National Park Rankings 2019

As 2019 comes to a close, it's time for an update of my Park rankings! Tara and I visited 6 new national parks this year (the Florida parks: Everglades, Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas; Redwood, Lassen Volcanic, and Shenandoah). Our total is now at 47 of 61 (a new park was established earlier this year: Indiana Dunes). We only have 3 parks left in the lower 48!

We also re-visited a couple of parks this year: Arches, Canyonlands, and Yellowstone in late October (my first time experiencing Yellowstone in the snow...it was awesome).

Here is my rankings for 2018: https://paulnationalparks.blogspot.com/2018/12/national-park-power-rankings.html

I will also give a grade (on a scale of 1 to 10) on our desire to return to the park and see more, etc. (a 1 meaning that we have no need or strong desire to return, and a 10 meaning Tara and I want to go back right now!)

So, without further adieu, Paul's National Parks Rankings for 2019!

#1: Zion

Another year, another top spot for Zion. It's the best, hands down. I will say that both of our visits have been in early November, not a super popular time to visit...so my ranking might be different if my visit had been in the summertime, packed with crowds. As great as Zion is, it's not high on our re-visit list. Our last visit was Nov 2018, and I feel like we have done all the major hikes. However, it is relatively close by and the scenic beauty is incredible.

REVISIT GRADE: 5

#2: Yellowstone

We visited Yellowstone this year in October and were able to experience the park under a blanket of early snow, basically a week before the roads closed. It was incredible. It was almost like visiting an entirely new park. We were lucky and got to spot two wolves near the Fairy Falls trail head. Yellowstone is the gift that keeps on giving.

REVISIT GRADE: 6

#3: Grand Canyon

Still trying to win the lottery and get a spot at the Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon. No luck yet, but doing the rim-to-rim is a top priority for me. I just need to start exercising and get in shape!

REVISIT GRADE: 10

#4: Yosemite

Both of visits to Yosemite have basically just been drive-throughs and small hikes, only spent a total of...maybe...10 hours in the park itself. And it's so high in the ranking, because our preview was so incredible. Yosemite is another park that is a top priority for a re-visit.

REVISIT GRADE: 10

#5: Acadia

Loved everything about our visit to Acadia. It was the only park we visited on the trip, and we devoted a lot of time to it. I feel that we have pretty much explored everything we could do here, but would love to go back. Not quite so urgent, though.

REVISIT GRADE: 4

#6: Arches

Our revisit to Arches earlier this year bumped it up a spot. We did the Devils Garden trail all the way out to Double O Arch. It was a great hike. Revisit grade here is high, because we haven't gotten a chance to do the Fiery Furnace hike.

REVISIT GRADE: 7

#7: Mt. Rainier

In my first ranking, I had Mt. Rainier in the Top 5 (at #5), it's moved down to #7. I feel bad, but it's not that Mt. Rainier is a bad park. It's incredible! Just some other parks have climbed in the ranking. We had a good, long, visit here, so I feel that we have pretty much covered everything the park has to offer.

REVISIT GRADE: 3

#8: Glacier

Some might be surprised at the kind of low ranking here...but we did not devote enough time to the park to our visit here nearly 5 years ago. We only did 2 short hikes (which were both great), and my wife was hobbled by hand, foot, and mouth disease (don't ask how she got it). Anyway, we loved Glacier and can't wait to go back. It's at THE top of the list for parks to re-visit.

REVISIT GRADE: 10

#9: Mesa Verde

Love this park. We pretty much covered everything for our visit there, but there is one guided tour that we haven't done yet (it was still closed for the season when we visited).

REVISIT GRADE: 4

#10: Carlsbad Caverns

The hike through the Natural Entrance down to the Big Room is still one of my favorite experiences in the National Parks. The bats leaving the cave at dusk was also really cool. I would like to do the tour of Slaughter Canyon Cave.

REVISIT GRADE: 3

#11: Everglades

The highest ranked of the new batch of Parks is the swamp wonderland of Everglades. The visit exceeded my expectations big time. Loved all the wildlife. Everglades is a beautiful, fantastic park. I feel like we experienced all that the Park has to offer, except for kayaking. But with big babies like these everywhere...I'm not sure I would want to.

REVISIT GRADE: 3

#12: Grand Teton

I feel like we have done Grand Teton NP a disservice. We live so close and have really only driven through a couple of times (we have done one short hike along the shores of Jackson Lake...but that's it). We really need to devote some more time to this pristine park.

REVISIT GRADE: 8

#13: Great Smoky Mountains

Tara and I loved our trip to the Great Smokies. We were able to devote a number of days to the park, so we got to do so much here. The area nearby (Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg) have lots of fun things to offer, so going back to the Park would be a treat.

REVISIT GRADE: 6

#14: Glacier Bay

The only park in Alaska we have had a chance to visit so far. We saw the Park without stepping off the cruise ship (this is how most people are able to visit), I'd like to explore more of the park, but this is a tough one to get to, and there is so much more in Alaska that we need to do first.

REVISIT GRADE: 2

#15: Bryce Canyon

This Park in southern Utah is really spectacular. But you can pretty much cover everything it has to offer in a day or two. It is rather close to us though.

