National Parks Master Thread

[The Thinker]

Do the catwalk tour in New River Gorge as well

[lifetimedeals]

I really enjoyed New River Gorge NP. If you go, take the high bridge in one direction, and the low one in the other.  There are some really nice hikes. I'd allocate a day there if possible, and depending on when you're going.   Shenandoah is another NP that could work with New River Gorge on such a trip. Great Smoky Mountains can for sure be a 2-3 day trip by itself.

Is 5 hours enough at New River Gorge NP? Not looking for long hikes.

[SSLPhD]

Is 5 hours enough at New River Gorge NP? Not looking for long hikes.

Sounds good.

[Yaalili]

30 in total.

United States (11/63):

• Biscayne National Park, FL
• Cuyahoga Valley National Park, OH
• Everglades National Park, FL
• Gateway Arch National Park, MO
• Glacier Bay National Park, AK
• Grand Teton National Park, WY
• Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, HI
• Joshua Tree National Park, CA
• Virgin Islands National Park, VI
• Yellowstone National Park, WY
• Yosemite National Park, CA

International (19):

• Iguazú National Park, Argentina
• Anavilhanas National Park, Brazil
• Iguaçu National Park, Brazil
• Beijing Great Wall National Park, China
• Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
• Morne Diablotin National Park, Dominica
• El Boquerón National Park, El Salvador
• Hlane Royal National Park, Eswatini
• Kazbegi National Park, Georgia
• Tikal National Park, Guatemala
• Þingvellir National Park, Iceland
• Arbel National Park and Nature Reserve, Israel
• Beit Guvrin National Park, Israel
• Masada National Park, Israel
• Lake Malawi National Park, Malawi
• Masaya Volcano National Park, Nicaragua
• Table Mountain National Park, South Africa
• Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Zambia
• Victoria Falls National Park, Zimbabwe

[Hjay]

What would be the most recommended NP trip 4-5 days end of Aug with 4 kids under the age of 9. Did Yellowstone & Grand Teton last year & they loved it.

[ben moshe]

What would be the most recommended NP trip 4-5 days end of Aug with 4 kids under the age of 9. Did Yellowstone & Grand Teton last year & they loved it.

Either the 3 national parks in Washington state can be done in 4 to 5 days,
Or you can go to san fransisco, lake tahoe, yosemite, kings canyon and Sequia  in that time
The weather should be decent in those 2 locations in the summer.

Utahs a bit hotter,  either you can go to zion, bryce and Grand canyon n rim,
or moab area (canyonlands, and arches) can be done as well, there also a lot of activities in utah right outside of the national parks.

[SSLPhD]

What would be the most recommended NP trip 4-5 days end of Aug with 4 kids under the age of 9. Did Yellowstone & Grand Teton last year & they loved it.

Great Smoky Mountains, stay in Pigeon Forge.  There's enough to do within the national park for a few days, but break it up with activities in Pigeon Forge.

[Dan]

25 domestic, 39 international

United States:

• Arches, UT (2020)
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison, CO (2020)
• Bryce Canyon, UT (2020)
• Canyonlands, UT (2020)
• Crater Lake, OR (2003)
• Cuyahoga Valley, OH (Multiple)
• Death Valley, CA/NV (2020)
• Everglades, FL (2013)
• Gateway Arch, MO (2024)
• Grand Canyon, AZ (1995, 2006)
• Grand Teton, WY (2023)
• Great Smoky Mountains, NC/TN (1997)
• Haleakala, HI (2009, 2014, 2017, 2021)
• Hawaii Volcanoes, HI (2009)
• Indiana Dunes, IN (2005)
• Joshua Tree, CA (2000s)
• Lake Clark, AK (2024)
• Mount Rainier, WA (2003)
• Petrified Forest, AZ (1995)
• Rocky Mountain, CO (2024)
• Saguaro National Park, AZ (1995)
• Shenandoah National Park, VA (1997)
• Yellowstone, WY/ID/MT (2023)
• Yosemite, CA (2020)
• Zion, UT (2020)

