What are the best adventures in the National Park System in the Lower 48? For sure, three weeks floating the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park has to be one, and climbing the Grand Teton in its namesake park is another. But then what?
To help start this list, here are five great adventures in no specific order:
1. Colorado River trip, Grand Canyon National Park
2. Climbing the Grand Teton, Grand Teton National Park
3. Climbing El Capitan, Yosemite National Park
4. End-to-end on the Appalachian Trail, Appalachian National Scenic Trail
5. Wild cave tour, Mammoth Cave National Park
What else, travelers? Are there 50 great adventures? 100?
Comments
Camping on an island in the BWWCA - Boundary Waters Wildnerness Camping - in Northern Minnesota going out of Grand Marais off the Gunflint Trail. Even better is camping off Cache Bay in Canada.
Great choice, Catherine. But, alas, BWWCA is not in the National Park System....though perhaps it should be!
How about the Subway in Zion?
Rick
Or hiking down Tenaya Canyon in Yosemite?
Rick
Canoeing the Green River through Canyonlands National Park. It's my all time number one vacation.
Hiking the Panorama Trail in Yosemite
Ok, on a serious note, I'd put snorkeling at Dry Tortugas NP, around Fort Jefferson and amidst the surrounding reefs, barrier islands, and shipwrecks. Really makes you have second thoughts about your position on the food chain.
4-wheeling on the north rim of Grand Canyon out to Point Sublime. Snowshoeing at Crater Lake. Early morning walk up to Mount Rushmore. Nothing like having a little of those great places all to yourself.