REVISIT GRADE: 5

#16: Olympic

We only had two full days to explore the Park...and that wasn't quite enough time. Plus, our views at the top of Hurricane Ridge were shrouded in fog. This Park has high priority for a revisit.

REVISIT GRADE: 8

#17: Redwood

Redwood NP beats out its inland cousins in Sequoia NP. Redwood has the great big trees to enjoy (like Sequoia), but then adds the ocean and spectacular Fern Canyon (pictured above). Walking through these giant forests fills one with wonderment and awe, and is also very soothing and healing. Love this park. We spent about 2 full days here (maybe 2.5) and I feel like we barely scratched the surface. Oh, and Tara got to fulfill a bucket list item and drive through a tree!

REVISIT GRADE: 7

#18: Pinnacles

This Park in central California is an overlooked and underrated gem. Had lots of fun on the hikes through here, and our close encounter with 3 condors was a huge bonus. This is an easy park to cover in a day or two.

REVISIT GRADE: 3

#19: Crater Lake

We did not do justice for our visit to Crater Lake. It was pretty short, and we just barely missed out on the boat tours of the lake. Revisiting is a big priority.

REVISIT GRADE: 8

#20: Big Bend

We spent quite a bit of time for our visit to Big Bend, but I want to go back so bad. We weren't able to do a float tour of the Rio Grande (it had closed for the season) and the park was so unique and fun. Big Bend is my favorite desert park.

REVISIT GRADE: 7

#21: Shenandoah

Shenandoah reminded me a lot of Great Smoky Mountains...which makes sense, because they are both parks that are part of the Appalachian Range. I do rank Great Smoky a little higher, but Shenandoah does have an undeniable charm, and spectacular mountain views. We were planning on hiking Old Rag, but when some of the shorter trails kicked my butt...we re-thought our plans. So, I need to get in shape for a re-visit.

REVISIT GRADE: 7

#22: Capitol Reef

Capitol Reef is indeed Utah's best kept secret. You can find all wonders of Utah's other parks here (canyons, arches, hoodoos, mountains etc.) with a lot less people. As I spent more time here, my appreciation of the park grew immensely.

REVISIT GRADE: 4

#23: Dry Tortugas

This jewel off the coast of the Florida Keys makes for a unique and exhilarating National Park visit. It's quite the ferry ride out to the Park, but it is worth it. One visit is probably enough to do everything here...although I would love to go back to Key West.

REVISIT GRADE: 2

#24: Rocky Mountains

Our whirlwind visit gave short shrift to this alpine wonderland. A revisit is in order.

REVISIT GRADE: 9

#25: Sequoia

Although Redwood is the better park, these gigantic trees are absolutely worth at least one visit. You can easily cover the park in a day or so.

REVISIT GRADE: 2

#26: Voyageurs

Tara and I had a great time in this jewel of the North in Minnesota. I feel like we explored everywhere we could in our 2 days here. To explore more would require having our own boat. 

REVISIT GRADE: 5

#27: Death Valley

You might think that there's not much to see and explore in this barren wasteland...but you would be wrong.

REVISIT GRADE: 3

#28: Petrified Forest

This compact park in Northern Arizona makes for a great highway stop and can be easily visited in a couple of hours to half-a-day.

REVISIT GRADE: 2

#29: Joshua Tree

Another relatively compact park that can be fully experienced easily in a half-a-day to a full day.

REVISIT GRADE: 2

#30: Isle Royale

This is a tough park to get to...and our day tour (about 4 hours on the island itself) really only scratched the surface of this wilderness paradise. I'd love to go back...but it would involve a lot of preparation and ability to backpack and hike extensively.

REVISIT GRADE: 7

#31: Badlands

Badlands is a great park to visit with kids and you want to make a little pit-stop (the park is right off the freeway in central South Dakota). We did and saw all can you do here...but this is the first national park that Tara and I visited as a married couple...so it does hold a special place in my heart.

REVISIT GRADE: 4

#32: Mammoth Cave

Our visit to Mammoth Cave was efficient...we had one day in the park, and took two tours and we're able to experience both the cave formations on the Domes & Dripstone Tour and the gigantic, dry main passage on the Natural Entrance tour.

REVISIT GRADE: 1

#33: Black Canyon of the Gunnison

A day on the south rim is enough time to explore this Park and get a sense of the awesomeness of this canyon.

REVISIT GRADE: 3

#34: Guadalupe Mountains

Tara and I want to go back so we can take the hike all the way to the highest point in Texas!

REVISIT GRADE: 5

#35: Theodore Roosevelt

Tara and I got a chance to visit the North Unit back in 2018. Both the North and South Unit of this fabulous park are worth at least one visit.

REVISIT GRADE: 2

#36: Lassen Volcanic

Once again, we had a short visit here (essentially just a drive through) but Lassen Volcanic was very appealing and we would like to go back.

REVISIT GRADE: 6

#37: Canyonlands

Earlier this year, Tara and I got to go the Needles district of this Park. It was incredible. Even though this park has the lowest ranking of Utah's Mighty Five...there is much more in this Park to explore and experience.

