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r/NationalPark

▲ 53 r/NationalPark

Double Rainbow at Denali NPP

Double rainbow at the top of Savage Alpine Trail in Denali National Park and Preserve. Denali was visible earlier in the day but not from this vantage. Lovely park, awesome hike.

u/N7marine561 — 4 hours ago
▲ 0 r/NationalPark

NPS non-resident fee

Hi everyone!

I am a Canadian who planned a trip to visit Acadia National park. I have been to that park quite a few times over the years. Wtf is the 100 non-resident upcharge? How is entry 2.5x my camping spot? As of right now, for a 3 day 2 nights trip, just entry would be close to 400$.

I honestly am thinking of just cancelling my travel to Maine, because this is ridiculous. Before I do so, I was wondering if they actually enforce it? Could I just pay it on-site and say I don't have my american passport or smth? How do they verify US residency?

Btw, my goal is not to scam the NPS, I would be happy to pay an upcharge, but this is exagerated and really expensive and out of my budget as a university student. Its sad, because i'm sure tourists contribute a lot to the economy around Acadia.

Anyway, would love to hear your thoughts on this.

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u/Zhirall — 8 hours ago
▲ 65 r/NationalPark+1 crossposts

Lookout Peak Sequoia & Kings Canyon Nat’l Park

Did a random hike up to Lookout Peak with my two days in the park after discovering just how far the trailhead for Mt. Silliman was from Sentinel Campground. 4k elevation gain ~ 11 miles with an added bonus extension to Summit Meadow. Took about 7 hours, had no idea what to expect beforehand but the scramble up to the peak delivered incredible views.

u/Bigcalves42069 — 7 hours ago
▲ 3 r/NationalPark+1 crossposts

Mesa Verde NP - recommendations/advice?

Hello! I am planning a two day trip to Mesa Verde NP, and am looking for some recommendations. I'm 23 and in shape but not really a 'hiker' and I don't have much experience planning trips like this. I love archaeology and natural history.

First, which of the routes in the picture would be the most scenic and worth the drive? I would be open to short stops along the way but nothing major (I'm planning to go to Arches NP and Black Canyon of the Gunnison on other trips).

Second, any recommendations for orders of hikes/guided tours? I'd like to do at least the Cliff Palace and Balcony House tours but I'm not sure if I would be able to do those in the same day given the 5 hour drive. I plan to leave around 7:30 and arrive at 1:30, and leave the park around 5pm on the second day. Are there enough hikes to fill in the time if I do one tour per day?

About the hikes, I'm really interested in Petroglyph Point Trail since I love petroglyphs but the NP website says it's very challenging - how accurate is that? especially for a young person in shape? I've done ~3 hour hikes up mountains before and they were hard but I was totally okay. Any other cool archaeological hikes to take?

Thank you

u/amoderneye — 5 hours ago
▲ 61 r/NationalPark

Cabrillo National Monument on Fourth of July

Title speaks for it. There is also a Rare Kelvin-Helmholtz formation on the Fourth picture.

u/LittleToyBonnie — 8 hours ago
▲ 541 r/NationalPark

Old faithful and Beehive geyser erupting at the same time.

A third one went off at the end as well but I didn’t film that and don’t know what it’s called. The tour guides were even filming; it was fun.

u/WeHaveAllBeenThere — 19 hours ago
▲ 424 r/NationalPark

Crater Lake - Bear Sighting!

Got super lucky at Crater Lake today! Saw a black bear 🐻 Spent a good half hour watching him, he was so adorable!!!
Thanks to the lady sticking her head out of a truck so we could stop right behind them!

u/BlackCatt_27 — 19 hours ago
▲ 48 r/NationalPark

Decided to rank all 27 NPs I’ve been to

Just got back from a road trip visiting 11 NPs and decided to rank all 27 I’ve been to. Any suggestions for what my next one should be? Thinking North Cascades…🤔

