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There are 63 national parks in the USA, and each are as unique and as diverse as the next.
If you’re a nature lover, doing a national parks tour of the U.S. is a great way to encapsulate all the unbelievable beauty nature has to throw at you.
From remote wilderness to dense forests, from craggy gorges and slot canyons to the baron wasteland of the desert, from the iciest glacier to the most ferocious active volcanoes – the U.S. national parks cover every superlative known to man and God.
Yellowstone National Park
I could easily name scores of parks, but we don’t all have the time or funds to make it to all 63… so, to help you out, we’ve picked our favorite from our travels. These national parks are what we felt were the most extraordinary and unique.
It’s also important to note, we have not yet visited all national parks in the US, but we intend to! We’ve got to keep something on our bucket list!
1. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone NP
Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming is a place like no other and has to be experienced to be believed. It’s the very first national park in the country in 1872, and was where the National Park Service began in 1916.
Because it’s the first, it’s also one of the most popular and receives around 4 million visitors a year – so our expectations were high. Not only did this park meet our high expectations, but exceeded it!
You’ll witness bubbling hot mud pits, steaming sulfur holes, multi-colored hot springs, geysers shooting off randomly and perfectly timed, grand canyons filled with waterfalls, and an abundance of wildlife roaming around this volatile yet spectacular landscape.
Most people don’t know this about Yellowstone, but it actually also extends into Idaho and Montana, where you will find a quieter experience.
Most people visit via Wyoming because it’s the most accessible and where the iconic attractions are, such as Old Faithful geyser, Yellowstone Lake, and Mammoth Hot Springs.
As well as hot springs and rugged landscapes, Yellowstone is also a popular place for wildlife spotting. Keep your eyes on the lookout for moose, wolves, bison, bighorn sheep, and Grizzly Bears.
2. Glacier National Park, Montana
Grinnell Lake
Glacier National Park in Montana has a diversity that’s hard to find in other national parks.
Jagged snow capped peaks and glacier blanketed ridges stand guard over green and blue hued lakes, whilst wildflowers and wildlife fill alpine meadows and rivers and waterfalls gush through forested valleys.
Here are just a few of its accolades if you need further convincing:
- World Heritage Site
- Biosphere Reserve
- Worlds’ First International Peace Park
- and the World’s first International Dark Sky Park
The spectacular, and renowned Going to the Sun Road, a scenic drive that will take you from the valley up to the highest peaks.
Along the way, you’ll find stunning vistas and adventurous hikes to remember forever – especially if you happen to see a grizzly bear.
This is the park that has the highest concentration of grizzlies. We only saw a couple of brown bears, but several grizzlies had managed to close off a few trails though.
3. Great Smoky Mountains, NC and Tennessee
Cade Cove Loop, Smoky Mountains
I feel like when I visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that I enter an ancient green land where my sense of peace cannot ever be disturbed.
I have an enlightened experience of life – the pure essence of it living and breathing around me. Like the mist that swirls…it’s quite a magical place.
Is it any wonder the Smokies is the most visited national park in the US?
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is in Tennessee and North Carolina and it’s proximity to the highly populated east coast also contributes to that.
Within this park, you’ll find hiking trails to lush waterfalls, views from rivers you can tube down, and our favorite – a bike ride (or drive) through Cades Cove Loop – an 11 mile loop road that takes you through he forested valley with stops to trails and historical pioneer buildings.
There’s a good chance you’ll see black bears in the spring!
Video: Watch us explore the Great Smokies
4. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
South Rim Trail
One of the most beautiful national parks in the United States, the Grand Canyons has a beauty that has to be seen in person – photos just don’t do it justice. It will amaze you.
We spent way longer than your typical 17 minute whistle-stop photo tour. You have to spend longer to appreciate the views of it from many different perspectives. It’s a great opportunity to see the creative power of water.
It is probably the most extraordinary park that I’ve seen.
Whilst seeing the Grand Canyon in Arizona from the top of the rim is breathtaking, the real experience comes from hiking down into the canyon and feeling its power and beauty all around you.
As you walk down through the different layers you get to witness the changing colors and landscape right in front of you. It’s truly awe inspiring.
