The top five National Parks ranked
The US has 63 National Parks and 423 National Park sites, the author has been to only 20 National Parks, so the following article is a list of the author’s personal favorites and is by no means a comprehensive list, nor it is a serious travel guide.
5 Badlands National Park
The Badlands National Park is a scenic patch of hills and cliffs located in South West South Dakota. The stark landscape draws visitors for great hiking and climbing. The park is east of Black Hills National Forest which includes Mount Rushmore National Monument and the Crazy Horse memorial. The campervan in the lower corner of the photo is my family’s. I was personally a fan of the park’s notch trail is a 3-mile loop that involves climbing up a log ladder to a scenic vista.
Pros
Great hiking
Beautiful rock formations
Great wildlife watching
Cons
Remote
In a near constant state of drought
Is an inhospitable wasteland 9 months out of the year
4 Isle Royale National Park
Isle Royale is a lush verdant island located in Lake Superior just south of the Canadian border. Roughly 75% of the National Park is underwater. The island is only accessible by ferry or seaplane. Isle Royale is an archipelago of roughly 400 islands. The area is notable for its rich biodiversity and history. The island has been used for mining and fishing by humans for roughly 5,000 years. I enjoyed climbing along steep rock formations and listening to the wolves howl at night. The wildlife viewing was superb, I saw moose, loons, and a black fox.
Pros
Superb Hiking
Excellent hiking
Great wildlife
Cons
Inaccessible for 6 months of the year.
Swarmed by mosquitos for the remaining 6 months of the year
Only accessible by boat and by plane.
3 Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is one of the largest areas of contiguous wilderness in the continental US. Yosemite is one of the most visited national parks, setting a visitation record in 2016 of five million. Most of the visitors stay within the confines of the valley, but the other parts of the park are worth visiting. Located in the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountains, visitors enjoy scenic views of cliffs and beautiful pine forests.
Pros
Great views
Excellent wildlife
Relatively accessible
Cons
Crowded
Outside of the valley most of the park is remote.
2 Zion National Park
Zion National Park is an oasis valley located in the harsh desert of southern Utah. Zion National Park is a must-visit if traveling through southern Utah. The Narrows are the main feature of the park which is a flooded canyon open to hikers. If you are hiking The Narrows it is highly recommended that you wear boots with strong ankle support and bring a walking stick. The valley is accessible via public transport. One of my absolute favorite trails in the national park is the Narrows, hiking through a flooded canyon is such a unique experience
Pros
The Narrows
Has a more temperate climate compared to the rest of Utah
Beautiful slot canyons and rock formations
Cons
Crowded
1 Joshua Tree National Park.
Joshua Tree National Park is a vast area of desert wilderness located just outside of the bustling metropolis of Los Angeles and Palm Springs. The park is iconic for its Joshua Trees. Joshua Tree is a rock climbing mecca with it being legal to climb on most of the boulders and cliffs. If you are planning to climb at Joshua Tree be sure to stop at the visitor’s centre to get information on available climbing routes. I was a fan of bouldering at Joshua Tree, it is park policy to let visitors climb on most rock features.
Pros
Great hiking
Excellent climbing
Cons
Hot temperatures for most of the year.
