There are fifty nine national parks in the United States and all are operated by the National Park Service. Twenty seven of the states have a national park with California having the most with nine. There are approximately 51.9 million acres of protected national park in the country. The list below contains the best national parks to visit, in this list you will find the first ever national park, some world famous national parks and some you may not have expected to see.
With so many beautiful places waiting to be explored let’s take a look at the top 25.
1. Yosemite National Park, California
Source: gde-fon
Situated in the heart of California’s Nevada mountain range is the Yosemite National Park. The parks sprawls out over an area of 1,170 square miles of awesome natural beauty. Every year nearly 4 million people visit this national park but the majority spend their time within the Yosemite Valley rather than the 95% of the park that is marked as designated wilderness. Whilst at the park you can marvel at the spectacular snow fed waterfalls, granite cliffs, sequoia groves and beautiful wildlife. The name of the park means “killer” in Miwok, the name of a tribe that was driven of the land in 1851.
2. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Source: Flickr
Grand Canyon National Park
A true landmark of America and famous the world over is the Grand Canyon National Park. The Grand Canyon itself is 277 miles in length, reaches widths of up to 18 miles and has a depth of over a mile. The canyon has been formed over 2 billion years by the Colorado River that snakes its way through the canyon and slowly cuts it way ever deeper into the rock. The area has been named a UNESCO world heritage site and is often said to be one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. There are several hotels and lodges situated along the southern rim of the park or you can stay in a ranch on the floor of the canyon itself.
3. Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska
Source: Flickr
Denali National Park
Denali National Park is the most popular tourist destination in Alaska and when you visit the park you will understand why. The park is situated on and around Mt. McKinley which is the highest mountain in North America. Here you will get to experience glacial rivers, tundra and mile after mile of unspoilt wilderness. Due to its location you will also get to experience a large array of wildlife including wolves, Dall sheep, moose and grizzly bears. There are many bus tours that you can hop on and off to get to different parts of the park and there are also lodges that allow you to stay deep inside Denali.
4. Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
Source: Flickr
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
The Theodore Roosevelt National Park is made up of three separate areas of Badlands in North Dakota. The park is named in honor of Theodore Roosevelt who first came to the area to hunt bison in the fall of 1883. He fell in such love with the area that he invested $14,000 into a ranch, upon the death of Roosevelt’s wife and mother he returned to the area to give himself time to heal. Whilst here he arranged for a second ranch to be created, in 1935 the area was named the Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Demonstration Area. The National Park has more than 100 miles of walking and horse trails, there are three camping grounds and a great variety of wildlife including mountain lions, bison, deer, golden eagles and many more.
5. Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
Source: travelaroundusa
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth cave in Kentucky is home to the longest cave system currently discovered in the world today, there are more than 400 miles of caves and perhaps many more miles yet to be discovered. The park spans an area of 52,380 acres and centers around the Green River and its tributary the Nolin River. There are many tours that you can take in the caves, these range from short trips to six hour treks. Some of the tours are lit with electric lights and others are only lit by the paraffin lamps that the people on the tour carry with them.
6. Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
Source: Flickr
Kilauea Caldera – Volcanoes National Park Hawaii
Located in Hawaii is this national park that houses two active volcanoes; Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world today and Mauna Loa, a massive subaerial volcano. Fifty percent of the park is designated to the volcanoes and there are various hiking and camping opportunities that take place here. At this park you can witness the landscape change right in front of you due to the activeness of the Kilauea and the blistering lava flows that are produced. The park has 150 miles of hiking trail that take you through the volcanic craters of the past.
7. Acadia National Park, Maine
Source: Flickr
Thunder Hole, Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park in Maine is mainly on Mount Desert Island, at one point the island was part of the mainland until 20,000 years ago when ice sheets came down from the mountains and gouged out lakes and streams. With time the glaciers melted and flooded the area so that the island was separated from the mainland. Bar Harbo is also part of the park and here you can sample the famous Maine Lobster as well as the beautiful landscapes and seashore community.
8. Saguaro National Park, Arizona
Source: Flickr
Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National park is located over two sections, with Tucson city in the middle. The park is over 2/3 wilderness and home to many saguaro’s (a large cactus from the region.) There are various forms of cactus in the national park as well as the lesser long-nosed bat which is currently an endangered species. President Hoover declared the site a National Monument in 1933 and 11 years later the site became a national park upon the decision of congress. The park has 150 miles of hiking trails that are kept well maintained.