The most popular trail down into the canyon is the Bright Angel Trail. Go down as far as you like. You can hike 12 miles return to Plateau Point for close views of the Colorado River.
Don’t miss the North Rim either – just as spectacular with far fewer crowds.
Video: Watch us explore Grand Canyon National Park
5. Bryce Canyon, Utah
Horse ride into Bryce Canyon
Even though I visited Bryce Canyon in Utah back in 2006, it left such an impact on me that it still remains my favorite of the US national parks, and I still vividly remember my visit. That’s even after visiting so many more extraordinary ones.
It’s a fairy tale kingdom of bright orange and pink pastel spires and towers, archways and paths leading into enchanted forests to get lost in.
You can explore the trails, nooks and crannies on horseback (one of our favorite experiences ever) or on various trails.
Sunrise and sunset over the canyon is not to be missed!
Bryce Canyon National Park could be visited in a day, however we recommend staying for at least two.
6. Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite Valley
Similar to the Smokies, Yosemite has an ethereal and ancient beauty to it and is undoubtedly a must when you visit California.
Waterfall lovers will want to visit in May after winter when scores of waterfalls wail their thundering tears over the granite peaks of the forested valley.
Your panoramic view of this over the valley is something you will never forget and looks like something out of a HD enhanced Disney movie set in Utopia.
Take your pick of diverse activities: hiking through forested valleys, under the misty spray of waterfalls, to granite peaks, picnic in the lush meadows, hugging giant sequoias and climbing up sheer rock faces.
Yosemite National Park is one of the most famous rock climbing areas in the world.
Video: Watch our adventures in Yosemite National Park
7. Olympic National Park, Washington State
Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park
Those looking for diversity, it’s hard to beat Olympic National Park in Washington State.
Within its one million acres of protected land, you’ll be surrounded by the call of the rushing rivers, shimmering lakes, cascading waterfalls, rolling surf and old-growth forests.
Choose your own adventure from its pristine region of ancient cedar spruce trees, glacial lakes, sub-alpine meadows, mountain ranges, verdant rainforests and remote and rugged coastlines.
I love how one day you can be playing with the driftwood on the beach and the next hiking high up in the alpine forests.
Video: Watch us explore Olympic National Park
8. Redwood National Park, California
I don’t think there is anything more mindblowing than seeing the oldest Redwoods in the world. The sheer size of them is imposing and colosal. It still amazes me what nature can provide, if you just leave it alone.
I had wanted to see the Redwoods in North California for years – it was a California bucket list of mine.
In case you didn’t know, the Redwood is the largest tree by height, and are native to North America, particular on the East Coast. They can be found in Muir Woods in San Fran, and the aforementioned Olympic National Park, but Redwoods National Park is the most famous place to see them.
Redwoods National Park actually consists of 4 parks, with three of them being State Parks. The entire perimeter is made up of:
- Redwood National Park
- Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
- Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
- Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
One of several highlights was hugging a 346 foot giant Redwood tree at Humboldt State Park.
It’s not as big as The General Sherman Tree in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, which is the largest tree in the world at 1,487 cubic meters, or the second largest tree, The General Grant Tree, at 1,320 cubic meters – but it was still mighty impressive.
9. Arches National Park, Utah
There are five national parks in Utah, known locally as the Mighty Five! We visited all of them, and we have to say Arches blew us away!
This national park is famous for its 2,000+ stone arches, made from massive rock pinnacles and balanced rocks, which were formed naturally by rain water.
Some of the larger arches in the park are estimated to be anywhere from 286-320 million years old!
I recommend at least two full days in Arches NP and to check out the Delicate Arch Hiking Trail, Landscape Arch Trail and see the The Windows and Turret Arch.
The other four national parks in Utah are the aforementioned Bryce Canyon, Zion (more on that later), Capitol Reef and Canyonlands National Park.
10. Channel Islands National Park, California
We took a day trip to the Channel Islands NP from LA. It was the perfect nature retreat to get away from the big city.
Located off the coast of of Ventura California, this chain of islands is perhaps the most underrated national park in the USA, and despite its proximity to LA and Santa Barbara, it’s the least visited national park.
