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Favorite National Park you have visited

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  • dnc
    dnc Member Posts: 56,839
    Yellowstone - BRB, Old Faithful
    alumni94 said:

    I just completed a trip to Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming.

    Went to:

    Little Big Horn
    Devil's Tower
    Mount Rushmore
    Crazy Horse
    Custer State Park (Needles Highway)
    Badlands
    Grand Tetons
    Yellowstone.

    I think as a family we were most impressed with Custer State Park and the Needles Highway.
    https://www.google.com/search?q=needles+highway+south+dakota&rlz=1C1GCEB_enUS910US910&sxsrf=AOaemvJ924yFwlnp1RkQ0fCX31pUG2iu-g:1630356056992&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjU_YjNzdnyAhU-STABHZz8CH4Q_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=2400&bih=1171#imgrc=BbLkCZPf-WWKAM

    My kids as liked this small little place the best of everything:
    Columbia Falls about 10 miles outside of Hot Springs, SD.




    You are a must follow on Twitter my fren.
  • dnc
    dnc Member Posts: 56,839
    Yellowstone - BRB, Old Faithful
    dnc said:

    Of the ones I've been to I'd rank them roughly

    Tier 1 - Wood go out of my way to go back anytime I had the opportunity
    Yellowstone
    Mount Rainier
    Arches
    Olympic
    Grand Teton
    Glacier

    Tier 2 - Wood gladly visit again
    Grand Canyon (was mildly disappointing)
    Crater Lake
    Rocky Mountain
    North Cascades
    Great Smoky Mountain
    Badlands
    Wind Cave
    Mammoth Cave

    Tier 3 - Glad I visited, wouldn't go out of my way to go back
    Gateway Arch
    Hot Springs
    Shenandoah

    Incomplete - just barely been inside, not enough to have a real opinion
    Petrified Forest (really liked the little bit of the Painted Desert I saw)
    Mesa Verde
    Theodore Roosevelt

    Updated tier rankings

    Tier 1 - Wood go out of my way to go back anytime I had the opportunity
    Yellowstone
    Mount Rainier
    Arches
    Olympic
    Grand Teton
    Glacier
    Everglades

    Tier 2 - Wood gladly visit again
    Grand Canyon (was mildly disappointing)
    Crater Lake
    Rocky Mountain
    North Cascades
    Dry Tortugas
    Great Smoky Mountain
    Badlands
    Wind Cave
    Mammoth Cave

    Tier 3 - Glad I visited, wouldn't go out of my way to go back
    Gateway Arch
    Hot Springs
    Shenandoah
    Congaree

    Incomplete - just barely been inside, not enough to have a real opinion
    Petrified Forest (really liked the little bit of the Painted Desert I saw)
    Mesa Verde
    Theodore Roosevelt
    Biscayne
  • dnc
    dnc Member Posts: 56,839
    edited August 2021
    Yellowstone - BRB, Old Faithful
    dnc said:

    alumni94 said:

    I just completed a trip to Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming.

    Went to:

    Little Big Horn
    Devil's Tower
    Mount Rushmore
    Crazy Horse
    Custer State Park (Needles Highway)
    Badlands
    Grand Tetons
    Yellowstone.

    I think as a family we were most impressed with Custer State Park and the Needles Highway.
    https://www.google.com/search?q=needles+highway+south+dakota&rlz=1C1GCEB_enUS910US910&sxsrf=AOaemvJ924yFwlnp1RkQ0fCX31pUG2iu-g:1630356056992&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjU_YjNzdnyAhU-STABHZz8CH4Q_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=2400&bih=1171#imgrc=BbLkCZPf-WWKAM

    My kids as liked this small little place the best of everything:
    Columbia Falls about 10 miles outside of Hot Springs, SD.




    You are a must follow on Twitter my fren.
    Wait @alumni94 did you go to Glacier also? If not you're not the person I thought you were. There's another UW fan who just did almost this exact same trip (including Custer State Park) but hit Glacier one direction.
  • alumni94
    alumni94 Member Posts: 4,862
    dnc said:

    dnc said:

    alumni94 said:

    I just completed a trip to Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming.

