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99%+ of visitors only see 1% of the park during 4 months. From September to May, no one is in the park. Go outside the valley, there is next to no one.
99%+ of visitors only see 1% of the park during 4 months. From September to May, no one is in the park. Go outside the valley, there is next to no one.
I went in early March and it was wonderful. There were some downsides, like there was no shuttle to Mariposa Grove and we had to walk 2 miles each way, but the waterfalls were large, Mirror Lake was perfect, and it was not crowded at all. I think my parents are going back this April for a few days.
So hard to come up with a favorite. We live within two hours of Rocky Mtn NP so we go there a lot, and it's beautiful. Grand Teton is another favorite. We love Yellowstone, but the Tetons hold a special place in my heart. That part of WY is so awe-inspiring! Other favorites are Arches and Zion. I feel so fortunate to be within a day's drive of all of these parks.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Originally Posted by Gorges
So hard to come up with a favorite. We live within two hours of Rocky Mtn NP so we go there a lot, and it's beautiful. Grand Teton is another favorite. We love Yellowstone, but the Tetons hold a special place in my heart. That part of WY is so awe-inspiring! Other favorites are Arches and Zion. I feel so fortunate to be within a day's drive of all of these parks.
Yes, great location to live if you like MTN parks. I grew up a horseback ride to RMNP and had a delivery driving job that sent me to Tetons and Black Hills 3x / week.. I often would hop on the motorcycle and blaze to Utah and Mesa Verde on a day or weekend off.
But... I moved to PNW, so still have 6 parks within easy reach from Lassen to Redwoods, Crater Lake, Mt Rainier, North Cascade, Olympic NP... Very lucky.
I now take a flight to LV and head to Utah parks or Joshua tree, and Death Valley. Good activity for a sun break.
2020 is a motorhome travel yr so my National Park pass will get a lot of use. I have always bought a season pass since age 16. Should have been grandfathered in after 30 or 40 yrs. I bought a few of the $10 lifetime passes and keep spares in a Safe-deposit box in case I ever lose mine.
Very tough to choose one, as I’ve enjoyed all I’ve visited: Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Great Smokies, Gateway Arch, Acadia, and Arches, plus a toe-dip into Canyonlands (went in here via a Colorado River float trip — I say it counts). Have also been to some National Monuments and National Historic Sites.
Arches is probably my favorite, but it’s close.
Hope someday to get to Shenandoah, Cuyahoga, Rocky Mountain, Olympic, Mt. Rainier, Haleakala, and Hawaii Volcanoes (all of which are reachable via day tour or public transport). But we’ll see.
Yes, great location to live if you like MTN parks. I grew up a horseback ride to RMNP and had a delivery driving job that sent me to Tetons and Black Hills 3x / week.. I often would hop on the motorcycle and blaze to Utah and Mesa Verde on a day or weekend off.
But... I moved to PNW, so still have 6 parks within easy reach from Lassen to Redwoods, Crater Lake, Mt Rainier, North Cascade, Olympic NP... Very lucky.
I now take a flight to LV and head to Utah parks or Joshua tree, and Death Valley. Good activity for a sun break.
2020 is a motorhome travel yr so my National Park pass will get a lot of use. I have always bought a season pass since age 16. Should have been grandfathered in after 30 or 40 yrs. I bought a few of the $10 lifetime passes and keep spares in a Safe-deposit box in case I ever lose mine.
StealthRabbit,
What a blessed life! Of those you've listed, I've only been to Black Hills, 2X. That's been at least 12-13 years ago and I still can recall it vividly! It was one of the highlights of my travels. I'm convinced if more people could/would experience the awesomeness of nature, our society would be so much better off.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,712 posts, read 58,054,000 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Klassyhk
StealthRabbit,
.... I'm convinced if more people could/would experience the awesomeness of nature, our society would be so much better off.
I would like to see a rebirth of the CCC who built many of the great lodges and infrastructure we have been enjoying for nearly 100 years. 10 more years and most of the few remaining who know how to lay stone and build craftsmanship lodges will be dead.
There is a wealth of talented retirees who could pass on those skills. Then there will be none.
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White Sands is the newest national park. These places might be next.
