Ranking the U.S. National Parks I've Visited

I have been on a mission to tour all the great U.S. national parks since I was five months old! That is actually when I visited my first national park, Acadia, in Maine! The national parks are known for their excessive geological landscapes but they also serve a purpose in terms of protecting the land and the species in the land for the sake of biodiversity.

What I like to capture while touring the U.S. national parks is the landscape, the popular spots, and the stunning geological features. Each national park in the U.S. has unique geological features and/or history but the ones that standout attract the most visitors per year. However, that does not mean that the lesser known national parks aren’t interesting, it just means that they are underrated!

I am also not the kind of national park traveler that just walks around and takes pictures of the cool spots. I am the kind that goes on hikes within the park, and wants to see the landscape on a larger scale. A great example of how I went to this extreme was when I backpacked the Grand Canyon.

Although the list I have made may be a little biased based solely on my own adventures, I hope that I can give some advice on which national parks are worth it and which ones are not! They are also ranked from my least favorite to my favorite!

14. Grand Tetons (Wyoming)

I have been to the Grand Tetons twice and felt like the sights were limited both times. While Jenny Lake is beautiful and the town of Jackson nearby attracts a lot of tourists, you only need less than a full day to see the Tetons. All that stood out to me during both visits were the mountains and Jenny Lake.

Shot of the Lake from my first visit. May 2020.

13. Canyonlands (Utah)

Even though I ranked this one at the bottom, I still recommend at least getting a glimpse of what the park entails, especially if you want to say that you’ve completed the Utah 5! The views were also not underwhelming, there’s just not a whole lot to see but it is perfect if you’re just passing through Moab and have time for some sightseeing! The name is also pretty self-explanatory, all there is are rocks and little canyons!

Photo from my visit in March 2021!

12. Mammoth Cave (Kentucky)

Once again, another park that is not a waste of time, but there is not a whole lot to see. When I visited all my family did was take a walking tour and look for bats but, I have friends who have seen the cave system on a much larger scale. They went canoeing through the caves and loved it! But, the park is home to the longest cave system in the world and it may be dark in certain areas so remember your flashlights!

Dug this out of a family scrapbook. There’s 8-year-old me, my bat Webkinz, my mom, and my brother at Mammoth Cave. Summer 2009.

11. Yellowstone (Wyoming)

Yes, an unpopular opinion but to be fair, I did enjoy my first visit to Yellowstone. The iconic thermal pools and watching Old Faithful erupt was worth the visit, but in general, I HIGHLY recommend getting to the park early. If you fail to do so, you will likely be waiting forever in line next to loose bison. I have been twice and the second time just felt like deja vu, except seeing the canyon, that was actually a sight I hadn’t seen before! But that being said, I recommend seeing all the good sights on your first visit but if that’s the only visit you’d like to take, I don’t blame you!

The Grand Prismatic Spring, June 2020.

10. Acadia (Maine)

Granted, if I was able to remember this trip, it would most likely be higher up on my list, haha! I was only five months old when my family and I took this trip but according to the photo album, it was beautiful! It is known for its rocky shoreline outlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the lighthouse, of course! I would definitely like to revisit in hopes of being able to actually remember the scenery!

Another one dug from the family albums! Summer 2001

9. Redwoods (Northern California)

An extremely underrated California national park but when I visited, it was amazing! The special thing about Redwood trees is that they are one of the only things in California that can’t catch on fire! I went there with the outdoor program at college and we took a hike through the trees, Fern Canyon where Jurassic Park was filmed, and then ended up on the beach! This park should only take a day to visit but if you are traveling in the area, definitely stop by!

The trees and the trail! March 2022.

8. Joshua Tree (Southern California)

After visiting this park, I decided that it would not be too low on my list, nor too high. While it is definitely worth it if you are ever in SoCal, the views are pretty much the same with rocks and Joshua trees. My family and I called it City of Rocks in the desert! Aside from rocks and trees, Joshua Tree is also a popular place for stargazing. Sites I definitely recommend are Arch Rock, Cholla Cactus Garden, Hidden Valley Nature Trail, and Skull Rock Trail. Only two and a half hours from LA!

Arch Rock! (December 2024)

7. Olympic (Washington State)

Another one I sadly do not remember much of because I was not here for long. But, I do know that there were a lot of interesting trees including Douglas Fir and western Hemlocks. There is also a beach at the park that I sadly did not see but it is something I wish I had seen! The only major thing I remember is the Hurricane Ridge lookout, which is a fantastic view of the mountains and the iconic Olympic NP trees. But, if you want the full experience of Olympic NP, go on the Hoh Rainforest tour, end up at Rialto Beach, and take advantage of the day hikes!

Hurricane Ridge lookout, August 2016.

6. The Great Smoky Mountains (Tennessee/North Carolina Border)

I have been to the Smokies twice but did not see as much the second time as I did the first time. I visited with my family for the first time in 2010, and 9-year-old me was EXHAUSTED because the hike to the top was unbelievably grueling. (For a little kid, at least!) It got to a point where I didn’t even want to go to the top of Chimney Tops but was encouraged by my parents to do so. And I am glad I did! The top has an amazing view of the park! The Smokies is one of the few top-rated national parks that is not out West, and I believe it is totally worth it even if you live far away! The only thing to be cautious of is bears and if you come across one, start making loud noises and/or bring out the bear spray!

