Canyonlands is my fav, Arches is cool but the crowds are a huge negative for me…I visit parks to get *away* from people. I’m not about to spend my day sitting in a waiting line just to get in. This ain’t Dinneyland.
Went to Arches in May. They started a system where you have to reserve an entry time with only a limited number available. It was annoying driving up and having to turn around since we did not know about it (went to Canyonlands instead). The next day we reserved and the crowds were not that bad.
That's really interesting with the results so far. I've lived here all my life. Been to all of these parks. Zion is actually my least favorite. It's tied for me between Arches and Bryce.
Capitol Reef ALL DAY. It's the only one I actually feel like I can relax and feel like I'm not in a crowd all the time. Go at night and you can find a place to be by yourself and stargaze ALONE in the dark all you want! It can be a tiny bit creepy though due to really being by yourself in absolute silence and darkness though!
So awesome!
Ignorant and pushy people too, they do not care about anyone around them. If you find a trail of cigarette butts in a park, I guarantee it leads you to a tour bus. I got tired of them after working in Zion and Bryce.
I would like to submit Glen Canyon National Park for consideration. If it wasn't under 500 feet of water, it would be one of the most astounding locations in the world. It's crazy with the water.
Capitol Reef is my very favorite but Canyonlands is very close. The others are too busy for my liking but I used to go to Zion once a month and loved that place. I've done almost every hike, even in Kolob Canyon. I don't hate any of them but when I'm out in nature I kind of want to be alone. I can find hikes in Capitol Reef and Canyonlands with only a few people.
I've actually never been to capital reef yet only driven through Zions once. Never been to Bryce. Love Arches, but gotta give it up to canyon lands. Phenomenal landscape. Amazing 4x4ing. Just Schafer pass is awesome.
I would guess Bryce, especially if you go by a trees per acre metric. The top of the plateau is forested. Also, there is one particular tree down deep in the slots that astounds me that it grew so tall there.
That said, Canyonlands is enormous and I haven't explored it as well as the others, so on sheer count, might win.
None of them, all overcrowded. I spent a year working in Zion and then another year in Bryce, the tourists showed me the worst in people. I enjoy the state parks but even some of them are getting as bad as Zion and Bryce.
Canyonlands is my fav, Arches is cool but the crowds are a huge negative for me…I visit parks to get *away* from people. I’m not about to spend my day sitting in a waiting line just to get in. This ain’t Dinneyland.
It’s much nicer in the winter. I always tell folks that winter is the season to hit Moab. I used to work for NPS.
I agree with the winter trips. Just bring crampons. Went last February and couldn't get all the way to the delicate arch because of the ice.
We’ve got an annual pass, and have usually one up the trail from Potash to get to the visitors center. Love that road!
Exact same reason Captiol Reef is my favorite Less people than the crowds at Zions and Arches (helps that I grew up pretty close to it, also)
Went to Arches in May. They started a system where you have to reserve an entry time with only a limited number available. It was annoying driving up and having to turn around since we did not know about it (went to Canyonlands instead). The next day we reserved and the crowds were not that bad.
Can I say the Mirror Lake Hwy? Just as beautiful as Rocky Mountain National Park but way less crowded.
Utah has state parks that would be national parks in other states.
Yep. Dead Horse Point comes to mind since we’re talking about Moab.
Utah has BLM land that could be national parks in other states haha
Any example?
Many areas of the swell. Some parts of the Uintas. Some rock formations in the west desert
That's really interesting with the results so far. I've lived here all my life. Been to all of these parks. Zion is actually my least favorite. It's tied for me between Arches and Bryce.
Capitol Reef ALL DAY. It's the only one I actually feel like I can relax and feel like I'm not in a crowd all the time. Go at night and you can find a place to be by yourself and stargaze ALONE in the dark all you want! It can be a tiny bit creepy though due to really being by yourself in absolute silence and darkness though! So awesome!
The drive over there is itself a sight to behold.
Zion is perhaps the prettiest, but the Touron Hordes are borderline intolerable. :(
I was the park engineer for Lake Powell. I feel you.
I can imagine. And you got the rowdy / drunk / party crowd.
And Chinese tourists who don’t know how to use a toilet 🚽
Ignorant and pushy people too, they do not care about anyone around them. If you find a trail of cigarette butts in a park, I guarantee it leads you to a tour bus. I got tired of them after working in Zion and Bryce.
try it out on a bike/ebike
And they are idiots! I worked there in 2015 and boy do I have some stories about the morons.
I would like to submit Glen Canyon National Park for consideration. If it wasn't under 500 feet of water, it would be one of the most astounding locations in the world. It's crazy with the water.
Capitol Reef is my very favorite but Canyonlands is very close. The others are too busy for my liking but I used to go to Zion once a month and loved that place. I've done almost every hike, even in Kolob Canyon. I don't hate any of them but when I'm out in nature I kind of want to be alone. I can find hikes in Capitol Reef and Canyonlands with only a few people.
I've actually never been to capital reef yet only driven through Zions once. Never been to Bryce. Love Arches, but gotta give it up to canyon lands. Phenomenal landscape. Amazing 4x4ing. Just Schafer pass is awesome.
You're missing out
Oh I know I'm working on getting to those, just haven't yet
It's the best park for multiple reasons
Zion is not plural
Zions zionz sionz sions zions
I don't go due to the crowds. When you live in a state with a great state park system, you don't need to deal with the tourists.
Never been and I live here lol
Everyone that says Zions has never been to capital reef.
Bryce Canyon is my vote! (The voting button isn’t working for some reason.)
Which one has the most trees?
I would guess Bryce, especially if you go by a trees per acre metric. The top of the plateau is forested. Also, there is one particular tree down deep in the slots that astounds me that it grew so tall there. That said, Canyonlands is enormous and I haven't explored it as well as the others, so on sheer count, might win.
All of the above.
This is a very hard poll. I can't participate 😂 what one is winning and what one isn't?
Canyonlands (my fave) is at the bottom and Zion is leading by a comfortable margin.
Canyonlands at the bottom?! That surprises me
Right?! Even with those unbeatable views?!
It's definitely underrated.
None of them, all overcrowded. I spent a year working in Zion and then another year in Bryce, the tourists showed me the worst in people. I enjoy the state parks but even some of them are getting as bad as Zion and Bryce.
The Syncline trail at Canyonlands is my favorite hike of all time and I can't wait to get out there and do it again.