National Parks Master Thread

[lifetimedeals]

Skyline drive is very nice, pretty overlooks and all, but if you are in a big rush and have no time to get off the road and hike, it's not the same. Also, when are you going? Until spring, I can't imagine there's much to see, cmiiw.

Maybe next week, can stop for scenic overlooks and maybe short hike

[ltttc]

Anyone know if now is a nice time of year to visit Indiana Dunes National Park?

[ltttc]

Anyone know if now is a nice time of year to visit Indiana Dunes National Park?

A/o ever been??

[cgr]

A/o ever been??

I've been.
https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=109196.msg2148949#msg2148949
I was there in October on a rainy muddy day- can't give you much guidance on when it would be nicer.

[Kobe Bryant]

A/o ever been??

Indiana Dunes NP

I wouldn’t consider it a NP destination. But it’s OK if you are in the area.

[ltttc]

I wouldn’t consider it a NP destination. But it’s OK if you are in the area.

Hmm, ok. Thanks

[Divora M]

I wouldn’t consider it a NP destination. But it’s OK if you are in the area.

+1

[lifetimedeals]

Whoever was already at these national parks: Which would you recommend to choose.
Option 1 Badlands NP, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone NP, Grand Tetons
Option 2: Great Sand Dunes NP, Mesa Verde NP, Arches NP and Bryce canyon NP
Coming from Denver, have 4 days on the ground also need driving time during this period, not looking for major hikes just to cover and see main nice views and maybe some short hikes.

[Something Fishy]

Whoever was already at these national parks: Which would you recommend to choose.
Option 1 Badlands NP, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone NP, Grand Tetons
Option 2: Great Sand Dunes NP, Mesa Verde NP, Arches NP and Bryce canyon NP
Coming from Denver, have 4 days on the ground also need driving time during this period, not looking for major hikes just to cover and see main nice views and maybe some short hikes.

Can't go wrong with either. Option 1 is a lot more varied though.

[lifetimedeals]

Can't go wrong with either. Option 1 is a lot more varied though.

Is it enough time for option 1? Figuring in 24 hours driving time total.

[Something Fishy]

Is it enough time for option 1? Figuring in 24 hours driving time total.

Missed that... it's definitely not too much time. If this is a round trip from Denver I would just stick to Colorado , plenty to do for a month, let alone four days.

[yitzgar]

Missed that... it's definitely not too much time. If this is a round trip from Denver I would just stick to Colorado , plenty to do for a month, let alone four days.

Agreed. Stick with rmnp and plenty of other beautiful places in colorado

[lifetimedeals]

Agreed. Stick with rmnp and plenty of other beautiful places in colorado

Been to rmnp already and other sights in the area.

[Kobe Bryant]

Whoever was already at these national parks: Which would you recommend to choose.
Option 1 Badlands NP, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone NP, Grand Tetons
Option 2: Great Sand Dunes NP, Mesa Verde NP, Arches NP and Bryce canyon NP
Coming from Denver, have 4 days on the ground also need driving time during this period, not looking for major hikes just to cover and see main nice views and maybe some short hikes.

They are both amazing itineraries, albeit IMO ambitious in terms of time management.
Another option would be to drive to Rapid city and take day trips to Badlands NP, Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, maybe even TRNP and plenty of activities and other cool towns if you have extra time.

[Something Fishy]

New in bold.

40 in total.

United States:

• Acadia, ME (2011, 2017)
• Arches, UT (2020)
• Badlands, SD (2020)
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison, CO (2020)
• Bryce Canyon, UT (2020)
• Canyonlands, UT (2020)
• Cuyahoga Valley, OH (2014, 2020)
• Death Valley, CA/NV (2020)
• Denali, AK (2020)
• Everglades, FL (2010, 2019)
• Gateway Arch, MO (2019, 2020)
• Grand Teton, WY (2012, 2020x2)
• Great Smoky Mountains, NC/TN (2013, 2020)
• Haleakala, HI (2014)
• Hawaii Volcanoes, HI (2012, 2018)
• Indiana Dunes, IN (2020)
• Joshua Tree, CA (2020)
• Katmai, AK (2020)
• Kenai Fjords, AK (2013)
• Lake Clark, AK (2020 x2)
• Mammoth Cave, KY (2020)
• Rocky Mountain, CO (2009)
• Shenandoah, VA (2020)
• Yellowstone, WY/ID/MT (2012, 2020x2)
• Yosemite, CA (2020)
• Zion, UT (2020)

International:

• Banff, Canada (2017)
• Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda (2021)
• Chagres, Panama (2021)
• Jasper, Canada (2017)
• Lovćen, Montenegro (2018)
• Viñales, Cuba (2015)
• Sassen–Bünsow Land, Svalbard (2016, 2018)
• Serengeti, Tanzania (2021)
• Skadar Lake. Montenegro (2018)
• Snæfellsjökull, Iceland (2016)
• Soberanía, Panama (2021)
• Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (2018)
• Vatnajökull, Iceland (2015, 2016, 2019x2, 2020)
• Yoho, Canada (2017)

[Der Deutsche Jude]

Anyone know the secret to finding availability at Many Glacier Hotel?

[Traveler718]

Just keep checking. They allow free cancellation until something like 48 hours beforehand, so there are cancellations all the time, though they pick up as your dates draw nearer and even more the week before.

It can be nerve-wracking, but I've always succeeded in 3 trips there - though the last was in 2016, before Glacier became really overrun.

[Kobe Bryant]

Newest addition to the NP

[Netster]

We are thinking of doing a road trip this summer, coming from Chicago and wanting to see Mt Rushmore, Yellowstone and Glacier NP. Can anyone tell me how long we will need at Yellowstone and Glacier and where we can stay for shabbos (preferably near Chabad)?

3 days at  Yellowstone and 2 Days at Glacier would be great. But I would also add a day or two for Grand Teton

[Something Fishy]

New in bold.

41 in total.

United States:

• Acadia, ME (2011, 2017)
• Arches, UT (2020)
• Badlands, SD (2020)
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison, CO (2020)
• Bryce Canyon, UT (2020)
• Canyonlands, UT (2020)
• Cuyahoga Valley, OH (2014, 2020)
• Death Valley, CA/NV (2020)
• Denali, AK (2020)
• Everglades, FL (2010, 2019)
• Gateway Arch, MO (2019, 2020)
• Grand Teton, WY (2012, 2020x2)
• Great Smoky Mountains, NC/TN (2013, 2020)
• Haleakala, HI (2014)
• Hawaii Volcanoes, HI (2012, 2018)
• Indiana Dunes, IN (2020)
• Joshua Tree, CA (2020)
• Katmai, AK (2020)
• Kenai Fjords, AK (2013)
• Lake Clark, AK (2020 x2)
• Mammoth Cave, KY (2020)
• Rocky Mountain, CO (2009)
• Shenandoah, VA (2020)
• Yellowstone, WY/ID/MT (2012, 2020x2)
• Yosemite, CA (2020)
• Zion, UT (2020)

International:

• Banff, Canada (2017)
• Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda (2021)
• Chagres, Panama (2021)
• Jasper, Canada (2017)
• Lençóis Maranhenses, Brazil (2021)
• Lovćen, Montenegro (2018)
• Viñales, Cuba (2015)
• Sassen–Bünsow Land, Svalbard (2016, 2018)
• Serengeti, Tanzania (2021)
• Skadar Lake. Montenegro (2018)
• Snæfellsjökull, Iceland (2016)
• Soberanía, Panama (2021)
• Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (2018)
• Vatnajökull, Iceland (2015, 2016, 2019x2, 2020)
• Yoho, Canada (2017)