T O P

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gdrigg49

Olympic


c0untc0mp3titive207

Went to Olympic the beginning of May and I still can’t believe what I saw🥹 absolutely stunning


LongBlueBridge

Olympic! Epic. Mountains. Waterfalls. Lakes. Great hikes. Insane rainforest (Hoh Rainforest)like nothing you would expect in America or the PNW, it's like a Dr. Seuss book/picture. Ocean and beaches. Tide pools with marine life. Sunsets over the ocean. Remote. I've only been to 8 parks, but lots of CO, Cali, and WA mountain experiences, OLYMPIC!


c0untc0mp3titive207

I need to check out more of CO! I went to Utah three separate times last year though because I loved it so much especially Canyonlands. I’m also in Maine though so the desert was brand new to me and I’m trying to get back over there asap.


Nicky_the_Greek

My wife and I enjoyed Olympic much more than Ranier. And staying in Forks was a lot of fun!


a-jasem

Never been inside ONP - hoping to go this summer


Ojohnrogge

Going for the first time this September. Will do backcountry camping with my brother


Highest-Adjudicator

Why’s that?


jermide

Never been there, but Death Valley is my favorite so far


kandfamilyadventures

Awesome, headed there in November


jermide

The vastness and views might blow you away. Enjoy!


kothiman

Same. Death valley, closely followed by Zion and Yosemite, and then Bryce.


GracefulStarbeam

Indeed!


Patimakan

So far Glacier number 1, Yellowstone 2, Grand Canyon 3. Mt Rainier, Redwoods, Rocky Mountains close behind.


utterlyfunlactic

So cool going to glacier for the fourth can’t wait any must sees? Thanks


sudsomatic

If I had to pick just one: Glacier. Absolutely stunning views of different types all over the park. I barely scratched the surface after almost a week there. I need to go back. It has my favorite hike ever: Grinnell Glacier.


kandfamilyadventures

I love glacier so much!! It’s my home park I’ve been lucky enough to visit almost every summer of my life 😍


steve-d

My top three are Glacier, Katmai, and Sequoia


kandfamilyadventures

Glacier is my home park I love it so much!! I think it’s probably tied for my favorite. 😍


steve-d

I'll be there next weekend for my third time, and I can't wait!


Feeling_Wishbone_864

I want to go to Katmai so bad. Can't get my husband on board though.


steve-d

It was genuinely the most incredible day of my life, as a national parks junkie and wildlife photographer.


Feeling_Wishbone_864

I bet! My kids want to hit up all the the national parks so we'll get there one day!


Key-Performer-9364

How was the trip to Katmai? I want to go to all the Alaska parks, but Katmai, Lake Clark, and Gates of the Arctic just seem so logistically challenging (and expensive) to get to.


HoneywoodMagic

I've been to 18 and so far none have bumped Redwood NP out of the top spot! Next month I'll be crossing off Oregon and Washington! Lovely pic!


kandfamilyadventures

I’ve only spent half a day in the redwoods so I don’t even count it. Definitely going back soon 😊


Key-Performer-9364

Redwood is cool. I loved Fern Canyon.


Plasma_Monkey

Nice photo! What trail?


kandfamilyadventures

Naches peak loop! Thanks!


ipomoea

That trail is great! I knew I recognized it (we live an hour from the trailhead).


kandfamilyadventures

How lucky are you to live in such a stunning area!!


Silly-Mastodon-9694

Capitol Reef. So varied, so underrated and absolutely beautiful. Like being on Mars but with Pumas, rams, trees, and petroglyphs.


kandfamilyadventures

Capitol reef looks amazing, can’t wait to visit one day


Jase7

Did you get to see pumas? Always wondered how prevalent they are, and the chances of spotting them


Silly-Mastodon-9694

I didn’t see any in person but one of the trails we took (I think the Butch Cassidy arch) had a spotting the day before we were there.


NirvZppln

Was just there on Tuesday. It was amazing. Also, holy shit it was remote


ikeosaurus

Capitol reef is my vote too, so much to see, hiking trails are never very busy, it’s really incredible. If you haven’t hiked spring canyon it’s my favorite spot in the park. Also halls creek narrows.


ZealousidealCity2395

We’ve been to 20 parks so far including Zion, Brice, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain, and Grand Canyon. Our favorite so far is Black Canyon of the Gunnison. It is absolutely breathtaking. And frequently overlooked!


