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I went to America's worst national parks so you don't have to

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Re: I went to America's worst national parks so you don't have to

#141

Post by ghaff »

pokstad wrote: post #110
jobs_throwaway wrote: post #19

> Every day hike in Zion Canyon is kind of like waiting in line at Disney World. You’re waiting in line in a magical place, but you’re still waiting in line. You ask a dead-eyed park ranger to recommend you a less popular hike, and he spits in your face. There is no such thing as a less-popular hike in Zion Canyon. You will wait in line on the trail and you will be grateful you piece of shit. Yeah, you can safely dis…

I just went to Zion last week. There was an hour long wait to get on the shuttles due to crowds. The River Walk trail to the Narrows was so congested you would bump into people. The Emerald pools was packed with people despite being a 500’ climb. It’s a very popular park during spring break.

I visited Zion a fair bit when I had pretty regular business travel to Vegas. Probably wouldn't go back today. The shuttle is something of a nightmare if you don't pay to stay in the park and I think my favorite hike is still closed due to rockfall.

Re: I went to America's worst national parks so you don't have to

#142

Post by doph »

sizzzzlerz wrote: post #75

GCNP is my absolute favorite park but it is definitely hard to get to know. Much of its charm is below the rims. I've done 4 multiday hikes from different trailheads on each rim as well as a 15 day dory trip on the Colorado. There a number of truly magical places you encounter than cannot be seen from the rim. In the midsts of some of the harshest terrain, there are grottos in sidecanyons filled with ferns, trees, an…

What I love about it is that more than any other park I've visited, it defies description. I adore Yosemite and Joshua Tree, for example, but I believe they can be understood from photography. Grand Canyon feels like it can barely be understood in person, like just the idea of it is too big or complex to hold in your mind and that is thrilling for me.

Re: I went to America's worst national parks so you don't have to

#143

Post by ghaff »

BeetleB wrote: post #61
jobs_throwaway wrote: post #19

> Every day hike in Zion Canyon is kind of like waiting in line at Disney World. You’re waiting in line in a magical place, but you’re still waiting in line. You ask a dead-eyed park ranger to recommend you a less popular hike, and he spits in your face. There is no such thing as a less-popular hike in Zion Canyon. You will wait in line on the trail and you will be grateful you piece of shit. Yeah, you can safely dis…

It's been over a decade since I went, but I went there (and Bryce Canyon) twice during the winter. You practically have the whole park to yourself! With Bryce Canyon, it's best to go before snowfall, though. Once the ice sets in, they shut down a lot of the trails. Also went once to Arches in winter. Awesome (except again, a lot of trails too slippery).

Yeah. I went through Bryce in the winter and you couldn't do a lot of hiking below the rim. The trails just weren't signposted or set up for it. Beautiful from the rim with the snow but the canyon itself wasn't really accessible.

Re: I went to America's worst national parks so you don't have to

#147

Post by amenhotep »

magneticnorth wrote: post #139
jobs_throwaway wrote: post #19

> Every day hike in Zion Canyon is kind of like waiting in line at Disney World. You’re waiting in line in a magical place, but you’re still waiting in line. You ask a dead-eyed park ranger to recommend you a less popular hike, and he spits in your face. There is no such thing as a less-popular hike in Zion Canyon. You will wait in line on the trail and you will be grateful you piece of shit. Yeah, you can safely dis…

His first choice of a ~"good"~ correction:worthwhile national park is Gateway Arch in St. Louis. When I got to that part, I was sure this was rage bait.

No it isn't. He says nothing about what his first choice good national park is. That section is about parks that people say are bad but aren't. His contention is merely that it is fine.

Re: I went to America's worst national parks so you don't have to

#148

Post by maapfin33 »

sudosteph wrote: post #36

State parks are where it's at. But love the Gatlinburg aside. It's like Myrtle Beach, but worse. The Blue Ridge mountains have amazing natural beauty for miles in every direction. So many great towns too - Blowing Rock, Boone, Asheville, Maggie Valley, (hopefully Chimney Rock will be back on that list someday). Why anyone would pick Gatlinburg to visit is beyond me.

I live in Sevier county about 30 minutes from Gatlinburg. It is indeed a peculiar place, unlike anywhere else I can think of. We almost never go there despite being so close. The best restaurants in the area I recommend to tourists are actually in downtown Sevierville (which is small and quaint), not Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge.

That said, I've been to various theme parks around the world, and Dollywood is probably my overall favorite. We go quite a few times a year; it's great for both kids and adults.

Re: I went to America's worst national parks so you don't have to

#149

Post by ekr____ »

SwellJoe wrote: post #116

Advice for folks who like National Parks, but wish you could experience some of that nature with fewer people around: Many National Parks are surrounded by a National Forest. National Forests surrounding National Parks are often similarly beautiful. I mean, they're beautiful in a similar way, due to being in roughly the same location on the map...same climate, same fauna, same flora, same geology, though not necessar…

+100 to this. Because Yosemite keeps getting called out, I would also mention that Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park is right next to Yosemite, just as spectacular in many ways (e.g., Rae Lakes Loop), and far less crowded.

Re: I went to America's worst national parks so you don't have to

#150

Post by ghaff »

realo wrote: post #114
unzadunza wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also did one of the hikes to the CO river in the 90s with 3 friends when we were in college. We got off to a late start so jogged down a good deal of the way (dumb). We carried a 1 gallon water jug each (not even close to enough). We had no extra clothing (dumb). Two of us (me being one) made it out that day. The other two didn't. A group of smart hikers with water filters and iodine tablets found them belly up on…

Sounds like an ideal spot for earning Darwin Awards.

Canyons can be a challenge. To maybe paraphrase some signage along the way. Down is optional. Up is not.

Going down to the river makes for a very long day. I've boated (part raft, part other) down the canyon but I've only hiked down to a spot part of the way and then back.

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