Weijen's national park ratings

I love to visit national parks or any places with great natural scenery. Over years I have visited many national parks within US. So I feel like coming up with a personal ranking/rating of the places I have visited. This article also serves as an index page of the major traveling posts I have on the blog (To many people who have told me it is difficult to navigate through my blog posts, your voice is actually heard). To cater to a wider audience, this article is written in English.

Obviously the article presented here is biased, based on my personal preferences only. If you see your favorite place being rated low, don't be upset. It is just a personal opinion.

In this article I will list the places I have been to by the following categories:

The TOP-5: These are the best places I have been to.
Grade A: Any place in this category serves as a destination by itself when you want to plan for a trip. It is good enough to be the center around which you build an itinerary.
Grade B: These are good places that worth making a detour to visit. If you happen to be within reasonable distance, see if you can schedule 1-2 days to visit them. However, they are not good enough yet to make a trip just for it.
Grade C: These are places worth visiting only if you naturally come to close-by area and you can visit without much detour.
Grade D: Anything here is not so interesting. While it is still a probable destination for a trip, there are definitely better options.
Grade F: There are better ways to use your time, such as sleeping at home (fortunately, there is currently no place as bad as going into this category).

[The TOP-5]

1. Yellowstone National Park, WY
Weijen's comment: Folks, THIS IS IT. The source. The beginning. The great ancestor of them all. Whatever you like to call it. Yellowstone is the first national park in the US, and in the world.

The idea of the national park is a great one. As quoted from the nps.gov website, "The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage." It is great to think of the future and preserve these places for the generations to come. However, let's admit this - once this concept is defined, it is relatively easy to replicate the success stories to any places that are special in some way. However, it took something as unique as the Yellowstone, to inspire, to create, to bring this concept to its very existence and wide acceptance to the public. The first one is always the most difficult one. Thanks to Yellowstone, so that we have many national parks to enjoy today.

What makes Yellowstone so great is that it impresses its visitors in so many different dimensions. It has a wealth of wild animals (bisons, bears, elks, moose, any many more species roam freely), beautiful landscapes (valleys and waterfalls), geothermal features (geysers and hot springs), and many more. The Old Faithful Inn is a great place to look into history and see how traveling is done at the turn of last century. There is also a lake (Yellowstone Lake) for some water activities.

This is probably one place that I say everyone should definitely try to visit at least once.

Traveler's Tips: Yellowstone is a huge park. Plan to stay in the park to save driving time - the best setting is to stay at different locations in park at different nights, and visit the attractions along the route as you move from point to point for the next night. This requires some planning ahead, preferably months ahead. I would like to stay at Old Faithful Inn for 1 night (although I did not) - this will require booking as soon as it opens for reservation for the year.

Allow at least 4-5 days in the park to enjoy this park fully at a easy pace. Many times the park roads are very congested due to the crowds for the summer season, and people will stop in the middle of road to let the roaming animals share roads. So there is no way, and no need to hurry.

Article: N/A. I visited Yellowstone before I had a digital camera, and I am too lazy to convert the photos into digital format. Writing a traveling post with only text is no fun.

2. Zion National Park, UT
Weijen's comment: Great small-size national park. Perfect for 2-3 days trip, even 1 day might be good if you just want to experience it. The mandatory shuttle bus system in this park is excellent and contributes greatly to an enjoyable visit to the park.

If you are physically capable for a 3-4 mile hike with some 1500 feet elevation gain, and are not afraid of heights, definitely try the Angels Landing trail. At the end of the trail, you are rewarded with one of the most impressive view I have seen among national parks.

Summer is extremely hot, bring water and sunscreen.

Traveler's Tips: It is the easiest to use Las Vegas as the gateway to this park. After 2-3 days hiking in Zion, go back to Vegas and enjoy some nice food before flying home. That sounds like a perfect combination. You may want to also visit the Death Valley national park in the same trip (which is 2+ hours from Vegas), or go to the Grand Canyon (better make a multiple day trip, as it is further away).

Article: 2006trip-1, 2006trip-2 (English posts), 2006-trip1, 2006-trip2 (Chinese posts)

3. Yosemite National Park, CA
Weijen's comment: Sigh. Yosemite is definitely a very beautiful place - the waterfalls, the glacier-etched valleys, and the wildlife. It is supposed to be only second to Yellowstone. It is the logistic problems that pull this park down here.

