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Number 1: Glacier National Park

It's a shame that much of this park is only accessible during the summer months as it truly is a gem of the National Parks System. The Rocky Mountain peaks are rugged and dramatic, often reflecting from their majesty from one of the many mirror-like lakes within the park's boundaries.

Glacier is not only a National Park, it's an International Peace Park with Canada's Waterton Lakes National Park. While visiting you can take hikes in which rangers from Canada and the US collaborate to give you a truly unique experience. If you liked this park and have the time continue North to the National Parks in the Canadian Rockies.

Number 2: Crater Lake National Park

I may have ranked this park too highly as it boasts one main feature, but feature is so spectacular that my first view of Crater Lake is still engrained in my mind. Crater Lake is another attraction that is not accessible (by car) for much of the year, but it's purity is nearly sublime. Even though, I greatly enjoy hiking, biking, paddling, etc. if you equipped me with a lawn chair, a cooler, and a grill, I would be just tickled to spend an entire day just looking at one of the United States grandest geographical wonders.

Crater Lake may steal the show, but you can also find waterfalls, the pinnacles, and you can even take a boat ride over to Wizard Island. Check it out - you won't regret it.

Number 3: Yosemite National Park

Do I really even need to explain this pick? Half-Dome and El Capitan are iconic when it comes to the parks system. The park holds the highest waterfall in North America, Yosemite Falls. Yosemite Valley attracts visiotrs from all over the world as the park is not just a retreat but a religous experience for rock-climbers and hikers alike.

Many of these parks are becoming over-run by tourists, but in each and everyone you can find your own piece of solitude by hiking just a few miles off of the beaten path. This park truly rocks, and it's mainly because of all that granite.

Number 4: Zion National Park

Zion National Park is home to two of the National Parks quintessential hikes in the United States National Parks System.

There's the hike to Angel's Landing for the brave of hear as you are required to traverse a craggity incline. For the final stretch of the hike, the trail is no more than 4 feet wide with sheer walls on either side of you.

Another hike for the sure-footed is the hike through the Narrows. The Narrows follows the Virgin River for 16 miles as you twist and turn, crossing the river dozens of times as you make your way through one of the most dramatic canyons you will ever see.

Number 5: Vermillion Cliffs National Monument

I had never heard of the Wave or Vermillion Cliffs National Monument until a friend of mine told me about it when she heard I was going to be in its vicinity. I can't begin to describe how thankful I am that I was made aware of this wonderful place.

The Wave is really more reknowned with European travelers than American, and its a shame that so many people drive from the Grand Canyon to Zion passing this geographic masterpiece.

One of the best aspects of hiking to the Wave is that you will be in exclusive company as you either have to be one of ten people to sign up (at least 4 months in advance) via the internet, or you have to be one of ten people to win a lottery the day before you plan to hike. It's absolutely beautiful and it's great that they are doing what they can to preserve it for future generations.

Along with the Wave you can hike one of the top 10 hikes in the world, the Buckskin Gulch. Then there's Wire Pass, a classic slot canyon, and Paria Canyon.

Number 6: Acadia National Park

Acadia has a little something for everyone. There are rocks to climb, waters to paddle, scenic byways to pedal, and even horse drawn carriages to ride. I believe it was the Rockefellers who owned much of this land and donated it to the government so that it can be enjoyed by everyone, and by everyone it should be enjoyed.

The mountains are small compared to Western standards, but as they rise up directly from the water of the Atlantic Ocean they are no less dramatic.

Acadia also boasts two of the most daring hikes in the park system; the Beehive and the Precipice. Aside frmo Zion's Angel's Landing they would be hard pressed to add a little more danger into an ordinary hike. As a bonus you can try to push over this rock (I didn't have any luck).

Number 7: Death Valley National Park

I really, really like Death Valley. I'm not too sure why I didn't rank it higher. Maybe in the back of my head I was imagining how hot the summers would be here, but I didn't downgrade Crater Lake and Glacier for being cold and snowy in the winter.

Again, this is another park with a lot of variety. If you're a serious 4x4, off-road driver, come to this park, there are miles upon miles of 4x4 roads some which note (only experienced drivers). Obviously, I could not drive upon these roads, but what I did do is I biked around the park and hiked around the park and I loved every minute of it.

Highlights include the Golden Canyon, Badwater, Scotty's Castle, the Racetrack, Zabriskie Point (left), and Dante's View.

Number 8: Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park is not your typical big, rocky, mountain park. It's different as the Snake River meanders about the Eastern side of the mountains on a vast plain, rather than your typical creeks, streams, and waterfalls pouring out from the mountain peaks.

This unique geography provides a very distinct way to enjoy its skyline. You can stare at the mountains while floating down the Snake, or while casually biking down the park highway. As with most National Parks the hiking is incomparable to hiking in most areas. The well-maintained trails can take you to the aptly named Solitude Lake or you can take a leisurely stroll around Jenny Lake.

Number 9: Golden Gate Bridge National Recreation Area

Never in my wildest imagination would I have ever thought that the Golden Gate National Recreation Area would make a top 10 list of the National Parks, but yet, here it is. Now, I've always been partial to what I've done most recenly, and here it is, the last park I visited, the Golden Gate, so maybe in a few weeks it's shine will wear off and I will remove it from this list, but until then, it can sit at number nine.

I think I liked it so much because it was the meeting of creation of man and God (if you believe in that sort of thing). The Bridge itself is really cool, then you sprinkle in a little island where the kept Prisoners, AKA Alcatraz, a whole lot of water, and some really nice climbs for biking and you've got a nice little area.

Not to mention the fields and harborside where locals fly kites, play football, and just sit and take in the area's beauty. It's great, but I could do with out the toll and the traffic insanity.

Number 10: Mount Rainier National Park

Another park like Crater Lake or Vermillion Cliffs where one aspect of it towers above the rest. In this instance that's quite literal as Mount Rainier is the most prominent mountain in the contiguous United States.

As you can see, I didn't get very close to the top, but I did make it to the camp where you rest up before an early morning departure to attempt a summit. Mount Rainier made the list just by me imagining what it must feel like to make it to the summit, so who knows how great a feeling this achievement really is (I guess just those that have made it, and nearly 6,000 summit each year).

Number 11: Yellowstone National Park (BONUS!!)

This park seems to be a park for the auto-tourist, but it's beauty is not lost by leaving your car and having a look-around.

Perhaps no other park contains as much geographic diversity as Yellowstone. There's Yellowstone Lake, Upper and Lower Yellowstone Falls, Old Faithful, hundreds of other hydrothermal and geothermal featurs, petrified wood, unparalleled wildlife viewing and perhaps the best developed camping and lodging options of all of the parks in the US.

You could spend months in this geographic wonderland and you'd barely scratch the surface of Yellowstone National Park.

Honorable Mention: Badlands National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Haleakala National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Olympic National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Canyon National Park.

Really, the honorable mention and numbers 6-11 can go in just about any order. I've bumped Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Olympic National Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park down a bit because of the massive crowds these parks attract. Smoky Mountains National Park didn't even make the list due to the rather minute appalachian mountains (relative to the rockies) and the huge crowds. All of the National Parks in the United States are worth visiting, but these stand above the rest.