The system is 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) long and has many deep recesses, narrow passages and tunnels winding under hundreds of metres of limestone strata. These provide epic rivers, creeks, and waterfalls begging to be explored. Must-Have Experience: Visit a cliff dwelling as part of a ranger-led tour and view Spruce Tree House from the visitor center. My personal favorite guidebook (even though it's incomplete). Ah, my favorite place in Utah and the ultimate land of geologic splendor. Best Time to Go: Summer is best for hiking, winter is best for cross-country skiing. Of the top 10 most-visited national parks, this is the only one I haven’t been to yet. Best Time to Go: To avoid road closures, visit during the summer months. Etched into the stunning landscapes the park does have are ancient homes. Of all 63 National Parks, American Samoa is the only one located entirely in the southern hemisphere. Best Time to Go: Fall is best for hiking; the cave is open year-round, and always 54°F. For a less-crowded experience, leave Mount Desert Island and visit the Schoodic Peninsula or Isle au Haut districts. Where to Stay: Capitol Reef Resort, Days Inn, The Noor Hotel, Admission Fee: $20 per vehicle or $10 per individual, valid for 7 days. Despite being one of the least-visited of the 63 National Parks, Kobuk Valley is utilized nonstop. Still, my favorite part of visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was witnessing new growth in a place that seemed impossible. Where to Stay: Crater Lake Lodge, Sleep Inn, Eagle Crater Lake Inn. Best Time to Go: It’s best to visit in summer when boats are running. Where to Stay: Glacier Bay Lodge, Annie Mae Lodge, Gustavus Inn at Glacier Bay, Must-Have Experience: Ride the Baranhoff Wind, a daily boat that takes you into the Bay. Best Time to Go: Visit in September to avoid crowds, heat, and mosquitoes. On one bus ride, you could see wolves devouring a caribou, the tallest peak on the continent (Denali, not Mount McKinley), wild grizzly bears, and soaring eagles. Favorite Trails: Big Trees, Tokopah Falls, Middle Fork. Additionally, Badwater Basin is also the lowest spot in all of North America at 282 feet below sea level. For a relatively small park, there is so much to offer in every nook and cranny (literally). The baths have helped visitors with arthritis and skin diseases in the past. Favorite Trails: Angel’s Landing, The Narrows, Canyon Overlook, Scenic Drive: Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (only accessible by shuttle spring to fall). Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennesse, 3. Must-Have Experience: Hike through the park’s vast Wilderness or paddle one of its many Wild & Scenic Rivers. Add in the fascinating Native American history, including various petroglyphs, and driving or hiking through Capitol Reef is like inventing your own time machine. While it may not be as grand as the Grand Canyon, there is still something striking about Canyonlands National Park. Who knew there were hot springs in Arkansas, let alone in the middle of a town? If Cuyahoga Valley isn’t the most urban park, it’s almost certainly because Gateway Arch joined the ranks of the 63 National Parks in 2018. The nation’s newest National Park was upgraded from a National River in 2021. Visit in fall for some of the best leaf-peeping there is. Where to Stay: Comfort Inn, Holiday Lodge, Holiday Inn, Clarion Pointe. Some more remote areas require a park ranger. With over 400 miles of explored passages, Mammoth Cave is the largest known cave system in the world. Be prepared for long lines, congested roads, and crowded parking areas no matter when you visit.
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