National Parks Master Thread

[Kobe Bryant]

Just chanced on this thread. I love National Parks but unfortunately haven't been to that many. Goal is to visit them all (in the US).
I don't really like rating them because I loved them all (except maybe Gateway Arch NP which I just felt was mis-classified as a NP...)

1) Rocky Mountain NP
2) Acadia NP
3) Indiana Dunes NP
4) Congaree NP
5) Shenandoah NP
6) Cuyahoga Valley NP
7) Hot Springs NP
Mammoth Cave NP
9) Gateway Arch NP

Should have pinged you,lol

[Dan]

Here's mine, feel free to copy and modify.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/drive?state=%7B%22ids%22%3A%5B%221t0gaXyBTxpMw1mf_pda3ZLnnNxZv0Gfm%22%5D%2C%22action%22%3A%22open%22%2C%22userId%22%3A%22102900636446882380227%22%7D&usp=sharing

Error 400

[Kobe Bryant]

Same misleading telephoto images as always . I'm getting tired of this agenda.

I didn't realize there was an agenda to this article, ( im familiar with the Scandinavian article), I was really just pointing out the hunger people have to explore the outdoors and our NP, and that there is no doubt in my mind that all the NP will be full as soon as they reopen.

[Kobe Bryant]

(except maybe Gateway Arch NP which I just felt was mis-classified as a NP...)

Well aware.
Still think its a misnomer.

[Something Fishy]

Error 400

Error 400 on my computer, but works on my phone.

Getting 400 error.

Not sure what's going on, everything seems good on my end. And clearly it's working for many, it's gotten sa bunch of views since I posted the link.

Anyway, if you want the data and are having issues: create a new map here, click Import on the left-hand side, and import the file attached here.

[Something Fishy]

Well aware.
Still think its a misnomer.

(except maybe Gateway Arch NP which I just felt was mis-classified as a NP...)

File it together with Hot Springs NP and (nothing personal, @Dan) Cuyahoga Valley NP. Not sure why either of those are deserving of that title.

[yitzgar]

File it together with Hot Springs NP and (nothing personal, @Dan) Cuyahoga Valley NP. Not sure why either of those are deserving of that title.

And Indiana dunes np

[Something Fishy]

Yellowstone and the Tetons partially reopening on Monday.

https://www.ktvq.com/rebound/yellowstone-will-begin-first-phase-of-reopening-on-may-18
https://k2radio.com/grand-teton-national-park-begins-phased-reopening/

[Der Deutsche Jude]

File it together with Hot Springs NP and (nothing personal, @Dan) Cuyahoga Valley NP. Not sure why either of those are deserving of that title.

I believe Cayahuga, Gateway Arch, and Indiana Dunes were designated NP’s just to add some balance to the eastern side of the country. If they used Western Standards on the East, the eastern half of the country may only have 6 National Parks.

[yitzgar]

I believe Cayahuga, Gateway Arch, and Indiana Dunes were designated NP’s just to add some balance to the eastern side of the country. If they used Western Standards on the East, the eastern half of the country may only have 6 National Parks.

It was intense lobbying by the local governments to help increase visitation and help their economies that did it.

[yitzgar]

Btw, the wording in the laws designating gateway arch and Indiana dunes as NPs isn't so clear. It didn't actually change their status, just the name, so not clear exactly if they have a regular din of NPs

[Something Fishy]

The reality is that the eastern half of the country simply doesn't have the natural wonders that the west does. I think that the few truly spectacular places are either already national parks (Acadia, GSM, etc.), or too small/one trick pony/completely commercialized to constitute a national park (Watkins Glen and Niagara are two examples in NYS).

[Something Fishy]

Btw, the wording in the laws designating gateway arch and Indiana dunes as NPs isn't so clear. It didn't actually change their status, just the name, so not clear exactly if they have a regular din of NPs

Could be, but for me at least the deciding factor is simply whether or not they're listed as a national park on nps.gov.

[Der Deutsche Jude]

The reality is that the eastern half of the country simply doesn't have the natural wonders that the west does. I think that the few truly spectacular places are either already national parks (Acadia, GSM, etc.), or too small/one trick pony/completely commercialized to constitute a national park (Watkins Glen and Niagara are two examples in NYS).

It also has to do with if it’s federal or state. Some of the most spectacular parks are State parks.

Dry Tortugas is a national park (deservedly so) but is still really small

[lifetimedeals]

So I guess you have an itinerary for ND an NE,lol
SD, Where should I start?
- Badlands NP
- Wind Cave NP
- MT Rushmore NM
- Crazy Horse Memorial
- Custer SP
- The Needles/Needles Highway

No itinerary just am closer to SD, can't do it all at once anyways

[Kobe Bryant]

No itinerary just am closer to SD, can't do it all at once anyways

Not sure how much closer you can be to to SD over ND. Lol
Either way for everyone else, i would also add Theodore Roosevelt NP in ND.

[Kobe Bryant]

The other issue I'm monitoring is southwest state's restrictions on visiting NY'ers, 14d quarantine etc.
I've been looking mostly at AZ, but in general I haven't found any lifting of these restrictions, or even discussions of it.
Anyone see anything about this?

Not planning on going for another month, though I'm hoping that by then, all those NPs will be open (at least the main attractions therein).
At least UT has opened some, but I'd still be going through AZ...

Which states in particular are you referring to?

[Traveler718]

I've B"H been to 35 out of the 62 NP's. Hands down, Glacier NP in Montana is my favorite - I've gone back another 2 times since the initial visit and would gladly head there again. But you have to be willing to hike to experience and appreciate all of its beauty, not just drive the Going-to-the-sun-road with all the rest of the tourists. Happy to type up the full list of 35 or give more ratings or recommendations if it will be helpful.

[Kobe Bryant]

I've B"H been to 35 out of the 62 NP's. Hands down, Glacier NP in Montana is my favorite - I've gone back another 2 times since the initial visit and would gladly head there again. But you have to be willing to hike to experience and appreciate all of its beauty, not just drive the Going-to-the-sun-road with all the rest of the tourists. Happy to type up the full list of 35 or give more ratings or recommendations if it will be helpful.

That's impressive. Looking forward.

[Traveler718]

Okay then, I've been to:

Acadia
Arches - loved it!
Badlands
Big Bend
Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Bryce - stunning!
Canyonlands
Capitol Reef
Carlsbad Caverns - amazing!
Crater Lake - gorgeous!
Denali - enjoyed the all-day bus tour so much we did it again the next day
Gateway Arch
Glacier - my favorite!!
Grand Canyon - to the bottom and back up!
Grand Teton
Great Sand Dunes - really cool and not as well-known as it should be
Great Smoky Mountains
Guadalupe Mountains
Kenai Fjords
Kings Canyon
Mammoth Cave
Mesa Verde - lots of fun for kids
Mount Rainier
North Cascades - another one that deserves more love than it gets
Olympic
Redwood - I really loved it here, had an amazing time tracking down Hyperion, the tallest living thing on Earth, whose location is kept secret, a shame it's so remote
Rocky Mountain
Sequoia
Shenandoah - Old Rag is a great hike - but not in the rain!
White Sands
Wind Cave
Wrangell-St. Elias
Yellowstone
Yosemite
Zion

Ask away.