  1. Rocky Mountain National Park
  2. Glacier National Park
  3. Yosemite National Park
  4. Grand Teton National Park
  5. Redwood National Park
  6. Olympic National Park
  7. Yellowstone National Park
  8. Sequoia National Park
  9. Canyonlands National Park
  10. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
  11. Everglades National Park
  12. Kings Canyon National Park
  13. Grand Canyon National Park
  14. Badlands National Park
  15. Arches National Park
  16. Acadia National Park
  17. Theodore Roosevelt National Park
  18. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  19. Crater Lake National Park
  20. Mammoth Cave National Park
  21. Petrified Forest National Park
  22. Wind Cave National Park
  23. Gateway Arch National Park
  24. New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
  25. Voyageurs National Park
  26. Indiana Dunes National Park
  27. Hot Springs National Park
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u/TheCatOfWallSt — 21 hours ago
▲ 18 r/NationalPark

What is your fav underrated park?

I see people post about cool parks that are underrated, but I would love to hear about some of people’s favorites.

I live in the US and have not traveled much west or internationally, so my opinion is limited, but I’ve been to some cool ones. Credit to my family road trips for exposing me to amazing history and natural beauty.

While I love Mesa Verde and there’s amazing regions that could be discussed like the black hills or white mountains, my favorite underrated park is Mammoth Cave.

Mammoth Cave is one of my favorite places my family has been on vacation. It’s a cave of course, so you don’t get much of a marvel driving up to it, but it’s huge and there’s so much to explore. It’s also great for beginner outdoor lovers who don’t like bugs or heat, because of the bats and natural underground temperatures. It’s just like a regular campground with plenty of stars and none of the complaints. I don’t really know how to sell this one, but you really get a sense of the massive geographic history of the Earth. It’s also really chill. Not super touristy and everyone is pretty friendly.

What’s your favorite underrated park? I would love to know.

ETA: There seems to be confusion about what determines an underrated status. I initially imagined it would be fine to operate on personal assumption and perception, but if this is not satisfactory, other commenters have left helpful metrics. I appreciate the thought that people are putting into this.

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u/Zestyclose_Scene2602 — 21 hours ago
▲ 57 r/NationalPark

Cross Country National Park Road Trip (11 New Parks)

Route (A bit roundabout as was seeing family):

Cuyahoga Valley -> Badlands -> Wind Cave -> Yellowstone -> Grand Teton -> Black Canyon -> Canyonlands -> Arches -> Capitol Reef -> Bryce Canyon -> Great Basin -> Sequoia -> Kings Canyon

All parks were new except Yellowstone and Grand Teton. If I had to rank the parks on the trip.

  1. Yellowstone

  2. Grand Teton

  3. Bryce Canyon

  4. Sequoia

  5. Capitol Reef

  6. Arches

  7. Great Basin

  8. Kings Canyon

  9. Canyonlands (Only island in the sky district)

  10. Black Canyon

  11. Wind Cave

  12. Badlands

  13. Cuyahoga Valley - Still loved it!!!! The ledges were unbelievably cool.

P.S

I accidentally copied the Cuyahoga Valley pic like 4 times at the end of the post, so be ready for a Cuyahoga valley jump scare at the end as I do not feel like redoing the whole gallery.

u/gamefish32 — 17 hours ago
▲ 420 r/NationalPark

Recent experience with modified annual pass.

We just finished a vacation that includes visits to 6 national parks in Colorado and Utah. We got the annual pass when visiting Capitol Reef NP to save money on the remaining two visits to Bryce and Zion.
When we purchased the pass, the ranger at the kiosk told us that most parks would honor the card in the name of "customer service" as long as we only covered the likeness of the Tangerine Palpatine (our words, not his) and didn't cover anything else on either side.
When we got to Bryce Canyon, the ranger there warned us that other parks may not accept the card because it was "damaged" and she recommended we remove the sticker. I thanked her and drove away.
When we got to Zion, the ranger there told us we needed to remove the sticker and attempted to remove it. Ok asked for it back immediately fearing she would confiscate it and my wife removed the sticker.

Short version: we were able to use a modified annual pass for two parks but with a rebuke to remove our adhesive modification covering Jabba the Gut.

u/DirkRavenwood — 1 day ago