Denali (Alaska) 6. Natural elements and time have gouged out some truly spectacular natural bridges and rock formations here. I don’t think it is too far a stretch to say that Dry Tortugas is one of the best national parks in the USA to enjoy some scuba diving. The sheer number of trails and wildlife-watching opportunities may seem daunting at first but one can always come back. Plan a trip to one of the best national parks in the USA, like Yosemite or the Grand Canyon, to see some of the most scenic places on earth. As a younger American man, I felt like I didn’t really know my own country until I started exploring the national parks. Located in the U.S. state of Montana, on the Canada–United States border with the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Whatever your national parks itinerary might end up looking like, here is a list of super informative, honest gear posts we have done to get you fully prepared for your USA national parks odyssey…. Sequoia National Park … In fact, there’s a while village dedicated to hosting visitors! America’s National Parks – Ranked Best to Worst Most articles ranking America’s National Parks are based on other people’s impressions and not necessarily from the experience of the author. Closest towns are Whitefish and Kalispell, Montana. Established, in 1980, Kenai Fjords is a relatively new national park. Sequoia National Park is best known for its massive Sequoia trees: the biggest trees in the world. There are enough backcountry trails to keep you busy for a lifetime. These volcanoes are (very) active mind you. This national park is one of the most popular national parks in the US, but for a damn good reason. Miles and miles of glacier-carved mountains, untouched lakes, wildflowers, snow-capped peaks, deep forests, and meandering rivers. Of course, the best way to see the park is on foot. Enjoy and explore the drives to the picturesque Cades Cove or along the Roaring Fork Motor Trail and outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and fishing. Bryce Canyon is a top national park filled with microclimates primarily due to the vast elevation differences found throughout. View for miles and miles of a sprawling ocean of green (depending on the time of year) reward every keen hiker. Choosing the right backpack – Your backpack is good. Towering slabs of sticky granite towering 3,000 feet above the valley floor. There is an abundance of wildlife in Arches. The park is a sprawling 6 million acre wilderness home to towering mountain peaks, grizzly bears, pristine rivers, and stunning long valleys. Dry Tortugas National Park is an ecological wonder located at the very bottom of the Florida Keys. For more inspiration, check out What’s in my backpack? Glacier National Park is a biosphere reserve, a World Heritage Site, and one of the world’s first international peace parks, in addition to being a US National Park. Old Faithful, Riverside, and Steamboat are … All rights reserved. Explore the most popular national parks in United States of America with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Horrible… But there are still many avenues in which to escape the daytime visitors. Best travel jackets for backpackers – Find the right jacket based on your intended outdoor activities. Our National Parks — John Muir’s classic collection of wonderful sketches and descriptions of the national parks of America. Yosemite National Park is one of the oldest parks spanning portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in Northern California, covering 747,956 acres of land. Famous for its imposing granite monoliths, incredible waterfalls that can transform into natural phenomena and glacier-carved valleys, Yosemite National Park in California is one of the most … We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. First things first. Every year without fail, some aloof tourist is sent to the hospital due to general stupidity and lack of common sense. Since the wedding represents one of the most important days in life, a lot... Travelling can do so much good for our physical and mental well-being. Need helping finding a place to stay? This is Glacier Bay. Whether you are planning the ultimate national park road trip, visiting the east or west coast national parks, or just planning a weekend get-away, this guide will help you get to know the 25 best national parks in the USA. A skier’s heaven. The landscapes of Joshua Tree are dotted with massive granite boulders, rugged mountains, hidden oasis’, cactus, abandoned mine shafts, and desert-dwelling creatures. The mystical Bryce Canyon National Park is a sight to behold. Lonely Planet National Parks USA — Always a good idea to have a Lonely Planet tucked inside your backpack. Sandstone arches, glaciers, white beaches, stalagmite-filled caves, tropical