Pictured: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
What are some of your favorite National Park Service sites that aren’t national parks?
Discussioni live in missouri and we have a blue ridge, is this in the smokies?
Yes, the Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles across from Waynesboro, VA to Cherokee, NC
aye! i’ve actually touched the tip of this when we visited Gatlinburg now that i think about it.. i talk about it all the time actually, cause we didn’t have much time so we didn’t get to go too far but the toe we dipped into north carolina using this route was one of the most beautiful drives. i have been very eager to return, i love the smokies. glad i know what the drive is now, thanks!
I grew up right near Rockfish Valley! So beautiful
Eh, maybe for your passengers. I just found that every good vista had tons of cars and crowds and good luck finding a spot to park and go look yourself if you are the driver.
I live close by and I've never had a problem parking.
I've been a few times and never had issues getting a front row seat.
If you say you’ve never had problems parking then you’re lying, parking illegally, or not going to spots worth stopping.
I’m not saying you can never find parking, far from it. But there are absolutely pullouts, overlooks or trailheads that are absolutely slammed certain times of the year.
It’s a huge huge park and he said he lives close by. It’s possible that the parts he’s gone to and the parts you’ve gone to are different. Yours are crowded, his aren’t. Your experience isn’t universal. Stop being a dick.
Nah. During leaf peeping season or wildflower season, it’s slammed everywhere, or not worth stopping like I said. And that same “maybe it’s different parts” logic applies to their comment. If they’re only familiar with a small part of the parkway, they should t be making universal claims about all of it either yea?
But, it’s like saying you never had trouble parking in Yosemite valley. It’s just false. And that person knows it.
Edit: No I said that all from the start. It’s disingenuous to say you’ve never had problem if you never go when it’s crowded.
And, btw, if you need to qualify you’re “never have trouble parking” with “I know when to go and where to go to avoid having trouble parking” you’ve proved my damn point. Strange that you don’t realize that lmao
As a lifelong North Carolinian who visits in all seasons, you have no fucking clue what you’re talking about.
If they are only familiar with a small part, it’s still extremely accurate for them to say they’ve never had trouble finding parking.
I’ve visited huge parts of the park and parkway and got married right off of it. I’ve never felt like I couldn’t park legally.
I’m sure there are specific spots that are super busy but I’ve never seen a pull off so full that I couldn’t park. Again, 37 years of visiting the parkway.
Yea I do. Go to rough ridge on a weekend in October. Or anywhere from Boone to Asheville in the same time period. Sure you might get to stop at the grandmother pullout (where there is nothing to see), but you’re going to have trouble at beacon heights.
Doubling down on a universal claim is asinine dude. It’s no secret that the parkway gets crowded during peak seasons.
Crowded wasn’t your argument. I never said it wasn’t crowded. It was you who doubled down on a universal claim by claiming the other person couldn’t have possibly never had parking issues. You literally said he was lying. You clearly don’t understand nuance. I have been to Boone and Asheville and the parkway in between in all seasons and while crowded, I’ve never had trouble finding parking at a pulloff.
Yea that’s a lie. Straight up. Lol. This is hilarious. I stand by what I said. If you’ve never had trouble parking on the parkway, you’re not going to places worth stopping, or are parking illegally or are straight up lying. Or you don’t go very often, which is a shame cuz it’s a wonderful resource.
And just cuz you live in Fayetteville or some shit, doesn’t give you any extra authority to speak on the parkway btw.
Edit: holy hell you win for longest post before blocking someone. Such puerile behavior is always hilarious. Grow a pair
I’ve been to Yosemite more than a dozen times and have never had trouble parking, and I’m not lying? I know when to go, I know when to enter the park, and I know the places that aren’t crowded. Regarding the parkway, you first said, “if you say you’ve never had trouble parking then you’re lying.” Then you qualify it and add “during leaf peeping season or wildflower season.” Then you triple down and qualify it with “places worth stopping.” And hilariously, you call out someone for making a universal claim after you’ve argued three times about a universal claim. Strange.
Some people actually get out of their cars and hike the trails off the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Like every other place there are times to go. Besides one or two weekend in the year, it's always empty. I often go
Sorry to hear that. I’ve had a vastly different experience the 6 or 7 times I have ridden up and down it. There are almost 200 overlooks on the nearly 500 mile long road, and if I have encountered people on an overlook that I wanted to stop at, there’s usually an empty one not far behind.
I would give it another chance if you are willing to. I love that road.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
I’m smitten with the mitten
Great Lakes, Great Times
Whoa that looks awesome. Michigan seems to have a bunch of cool stuff that’s super under the radar for a west coaster that’s never been there.
