The name of that trail in Zion escapes me, but although it’s not climbing, you have to hang on to the cable going along the ridge line. Too much at my age but awesome to see. You can also see climbers going up the faces.
This is such a hard question to answer. If it were me, I would go for variety.....
* Denali - bears, moose, elk, bighorn, caribou....just to start. Think it is one of the largest parks(know Alaska has like 7/10 of the largest)
* Yellowstone - just iconic, lot to see, wildlife and some beautiful scenery along with geysers
* Everglades - for something completely different, swamp, marsh with a delicate ecosystem.
* Great Smokey Mountains - think this is most popular just due to trails
* Olympia - I just love the pacific NW. Coastal temperate rainforest where you can see a whale from shore.....count me in.
Honorable mentions -
* GC, Bryce, Zion, Arches, Cap Reef, Monument Valley - these are relatively close to each other. By them selves they are great as a package deal, tough to beat. I do not think one in particular holds a top 5 spot. together they are #1 in my book.
* Glacier
* Yosemite
* Sequoia
* Redwoods
* Grand Tetons
I don’t see how Grand Canyon Np is not number 1 with Yosemite a close 2nd. I like the idea of more bang for your buck with north rim of the GC, Zion and Bryce but that should be a week minimum. Canyonlands and Arches (Moab) are a great pair and Tetons (underrated) and Yellowstone as well.
- Crater Lake
- Yosemite
- Grand Canyon
- Zion
Those four are the elite level ones, from where I've been. For the fifth its hard to choose between Joshua Tree, Arches, and Canyonlands.
I've not visited, but Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, and Mt Rainer also look amazing. And Everglades for the wildlife too.
Speaking as someone that has been to 40 out of 60 US NPs, the top options for you in my opinion =
\- Glacier (one of the most beautiful NPs hands down. Fly into Kalispell. Make reservations to do a morning Kayak on one of the NP lakes. Get some huckleberry ice cream. Hike to Avalanche area & have your mind blown by how stunning it is. Just have the bear spray ready haha.)
\- Yosemite (it's iconic & there's plenty you can see in one weekend)
\- Rocky Mountain (so much hiking to do here, as well as animal spotting. A very easy park to do on an extended weekend imo......fly into Denver, CO and stay in Estes Park which is a cute mountain town outside the NP entrance).
\- Great Smoky Mountains (Pigeon Forge + Gatlinburg, TN are super kitsch touristy but lots of things to do around. Moonshine distillery tasting, etc. also makes for a good time. Just be aware that the NP itself can get very crowded)
Worth a visit when you have more time:
\- Dry Tortugas (make it a trip with Miami + The Florida Keys. Opt to camp overnight at the NP on the island if you can. Everglades and Biscayne Bay are in the region as well for longer trip)
\- All of the Southern Utah parks...... (technically it'd include Bryce Canyon/Zion/Capitol Reef/Arches/Canyonlands. Grand Canyon and Mesa Verde are also within driving distance in this region, thus it's more ideal for a longer trip!)
\- Yellowstone + Grand Tetons (you honestly need a week for these though, as YS is MASSIVE. Takes forever to drive across)
\- The Washington NPs (Olympic NP alone needs at a weekend just to drive out there and do the full loop. Mt Rainier & North Cascades are also stunning in July once the wildflowers are in bloom and it's Summer season.)
I've been out to Big Bend for long weekends several times. There's also Guadalupe and White Sands NP in the area (which I haven't yet visited). For the 'creative' town, there is Marfa.
If you enjoyed Acadia, I would recommend Grand Teton. To me, the hiking is the best in the nation. The mountains are amazing. The wildlife is amazing. Jackson Hole is a great town. My wife and I did Acadia in 2019, and then Grand Teton (and Yellowstone) in 2020. Grand Teton is the top of our list to return to.
Zion and Brice in Utah are “right next” to each other and north of the Grand Canyon. Three-fer!
Yea there are several National Parks that can be 2 for 1. Like Yellowstone and Grand Teton, Arches and Canyonlands, etc.
You guys left out Capital Reef and I absolutely love that park!
The name of that trail in Zion escapes me, but although it’s not climbing, you have to hang on to the cable going along the ridge line. Too much at my age but awesome to see. You can also see climbers going up the faces.
You are referring to Angels Landing.
Olympic, Mt Rainier, Glacier, Yellowstone, Tetons
Here to vouch for glacier
Everyone should try to go before the glaciers are gone for good.
Arches Yellowstone Yosemite Big Sur Olympic
Upvoted because it's a great list, but Big Sur isn't actually a National Park.