Being too easy to access is a problem for this world-renowned destination. During the summer season, people flock from all over the world to this park, and in particular concentrate in the Yosemite valley. It is not surprising to find the park overly crowded, and a hike in the forest feels somewhat like a stroll in a busy market. Parking, lodging, and even buying food all become problems. The relentless crowd subsides during the winter, but most of the trails are also closed due to snow/ice.

So pick your poison - Fight with the crowd, or fight with the snow.

Traveler's Tips: Even if you live in the Bay Area, consider taking working days off to visit this park. Summer weekends, especially long weekends, are definitely no-no.

In spring, the waterfalls have the most water, but many hiking trails are still closed. In fall, hiking trails are open, but some of the waterfalls are dry. No season is perfect, but each season has something different to offer.

Use caution for your food storage - bears are waiting to feast, and it has very negative impact on bear behavior if they are allowed to access human as a source of food.

Article: 2008winter-1, 2008winter-2, 2009spring (Chinese posts)

4. Crater Lake National Park, OR
Weijen's comment: This park took me by surprise. I only visited it recently, after I thought I have visited enough places to settle permanently on the top-5 list. Crater Lake bursts into 4th place as a late comer. Not only the park itself, but also the drive up to the park through evergreen Oregon woods is very scenic.

The water is so clear and so blue. It was hard to believe what I saw. I spent hours looking at the lake from different vantage points, and took 100+ pictures at the lake alone. I knew perfectly that it is the same lake I was shooting - just couldn't stop it.

The Crater Lake Lodge is a nice stop to visit. Hike one of the peaks around the lake to see beautiful view panoramic view of the lake.

Traveler's Tips: The Lake Rim Drive is only open for summer, so it makes sense to go during summer months. Again, it attracts huge crowds, but luckily the rim drive is long so people get dispersed.

There is a boat tour on the lake, but the ticket is difficult to get (I didn't get it for my 1-day visit). According to the ticket booth people, be there by 10AM to get any remaining tickets for the same-day sale, or book it online.

Bug spray is a MUST. The mosquitoes are relentless.

Article: yet to write one.

5. Arches National Park, UT
Weijen's comment: This south-Utah national park features the geology wonder of arches formed by 100% natural forces. The many arches in the park come in various sizes, shapes, and life-cycle periods of arches (some are almost eroded, others are just being formed). It is a very interesting place to explore.

Each arch in this park is unique. With yet another arch to see every other half mile or so, the hiking trails in the park just lure the visitors to continue on. However one should remember there is still a return hike to make and use judgment on how much further to go forward. This is especially important during hot summer days.

Traveler's Tips: The nearby town, Moab, is the gateway to Arches and Canyonlands National parks, and a good place to stay for a visit to other south Utah destinations. Definitely bring sunscreen, unless you feel like being toasted perfectly pink - just like a piece of perfectly cooked medium steak.

Article: summer2006-1, summer2006-2 (English posts), summer2006-1, summer2006-2, fall2009 (Chinese posts)

[Grage A]

The Canadian Rockies (Grade A, with the upside to challenge the TOP-5)
Weijen's comment: This is an unfair comparison. I visited the Canadian Rockies long time back with a tour group, when I was a teenager. Comparing something years back to recent memories is difficult. However, I do remember many beautiful sites from this trip. Since I grow to appreciate the natural beauties more as I become older, if it is this good in the ancient memory, it has to be better in fact. I probably will plan to revisit this place in some years to come again.

Bryce Canyon National Park, UT (Grade A)
Weijen's comment: Another small yet perfectly beautiful national park in south Utah. Another geology wonder created by the natural force. Definitely do not miss the sunrise and the sunset in this park, as the hoodoos down the valley are painted with golden glare.

At the elevation of 8000 feet, and far from major cities, Bryce Canyon has the cleanest air within US. It makes a premier location for star gazing. Just pick any spot within the park, and there are countless of stars above you. The milky way is also clearly visible, that I want to make the impossible attempt to count the number of stars that consist the milky way.

Article: 2006summer-1, 2006summer-2 (English posts), 2006summer-1, 2006summer-2 (Chinese posts), yet to write about 2009 trip.

Mount Rainier National Park, WA (Grade A-)
Weijen's comment: The iconic picture of the state of Washington, Mount Rainer is sometimes (weather permitting) visible even from Seattle. Consider it is a 2-hour drive from the city, this explains how grand this mountain is.

