The United States is filled with national parks. Spanning the entire United States, national parks are special national areas set aside by Congress to be protected from development. Thanks to its national park system, the best examples of this country’s natural beauty are preserved for visitors to enjoy and for American flora and fauna to thrive unimpeded. National parks come in all shapes and sizes, with different climates and terrain within them. For example, a national park could be an island, a mountain range, or a desert spanning thousands of acres.
1. Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is the nation’s first national park. Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is located mostly in Wyoming (as the only national park in Wyoming) but also includes parts of Idaho and Montana. It has about 2,200 lakes and a wide variety of wildlife such as bears, wolves, bison, elk, deer, and many others. The park is one of America’s most visited national parks. An average of 3 million people visit Yellowstone National Park every year, the summers being the busiest. Yellowstone features a variety of things to see like the many geysers and hot springs that Yellowstone is famous for. Old Faithful Geyser is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Yellowstone it gets its name from how often its water erupts, which can be as frequently as every 30 minutes! Visitors can rent boats to go out on Lake Yellowstone, where there are many parks located around the lake. Hiking, boating, and fishing are national park activities that many people enjoy in Yellowstone National Park.
2. Badlands National Park in usa
Layered Rock Formations Badlands National Park in South Dakota protects 242,756 acres of sharp-sided buttes and pinnacles along with the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the United States. The National Park Service manages the park in a partnership with the Oglala Lakota tribe. The Badlands Wilderness is one area where endangered species like black-footed ferrets have been reintroduced to this designated wilderness area. The South Unit, or Stronghold District, includes sites of 1890s Ghost Dances, a former United States Air Force bombing and gunnery range, and the famous Red Shirt Table Overlook. Authorized as the Badlands National Monument on March 4th, 1929, it was not formally established until January 25th, 1939. On November 10th, 1978, the Badlands National Monument was relisted as a national park. The park also administers the nearby Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, the Minuteman Missile is one of the USA’s first quick response ICBM nuclear missiles. Fun fact the movies Dances with Wolves (1990) and Thunderheart (1992) were partially filmed in Badlands National Park.
In 1868, at the Second Treaty of Fort Laramie, the United States assured the Sioux that this land would be theirs forever. The treaty had allowed natives to farm and mine the area, but they were evicted without compensation in 1889. The Supreme Court ruled this unlawful almost a century later in 1980. The Sioux Indians hosted the Ghost Dance movement, an event to revive their buffalo and ancestors’ spirits, to help wash evil away during the late 19th century. This movement drew the interest of other tribes, who interpreted the Ghost Dance differently. For example, the Sioux saw the banishment of evil as a peaceful effort that was the work of all men, the Lakota however saw the removal of evil as the removal of European Americans. The United States outlawed this ritual after the last performance in 1890, which was followed by the brutal Wounded Knee Massacre, when the US Army attacked and killed nearly 300 “troublesome” Lakota men, women, and children, under the guise of disarming them.
3. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Mountains Covered in Fog Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an American national park that stretches across North Carolina and Tennessee, and by the number of yearly visitors is the most popular National Park in the US. The northeastern part of Tennessee is home to some of the highest mountains in eastern North America, including Clingmans Dome, Mount Guyot, and Mount Le Conte. The Appalachian Trail crosses through the park on its 828-mile route from Georgia to Maine. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located right outside of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Cherokee, North Carolina. In addition to hosting 12.5 million visitors each year, it is one of the country’s largest protected areas with a size of 560.5 square miles. There is plenty of great Great Smoky Mountain hotels, camping, hiking trails, and mountain biking opportunities at this popular park.
4. Denali National Park
Denali National Park is unlike any national park in America. From the moment you enter the park, your views change from a treeless desert to arctic tundra. At 6 million acres, it is bigger than Yellowstone and Yosemite national parks combined! This is one of the best national parks in the USA for people that love untouched natural beauty and extreme conservation. The park was named after the Denali mountain (the high one), as dubbed by Alaska Natives who revere the mountain as a sacred place. The national park is a preserve for a myriad of wildlife, including Dall sheep and moose. It also offers many recreational opportunities in its mountain ranges and national preserves.
