Described as “America’s best idea,” the National Park System was established in large part to protect the nation’s most precious landscapes, from the deepest canyons to the tallest peaks. Some of the parks are so dang beautiful, they’ve been known to make people contemplate their own existence.

But not everyone traveling to a national park is moved to existential enlightenment. Some visitors come away angry, frustrated, or disappointed, and they turn to the internet to express themselves. Recently, for my annual end-of-year wrap up of the worst national-parks reviews,��I spent an unhealthy amount of time perusing visitor comments on national parks on Google Maps, Yelp, and TripAdvisor to find the best of them.

I learned a few things in the process. I learned��that a lot of people don’t like the timed entry and reservation systems that many parks have put in place to combat overcrowding. Like, a lot of people; I saw thousands of complaints on that topic. Also, the general lack of parking gets people fired up.

I discovered some really interesting and funny one-star (out of a possible five stars) reviews that spanned quite a spectrum, from someone complaining about the weather (apparently Canyonlands is too hot and sunny) or questioning humanity’s fascination with nature in general (to this person, Joshua Tree��is just a load of big stones).

Here are my favorite bad national-park reviews of 2024. As ever, we nod to , grandmaster collector of such information, which, as autumn lit up the multitude of colors in the national forest of Vermont, noted this doozy: “Not a memorable place to go.”

(Note: Some reviews below were edited for brevity, but I left spelling errors and grammar mistakes intact.)��

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains National Park protects 500,000 acres of mountains, rivers and historic farmland that is widely recognized as the most biodiverse landscape in North America. But not everyone loves it.

“This is the Walmart of national parks.” —Google Maps

“A terrible experience! This national park is the largest and most popular park in the middle of the United States and famous for their beers (sic). Every staff of the park told us that beers (sic) were everywhere. However, this park was really disappointing that I did not see any beer (sic). I only saw many turkeys and one fox…[S]ummer might not be a good time to visit here because beers (sic) or other wild animals could hide in trees and bushes.”—Google Maps

2. Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada

This 3.4 million-acre park, straddling California and Nevada, is known for its deep canyons, salt flats, and ghost towns. The first commenter reviewed it without ever having been there.

“Haven’t gone yet, will go soon, sounds hot tho.”—Google Maps

“Don’t go, nothing to see….The rock formation is not that great, quite dusty, hot, etc. Feels like an open pit mine. The only use case I can see is if you want to … test yourself or your car AC.”—Google Maps

3. Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana

Designated a national park in 2019, Indiana Dunes protects dunes and forest on the edge of Lake Michigan, all less than 50 miles from downtown Chicago. But apparently the park has some policies on parties.

“Can’t grille, can’t smoke, can’t drink, can’t play loud music…who wants to just sit on sand.”—G�ǴDz����� Maps

4. Redwood National and State Parks, California

This collection of state and federally protected parks houses the world’s tallest trees, with landscapes spanning from rugged coastlines to thick interior woodlands. Tree color may be a subjective thing.

“California sucks so I don’t know why I was surprised when I was very disappointed. The trees aren’t as big as everyone says and they’re not red either, terrible name. The National park should just sell the land and turn the trees into paper.”—Google Maps

5. Joshua Tree National Park, California

One of my personal favorite units in the park system, Joshua Tree is home to gorgeous desert landscapes full of boulders that attract climbers and gawkers alike.

“It’s just a load of big stones. If you go make sure to take a packed lunch and drinks, you’ll certainly thank me.” —TripAdvisor

6. New River Gorge National Park, West Virginia

The newest unit to be granted full park status, New River Gorge is a multi-adventure playground with world-class paddling, rock climbing, hiking, and mountain biking. Other than that…

“If you hike or like white water rafting, this is a great place. Otherwise, not much else to do.”—Google Maps

7. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

I haven’t visited Dry Tortugas yet, but it’s on my list because these islands west of the Florida Keys offer some of the most remote spits of land in America, with beautiful snorkeling and paddling. Some feel waterlogged though.

“I paid full price for only 1% of land??? Park is literally 99% water….. my shoes got wet too like what????? More like the NOT dry Tortugas”—Google Maps

8. Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

Couple the tallest sand dunes in North America with long-range views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and you’ve got…

“The only reason people go here is to buy a piece of fudge or a T-shirt. That’s about it. This is literally a dumping area for the fine sand used to make volleyball courts. The funniest thing to do here is simply people watching. They act like they never seen dirt before.”—Google Maps

9. Everglades National Park, Florida

Everglades protects the largest wilderness east of the Mississippi. This review is close to being a haiku.

“No cocodrilos.

no crocodiles seen

money is lost.”—Google Maps

10. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

This national park encompasses the 14,000-foot peak Mount Rainier, which also happens to be an active volcano. The duality of the situation is driving one visitor crazy.

