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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

#151

Post by InitialLastName »

wavefunction wrote: post #35
spprashant wrote: post #11

First I am hearing of Gateway Arch national park, and I am very confused why it's a national park?

In form it approximates a classic "park" more than the sort of national parks you and I probably think of. I like the idea of diversity in our national parks and public lands. Some could focus on history and education, others on naturalism and ecology, others could mix and match as needed. Urban national parks seem like a fine idea and a way to encourage urban populations to explore more public lands outside of their…

We have National Monuments and National Historic Sites/Parks for "this isn't nature but should still be a site maintained by the Federal Government".

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

#152

Post by maapfin33 »

pfdietz wrote: post #49
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.

If you want to go to Great Smokies, do it from the east side, not the west. The east side can be charming (I really liked Bryson City). Pigeon Forge? What a tourist trap hellscape.

The Rhododendron festival every June on Roan Mountain has always been a favorite for us.

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

#153

Post by warmedcookie »

bombcar wrote: post #84
NoNameHaveI wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You CLEARLY have never been to Wisconsin or the Upper Peninsula in summer.

Alaska says "Hi!"

I don't recall Alaska being particularly bad when I went in July. The mosquitoes I did encounter were huge though.

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

#154

Post by najarvg »

colordrops wrote: post #107
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 think it's mostly to tongue in cheek.

That's what I thought too. It's written in a curmudgeonly style for curmudgeonly readers similar to the author's other posts on substack. Don't think the author made this for very broad reading or expected this to get on HN lol

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

#155

Post by avgDev »

japhyr wrote: post #134
vjvjvjvjghv wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With most parks the crowds quickly disappear once you are 2 miles in. That's the case pretty much all over the world. I remember in Iceland there were these huge crowds at a water fall close to the bus stop. I hiked 3 miles in to another similar waterfall. There we had less than 10 people.

> With most parks the crowds quickly disappear once you are 2 miles in. And those crowds just aren't present in the early morning. Nobody gets up early enough to be out at sunrise. I'm not worried about saying this out loud and spoiling it either, because most people just don't like to get up that early. I've been to gorgeous places all over the US that are absolutely packed by 10am or noon. Those same places are com…

Also, when the weather isn't perfect. I love taking a hike when it is chily, rainy, or even cold and snowing.

All it takes is proper gear.

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

#156

Post by ericpauley »

bsimpson wrote: post #94

I'm from the West Coast. My national park experience includes Yosemite, Volcanoes, Arches, Zion, Bryce, Redwood, Crater Lake, and Lassen. (I've technically also been to the Grand Canyon, but it was so foggy, it was more like going to the Sears Portrait Studio - you couldn't even see the canyon.) I used to say "I've never been to a national park and wondered why it's a national park - they all have an obvious and imme…

Strong disagree on Pinnacles being underwhelming. The California condors acord woodpeckers and alone are worth the visit. The caves are also very cool if you go when they're open.

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

#157

Post by ghaff »

robohoe wrote: post #60
MarkusWandel wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Back when I was younger and challenges were mostly mental, I did participate in a group hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon (via the Hermit trail). Yes, the hike back up was tough, but we had two nights' camp out at the bottom, right by the river, in what for us Canadians was pleasant August type climate, while we had started in a bit of snow at the top (late October) and the rest day was beautiful. During the hik…

You may be referring to the Observation Point hike at Zion. It starts off with a 2k ft high switchback route. But at the end it will put you smack dab in the middle of the canyon higher than Angeles Landing (and a bit safer, less crowded hike). And you still have a stunning view of the canyon and far beyond.

I did Angel's Landing at one point and I'm glad I did but wouldn't do again. Observation point is my favorite but I don't think my old route is open any longer though you can still apparently get up there by another trail.

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

#158

Post by stephenhuey »

sizzzzlerz wrote: post #100
microtonal wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We went a lot to the US in my teenage years. I have been to the Grand Canyon two or three times (you start losing counts at some point). One time we were there with our family and my aunt/uncle + kids. We hiked down the canyon because my dad was sort of the group leader and he goes on such adventures without necessarily thinking it through. So we went down with a small amount of water and food. I heard sometime years…

The NPS has large signs posted at the Bright Angel and Kaibab trailheads on the south rim warning visitors about the dangers of the trail, the heat, the steepness, the lack of shade. It is made abundantly clear that even a modest hike requires conditioning, water, appropriate shoes, and protection from the sun. They even have rangers patrolling the trails assessing hikers they pass and questioning those they believe…

The only time I saw the Grand Canyon was when we briefly stopped while I was helping a friend get her car across the country. It was January, no one was around, and patches of snow dotted the rim. Quite a beautiful sight. But we noticed a poster on a bulletin board detailing how a medical student who had run the Boston marathon had somehow gotten lost on a hike and died after running out of water. It was particularly shocking because my friend had known the woman who died since high school in New England, but had not heard the story until we were reading it on that poster.

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

#159

Post by bombcar »

warmedcookie wrote: post #153
bombcar wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Alaska says "Hi!"

I don't recall Alaska being particularly bad when I went in July. The mosquitoes I did encounter were huge though.

Apparently Alaska has "mosquito seasons" which are exceptionally bad ("blot out the sun" type) but relatively livable at other times.

Places like Wisconsin aren't as bad but it's all season long.

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

#160

Post by grahamburger »

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…

There's also another entrance to Zion park in another area called Kolob Canyon. It's a few hours drive from the main entrance, far less developed, and there's never anyone there. Still very beautiful, though.
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