International:

• Banff, Canada (2013)
• Banias, Israel (2007, 2009)
• Beit Guvrin, Israel (2019)
• Caesarea, Israel (2022)
• Chobe, Botswana (2021)
• Cradle Mountain, Australia (2011)
• Douglas-Apsley, Australia (2011)
• Dubai Desert, UAE (2017)
• Freycinet, Australia (2011)
• Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers, Australia (2011)
• Ein Avdat, Israel (2007)
• Ein Gedi, Israel (2007, 2009)
• Grampians, Australia (2010)
• Great Otway, Australia (2010)
• Hexagon Pool, Israel (2007)
• Jasper, Canada (2013)
• Iguaçu, Brazil (2005, 2014)
• Iguazú, Argentina (2005, 2014)
• Jerusalem Walls, Israel (2007, 2009)
• Kruger, South Africa (2021)
• Lucayan, Bahamas (1996)
• Masada, Israel (2007, 2009)
• Mosi-oa-Tunya, Zambia (2021)
• Nimrod Fortress, Israel (2007, 2009)
• Sassen–Bünsow Land, Svalbard (2016)
• Table Mountain, South Africa (2021)
• Tel Arad, Israel (2007)
• Tulum, Mexico (2015)
• Palau National Marine Sanctuary, Palau (2016)
• Þingvellir, Iceland (2021)
• Port Campbell, Australia (2010)
• Taba, Egypt (2007)
• Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (2018)
• Tijuca, Brazil (2005, 2014)
• Vatnajökull, Iceland (2021)
• Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (2021)
• Whitsunday Islands, Australia (2011)
• Yoho, Canada (2013)
• Zambezi, Zimbabwe (2021)

[Yaalili]

25 domestic, 39 international

Missed a few more Israel one's on my list, did not realize how many places Israel has classified as National Parks. Probably country with highest amount of NP's, certainly per capita.

[Human]

Are there any TR on big bend national park? Is it worth a visit as its own destination? (not part of a road trip)

[SSLPhD]

Are there any TR on big bend national park?

Not on DDF.  Only one DDFer mentions being there.

Is it worth a visit as its own destination? (not part of a road trip)

Depends why you're going.  To hit all NPs? check. To get away from it all for a few days? check.  For a day trip from El Paso? No.

It's usually rated pretty high up among people that have been to all 63 NPs.

[whYME]

Is it worth just to drive down from NY to New River Gorge ?

The only reason to go to New River Gorge is to tick it off the list.

[SSLPhD]

The only reason to go to New River Gorge is to tick it off the list.

Disagree.  I enjoyed it quite a bit, and would like to go back to do things we missed.

[Something Fishy]

Disagree.  I enjoyed it quite a bit, and would like to go back to do things we missed.

It's a nice place. Is it any nicer or more interesting than any random state park east of the Mississippi? Absolutely not.

[SSLPhD]

It's a nice place. Is it any nicer or more interesting than any random state park east of the Mississippi? Absolutely not.

I can't answer your question, as I don't do state parks.  However, the things I want to do there are not (to my knowledge) available at random state parks.

[Something Fishy]

I don't do state parks.

Maybe you should lol. Many are nicer than New Rover Gorge.

[whYME]

would like to go back to do things we missed.

the things I want to do there are not (to my knowledge) available at random state parks.

Ok, you have my attention

What did I miss out on?

[ben moshe]

I can't answer your question, as I don't do state parks.

Seriously?
You are missing out,
If 10 state parks were to become into national parks today would you consider visiting them?

[SSLPhD]

I didn't mean that I've never been to a state park, just that I don't "do" them as a destination anymore.  Of the state parks I've been to, none of them were worth more than a day trip max. 

My interests are not average DDF interests.  <shrug>