There are plenty of long-distance rides in the National Park System that are fantastic. The 469-mile-long Blue Ridge Parkway is one, and the 105-mile Skyline Drive in Shenandoah Park is another.
But where are the best short drives?
For instance, the 16-mile drive from Madison Junction in Yellowstone National Park to the Old Faithful area takes you past some spectacular thermal features -- Fountain Flat Drive, Firehole Lake Drive with the short hike to Fountain Paint Pots, the Midway Geyser Basin with Grand Prismatic Spring, Biscuit Basin, Black Sand Basin. And drifting through it all is the Firehole River.
The short ride on a portion of the Park Loop Road (aka Ocean Drive) in Acadia National Park from Bar Harbor to Otter Cliff takes in the trailhead to the Precipice Trail, leads to Sand Beach and the trail to the Beehive, and Thunder Hole. And all along the way you've got beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean.
And, of course, the 18-mile Rim Road at Bryce Canyon National Park shows off the colorful underbelly of the Paunsaugunt Plateau.
So, where are the best rides, no longer than 20 miles one-way, in the National Park System?
Comments
My vote goes to Olympic National Park. There are 4 roads in that park that are between 15-20 miles each. The Hurrican Ridge road leads you 17 miles up to spectacular mountain viewswildflower sets and so much more. The 18 mile road into Sol Duc takes you along the Sol Duc river, and in the fall the colors are changing and the salmon are jumping. The 15 mile winding stretch around Lake Crescent takes you to another world. And then of course there is the 19 mile journey into the Hoh Rainforest. Amazing green canopies of Sprice and Maple tress greet you. From the nurse logs, mosses, down to the banana slugs up to the largest unmanaged heard of Roosevelt Elk, this is a drive worth taking.
Obviously, it is the drive from Grant Grove to Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon National Park. The road is in good shape, uncrowded, and the scenery during the drive is unsurpassed. Cedar Grove doesn't match the scenic beauty of Yosemite Valley, but it is a lot more pleasant to visit.
For pure fun, the jeep ride to The Racetrack at Death Valley.
For the views and interesting environment, Trail Ridge Road.
And the drive from Desert View to Hermits Rest is spectacular...
- Rim Rock Drive at Colorado NM (I know, 23 mi is slightly over the 20 mi mark, but I have to add it nevertheless).
- Newton B. Drury Parkway at Redwood NP
- Ajo Mountain Drive at Organ Pipe Cactus NM
One of my favorite memories in a national park was watching the sunrise at the top of Haleakala and then riding our bikes down the many switchbacks on that glorious mountain road. It was breathtaking (and cold!) to watch the sun rise over the clouds, but the day only got better as we soaked in the amazing scenery all the way down. I can still smell the eucalyptus grove. I agree with past comments about Going to the Sun Road in Glacier and about the Park Loop in Acadia, but the tropical glory in Haleakala deserves to be on the list too.
Cactus Forest Drive in Saguaro National Park is simply amazing, especially after it rains and mists linger across the land in March. Heart of the Sands Drive is up there too.
Further east, Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive in Sleeping Bear Dunes can give viewpoints one is shocked to learn come from Michigan.
Many have told me that have seemingly been everywhere and done everything that the 17 mile Mule Ride into the Grand Canyon (Phantom Ranch) going down the Bright Angel Trail and returning up the ridge the South Kaibab follows to Yaki Point is the best ride and also the best thing they've EVER done. Something about being so humbled by the experience that it was transformational.
How about the ride between Chinquapin and Glacier Point in Yosemite? It's hard to end up in a better place.
Rick