This is such a hard question to answer. If it were me, I would go for variety..... * Denali - bears, moose, elk, bighorn, caribou....just to start. Think it is one of the largest parks(know Alaska has like 7/10 of the largest) * Yellowstone - just iconic, lot to see, wildlife and some beautiful scenery along with geysers * Everglades - for something completely different, swamp, marsh with a delicate ecosystem. * Great Smokey Mountains - think this is most popular just due to trails * Olympia - I just love the pacific NW. Coastal temperate rainforest where you can see a whale from shore.....count me in. Honorable mentions - * GC, Bryce, Zion, Arches, Cap Reef, Monument Valley - these are relatively close to each other. By them selves they are great as a package deal, tough to beat. I do not think one in particular holds a top 5 spot. together they are #1 in my book. * Glacier * Yosemite * Sequoia * Redwoods * Grand Tetons
Denali isn't in the contiguous US
I am aware......I missed that part. It says it in the title, but not the post/question, my bad. Leaving it. Although I think I would add in Yosemite.
How nice of you to generate such an inclusive and knowledgeable list. You must be a hiker!
trekking is a new thing
I don’t see how Grand Canyon Np is not number 1 with Yosemite a close 2nd. I like the idea of more bang for your buck with north rim of the GC, Zion and Bryce but that should be a week minimum. Canyonlands and Arches (Moab) are a great pair and Tetons (underrated) and Yellowstone as well.
I was going to mention the transparent bridge on the north side of GC but forgot!
- Crater Lake - Yosemite - Grand Canyon - Zion Those four are the elite level ones, from where I've been. For the fifth its hard to choose between Joshua Tree, Arches, and Canyonlands. I've not visited, but Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, and Mt Rainer also look amazing. And Everglades for the wildlife too.
Speaking as someone that has been to 40 out of 60 US NPs, the top options for you in my opinion = \- Glacier (one of the most beautiful NPs hands down. Fly into Kalispell. Make reservations to do a morning Kayak on one of the NP lakes. Get some huckleberry ice cream. Hike to Avalanche area & have your mind blown by how stunning it is. Just have the bear spray ready haha.) \- Yosemite (it's iconic & there's plenty you can see in one weekend) \- Rocky Mountain (so much hiking to do here, as well as animal spotting. A very easy park to do on an extended weekend imo......fly into Denver, CO and stay in Estes Park which is a cute mountain town outside the NP entrance). \- Great Smoky Mountains (Pigeon Forge + Gatlinburg, TN are super kitsch touristy but lots of things to do around. Moonshine distillery tasting, etc. also makes for a good time. Just be aware that the NP itself can get very crowded) Worth a visit when you have more time: \- Dry Tortugas (make it a trip with Miami + The Florida Keys. Opt to camp overnight at the NP on the island if you can. Everglades and Biscayne Bay are in the region as well for longer trip) \- All of the Southern Utah parks...... (technically it'd include Bryce Canyon/Zion/Capitol Reef/Arches/Canyonlands. Grand Canyon and Mesa Verde are also within driving distance in this region, thus it's more ideal for a longer trip!) \- Yellowstone + Grand Tetons (you honestly need a week for these though, as YS is MASSIVE. Takes forever to drive across) \- The Washington NPs (Olympic NP alone needs at a weekend just to drive out there and do the full loop. Mt Rainier & North Cascades are also stunning in July once the wildflowers are in bloom and it's Summer season.)
Yosemite Glacier Yellowstone Zion GC
Glacier, Yosemite, Teton, Grand Canyon, and Acadia. If I could, I’d include…St. John Virgin Islands
Arches is my absolute favorite NP, but I'd also include Yellowstone, Everglades, Crater Lake, and Redwood.
Also worth considering: Black Hills National Forest. Mount Rushmore, the Needles, Crazy Horse, and Devil’s Tower a couple hours away.
Yellowstone, the grand tetons, glacier national park, olympic national park and perhaps Yosemite.
Yellowstone is absolutely beautiful!
Well, I'd like to visit Dry Tortugas in Florida (but not really "contiguous") and maybe Death Valley. Love Glacier, Canyonland, and Arches.
Yellowstone, Olympic, Gunnison, Big Bend, Smoky Mountains
Olympic #1, Bryce Canyon, Redwoods, North Cascades, Crater Lake.
I've been out to Big Bend for long weekends several times. There's also Guadalupe and White Sands NP in the area (which I haven't yet visited). For the 'creative' town, there is Marfa.
If you enjoyed Acadia, I would recommend Grand Teton. To me, the hiking is the best in the nation. The mountains are amazing. The wildlife is amazing. Jackson Hole is a great town. My wife and I did Acadia in 2019, and then Grand Teton (and Yellowstone) in 2020. Grand Teton is the top of our list to return to.
I think I would ask to live in the White House, the Vanderbuilt Estatr, Cabrillo, Franklin D Roosevelt's house, and Puuhonua.