The Best of the National Parks

Filed in archive Adventure on May 27, 2007

Looking for the ultimate outdoor adventure this summer? Want to know the best hiking, paddling, treks, and more? Interested in seeing a few National Parks?

Well, the editors at National Geographic Adventure polled the most knowledgeable writers, rangers, and outfitters and compiled a great best of list.

Here's a sample:

The Best Hiking:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina
Haleakala National Park, Hawaii
Point Reyes National Seashore, California
Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota
Yosemite National Park, California

The Best Paddling:
Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska
Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri
Congaree National Park, South Carolina
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan
Channel Islands National Park, California

The Best Trekking:
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Big Bend National Park, Texas
North Cascades National Park, Washington
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan
Denali National Park, Alaska

The Best Climbing:
Olympic National Park, Washington
New River Gorge National River, West Virginia
Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Sequoia National Park California

Read the complete list here.