    Went to:

    Little Big Horn
    Devil's Tower
    Mount Rushmore
    Crazy Horse
    Custer State Park (Needles Highway)
    Badlands
    Grand Tetons
    Yellowstone.

    I think as a family we were most impressed with Custer State Park and the Needles Highway.
    https://www.google.com/search?q=needles+highway+south+dakota&rlz=1C1GCEB_enUS910US910&sxsrf=AOaemvJ924yFwlnp1RkQ0fCX31pUG2iu-g:1630356056992&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjU_YjNzdnyAhU-STABHZz8CH4Q_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=2400&bih=1171#imgrc=BbLkCZPf-WWKAM

    My kids as liked this small little place the best of everything:
    Columbia Falls about 10 miles outside of Hot Springs, SD.




    You are a must follow on Twitter my fren.
    Wait @alumni94 did you go to Glacier also? If not you're not the person I thought you were. There's another UW fan who just did almost this exact same trip (including Custer State Park) but hit Glacier one direction.
    We did not. This was more of a rental car issue. We flew into Bozeman and the rental car companies were jacking up the prices if you didn't return to the same place. Trust me, my wife and I both said at the end of the trip that we should have added in Glacier, but it gives us a reason to go back.

    I would like to go back to the Grand Tetons in the spring, as it was a little smoky and that took away for the overall beauty of the place.

  • 1to392831weretaken
    1to392831weretaken Member Posts: 7,696
    Other

    ...a married Japanese couple legit put their toddler on a wild elk who was just chillen on some grass in one of the tourist areas for a photo op. Kid didn’t get hurt but it still blows my mind.

    The fuck!?
  • dnc
    dnc Member Posts: 56,839
    Yellowstone - BRB, Old Faithful
    On an epic road trip taking the fam to 23 American NPs in 41 days (plus Banff). Been to four so far. Quick fupdate: Grand Teton and Glacier moving way up my list.
  • YellowSnow
    YellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 37,215 Founders Club
    Other
    dnc said:

    On an epic road trip taking the fam to 23 American NPs in 41 days (plus Banff). Been to four so far. Quick fupdate: Grand Teton and Glacier moving way up my list.

    Crater Lake or GTFO
  • dnc
    dnc Member Posts: 56,839
    Yellowstone - BRB, Old Faithful

    dnc said:

    On an epic road trip taking the fam to 23 American NPs in 41 days (plus Banff). Been to four so far. Quick fupdate: Grand Teton and Glacier moving way up my list.

    Crater Lake or GTFO
    Wifey wants to drive the Oregon coast so Crater Lake 'tis not on the itinerary.

    Parks we've hit so far on the trip (bold = park I've never been to before this trip)
    Rocky Mountain Had to 86 this one because the pass was closed due to heavy snowfall the night before so we whiffed on our first target.
    Grand Teton
    Yellowstone
    Glacier
    Banff
    (Yoho, Glacier and Mt Revelstoke on the TransCanada highway but we didn't do anything but drive through so they don't really count)
    North Cascades

    Still to come (bold = park I've never been to before this trip)
    Mt Rainier
    Olympic
    Redwood
    Lassen Volcanic
    Yosemite
    Sequoia
    Kings Canyon
    Pinnacles
    Channel Islands
    Joshua Tree
    Death Valley
    Zion

    Grand Canyon (north rim)
    Bryce
    Capitol Reef
    Canyonlands

    Arches
    Mesa Verde
    Black Canyon of the Gunnison
    Great Sand Dunes
  • CFetters_Nacho_Lover
    CFetters_Nacho_Lover Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 32,232 Founders Club
    Other
    dnc said:





    First up was Congaree National Park near Columbia, SC. This is one of the newer parks (promoted from National Monument in 2003), and one of the least visited parks in the nation (10th least according to


    So southward we rolled. We made it to St Augustine, FL for our first night out of Dad's house, with no other real sightseeing on day one except a brief drive around Old Town Savannah.

    Cool fucking city.




    I almost got arrested in Columbia for streaking through a hotel lobby and into the bar to order a drink. Bartender wouldn’t serve me.