“They market this place as a beautiful mountain paradise full of pastoral hikes and woodland creatures but at the same time remind you it is ready to kill you and your entire family and surrounding towns without a moment’s hesitation. Come here if you want to be gaslit by a mountain.”—Yelp

11. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Picture alpine lakes set beneath craggy, 13,000-foot peaks, and you’ll have an idea of the scenery within Grand Teton National Park. Meh.

“I’ve seen better in video games smh. Mother nature better step it up.”—Google Maps

12. Sequoia National Park, California

California’s jointly managed Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are famous for their groves of giant Sequoia trees, a species that only grows on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The drive in to reach them is irking some visitors.

“A road that is truly too long and winding…I’m still recovering from the tiredness and motion sickness of the 5 hours driving around tight curves.”—TripAdvisor

13. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

I recently decided that Capitol Reef is the country’s most underrated park for adventure. It has arches, canyons, domes, rock climbing, and gravel rides galore. One reviewer seems to be upset that the park didn’t take enough of his money.

“THIS PLACE SHOULD NOT BE A NP. It’s beyond mids and a waste of taxpayers money. Doesn’t even have a fee station to support itself…Protect the land no doubt but either charge everyone that comes through or make it a monument.”—Google Maps

14. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most visited parks in the country, with more than 4 million people clamoring to experience it annually. The park is so popular that management deemed a timed-entry system necessary to mitigate crowds. A visitor was not psyched.

“What kind of communist came up with this system and why? I thought I lived in America, land of the free …. For all the Americans that didn’t even protest at all, thanks for nothing.”—Yelp

15. Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park is one of the lesser-visited of our national parks, shown in the annual listings as attracting 750,862 visitors, when each in the top five attracts over 4 million (and Great Smoky Mountains NP receives over 13 million). So maybe it’s unsurprising that one visitor mixed it up with a different park.

“Maybe I missed it but I didn’t see his face in any of the cliffs or mountains. Probably erosion. Time for a touch up.”—G�ǴDz����� Maps

16. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho

Is there a landscape more dynamic than what you find inside Yellowstone National Park, where water boils and shoots into the sky like the fountains in Las Vegas?

“Water bubbling out of the ground. Wow.”—Google Maps

“Same thing (e.g. geysers) everywhere. I got bored the second day.”—G�ǴDz����� Maps

17. Yosemite National Park, California

�۴Dz��𳾾��ٱ�’s granite peaks, valleys, and mountains might have captivated Ansel Adams, but nobody ever mentions how uncomfortable nature is, do they?

“All the hikes are uphill, and you’re practically climbing cliffs. I got soaked by several incredibly large waterfalls just by standing at the bottom.”—Google Maps

18. Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Dubbed “the land of stone and light,” Badlands holds 224,000 acres of vast prairie and striking geological formations that seemingly rise out of nowhere. That didn’t satisfy this reviewer.

“Not enough mountain.” —Google

��19. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado

This national park is known for its deep, steep gorge and rugged terrain, and it has a savvy reviewer who wants it all to himself.

“JK. It’s the best spot in CO. I went one star so that everyone stays away and keeps it this way!”—G�ǴDz����� ��

Graham Averill is ���ϳԹ��� magazine’s national parks columnist. He has complained about many ridiculous things during his life, but never once looked at the Teton Range and thought “video games are cooler than that.” See also his recent articles on ten years’ worth of awful reviews on the revered Grand Canyon, or what makes the perfect mountain town, loving surfing and surf towns, and why he plays golf two days a week and thinks about it even more.

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In your lifetime of small talk, you’ve probably been asked something like, “So, do you prefer the mountain or the beach?” Maybe you’re soothed by the sound of waves so you say beaches. Or maybe you prefer the smell of pine so you say mountains. But this classic speed-dating question doesn’t even consider a third option that offers the best of both worlds: sand dunes.

Formed by the wind over millions of years, sand dunes grow and shape shift as grains of sand erode and accumulate. These miraculous mounds are essentially mountains made of sand. The steep curve that the wind hits is called the slip face, and the back hump of the deposit is called the stoss side. Though they resemble peaks, walking on sand is not like walking on dirt or rock. The granules move as you step, providing less resistance and friction than a hard surface. This creates quite the workout in an otherworldly landscape ripe for outdoor recreation.

If you’re open to embracing sand in all your crevices and slowly gaining vertical as you hike to the crests, these five dune destinations across the U.S. offer a life-size sandbox for exploring.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Utah

Slightly north of the Utah-Arizona border, red rock country’s mineral-rich Navajo Sandstone crumbled away leaving behind . Over the course of a year, the landscape can change as much as 50 feet: Winds are funneled through a notch between the Moquith and Moccasin mountains, which increases wind velocity enough to carry sand grains from the eroding sandstone—a phenomenon known as the Venturi effect. These mounds have existed for 10,000 to 15,000 years as the only major dune field in the Colorado Plateau region.

