July 09, 2024
Detroit Free Press
July 8, 2024
Elissa Robinson
A roadless Michigan destination spot has been deemed the Best U.S. National Park by the Wall Street Journal.
In a study of America’s best public lands, the WSJ deemed Michigan’s Isle Royale National Park No. 1 out of 63 national parks, calling it an “unexpected winner” when you consider competition from the likes of Yellowstone, Zion and Yosemite.
The Wall Street Journal says it grounded its rankings in “cold, hard numbers.” Four main criteria were used to help determine the rankings:
Of Isle Royale National Park, the paper writes, in part:
“Accessible only by ferry, private boat or seaplane, this is true wilderness: a land of moose and wolves and the drama forever playing out between them. Backpackers can pitch a tent in one of the park’s 36 rustic campgrounds, but visitors will find plenty of day-hiking opportunities, too, and the circa-1956 Rock Harbor Lodge makes up for a lack of bells and whistles with an endless reserve of old-school charm.”
The park’s hiking trails also scored high marks, including the 40-mile Greenstone Ridge Trail, where hikers can enjoy moose sightings and stunning views of Lake Superior.
The Wall Street Journal says its recommendations are “designed to reward parks that draw less crowds yet still offer a wide range of traditional park activities.”
And at Isle Royale National Park, the issue of overcrowding isn’t what you’ll find at the more well-known parks, with about 29,000 visitors last year, according to the National Parks Service. Utah’s Zion National Park, by comparison, attracted 4.6 million visitors last year.
After Isle Royale, Washington’s North Cascades National Park and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks were runners-up. Yellowstone National Park ranked 10th.