Besides the mountain, the wildflower blossoms into a colorful blanket during the spring (well, "spring" at Mount Rainier is like July).

Traveler's Tips: Summer is short here. Many places are still snow covered even in July. Check the road and hiking trail conditions before you go, to know what you are getting into.

Article: 2009summer (Chinese post)

Utah scenic byway 12 (Grade A-)
Weijen's comment: Not a destination per se, this road is just amazingly beautiful. A quote from my earlier blog post, "All I can say is that the languages are not enough to describe it. Even photography falls short to fully capture the beauty of the scene. In my opinion, all man-made objects are no compare to the great openness out here provided by the mother nature. From time to time, tears almost dropped out from my eyes due to the shock and satisfaction. Yes, it is that good. You have to be here yourself to appreciate that."

If this were a toll road, I would be willing to pay $20 to drive it. This implies it is as good as a national park, scenery-wise. If you travel between the Bryce Canyon national park and the Capital Reef national park, definitely take this route.

Article: 2006summer (English post), 2006summer (Chinese post), yet to write one for 2009 trip.

Monument Valley, UT (Grade A-)
Weijen's comment: An icon of the wild wild west, this is a place that made my spirit soar. While there are many tours available, I recommend driving yourself down to the valley, which is much more comfortable - while the open-air group tour vehicles allow you to take in beautiful scenery, the dusts from the dirt road are at the same time included in the tour for you to take in.

Traveler's Tips: The road down to the valley are all dirt roads. Allow at least two hours for the drive, although the distance is short.

This site is ruled as an Indian reservation thus not managed by NPS. The new hotel here (I think the name is THE VIEW hotel) provides great view of the valley (I didn't stay here, but had a good experience at the restaurant). BTW, this is the hotel that was blown up towards the end of the latest 007 movie, Quantum of Solace. Also you can check out Forest Gump for a video footage of the Monument Valley. This is where Mr. Gump stops running in the film.

Article: 2009fall (Chinese post)

[Grade B]

Sedona, AZ (Grade B+, with the potential to be in Grade A)
Weijen's comment: The red rock in this area is beautiful without a doubt. What prevents this area from getting into the A-list is really the confusion introduced by the management. Around Sedona area, there are just too many authorities owning different parts of the land. There are national forests, Arizona State Parks, etc. - according to the person at the information center, there are four different authorities in charge of various places in the area.

This problem aside, Sedona area is really beautiful. I would even rate it higher than the Grand Canyon to be on top of all destinations in Arizona.

Article: Yet to write one for my 2010 April trip.

Lake Tahoe, CA (Grade B+)
Weijen's comment: While Lake Tahoe is mostly known as a premier location for skiing, I never visited it during winters. Even without its best part, the lake charms me with its beautiful scenery. The lake is deep blue, and the surrounding mountains are snow-capped, composing a picture with serene atmosphere even with the crowds. Hiking, camping, and sight-seeing are all enjoyable activities during the non-ski season.

Article: 2009fall-1, 2009fall-2 (camping at Emerald Bay), 2009fall-3 (Chinese posts)

Kings Canyon National Park, CA (Grade B)
Sequoa National Park, CA (Grade B)
Weijen's comment: Usually these two parks are visited together. There are gigantic Sequoia trees and the beautiful Kings Canyon. While the scenery may not be as good as Yosemite, the crowd is much lesser. There are also bears in the park (I saw three on a 2-day visit).

Article: Kings Canyon 2008fall1, Kings Canyon 2008fall2 (Boyden Cave), Sequoia 2008fall1 (sunset), Sequoia 2008fall2, Sequoia 2008fall3 (Chinese posts)

Grand Canyon National Park, CA (Grade B)
Weijen's comment: World-known destination and an icon of the US west, for some reason Grand Canyon just does not appeal to me. At least not as much as many other parks. I have been to both rims, but did not feel much beyond that this canyon is huge. Maybe a rim-to-rim hike or a trip down the Colorado river may change my mind?

Article: 2009fall (North Rim, Chinese post)

Canyonlands National Park, UT (Grade B)
Weijen's comment: A vast park best suited for people who want to have a wilderness experience. With a 4WD vehicle, one can visit remote area in the park that typical tourists do not go. For everybody else, overlooking this wilderness from the Island in the Sky district of the park is also an eye-widening experience.

