Angels Falls in Canaima National Park, Venezuel
When it comes to trying to picking the best national parks in the world, it's sort of an non-winnable argument like choosing the best baseball or football player of all time.
What's the criteria you are going to use for national parks? Most scenic? Great lodging? Best park furniture? Easy access? Less access but less crowded?
Some people might prefer mountains as the main criteria. Others might select beaches. Some want trees. Others love wide-open spaces. Lakes. Rivers. Waterfalls. Deserts. Jungles. Volcanoes. There are certainly plenty of factors to consider.
It's a tough one.
But one of the great advantages of trying to select the greatest national park in the world is that unlike many departed sports figures, those parks are still here. You can go visit them yourself. Make your own determination.
For those of us in America, naturally we're biased toward Yellowstone National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Everglades National Park and Yosemite National Park. What about the rest of the world?
After searching across the web, here's a list we found of what some people consider to be the most awesome non-USA national parks on the planet. You never are going to know unless you go there.
List of Best National Parks:
- Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park - Japan
- Tongariro National Park - New Zealand
- Kakadu National Park - Australia (Visa Needed)
- Snowdonia National Park - Wales
- Kruger National Park - South Africa
- Tikal National Park - Guatemala
- Iguazu National Park - Argentina
- Sagarmatha National Park - Nepal (Visa Needed)
- Madain Sales National Historic Park - Saudi Arabia
- Plitvice Lakes National Park - Croatia
- Hortobagy National Park - Hungary
- Fiordland National Park - New Zealand
- Kaieteur National Park - Guyana
- Machu Picchu Historic Park - Peru
- Manuel Antonio National Park - Costa Rica
- Galapagos National Park - Ecuador
- Torres del Paine National Park - Chile
- Canaima National Park - Venezuela
- Great Barrier Reef National Marine Park - Australia (Visa Needed)
- Seblat National Park - Indonesia (Visa Needed)
[box type="shadow" align="aligncenter" width="90%" ]Editor's Note: Hint, if you don't have a passport or the correct travel visa to visit these international parks and want to visit one NOW, head over to Expedited Passports & Visas - Otherwise, for instructions on getting a passport in 4-6 weeks check out the Passport Guide
Okay, okay, there are only about 1,000 other fantastic national parks that could certainly make this best-dressed list.
What's interesting is that despite the older age of many European, Asian and African countries, in 1872 it was the US government that named the first national park in the world.
If you guessed Yellowstone National Park, you would be right. And President Ulysses S. Grant was right in signing the law which protected this incredible 2-million acre wonderland that is located in three states - Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.
The area is an organic treasure trove of geysers, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, and mountains. It's alive with bison, elk, deer, grizzly bears and other precious wild creatures that made it the ideal place to set aside for the enjoyment of future generations.
How many beautiful and bountiful regions of the world have been decimated by development or robbed of its precious resources such as trees, wildlife and minerals? All of us should thank any world leaders who had the foresight and wisdom to set aside and preserve prime natural environments within their borders.
If you don't want to do the research or visit every park in the world, there is one easy way to settle this argument. Make it the park you are standing in now. Or about to visit soon. Every park has its own unique benefits. Every park has its own scenery. Their own unique access points and trails. Their own amenities and park furniture such as benches, picnic tables, restrooms, playground equipment, etc.
Rather than daydreaming about being in one of the top 20 best national parks in the world, make the most of the next one you visit. Whether you are sitting on a park bench in a small pocket park in Paris or backpacking across the wide open plains of an enormous gazillion-acre expanse in New Zealand - at that point in time, that park is the winner. End of discussion.
(Note: If you have a favorite national park overseas that is not on this list, add it in the comments below).
Here's what a Forbes magazine writer selected when it came to the best national parks on earth.
Here's what a national parks traveler had to say about the top parks.
Here's where you will find the best park furniture in the world, at The Park Catalog.