America’s 40 Most Enchanting Parks
Now that autumn is upon us and the color of the leaves are a’ changing, it is time for RTL to list the top 40 best parks in the U.S.A.
40. Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Brecksville, Ohio
39. Cape Cod National Seashore in Wellfleet, Massachusetts
38. Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, South Dakota
37. North Cascades National Park in Sedro-Woolley, Washington
36. Shenandoah National Park in Luray, Virginia
35. Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve in Thibodaux, Louisiana
34. Acadia National Park in Acadia National Park, Maine
33. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in Porter, Indiana
32. Double Trouble State Park in Bayville, New Jersey
[image credit: NJ.us]
31. Great Basin National Park in Baker, Nevada
30. Niobrara National Scenic River in Valentine, Nebraska
[image credit: crizzdog]
29. Cumberland Island in St. Marys, Georgia
[image credit: scubabix] [image credit: scubabix]
28. Weir Farm in Wilton, Connecticut
[image credit: consensualmedia] [image credit: carbonnyc]
27. Mammoth Cave National Park in Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
26. Isle Royale National Park Travel in Houghton, Michigan
25. Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes, Colorado
24. Minto-Brown Island Park in Salem, Oregon
[image credit: queerdood]
23. Horseshoe Bend National Military Park in Daviston, Alabama Horseshoe Bend in Page, Arizona
[image credit: tut99] [image credit: The Birdman]
22. Hot Springs National Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas
[image credit: hotspringsvillagerentals] [image credit: landbuyowners]
21. Carson National Forest in Penasco, New Mexico
[image credit: arcanericky]
20. Swope Park in Kansas City, Missouri
[image credit: Deanfotos66]
19. South Fork Quantico Creek Loop in Washington D.C.
[image credit: zhurnaly]
18. Big Bend National Park in Big Bend National Park, Texas
17. Capitol Reef National Park in Torrey, Utah
16. Gaviota State Park in Los Angeles, California
15. Glacier National Park in West Glacier, Montana
14. Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Madison, Wisconsin
13. Millenium Park in Chicago, Illinois
12. Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
[image credit: Ken Lund] [image credit: Ken Lund]
11. Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis, Minnesota
10. Central Park in New York City, New York
9. Everglades National Park in Homestead, Florida
[image credit: minds-eyes]
8. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
7. Yellowstone National Park in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
6. Yosemite National Park in Yosemite National Park, California
5. Great Smoky Mountains National Park Gatlinburg, Tennessee
4. Slide Rock State Park in Sedona, Arizona
3. Denali National Park and Preserve in Talkeetna, Alaska
2. Nā Pali Coast State Park in Kauaʻi, Hawaii
1. Grand Canyon National Park in Grand Canyon, Arizona
23 Responses to “America’s 40 Most Enchanting Parks”
Have you been to all of them yourself? They are all lovely, in different ways. Are they rated in the order of your favorites, or was there an official poll?
Compiled the pictures and did a vote based on favorites with a small sample size of college students.
You definitely need to add Hocking Hills in southern Ohio. Probably one of the least discovered areas in the nation. http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/tabid/743/Default.aspx
An absolutely gorgeous get away with so much to explore. I enjoy it so much more than Yosemite.
No Zion National Park? No Arches National Park? Wow. These college kids haven’t seen a real park yet. Good list, but those two would be in a top 10 in my book and I’ve been to more than half the parks on the list.
You forgot Muir Woods, at #1. EPIC FAIL!
I live in Kansas City, and have been to lots of parks, however I would not include Swope Park in the top 40 parks in the country by any means.
The South Fork Quantico Creek Loop in Washington D.C. is not in DC. It’s in Dumfries, VA. Quantico Creek never touches DC.
And what you listed is nothing but a hiking trail inside Prince William Forest Park, not a park by itself.
No Redwood Forest?
How is New Jersey on the list but not one of the many parks in Vermont makes it?
Clearly never been the Underhill State Park and climbed the other side of stowe.
>> Compiled the pictures and did a vote based
>> on favorites with a small sample size of
>> college students.
Were these typical clueless, self-absorbed college students, or were they college students who have actually visited these locations and have some practical knowledge about the subject matter?
@Been There Done That
As a matter of fact, they were self-absorbed college students without practical knowledge about the subject matter.
Wow you made some awesome picks! Very nice indeed.
Jiff
http://www.anonymity.cz.tc
omg no one put Jedediah Smith Redwood state national park in california. its so awesome the state and the national parks share runing it..
What!! The North Cascades made it, but the Olympic Nat. didn’t ??????
So glad you had the Indiana Dunes park listed. People will not believe it is in Indiana! A hide up Mt. Baldy gives a terrific view of Chicago-47 miles across Lake Michigan.
Gotta have Arches, Crater Lake, and Sequoia NP’s. And replace the Everglades with Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge.
u forgot disneyland!
wtf? No Arches National Park? What is this list based on? One word: Fail.
I love to travel and seeing this makes me
motivated to start a “to see list” for
the future. Thanks for a great display of info.
from tony
Nice idea, poor execution. #24 is like any park in Oregon. Nothing major. The Columbia Gorge, Olympic National or Mt Saint Helens all deserve a spot above many of those. California needs more rep – Sierra, Redwoods, the island off the coast. I like the idea – you should try again with a reader poll or something.
Second on the Hocking Hills in southern Ohio
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