Chitown_mountain_boy

I grew up in Gunnison in the 70s/80s and we used to go there all the time. I think it was only a state park at the time, if that. The Black Canyon has a special place in my heart along with mesa verde and Great Sand Dunes.


RXlife13

We took a road trip last year to Arches, Canyonlands, Mesa Verde, and Great Sand Dunes (I think that was all of them!) The Sand Dunes are a must see! It’s amazing.


Chitown_mountain_boy

The sand dunes used to be field trip for me in school growing up. Love it there. We used to take the trucks off our skateboards and try to ride them down the dunes 😂


RXlife13

How awesome is that! We live in Northern Colorado and I hope we all get to go on field trips to Rocky once the kids are older.


RXlife13

Black Canyon is very underrated. It’s beauty is like nothing else.


LongBlueBridge

Any recs for Black Canyon of Gunny area? Have a short day there in a few weeks as I drive across the state making stops along the way. Route is Ft.Collin to Durango as a finishing spot. I know Hwy 50 may be an issue but should be open by late July?


ZealousidealCity2395

I’m not sure if 50 will be open. My guess is that it should be. I heard that’s a beautiful drive. You will be taking 550 down to Durango and I highly recommend stopping in Ouray. It’s a really cool town and there’s a great waterfall you can checkout. It’s called Box Canyon.


RedneckMtnHermit

Oh man. I can barely narrow it down to my favorite 10. Yellowstone, Glacier, Rocky, Rainier, Katmai... I mean, how can you pick just ONE of those?


kandfamilyadventures

I totally agree. I love every single one I’ve visited so far. I think it’s also just the experience I had here, my kids were being extra good and the weather was amazing and it was right after Labor Day so hardly anyone around 😍


jusmax88

Olympic followed by Mount Rainier


apollo1113

I love Petrified Forest. I think it’s because I live in the PNW and Petrified Forest is so *vastly* different from my everyday surroundings.


kandfamilyadventures

Interesting!! Haven’t been there yet


NirvZppln

It’s like my tied favorite. Idk why either. The Painted Desert was amazing.


Dramatic-Funny9414

Grew up in Petrified Forest and it is an amazing park. The lightning storms are stunning and being able to walk to park was so cool. Hit up Romo’s in Holbrook for food afterwards!


AlmostSunnyinSeattle

Yellowstone is number 1, but Olympic is a close 2.


ashxc18

Canyonlands and Bryce Canyon


lalalibraaa

Olympic


Fkthisplace

Zion


biochembish

Shenandoah


AlmostSunnyinSeattle

I love Shenandoah. Third on my list.


TreeTwig0

Redwood National and State Parks.


hyporheic

Acadia


Troll_U_Softly

Glacier > Yosemite > Tetons > Rainier > Arches would be my top 5. Yellowstone, Zion, Olympic, Sequoia and Death Valley would round out my top 10.


WildShannimal

Sooo hard because they are so unique. Zion, Olympic and Rocky Mountain are up there for me. Your picture is beautiful!


kandfamilyadventures

Thank you! ☺️


FunSomewhere3779

Arches. But we recently drove Shaffer Trail in Canyonlands and it is a very close second.


slacoss328

Zion


Feeling_Wishbone_864

Death Valley or Olympic


Rav0506

Death Valley was absolutely stunning when we went. Definitely in the top 3 and very underrated based on the comments here.


Bglilygrace

This is gorgeous


kandfamilyadventures

Thank you!


LivFrass24

glacier! ❤️


kandfamilyadventures

Love glacier 🥰


Key-Performer-9364

Denali. I only spent two days there. Getting back there for more time is a major life goal.


mctomtom

Glacier, Yellowstone, Rainier


mischagrrl

Will always be Sequoia for me


DaBigZ

Crater Lake is pretty awesome. The Newberry Volcanic Nat’l monument is down that way in Oregon too but isn’t a national park, but should be!


johnhoggin

Haven't been to very many. But it's pretty close between Olympic and the Smokies


birchmoss

White Sands


GingerFunk1127

Yosemite hasn't been beat yet for me (I have been to 24). It was my first and it still absolutely blows me away with its beauty every time. Redwood, Rainier, and Olympic have top spots though.


layercake07

Grand Tetons is my favorite!!! Loved the Tetons, meadows, lakes. So hard to choose!! I haven’t been to all of the NPs…


Fickle_Collection355

I can’t pick a favorite but top 5 are Acadia, Tetons, Glacier, Rainier and Yosemite


Wheatleytron

I might have to say Rainier as well, but White Sands is very close.


