt. Rainier NP
7.) Zion NP
8.) Bryce NP
9.) Joshua Tree NP
10.) Olympic NP
Can you tell I live on the west coast?
I've been foutunate enough to travel to 21 parks and have enjoyed every one. If I had to pick a top 10, here it is (disclaimer-this list is subject to change at any time):
1. Yellowstone - If you can only go to one park, go here. I agree with many of the other posters that Yellowstone is eaisily #1, ranking the rest is quite a bit harder.
2. Grand Canyon - We hiked down the Bright Angel trail and floated the river to Lake Mead in '05. This was my single greatest NP experience and gave me a whole new appreciation for the canyon. It would not rate as high to me without the rafting experience.
3. Glacier - Beautiful scenery, wildlife, lots to do, less crowded than many of the more "famous" parks.
3. Arches - If you go, be sure to hike to Delicate Arch; many other great day hikes.
4. Kings Canyon - Great Sierra scenery, Grant grove of Giant Sequoia is spectacular, few people
5. Bryce Canyon - I love the orange creamsicle color, the Navajo loop trail is one of my favorites.
6. Hawaii Volcanos - Where else can you go and have a fairly good chance of seeing molten lava.
7. Yosemite - The scenery lives up to its reputation; unfourtunatly so do the crowds.
8. Mt. Rainier - The Paradise Inn is one of the coolest places I have ever stayed. I was lucky enough to be there on a clear day.
9. Olympic - A little bit of everything, the rain forests and rugged coast are amazing.
10. Death Valley - Beautful desert scenery with easy access from Las Vegas and few tourists.
My top ten list:
1) Yosemite. My first national park, or at least that's what my parents tell me. There's a lot of criticism of the crowds, but there's nothing quite like being alone on the top of Clouds Rest.
2) Yellowstone. It's nature's freakshow, and in a good way.
3) Sequoia and Kings Canyon. They really have to be seen as the same park. Hiking through Redwood Canyon Grove was a life-changing experience - especially the bear with three cubs that I came across.
4) Grand Teton. Just off the charts the most beautiful place I've ever visited.
5) Arches. There is absolutely no place on Earth like it. Just seeing Delicate Arch come into sight gave me goosebumps.
6) Hawai'i Volcanoes. Enough said.
7) Grand Canyon. Everyone should visit once in their lifetime.
8) Zion. Pictures just don't do it justice.
9) Olympic. I don't think there's any other park with quite the diversity, including beaches, mountains, and rainforests.
10) Everglades. I'm sort of wondering how a place like that so close to large population centers gets such little visitation.
No mention of North Cascades!