    Savannah is a great fucking party town.
  • PurpleThrobber
    PurpleThrobber Member Posts: 48,015
    Yellowstone - BRB, Old Faithful
    Savannah Bananas is a great IG follow. Need to hit one of their games and I fucking hate baseball.

    SAV is a great town. NOLA without a major fear of getting killed.
  • YellowSnow
    YellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 37,215 Founders Club
    Other
    dnc said:

    dnc said:

    On an epic road trip taking the fam to 23 American NPs in 41 days (plus Banff). Been to four so far. Quick fupdate: Grand Teton and Glacier moving way up my list.

    Crater Lake or GTFO
    Wifey wants to drive the Oregon coast so Crater Lake 'tis not on the itinerary.

    Parks we've hit so far on the trip (bold = park I've never been to before this trip)
    Rocky Mountain Had to 86 this one because the pass was closed due to heavy snowfall the night before so we whiffed on our first target.
    Grand Teton
    Yellowstone
    Glacier
    Banff
    (Yoho, Glacier and Mt Revelstoke on the TransCanada highway but we didn't do anything but drive through so they don't really count)
    North Cascades

    Still to come (bold = park I've never been to before this trip)
    Mt Rainier
    Olympic
    Redwood
    Lassen Volcanic
    Yosemite
    Sequoia
    Kings Canyon
    Pinnacles
    Channel Islands
    Joshua Tree
    Death Valley
    Zion

    Grand Canyon (north rim)
    Bryce
    Capitol Reef
    Canyonlands

    Arches
    Mesa Verde
    Black Canyon of the Gunnison
    Great Sand Dunes
    Bummer brah. It’s more real and spectacular than most on this list.

    I see what you’re doing here though going for maximum output in a short period of time. Crater Lake is out of the way based on your route and time schedule to keep.
  • dnc
    dnc Member Posts: 56,839
    Yellowstone - BRB, Old Faithful

    dnc said:

    dnc said:

    On an epic road trip taking the fam to 23 American NPs in 41 days (plus Banff). Been to four so far. Quick fupdate: Grand Teton and Glacier moving way up my list.

    Crater Lake or GTFO
    Wifey wants to drive the Oregon coast so Crater Lake 'tis not on the itinerary.

    Parks we've hit so far on the trip (bold = park I've never been to before this trip)
    Rocky Mountain Had to 86 this one because the pass was closed due to heavy snowfall the night before so we whiffed on our first target.
    Grand Teton
    Yellowstone
    Glacier
    Banff
    (Yoho, Glacier and Mt Revelstoke on the TransCanada highway but we didn't do anything but drive through so they don't really count)
    North Cascades

    Still to come (bold = park I've never been to before this trip)
    Mt Rainier
    Olympic
    Redwood
    Lassen Volcanic
    Yosemite
    Sequoia
    Kings Canyon
    Pinnacles
    Channel Islands
    Joshua Tree
    Death Valley
    Zion

    Grand Canyon (north rim)
    Bryce
    Capitol Reef
    Canyonlands

    Arches
    Mesa Verde
    Black Canyon of the Gunnison
    Great Sand Dunes
    Bummer brah. It’s more real and spectacular than most on this list.

    I see what you’re doing here though going for maximum output in a short period of time. Crater Lake is out of the way based on your route and time schedule to keep.
    If it were just me we'd be hitting Crater Lake for sure. Only been once and it was super cloudy so I've always wanted to go back. But alas Mrs DNC only requested like 4 things on this whole trip and the Oregon Coast was one of them so we're hitting it instead. And yes, definitely a quantity over quality trip.
  • YellowSnow
    YellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 37,215 Founders Club
    edited June 2022
    Other
    dnc said:

    dnc said:

    dnc said:

    On an epic road trip taking the fam to 23 American NPs in 41 days (plus Banff). Been to four so far. Quick fupdate: Grand Teton and Glacier moving way up my list.

    Crater Lake or GTFO
    Wifey wants to drive the Oregon coast so Crater Lake 'tis not on the itinerary.