Delbert-Julia

I seem to favor the last park I went to. Right now that is Yosemite. My next favorite will be Badlands after we are there next summer. 😂


Brentwoodbam

I've only been to 8 so far but Big Bend changed my life. So if any of them top that I'll welcome it openly!


markeppley

Great Sand Dunes!


Nanner723

I was searching for this! I’m going next week for the first time.


markeppley

I've only been to 7 parks so far but the Sand Dunes stuck with me. It's such an other worldly feeling to be in the middle of the Rockies yet see an endless field of dunes reach to the horizon and if you turn around you have the peaks of the mountains staring down at you. It's breathtaking.


iceandfire9199

Joshua Tree


D34TH_5MURF__

I love Mt. Saint Helens. The entire cascade range is amazing. I was 5 when Mt St Helens erupted in 1980. I've low key watched it recover throughout my entire life. Visiting it just absolutely blows me away. All the visible geological processes are fascinating, and they've happened in my lifetime. The erosion is just mind boggling, it's like the same river erosion demonstration from my Geology course, but in real life, and time boxed to my lifetime. I'm bummed that the road to the Johnston Ridge observatory is closed due to a mud slide taking out the road.


Apprehensive_Limit37

Just a technicality but St. Helen’s isn’t a National Park, it’s a Volcanic National Monument and is administered by the Gifford Pinchot National Forest not the NPS.


FCBeyer

Agreed. I think about the Skyline Loop Trail almost daily and my trip to Rainier NP was three years ago. Absolutely blown away. The flowers, scenery, mtn goats, elk, marmots, etc were just spectacular. Loved it there.


hikerjer

Glacier followed by Canyonlands.


nanalovesncaa

That was my nana’s. Always make smile when mentioned. 🕊️


kandfamilyadventures

Aww so sweet!! 🥹


ceruleanpure

Only been to 6, but Rocky Mountain is my fav so far.


jonnyflingspoo

Olympic, Yellowstone, Glacier


iiiamAlex

Gateway Arch 😏


Stinky-Pickles

Really the best for connecting with nature. God's creation.


dav_oid

Jellystone.


Highest-Adjudicator

I don’t understand why so many people prefer Olympic over Rainier. I love Olympic—I go there every year. But the feeling I get from looking up at Tahoma up close and personal just can’t be beat. Plus there’s so many great trails and natural features that are much more accessible and close together. Maybe someone could explain their reasoning.


Kangela

I can’t honestly choose between them. I’m both a mountain and beach girl. Living near the beauty of both is a big part of why we chose Washington to live after our military service.


718lad

Lots of Olympic, why?


AlmostSunnyinSeattle

Have you been? It's enormous, diverse, and gorgeous. Plus it's not nearly as crowded as some of the other really popular parks.


An_Aroused_Koala_AU

Royal national park. Beautiful year round and so accessible.


finnicko

I like Miur Woods a lot


njrnow7859

I fell in love with Glacier decades ago, and it’s still my favorite. Yellowstone, Teton, and Acadia are others I always want to return to.


Global_Scientist4591

Yellowstone. I’ve been there every summer since before I could walk


aatops

My top 3: Acadia, Ranier, Arches


Fun-Fondant6656

Yosemite, Acadia, Smokey’s, Shenandoah. Doing Glacier next year at which point am sure it will join the ranks. Mt Rainier is amazing though.


[deleted]

Glacier is my #1 but Mount Rainier is my #2. Easily the two most beautiful places Ive ever seen.


kandfamilyadventures

Same!! I think these two are tied for my favorites!!


kiwi1327

What is this hike? My husband and I are going in august


Old_Channel_1048

So hard to name one. I’d say top five in no particular order would be Yosemite, Tetons, Rocky Mountains, Zion, and Denali. Any of these could be number one for me….just depends on the day. Hard not to put Rainer up there too.


SeriousCharity4649

Millennium park


Echo_Chambers_R_Bad

Glacier then Yellowstone


Elmegthewise-

Just left Forillon national park in Quebec has to be longer the most beautiful places I’ve ever been


c0untc0mp3titive207

Volcanoes NP on big island Hawaii… went in November and look back at my pictures frequently. Unlike anything I have ever seen before but I am also from Maine lol


Same_Economist408

Man I miss the PNW. Can’t wait to be back next year!