Formerly opened in 1917 as McKinley National Park (the mountain also being known as Mount McKinley), the park was officially renamed in 2015 to reflect the heritage of Alaska’s native population. Denali was also the first national park located above the Arctic Circle; it is nicknamed “The Land of the Midnight Sun”. Denali is home to tons of wildlife and outdoor excursions like flightseeing tours, Denali national park hiking, hiking trails, rafting adventures, wonderful cabins, great places to stay, and incredible rail tours. Gateway communities: The Park is located in an area that has access to larger commercial centers with a population of approximately 75,000 people including the villages of Northway, Cantwell, and Healy.
5. Voyageurs National Park in usa
Voyageurs National Park, located in Minnesota, is a national park that is completely unique from other national parks. It’s one of the few national parks in America that shares a border with another country. Voyageurs National Park borders Canada, specifically the provinces of Manitoba and Ontario. The Voyageurs National Park is an American national park founded to preserve America’s northern freshwater lakes, waterways, and the surrounding landscape. One of the great things about Voyageurs National Park is that it is located outside of International Falls, a charming town in northeastern Minnesota near fifteen other lakes and the Rainy River.
From there, you can explore much more! Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota is a favorite destination for canoe trips and the park is also one of the most popular national parks in North America. The national park has visitors from all over the world, many of those coming for bird watching, hiking, and kayaking. Canoeing is the most popular activity here and there are plenty of opportunities to take a canoe or kayak tour in various parts of the park. You don’t need to only visit in the summer, during the winter you can participate in dog sledding, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. The national park has a gathering spot where children and adults alike can learn more about the area, its history, and native animal species.
6. Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona is the USA’s 15th national park site. The park’s central feature is obviously the Grand Canyon, an immense gorge through which flows the Colorado River. The national park is located in northwestern Arizona about 277 miles north of Phoenix. Grand Canyon National Park was established in 1919 and covers more than 1.2 million acres of unincorporated area in Coconino and Mohave counties. Grand Canyon National Park features include spectacular canyons, plateaus, buttes, and multi-colored rock layers. The park is also home to more than 1,400 species of plants and animals.
The Grand Canyon is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, making it one of the most famous national parks in the world. Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim includes facilities for visitors including lodging in cabins, restaurants, and coffee shops. The national park has a scenic drive that takes you by several points of interest. Visit the NPS website to get a map of the Grand Canyon before your visit. Check out our full Grand Canyon itinerary to help you plan for your visit. You’ll need it because this is one of the best national parks in the world.
7. Glacier National Park
Montana’s Glacier National Park is one of the most visited parks in America with more than 1 million acres and 130 lakes. This vast, pristine ecosystem is the centerpiece of what has been referred to as the “Crown of the Continent Ecosystem,” a region of protected land encompassing 16,000 square miles (41,000 km2), and home to more than 1,400 species of plants and animals. Up until the late 1800s, the Blackfeet tribe dominated the east of this region and the Flathead tribe was prevalent in the western regions. Both tribes still maintain a presence to this day. Glacier National Park is located in northwestern Montana, about 150 miles west of the Canadian border. Glacier National Park was established as a national park by President Woodrow Wilson on May 11, 1910, when he signed legislation passed by Congress earlier that year.
Glacier National Park features include mountains, lakes, and waterfalls and protects much of the northern Rocky Mountain range. The park is named for its 150 or so glaciers, which are remnants from the last ice age. Sadly they are now shrinking due to global climate change, so the opportunities to see them are dwindling (unless we get our act together). Glacier National Park features a scenic drive that takes you by several points of interest including St. Mary Lake. The park also has facilities for visitors including lodging in cabins, campgrounds, restaurants, and coffee shops.