Visit the state park at sunrise and sunset, when the sky and the sand contrast against each other to create a vibrant backdrop. Open during daylight hours for $10 per vehicle, about 90 percent of the park’s 3,730 acres welcomes four wheeling, and sections like the Natural Trail are reserved for hikers. Start at the observation deck and create your own path over the rippled surface. For a thrilling ride down the park’s two steepest faces, the visitor’s center offers sand sled rentals for $25 a day. Because the dunes are within driving distance from Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, make it a stop on a road trip through southern Utah.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado

North America’s , bordered by the Sangre de Cristo mountains. If you don’t already have an annual National Park pass, a $25 basic entrance pass is good for up to seven consecutive days. At their fullest, Star Dune rises 750 feet and High Dune crests at 700 feet. Once you exert maximum leg strength to reach their tops, you’re rewarded with panoramic views of the area’s peaks and valleys. During the warmer months, Medano Creek on the east side of the dune field fills with snowmelt, creating a beach-like atmosphere where kids and dogs splash around. Be forewarned: it gets crowded on weekends in late May and early June. Fall and winter are also magical seasons to visit, when a fresh dusting of snow coats the sand and rain hardens the surface to make sand easier to ascend.

Day-use activities include sand boarding and sledding. Just make sure to hit up for rentals before entering the park (from $19 at Sand Dunes Recreation). At night, the stars and galaxies put on a cosmic show in this certified International Dark Sky Park. For a totally different view of the park away from crowds, snag a backpacking permit through recreation.gov ($6) to hike Sand Ramp Trail. With numerous camping areas along the route—the farthest is Sand Creek, 11 miles out and back—you can choose to stay in the dune fields or head into the alpine.

White Sands National Park, New Mexico

Designated in 2019, is one of the national park system’s newest sites. The $25 entrance fee is good for seven days, or you can use an annual National Park pass to enter. This great white pile of glistening sand covers 275 square miles of desert in the Tularosa Basin, making it the world’s largest gypsum dunefield. When rain and snowmelt wash minerals from the San Andres and Sacramento Mountains down to the basin floor, the water evaporates and leaves behind crystalline chunks. Hikers can see larger selenite crystals on the way to Lake Lucero.

Backcountry tent camping on the dunes is temporarily closed for rehabilitation, but you can find alternatives at Oliver Lee Memorial State Park in Alamogordo or Aguirre Spring Campground in Las Cruces. Immerse yourself in the pastel landscape on a number of day hikes ranging in difficulty. The 0.4-mile round trip Interdune Boardwalk is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers, while the Alkali Flat Trail takes you five miles over the dunes to the dry lakebed of Lake Otero. Like other stops on this list, sand sledding is allowed. Plastic saucers are for sale at the park’s trading outpost and gift shop ($25 for new, $20 for used, and $3 for wax). You can also bike or drive Dunes Drive, a 16-mile round trip scenic road that leads to wayside stops. (The first four miles are paved and the second four miles are hard-packed gypsum.) Tip: pack sunglasses for your visit because the sun-washed sand can be just as blinding as snow.

Jockey’s Ridge State Park, North Carolina

Starting 4,000 years ago, winds blowing in from the northeast in winter and from the southwest in summer have formed the East Coast’s tallest active sand dune system, often called “The Living Dune” for its constant evolution. Mostly made up of quartz rock granules, this special place in the Outer Banks is spread across 426 acres. The amount of sand is equal to about 6 million dump truck loads, according to the . But the dunes are only one ecosystem of the park, along with the Maritime Thicket and Roanoke Sound Estuary. It’s free to enter from 8 A.M. to sunset every day but Christmas Day.

Strong and consistent gusts create ideal conditions for wind-related recreation, such as kite-flying from the ridgetops, windsurfing in the sound, and hang-gliding off designated dune faces. offers rentals (including sand boards, boats, and beach gear) and lessons from their training center near the park’s visitor center. Looking for a slower-paced adventure? Several trails—like the Soundside Nature Trail, 360-foot Boardwalk Trail; or 1.2-mile Tracks in the Sand Trail—lead you through the different coastal environments.

Indiana Sand Dunes National Park, Indiana

Towering nearly 250 feet high in some spots, s glacial sand curves overlook Lake Michigan’s ocean-like expanse. The mighty lake has influenced the dunes and beaches over millennia, reshaping the topography with wind, waves, lake currents, ice, and storms. Today, with a $25 day pass or annual National Park pass, visitors can explore four major dune areas: Tolleston Dunes, Calumet Dunes, Glenwood Dunes, and the shoreline, which is considered the youngest dune complex. Wetlands fill the depressions between the ridges, and quiet woodlands, prairies, and savannas add greenery to the scenery.

This faux coastal area is a haven for hikers and beacon for birders with over 50 miles of trails through dunes, wetlands, prairies, and old-growth forests. The 4.7-mile Cowles Bog Trail is designated as a National Natural Landmark, and the 2.9 Tolleston Dunes Trail has a wheelchair-accessible route and an observation deck. Dogs are allowed at most locations in the park and can even earn their very own at the visitor center. August is the perfect time to visit this national park, when the temperature ranges from a balmy 60 to mild 80.

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