I Illustrated National Parks In America Based On Their Worst Review And I Hope They Will Make You Laugh (16 Pics)
National parks are sprawling wonders of nature that have left millions of visitors in awe, but there’s always that one person who manages to find fault, even in paradise. It’s mindboggling to think that some people have left bad reviews of national parks for the most absurd reasons. But the funniest thing is that one artist decided to illustrate those national park reviews.
Disclaimer: Amber Share is the original author of this article. The Bored Panda team has since updated it.
Who Is the Artist Behind the Posters of 1-Star Reviews of National Parks?
Amber Share is an American author and illustrator who started creating national park bad-review posters in 2019. She picked the worst one-star reviews from Google, Yelp, and TripAdvisor to create her humorous artwork. This culminated in a project called Subpar Parks based on her drawings. She also published a book pairing her illustrations with basic facts about the parks and inputs from park rangers. But let’s hear directly from Amber:
“I’m an illustrator, and I have always had a personal goal to draw all 62 US National Parks, but I wanted to find a unique twist for these poster designs. When I found that there are one-star reviews for every single park, the idea for Subpar Parks was born. For each park, I hand-letter a line from the one-star reviews alongside my illustration of each park as my way of putting fun and beautiful twist on the negativity.”
Let’s take a whimsical journey through her artwork and laugh at these one-star reviews of national parks that will make you question the sanity of the folks who left them. Share it with your friends so that they get a kick out of the weird reviews that people leave.
This post may include affiliate links.
Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is located in California. It is well-known for its giant sequoia trees. The General Sherman Tree in the park is one of the oldest trees in the world—over 2000 years old.
I agree. Amazing. I would buy the book and have the NP rangers sign their page.
“I had been wanting to draw all of the national parks but wanted to find a way to add a bit of a twist to make it different from the other park illustrations already out there. I stumbled upon the one-star reviews online, and the drawing idea just came to me! I came to illustration by way of hand lettering, so finding words I could incorporate into the beautiful nature illustrations really helped the project come together,” Amber mentioned.
Yosemite National Park
“Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.” (According to the National Park Service website)
Easy. The forest, but without any trees to block the view of it.
Load More Replies...Time to get out the paint, folks, and brighten this place up! Let's start off with pink.
Load More Replies...One of the funniest bad reviews I've ever read was that the bears weren't trained to pose for pictures and they didn't see any. I can't remember if it was for YELL or YOSE. Not sure what the poster would look like, maybe a bear hiding behind a tree and laughing into its paw...
I have a friend who worked on a fire crew in Yosemite years ago. He was blown away about the number of trees they cut down at the various viewpoints.
What Was Amber’s Favorite National Park to Illustrate?
“When it comes to my favorite park to draw and its review so far, I think it was Arches, which is why I did that one first! I don’t really know that I have a least favorite—they’ve all been so fun and different to draw so far and has really made me appreciate the diversity of beautiful views in the US! Yellowstone’s Grand Prismatic Spring was definitely the most difficult of these cool posters because it was so hard to capture (which makes that review even funnier!).”
Grand Canyon National Park
“Unique combinations of geologic color and erosional forms decorate a canyon that is 277 river miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide, and a mile (1.6 km) deep. Grand Canyon overwhelms our senses through its immense size.” (According to the National Park Service website)
Well, they’re technically not wrong. It IS a very very large hole. But, WTF, didn’t they bother to actually look inside the very large hole? That’s where the magic is!
Just today, was talking to my dad about visiting there. He says: it's a hole, you look at it, say "yep, that's big", and go home.
No, before you leave you have to stop in the gift shop and buy a t-shirt that says you hiked the canyon. No one will ever know if you did or not. (And yes, I have a t-shirt). LOL
Load More Replies...Been to both rims of the Grand Canyon as a kid, and fell in awestruck love. (Lots of info from my dad, who was a Geography/Water Resources professor, and madly in love with Geology.) However, my childhood awe was nothing compared to what I felt the first time I flew over it. Even at 30,000 feet, it felt as if the bottom had fallen out of the world! Utterly amazing!
“Sometimes, I find the perfect review really quickly for my nature drawings, and other times, I have to dig through several different review sites before I find the right one. It all depends on the park. I try to avoid any reviews about the park management or upkeep and stick solely to reviews that have to do with the actual nature because I think the audacity of criticizing earth is what keeps the project light.”
Joshua Tree National Park
“Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the wonder of this vast wilderness in southern California.” (According to the National Park Service website)
Some people walk around in a bubble. Actually more like a void. They never notice the beauty, the majesty, the wonder of the world around them. Sad that their obtuseness is robbing them of so many rich and amazing experiences.