8. Kenai Fjords National Park
Kenai Fjords National Park is one of the most beautiful national parks in the US (and probably one of the most beautiful places on the planet). The national park is located in the southern Seward Peninsula of south-central Alaska, about 12 miles southwest of Seward. The national park can be reached via Exit Glacier from State Route 11. More than 4 million visitors come to Kenai Fjords National Park each year. The national park was established as a national monument on June 2, 1980. The national park was redesignated after the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) of December 2, 1980, which also added 6 million acres to the park.
The national park’s central feature is the complex of glacial fjords in Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. The park is located in the Chugach Mountains region of south-central Alaska, about 180 miles southwest of Anchorage, near Seward (the site of Exit Glacier). Kenai Fjords National Park offers a range of scenery and life forms. It is home to more than 1,400 species of plants and animals. This park protects a large chunk of southeastern Alaska, the glacial fjords, and glaciers in this part of the world, and is the most visited national park in Alaska. It’s one of the best places to visit in the US for good reason.
9. Acadia National Park in usa
If a challenging day hike is what you’re looking for, then you need to experience the natural beauty of Mount Desert Island, Maine within Acadia National Park. Southwest of Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park preserves about half of this mountainous island part of Isle au Haut and portions of 16 smaller outlying islands. The park is one of the most scenically stunning national parks in the United States. Since Acadia National Park was first established in 1916, seaside campgrounds have been developed. There are plenty of other great places to stay along Acadia National Park in Maine such as gorgeous bed and breakfasts, lodges, and hotels.
The park is located in Maine, about 160 miles northeast of Portland and about 60 miles southwest of Bangor. Acadia National Park preserves about half of Mount Desert Island and its outlying islands, including Isle au Haut. Acadia National Park‘s attractions include Cadillac Mountain, a dormant volcano, and the highest point on the Atlantic coast. The park also has a scenic drive that takes you by several points of interest including Bubble Rock; a huge boulder perched on a ledge 200 feet above the sea. If you love lighthouses, you will also love Acadia National Park as its seaside lighthouses offer some of the most scenic views no matter the time of year. If you’re looking for a scenic day hike, there are plenty of trails to choose from in Acadia National Park. Some of the most popular trails include the Precipice Trail, the Jordan Cliffs Trail, and the South Bubble Trail.
If you’re looking for a more challenging hike, then you’ll want to check out the trails on Mount Desert Island. The most popular trails include the Cadillac Mountain Summit Trail, the Dorr Mountain Summit Trail, and the Beech Mountain Summit Trail. If you’re looking for a place to relax and take in the views, then head to one of Acadia National Park‘s many beaches. Some of the most popular beaches include Sand Beach, Otter Cliff Beach, and Thunder Hole Beachional Park is also a great place for wildlife watching. The park is home to more than 60 species of mammals and more than 200 species of birds, making it one of the best national parks in the USA for birdwatching.
10. Hot Springs National Park
Hot Springs National Park is an American national park located in central Garland County, Arkansas. It was created by the United States Congress on April 20th, 1832, for recreational purposes. Established before the concept of a national park existed, the park was set aside primarily to preserve its natural beauty and hot spring water for bathing and medicinal purposes. For centuries, Native American tribes (correctly) believed the water had medicinal benefits and it became a subject of legend among them. Following federal protection in 1832, the city of Hot Springs sprung up and was incorporated in 1851, garnering much appeal as a spa town. In the early 20th century, it became known for training Major League Baseball teams and illegal gambling during Prohibition.
It also served as a getaway for the notorious gangster Al Capone. The park also hosts horse racing at Oaklawn Park and has been visited by 42nd President (and Arkansas native) Bill Clinton. The area was formally established as a National Park on the 4th of March, 1921. It was redesignated in 2018 to include the Gateway Arch in its entirety and then renamed Gateway Arch National Park. Hot Springs National Park is one of the oldest parks maintained by the National Park Service, making it America’s first-ever non-official national park and also our national park service’s unofficial birthplace. The park features a scenic drive that takes you by several points of interest including the Old Mill and Park Headquarters.