REVISIT GRADE: 7

#38: North Cascades

If Tara and I were more experienced in the outdoors...this Park would probably be near the top of a revisit list.

REVISIT GRADE: 6

#39: Biscayne

Our visit to this park simply consisted of the half-day tour to Boca Chita Key. If we go again, I want to do a snorkeling trip...the Park has a lot more to offer.

REVISIT GRADE: 6

#40: Channel Islands

I definitely want to re-visit so we can take the tour out to Anacapa Island.

REVISIT GRADE: 7

#41: Great Basin

This is another park that is relatively close to us that we are itching to re-visit. Particularly in September, so we can attend the night sky programs.

REVISIT GRADE: 8

#42: Hot Springs

Hot Springs is an interesting and unique National Park. We did and experienced everything you can do here (including the bathhouse), so I don't see a future visit anytime soon.

REVISIT GRADE: 1

#43: Kings Canyon

We only visited one small part of the park (the redwood grove), so we really need to go back and devote more time to this one.

REVISIT GRADE: 8

#44: Great Sand Dunes

Again, a compact park that can be easily visited and enjoyed in a day. Sand sledding was fun for about...oh...2 minutes. 😃

REVISIT GRADE: 1

#45: Saguaro

This desert park is conveniently located near Tucson. 

REVISIT GRADE: 2

#46: Congaree

I appreciated this unique park, but outside of the 2-mile Boardwalk Loop Trail...there's just not much to do here. No real need to re-visit.

REVISIT GRADE: 1

#47: Wind Cave

Boxwork cave formation (Wind Cave's unique feature) is really nothing to write home about. Wind Cave is worth a visit, but if you're in the area and short on time and debating whether to do Wind Cave or nearby Jewel Cave National Monument...go with Jewel Cave.

REVISIT GRADE: 1

Thanks for reading the blog. Hope that 2020 brings you great adventures and travels. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Biscayne National Park

Visited: Feb 2019

Nearby city: Homestead, FL; Miami, FL

This National Park in southeastern Florida preserves Biscayne Bay and the offshore barrier coral reefs. 95% of this park is water; a very tiny bit of the park is on mainland Florida (the Dante Fascell visitor center) and the remaining land are the small islands (called Keys) scattered throughout the Bay: the three main keys are (1) Boca Chita Key; (2) Sands Key; and the largest key in the park (3) Elliott Key.

In the early 1900s, the keys in this beautiful bay became somewhat of a playground for the wealthy elite and a popular vacation spot for luminaries like President Warren G. Harding, the prominent DuPont family, founder of Firestone Tire company Harvey Firestone, famous boxer Jack Dempsey, GM head Charles Kettering, founder of Goodyear F.A. Seiberling and humorist Will Rogers. As Miami's growth exploded in the 1950s and 1960s, development spread further and further south. Some power plants were built on the mainland along Biscayne Bay. And a plan was proposed to construct a giant causeway or bridge across the Bay connecting Key Biscayne to Key Largo. There were a number of influential people (such as landscape designer Ernest Coe, who was largely responsible for the creation of Everglades National Park) who lobbied to protect and preserve the Bay from this development. In 1980, Biscayne National Park was established.

Because so much of the park is water, if you don't have your own boat and watercraft, you'll need to book a guided tour. All tours leave from the Dante Fascell visitor center (the closet town is Homestead, FL about 1/2 hour-45 minutes south of Miami). Go to the park website for all the information on tours and links to other companies that are licensed to offer tours of the park. There are lots of different options: 1/2 day tours (or full day tours) to Boca Chita Key to see the lighthouse, or to Elliott Key for hiking. Other tours offer snorkeling (you can even snorkel shipwrecks in the Bay), or a trip out to Stiltsville (an amphibious neighborhood built out in the middle of the bay on 10-ft high platforms, 7 houses survive to this day).

We did the half-day tour out to Boca Chita Key. It was a beautiful ride across the Bay. The water was clear blue, and very shallow all the way out to the key, only about 8-10 ft deep, you could easily see the bottom. Way in the distance, you could see the towering skyscrapers of Miami on the horizon.

the Miami skyline in the distance

approaching Boca Chita Key

In 1937, industrialist Mark C. Honeywell purchased Boca Chita Key and turned it into quite the vacation getaway. Honeywell had made his fortune in hot water heating equipment. He would host elaborate parties on the island and built a number of structures, a few small homes, a church, and a lighthouse. It is not a functioning lighthouse, it is purely ornamental.

After your pleasant ferry ride across the bay, we had an hour or two to sit and enjoy the Key. Caught great views on top of the lighthouse, play in the ocean, or just wander on the Key to your heart's content. Boca Chita Key definitely retains its party atmosphere. Many local Miami-ans (Miami-ites?) had docked at the island, loud music playing, passing around the Coronas, etc. 😊 It was certainly a unique National Park atmosphere. 😃

Although our visit to Biscayne National Park was quite short; we had a fun time. Looking forward to returning and maybe doing some snorkeling or visit Stiltsville. Go to the park's website to find out all information on booking a guided tour. For more info: https://www.nps.gov/bisc/index.htm