Discover the 15 Most Beautiful National Parks in the U.S.

The United States is home to 423 national parks and national park sites. All of them are governed and administered by the National Park Service of the U.S. These parks have a total surface area of over 84 million acres. Do you know what this means?

This translates to more than 84 million acres of astonishing views, serene landscapes, rock formations, caves, lakes, rivers, and many more. It is challenging to make such a short list, but we think we’re up for it.

If you want to add at least one natural wonder of the U.S. to your bucket list, then read more about the 15 most beautiful national parks in the country!

1. Yosemite National Park

Surrounded by the Sierra National Forest and Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park is located in California and covers an area of more than 700,000 acres. Waterfalls, granite cliffs, giant sequoia groves, glaciers, lakes, and meadows are some of the natural treasures visitors can find in Yosemite National Park. 

Since 95% of the park consists of wild areas, there are plenty of animal species you can discover, including willow flycatchers, mountain beavers, deer, and great grey owls.

2. Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is located in Montana, on the border between Canada and the United States. The park encompasses two mountain ranges, more than 1,000 species of plants, hundreds of species of animals, and 130 named lakes that make for spectacular and unforgettable views!

This park is rich in historical facts, as Native Americans initially inhabited the region that eventually became a national park, followed by European explorers. 

Rare and endangered species of animals, such as Canadian lynxes and wolverines, can be spotted in Glacier National Park.

3. Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park became the 15th national park in the United States. It’s situated in northwestern Arizona. Without a single shred of doubt, the Grand Canyon is the most popular attraction of this national park. 

Point Imperial, Roosevelt Point, and Cape Royal are some of the lookout points you can access while driving there. Numerous hiking trails are available for adventurers. On the South Rim, visitors can opt for a 35-mile driving tour and several walking tours.

Grand Canyon National Park is home to many animal species, including mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and various reptiles and birds. 

4. Zion National Park

Zion National Park is located in the southwestern part of Utah State. The highest peak is 8,726 feet, while the lowest is 3,666 feet. One of the most beautiful places in this national park is Zion Canyon, which stretches over 15 miles. 

The unique landscapes that can be found in Zion National Park are definitely breathtaking! This is because it’s located where the Colorado Plateau, Mojave Desert, and Great Basin regions meet. 

There are nine geological formations in the areas of Zion and Kolob Canyons. These formations are the result of 150 million years of Mesozoic-aged sedimentation.

5. Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is an incredibly large park located in the western region of the United States. It consists of lakes, rivers, mountain ranges, canyons, forests, and grasslands extremely rich in plant and animal species. The park hosts the largest supervolcano on the continent called the Yellowstone Caldera. 

Approximately 3,000 bison live in Yellowstone National Park. This is the largest public herd in the United States.

6. Denali National Park and Preserve

Denali National Park and Preserve can easily be called one of the most beautiful places in the United States. It will certainly make for a lasting impression! It is located in Interior Alaska and features the highest mountain in North America. Some tours can take you through boreal forests, rivers, and abrupt cliffs where spectacular views are revealed to visitors.

Denali National Park shelters thousands of animals and a wide variety of species. Grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, caribou, coyotes, hoary marmots, beavers, and pikas are only some of them. Many migratory birds, such as waxwings or tundra swans, can be spotted during spring and summer.

7. Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is located southwest of Bar Harbor. Visitors can delight in incredibly diverse views: cobble beaches, shaped valleys, mountains, coastlines, lakes, and forests. 

The park’s popularity stems from the special whale-watching tours that start in Bar Harbor and that visitors can take. Just imagine the views you’ll enjoy during such a tour! 

Moreover, there are guided boat trips that you can join to explore the beautiful coastline.

8. Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park is located in Washington. It is an excellent destination for any kind of trip, as it features four regions: alpine areas, the Pacific coastline, the west-side temperate rainforest, and the east-side forests. 

The park’s network of hiking trails opens up picturesque views that will amaze nature lovers! Beach enthusiasts can take their backpacks and start a multi-day trip along the coastline, thus having the opportunity to spot numerous species of sea animals including sea lions. 

The Hurricane Ridge viewpoint has the most amazing views of the Olympic National Park! 

9. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located in the southeastern part of the United States and includes some of the highest mountains in the eastern area. Millions of visitors visit the park for its waterfalls, forests, biodiversity, and numerous historical structures. Mount Le Conte, the third-highest peak in the park, is one of the most popular attractions there. 

The U.S. Highway 441 is a road that crosses the park, revealing absolutely astonishing views. Apart from this, multiple hiking trails take tourists to some of the most beautiful places this national park offers. 

10. Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier National Park can be seen as a gathering of incredible natural sights. There are more than 25 glaciers in this park, as well as old-growth forests, waterfalls, valleys, and subalpine meadows. You can see them all during a trip through the park. All of these are surrounded by Mount Rainier itself, a 14,410-foot high stratovolcano.

Travelers who want to see Mount Rainier can trek the Wonderland Trail from all possible angles. This trail alone can make for a unique experience in this national park as it is webbed with snowfields and glaciers.

Mount Rainier National Park is home to three stunning major attractions : Paradise, Longmire, and Sunrise. Paradise hosts the famous Paradise Inn. Longmire features 173 individual campsites spread throughout the massive forests of fir, red cedar, and hemlock. Sunrise is an elevated area and the highest point in the park of 6,400 feet. It shelters miles of trails ready to be explored!

11. Kenai Fjords National Park

A trip to the Kenai Fjords National Park will take you to south-central Alaska. This is a must-see national park, and you shouldn’t miss the opportunity! The national park will introduce you to coastal islands, coastal fjords, glaciers, and the Harding Icefield. The park’s only road ends at Exit Glacier. This is the most popular attraction in the Kenai Fjords.

This national park has everything you’d expect an Alaskan landscape to have. You can discover 38 glaciers, plenty of forested lands, and an indented coastline.

12. Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park is situated in the northwestern part of Wyoming, 10 miles south of Yellowstone National Park. The major peaks of the Teton Range can be spotted in this park. 

Plant lovers will certainly be charmed at the view of thousands of types of plants and trees!

Besides the stunning natural views, the Grand Teton National Park is rich in cultural and historical elements. The first nomadic Paleo-Indians migrated into the region as early as 11,000 years ago. The exhibits and art collections at the visitors’ centers make you feel as if you’re transported to the past.

13. Great Basin National Park

Great Basin National Park is named after the Great Basin, a dry and mountainous formation located near the Sierra Nevada. The national park’s well-known attraction is the Lehman Caves. These stand at the base of Wheeler Peak. Other notable things you must see are the groves of ancient bristlecone pines and the Wheeler Peak Glacier.

Nature enthusiasts will be amazed at the sight of all the flora in the park. There are more than 800 species of plants and 11 conifer trees in and around the park. Explorers can also catch a glimpse of Utah juniper, sagebrush, Englemann spruce, and quaking aspen, among many others.

Great Basin National Park features 12 trails of various lengths. These will take you through the Cypress Swamp, Lexington Arch, Stella Lake, and Wheeler Peak. 

14. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park

The Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park truly is one natural wonder of the United States! The designated national park protects more than 400,000 acres of forested mountainous terrain, including the largest tree in the world — the General Sherman Tree.

This park is also the home of the highest point in the U.S., Mount Whitney. It has a total elevation of 14,505 feet. The Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park is a UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve.

Travelers who want to see things out of this world can start a hike on the Sherman Tree Trail. It is a short (0.8 miles long) trail that explores the General Sherman Tree and a grove of impressive giant sequoia trees. For a cinematic experience, to say the least, we recommend a trip to Crescent Meadow, often dubbed the “Gem of Sierra.”

15. Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef National Park is located in south-central Utah. It preserves 241,904 acres of the desert landscape and is known for its magical sights. The huge area is home to canyons, buttes, monoliths, and ridges, among many other types of formations.

This national park can be scientifically described as a “Waterpocket Fold,” basically a warp of the planet’s outer layer. The Fold is more than 65 million years old.

Capitol Reef National Park is a natural treasure loaded with arches, cliffs, naturally-emerged towers, and domes. The national park can be discovered through hundreds of trail miles open to the public.

Summary of the 15 Most Beautiful National Parks in the U.S.

Here’s a recap of 15 of the United States’ most scenic and fascinating national parks and their attractions.