I'll throw you an upvote for waxing poetic, but have you ever been there? I live in Phoenix and have driven by dozens of times on my way to LA. Similar to driving through Saguaro National park near Tucson. Yup. More cactus.
Load More Replies...Amazing! Would you ever sell prints of any of these? Would love a Joshua Tree one... :) saynathaniel at gmail
I simply have to have this on a shirt or a proper silkscreened poster. Tell me how, o wise lady of petrified tree honey. Tell me how.
How Long Did It Take To Illustrate the Bad National Park Reviews?
“Each illustration took about 5-6 hours of work, depending on the park. So far, Cuyahoga Valley took the longest because it was tough to get the waterfall just right!”
Isle Royale National Park
“Explore a rugged, isolated island, far from the sights and sounds of civilization. Surrounded by Lake Superior, Isle Royale offers unparalleled solitude and adventures for backpackers, hikers, boaters, kayakers, canoeists, and scuba divers. Here, amid stunning scenic beauty, you’ll find opportunities for reflection and discovery and make memories that last a lifetime.” (According to the National Park Service website)
Why do you even want wifi? It's a holiday for god's sake!?!
Grand Teton National Park
Here is what the National Park Service had to say about Grand Teton National Park: “Rising above a scene rich with extraordinary wildlife, pristine lakes, and alpine terrain, the Teton Range stands as a monument to the people who fought to protect it. These are mountains of the imagination. Mountains that led to the creation of Grand Teton National Park, where you can explore over two hundred miles of trails, float the Snake River, and enjoy the serenity of this remarkable place.”
This is my favorite national park. It is amazingly beautiful. The lightning storms are phenomenal and the moose eating lily pads from the lakes are 5 stars.
Saguaro National Park
“Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation’s largest cacti. The giant Saguaro is the universal symbol of the American West. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park, to the east and west of the modern city of Tucson.” (According to the National Park Service website)
I actually live cactus so much (I don't know why?) so I guess this is a big selling point for me :)
I want this on a water bottle, since I go driving and hiking in this park like once a week! I love it
Almost every year I go to Arizona to hang out with my grandsons and the cacti. I've taught them about the life of cacti and how they are both prickly and beneficial. The crazy part is that I grew up in central Ohio and had no idea of cacti until I was in the Army and was stationed in the American Southwest. I fell in love with the land and its flora and fauna. I chose to become expert in the critters and plants and now I pass that on to my grandchildren.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is a gorgeous wilderness recreation area atop a volcanic hot spot. It is home to hundreds of animals like wolves, bears, elks, and many species of birds. This gorgeous national park features canyons, alpine rivers, lush forests, and geysers, including its most famous, Old Faithful. This incredible wilderness range ranks high on many US national park ranking lists.
Relax. Most likely just joking. Probably to make review sounds edgy, in a smart-a*s way.
Load More Replies...This just made me chuckle. I can imagine a cantankerous old man wearing dungarees, saying that.
I am thinking it was more likely a teenager resenting going on vacation with the parents and wanted to go to DisneyWorld.
Load More Replies...I worked in Yellowstone for a summer back in college (1975.) We collected stories of the dumb things tourists said. Many of them called it Yosemite. We had to explain that Yosemite is in California...and they were in Wyoming.
Not going to lie I laughed. But also sad to think that a person could not find limitless amounts of beauty and adventure in a place like Yellowstone.
In regards to "boil water at home", there is a schedule for the Old Faithful Geyser eruption.
Arches National Park
“Visit Arches to discover a landscape of contrasting colors, landforms, and textures unlike any other in the world. The park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, in addition to hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive fins, and giant balanced rocks. This red-rock wonderland will amaze you with its formations, refresh you with its trails, and inspire you with its sunsets.” (According to the National Park Service website)
This truly is the best one. My eyes are watering I am laughing so hard.
Glacier National Park
This is one of the most beautiful places in the US that everyone should visit at least once. “With over 700 miles of trails, Glacier is a hiker’s paradise for adventurous visitors seeking wilderness and solitude. Relive the days of old through historic chalets, lodges, and the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road.” (According to the National Park Service website)
There's no warning label or anything like that. How was he going to know?
Load More Replies...My dad while in the forest service as a young man, worked on creating the Going-to-the Sun Road. Cheers, dad!
OH NO! It's cold in GLACIER Park?!?!? It OBVIOUSLY has nothing to do with the fact that it is located in MONTANA
Yeah. Gimme those really warm glaciers! I think they're called "lakes".
