re: Favorite U.S. National Park?

Posted on 2/16/16 at 1:49 am to Year of the Dragon

Posted by SurfTide

San Diego, CA

Member since Nov 2015

1658 posts

Posted on 2/16/16 at 1:49 am to Year of the Dragon

As others have said, in terms of sheer breathtaking beauty, Yosemite is hands down the best IMO. It is crowded though.

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Posted by FleshEatingSalsa

Floating down the Anduin

Member since Dec 2009

12293 posts

Posted on 2/16/16 at 12:35 pm to SurfTide

Great thread. Got a big trip coming up and hoping I can get some help from y'all.

Background:
In early June, I'm taking my 4 children (boy-15, girl-14, girl-12, boy-6) west for 2 1/2 weeks of camping and hiking. I camped plenty as a kid but not much recently. Oldest boy is Life rank with Boy Scouts and camps all the time, so we should be ok.

Rough itinerary:

Day 1
• Leave Illinois and drive to Badlands NP in SD. Camp overnight.

Day 2
• Spend the next morning to early afternoon at Mt. Rushmore.
• Leave Mt. Rushmore early afternoon and drive to Crow Agency, MT. Camp.

Day 3
• Spend next morning at Little Bighorn National Monument.
• Leave Crow Agency late morning and drive to St Mary, MT. Camp.

Day 4-8
• Leave St. Mary next afternoon via Going To The Sun road and drive to Flathead Lake.
• Camp at Flathead Lake 4-5 days, touring Glacier NP.

Day 9-15
• Leave Flathead Lake and drive to Yellowstone. Camp there for 6-7 days. Hike, fish, sightsee, etc.

Day 16
• Drive to Jewel Cave National Monument in Custer, SD. Camp overnight.

Day 17
• Tour Jewel Cave early to late morning. Go home.

Some questions:
• Am I rushing through any part of this, or missing something amazing I need to account for?
• Any particular recommendations for Glacier NP sightseeing?
• I have no clue what to do around Yellowstone, so any recommendations on campsites and itinerary would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!