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America is one big country. And that means it’s completely jam-packed with bucket-list experiences that are distinctly “All American.” Our National Park System preserves some of the world’s most scenic and ecologically unique areas for visitors to enjoy.
The only issue is: Where do you even begin? Well that’s where we come in! First off, the moment you drive up to our national parks, you feel like you’re entering someplace special. Maybe it’s that fresh mountain air or the smell of the trees.
But most likely, it’s because you’re about to see something “WOW-Worthy.” It might be a canyon so deep you can see two billion years of geological history in its walls. Or trees so massive you could fit buildings inside of them.
If you can only sample a taste of what these parks have to offer, these are the top 10 sights and activities that can’t be missed in the USA’s national parks.
This National Park is the “Listener’s Yosemite,” according to nature recordist and audio ecologist Gordon Hempton. It’s also the nation’s only peaceful rainforest.
If you visit the Hoh Rain Forest on its west side, you’ll be in the presence of one of the least noise-polluted areas in the lower 48 states, with no roads intersecting the park and only a few planes passing overhead.
This pretty much makes any spot in the ancient mossy forest a delight for the senses, especially Hempton’s dedicated spot for peaceful preservation, One Square Inch. It’s about a 2-hour, gently inclined hike from the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center.
You can see Zion from all the way high above while you hike Angels Landing. The views are unimaginable from the summit, but you’ll have to be an adventurous hiker to get to this location.
The rugged trail includes 21 switchbacks called Walter’s Wiggles and half a mile of hairy ridge hiking up the Hogsback. Just hang on tight to the bolted-in chains, and don’t look down if you’re not a fan of heights.
As of April 2022, you’ll need a permit to climb the 1,488ft rock formation because of all the overcrowding and safety issues. Hikers will have to enter an online lottery for $6 and pay three more dollars if they succeed in winning one of the seasonal or last-minute passes.
Can anything beat the crisp air, listening to whale songs, and a hot cup of cocoa on the deck of a touring cruiser? Located right on Canada’s Yukon Territories border, Glacier Bay gets its name for the mesmerizing glaciers in the area.
There’s always something to do and see with icy waters and exquisite, snow-covered peaks in this national park. The main attraction here is the full-day Glacier Bay Boat Tour to see the glaciers.
But generally, flights don’t leave until the following afternoon, which provides time for the park’s visitors to enjoy a half-day whale watching tour before departing the park. And there’s no need to worry about time to fit it all in.
Guests can check out of Glacier Bay Lodge before leaving for the tour, and the lodge’s employees will have your luggage waiting for them at the airport.
Whales are jumping, wild polar animals such as sea otters, puffins, and grizzlies make this trip a natural wonder filled delight for all new and seasoned travelers alike.
“How many national parks do you get to ”go under?” Santa Cruz Island, which you’ll find off the Southern California coast, has an overload of sea caves. Some are even the world’s longest and deepest.
The Santa Barbara Adventure Company offers kayak tours of the caves starting at about $150 plus ferry travel. It’s also a National Marine Sanctuary, so wildlife is plentiful here.
You’ll get to see whales, dolphins, sea birds, sea lions, seals, bat rays, and kelp forests, among other wildlife. But if you’re an experienced kayaker, you can also plan your own trip through the caves. Also, try your hand at snorkeling or tide-pooling while you’re here as well.
This is most likely one of the most picture-worthy mountain ranges in the country. The Grand Tetons climb above the Wyoming prairie and are spectacular to see anytime, but they radiate with beauty on dawn’s clear or partly cloudy morning.
Waking up to see the first light of morning touch the peak of Grand Teton will fill you with wonder. If there are scattered clouds, it’s even more beautiful to see the entire sky in pink, purple, and peach hues.
But even if the sky is perfectly clear, seeing that first light on the magnificent Tetons is an experience that feels new each time you visit.
And even though there’s no shortage of campgrounds to accommodate this view, there may be a shortage of sites for much of the summer. So we recommend visiting in late spring or early fall.
This is actually one of the largest natural bridges in the entire world. Found in South Lake Powell, Rainbow Bridge is truly a must-see sight. It’s regarded as sacred by Native Americans, so Rainbow Bridge’s grandeur makes it a clear national park bucket list contender.
To truly understand the brilliance of this natural monument, the bridge stands at 290ft from the base to the top, and it spans 275ft. The bridge is made up of two types of sedimentary rocks, Navajo and Kayenta Sandstone. You can reach Rainbow Bridge by water or land.
Courtesy docks have been set up two miles from the bridge on Lake Powell, which lead to an easy trail making a quick trip up to the bridge. You also have private boats as an option where you can access the bridge.
It doesn’t need to be below freezing temperatures for you to sled or board in Colorado’s nationally preserved dunes. With ridges up to 750ft high, a quick walk from the main parking center and any non-vegetated slope is fair game.
Companies rent junior and adult-sized sand sleds starting at about $18-$20 per day from April through October.
To add some more insight to your visit, we recommend the free sunset tours with park rangers included, which also include discussions about the ecosystem of the dunes and let you stargaze through a telescope if the nights are clear.
Just picture watching Old Faithful erupting, the swirling volcanic colors of Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone!
They’re all fantastic sights on the beaten path of America’s first national park, but Yellowstone really shines in its opportunities for wildlife viewing. Travel to Hayden Valley, and you may have a chance of seeing some really remarkable animals.
You might get a chance to catch some bison, grizzly bears, wolf packs, and elk herds. We recommend getting there in the early AM and setting up a camp chair with a blanket and a warm drink in hand.
For all you photographers out there, be sure to bring a decent pair of binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens. If you want to bypass the crowds, the best visiting times are late spring and early fall.
Hawaii wouldn’t technically exist without the presence of volcanoes. And these volcanoes on the Big Island give visitors an ideal chance to witness these powerful geological features up close and personal.
Even though we can’t guarantee that you’ll be able to see the lava flows, check with the visitor center for your best chance, there are always steam vents and volcanic craters you can stand on the edge of to feel the heat and admire the unique landscape, in which select plants still continue to thrive.
In particular, we recommend the four-mile loop through rainforests down into the Kīlauea Iki crater. All in all, it’s an epic experience that will make you feel so small yet so powerful!
The first beams of sunlight to reach the US coasts do so at Acadia National Park. At least, this is the case from October through March.
According to Steve Silberberg of Fitpacking, a company that guides backpacking adventures, has been there to see it happen at 4:48 AM on the December solstice from Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the Atlantic seaboard and a significant attraction within Acadia.
Once you’ve seen the morning light over a seascape of foggy islands, consider exploring more of Mount Desert Island by hiking or bike, a great way to know the park more intimately while still covering some considerable ground.
So what did you think about the amazing options included with some of our national parks? Let us know about you’re own experiences in the comments section!
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Have been through most of the western US Parks, and loved them all. The trip to some of the parks can be depressing given living conditions of natives. Haven't been to the parks in Maine, still on my list, but have been through most of the western parks in winter and summer. Can't be beaten. Plan to go again.