My brother, mom, and I at the Smokies, June 2011.

5. Arches (Utah)

The name for this national park is self-explanatory-it is literally a montage of geologically formed arches! While they all were beautiful, the most iconic ones are the Delicate Arch, the long Landscape Arch, Double Arches, and the Windows! Arches are not the only thing in the park, though; there is also a sand dune, the dark angel formation, the Organ sandstone tower, and the three Gossip sandstone towers! The hikes are also not too strenuous, and the park has at least some cell service! I spent only two days here but it sure felt like longer!

Delicate Arch, March 2021.

4. Zion (Utah)

Zion has one of the most stunning landscapes I have ever seen and the best way to see the iconic spots is to take the right hiking trails. Walter’s Wiggle will take you up to Scout’s Lookout and Angel’s Landing and while it is steep, it did not seem like it for me because I always stopped to take pictures! You should too during a little hiking break, as it is worth it and it will make a strenuous hike seem like nothing! The Narrows hike will also give you a view of the Virgin River but if you wish to hike in the river, PLEASE know what you are getting into! People have died doing that hike! The Pa’rus Trail is an easy walk that will give you a view of the mountains and the Peekaboo slot canyon is beautiful as well! I did not go up Angel’s Landing because it is way too sketchy but for those who do wish to go up, make sure you get a permit first and be there WHEN THE PERMIT says! This information was given to my family and me by a ranger at Scout’s Lookout. If you do not follow the permit’s orders or go up without a permit, it is a $5,000 FINE! That is just too much money to spend on a little mistake.

View of the mountains and Virgin River from Walter’s Wiggle! November 2022.

3. Glacier (Northern Montana)

Since I visited Glacier in the summertime, there were ironically, barely any glaciers! However, the views of the Going-to-the-Sun-Road, Lake McDonald, Logan’s Pass, and the bears (from far away of course) are unbeatable. There are also many rivers and little waterfalls that will take some intermediate hiking to reach, but a lot of the park is accessible by car as well! Glacier has just about everything including rivers and lakes, alpine meadows, lush green forests and grass, valleys, and make sure to look for mountain goats on the trail! (They often blend in and people miss them, haha!) Unfortunately, I did not get to hike the Logan Pass trail when I was there because it was closed due to bear activity. So, just a heads up that that is a possibility!

The view from Logan’s Pass, July 2020.

2. Grand Canyon (Arizona)

Despite the Grand Canyon being one of the most visited national parks, I have heard from many peers that it is underwhelming. However, since I was able to backpack there, I am able to prove those people wrong! The first night we camped at the top in the DEEP snow and couldn’t wait to get deeper into the canyon! In only a few miles, the snow was all gone and it was much warmer, but a little rainy. There is also more to see in the Grand Canyon than just the canyon per se. There is also the Colorado River that people like to raft down, mules, and a mule barn at Phantom Ranch! The reason that some find the Grand Canyon underwhelming is likely because they stay at the top and just walk around, they don’t go INTO the canyon like backpackers do! I went in January and I can say that the Grand Canyon looks better with snow on the rim! My group and I camped at Cremation, Phantom Ranch, Havasupai Gardens, and then suffered a grueling hike back up the canyon! It was quite an adventure, though and the group was one of the best as well! Just remember, if you wish to hike the Grand Canyon in the winter, bring YAKTRAX! They will save you from slipping on ice and then falling off the cliff!

My group and I on our way down the canyon! January 2023.

1. Hawaii Volcanoes

I wish I had been old enough to cherish this national park but since I visited at age twelve, I was not. But, since I love Hawaii in general, this park has still earned its way to be ranked first on the list. This one is much different from most of the national parks I have been to, due to the fact that my family and I were walking across two active volcanoes on the Big Island-Kilauea and Mauna Loa. One of them was actually scheduled to erupt soon during the time I was in Hawaii, but thank God it didn’t! It was quite cold on the volcano compared to the rest of Hawaii, but I found ways to warm up by the volcano’s steam vents! My family and I also got a tour of the lava tube and the craters in the park! The only advice I have for visiting this park is to dress warmly and try not to go when it is scheduled to erupt, because you just never know!

‘Twas a cloudy day but here’s the volcano trail! April 2013.

Bonus Entries: Nyerere National Park (Tanzania) and Doi Inthanon (Thailand)!

I did not include these national park on the list since they are not in the U.S. but they still count as national parks; just international ones! My Tanzania volunteer group and I went on a safari here during the last few days of our trip and it was a blast! This one is not a very popular one in Tanzania compared to the iconic Serengeti, but it still has all the wild animals! My volunteer group and I took both a boat safari and a land safari here!

Elephants during the land safari!

Doi Inthanon was part of the elephant experience trip with half of my original Thailand volunteer group. It is the highest mountain in Thailand and while we did not do any hiking here, we saw an amazing waterfall and went up the Buddha temples at the top. The waterfall was actually stunning and this park can be found in Chom Thong, an hour and a half north of Chiang Mai.

The waterfall!