9. Zion National Park, Utah
Source: Flickr
Zion National Park
The meaning of Zion is ‘the heavenly city’ and Kolob canyons in the park are named after a place in Mormon scripture that is described as being near ‘gods throne.’ This national park is the oldest in Utah and also the most visited. The highlight of the national park is the Zion Canyon, the canyon is 15 miles long and goes up to 800m deep. The sandstone that makes up the canyon is a beautiful reddish colour and a real site to see. There is much wildlife to be seen here including mule deer, mountain lions and golden eagles. During peak times the accommodation in the area can become quite expensive as well as filling up fast so it is best to plan in advance.
10. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Source: Flickr
Yellowstone National Park
When it comes to anything in life there always has to be a first, and Yellowstone National Park was the world’s first national park. The park covers an area of 2,219,789 acres which is bigger than Delaware and Rhode Island together. The facts about this national park are staggering, it has over 300 geysers, 9 visitor centers, the largest lake in North America, 290 waterfalls and 332 species of bird. To truly understand the sheer size and awesomeness of this national park takes more than just a day. There are 12 campsites throughout the park offering over 2000 spaces for people to camp. If there is one national park on your bucket list it needs to be this one.
11. Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
Source: Flickr
Kenai Fjords National Park
In 1980 this national park was created in order to protect this incredible area of wilderness in Alaska. The national park covers 601,839 acres, of which 60% is covered in snow and ice. Here you will find the Harding ice field that covers 936 square miles, you can bear witness to the huge ice glaciers that pour down creating valleys and fjords. The park has a diverse range of animals and plants including mountain goats, moose, wolverines and coyotes. You can take part in kayaking, cycling, hiking or cross country skiing. Regular tour-boat cruises go along the coast and are certainly worth your time.
12. Channel Islands National Park, California
Source: Flickr
Channel Islands National Park
The Channel Islands National Park in California is made up of five different islands and a mile of ocean surrounding them. The park is home to over 2,000 plants and animals, 145 of these are unique to this park and cannot be found anywhere else on the planet. The area is one of the least visited due to the difficulty of getting here, you either need to take a plane or a boat to arrive. Some highlights of the park include whale watching in the Santa Barbara Channel or viewing up to 30,000 seals and sea lions from San Miguel Island.
13. Pinnacles National Park, California
Source: Flickr
Pinnacles National Park
Sitting about 80 miles outside of San Jose is the Pinnacles National Park. The parks name is derived from the remains of an extinct Volcano that has moved over the years. The national park is split into two halves by formations of rock and there is only a footpath that connects the two halves. The area is famous among rock climbers as they come here to climb the incredible pinnacles. Another feature of the park are the talus caves which are home to more than 13 species of bat. This area has only recently become a national park after President Barack Obama signed the legislation on January 10th 2013.
14. Olympic National Park, Washington
Source: Flickr
Hall of Mosses – Hoh River Valley rainforest in Olympic National Park
The Olympic National Park in Washington is a beautiful place to visit and one that has many interesting and enjoyable things to do. You can explore the Peninsula Waterfall Trail that offers both big and small waterfalls as well as two that are only accessible by boat. Another feature of the park is the Quinault Rainforest, the largest Sitka Spruce tree in the world can be found here along with the Doulas Fir and Western Red Cedar trees. If you are looking to experience a beautiful sunset then a trip to Kalaloch Beach will ensure this happens, with its long sandy stretches it is perhaps the most visited part of the entire park.
15. Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
Source: Flickr
Rock Harbor Lighthouse at Isle Royale National park
Sitting at the U.S and Canada border is Isle Royale National Park, the park is 894 square miles with 209 of those miles being above water. The biggest island in the park is Isle Royale which is 45 miles long and 9 miles wide at the widest point. There are also another 400 smaller islands that make up the remainder of the park. There is a large population of moose and a small population of wolves on the island, scientists have long been studying how they co-exist due to their predator-prey relationship. There are lots of camping areas throughout the park, some of them are off the grid and can only be accessed by a canoe/kayak or by a walking trail.
16. Arches National Park, Utah
Arches National Park, Utah
The Arches National Park is located along the Colorado River and is famous for having over 2,000 natural sandstone arches. Of particular fame is the Delicate Arch which stands at 65 feet tall and is used on Utah license plates as well as a postage stamp. Rock climbing is permitted throughout the park but only on certain features, any of the named rocks are prohibited from climbing. For fans of Western movies you can stay at the Red Cliffs Lodge which has appeared in various Hollywood movies and features some great dining experiences.