Michigan is out of the way for virtually everyone. It really is a gem though.
As a hoosier I’m glad to be sandwiched between Kentucky and Michigan.
It might not have big mountains but it has the most beautiful scenery and geographical transitions I’ve ever seen.
Shhhh, it’s a secret. Next you’ll be telling them about Pictured Rocks
Oh no!
🤫
I used to live in the UP. I was always amused by all the tourists when we'd launch our boat in Munising.
A Yooper! I’m a troll!
I'd rather be. I HATED the three loooooong years I spent in the UP. I grew up on the MI/OH line and have spent endless amounts of time in Northern MI. I love it there. I live in Milwaukee now.
Going there in July... very excited!
Warren dunes is another great spot love climbing that massive sand dune. Reminds me of what Mt. Baldy used to be.
Ozark National Scenic Riverway
Just looked it up, only a few hours away from it, adding it to the summer trip list.
Gotta add Buffalo National River here, too, for visibility.
Agreed. Going there next week! The only thing about the Buffalo is that the water level is contingent on the rainfall where the ONSR is all spring fed so you don't have the water level issues. Check your gauges before you go.
i’m gearing up to go in the next week or two as well! always a trick scheduling floats out there but 10/10 worth it if you can catch both water levels and sunshine.
This is it. Spent so many summers hiking and canoeing. Best times
Monument Valley (UT/AZ)
Hiking/driving around Monument Valley made me feel so small in the best way.
Camp out under an area unpolluted by light and look up. Probably the smallest “good way” I’ve ever felt.
Once went camping in the UP, absolutely agree.
That’s Navajo nation, not NPS. Absolutely beautiful though
Who said it wasnt? Triggered much? Lol
The post title
Grand Staircase and Escalante, and Dinosaur National Monument
Dinosaur is so cool! First place I ever saw the milky way
Bears ears national monument is pretty cool.
It's incredible. I'm heading back there this september, just an amazing area
Padre Island National Seashore.
Just an FYI to everyone mentioning National Forests - National Forests are not part of the National Park Service, which is an agency within the Dept of Interior. NFs are part of the USDA (Dept of Agriculture). That doesn’t make them any less awesome but they are run by an entirely separate department of the federal government.
I was going to mention that, but everyone looked like they were having so much fun listing national forests and state parks lol
Colorado National Monument is gorgeous.
Oh and Bandolier.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Ohiopyle Pennsylvania
Is there a NPS site there?
No. OP must be confused. It’s a PA state park.
I'm not confused, I'm just a fuckin moron.
Pea Island and Hatteras National Seashores.
Red rock canyon in NV!
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Michigan.
The UP is beautiful! It seems like it's underrated or under the radar. One of my favorite places though!
The Adirondacks, way up, northeast of the Mohawk Valley up by Lake George. My family and another co-owned a camp that our family has been going up to for generations….. and when I say generations, we have family photo books with relatives dating way back before the 1920’s.
Natural Bridges National Monument (UT) hidden gem.
San Juan Islands, Washington
Roche Harbor is a gem
I came here to say Ebey’s Landing on Whidbey Island.
C&O Canal and Great Falls in particular.
Also, honorable mention to Rock Creek Park, which, in a vacuum, is probably one of the least exciting NPS properties, but since it's in the middle of a big city, is actually a really valuable resource for urban hiking and nature-access.
Don’t forget the Paw Paw Tunnel!
I lived in Virginia for over 20 years before I finally went to Great Falls, and I don't know what took me so long. Seriously amazing. I do think that people think of NPS and VA and just gravitate toward Shenandoah. Which I mean, excellent park, but there's so much more too.
Makoshika State Park (Montana), Craters of the Moon (Idaho), Oregon Dunes
This is Mount Tammany for those who don't know. It's located in the Delaware Water Gap between NJ and PA on Route 80. This photo was taken from the NJ side. If you're physically able to, I recommend taking the Red Trail up and the Blue Trail down!
Ventana Wilderness and Los Padres National Forest in general
Mojave National Preserve, Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
Ah man I grew up in the water gap. Thanks for the nice home feels.
I immediately recognized that picture! Mt Tammany!
That’s Delaware Water Gap. Miss hiking that area.
Dinosaur National Monument is more spectacular than most national parks.
Mt St Helens
Perry’s Monument on Middle Bass Island in Lake Erie. The view from the top is gorgeous on a clear day, and it’s a fascinating story from the American viewpoint. I only wish there were other perspectives presented
OP, is that Delaware Water Gap?
