national parks choices
 

Just returned from a trip to Bryce, Zion and GC. It was incredible. We love to hike and camp or stay in cabins. Now we are thinking about next year's summer trip. We are deciding between Yellowstone/ Grand Tetons or Mt Ranier/Olympic National Park or going back to Utah and see the Arches and whatever else we find. What trip would have the best hiking? We'd have a week to spend in late June, July, or early August.

I think my favorite hiking trip was the one we did to Grand Teton/Yellowstone (actually we have now done it three times). The first four or five days we stayed at Signal Mountain Lodge and hiked in the Tetons, then we went over to Yellowstone (each time basing in a different hotel, most recently Old Faithful) and hiked.
You can't go wrong with any of the three choices you are considering; but, our favorite for variety of terrain, moderate challenge, great views, wildlife sighting opps, has to be GT and Yellowstone. Have a blast.

As cmcfong states, you can't go wrong with any of your choices. HOWEVER, this year you spent your time in desert hiking. If you went to Arches / Canyonlands / Moab, you'd continue in desert hiking. Just for the sake of variety, I'd recommend a change to the forested hiking of the other two choices.

Rainer / Olympic has great alpine mountain hiking, but Yellowstone is a unique spot in the world due to its accessible geysers and other thermal features. That's why I'd recommend Yellowstone / Teton for you next stop.

You might consider visiting Mesa Verde, Arches, Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly. You can do this in a circle route. The drive from place to place is relatively short
Mesa Verde / Arches - about 130 miles Arches /Monument Valley - about 160 miles
Mon. Valley/ de Chelly - less than 100 miles

krowe,

Looks like you have your next three vacations planned! \:D/

You won't go wrong with any of those choices, but my all time favorite is Yellowstone!

Utahtea

We enjoy Rocky Mountain National Park for its hiking. We've hiked in Yellowstone, Glacier NP, Arches, Grand Tetons, but RMNP is our favorite! Being from Iowa, any of these places have been GREAT! But the favorite is RMNP!