National Parks Master Thread

[Something Fishy]

New in blue.

48 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)
• Chobe, Botswana (2021)
• Guanacaste, Belize (2021)
• Jasper, Canada (2017)
• Lake Malawi, Malawi (2021)
• Lençóis Maranhenses, Brazil (2021)
• Lovćen, Montenegro (2018)
• Mosi-oa-Tunya, Zambia (2021)
• 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])
• Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (2021)
• Viñales, Cuba (2015)
• Yoho, Canada (2017)
• Zambezi, Zimbabwe (2021)

[cgr]

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/zion-national-park-angels-landing-permit

Zion NP is implementing a permit system for Angels Landing, but it won't be as "simple" as releasing the slots 90 days in advance and another 20 slots 48 hours before. Check this out:

"The NPS will hold seasonal lotteries, with the first one opening on January 3, 2022 for permits from April 1 through May 31.  You’ll have to pay a nonrefundable $6 fee to enter the lottery, which closes on January 20, 2022. If you are chosen for a permit on January 25, you’ll then pay an additional $3 fee per person listed on the permit. The NPS says this fee is to help pay to administer the program, as well as for the rangers who will check permits and help visitors on the trail.

If you don’t get a permit through the initial lottery, you can try to enter a second lottery the day before you plan to hike. The lottery will open each day at 12:01 am. Mountain time and close at 3 pm. Rangers will draw permits at 4 pm Mountain time."

[Joeymc]

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/zion-national-park-angels-landing-permit

Zion NP is implementing a permit system for Angels Landing

That sucks

[Something Fishy]

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/zion-national-park-angels-landing-permit

More and more parks are implementing lotteries and permits and reservations. Clearly the system at the most popular parks is way overloaded.

You'd think that enlarging the overall NP system would be helpful, but instead of giving world-class sites such as Deadhorse, Custer, and many others the NP recognition they deserve and lightening the load at other parks, they keep on adding garbage like Gateway Arch and every other hill in the east.

[CountValentine]

More and more parks are implementing lotteries and permits and reservations. Clearly the system at the most popular parks is way overloaded.

Went to Red Rock hiking. They asked do I have a reservation. I didn't so he made one on the spot. That will be $2 sir.
Pure money grab.

By the way some of us enjoyed the Gateway Arch, especially the kids. 

[Something Fishy]

Went to Red Rock hiking. They asked do I have a reservation. I didn't so he made one on the spot. That will be $2 sir.
Pure money grab.

LOL that's nuts

By the way some of us enjoyed the Gateway Arch, especially the kids. 

I enjoyed it as well, especially going all the way up. But a national park? Absolutely no reason for that designation.

[CountValentine]

I enjoyed it as well, especially going all the way up.

POIDH, no way you fit in that capsule. 

[Dawie]

POIDH, no way you fit in that capsule. 

Where's that picture of you squeezing into the elevator

Dude I barely fit under the arch, let alone into those elevators.

[Something Fishy]

POIDH, no way you fit in that capsule. 

I've become an expert at physical origami over the years.

[Something Fishy]

More and more parks are implementing lotteries and permits and reservations. Clearly the system at the most popular parks is way overloaded.

You'd think that enlarging the overall NP system would be helpful, but instead of giving world-class sites such as Deadhorse, Custer, and many others the NP recognition they deserve and lightening the load at other parks, they keep on adding garbage like Gateway Arch and every other hill in the east.

https://petapixel.com/2021/12/15/photos-of-americas-national-monuments-the-parks-less-traveled/

Interesting article about visiting national monuments instead of national parks.

[cgr]

Death Valley NP:
The place seems beautiful and I want to do it justice, but I don't have all the time in the world. If I skip Ubehebe Crater, Racetrack Playa, and Aguereberry Point, am I being unreasonable to assume I'll be able to cover the below in one day?
Dante’s View, 20 Mule Team Canyon, Zabriskie Point, Artist’s Palette, Devil’s Golf Course, Badwater Basin, and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

If I do spend 2 days in the park (which I really want to but not sure I can), any suggestions of what to add to my list? I already have Golden Canyon for some longer hikes, Natural Bridge (pit stop at most), Harmony Borax Works, and Salt Creek Interpretative Trail. Am I missing any must-do's?

