The United States has 63 national parks with several sites still under consideration. The parks are meant to protect the beauty and biodiversity of the land and are truly a national treasure. However, not all parks are created equal. If you are looking for the most beautiful places to scope out nature in the US, here are our top picks for the 20 most breathtaking National Parks that you just have to see to believe!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina and Tennessee)
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has some of the world’s oldest mountains and a portion of the Appalachian Trail. The spectacular views that include forests, waterfalls, rivers, and lakes are said to be some of the most beautiful anywhere. For a truly breathtaking sight, catch a glimpse of sunset or sunrise from the park.
Denali National Park (Alaska)
Denali National Park is home to the highest mountain peak in North America, Mount Denali. The park is made up of millions of miles of pristine Alaskan wilderness. Glaciers and the frozen tundra are home to unique plants and animals like caribou, grizzly bears, and wolves. Beyond the towering mountain peaks, Wonder Lake is one of the park’s most scenic areas.
Acadia National Park (Maine)
This park offers a fantastic blend of mountain and ocean views. It is home to the highest peak on the east coast of the US and one of the most scenic spots in the park, Cadillac Mountain. The ocean crashing along the rocky shores creates a dramatic landscape.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii)
This park is on the Big Island and has two active volcanoes. It’s a sight to behold and a glimpse of nature that you will get in few other places in the world. Take the Crater Rim Drive to see real active steam vents or visit the Jaggar Museum for an education on volcanoes and the science behind them.
Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming)
One of the most beautiful things you will see in nature is the Grand Prismatic Spring at Yellowstone National Park. Nature isn’t done there, though, because Old Faithful is one of the most photographed geysers on Earth. In addition to its special geothermal features, there is fantastic wildlife, forests, rivers, canyons, and waterfalls.
Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
Mount Rainier National Park is home to more than 25 glaciers, ancient forests, and beautiful meadows covered in wildflowers during the summer. It has one of the most diverse landscapes you will see in one park, and that includes a plethora of wildlife. There are no bad views in this National Park.
Everglades National Park (Florida)
Everglades National Park covers the southern twenty percent of the Florida Everglades and makes up the largest tropical wilderness in the United States. There are more than a dozen endangered species living in the park, which is the largest mangrove ecosystem in the western hemisphere. Views of the wetlands and the ocean are spectacular and more than photo-worthy.
Yosemite National Park (California)
Nestled in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains is Yosemite National Park with its famed sequoia trees. While the trees are no doubt spectacular, there are amazing places throughout the park, like Bridalveil Fall and the cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome, that are amazing sights as well.
Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
Spire-shaped rock formations in every hue of red, called hoodoos, are the hallmark of Bryce Canyon National Park. Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point, and Bryce Point all have breathtaking overlooks that will please any guest to the area.
Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona is one that everyone has heard of, but you really can’t appreciate the grandeur of the view without being there to see it live in person. One of the modest and deepest gorges in the world, cut through rock by the flow of water over millennia, has left some of the most gorgeous colored layers lining an unfathomable depth.
Glacier National Park (Montana)
Glacier National Park is one of the most stunning places in North America. The park takes up more than 1,500 acres in the nearly untouched Montana wilderness of the glacier-covered Rocky Mountains. Hidden Lake is well known to be the gem of scenic views in the park.
The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve (West Virginia)
Located in the Appalachian Mountains, the New River Gorge exposes more than 1,000 feet of sandstone and shale choked full of fossils and other markers of the area’s history. Several lookout points make for fantastic views, and the river itself is home to some of the nation’s best white water rafting.
Joshua Tree National Park (California)
The Mojave Desert and the Colorado mountains come together to form a unique ecosystem in Joshua Tree National Park. The namesake tree and unusual rock formations create a landscape like no other. Not only will you want to take pictures, but you will have to explore this one-of-a-kind landscape to fully appreciate its features.
Olympic National Park (Washington)
Olympic National Park in Washington is one of the only places in North America where you can still find a true rainforest. Its Hoh Rainforest is truly an awe-inspiring and magical place filled with lush vegetation and an amazing amount of biodiversity.
Arches National Park (Utah)
Natural sandstone arches set this park apart from all others. They are huge formations that cover the landscape, creating a surreal type of atmosphere. The park also provides some of the darkest skies in the United States, making it perfect for stargazing and even hosting nighttime programs and events.
Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)
Isle Royale National Park is made up of a series of islands in Lake Superior that fall on the border of the state of Michigan and Canada. There is no automobile traffic here, and you will see some of the most majestic and pristine nature the Great Lakes region has to offer. Don’t miss out on the 19th-century Rock Harbor Lighthouse or local shipwrecks available for exploration.
Zion National Park (Utah)
Dramatic crimson cliffs and slivers of narrow canyons are the signature features of Zion National Park in Utah. The rock formations here were carved by the Virgin River and can be explored by following the park’s many trails. Enjoy dessert, forest, and all types of plants and animals during your exploration.
Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
The park covers a large portion of the Rocky Mountain range. It is where you will find the highest continuous paved road in the country, as well as plenty of peaks, lakes, and wildlife. Trails run through the entire ecosystem, giving visitors a chance to explore everything from tundra to forest, all while taking in amazing views.
North Cascades National Park (Washington)
Glacier-covered mountain ridges, lakes, and conifer trees as far as the eye can see tell you that you are in North Cascades National Park in Washington. While the mountains make for great pictures, it is usually the lakes that provide the most spectacular views. Gorge Lake, Rainy Lake, and Diablo Lake are all great places for photography.
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve (Louisiana)
The Mississippi Delta River region in Louisiana is home to the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Filled with Cajun tradition, the history of the Battle of New Orleans, and the distinct natural resources of Louisiana, the park offers some of the most scenic parts of the American South’s bayou lands.
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