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Next up in my ten years of blogging series is my top ten national park sites that aren’t the main national parks!

This list was actually harder to put together than I thought it would be, but thinking about it, it’s not that surprising.

I love visiting any national park site, but I don’t like the smaller parks as much, generally. There’s only a couple that I really like a lot, and the rest I like but they’re not like WOW. You know?

So, the top half was pretty easy but the last half is sort of interchangeable. That said, here are my top ten national park sites!

National Park Goodies

• If you’re planning to visit three or more national parks within a year from your trip, definitely get the America the Beautiful pass. It will save you money in the long run if you’re going to more than three parks in a year. Buy the pass here.
• If you’re planning on doing a lot of hiking on your trip, or even at home, check out AllTrails! This is my favorite app to find, keep track of, and track my hiking activity. And it’s FREE! Sign up here.
• This Ultimate National Park Planning Bundle is a must-have. You get two ebooks and a planner, saving 50% by getting them as a bundle! If you want all the details, this is the bundle for you. Buy the Ultimate bundle here.
• Doing a road trip? Want an adventure? Consider an Escape Campervan Rental! It’s a great way to see the parks and is perfect for couples and small (but close) friend groups. Book a campervan here!
• This National Park Planner (one of the ebooks from the bundle above) is perfect if you just want some guidance in your planning. Buy the planner here.
• Get yourself a National Park journal for all of the NPS sites (400+!) to keep track of your travels!
• Consider reading some of these books set in national parks before your big trip, on your adventure, or once you get home to take you back to the parks until next time.

10. Natural Bridges

Last on my list is Natural Bridges National Monument in southeastern Utah, and it’s home to three quite large natural bridge formations!

And I have to say, even though it made the list, it isn’t one I love that much, I just liked it more than other ones I’ve been to.

I would go back if I was with someone that wanted to go but I don’t care if I do, either.

9. Walnut Canyon

Next up is Walnut Canyon, just outside of Flagstaff, Arizona. This is a cool park where you can see Native American ruins.

The main trail to see the ruins is the Island Trail. It takes you from the scenic drive down into the canyon and around a rock island in the middle of the canyon.

It’s a beautiful park and is great for seeing ruins in the Flagstaff area.

8. Gulf Island

The first one from my recent camper van trip is Gulf Island National Seashore near Pensacola, Florida!

We didn’t get to spend a ton of time here, or even go into Fort Pickens, but I still really liked it!

The beach is beautiful and it wasn’t super busy. The fort looks cool (from the outside) and I just really liked it.

7. Chaco Canyon

Next up is Chaco Canyon in the middle of nowhere New Mexico, which was home to one of my favorite things on the trip [aside from pitcher plants and saguaro blooms(!!)]: the inside of Pueblo Bonita.

But first, the whole canyon is just beautiful. The ruins are amazing and there are a ton of them that you can easily see most of in just one day.

Pueblo Bonita though. A fun fact about me is that I LOVE the Nancy Drew computer games. And one of my favorite games is the Secret of Shadow Ranch, which is set in Arizona.

At the end (no spoilers!) you’re running away from the villain in a cliff dwelling and it looks EXACTLY like the inside of Pueblo Bonita. I was SO excited and that alone made me love it even more.

6. Sunset Crater

Another fun thing about me is that I love volcanoes, and just outside of Flagstaff is Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument!

I actually haven’t written anything about this park which is kind of surprising since I’ve been there more than once. I’ll have to dig through my pictures.

It’s a weird desolate looking park because it’s basically just lava rock, but it’s also really beautiful!

The two hikes I’ve done there are enjoyable and let you get a taste of the park’s volcanic landscape beyond just scenic pullouts.

5. Wupatki

Right next to Sunset Crater is Wupatki National Monument, another park with a lot of really great Native American ruins.

There are a few different pueblos to see and trails around them, but the best one is definitely the one at the visitor center (pictured).

Again, it’s a beautiful park and I think often overlooked by people visiting the area (as is Sunset Crater and Walnut Canyon).

4. Blue Ridge Parkway

Now we’re getting into the really good stuff. The Blue Ridge Parkway connects Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks.

This is one of the best scenic drives in the country (that’s another top ten I have planned!), and for good reason.

This is a great drive year round (probably the least pretty in winter but still not bad) but in the fall, it’s definitely the best (and the busiest).

The first and last thirds of it are the best but it’s all great. The section from Boone to the end has the most hiking, and it’s great hiking.

It’s a drive I think everyone should do at least once if they can manage it! It will take 2-4 days, depending on how much you want to stop along the way.

3. Chiricahua

This is another one I went to on the camper van trip and I LOVED it! About an hour and a half from Tucson you’ll find Chiricahua National Monument.

From our first drive up to the top, I knew I loved it and I hadn’t even done anything yet!

The Massai Trail and Echo Canyon Grottoes Trails are both super easy and give you amazing views of the park and the surrounding area, while also getting you into the rocks.

Plus, if you’re lucky, you could see black bears and/or coatis! I was keeping my eyes peeled, but no luck.

I knew right away it’s a park I would come back to to do a lot more hiking.

2. Glen Canyon

Second to last is maybe a controversial one (only because the canyon itself is controversial), but it’s Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in southern Utah/northern Arizona, home to Lake Powell.

I’m probably biased since I worked here for six years. And while I would not be mad about draining the lake, I do love it here. And I’m really not even a boater!

it’s just so beautiful! I mean, just look at it! And there’s so much to see and so much to do! There’s just something about the water and the canyon walls, it’s wonderful.

1. Big Cypress

Finally, in spot number one, we have Big Cypress National Preserve in south Florida, between Miami, Naples, and Everglades National Park.

I love Everglades City, I love the Loop Road, I love camping in Big Cypress, and I love everything around Big Cypress that still feels like it’s part of the park.

I haven’t even gotten to see it in it’s full green glory, but it’s so beautiful in it’s Florida way, I love it so much! It’s definitely one of my favorite places ever.

Honorable mentions

While most people think “national monument = National Park service,” that’s not always true. Some are run by BLM (Bureau of Land management) or US Forest Service.

And two of my favorite national monuments are BLM-run, so they couldn’t technically make the list, but that’s why they’re Honorable Mentions!

Grand Staircase Escalante

The first is Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument in southern Utah, between Boulder and Escalante.

This is also home to one of the best scenic drives in Utah (and the country): Scenic Byway 12.

There’s a lot of really great hiking here, although I haven’t done as much as I want to. But it’s amazing and it should not be missed!

Bears Ears

Finally, we have good old Bears Ears just outside of Blanding, Utah. I’ve been here a couple of times and while I haven’t hiked here, I love it anyway!

You get to see both desert and forest with Aspen Trees, and the views once you get higher up are fantastic!

There are slot canyons and Native American ruins, and countless miles of back roads ready for exploring.

I generally don’t recommend it to the average visitor, but if you have a good high-clearance (sometimes 4WD) vehicle and are good at navigating frequently unmarked (or poorly marked) forest service roads, then yes!

Have you been to any of these? What are your favorite national park service sites? Do we have any in common?