    Parks we've hit so far on the trip (bold = park I've never been to before this trip)
    Rocky Mountain Had to 86 this one because the pass was closed due to heavy snowfall the night before so we whiffed on our first target.
    Grand Teton
    Yellowstone
    Glacier
    Banff
    (Yoho, Glacier and Mt Revelstoke on the TransCanada highway but we didn't do anything but drive through so they don't really count)
    North Cascades

    Still to come (bold = park I've never been to before this trip)
    Mt Rainier
    Olympic
    Redwood
    Lassen Volcanic
    Yosemite
    Sequoia
    Kings Canyon
    Pinnacles
    Channel Islands
    Joshua Tree
    Death Valley
    Zion

    Grand Canyon (north rim)
    Bryce
    Capitol Reef
    Canyonlands

    Arches
    Mesa Verde
    Black Canyon of the Gunnison
    Great Sand Dunes
    Bummer brah. It’s more real and spectacular than most on this list.

    I see what you’re doing here though going for maximum output in a short period of time. Crater Lake is out of the way based on your route and time schedule to keep.
    If it were just me we'd be hitting Crater Lake for sure. Only been once and it was super cloudy so I've always wanted to go back. But alas Mrs DNC only requested like 4 things on this whole trip and the Oregon Coast was one of them so we're hitting it instead. And yes, definitely a quantity over quality trip.
    Kind of sad, for how much natural beauty the Ducktards have, we? are shit as fuck for National Parks compared to WA, CA, UT, CO, etc. Just the one with Crater Lake. Only @PurpleThrobber is worse at National Parks than Oregon is with their little c-hair of Yellowstone.
  • StateChampWereU
    StateChampWereU Member Posts: 39
    Yosemite in April when the waterfalls are gushing and between spring break and summer crowds. It can be chilly, but the scenery is worth it.
  • PurpleThrobber
    PurpleThrobber Member Posts: 48,015
    Yellowstone - BRB, Old Faithful

    dnc said:

    dnc said:

    dnc said:

    On an epic road trip taking the fam to 23 American NPs in 41 days (plus Banff). Been to four so far. Quick fupdate: Grand Teton and Glacier moving way up my list.

    Crater Lake or GTFO
    Wifey wants to drive the Oregon coast so Crater Lake 'tis not on the itinerary.

    Parks we've hit so far on the trip (bold = park I've never been to before this trip)
    Rocky Mountain Had to 86 this one because the pass was closed due to heavy snowfall the night before so we whiffed on our first target.
    Grand Teton
    Yellowstone
    Glacier
    Banff
    (Yoho, Glacier and Mt Revelstoke on the TransCanada highway but we didn't do anything but drive through so they don't really count)
    North Cascades

    Still to come (bold = park I've never been to before this trip)
    Mt Rainier
    Olympic
    Redwood
    Lassen Volcanic
    Yosemite
    Sequoia
    Kings Canyon
    Pinnacles
    Channel Islands
    Joshua Tree
    Death Valley
    Zion

    Grand Canyon (north rim)
    Bryce
    Capitol Reef
    Canyonlands

    Arches
    Mesa Verde
    Black Canyon of the Gunnison
    Great Sand Dunes
    Bummer brah. It’s more real and spectacular than most on this list.

    I see what you’re doing here though going for maximum output in a short period of time. Crater Lake is out of the way based on your route and time schedule to keep.
    If it were just me we'd be hitting Crater Lake for sure. Only been once and it was super cloudy so I've always wanted to go back. But alas Mrs DNC only requested like 4 things on this whole trip and the Oregon Coast was one of them so we're hitting it instead. And yes, definitely a quantity over quality trip.
    Kind of sad, for how much natural beauty the Ducktards have, we? are shit as fuck for National Parks compared to WA, CA, UT, CO, etc. Just the one with Crater Lake. Only @PurpleThrobber is worse at National Parks than Oregon is with their little c-hair of Yellowstone.
    Idaho refuses to be controlled by the Feds.

    Take this to the Tug.

