11 Best National Parks in the US
Escape to the USA's Most Beautiful Natural Landscapes
<p>The best national parks in the US have to be seen to be believed. The vast swathes of protected countryside come in all shapes and sizes, from bone-dry deserts and vibrant underwater worlds to deep canyons and towering peaks. If you’ve got a passion for the great outdoors, the hiking trails and camping facilities in almost every American national park will definitely delight you. If you just want to enjoy the views, most are easily accessible by road.</p><p>The individual landmarks are as well-known as celebrities, but have been around a lot longer. If the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone aren’t already on your bucket list, they should be. We’ve got a few more suggestions for that list, too.</p>
1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
For the Blue Ridge Mountains
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Adventure
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the single most visited park in the US thanks to its year-round beauty and outstanding hiking routes. Spanning several counties in both Tennessee and North Carolina, the park is among the largest in the east of the country. The highest point of the park is the summit of Clingmans Dome at 6,643 ft, offering amazing views over the Blue Ridge Mountains from the observation tower there.
Cades Cove is another popular spot, where you can see a number of historical log cabins, churches, and other buildings from the pioneer days. The landscape changes radically with each season, making it a stunning place to visit at any time of year.
Location: 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA
Phone: +1 865-436-1200
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
2. Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
For the Grand Canyon (obviously)
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Adventure
At 226 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep, the Grand Canyon is a truly staggering natural wonder to behold. It was carved through the many-layered rocks of Arizona by the Colorado River over the course of 5 or 6 million years. The mindboggling scale of it now attracts millions of visitors each year, mostly to the South Rim. You can get views from Hopi Point, Powell Point, and Desert View.
There are some excellent viewpoints on the North Rim, but they are only open for about half of the year. Alternately, if you’re feeling especially adventurous, you can take a helicopter ride over the canyon or even raft down the river.
Location: N Village Loop, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ 86023, USA
Phone: +1 928 638 7888
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
3. Zion National Park, UT
For the view from Angels Landing
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo
Utah’s Zion National Park is formed around the verdant Zion Canyon, which provides a home for many plant and animal species in the middle of a desert landscape. While nothing like the size of the Grand Canyon, the sheer walls of Zion Canyon reach as much as 2,640 ft. Angels Landing is an especially peaceful spot, giving you the ideal view of the canyon.
Down by the waterside, the Narrows are well worth checking out. As the name suggests, it’s the narrowest point of Zion Canyon, forming a striking example of a slot canyon.
Location: 1 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767, USA
Phone: +1 435-772-3256
Zion National Park, UT
4. Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
For the Continental Divide
Good for: Adventure, Families, Photo
The Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado is home to a stunning alpine landscape of snow-capped peaks and vibrant glacial valleys. One of the main attractions is the Continental Divide. Rain falling on one side of this ridge will wind up in the Pacific Ocean, while rain on the opposite side starts a long journey to reach the Atlantic.
You can see the Divide along Trail Ridge Road, a 48-mile route that winds its way past some especially beautiful scenery, including the massive Grand Lake. There are many more crisp mountain lakes worth seeing in the heart of the park, including Emerald Lake and Bear Lake.
Location: Rocky Mountain National Park, Allenspark, CO 80510, USA
Phone: +1 970 586 1206
Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
5. Yosemite National Park, CA
For Tunnel View
Good for: Adventure, Couples, Photo
Yosemite National Park is one of America’s most famous national Parks, thanks to iconic photographs of Tunnel View taken by Ansel Adams in 1934. It’s an amazing vista, looking down the Yosemite Valley with the 3,000-ft-tall El Capitan on the left, Bridalveil Falls on the right, and Half Dome in the distance.
The park is open all year, but it’s best to take your own version of the famous photo in spring, when the falls are at their peak flow. The park also contains some beautiful lakes, historical buildings, and viewpoints, with Glacier Point being especially worth a look.