rainforests, scorching deserts, and volcanoes: The national parks scattered throughout the United States … Bryce Canyon … Bottom line, this place is an important ecological treasure. This beauty is surrounded by the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and the Mojave Desert regions. It is not difficult to see why Hawaii Volcanoes is one of the best national parks in the USA. Don’t worry, you should still have both of your arms by trip’s end. The park features a vast network of hiking trails including a section of the long-distance Appalachian Trail. Designated as a World Heritage site in the year 1984, it is known all around the world for its Granite Cliffs, waterfalls, lakes, mountains, glaciers, giant sequoia groves and biological diversity. Best Time to Visit: All year round normally, but as of July 2018, now is not the time to visit. In addition to the huge trees, rugged peaks, sunshine-filled canyons, awesome hiking trails, and abundant wildlife… the cave systems are something unto themselves. Best Time to Visit: Summer (expect basically 24 hours of daylight). Do you need travel insurance when you visit? Zion National Park named after the Hebrew word “refuge”, nestles in the Southwestern United States, near Springdale, Utah. Great lava rivers are still flowing as of this moment. Hawai'i Volcanoes (Hawaii) 9. Thanks for your support. Get to know some of the trademark rosy-amber canyons and waterfalls that make Zion one of the best national parks in the USA. There seems to be more available oxygen than normal. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Maybe a combination of all of the above? They represent the finest that America has to offer. Carlsbad Caverns (New Mexico) 8. Are you just sticking to day hikes? Shenandoah National park is simply the pride of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is not to be missed if you find yourself in this part of the USA. J-Tree is one of the few places in So-Cal where you can find yourself in a true desolation wilderness far from the bright lights of humanity. This is a land of immense power and staggering volcanic beauty. It’s all about helping out our tribe of awesome backpacker readers [that’s you!]. The nearly 500-square-mile park also inhabits a range of wildlife, including black bears, grizzlies, moose, antelope and bison, and to welcome the autumn visitors, the park lights up with golden aspens. Given its location in the Gulf of Mexico, this national park has a colorful history. I’ll just say that the national parks in Alaska are on another level. Whilst trekking through the marshland, keep an eye out for moose! A visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is bound to be a mind-blowing experience. It is no wonder 3 million visitors a year come to Zion National Park. Glacier Bay is a great place to spot whales, puffins, and other spectacular wildlife. Your email address will not be published. If the Grand Canyon were a book, it would be the geological story detailing millions of years. Yet Voyageurs national park in … The crowds that do gather here have a different vibe as well. What to pack for this kind of a backpacking trip depends on several things. There are lifetimes worth of hiking and exploring to be done here. Before we dive into my best national parks in the USA list, you should have an idea of what to bring along for the journey. You have made it to the northernmost national park in the USA. The Mountains of California — John Muir’s detailed account of his experiences traveling through the national parks in California (before they were national parks). You might half expect a wooly mammoth to stumble out of the bush. The snowy solitude of winter creates a serene landscape in National Parks all over America and the cold ensures fewer people jostling to take in the views. Please come here and experience it for yourself. Steam vents, lava rivers, jaw-dropping coastline all make up the draw to these landscapes straight out of middle earth. And when it’s time to come back from the refuge to reality, the 166-mile drive from Las Vegas or the 308-mile drive from Salt Lake City is just about the right amount of time to process all the beauty you just experienced. People come from the world over to take in the spectacular geothermal activity that has transformed Yellowstone’s landscapes into something otherworldly. You don’t have to try hard to get away from America’s urbanity and the time-pressured stress that comes with city life. The great thing is, however, very few, if any of the cruise people ever set foot any reasonable distance inside the park. Rocky Mountain National Park… Yosemite Park in north-central California has been inspiring people for centuries. Most people choose to just drive … A must-read for anyone who loves rock climbing and