Its remoteness may be the reason for this. It’s an 80 minute ferry ride away from Ventura, but once you get there, you’ll be dazzled by beautiful beaches, craggy cliff faces, deep valleys and canyons for hiking, and sea caves to explore on kayaks.
We loved kayaking and snorkeling through the kelp forest.
11. Big Bend National Park, Texas
Ever since I saw a picture of the Rio Grande River winding through spectacular mountainous desert cliffs, I had wanted to visit Big Bend National Park. What a thrill to make it a reality!
The name refers to the great U-turn the Rio Grande makes in Southwest Texas, and the park is famous for its rocky gorges, natural hot spring pools, and vast Chihuahuan desert landscape.
It’s made up of more than 800,000 acres of towering river canyons, mountain cliffs, and expansive deserts.
It’s also listed as one of the least visited national parks, which is why we like it. It’s the only national park to contain one entire mountain range – the Chisos – and it has more species of birds, plants, butterflies, bats, reptiles, and ants, than any other national park.
And you get to enjoy all that to yourself – almost. If you want to see America’s more arid environments, add Big Bend to your list.
12. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
The Rocky Mountain National Park is a bucket list experience in Colorado. It’s perhaps the most famous national park in the state, and is known for its majestic mountain peaks, panoramic views, alpine lakes, and wildlife.
With over 350 miles of trails to hike, with varying degrees of difficulty, it’s one of the best places to get outdoors. A highlight for us was the scenic Trail Ridge Road, which takes you along some high-altitude trails.
Rock climbers may like The Keyhole Route, a rock climbing route that goes up vertical rock faces to Longs Peak, the park’s tallest mountain.
13. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Nestled in the heart of Wyoming’s Rocky Mountains, many people forget about Grand Teton National Park because of its proximity to Yellowstone, but it should not be skipped!
Known for its magnificent mountain peaks, pristine alpine lakes, and bear activity, there is so much to see and do here.
Even though we had weather issues and road closures due to black bear activity, which took away a day of scenic driving and small hikes, we absolutely fell in love with Grand Teton and feel it’s absolutely worth visiting.
We were fortunate enough to see the beginnings of fall and boy was it beautiful. It lit up the cloudy and gloomy skies.
It’s not just the jagged snow peaks of the Teton Range that had us mesmerized, but the Jackson Hole Valley it stands guard over, with the Snake River winding through the yellow grasslands and cottontails that line its bank.
14. Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
Overlooking Kilauea Volcano in Volcanoes National Park
One of the must-do things to do in Hawaii is check out the active volcanoes. The most famous of which are on the Big Island, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which has two active volcanoes – Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.
There’s a scenic Crater Rim Drive that passes steam vents so you can stop and watch the power of each volcano from right by your feet (watch your children when visiting this park).
It was an amazing experience to sit and watch the smoke rising out of a volcano crater with my daughters. This is why we travel – you can’t have an experience like this anywhere else in the world!
15. Zion National Park
2019, Angels Landing view
Lastly, there’s Zion National Park, which offers one of the biggest adventures in any national park in the U.S. or even the world.
Zion is most famous for the Angels Landing hike, which is one of the most dangerous hikes in the world. It’s this hike that makes Zion the fourth most visited national park in the country, topping about 4 million people a year.
It’s famous because it has a steep elevation gain up a craggy rock surface, with seriously narrow sections where you are looking into the canyon floor below on both sides. There is a steep, narrow section with chains to help you scrmable up the last half-mile. A permit is required to hike this one.
In 2006, Craig and I hiked to Scout’s Landing, which is the part before the really steep, narrow and challenging climax to the Angel’s Landing.
Craig has a fear of heights so we stopped here, and I really regret not going all the way to the top on my own.
Would you be defeated by this hike? Let us know in the comments.
Final Thoughts
This is just a snapshot of what national parks in the Land of the Free can offer. We’ve visted all the parks on this list, but we haven’t included every park we’ve visited – you can read about more national parks here.
As you can see from this list though, they are simply extraordinary in their diversity.
Whether you want to see crater lakes, bubbling mud pots and sulfur pits, secluded wilderness or ancient rainforests, there’s a national park to fix any craving.
We hope this list helps with your future travel planning and gives you some inspiration to get out there and see these places in person for yourself!
Check out our favorite adventures we had in the national parks in the United states.
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