Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg

OutsideJun 29

National Parks Out West Get All the Hype, but I Prefer Our Eastern Ones. Here’s Why.

Sure, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon are impressive, but our national parks columnist argues national parks in the East rival their popular counterparts out West when it comes to biodiversity, accessibility, and more.

biodiverse regions, black bears and massive elk

21 things in this story

Great Smoky MountainsPlaceThey are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains and form part of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province.
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkPlacebiodiverse regions, black bears and massive elk
GSMNPPlacesynchronous fireflies coordinate their light show
Appalachian TrailTrailmost famous footpath in the world
Elsewhere
YellowstoneSightYellowstone National Park, United Stateswater is boiling and tie-dyed
Grand CanyonSightGrand Canyon Village, United Statescontemplated the insignificance of humankind
Angels LandingTrailSpringdale, United Stateshit by vertigo
Half DomeSightYosemite Valley, United Statesawestruck at the sheer size of the rock
Denali National ParkPlaceDenali, United Statestallest mountain in the U.S.
El CapSightYosemite Valley, United Statestallest vertical rock face in the world
Crater Lake National ParkPlaceCrater Lake, United Statesdeepest lake in the U.S.
Sequoia National ParkPlaceThree Rivers, United Statessheer volume of the trees is awesome
Shenandoah National ParkPlaceLuray, United Stateshardwood forest painted red, yellow, and orange
Blue Ridge ParkwaySightAsheville, United Stateslongest linear park in the country
AcadiaNature reserveBar Harbor, United States
ShenandoahPlaceLuray, United States
New River GorgePlaceOak Hill, United States
CongareePlaceHardeeville, United States
EvergladesPlaceHomestead, United States
BiscaynePlaceHomestead, United States
Dry TortugasPlaceKey West, United States

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OutsideMay 15

Go Here, Not There: 5 Less-Crowded Alternatives to the Most Popular National Parks

Looking to avoid the crowds at Zion or the Smokies? Our national parks columnist shares the intel on overlooked parks that rival the most popular spots.

Most visited park, most biodiverse in America

22 things in this story

Great Smoky Mountains National ParkPlaceMost visited park, most biodiverse in America
Appalachian TrailTrailCruises through high-elevation spruce-fir forest
Elsewhere
Rocky Mountain National ParkSightEstes Park, United StatesProtects high-elevation peaks, glaciers, and backcountry lakes
Congaree National ParkSightHopkins, United StatesHome to oldest and tallest tree canopies east of Mississippi
Fork Swamp TrailTrailHopkins, United StatesHike follows oxbow lake formed by hurricane
Cedar Creek Canoe TrailTrailHopkins, United StatesPaddle between stands of 500-year-old bald cypress trees
Congaree RiverSightHopkins, United StatesForms the border of the park
Palmetto OutdoorPlaceHopkins, United StatesOffers guided day trips
Bluff CampgroundHotelHopkins, United StatesRequires mile-long hike, sits above floodplain
North CascadesSightSedro-Woolley, United StatesSteep and rugged Cascade Range with many glaciers
Mount BakerSightSedro-Woolley, United StatesHighest peak in the park
Lake DiabloSightSedro-Woolley, United StatesMassive lake with glaciated peaks on the horizon
Thunder Knob TrailTrailSedro-Woolley, United StatesTraces edge of Thunder Arm of Lake Diablo
Colonial Creek CampgroundHotelSedro-Woolley, United StatesMultiple day hikes begin from campground
Sourdough MountainSightSedro-Woolley, United StatesRocky peak with a historic lookout cabin
Diablo LakeSightSedro-Woolley, United StatesLarge lake flanked by Pyramid and Colonial peaks
Colonial Creek North CampgroundHotelSedro-Woolley, United States38 sites tucked into a pine forest
Capitol Reef National ParkSightTorrey, United StatesDesert landscape with rock towers, slot canyons, cliffs, arches
Grand Wash TrailTrailTorrey, United StatesWanders through a canyon with 200-foot-tall walls
Temple of the SunSightCapitol Reef National Park, United States
Temple of the MoonSightCapitol Reef National Park, United States
Cathedral ValleySightCapitol Reef National Park, United States

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park

In the coverage2 stories

National Parks Out West Get All the Hype, but I Prefer Our Eastern Ones. Here’s Why.

Go Here, Not There: 5 Less-Crowded Alternatives to the Most Popular National Parks