# Which National Park Did You Last Visit? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 11, 2018, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960 "2018-12-11T20:42:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960/81 "2018-12-13T14:36:20Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > [Bryce Canyon National Park](https://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm) > > Absolutely stunning! It was like being on another planet. We spent 6 weeks touring the parks of the Southwest, and this was our favorite. Same here, I think I liked Bryce better than The Grand Canyon. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960/82 "2018-12-13T19:34:45Z")
I still think that the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is the best rim. I’ve been to Bryce and Zion and the South Rim, and while they’re all magnificent, I really want to wander the North Rim again. That extra 1000 feet of elevation, plus the isolation makes it extra spectacular for me. Last time I was there, it was August and 126 F at Phantom Ranch, 84 F on the North Rim, and as we drove out over the Kaibab plateau while still south of Jacob Lake, it **snowed!!** ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960/83 "2018-12-14T14:56:56Z")
I haven’t been to North Rim yet; it’s on my bucket list along with Zion, Bryce, and Arches. It _does_ look [quieter](https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/north-rim.htm) and less tourist-overrun than the Village. I’m hoping next summer. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960/84 "2018-12-14T15:18:42Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I still think that the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is the best rim. I’ve been to Bryce and Zion and the South Rim, and while they’re all magnificent, I really want to wander the North Rim again. That extra 1000 feet of elevation, plus the isolation makes it extra spectacular for me. Yes the North Rim is great. I was there once before, years ago, and I must go back! For me, my last national park was Crater Lake. Very scenic. Here are some pics of my wife and me there: [CLNP: Crater Lake National Park - Album on Imgur](https://imgur.com/a/cnwwvfh). ---
**Author:** ![48Willys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/db5fbb/32.png) [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960/85 "2018-12-14T21:47:18Z")
A National Park eh? That would be Arches N.P. this spring. If The Colorado National Monument counts, then today, as I often traverse parts of it for one of my jobs. I sometimes even use the blacktop roads. I must try the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, as I found the rest of it too crowded for my tastes. That was in the spring of 1978 or so, I bet it is much worse now. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960/86 "2018-12-15T03:53:42Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I still think that the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is the best rim. … That extra 1000 feet of elevation, plus the isolation … And California Condors soaring by. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960/87 "2018-12-15T19:57:43Z")
I said “national parks,” but national anything – monuments, what have you – I would count. Forgot there were several types of “national somethings.” ---
**Author:** ![BlueInfinity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BlueInfinity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueInfinity)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960/88 "2018-12-15T21:56:16Z")
I wasn’t aware that the St. Louis Arch was a national park. I went up that sucker something like twenty years ago. I’m more likely to visit city, county, and state parks. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960/89 "2018-12-15T23:23:59Z")
I just remembered I also paddled some of the St Croix National Scenic Riverway (all on the Namekagon). Though that was before the Outer Banks trip. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960/90 "2018-12-15T23:24:14Z")
> [@BlueInfinity](#): > > I wasn’t aware that the St. Louis Arch was a national park. I went up that sucker something like twenty years ago. > > I’m more likely to visit city, county, and state parks. The Museum of Westward Expansion at the base of the arch is pretty good too. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960/91 "2018-12-15T23:28:15Z")
> [@48Willys](#): > > A National Park eh? That would be Arches N.P. this spring. > > If The Colorado National Monument counts, then today, as I often traverse parts of it for one of my jobs. I sometimes even use the blacktop roads. > > I must try the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, as I found the rest of it too crowded for my tastes. That was in the spring of 1978 or so, I bet it is much worse now. The Colorado National Monument – never heard of this, and the last two times I drove through Grand Junction I completely and unknowingly bypassed this. From the images, it looks fantastic. I’ll add it to my list! Especially the non-paved routes. Images: [the colorado national monument - Google Search](https://goo.gl/neiHpM) And yes, do try the North Rim. It’s much quieter. Especially during the summer months, the South Rim is crowded, especially in and near Grand Canyon Village it can be a real zoo. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2018, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960/92 "2018-12-16T03:21:34Z")
Grand Canyon, back around 2013 or so. ---
**Author:** ![Buttercup\_Smith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buttercup_smith/32/473_2.png) [@Buttercup\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buttercup_Smith)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2018, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960/93 "2018-12-16T04:07:08Z")
Dry Tortugas National Park probably four years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960/94 "2018-12-17T19:10:01Z")
Was gonna say Grand Canyon, in 2010 (we saw Zion, GC North Rim, Bryce, then GC South Rim), but I checked the list on Wikipedia and was reminded we’d been to Everglades more recently than that - 2012 and again in 2013. We haven’t been to that many others: Gateway Arch (1985) Grand Teton (1985) Yellowstone (1985) Rocky Mountain (1985) Sequoia or Redwood (1985) - I forget which we drove through, en route from Seattle to Berkeley Glacier (1986) Great Smoky Mountains (various times including 1985) though I don’t know if that counts, as we were travelling through vs stopping Shenandoah (numerous times from 1984 on) Hawaii Volcanoes (1989) If we add in National Seashores etc. the most recent would be Assateague in 2013. Wikipedia has a nice list at [List of areas in the United States National Park System - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_areas_in_the_United_States_National_Park_System) National Monuments (fewer than I’d thought): Fort Monroe (numerous times in the 2000’s) George Washington Birthplace (2010 or so) Muir Woods (1994) Quite a few of the National Historical Parks, National Memorials etc. Several of the Battlefields. The only National Recreation Areas I’ve visited would be Glen Canyon and Lake Mead. Too many “Other NPS protected areas and administrative groups” to count (comes of living near Washington DC). ---
**Author:** ![WreckingCrew](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wreckingcrew/32/4080_2.png) [@WreckingCrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WreckingCrew)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960/95 "2018-12-17T23:41:27Z")
I was in two National Parks today, but they pay me to be there - Blackstone and Roger William’s. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2018, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960/96 "2018-12-18T01:51:41Z")
> [@Buttercup\_Smith](#): > > Dry Tortugas National Park probably four years ago. I loved my visit there. Fascinating! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2018, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960/97 "2018-12-18T02:14:04Z")
**Sequoia National Park** - I saw the trees and believe me, it’s…unbelievable. I know they are real, but I completely understand why people would not believe them before extensive photography. They don’t seem possible. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2018, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960/98 "2018-12-18T05:46:19Z")
Mama Zappa: > [@](#): > > Sequoia or Redwood (1985) - I forget which we drove through, en route from Seattle to Berkeley Unless you made a major, major detour, I’d guess it was Redwood. Sequioa is quite a bit south of Berkeley. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960/99 "2018-12-21T22:01:23Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Mama Zappa: > > Unless you made a major, major detour, I’d guess it was Redwood. Sequioa is quite a bit south of Berkeley. LOL! Makes sense. I honestly don’t recall. I know that we drove by some of the big trees even without being in one of the parks. We still joke that they were so huge our minds were boggled into incoherency: “Trees!! Buh-buh-buh-buh-BIIIIG truh-truh-truh-TREEES!” And yeah, they’re impressive. Photos don’t do them justice. We actually brought home a tiny one growing from a chunk of burlwood (no, we did not harvest it; it was for sale in a gift shop). Sadly it died after a few months. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960/100 "2018-12-21T22:48:22Z")
Stones River National Battlefield & Cemetery. > **[Stones River National Battlefield (U.S. National Park Service)](https://www.nps.gov/stri/index.htm)** Beyond the History, the natural Ceder forest is lovely, especially in Spring. Bring your anti-histamines, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-national-park-did-you-last-visit/825960.md?page=6)