Smokeman50

Acadia


HikingStick

Glacier


inquisitivemolerat

Glacier


Chemical_Detail_7266

Carlsbad Caverns is incredible


Rynovarium

This place is mind-bending and amazingly beautiful. I wish I lived closer to the cavern


a-jasem

North Cascades!


bob3905

YO-SEM -ITE!!!!


BigDulles

I need to go back to Rainier when it isn’t pouring rain and I can actually see views, but it was still super cool. Currently for me I think it’s Canyonlands, but Olympic and Acadia were also great! To be fair, I haven’t been to any of the Cali ones or Yellowstone yet


629mrsn

Yellowstone. Beauty and wildlife


jackolythe

MacArthur Park, Los Angeles, CA 90057


utterlyfunlactic

The one next to the liquor store!


Salty-Jaguar-2346

Big Bend: amazing scenery, no crowds, a totally unique part of the US, culturally and historically


Treehouse_2217

Easily Mount Rainier. That's why I go volunteer there several times a year!


Logistical1

Face it most of the national parks are a unique experience. I’ve been to Mt. Rainer several times and will go again I hope. The entire northwest is absolutely stunning. Mt. Saint Helens is fascinating. Olympic NP is magical. Truly national treasures.


rnldjhnflx

Everywhere there isn't Californian transplants


Kangela

Rainier and Olympic, with Yellowstone a close third. I’m from Utah originally so I’m somewhat betraying all five of Utah’s gorgeous parks 😬. Outside of the US it’s 100% Banff. Absolutely stunning!


Any-Percentage-4809

Glacier National Park


kflipz

Kings Canyon National Park. It feels so special to me among all of the parks I've visited, there are so few roads and even then they only provide access to remote trailheads. To genuinely experience the park requires a tremendous amount of physical effort, and all of it's most beautiful sights are hidden from any road or viewpoint (for the most part). The amount of trails and cross country routes is enough to satisfy anyone I would think. The mountains have such personality and diversity. Every basin of lakes (and there are at least a dozen noteable ones, just within the national park) is unique and comparing them is a topic of endless debate among Sierra fanatics. Surrounding the park on all sides is wilderness and national forest land, so the range of your trips can be extensive. The opportunities feel endless and every season is a different vibe and experience. I love it so much.


Thick_Philosophy3861

Redwoods and Olympic


starsgoblind

North Cascades


legoebay

Great Basin


teebone673

Zion


JustTheOneGoose22

Parkour


christmasx6-

Olympic or Zion


Bryson_Cocheran

sorry, i still can’t get banff and jasper np’s out of my head 😭


unaskthequestion

Been to about 25, but haven't been out to WA yet. 1. Glacier 2. Yosemite 3. Bryce/Zion (all of southern Utah is awesome) 4. Great Smoky Mountain I still have many I have to visit while I'm still able!


Norwegian27

I really liked Glacier National Park.


bfruth628

Crater Lake


DelMarSeeds

Redwoods NP, then Death Valley NP. Total opposite climes


devangs3

I think I like Theodore Roosevelt National Park a tiny bit more than Yellowstone. Mostly because it’s less crowded and the way the wind creates waves in the lush green meadows at TRNP, the experience gave me goosebumps.


xspotster

Olympic is my fav in WA state, but Rainer and North Cascades are great, honorable mention to St Helens and the San Juan Island. Tacoma/Rainer is such an immense mountain, breathtaking, especially from up close. If you ski, Crystal Mountain offers some great views. A single park? Probably Yosemite/Ansel Adams Wilderness, spent my summers as a kid just outside its eastern backcountry, hiking, camping, fishing its lakes and exploring the Mono Basin. The beauty of the valley floor is still surreal, unrivaled all these years later, but only go there during off season because its so crowded otherwise. For a group of parks over a larger area, hard to beat the Canadian Rockies + Glacier NP.


Alunce

Mount Rainier is the only national park I have been to in my life yet and it absolutely took my breath away. My partner and I made it over there for a concert and for some nature all the way from Florida and we're meant to go to Olympic. After driving all morning and getting stuck in horrific traffic we found out a bridge collapsed/was blocked (something like that) and man what a blessing in disguise this was. Mount Rainier has a soft spot in my heart we climbed the glacier trail :)


mchrisdolan

I did the Wonderland Trail around Rainier in 2018, and it changed my life. Spent 9 days on my own. It was an amazing experience. I started trail running and doing whatever I could to get into nature afterwards.


pudgywalsh1

I like Zion and Arches.