I mean really...the least they could do is heat the glaciers... oh wait...we are already doing that :(
wow almost as if you had plenty of chances to see this coming and go somewhere else, hmm stupid is strong with this one
Zion National Park
Although this funny national park review says quite the opposite, Zion National Park has a unique geography and diverse zones that allow unusual plant and animal life to thrive. This national park in southwestern Utah has four life zones: coniferous forest, desert, riparian, and woodland.
That kind of scenery, eh. "If you liked the hills, you sure will like the forest..."
Load More Replies...No, scenery that’s impersonal is the scenery you look at on the internet. As for distant, it’s too big for you to take it all in up close—-though after you’ve enjoyed the large vista view, the next best thing is to see smaller parts of that view close up.
Did the trees greet you? Huh? And how about all those squirrels talking about me behind my back?
Load More Replies...I love Zion! I used to go hiking there with my cousins every summer growing up. I think you're the one that's distant and impersonal.
impersonal??? what you wanna do??? hug the rocks, fornicate with a cliff?? how does it get close and personal?? Just enjoy natures wonders and stop thinking so much about yourself!
Olympic National Park
“With its incredible range of precipitation and elevation, diversity is the hallmark of Olympic National Park. Encompassing nearly a million acres, the park protects a vast wilderness, thousands of years of human history, and several distinctly different ecosystems, including glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests, and over 70 miles of wild coastline.” (According to the National Park Service website)
I can't believe so many people are really this thick, surely these have got to be spoof reviews?!
There definitely are reviews that are totally a joke/sarcastic, but I took care to find ones that actually seemed authentic!
Load More Replies...Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park review doesn’t do justice to its immense beauty. This national park contains some of the highest mountains in eastern North America, including the Clingmans Dome, Mount Guyot, and Mount Le Conte. One remarkable fact about it is that the Appalachian Trail passes through the park’s center.
This is one of my favorite places on earth. If, for some mind boggling reason, you really can't find anything to do, there's a cute little British pub outside Pigeon Forge where you can park your grumpy butt and drink an impressive assortment of beer.
Pigeon forge is amazing I love the max statues and the haunted house is amazing. Try going in the alpine coaster it’s nice too. And I went to the bar it’s kid friendly and very nice.
Load More Replies..."I went to the general store, and they couldn't sell me anything specific."
My husband and I would rent a cabin and sit out on the porch and do nothing. HEAVEN!!!
Sounds BEAUTIFUL. I would love to do the same with my darling wife. Thank you for sharing.
Load More Replies...WTF are they TALKING about????? Sheesh - I LIVE here - tons of stuff to do!
hike, birdwatch, camp, stalk nature animals, paint landscape, pick trash you see to make sure it stays pretty like c'mon it's not hard to entertain yourself if you stop acting like the only thing to life is a screen!
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley is the fifth-largest American national park. It is also the hottest, driest, and lowest of all US national parks. It is located on the California–Nevada border and has a diverse environment with salt flats, dunes, badlands, valleys, canyons, and mountains. Some flora and fauna that have adapted to its harsh desert environment include the Creosote bush, Joshua tree, and Bighorn sheep.
She/he probably had the camera on self portrait mode when she was taking pictures here and based her review off the pics
I was there 50 years ago and I have never forgotten its astonishing beauty. Bleak? Yes. Beautiful? Unlike anything I have ever seen anywhere. I would go back in a heartbeat.
Just the “ugliest place”? Not the hottest place? Or the most desolate? Loneliest? Driest? Guess this person never ventured outside their air conditioned car, so never felt and actually experienced Death Valley. That’s a tourist. A traveler immerses themself and fully experiences a place with all their senses.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
This national park preserves and reclaims the rural landscape along the Cuyahoga River between Akron and Cleveland in Northeast Ohio. This is the only national park initially designated as a National Recreation Area. It is also different from other national parks in America because it is adjacent to two large urban areas.
Hey, I live near this one! How crazy? Who would have expected mud after either a) it rained a shitton or b) a shitton of snow just melted?
Maybe people get confused by the "park" in the title, expecting some lawn with a border of trees plus a bench and "keep off the grass" signs?
Load More Replies...These must be people whose idea of fun is going to a casino.
Load More Replies...My kids grew up just outside but inside the park. The mud is glorious, that is why we had a garage full of rain boots for all. Fossils and crawly things, waterfalls and trains, star gazing and bicycles.
I love the CVNP. It may not have a major wow factor but it's filled with hiking trails!
wow. . . nature has mud who wudda thunk. If I roll my eyes anymore they're gonna fall outta my head.
Capitol Reef National Park
President Franklin D. Roosevelt designated the breathtaking Capitol Reef National Park a national monument on August 2, 1937. This was done to protect the park’s colorful canyons, ridges, buttes, and monoliths. It was opened to the public in 1950.