  • PurpleThrobber
    PurpleThrobber Member Posts: 48,015
    Yellowstone - BRB, Old Faithful

    dnc said:

    dnc said:

    dnc said:

    On an epic road trip taking the fam to 23 American NPs in 41 days (plus Banff). Been to four so far. Quick fupdate: Grand Teton and Glacier moving way up my list.

    Crater Lake or GTFO
    Wifey wants to drive the Oregon coast so Crater Lake 'tis not on the itinerary.

    Parks we've hit so far on the trip (bold = park I've never been to before this trip)
    Rocky Mountain Had to 86 this one because the pass was closed due to heavy snowfall the night before so we whiffed on our first target.
    Grand Teton
    Yellowstone
    Glacier
    Banff
    (Yoho, Glacier and Mt Revelstoke on the TransCanada highway but we didn't do anything but drive through so they don't really count)
    North Cascades

    Still to come (bold = park I've never been to before this trip)
    Mt Rainier
    Olympic
    Redwood
    Lassen Volcanic
    Yosemite
    Sequoia
    Kings Canyon
    Pinnacles
    Channel Islands
    Joshua Tree
    Death Valley
    Zion

    Grand Canyon (north rim)
    Bryce
    Capitol Reef
    Canyonlands

    Arches
    Mesa Verde
    Black Canyon of the Gunnison
    Great Sand Dunes
    Bummer brah. It’s more real and spectacular than most on this list.

    I see what you’re doing here though going for maximum output in a short period of time. Crater Lake is out of the way based on your route and time schedule to keep.
    If it were just me we'd be hitting Crater Lake for sure. Only been once and it was super cloudy so I've always wanted to go back. But alas Mrs DNC only requested like 4 things on this whole trip and the Oregon Coast was one of them so we're hitting it instead. And yes, definitely a quantity over quality trip.
    Kind of sad, for how much natural beauty the Ducktards have, we? are shit as fuck for National Parks compared to WA, CA, UT, CO, etc. Just the one with Crater Lake. Only @PurpleThrobber is worse at National Parks than Oregon is with their little c-hair of Yellowstone.
    Idaho refuses to be controlled by the Feds.

    Take this to the Tug.

    Idaho has the 3rd highest percentage of federally owned land in the US, behind only Nevada (1st) and Utah (2nd). The armpit sex states couldn't be trusted to control their own lands.
    I tried to slide a right wing curve by.

    Idaho is essentially one big National Park.

    Nevada is one big mining royalty for the feds.

  • YellowSnow
    YellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 37,215 Founders Club
    Other

    dnc said:

    dnc said:

    dnc said:

    On an epic road trip taking the fam to 23 American NPs in 41 days (plus Banff). Been to four so far. Quick fupdate: Grand Teton and Glacier moving way up my list.

    Crater Lake or GTFO
    Wifey wants to drive the Oregon coast so Crater Lake 'tis not on the itinerary.

    Parks we've hit so far on the trip (bold = park I've never been to before this trip)
    Rocky Mountain Had to 86 this one because the pass was closed due to heavy snowfall the night before so we whiffed on our first target.
    Grand Teton
    Yellowstone
    Glacier
    Banff
    (Yoho, Glacier and Mt Revelstoke on the TransCanada highway but we didn't do anything but drive through so they don't really count)
    North Cascades

    Still to come (bold = park I've never been to before this trip)
    Mt Rainier
    Olympic
    Redwood
    Lassen Volcanic
    Yosemite
    Sequoia
    Kings Canyon
    Pinnacles
    Channel Islands
    Joshua Tree
    Death Valley
    Zion

    Grand Canyon (north rim)
    Bryce
    Capitol Reef
    Canyonlands

    Arches
    Mesa Verde
    Black Canyon of the Gunnison
    Great Sand Dunes
    Bummer brah. It’s more real and spectacular than most on this list.