[Something Fishy]

If you don't stop at the welcome sign and sing "gam ki eilech", were you even there?

[SSLPhD]

Death Valley NP:
The place seems beautiful and I want to do it justice, but I don't have all the time in the world. If I skip Ubehebe Crater, Racetrack Playa, and Aguereberry Point, am I being unreasonable to assume I'll be able to cover the below in one day?
Dante’s View, 20 Mule Team Canyon, Zabriskie Point, Artist’s Palette, Devil’s Golf Course, Badwater Basin, and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

If I do spend 2 days in the park (which I really want to but not sure I can), any suggestions of what to add to my list? I already have Golden Canyon for some longer hikes, Natural Bridge (pit stop at most), Harmony Borax Works, and Salt Creek Interpretative Trail. Am I missing any must-do's?

Sounds doable.  Make it a full day---sunrise to sunset, and you should even be able to do the other short hikes if you budget your time well.  If you're short on time, don't do the full sand dunes hike.  Best tip is to do the more popular hikes either early or late in the day.

[cgr]

Sounds doable.  Make it a full day---sunrise to sunset, and you should even be able to do the other short hikes if you budget your time well.  If you're short on time, don't do the full sand dunes hike.  Best tip is to do the more popular hikes either early or late in the day.

Thanks!

[Something Fishy]

New in blue.

50 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, 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)
• Chobe, Botswana (2021)
• Guanacaste, Belize (2021)
• Jasper, Canada (2017)
• Jozani Chwaka Bay, Tanzania (2022)
• Lake Malawi, Malawi (2021)
• Lençóis Maranhenses, Brazil (2021)
• Lovćen, Montenegro (2018)
• Mosi-oa-Tunya, Zambia (2021)
• Nairobi, Kenya (2022)
• Sassen–Bünsow Land, Svalbard (2016, 2018)
• Serengeti, Tanzania (2021, 2022)
• Skadar Lake. Montenegro (2018)
• Snæfellsjökull, Iceland (2016)
• Soberanía, Panama (2021)
• Þingvellir, Iceland (2021x2)
• Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (2018)
• Vatnajökull, Iceland (2015, 2016, 2019x2, 2020, 2021x3, 2022)
• Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (2021)
• Viñales, Cuba (2015)
• Yoho, Canada (2017)
• Zambezi, Zimbabwe (2021)

[Joeymc]

If I have 2 full days in Utah, how many parks should I attempt and what's a must see/do?

Interested in moderate amount of hiking.

I've hiked Angels landing in Zion and I went to Bryce for 1 hour.

[Traveler718]

Utah is huge. Where are you coming from and returning to, and what month? Since you've been to Zion and Bryce, you could fly to SLC and see Arches and some of Canyonlands (Mesa Arch) and some other cool stuff in Moab. If based in LAS, you could do more of Zion, Bryce more properly, and drive Utah 12 to Capitol Reef, and also tack on Goblin Valley with the adjacent slot canyon.

[Joeymc]

Utah is huge. Where are you coming from and returning to, and what month?

I'm flying in and out of SLC, but I don't mind driving to any part of the state. I'm going in 2 weeks time.

Since you've been to Zion and Bryce, you could fly to SLC and see Arches and some of Canyonlands (Mesa Arch) and some other cool stuff in Moab.

Was thinking to spend 1 day in Moab, and do something else the other day.

If based in LAS, you could do more of Zion, Bryce more properly, and drive Utah 12 to Capitol Reef,

I would love to hike angel's landing again before the permits start but I should probably visit some places I haven't seen at all yet. I think I should leave Bryce for a time when it's less snow and cold.

and also tack on Goblin Valley with the adjacent slot canyon.

slot canyons fascinate me and I've been looking for one to visit, this looks like I should add it to my itinerary.

Alternatively, I'm considering driving down to Kanab and entering The Wave lottery in the morning for the next day. Then I can either go to Zion from there, and drive to Moab for day 2, or I can go spend the day in Page.

Thanks for any input

[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
12) Haleakala NP
13) Death Valley NP

I think a road trip this summer is in order to cover some ground...

[SSLPhD]

I think a road trip this summer is in order to cover some ground...

I know you didn't ask...  To increase your count in a short period of time, you can almost double what you have by doing LA to Seattle or vice versa.