🗺️The Quest for 63: My National Park Power Rankings

There is something about seeing that arrowhead sign at a park entrance that makes my heart skip. I’m officially on a mission to see them all, but as any hiker knows, not all parks are created equal.

Some are about the sheer, vertical scale of the mountains... like Glacier or the Tetons. Others are about the absolute silence of being 70 miles out at sea in the Dry Tortugas or standing under a Redwood canopy that’s been there for a thousand years.

I’ve broken down the parks I’ve checked off so far, from the ones that changed my life to the ones that were just a cool afternoon stop. Here is the current leaderboard of my NP journey.

The Progress Tracker 📍

• Total Parks Visited: 19 / 63

• Next Up: I'm eyeing the Utah Mighty Five (Arches, Zion, etc.) or finally hitting Acadia on the East Coast.

The Leaderboard:

1. Glacier NP: The "Crown of the Continent" for a reason. I’ve never seen water that shade of blue; it literally doesn't look real. It’s the kind of place that ruins all other mountains for you.

2. Dry Tortugas NP: The most unique experience on the list. Camping at a 19th-century fort in the middle of the Gulf is unbeatable. When the ferry leaves, you're just... there. At the edge of the world.

3. Virgin Islands NP: Best snorkeling on the list. Period. The water is crystal clear, the sand is perfect, and it’s the most "unplugged" I’ve felt in a long time.

4. Grand Teton NP: Jagged peaks and those glass-like sunrise reflections. It’s rugged, it’s dramatic, and it never gets old.

5. Crater Lake NP: The deepest blue you’ll ever see. Standing on the rim is one thing, but cliff jumping into that freezing, sapphire water is a core memory.

6. Sequoia NP: You can’t even wrap your head around how old and massive those trees are until you’re standing right at the base.

7. Yosemite NP: It’s a classic because it’s perfect. Standing in the valley makes you feel like you’re in a cathedral of granite. It’s crowded, but for a good reason.

8. Kings Canyon NP: Walking among the giants. There’s no better way to feel small (and gain some perspective) than being in a canyon that deep surrounded by trees that old.

9. Joshua Tree NP: Pure desert magic. Between the Dr. Seuss trees and the boulders, it’s the best place for stargazing and feeling like you’re on another planet.

10. Channel Islands NP: A hidden gem off the CA coast. It’s so isolated; the sea caves are unreal and it’s the perfect escape from the chaos of the mainland.

11. Redwood NP: Ancient trees and foggy coastlines. It’s basically a fairytale... everything is green, mossy, and incredibly quiet.

12. Everglades NP: Mangroves, gators, and that thick Florida humidity. It’s not for everyone, but there’s something so cool about the raw, swampy wilderness.

13. Death Valley NP: Vast, salty, and slightly intimidating in the best way. It’s harsh and empty, but the scale of the salt flats is mind-blowing.

14. Yellowstone NP: It's like another planet. Between the bison jams and the sulfur pools, it’s chaos in the best way. It’s lower on my list only because the crowds can be a lot.

15. Indiana Dunes NP: A hidden gem in the Midwest. It’s great for a beach day that isn't the ocean, and the sand trails are actually a workout.

16. Shenandoah NP: The Blue Ridge Mountains are stunning, especially during the fall when the colors change. Skyline Drive is the ultimate "windows down" cruise.

17. Biscayne NP: You need a boat to really see it, which makes it harder to access, but once you’re out on the reef, the underwater life is world-class.

18. Cuyahoga Valley NP: Pretty waterfalls and a cool historic vibe, but it feels more like a big city park than a wild wilderness. Great for a weekend stroll, but it lacks that "epic" scale.