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Reader Participation Day: How Would You Build A "Top 10" National Parks List?

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Published Date

February 11, 2015
Alternate Text
Would you list Denali National Park on your Top 10 list of national parks?/NPS

Recently, a website that will go unmentioned put together a list of "the nation's worst national parks." While that list was soundly, and justifiably, ridiculed and dismissed, it brings to mind this question: What are the nation's best national parks? If you were to compile a Top 10 list of national parks, which would you include on it?

Would Yellowstone be on everyone's list? How about Acadia, or Canyonlands, or Denali?

So tell us, travelers, what does your Top 10 list of national parks look like?

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Comments

Submitted by justinh on February 11, 2015 - 7:09am.

Tough list to make, but today these would be my ten favorites.  (Might look different tomorrow):

Theodore Roosevelt

Olympic

Congaree

Acadia

Virgin Islands

Rocky Mountain

Death Valley

Isle Royale

American Samoa

Redwood


Submitted by Lee Dalton on February 11, 2015 - 8:51am.

Will I get my hand slapped if I am of the philosophy that the word "park" is only an unimportant and artificial label and that many less "important" places deserve to be on a top ten list? 

So, knowing I am at risk of punishment, here is my list:

Yellowstone

Zion

Hovenweep

Natural Bridges

Golden Spike

Pipe Spring

Great Basin

Death Valley

Apostle Islands

Devils Tower

Okay, you can slap me now.


Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on February 11, 2015 - 9:55am.

Lee, no hand-slapping here, though I do note a peculiar geologic layout to your choices;-)

 


Submitted by trailadvocate on February 11, 2015 - 10:05am.

I've given up on "Best & Better." 

What, one of the 7 Natural Wonders in the world doesn't rate:)?


Submitted by brad_murrell on February 11, 2015 - 10:38am.

Yosemite

Zion

Glaicer

Yellowstone

Grand Tetons

Sequoia / Kings Canyon

Death Valley

Olympic

Arches

Denali

Honorable Mention: Bryce, Acadia, Canyonlands


Submitted by rmackie on February 11, 2015 - 11:11am.

I am with trailadvocate on this, I to like them all. 


Submitted by David Crowl on February 11, 2015 - 11:21am.

My List has two parts five I have been to and five on my bucket list;

Yellowstone/Grand Teton

Zion

Glacier

Great Smokies

Rocky Mtn.

Bucket List;

Yosemite

Acadia

Big Bend

Biscayne

Katmai


Submitted by NP_Day_Hiker on February 11, 2015 - 12:45pm.

For me at the moment it is:

Glacier

Grand Teton

Olympic

Yosemite

Yellowstone

Bryce Canyon

Zion

Acadia

Crater Lake

Arches


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