Location: 9035 Village Dr, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389, USA
Phone: +1 209 372 0200
Yosemite National Park, CA
6. Yellowstone National Park, WY
For Old Faithful
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Adventure
Yellowstone is the oldest national park in the USA and home to half of the world’s geysers. Formed in 1872, it covers over 2 million acres, spreading into Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Its most famous feature is Old Faithful which throws a column of boiling water over 100 ft in the air for over a minute. The average time between eruptions is 90 minutes, so you’re likely to be treated to the sight.
The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is less dramatic, but equally beautiful. If you love wildlife, check out the vast grasslands of Lamar Valley, which are home to herds of bison and elk, as well as packs of wolves and coyotes.
Location: Grand Loop Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA
Phone: +1 307 344 7381
Yellowstone National Park, WY
7. Arches National Park, UT
For Delicate Arch (among others)
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo
Arches National Park is an Instagrammer’s dream come true, with some 2,000 sandstone arches forming ideal natural frames for the stunning Utah sunsets. Among the most popular named arches, there are too many for all of them to have names, are Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, and Double Arch.
The Courthouse Towers area is a wonder to behold for its monolithic stone columns, as is Balanced Rock. If you visit during winter, you get more bearable temperatures as well as the unusual sight of a snow-covered desert landscape.
Location: Salt Valley Rd, Moab, UT 84532, USA
Phone: +1 435-719-2299
Arches National Park, UT
8. Mesa Verde National Park, CO
For Cliff Palace
Good for: Couples, Families, History
The stunning Mesa Verde National Park is a treasure trove of Ancient American history in Colorado, with over 4,000 Ancestral Puebloan archeological sites to explore. The very first human beings to arrive in North America, they built villages in crevices on the sides of cliffs. For over 700 years, this ancient civilization thrived in this harsh but beautiful landscape.
The largest of these cliff-side houses, Cliff Palace, has about 150 rooms and is the star attraction of the national park. Other interesting spots include Balcony House and Long House.
Location: 1 Mesa Verde National, Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330, USA
Phone: +1 970 529 4465
Mesa Verde National Park, CO
9. Biscayne National Park, FL
For the Florida Reef
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Adventure
Biscayne National Park has one of the most diverse selections of environments of any park in the US, including mangroves, coral reefs, and tropical islands. The park is 95% water, but contains more than 200 species of animals, including fish, coastal birds, marine mammals, and hard corals.
The Florida Reef is among the largest barrier reef systems in the world, and the northern end of it is protected by the park. It’s a fantastic spot for diving and snorkeling. If you want to stay on dry land, you can check out the wildlife-rich mangroves. Read more
Location: 9700 SW 328th Street, Sir Lancelot Jones Way, Homestead, FL 33033, USA
Phone: +1 305 230 1144
Biscayne National Park, FL
10. Redwood National and State Parks, CA
For Hyperion, the tallest known living tree
Good for: Adventure, Families, Photo
Redwood National Park covers 139,000 acres of North California with varying levels of protection, and is famously home to staggeringly tall redwood trees. These are tallest trees in the world, with the biggest of the lot, Hyperion, standing over 380 ft tall. At 600 years old, Hyperion is a spritely youngster compared to other trees in the park, which are thought to be about 200 years its senior.
The forest is also home to rare animal species, including bald eagles, northern spotted owls, and Steller’s sea lions. You won’t find any Ewoks among the wildlife, but you will perhaps recognize the forest as one of the filming locations for Endor in <em>Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi</em>.
Location: 111 Second Street, Crescent City, CA 95531, USA
Phone: +1 707-464-6101
Redwood National and State Parks, CA
11. Katmai National Park and Preserve, AK
For the salmon run
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Adventure
Katmai National Park and Preserve is most famous for its massive population of brown bears, which catch salmon leaping up waterfalls on their way to spawn each year. Brooks Falls is the most popular place to see this remarkable spectacle, and you can find as many as 70 bears fishing at once. The best times to visit to see the bears are July or September, with July being the most popular for its better weather.
The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is the park’s other key attraction. It’s a deep, narrow gorge left by a massive volcanic eruption in 1912. The striking landscape was used to help train Apollo astronauts to recognize volcanic features they might encounter on the moon.
Location: 1000 Silver Street, King Salmon, AK 99613, USA
Phone: +1 907-246-3305
Katmai National Park and Preserve, AK
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