adventure sports. It has 130 lakes along with 1,000 types of plants and approximately hundred types of animals. They were designated the UNESCO Sequoia-Kings Canyon Biosphere Reserve in the year of 1976. The photographer’s playground. Check in with the National park Service website for up to date details. There is a sense of remoteness and solitude found here that is absent in the mainland US (with a few exceptions). This travel guide will help you get to grips with 25 of the best national parks in the USA. The landscapes found in Glacier Bay National Park, both on the coast and in the interior are simply mind-blowing. There is arguably no other country on our gorgeous planet where you can you find such a deep level of staggering beauty, diversity, and outdoor adventure potential that is reflected in the American national parks—really there is every type of landscape imaginable — and each one is totally epic in its own way too. MSR Hubba Hubba 2-person tent review – My favorite backpacking tent on the market. You do really want to get onto the ice if you can! Check out all the places seen in this video: https://www.touropia.com/best-national-parks-in-the-usa/ The USA is a really big place. Located on Hawaii’s Maui Island, Haleakala National Park is another gem of the Hawaiian Island chain. Acadia National Park spreads across 49,052 acres of land, which comprises of 30,300 acres of Mount Desert Island, 2,728 acres of Isle Au Haut and 2,366 acres of the Schoodic Peninsula. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee. One of the best parts of the park is when you get high up on a ridge above the tree line. If ever there was a window into a different world, it can be found here. This part of the USA is very rich in cultural heritage. This is a super remote, ultra beautiful part of Alaska, that should only be taken on by serious/experienced backpackers. Yosemite (California) 4. Giant Sequoia trees. Yes, the USA has its huge cities and historic towns, but the vast majority of the country still consists of rugged mountain ranges, empty deserts and deep forests. Rivers and epic waterfalls galore. Grizzly bears and American Buffalo are among the most legendary. There are no established trails in the backcountry FYI. Best sleeping bags to take traveling – Find the right sleeping bag for your journey. The book details the unique adventures and conflicts the author faces, from dealing with the damage caused by development of the land or excessive tourism to discovering a dead body. One of the most beautiful National Parks in the USA, Grand Canyon National Park acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1979, situated in northwestern Arizona. A backpacking trip here is bound to be the adventure of a lifetime. Mt. The Site is dedicated to providing facts and information for the knowledge and entertainment purpose. In winter, … The park itself is quite large, making up a total area of more than 500,000 acres of protected land. The park gets its name from the more than 2,000 sandstone arches scattered throughout the park. Best National Parks in the USA: West Coast #1 Yosemite National Park. Alone on the Wall — Alone on the Wall recounts the seven most astonishing achievements of Alex Honnold’s extraordinary life and career, brimming with lessons on living fearlessly, taking risks, and maintaining focus even in the face of extreme danger. Arches National Park is a US National Park located in eastern Utah. Required fields are marked *. Also Read: 10 Most Naturally Beautiful Countries In The World. Check out these convenient places to stay near the Grand Canyon. It was initially created as the Sieur de Monts National Monument in 1916,However, later park was renamed Lafayette National Park in 1919, and was given its current name of Acadia in 1929. Death in Yellowstone — All of the reasons why you should take Yellowstone seriously. The turquoise waters of the Colorado River strike a great contract with the orange and red shades of the Canyon walls. Glacier N.P. Acadia National Park is a United States National Park situated in the state of Maine, near Bar Harbor. Mostly forested, the park is home to soggy wetlands, murky rivers, crisp waterfalls and craggy peaks like Hawksbill and Old Rag mountains. The dormant (thankfully) Haleakala Volcano lies at the center of the park, whilst the West Maui Mountains dominated the rugged surrounding interior. There’s plenty of accommodation near Yosemite. Glacier National Park borders Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada—the two parks are known as the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Take a dip in Yellowstone Lake. Located surprisingly close to Washington D.C., one can easily escape the city (and its filthy politicians) in a short period of time. Why not get a quote from them