favorite National Parks for camping?

topic posted Fri, January 23, 2009 - 9:46 AM by  Ellen
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Planning a cross country road trip (in the US) and looking for good places to hike, camp, possibly canoe/kayak and swim. What are your favorite National Parks or other outdoor spots? We'll be traveling East to West along the southern part of the country in early spring, and back across the northern part of the country - West to East - in the early/mid summer.
posted by:
Ellen
Boston
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  • Re: favorite National Parks for camping?

    Mon, February 16, 2009 - 10:10 AM
    My personal favorites are Glacier and the Grand Tetons. If you do Glacier I highly reccommend going into the backcountry where it is less crowded and breathtakingly beautiful. The Tetons are also very incredible and it is one of the only parks that still let you have open campfires, especialy in the sumer when everywhere else is super dry. Happy travels!
    • Re: favorite National Parks for camping?

      Mon, April 20, 2009 - 12:24 AM
      I second all three Parks previously mentioned. If going to Yosemite, though, go to the high country. Yosemite Valley is too crowded. Toulomne Meadows is way better.

      The Grand Tetons are wonderful. So is Glacier Park in Montana. Another less known National Park I've enjoyed hiking and camping in is Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the Badlands of North Dakota. Check it out if you get a chance.
      • Re: favorite National Parks for camping?

        Mon, June 8, 2009 - 12:04 AM
        Soon am also planning for a camping with my friends so plss guys recommend me any of the best park or jungle for camping in US....
        • Re: favorite National Parks for camping?

          Mon, June 8, 2009 - 12:31 AM
          One of my very favorite National Parks is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I love camping at Twelvemile Beach and going on day hikes from there, or just walking along the long beach. It's beautiful, so pristine.

          www.nps.gov/piro/index.htm

          June is a wonderful time there. There are wildflowers and the bugs are not bad yet. But the water is still pretty cold. When I've been there in July both the mosquitos, and worse, biting flies were plentiful. On the beach you could be free of them, at least. And in July Lake Superior is warm enough to swim in. But I prefer June.
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          Re: favorite National Parks for camping?

          Mon, June 8, 2009 - 12:52 AM
          Key West is a good start. There are some great camp grounds in the southern most tip of the US cross the 7 mile bridge. Then I suggest the Painted Desert and the Grand Canyon. Lots of stuff going through that way. Hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, it is worth seeing but do it during the full moon.
          The Red Woods in California, if the parks still open. They are talking about closing it. Then up the coast. The Oregon coast is very nice if you get lucky with the weather. Creator Lake in Oregon is worth the trip. Wizard mountain. There is also lots of stops in through there.
          Glacier National Park and Yellow Stone in Montana, Wyoming. Lots of mountain passes like Giants Ridge. Really fun area to go off roading and looking for geodes. Pikes Peak. Devils Tower.
          In South Dakota the Black Hills are worth the stop, Spearfish canyon, Badlands. Northern Minnesota, the Gunflint Trail. Lots of bears. The Lake Superior shore line. To name off a few sights worth seeing. Haven't camped the NE so that's where my advice ends.
          This list would take me 12-17 weeks. I have easily spent 6 weeks in Yellow Stone alone. In fact I take 3 weeks a summer just to travel and Florida was one trip, Grand Canyon was another. Then the Red Woods and Oregon was one, Yellow Stone and Glacier, then I went back to Yellow Stone again it was so amazing. The only grizzly I've ever seen was in glacier. If your doing this maybe just plan on spending a week in the Black Hills and a few days in the Badlands. Then get lost on the Gunflint, portage out of the US, due Lake of The Woods and go across through Canada back to the east shore.
          • Re: favorite National Parks for camping?

            Mon, June 8, 2009 - 1:05 AM
            Here's another National Park really worth seeing:

            www.nps.gov/brca/

            Bryce Canyon in Utah is something everyone should see who likes marvels of nature. And the campground up on the ridge is pleasant enough. There are numerous trails for day hikes. Or just gaze out at the hoodoos from the vista points if you are not a hiker.
          • Re: favorite National Parks for camping?

            Mon, June 8, 2009 - 1:14 AM
            In the northeast I've enjoyed camping at Acadia National Park on the coast of Maine. It's an island actually, called Mount Desert Island, although it's not desert like at all, and only a short bridge spans the water connecting it to the mainland. It is quite beautiful, has many coastal areas to enjoy. We camped at both the campgrounds while there. Seawall Campground has more to do in the immediate area, if I remember correctly.

            www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm

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