17. Glacier National Park, Montana
Glacier National Park – Montana
Another national park that sits on the Canada – United States border in the Glacier National Park in Montana. The park is huge and covers more than 1 million acres, there are over 130 named lakes, hundreds of different animal species and over 1,000 plant species. The park is known as a hiker’s paradise and has over 700 miles of trails to trek. You can learn all about the Native Americans as you explore the park and step back in time at one of the historic chalets and lodges. For those who choose to take a car, a drive up the Going-to-the-Sun Road is an amazing highlight as the roads winds through the mountainside giving up spectacular views.
18. Great Smokey Mountains, North Carolina, Tennessee
Source: Flickr
Great Smokey Mountains
The Great Smokey Mountains are also known as bear country and visitors to the park need to be vigilant of them at all times. This is the most visited national park in all of America and when you arrive it is easy to understand why. There is a great diversity of plant and animal life to be seen as well as a wide variety of things to do. You can explore the various waterfalls or go on a guided horseback ride. One of the parks most popular destinations is Cades Cove, here you can often see white-tailed deer as well as black bears, ground hogs, raccoons and other animals.
19. Everglades National Park, Florida
Source: Flickr
Everglades Florida by Paul Marcellini
Everglades National Park in Florida is best explored without the car, some of the best parts really need to be experienced on foot, tram or boat. A boat trip around the Ten Thousand Islands is a great way to see the best of what the park has to offer, lucky tourists will get to see alligators, deer and wading birds. There are some great campsites throughout the park and each offers a variety of facilities including grills and electric hook-up. If you are a keen kayaker or canoeist you can follow the Wilderness Waterway, it takes about 7-10 days to explore and is well marked out.
20. Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico
Source: Flickr
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Chaco Culture National Historical Park is located in New Mexico and houses the largest collection of ancient ruins north of Mexico. The area is full of historical artifacts and certain parts have unfortunately already been closed to the public due to fears of corrosion. The park was initially home to the Hopi and Pueblo people, there are no written records of their history, just an oral record that passes from generation to generation. The climate in the park experiences incredible differences with ranges from -39 degrees to +39 degrees centigrade.
21. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Bear Lake , Rocky Mountain National Park , Colorado, USA
A few days in the Rocky Mountains can really make you feel like you are on top of the world. The park covers an area of 415 square miles and gives each visitor a fantastic mountain environment to relax and enjoy. In some parts of the park you will be up at 12,000 feet where you can look out at the spectacular views of the valleys below. There are more than 300 miles of trails to hike, along the way you will come across many beautiful flowers and species of animal. Another highlight of the park is its many lakes and streams which you can fish in, a license is required but the fish are regulated to ensure their numbers remain high.
22. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park – Wyoming
A truly beautiful place is Grand Teton National Park, here you can experience the breath taking alpine terrain along with the Teton Range. For keen hikers there are more than 200 miles of terrain to explore, an alternative to walking is to take a boat trip along the Snake River. There are several campsites but also many log cabins that provide the visitor with a truly rustic experience. With plenty of scenic drives and multiple horse riding opportunities this is a great place to get away from the business of life and enrich yourself in the fresh air.
23. Joshua Tree National Park, California
Source: thewondermap
Joshua Tree National Park
At nearly 800,000 acres the Joshua Tree National Park is one that can seem brutal to the visitor. In the heat of the summer the place is scorching hot and the strong winds and sudden torrential rain fall are what make this place special. For a lot of the year the park will seem dead and defeated but when the rains arrive the park will spring back into life and be ready for the months ahead. There are two deserts that make up the park, the Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert. The park itself gets its name from the Joshua Tree, a tree that looks like it has outstretched arms, the Mormons named the trees because they believed them to look like Joshua leading them to the promised land.
24. Sequoia National Park, California
General Sherman Tree, Sequoia National Park – California
Sequoia National Park is know as a ‘land of giants’, with ginormous mountains, deep canyons and the largest trees in the world it is easy to see why. A common attraction of the park is the Tunnel Log, a tunnel that has been cut through the middle of one of the fallen Sequoia trees, the tree itself was 275 feet tall and 21 feet in diameter. If you like to spend your time exploring caves there are currently 240 known caves with potentially hundreds more to be discovered. Lilburn Cave is over 20 miles long and can be explored with a guided tour.
25. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
Source: Flickr
Crater Lake National Park
Established in 1902 Crater Lake National Park is the fifth oldest in the country. The park received its name as it is home to Crater Lake, a lake that was formed from the remains left by Mount Mazama Volcano. The lake is the deepest in the entire United States with a depth of 1,943 feet. Some of the remains left by the volcano have become very popular tourist attractions, including the Pinnacles, the pinnacle were created when hot gas made its way to the surface and forced the ash and pumice into an upwardly direction.
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