    I see what you’re doing here though going for maximum output in a short period of time. Crater Lake is out of the way based on your route and time schedule to keep.
    If it were just me we'd be hitting Crater Lake for sure. Only been once and it was super cloudy so I've always wanted to go back. But alas Mrs DNC only requested like 4 things on this whole trip and the Oregon Coast was one of them so we're hitting it instead. And yes, definitely a quantity over quality trip.
    Kind of sad, for how much natural beauty the Ducktards have, we? are shit as fuck for National Parks compared to WA, CA, UT, CO, etc. Just the one with Crater Lake. Only @PurpleThrobber is worse at National Parks than Oregon is with their little c-hair of Yellowstone.
    Idaho refuses to be controlled by the Feds.

    Take this to the Tug.

    Idaho has the 3rd highest percentage of federally owned land in the US, behind only Nevada (1st) and Utah (2nd). The armpit sex states couldn't be trusted to control their own lands.
    I tried to slide a right wing curve by.

    Idaho is essentially one big National Park.

    Nevada is one big mining royalty for the feds.

    IFL Idaho and married a potato head (no armpit sex though).

    The interior of the state is remarkable wilderness.

    Just always baffles me that there's not one National Park.
  • TheHB
    TheHB Member Posts: 6,457
    Yosemite - We always loose to Cal
    It's the only one I promote on a T-shirt, so ...
  • Pitchfork51
    Pitchfork51 Member Posts: 27,662
    National parks are basically white supremacy.

    Haven't you seen the articles on black people not going as much as white people?
  • dnc
    dnc Member Posts: 56,839
    Yellowstone - BRB, Old Faithful

    National parks are basically white supremacy.

    Haven't you seen the articles on black people not going as much as white people?

    Knew hear?
  • YellowSnow
    YellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 37,215 Founders Club
    Other

    National parks are basically white supremacy.

    Haven't you seen the articles on black people not going as much as white people?

    It's mostly Chinese and (dot) Indians at the West Coast National Parks.

    @dnc I think you really screwed the pooch by not taking in Crater Lake. Took the fam down there on Sunday as I haven't been since 1989. North Entrance is about 90 mins from my house.

    Just fucking stunning as there's no other view like that on Earth.

    For my money, the Mt Rushmore of National Park (US) views is Grand Canyon, Crater, Yosemite, and then Rainier. Zion and Bryce are honorable mention.
  • StLouisDawg
    StLouisDawg Member Posts: 550
    Glacier - Bobby Hauck and Jeff Choate KG
    I grew up in the wilderness between the Cascades and the Rockies. In a log house. Didn’t have a phone until I was 8 and that was a party line.

    Yellowstone as a kid felt very urban to me, it had paths. And stores and shit. But Glacier was wild and pristine, true beauty. And as I recall Lewis and Clark caverns were nearby and totally worth the side trip.
  • huskyhooligan
    huskyhooligan Member, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 5,921 Swaye's Wigwam
    Mt Rainier - DoogItUp.gif
    Well it's good to know @dnc is still alive.
  • dnc
    dnc Member Posts: 56,839
    Yellowstone - BRB, Old Faithful
    I still owe you guys a breakdown of my trip last year. Will try and get on that soon.

    Just stumbled across this story. Super cool. #Goals

  • dnc
    dnc Member Posts: 56,839
    Yellowstone - BRB, Old Faithful
    Alright so the grand 2022 trip report is going to fill up multiple posts but I'll get started with one here. Will probably structure it something like this:

    Rocky Mountain parks (Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Glacier, Banff)
    WASHINGTON parks, dammit (North Cascades, Rainier, Olympic)
    Cali forest/mountain parks (Redwood, Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon)
    Other Cali parks (Pinnacles, Channel Islands, Joshua Tree)
    Canyon parks (Zion, Arches, north rimGrand Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches)
    Colorado parks (Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison)
  • RaceBannon
    RaceBannon Member, Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 113,715 Founders Club
    Mt Rainier - DoogItUp.gif
    We drove past the Grand Tetons like the Griswold family
  • Purple_Pills
    Purple_Pills Member Posts: 2,110
    How many people here have been to Spray Falls, Comet Falls, or both? (at MRNP)

    I still haven’t voted, but Mt. Rainier is getting close. I have a proximity bias against it, but the more you get to know it, the better it is. I used to rank Olympic higher, but after exploring both, I can share more accessible cool things at Rainier.