yourself? Over the last ten years, I have crisscrossed the country multiple times getting to know some of the very best national parks in the USA. For more inspiration, check out these epic USA road trip itineraries: Great Smoky Mountains National park is certainly one of the most important national parks in the USA. This national park is defined by its dry, desolate landscapes. Basically, they are spire/pillar-shaped rock formations jutting out from the canyon floor. Top 10 Attractions in Yosemite National Park, 10 Most Naturally Beautiful Countries In The World, Top 10 Amazing Natural Swimming Pools In The World, 15 Facts About Antarctica You didn’t Know, Six Reasons you Should try Solo Traveling at Least Once in Your Life, 10 great UK Staycation Benefits for Those who Usually Holiday Abroad. Towering slabs of sticky granite towering 3,000 feet above the valley floor. The Late Precambrian rocks that are part of the Ocoee Supergroup, are the dominating feature of this park. © 2020, The Broke Backpacker. Towering pinnacles of sandstone jut up into an endless desert sky. Yucca trees (Joshua trees) have always fascinated me, and Joshua Tree National has them in abundance (obviously). Yellowstone might just be the most famous park in my best national parks in the USA list. Most of the attraction of the park lies below the surface of the land or the surface of it anyway. Here you’ll find the park’s most famous landmarks – Half Dome and El Capitan – as well as excellent hiking trails through the natural monuments. It takes some effort to get here, but once you do, it is bound to be the backpacking trip of a lifetime. Got an extended break? Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is a vast area of southeast Alaska’s Inside Passage; another heavily trafficked cruise ship route. Blessed with 8 million square acres of uninhabited wilderness, the adventure possibilities here are endless. Tackle the 37-mile circuit trek and really experience what the hidden geological gems of Bryce are about. Adjacent to the Colorado River, it is home for 2,000 natural sandstone arches, including the world-famous Delicate Arch. You don’t have to be the most famous park to make it onto my best national parks in the USA list. This is the land where the buffalo used to roam en masse in the north-west corner of Wyoming. *all or some of these highlights may have been impacted by the 2018 volcanic eruption. Enjoy what you do get to see and explore the places you connect with until your heart’s content. Surprisingly, GSM is the most visited national park in the US. From vast variety of plants/tree species to the animals that call the Smokies home; the park is teaming with life. Sure you could visit parts with an organized tour, but to really get the most out of your experience, you are going to have to venture out on foot. There is a reason why this World Heritage Site exists as it does today. *Note that as of July 2018 many of the backcountry campsites have still not been repaired or cleaned up after last year’s devastating hurricane season. The trails weave through impressive slot canyons, hidden swimming holes, and jaw-dropping landscapes. It might be a fair bet to say that more locals or at least Pacific Northwest locals visit Mt. One of the tourist attractions in California, Yellowstone National Park is a land of 2.2 million acres spread across the U.S. States of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Yellowstone National Park, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming Winter celebrations should include the beginning of America's National Park System upon the protection of this park in March 1872. However, different nations used to designate their national parks differently but there lies a common idea of preserving wildlife for posterity. It's also home to a bevy of colorful hot springs and, even more exciting, geysers. Utah truly is the state that keeps on giving to my best national parks in the USA list. The park receives a staggering 4 million+ visitors every year. A very important book told from a fantastic perspective. The grandeur of the park is hard to put into words. Also, read about Also, read about National Parks in Canada. Endangered species like wolverines and Canadian lynxes inhabit the park. Being a student is one of the most incredible experiences especially for learners in... Earth and world is a place where you can find different known and unknown facts of our planet Earth. How to choose the right tent to take backpacking – Every traveler needs a good tent. How to avoid this? Acadia is one of the oldest designated national park area, east of the Mississippi River. We took the 25 most-visited national parks and ranked them -- from Yosemite and the Grand Canyon to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. There