National Parks Master Thread

[whYME]

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

It's good to be a mod

[Something Fishy]

It's good to be a mod

I'm not threatening lol. Just really curious to the reasoning behind this conclusion.

[whYME]

I'm not threatening lol. Just really curious to the reasoning behind this conclusion.

I was talking about the edit

[cgr]

Least favorite: Channel Islands

Have you been to Gateway Arch NP? Hot Springs NP?

[SSLPhD]

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

It's summer on the lake, with few people around. Very relaxing.

Have you been to Gateway Arch NP? Hot Springs NP?

Yes.  Those at least somewhat appealed to my intellect.  From the moment I arrived, I couldn't wait to leave the Channel Islands; never had that anywhere else.

[Something Fishy]

It's summer on the lake, with few people around. Very relaxing.

Does summer on a quiet lake a national park make? Let alone the very top-rated one...

You can find quiet lakes just about anywhere, but where will you find a Yellowstone? A Katmai? A Volcanos...?

[Traveler718]

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

South Kaibab takes you more out "into" the canyon, so even if you don't go down so far, you really get a feeling of being in it. Bright Angel is more in a side canyon, so going down it doesn't give you the same experience. When I went with my family, we hiked 1.5 miles down SK and loved it. When I went myself, I took SK to the bottom, then BA back to the top. Both were great, but it confirmed for me that SK is the way to go for a 1st-time visitor looking for a shortish hike.

And of the 40 national parks I've been to, Glacier tops them all hands down. Just went back this summer for my 4th visit.

[SSLPhD]

Does summer on a quiet lake a national park make? Let alone the very top-rated one...

You can find quiet lakes just about anywhere, but where will you find a Yellowstone? A Katmai? A Volcanos...?

I think that personal experience plays a big part in a rating.  I've spent a minimum of 3 days in each of those you mention, and yet I found something really special about Voyageurs.  Obviously not everyone will have the same experience, or the same perspective.

[Something Fishy]

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/28/opinion/national-park-nature.html

[CountValentine]

Going to hike the Narrows at Zion in a couple of weeks. Will I be overwhelmed? 

[Traveler718]

Going to hike the Narrows at Zion in a couple of weeks. Will I be overwhelmed? 

Glad you're not there now. It should be reopened by the time of your visit.

https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news/search-for-missing-hiker-closes-the-narrows-in-zion-national-park/

[HoKo]

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)_/¯

Oh ok, thanks.

South Kaibab takes you more out "into" the canyon, so even if you don't go down so far, you really get a feeling of being in it. Bright Angel is more in a side canyon, so going down it doesn't give you the same experience. When I went with my family, we hiked 1.5 miles down SK and loved it. When I went myself, I took SK to the bottom, then BA back to the top. Both were great, but it confirmed for me that SK is the way to go for a 1st-time visitor looking for a shortish hike.

Understood, and thanks for the feedback, sounds like a good fit for what I'm looking for.

[CountValentine]

Glad you're not there now. It should be reopened by the time of your visit.

https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news/search-for-missing-hiker-closes-the-narrows-in-zion-national-park/

Had flash flood warnings yesterday.

[CountValentine]

Glad you're not there now. It should be reopened by the time of your visit.

https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news/search-for-missing-hiker-closes-the-narrows-in-zion-national-park/

https://kutv.com/news/local/hiker-missing-in-zion-national-park-found-alive

[CountValentine]

Going to hike the Narrows at Zion in a couple of weeks. Will I be overwhelmed? 

It was a nice hike but you better be in shape.

[cgr]

1) Rocky Mountain NP
2) Acadia NP
3) Indiana Dunes NP
4) Congaree NP
5) Shenandoah NP (2X)
6) Cuyahoga Valley NP
7) Hot Springs NP
Mammoth Cave NP
9) Gateway Arch NP
10) Great Smoky Mountains NP
11) Hawaii Volcanoes NP

[ari3]

https://www.inquirer.com/life/delaware-water-gap-national-park-pennsylvania-nj-20211021.html

It's a nice place but not national park worthy imho

[Something Fishy]

https://www.inquirer.com/life/delaware-water-gap-national-park-pennsylvania-nj-20211021.html

It's a nice place but not national park worthy imho

Ridiculous. Naming every pretty patch of land east of the Mississippi a national park just dilutes the entire thing.

[yitzgar]

Ridiculous. Naming every pretty patch of land east of the Mississippi a national park just dilutes the entire thing.

Maybe it will keep some of the extra visitors out of the real national parks

[cgr]

1) Rocky Mountain NP
2) Acadia NP
3) Indiana Dunes NP
4) Congaree NP
5) Shenandoah NP (2X)
6) Cuyahoga Valley NP
7) Hot Springs NP
Mammoth Cave NP
9) Gateway Arch NP
10) Great Smoky Mountains NP
11) Hawaii Volcanoes NP
13) Haleakala NP