National Parks Master Thread

[Something Fishy]

New in bold.

42 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)
• Þingvellir, Iceland (2021)
• Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (2018)
• Vatnajökull, Iceland (2015, 2016, 2019x2, 2020, 2021)
• Yoho, Canada (2017)

[cgr]

I'd appreciate recommendations for a group looking to visit 2 national parks Aug 4 through Aug 8.

15 people- mostly adults and teens. 2 children age 7 & 9.
Looking for parks that have a wow factor, as we're looking to get the teens interested in nature and hiking. We have 2 asthmatics in the group, and while we can handle hikes (maybe even one or two strenuous ones while the kids stay behind with an adult), anything in a wildfire zone is out.

Coming from NY but airfare is a non-issue as we have a few hundred thousand points to work with.
Airbnbs seem to be available in many areas for a group of this size.

Not sure about the requirement for timed entry tickets in parks right now. I'm aware that everything will likely be packed, and that park shuttles is probably the easiest way to get around.

Is Bryce and Zion or Zion and Grand Canyon the two best choices?
Washington state and Yellowstone region are out because of Wildfires.

[Kobe Bryant]

I would go with Bryce and Zion.

[Dawie]

Arches or Canyonlands
if you cant do both, which is the nicer one?

[whYME]

Arches or Canyonlands
if you cant do both, which is the nicer one?

Arches.

[whYME]

Looking for parks that have a wow factor, as we're looking to get the teens interested in nature and hiking.

I'm not sure those 2 necessarily correlate like that. the best places for the wow factor might not be the best for nature/hiking...

Is Bryce and Zion or Zion and Grand Canyon the two best choices?

Between those two choices I would definitely say Bryce + Zion.

Another option to consider, depending on your logistics, is Bryce/Zion & Arches.

[kivabb]

https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=126106.0

[yitzgar]

I'd appreciate recommendations for a group looking to visit 2 national parks Aug 4 through Aug 8.

15 people- mostly adults and teens. 2 children age 7 & 9.
Looking for parks that have a wow factor, as we're looking to get the teens interested in nature and hiking. We have 2 asthmatics in the group, and while we can handle hikes (maybe even one or two strenuous ones while the kids stay behind with an adult), anything in a wildfire zone is out.

Coming from NY but airfare is a non-issue as we have a few hundred thousand points to work with.
Airbnbs seem to be available in many areas for a group of this size.

Not sure about the requirement for timed entry tickets in parks right now. I'm aware that everything will likely be packed, and that park shuttles is probably the easiest way to get around.

Is Bryce and Zion or Zion and Grand Canyon the two best choices?
Washington state and Yellowstone region are out because of Wildfires.

What did you end up doing? Was there an issue with high elevation for those with asthma?

[cgr]

What did you end up doing? Was there an issue with high elevation for those with asthma?

We scrapped this trip and traveled along the East Coast. Elevation isn't an issue for us (it might be for some- not sure)- it was more the air quality from wildfires that were worrying.

[Kobe Bryant]

Scary story.

[HoKo]

In a couple weeks I'll be going to the Grand Canyon for the first time. Anyone have any tips/tricks/things-you-wish-you-knew-before-visiting to share?

It's just going to be a 1 day-trip (coming from Sedona) and we will be driving ourselves in our rental car.

[whYME]

things-you-wish-you-knew-before-visiting

Prepare to be underwhelmed

[srap]

Prepare to be underwhelmed

So I am not the only one who feels this way?

[Something Fishy]

New in blue.

43 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, 2021)
• 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)
• Guanacaste, Belize (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)
• Þingvellir, Iceland (2021 x2)
• Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (2018)
• Vatnajökull, Iceland (2015, 2016, 2019x2, 2020, 2021 x3])
• Yoho, Canada (2017)

[Traveler718]

In a couple weeks I'll be going to the Grand Canyon for the first time. Anyone have any tips/tricks/things-you-wish-you-knew-before-visiting to share?

It's just going to be a 1 day-trip (coming from Sedona) and we will be driving ourselves in our rental car.

If you're going to hike down a little way into the canyon, I strongly recommend the South Kaibab trail over the Bright Angel trail. Try to stop at a lookout that has views of the Colorado River below. And at your first stop, walk up to the overlook with your eyes down, then everyone look up on the count of 3 and make a beracha.

[whYME]

If you're going to hike down a little way into the canyon, I strongly recommend the South Kaibab trail

+1, I was going to say that.

This time of year you probably want to try and go early in the morning, not in the midday heat.

[SSLPhD]

42/63 US NPs. (2/3)

Favorite: Voyageurs
Least favorite: Channel Islands

[HoKo]

If you're going to hike down a little way into the canyon, I strongly recommend the South Kaibab trail over the Bright Angel trail.

+1, I was going to say that.

Thanks for the tip. Why do you guys recommend Kaibab over Bright Angel?

[Something Fishy]

Favorite: Voyageurs

OK, a statement like that needs to be backed up lol.

[whYME]

Why do you guys recommend Kaibab over Bright Angel?

I was just recommending Kaibab, not vs Bright Angel. I haven't done Bright Angel. My research at the time told me that's my best option and I wasn't disappointed. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