Craters of the Moon is a national monument, and absolutely the coolest place I’ve ever been. We camped on the lava flow there and hiked about 19 miles in the wilderness. It was amazing.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It includes San Francisco’s Presidio, and the Marin Headlands on the other side of the bridge.
Point Reyes national seashore
Did I just add Delaware to my bucket list? This is beautiful!
As it happens, the Delaware Water Gap isn’t in Delaware.
This looks like the New Jersey side looking across the river to PA. Very beautiful area of both states.
It is. Looking at Mount Minsi (PA) from Mount Tammany (NJ).
It's a great park and the Appalachian Trail runs right through it
See ya in Jersey.
If you’re passing through southeastern PA and want to see a hidden gem of a NPS site, check out Hopewell Furnace. Interned there in college and love it dearly. Tucked away, small and not very well known, so rarely crowded
Reminds me a bit of Fayette State Park in Michigan’s UP.
My favorite story that involves Hopewell Furnace was while we were camping at French Creek State Park for our 11th or so year of a Father's Day Camping trip. The dads were around the fire having some drinks, after being made to dump it all out the previous year by SP rangers. A ranger starts walking into our site with a flashlight, and sees us all try to hide out drinks. He calls out "don't worry, I'm not that type of ranger!", as it turns out he was an NPS ranger coming to tell campers about Hopewell Furnace. Phew!
Custer State Park in South Dakota blew me away, and coupling this with Badlands National Park was one of the best vacations I've ever been on. Felt like visiting two different planets.
Custer is great.
Clark Creek Natural Area in Mississippi is just waterfall after waterfall after waterfall.
Fire Island National Seashore - There's wilderness, there's a sunken forest, some of the most beautiful beaches in the east... It's great
Also (partly) in NJ - Gateway National Recreations Area. Between the units at Sandy Hook, NJ, and the ones in NY (Jamaica Bay, Floyd Bennet Field, etc.) ,there is so much to see and do. Ranging from sitting on the beach (including the clothing-optional one 
) at Sandy Hook, to learning about history there (military) and Floyd Bennet (aviation), to paddling the marshes of Jamaica Bay, and so much more!
Agreed. I worked at Gateway a while back and I had so much fun hanging out with all the amazing birds and wildlife there—all within the biggest metropolis in the country. Definitely an underrated park.
Delaware is cool. I like the area around Moab
Cedar Breaks National Monument
I love a ton of national Forests.
The - Ghila - Lolo - Hoosier - Shawnee - Daniel Boone
And the Big Cyprus wildlife refuge all come to mind as great hidden gems of.the parks service
Just spent my birthday in the Shawnee. Love it there. And finding fluorite in the cave in rock area
Stones River National Battlefield.
Cape Horn, SW Washington, along the Columbia River sightline .
Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve on Whidbey Island, WA. A one-of-a-kind partnership between a town, county, state, and national park agencies. Mix of public and private land with picturesque views and working farms.
I just replied this to a comment on San Juan Islands. The bluff trail at Ebey’s is probably my all time favorite hike.
Yeah, it’s the best. I’m fortunate to live on S Whidbey and get to do that hike regularly.
Same! A lot of times I take “the long way” into Coupeville just to drive by camp Casey and Ebey’s Landing for the views. Cheers, neighbor!
Haha. Nice! Cheers!
Mojave National Preserve!
The North Shore of Minnesota on Lake Superior. Also Interstate Park in MN and WI along the St. Croix river
Gila Cliff dwellings National Monument. Organ mountains National Monument
St. Gaudens
Craters of the Moon National Monument
Big South Fork is pretty great
Escalante Grand Staircase
Cumberland Island National Seashore
100%
Adirondacks
Sawtooth National Forest
Tishomingo State Park at milepost 304 on the Natchez Trace Parkway
I dont wanna say because during COVID it already got packed enough and I missed out on my favorite camping spot (but found a really good one anyway) LOL
Sharing is caring! 😁
Goshen Pass
Ohanapecosh River
Can’t believe nobody has mentioned Apostle Islands national lakeshore yet.
Manassas Battlefield is really nice IMO, grew up around there and did plenty of hiking. Lots of easy hikes if I remember correctly. Prince William Forest as well is also very pretty too.
North cascades
…the National Park?
The NPS areas outside the park. This is the north cascades park complex which includes the two national park units.
The national park service administrators the areas outside the North/south units too.
The Lake Chelan area is great.
https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/noca/adhi/images/map1.pdf
Anna Ruby Falls
Idk I’m in Texas In parts where they still maintain all them roadside parks, we also have the LCRA parks, we also have state parks in this area, legitimately too much to think about, name, and then try to pick a favorite. It’s nature country out here, baby
7 missing replies
Blue Ridge Parkway