My wife and I have set out to visit all the US National Parks. We have been to 45 of the 63 parks and will visit two more this year. Because the parks are generally so beautiful and awe-inspiring, we struggle to agree on which are our Top 3 favorite parks. In contrast, we have no debate or delay in concluding which are our three least favorite national parks. Before I get to that list, let me explain our perspective on evaluating national parks.
In our opinion, a national park should be a beautiful, unique, and significant place. The desire that the park be beautiful is self-explanatory. We think it should be unique because who wants to go to the trouble to get to a park that looks just like a location near your home? Unique qualities may be found in the park’s topography, vegetation, wildlife, and nighttime views. We love stargazing in the dark sky parks! Regarding significance, we consider historical, geological, and ecological variables. If so much land is to be set aside and preserved into perpetuity, the space should actually mean something noteworthy.
What a national park should not be is common, unattractive, uninspired, and nothing akin to a theme park. With this in mind, here are what we think are the worst three parks in the national park system:
Congaree National Park, South Carolina
This park is a swamp that pretty much looks like any other swamp you might have visited. The park preserves the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States. Elevated boardwalks pass through old growth forest of bald cypress and water tupelo, allowing guests a 2.4 mile stroll through the park. Frequently, the Congaree River floods the park and submerges the boardwalk. If you love frogs, mosquitos, and cypress trees, you might enjoy Congaree. Unfortunately, as admirers of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, we were no impressed with Congaree National Park.
Gateway Arch National Park, St. Louis, Missouri
A 630-foot-tall monument, the Gateway Arch is the world’s tallest arch and tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere. It is an impressive thing to see. No doubt, the Arch is an architectural and engineering marvel. But nothing about it is natural. The trams are small and not suited for passengers who are claustrophobic or have personal space issues. We sat knees to knees with strangers during our ride to the top. The views from the observation room at the top of the arch are far reaching but not particularly attractive. On one side you see the muddy Mississippi River, and on the other, the rooftops of downtown St. Louis building. The Gateway Arch was on our bucket list, we do not regret going there, but it fails as a national park. In our opinion, it is noteworthy only as a landmark.
Hot Springs National Park, Arizona
The hot spring water has been popularly believed for centuries to possess medicinal properties, and the area was the first land to be set aside by the federal government to preserve its use as an area for recreation. Most of the park is actually indoors, as in inside the famous bath houses that line the main street through the park. There are a few hot springs percolating outside, but none are very impressive to see. This park encompasses only a few blocks of downtown Hot Springs and is surrounded by old unkept buildings, some shuttered, and few choices of recreation once you’ve seen a bathhouse. The dining establishments are unremarkable. If you have the resources to visit every national park, then go. But if your travel dollars are limited and you want bang for your buck, skip this amusement park.
