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“Which National Park is our favorite?” | We have visited 47 of the present 58 National Parks. We say present because it seems every few years, congress establishes a new park. Usually changing a National Monument to a National Park. We have been asked many times which park we liked best. After much discussion, Judy and I have put together our rating list. Naturally it is based on what we want and use in the NP. Basically we like a NP which is strong on nature, interesting and different; be able to tour the park in a car on paved or gravel roads; hike on easy and moderate trails; attend ranger talks, slide and video presentations. We also like to just sit and listen to the quiet of a beautiful scene or an animal grazing. We have never been disappointed in any of the parks or park personnel. All of the rangers are eager to help and are very knowledgeable and are proud of their park. We must state at this time that we did not have the time or means to travel/hike on every trail or see every one of the sights in every park. So keep that in mind while reviewing our ratings. Our ratings are on what we did while in the parks. We enjoy hiking on easy and moderate trails and just sitting and watching nature. Our most strenuous was a hike down to Indian Gardens in the Grand Canyon. We also strongly recommend that you read about the park before you go. We highly recommend National Geographic’s Guide to the National Parks. It contains a description of the park, a park map, important phone numbers, and a very accurate explanation of what to do on half or full day tours. Some of the parks were visited while on a cruise ship. Most parks were visited using our RV. We rated the parks from 1 to 5.
5 = a park we really enjoyed and would like to return again and again. | 4 = a park we really enjoyed and would like to return to again. 3 = a park we enjoyed and would return if we were driving by. 2 = a park we enjoyed but would not return 1 = an interesting park but would not return |
|
Rating |
Name |
State |
Visit |
Year Visited |
|
5 |
Acadia NP |
ME |
yes |
74, 90, 00, 03 |
|
5 |
Bryce Canyon NP |
UT |
yes |
1987, 2007 |
|
5 |
Capitol Reef NP |
UT |
yes |
2006, 07, 09 |
|
5 |
Death Valley NP |
CA |
yes |
2006 |
|
5 |
Denali NP |
AK |
yes |
2004 |
|
5 |
Glacier NP |
MT |
yes |
87, 02, 09 |
|
5 |
Grand Canyon NP - South Rim |
AZ |
yes |
58, 60, 75, 87, 07 |
|
5 |
Grand Canyon NP - North Rim |
AZ |
yes |
2007 |
|
5 |
Grand Teton NP |
WY |
yes |
2004 |
|
5 |
Redwood NP |
CA |
yes |
2002 |
|
5 |
Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPs |
CA |
yes |
1975, 2009 |
|
5 |
Yellowstone NP |
WY |
yes |
87, 2004 |
|
5 |
Yosemite NP |
CA |
yes |
2006 |
|
5 |
Zion NP |
UT |
yes |
2002 |
|
4 |
Arches NP |
UT |
yes |
2002 |
|
4 |
Big Bend NP |
TX |
yes |
2006 |
|
4 |
Joshua Tree NP |
CA |
yes |
2006 |
|
4 |
Lassen Volcanic NP |
CA |
yes |
2006 |
|
4 |
Mesa Verde NP |
CO |
yes |
2002 |
|
4 |
Mount Rainier NP |
WA |
yes |
2002 |
|
4 |
Olympic NP |
WA |
yes |
2002 |
|
4 |
Rocky Mountain NP |
CO |
yes |
1975 |
|
3 |
Badlands NP |
SD |
yes |
2002 |
|
3 |
Canyonlands NP |
UT |
yes |
2002 |
|
3 |
Carlsbad Caverns NP |
NM |
yes |
2006 |
|
3 |
Crater Lake NP |
OR |
yes |
2002 |
|
3 |
Glacier Bay NP |
AK |
yes |
1995 |
|
3 |
Great Smoky Mountains NP |
NC/TN |
yes |
1988 |
|
3 |
Hawaii Volcanoes NP |
HI |
yes |
2000 |
|
3 |
Kenai Fjords NP |
AK |
yes |
2004 |
|
3 |
Saguaro NP |
AZ |
yes |
2006, 07 |
|
3 |
Virgin Islands NP |
USVI |
yes |
83, 89, 94 |
|
2 |
Black Canyon of the Gunnison |
CO |
yes |
2006 |
|
2 |
Everglades NP |
FL |
yes |
80, 03 |
|
2 |
Great Sand Dunes NP |
CO |
yes |
2006 |
|
2 |
Guadalupe Mountains NP |
TX |
yes |
2006 |
|
2 |
Hot Springs NP |
AR |
yes |
2005 |
|
2 |
Mammoth Cave NP |
KY |
yes |
2001 |
|
2 |
North Cascades NP |
WA |
yes |
2002 |
|
2 |
Shenandoah NP |
VA |
yes |
1966 |
|
2 |
Theodore Roosevelt NP |
ND |
yes |
2004 |
|
1 |
Congaree NP |
SC |
yes |
2007 |
|
1 |
Cuyahoga Valley NP |
OH |
yes |
2005 |
|
1 |
Great Basin NP |
NV |
yes |
2006 |
|
1 |
Petrified Forest NP |
AZ |
yes |
58, 60, 75, 87 |
|
1 |
Wind Cave NP |
SD |
yes |
2002 |
|
1 |
Wrangell-St. Elias NP |
AK |
yes |
2004 |
|
- |
American Samoa NP |
Pacific |
can't |
Need Boat or Plane |
|
- |
Biscayne NP |
FL |
can't |
Need Boat |
|
- |
Channel Islands NP |
CA |
can't |
Need Boat or Plane |
|
- |
Dry Tortugas NP |
FL |
can't |
Need Boat |
|
- |
Gates of the Arctic NP |
AK |
can't |
Need SUV or Plane |
|
- |
Haleakala NP |
HI |
can't |
Need Boat or Plane |
|
- |
Isle Royale NP |
MI |
can't |
Need Boat |
|
- |
Katmai NP (King Salmon) |
AK |
can't |
Need Boat or Plane |
|
- |
Kobuk Valley NP (Kotzebue) |
AK |
can't |
Need Boat or Plane |
|
- |
Lake Clark NP (Port Alsworth) |
AK |
can't |
Need Boat or Plane |
|
- |
Voyageurs NP |
MN |
can't |
Need Boat |