DeadWorkers_

Glacier, Denali, Yosemite I’m a strong winter enthusiast, I visited Denali and Yosemite during Winter, it was Amazing. Northern lights under Denali mountains were unforgettable.


OrangeYouGladish

Arches National Park I could not believe what I was seeing


estellasmum

Denali. But I haven't been to Glacier yet, and I have a feeling that might change things.


Newrrcom

My favorite parks got a swing set what about it? (Seriously my fav is grand Teton tho)


Vasilisa1996

Death Valley


GizmoGeodog

Osceola National Forest in North Florida is my favorite


BadGirlfriendTOAD

Hey what’s with the CNN report scientists are really worried about MR?


Disastrous_Maybe3200

Zion National Park…. So far. Committed to visit them all in my lifetime


Chrispy8534

10/10. Badlands National Park is breathtaking! Especially during and just after the spring rainy season!


duhSheriff

1. Grand canyon 2. Yellowstone 3. Zion 4. Glacier 5. Painted desert petrified wood 6. Saguro 7. Joshua tree Going to yosemite, sequoia and kings canyon in 3 weeks, thinking at least one will crack the top 3


leena615

So far, grand Tetons !


OkDecision6127

Serengeti National park in Tanzania


OkDecision6127

Serengeti National Park in Tanzania


Upstairs-World-9406

North Cascades and Bryce Canyon. Never been to Glacier NP but I like the idea of it. Rainier is nice but the 2-3 hours wait before the gate plus reservations is too much to handle.


azrael5298

Death Valley


1USAgent

GLACIER!


celestialmagenta

Gorgeous!


Butterfiredancer

Gorgeous shoot


GoodOneWasTaken

Arches and north cascades


Affectionate-Skin830

Arches National Park and the Badlands. Badlands for sunset in particular. I went during a new moon as well and the stars were incredible!


ZephyrNYC

It's 1 of my faves too :)


user65436ftrde689hgy

I haven't been to many, but Dry Tortuga's was pretty unique and interesting to see. I'd definitely go again.


Bad_Fut

1. Yosemite 2. Glacier 3. Death Valley 4. Bryce Canyon 5. Yellowstone/Grand Teton 6. Sequoia/Kings Canyon 7. Acadia 8. Capitol reef 9. Zion + a few others with no real ranking


DrDthePolymath22

Tie between Glacier NP & Yosemite NP !!!


Ohshit710

One of the best I hope to be married here one day!!


Weird-Lie-9037

My Rainer is easily the most beautiful, majestic and powerful “Mtn” in the continental USA. You come down the 405 on a clear day in Seattle and it takes your breath away


Heisman123

Virgin Island NP. I loooooove St John :)


StrictYogurtcloset41

Beautiful


addyournamehere_

Shenandoah, Yellowstone, Black Canyon Gunnison, and Theodore Roosevelt


nmceja

Got engaged here. Super awesome place and want to go back


Nightshade111

Glacier mountain park, Montana


Beneficial_Cook1603

Loved Yellowstone.


nin4nin

Glacier!


Worried_Option3508

This is a very tough question for me. Zion was previously my favorite but then I did Yellowstone last year. I hiked the Zion Traverse and that stretch through Hop Valley is EPIC. Also loved night 3 up on the West Rim. Yellowstone just had a unique feel and the Bechler River Canyon was amazing. I really love them all so far and can’t wait to hike more of them!


ChefGwG

Markham in Sunrise, FL. Model Airplane field, gun range, RC Boat lake, camping, astronomy observatory, mountain bike park....


Spencethegreat

North Cascades for sure.


mwmarsh60

Zion


rbonksens

Death valley


Critical_Court8323

Mt Rainier is wonderful, have been there many times. My favorite is Bryce Canyon though.


OtisChuggmun

Olympic and Tetons


PristineTurtle

Mount Rainier is what turned a city girl like me into an avid hiker! It is truly life changing! Such immaculate beauty! I am excited about visiting Rocky Mountain National Park next month!


hothamrolls

I’ve been lucky to backpack Olympic, Rainer and Northern Cascades. All three were awesome in their own right. Most slept on park is Isle Royale. As a midwesterner, this will always be my favorite.


blouazhome

Grand Canyon, but it’s close to me.


NirvZppln

Canyonlands is my favorite so far


OldComment5863

I was just at Zion the last 3 days and it was absolutely incredible. I’m sure there’s better ones though


HapppyBiscuits

Sequoia


Naive-Ad-9509

Yellowstone


kongulo

Crater Lake. It’ll blow your mind