Article: 2006-summer (Island in the Sky district, English post), 2006-summer (Island in the Sky district, Chinese post), 2009-fall (Needles district, Chinese post)

Everglades National Park, FL (Grade B)
Weijen's comment: At the southern end of Florida peninsula, this park features swamp and of course many cute (?) alligators. From the elevated walkway, the visitors can watch them sunbathing or swimming at safety. When I visited in 2006, many facilities in the park was devastated by hurricanes. Not sure if it has been restored.

Article: Yet to write one for 2006-winter trip.

The Apache Trail, AZ (Grade B)
Weijen's comment: A dirt road section between Apache Junction and Roosevelt Dam, this road features several man-made lakes (by the construction of dams) and a large population of saguaro over the surrounding mountains.

Article: 2010spring (Chinese post)

College Fjords, AK (Grade B)
Weijen's comment: Lots of tidewater glaciers and wildlife (birds and sea otter) can be seen from a boat tour. The 26-glacier cruise day tour is highly recommended.

Article: 2007summer (Chinese post)

California Highway 1, Big Sur section (Grade B)
Weijen's comment: California Highway 1 is long, and in my opinion the most scenic segment between the Bay Area and South Cal is the Big Sur section. I wish there is way to get to this part without driving the whole length of the road. Unfortunately it is just not possible.

Article: 2008winter (Chinese post)

Grand Teton National Park, WY (Grade B)
Weijen's comment: Well the comparison is not really fair. Sitting next to the Yellowstone, this park always receives less attention and comes as an after thought for visits (for most people). I would suggest to keep 1 or 2 days for this park, when you visit Yellowstone.

Article: N/A

Lake Shasta and Mount Shasta, CA (Grade B-)
Weijen's comment: Mount Shasta is the landmark of Northern California. Lake Shasta is a man-made lake due to Shasta Dam. The combination of both creates good scenic pictures. The tour to the Shasta Dam is quite interesting (and it is free :-) )

Article: yet to write one for 2010summer trip.

Death Valley National Park, CA (Grade B-)
Weijen's comment: This park includes the lowest point of the North America continent. It is worth visiting beyond just that point, though. The basin is known for its extreme heat (above 120F during the summer) and desert views. Unlike many other parks, winter is the high season here. However, to get a full experience, I would suggest coming during the summer. Of course, bring plenty of water, and make sure your car's cooling system is up to the challenge, too.

Article: Yet to write one for 2007summer trip.

Kenai Fjords National Park, AK (Grade B-)
Weijen's comment: The easiest way to visit this place is via tour boats. There are several day tour companies based in Seward, AK. While the opportunities to watch wildlife is great (whales, mountain goats, sea otters, bald eagles, etc.), these tour boats go out to the open sea and they are small ships, thus the ride is bumpy! Be ready for motion sickness.

Article: 2007summer (boat tour), 2007summer2 (Exit Glacier) (Chinese posts)

Ichetucknee State Park, FL (Grade B-)
Weijen's comment: One of my favorite park in Florida. Tubing (sitting in a tube and floating down a calm river) is a great summer event for relaxing. Occasionally, alligators and snakes are visible along the waterway. I do not know about any accidents related to them, though.

Antelope Canyon, AZ (Grade B-)
Weijen's comment: In my opinion, another overly hyped and over-crowded destination. While the canyon is of no doubt unique and beautiful, the experience is just not that great if you walk a slot canyon with the visitor density of a busy market. It is fun trying to take good pictures here, as the lighting coming from the small openings on top of the canyon is certainly interesting.

Article: 2009fall (Chinese post)

[Grade C]

Capital Reef National Park, UT (Grade C)
Weijen's comment: Among the south Utah national parks, this is the one I like the least. It is good for a quick stop-by. During the fall, the Golden Aspen turns yellow, and that makes the park more beautiful than usual.

Article: 2006summer (English post), 2006summer (Chinese post), yet to write one for 2009 fall trip.

Great Smoky National Park, TN (Grade C)
Weijen's comment: Again, for some unknown reason, I like this park less than others. Maybe it is because forests are very common scene in Taiwan, so I appreciate it less.

Article: Yet to write one for winter 2007 trip.

[Grade D]

Saguaro National Park, AZ (Grade D)
Weijen's comment: This is the only place I need to give a D. While saguaro is an icon for Arizona, they are very common in the state. This park does not necessarily have more saguaro than any common mountain in the state. So really nothing special of this park.

Article: 2008winter (Chinese post)