National Park Ranking

Updated as visited currently at 19/63 Parks

If you want to know how we created this ranking system you can view that on my blog under National Parks! This is just our current rankings and their score and a few comments about each. There are a few variants for Graham (my husband) but we are within a few points of each other. Starting at the top!

#1 Grand Teton National Park 58/60

This place is the one that started it all. The national park that really sparked the joy we have for exploring nature. The main part that knocked it down was Crowds (8/10) It wasn't the biggest fault but it took some big hikes to avoid people. Like this one pictured, lake solitude.

WF	WWGB	AA	H	C+L	C
10	10	10	10	10	8

#2 Glacier National Park 56/60

This park is definition of WOW. The part that brings it down is accessibility. There is still SOOOOOOO much to do year round but it does suck that the main road (going to the sun road) is closed the majority of the year. We're also a little bit biased considering we got engaged and married at this very park!

Wow Factor (WF)	Would we go back (WWGB)	Ammen. + Activities (AA)	Hiking (H)	Camping and Lodging (C+L)	Crowds (C)
10	10	7	10	9	10

#3 Canyonlands National Park 55/60

This on pleasantly surprised me! I think you have to go to multiple areas in order to truly appreciate this park. It greatly effected our experience that we went in winter and I honestly do not feel the need to travel here in the summer. Initial wow factor is effected by the fact that it is not a unique canyon and areas are a bit of a drive due to these canyons but obviously still a high ranking park!

WF	WWGB	AA	H	C+L	C
10	9	10	10	7	9

#4 Yellowstone National Park 53/60

Another one dramatically effected by the fact that we visited in winter. I do believe that there was still so much to see so I feel like there is some room to grow this score. This is a large park with so much to do and wildlife to see.

WF	WWGB	AA	H	C+L	C
10	10	9	7	9	8

#5 Big Bend National Park 51/60

I would rate this as THE MOST UNDERRATED park. Due to it's remoteness, it is low on visitors but definitely has a ton to offer. First visit we had no clue, second we came locked and loaded for the most hiking we can do and this national park increased from its original #10 ranking.

WF	WWGB	AA	H	C+L	C
9	7	9	8	9	9

#6 Zion National Park 50/60

Another semi biased park considering that we have a dog we named after this park! I believe we really got to see a good amount of this park and its just an incredible place that everyone needs to see. High scores on all but one. If you know us, you know how badly crowds effect our experience and here is definitely a place that could get a higher ranking upon a winter visit.

WF	WWGB	AA	H	C+L	C
10	9	7	10	9	6

#7 Capitol Reef National Park 46/60

I think this a place holder score. It was such a wild looking park but we did not spend that much time exploring it but I definitely want to revisit to give it a fair shake. The historical pie shop definitely helps. I also consider this the ginger headed step child of the Utah 5 NP's which definitely is the more underrated of the 5.

WF	WWGB	AA	H	C+L	C
7	8	8	6	8	9

#8 Arches National Park 42/60

This is a classic park and on a lot of people's top 5! The arches are beautiful and there's some cool gems here. Just like with Canyonlands I do not see a need to visit during peak season. Biggest issue limiting this park is it is really a one trick pony; it's in the name so no false advertising though. We felt that we experienced virtually everything it had to offer in one visit.

WF	WWGB	AA	H	C+L	C
9	5	7	7	7	7

#9 Saguaro National Park 41/60 (+7)

I'll admit I was not expecting much from this park but I was pleasantly surprised. Convenient location, dog friendly (with booties) hikes and the saguaros are not the only thing to view. Home to the gila monster and so many other wild creatures that we saw while we were there. The saguaros are impressive and huge as well. For it being virtually in DT Tuscon, Arizona there was no issues with crowds.

WF	WWGB	AA	H	C+L	C
8	5	6	6	8	8

#10 Rocky Mountain National Park 41/60 (+4)

I think virtually any one who ranks national parks ranks their hometown parks lower since that is what they are used to see! But it is still a beautiful park that guarantees wildlife viewing and beautiful mountain lakes. Basically have to smuggle dogs into the park so not very dog friendly. It is also a very popular park that you can't really find solitude in.

WF	WWGB	AA	H	C+L	C
7	6	6	7	9	6

#11 Grand Canyon National Park 39/60

Even uncultured people know about this classic national park. It and yellowstone are notorious and for a good reason. I am quite convinced a trip into the canyon will affect the scoring in the future. I have a tendency to like looking up from the base of canyons vs looking down.

WF	WWGB	AA	H	C+L	C
9	8	7	7	5	3

#12 Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park 37/60

Most Underrated of Colorado, this one is another canyon that is very breath taking and is surprisingly variable. We did the majority of the hikes, which were just little pull offs of different views so that definitely effected the hiking section. Only thing I wish is that we had planned for boating trip while there.

WF	WWGB	AA	H	C+L	C
7	5	6	4	5	8

#13 Bryce Canyon National Park 35/60

It is probably just me, but I do not get the hype of this park. Hoodoos are pretty but the hikes that we did left some to be desired. Maybe upon a second visit I will have other thoughts.

WF	WWGB	AA	H	C+L	C
6	5	7	5	7	5

#14 Petrified Forest National Park 33/60

The novelty of a dog friendly park got us there and the surprising amount of petrified wood really impressed us! The reason it was knocked down had a lot to do with the fact that this park pretty much advertises itself as a drive through park. You can do virtually everything in a day, there are no camping opportunities and the park actually closes in the evening.

WF	WWGB	AA	H	C+L	C
7	5	6	5	3	7

#15 Great Sand Dunes National Park 32/60

Definitely our favorite Dune National park so far (I cannot imagine Indiana dunes will be better either) but it is incredible considering it also includes some mountain hikes and 4 wheel driving options in addition to HUGE sand dunes. accessible all year round which is a bonus. On a technicality some things we really enjoyed are just outside the NP but definitely worth a weekend trip.

WF	WWGB	AA	H	C+L	C
8	5	7	3	4	5

#16 Carlsbad Cavern National Park 29/60

Pretty awesome Caverns! There are some hikes outside of the caverns which were just ok but the caverns are definitely the main event. It is cool you can hike into the cave. There were splunking opportunities before covid but I think they are just being lazy not adding them back to the options. It was pretty conveniently close to home (El Paso) but I would not enjoy travelling to this location. Crowds of tourists have something left to be desired.

WF	WWGB	AA	H	C+L	C
7	6	5	3	4	4

#17 Mesa Verde National Park 28/60

The cliff dwellings are impressive but there is very minimal hiking and I think this would be better suited as a historical site. Maybe if we had been able to hike into the grand palace I would find it more impressive. I know I did it as a child but it wasn't that impressive as a youngin.

WF	WWGB	AA	H	C+L	C
5	3	5	4	6	5

#18 White Sands National Park 20/60

This picture is why this park is not on the bottom of the list. Our dogs love the sand and this is conveniently close to El Paso. But there is really not much to do here. It closes at night, there is no camping or lodging near it and the hikes are just walking on sand dunes. Pretty because it is gypsum and WHITE but not much else to it.

WF	WWGB	AA	H	C+L	C
5	3	2	2	1	7

#19 Guadelupe Mountains National Park 17/60

Honestly do not hate this place even though the score is low. It's just that there is NOTHING around it, hikes are pretty subpar and compared to other mountain based national parks, cannot compare. For such a middle of nowhere park it gets incredibly crowded and Park rangers are,,,, not the friendliest. I normally don't say anything but this is after 2 separate visits.

WF	WWGB	AA	H	C+L	C
4	2	3	3	1	4