HikeArizona.COM

Another list that I'm sure there will be some disagreement on.

This is not a list of the most popular National Parks. It's a list of the most beautiful NPs, based on the % of the number of reviews containing the words ‘beautiful’, ‘stunning’, ‘breathtaking’ and 'gorgeous' for each park, as found on the www from travelers in 2023.

Note that the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Yellowstone national parks did not make the list.

I am surprised to see Saguaro on that list. It is a nice park, but it feels like it should be a county park or just part of the National Forest, though the NPS actually manages fire in the Rincons so in 50 years it is probably going to be the only Sky Island that doesn't resemble the worst parts of the Catalinas, Pinalenos or Chiricahuas. Still, I keep seeing new areas of buffel grass in the park so how long until a Bush or Bighorn changes the nature of the lower slopes?

The_Eagle wrote:Note that the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Yellowstone national parks did not make the list.

Safe to say it is no doubt a conspiracy. A Deep State NP shaming cabal.

@The_Eagle
Visited all but New River Gorge. Biggest surprise on the list is Theodore Roosevelt.

The_Eagle wrote: ↑Dec 21 2023 7:50 am Note that the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Yellowstone national parks did not make the list.

That's quite a surprise. I've visited roughly half of them, some many times. Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah, and a couple others I don't think belong in the top 25. It must have something to do with proximity to big visitor populations.

Sun_Ray wrote:Biggest surprise on the list is Theodore Roosevelt.

During a visit to Theodore Roosevelt we were met by hundreds of bison walking along the road. We just sat there in our car and they split to walk inches on either side. For 15 to 30 minutes I kept thinking if one of them turned their head we were going to have an expensive repair job. My description of the experience was that it was breathtaking. Other than that I agree there is little to see there.

Mike_Fels wrote:there is little to see there.

I think the Bison must agree with you as it looks like they were trying to find a way out!

SuperstitionGuy wrote:I think the Bison must agree with you as it looks like they were trying to find a way out!

That was probably it. You should have see the small pickup that had gone past us thinking he could force the bison out of his way. The last I saw him he was a good hundred yards behind us and still backing up. Pamela Clare was right, "There is no cure for stupid.", but I think he was learning a lesson from the bison that day.

I'm sure it doesn't really need mentioning, but using the percentage of reviews with certain words as a proxy for how aesthetically pleasing a park is is not exactly a foolproof methodology.