Idiotic and blind these people are, I think you mean
Load More Replies...These are fabulous! From West coast of Australia and have been to Yosemite/Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and Sequioa. Mesa Verde as well. Next visit will be Yellowstone. You have awesome National Parks and we have been very fortunate to visit. This art work is just fabulous!
TYVM. I traveled your East Coast, Cape Tribulation to Sydney. 1983, you were just getting your Parks. IF there were showers, the water was icy cold. I had a lovely time. Saw beautiful flora and fauna.
Load More Replies...These are just brilliant. I love them so much. I would buy them as art work.
I've got one for 2021! Yosemite National Park -Yelp 1-star. "I guess the mountains are nice, but you can't even see them with all the smoke. And the 'famed' waterfalls are just trickles. Also, the distant flames keep me awake at night. So much for the expensive 'view room'."
Are these pieces for sale? I would love to hang "The view Is Distant and Impersonal" and "Very Very Very Muddy" as a diptych. Commissions? "Yosemite: The 'famed' waterfalls are just trickles."
Load More Replies...I love national parks and I love these posters so much! It's like when in France, "All the churches! Ugh!"
Do You Agree With Any of These One-Star National Park Reviews?
The national parks in these illustrations are home to diverse plant and animal life and have unique attractions that draw many visitors. These pictures taken at national parks prove how spectacular these wilderness areas are. That’s why it’s shocking to learn that people out there leave bad reviews of national parks. If you want to check out more funny one-star review illustrations, here’s our update on Subpar Parks with an interview from Amber Share!
I just love it when people act like nature owes them something. I would be on cloud nine in any of these places and I wouldn't spare a second's thought about WIFI.
Yes, but these people have literally dozens of instagram followers they need to post to!
Load More Replies...I really like the art style and how those thoughtless complaints were turned into something really nice.
I need these in poster form! I love nature and I love the irony of these reviews juxtaposed on the scenic artwork!
If you are interested in National Park Service posters from the WPA era (1930s and 40s), which is what these are based off of, you can download for free at the Library of Congress website, here: https://www.loc.gov/collections/works-progress-administration-posters/?fa=subject%3Anational+parks+%26+reserves Of course, if you want the ones here, you might be able to contact the artist.
Load More Replies...Such beautiful places from the photographs I have seen online. My ability to travel is extremely limited so I would be over joyed to see such incredibly special places. The posters created from such stupid reviews are fantastic, thank you so much for your creativity 😊😊
your name is creative! love it, do you like weather? sorry the question is off topic and stupid, love your comment too. 🌺✌️❤️😊
Load More Replies...I love the illustrations, they are so well done and adding those ridiculous comments made them do a double job of providing a laugh and making me want to get going to explore some marvel of Nature.
Spent a summer 20 years ago working a season at an Alaskan lodge where there were often bear sightings. One visitor was disappointed she hadn't seen a bear yet and asked one of our housekeepers if he could find, catch and tie one up so she could see it up close.
Would also love these illustrations in poster size so I could put them in my garage and have a good laugh every time I’m in there!
I just love it when people act like nature owes them something. I would be on cloud nine in any of these places and I wouldn't spare a second's thought about WIFI.
Yes, but these people have literally dozens of instagram followers they need to post to!
Load More Replies...I really like the art style and how those thoughtless complaints were turned into something really nice.
I need these in poster form! I love nature and I love the irony of these reviews juxtaposed on the scenic artwork!
If you are interested in National Park Service posters from the WPA era (1930s and 40s), which is what these are based off of, you can download for free at the Library of Congress website, here: https://www.loc.gov/collections/works-progress-administration-posters/?fa=subject%3Anational+parks+%26+reserves Of course, if you want the ones here, you might be able to contact the artist.
Load More Replies...Such beautiful places from the photographs I have seen online. My ability to travel is extremely limited so I would be over joyed to see such incredibly special places. The posters created from such stupid reviews are fantastic, thank you so much for your creativity 😊😊
your name is creative! love it, do you like weather? sorry the question is off topic and stupid, love your comment too. 🌺✌️❤️😊
Load More Replies...I love the illustrations, they are so well done and adding those ridiculous comments made them do a double job of providing a laugh and making me want to get going to explore some marvel of Nature.
Spent a summer 20 years ago working a season at an Alaskan lodge where there were often bear sightings. One visitor was disappointed she hadn't seen a bear yet and asked one of our housekeepers if he could find, catch and tie one up so she could see it up close.
Would also love these illustrations in poster size so I could put them in my garage and have a good laugh every time I’m in there!