is also some fantastic river rafting and hiking to be had in the area as well. There are more hikers/backpackers and fewer buses packed with tourists. Hennessy camping hammock review – Quite possibly your new best travel mate. Zion is filled with rich history, biological diversity, and plenty of “wow”. Hordes of people seeking a holiday in the great outdoors choose to stay in the Smoky Mountains every year. National Parks Outdoors and Adventure Travel's Best Hiking Camping Gem Hunter's Paradise Covering over 275 square miles, White Sands National Park is the world’s largest gypsum dune field. Waterfalls flow from glaciated rock faces. Home » North America » USA » Best National Parks in the USA (2020). Native American rock paintings offer up glimpses of the past. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a22ea7adcad137263acafca4f63b7c11" );document.getElementById("bb6136472c").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The best places to experience the beauty of the U.S. are its national parks. Exploring the park on foot is the only way to escape the crowds and flashing cameras. Yellowstone (Wyoming) — Yellowstone is the first place to be called a “National Park” in the entire world. Smoky Mountain National Park is is a biodiversity powerhouse. There is some excellent skiing and winter-related sports to be had here too. Park infrastructure has been damaged. For those who love thinking about and exploring caves, Mammoth Caves National Park is the ultimate destination. If you only have a week or two, I recommend not biting off more than you can chew. Grand Teton National Park home to Wyoming’s majestic Teton Mountains. You Should Visit 1. From high mountain lakes to pristine rivers in the valley below, Grand Teton National Park is a feast for those who love the mountains. Best Time to Visit: Spring, Summer, and Fall. Sequoia National Park situated in the southern Sierra Nevada east of Visalia, California, in the United States, established on September 25, 1890. Welcome to my ultimate guide to the 25 best national parks in the USA! At its heart are the Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is on Hawaii Island (the Big Island). Roads have been destroyed. Zion distinct desert landscape features plenty of steep red-walled canyons, beautiful rock formations, emerald pools, slot canyons, rivers, and waterfalls. That said, there are literally millions of acres that are untamed and uninhabited. It is located in the Swain and Haywood counties of North Carolina, along with Sevier, Blount and Cocke counties in Tennessee, US. Is America a safe place? Any time of year though bring a good jacket! The centerpiece of the 229-square-mile park is Zion Canyon, which runs up to 15 miles long and dives up to half a mile (depth), cutting through the rust and tan-colored Navajo Sandstone by the North Fork of the Virgin River. Denali is certainly a top pick on my best national parks in the USA list. Both are VERY dangerous to humans. This. The Grand Canyon valued for its combination of size, depth and exposed layers of colorful rocks dating back to Precambrian times. Yosemite is least fragmented, yet one of the largest habitat block of Sierra Nevada. Alpine trekking and world-class rock climbing routes. Being one of the free National Parks in the US, it welcomes more than 10 million people each year. The mountains have witnessed a long history of human settlers from the prehistoric Paleo Indians to the 19th-century European settlers. Wildlife, too, finds refuge in the wild lands in America’s national parks. National parks … When it comes to impressive desert landscapes, the Grand Canyon is king. Closest Major City: There is no major city close by, but there are still plenty of large towns to stay in near Yellowstone. Blessed with rugged, wild coastline dotted with lighthouses and a range out craggy, high mountains, it is no wonder that Acadia attracts millions of visitors each year. The fisherman’s dream. Considered to be the world’s largest intact ecosystem in the northern temperate zone, Old Faithful Geyser is one of the most famous in the world. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), largest national park in the world is the Northeast Greenland National Park. Do you plan on taking a national park road trip? Fact is, Everglades National Park is so swampy and so wild in places, that it is virtually impossible to develop it! Plants like prickly pear cactus, Indian ricegrass, cheat grass, lichen, moss, liverworts, Utah juniper, Mormon tea, black brush, cliff rose, four-winged saltbrush, stemless woolly base, evening primrose, sand verbena, yucca, and sacred datura, dominate the dramatic arches, which makes Arches National Park one of the best in the US. Yosemite. Do your part to help keep them clean and beautiful and always practice leave no trace principles when camping or trekking in the backcountry. It turns out that the all-you-can-eat buffets are an excellent deterrent from keeping folks from actually exploring or hiking. Yellowstone has massive wilderness areas, so that shouldn’t be too difficult. National Parks have been created all around the world with a sole purpose of preserving our ecosystem. Rainer National Park is prone to be very green throughout the year. My First Summer in the Sierra is Muir’s account of his adventures and observations while working as a shepherd in the Yosemite Valley, which later became Yosemite National Park as a direct result of Muir’s writings and activism. MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe review – The ultimate lightweight backpacking stove to fuel your adventures. The artistic touch of mother nature has left Bryce Canyon with one of the most iconic landscapes in America. The park encompasses a 370 square mile chunk of Washington State (not DC!). The flora is spread over an elevation range from 2,127 to 13,114 feet, comprising of five major vegetation – Alpine, Subalpine zone, Oak Woodland, lower montane forest and upper montane forest. They hold a special power as you will soon experience. The mountains of Acadia National Park offer hikers and bicycle riders scenic views of the ocean, island, lakes, and pine forests. With hundreds of miles of maintained trail, plus Yosemite wilderness, you can trek around for months on end and not see it all. If you’re planning a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, check out these awesome treehouses, cabins and lodges in Tennessee! Will you be setting off into the wilderness for a multi-day backpacking trip? Located in the south of and contiguous with Kings Canyon National Park; the two are administered by the National Park Service together as the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Arches National Park isn’t just a Utah highlight, it is high on the list of best national parks in the USA, without a doubt. Plus, travelers that want to tick off another national park on the same vacation can travel the few miles north to Yellowstone, which adjoins Grand Teton (you’ll save roughly $10 on combined admission if you choose to visit both parks. Close, Chris Lininger is a writer, photographer, and guide from California. Prior to colonialization of Europeans, Native Americans had been coming to visit the area in and around the Grand Canyon for eons. For me, the feeling one gets when you are standing in a grove of ancient Sequoias must be close to something like attaining enlightenment. Grand Canyon (Arizona) 3. Over the last 2 million years, there have been massive eruptions and it still continues to be active. Great Smoky Mountain National Park is home to the oldest mountains in the US and draws more visitors than any other national parks in the country. Related: Top 10 Attractions in Yosemite National Park. Getting off the beaten path should not be too difficult. Don’t be that tourist that gets seriously injured or killed by a buffalo. But nature has a way of protecting itself. Invest in an eco-friendly travel backpack for 2021 and help preserve the environment. Evidence of a past Native American presence can be found throughout the park. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. I only link to stuff I’ve actually used and never endorse products or services that are not up to scratch. He is an advocate for off-beat responsible travel and the preservation of the world's wild places and spaces. Plus, the blanket of stars that illuminates the night sky is a welcome nightcap to a day filled with active pursuits. Between the Native Americans and the early Anglo settlers of the area, the park was at one time an important place for human settlement. Coming in at the top spot with a whopping 12.5... 2. Glacier is your dream destination. It reserves most of Mount Desert Island, and is further associated with smaller islands, off the Atlantic coast. If you're dreaming of an outdoor vacation filled with gushing geysers, animal encounters, towering rock formations and more, odds are you'll enjoy exploring a national park. Yellowstone National Park Yellowstone is not your average park. This national park is the gem of the Southern California desert. The first Utah national park on my list is the epic Zion National Park. I’d say that Everglades National Park is best explored by boat, as hiking in the “backcountry” here is not an easy endeavor. The world-famous Delicate Arch certainly won’t be around forever. The mystical Kenai Fjords National Park is a land of ice, glaciers, ultra-clear lakes, abundant wildlife (including wales and eagles), and some of the most beautiful landscapes found in North America. 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