There are many stunning landscapes untouched by development around the U.S. that are set aside as National Parks. Many people helped to create the National Park Service including Theodore Roosevelt, Ulysses S. Grant, and Woodrow Wilson. The first National Park founded was Yellowstone but you can now find a total of 62 parks. Taking into account beauty, landscape and diversity, here are the top 10 National Parks.
1: Yosemite
Yosemite, located in California, was first protected in 1890 and for good reason. Yosemite features a magnificent valley with giant walls of granite, rushing waterfalls, and hiking trails ranging from a daily stroll to an arduous climb. The park is home to Yosemite Falls, which is one of the tallest waterfalls in the U.S. El Capitan (7,573’) and Half Dome (8,839’) are the two big names of Yosemite, which are enormous granite cliffs that this park houses.
2: Yellowstone
Yellowstone is one of the most notable National Parks in the world, due to its status as the first National Park in 1872. Yellowstone is located across the state borders of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Possible activities include admiring the natural beauty of the park by hiking and exploring the park’s vast system of geysers, including the Old Faithful geyser. Yellowstone also has a lot of wildlife. In any given year, there are anywhere from 3,000-6,000 bison in Yellowstone.
3: Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is widely regarded as one of the wonders of the world, and rightfully so. The true scale of the park is astounding and overwhelming. The park, located in Arizona, is home to plenty of wildlife, including bighorn sheep and ringtails. There are a lot of ways to experience this park, examples being going on a raft tour, biking along the South Rim of the canyon, or even taking a tour on the back of a mule.
4: Glacier
Glacier National Park, located in northern Montana, is home to some of the best views in the country. In Glacier you can find moose, bears and even mountain goats. There are over 700 miles of trails, and over 1000 different camp sites to choose from, meaning there really is always something to do.
5: Rocky Mountain
The Rocky Mountains, located in Colorado, are known for their collection of landscapes. Vast meadows, valleys, tundras, huge mountains, and diverse wildlife are some of the marvelous features found in the Rockies. The park is 415 square miles and incorporates 300 miles of hiking trails. While hiking you may cross paths with elk, bighorn sheep, mules, deer, and more.
6: Arches
Arches, located in Utah, is home to more than 2,000 natural stone arches. This park also hosts the longest arch in North America, which is the Landscape Arch. However, the park also consists of many tall pinnacles and huge balanced rocks. While at this park you can hike, backpack, camp and even go horseback riding.
7: Denali
Denali is home to the biggest mountain in North America (20,310’), which used to be named Mount McKinley before officially being renamed Denali in 2015. The cold tundra allows for a lot of animals, including caribou, moose, wolves and bears. From stunning mountain views to crystal clear lakes, you really can’t go wrong with Denali.
8: Acadia
Acadia, located in Maine, is a park that attracts explorers with a colossal 4 million visits a year. This park is a stretch of rocky Atlantic coastline. While at the park you can explore 27 miles of roads, 158 miles of hiking trails, and 45 miles of carriage paths. One of the main attractions is Cadillac Mountain. This is the tallest mountain on the eastern seaboard and is the first place to see the sunrise in the U.S.
9: Gates of the Arctic
Gates of the Arctic, located in northern Alaska, is the second largest National Park at almost 8.5 million acres. This park has plenty of beautiful mountains, and there are also plenty of animals, including bears and wolves. There is a lot to do, including hiking, rafting, camping and even skiing. Gates of the Arctic is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights, but not easy to get to since the best time to visit in late August to mid-April
10: Olympic
This park is an explorer’s dream. Olympic, located in Washington, contains almost one million acres. This park is home to a variety of ecosystems. Coastline, old-growth rainforest, and glacier-capped mountains are the 3 major landscapes. In a week’s trip you could enjoy rocky beaches, explore lakes surrounded by mountains, gaze at the awe-inspiring Hurricane Ridge and travel through the unique yet very popular Hoh Rain Forest, which is covered by moss and ferns.
Honorable Mentions:
Grand Teton
Grand Teton didn’t make the actual list because of how closely related it is to Yellowstone, but don’t be fooled, Grand Teton is still a beautiful park. Located in Wyoming, and known for its mountain range, this park is named after the tallest peak in the range – the Grand Teton. Despite this, the park includes the rest of the mountain range, and its surrounding areas. The most popular hike in the park is the Taggart Lake Loop Trail where you can see the best views of the mountain range and the hike to Hidden Falls.
Sequoia & Kings Canyon
In this park you can experience the awe of a 300 foot tall tree. Sequoia, located in California, not only houses gigantic trees, but also mountains, canyons and more. As you walk through the forest you may even encounter wildlife, including mule deer, pika, and a variety of squirrels and chipmunks.
Mammoth Cave
Mammoth Cave is not only the world’s longest known cave system, but it also includes 80 miles of above-ground hiking trails. Mammoth Cave is more than 400 miles of a five level cave system, with several miles being discovered every year. There is plenty to do, including a wide variety of cave tours and above ground hiking and horseback riding.But your cave tour tickets early though because they do sell out fast.
Everglades
The Everglades are located in the heart of Southern Florida. It is over 1.5 million acres of wetlands and swamps. Everglades is called home by over 200,000 alligators and about 3,000 crocodiles. Many endangered species live in the Everglades including the Florida panther and manatees. The best way to experience this park is on an airboat tour because it allows you to see the major points of interest and many native animals.
