Channel Islands National Park in California consists of five islands and their surrounding ocean. Known for their natural beauty and diverse wildlife, these isolated islands feature sea caves, kelp forests, and unique species.
Crater Lake National Park in Oregon is famous for its deep blue lake, formed in the caldera of an ancient volcano. Surrounded by cliffs, the lake is known for its stunning clarity and is the deepest in the United States.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio offers a blend of natural beauty and cultural history. The park's main highlight is the scenic Cuyahoga River, winding through deep forests, rolling hills, and open farmlands.
Death Valley National Park in California and Nevada is known for being one of the hottest, driest, and lowest places in North America. Its diverse landscape includes salt flats, sand dunes, badlands, valleys, and mountains.
Glacier National Park in Montana is renowned for its spectacular mountain landscapes, diverse wildlife, and remnants of glaciers from the last ice age. The park encompasses over a million acres, featuring rugged peaks, pristine forests, and alpine meadows.
Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona is home to the immense and iconic Grand Canyon, a mile-deep geological wonder carved by the Colorado River over millions of years. The park showcases vast and colorful landscapes, offering breathtaking views from numerous overlooks along the rim.
Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, set against a backdrop of rugged mountains and diverse landscapes. The park's unique dunes were formed from sand deposits of the ancient Rio Grande River, creating a dynamic and ever-changing environment.
Joshua Tree National Park in California is distinguished by its rugged rock formations and stark desert landscapes, dotted with the park's namesake Joshua trees. Spanning two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, the park offers a variety of flora and fauna adapted to these arid conditions.
Kings Canyon National Park in California is renowned for its deep valleys, towering trees, and rugged terrain. The park features the dramatic Kings Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in North America, and is home to several giant sequoia groves, including the General Grant Tree, one of the world's largest living trees.
Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State is centered around Mount Rainier, an active stratovolcano that is the highest peak in the Cascade Range. The park is renowned for its stunning landscapes, including vast meadows of wildflowers, ancient forests, and numerous glaciers.
Olympic National Park in Washington State encompasses a diverse and unique ecosystem, ranging from rugged coastline and temperate rainforests to the alpine peaks of the Olympic Mountains. The park's vast wilderness includes the Hoh Rainforest, known for its lush, moss-covered landscapes, and the dramatic coastline dotted with sea stacks and tide pools.
Redwood National Park in California is renowned for its towering redwood trees, some of the tallest and oldest trees on Earth. The park, along with several state parks in the area, protects vast forests, rivers, and coastline, offering a diverse range of ecosystems.
Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado showcases the majestic beauty of the Rocky Mountains with its towering peaks, alpine lakes, and diverse wildlife. The park's varied landscapes range from lush meadows and dense forests to rugged mountain terrain, and the Trail Ridge Road which crosses the Continental Divide.
Saguaro National Park in Arizona is named after the giant saguaro cactus, an iconic symbol of the American Southwest. The park, divided into two sections near Tucson, showcases a stunning desert landscape filled with these towering cacti, diverse plant life, and unique wildlife.
Shenandoah National Park in Virginia is renowned for its rolling hills, cascading waterfalls, and vast hardwood forests. Stretching along the Blue Ridge Mountains, the park features the scenic Skyline Drive, offering panoramic views of the Shenandoah Valley and the Virginia Piedmont.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, located on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, is famed for its rich biodiversity, ancient mountains, and dense fog that often envelops its landscape. A unique highlight is the annual synchronous firefly phenomenon, where thousands of fireflies light up in harmony, creating a mesmerizing natural display that attracts visitors from around the world.
Yellowstone National Park, primarily in Wyoming, is famed as the first national park in the world and is celebrated for its diverse wildlife and many geothermal features. The park is home to the iconic Old Faithful geyser and the Grand Prismatic Spring, known for its vivid colors. Spanning over two million acres, Yellowstone offers a varied landscape of forests, rivers, canyons, hot springs and bison herds.
Yosemite National Park in California is renowned for its stunning granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, and rich biodiversity. The park is epitomized by the beauty of landmarks like El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in North America.
Isle Royale National Park, located in Lake Superior in Michigan, is a remote island cluster offering a true wilderness experience. Known for its rugged terrain, forested landscapes, and abundant wildlife, including moose and wolves, and accessible only by boat or seaplane.
Badlands National Park in South Dakota is known for its dramatic landscapes, featuring sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires, alongside a mixed-grass prairie. This park is a geological wonder, showcasing layers of colorful sedimentary rocks formed over millions of years. It's also rich in fossils, offering a glimpse into ancient ecosystems, and is home to wildlife like bison, bighorn sheep, and prairie dogs.
Canyonlands National Park in southeastern Utah features diverse landscapes carved by the Colorado River. It's divided into four areas, each offering unique views and experiences. Island in the Sky has panoramic views from high cliffs, The Needles is known for its intricate rock formations, and The Maze is a remote area for adventurous visitors.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park in southeastern New Mexico is renowned for its expansive limestone cave system, featuring more than 100 caves. The park's centerpiece, the Carlsbad Cavern, includes one of the world's largest underground chambers, the Big Room, and remarkable formations like stalactites and stalagmites. Visitors can explore a range of cave tours and enjoy above-ground hiking trails and night-time bat flights, providing a unique blend of geological and wildlife experiences.
Denali National Park in Alaska is home to North America's highest peak, Denali, which stands at 20,310 feet. This vast wilderness spans over six million acres, featuring a mix of forest, tundra, and glaciers. The park offers opportunities for wildlife viewing, including grizzly bears, wolves, and caribou, and is a popular destination for hiking, mountaineering, and backcountry adventures.
Everglades National Park in Florida is a vast wetland ecosystem spanning 1.5 million acres, known for its unique landscape of slow-moving waters and sawgrass marshes. It is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including the American crocodile, manatees, and the elusive Florida panther. The park also provides critical habitat for the American flamingo, adding a splash of color and elegance to the rich biodiversity of the region.
Gateway Arch National Park, located in St. Louis, Missouri, features the iconic 630-foot tall Gateway Arch that symbolizes the westward expansion of the United States. Situated along the Mississippi River, the park provides a scenic backdrop to the stainless steel monument, offering riverfront trails, lush landscapes, and a vibrant urban setting.
Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska is a breathtaking landscape of dynamic glaciers, rugged mountains, and temperate rainforest, sprawling over 3.3 million acres. This park is renowned for its spectacular tidewater glaciers that calve into the bay, creating a dramatic natural spectacle, and a diverse wildlife including the majestic orcas.
Haleakalā National Park on Maui features the massive Haleakalā volcano, known for its stunning sunrises and sunsets. The park spans from the barren volcanic summit to lush tropical areas with waterfalls and native wildlife.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island features two active volcanoes, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. Visitors can see live volcanic activity, including flowing lava. The park offers diverse landscapes, from craters and rainforests to lava fields, with plenty of trails and scenic drives.
Zion National Park in Utah is known for its striking red cliffs and deep canyons. The famous Angel's Landing hike offers a challenging path with stunning views of the canyon below. The park is popular for activities like hiking, climbing, and stargazing, appealing to both nature enthusiasts and adventurers.