In a surprising twist, Michigan’s Isle Royale National Park has been named the Best U.S. National Park by the Wall Street Journal, surpassing renowned contenders like Yellowstone, Zion, and Yosemite.
The Wall Street Journal’s study of America’s best public lands crowned Isle Royale as the top national park out of 63. The publication grounded its rankings in “cold, hard numbers,” using four main criteria:
Size of the Crowds
Quality and Quantity of Hiking Routes
Availability of Campsites
Access to Other Recreational Activities
Isle Royale, accessible only by ferry, private boat, or seaplane, offers a true wilderness experience with its moose and wolf populations and the natural drama that unfolds between them. The park boasts 36 rustic campgrounds for backpackers, numerous day-hiking opportunities, and the charming Rock Harbor Lodge, which dates back to 1956.
The park’s hiking trails received high praise, particularly the 40-mile Greenstone Ridge Trail, which provides hikers with moose sightings and breathtaking views of Lake Superior.
The Wall Street Journal emphasized that its recommendations aim to reward parks that attract fewer crowds while still offering a diverse range of traditional park activities. Isle Royale perfectly fits this criterion, with only about 29,000 visitors last year, according to the National Park Service. In stark contrast, Utah’s Zion National Park drew 4.6 million visitors in the same period.
Following Isle Royale, Washington’s North Cascades National Park and California’s Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks were the runners-up, with Yellowstone National Park ranking 10th.
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