25 Most Beautiful National Parks in the USA
Charles (Chuck) Sieber
6/25/2025
What’s the most beautiful national park in America? Ask 10 people and you’ll get 10 different answers. Today we’re counting down the top 25 most beautiful U.S. national parks—from remote tropical escapes and surreal deserts to towering glaciers and timeless canyons.
This list is the perfect companion to our video guide. You can watch the Top 10 countdown right here!
Whether you’re chasing peaks, planning a coastal getaway, or simply dreaming of wide-open skies, this list will take you on an unforgettable journey. Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more travel guides!
Ready to plan your own adventure? All the tools you need—from a custom itinerary builder to travel guides—are on our website, and they're all free to use. Check out our complete National Parks Directory to get started.
Let’s dive in!
25. National Park of American Samoa
Tucked away in the South Pacific, this is the only U.S. park south of the equator and home to traditional Samoan villages. It's a truly remote paradise where you’ll often see more fruit bats than fellow hikers!
Top Views to Experience:
Vatia Bay Overlook: This easily accessible viewpoint on Tutuila Island offers a jaw-dropping panorama of the National Natural Landmark of Vatia Bay, with its lush, protected coastline and deep blue waters.
Pola Island Trail: A short but rugged hike that rewards you with dramatic views of Pola Island, a nesting site for countless seabirds, as waves crash against the sea cliffs.
Tafeu Cove: Walk along this stunning coastline on Ta‘ū Island to witness pristine beaches, vibrant coral reefs, and the power of the Pacific Ocean.
24. Dry Tortugas National Park, FL
Accessible only by boat or seaplane, this park is 99% water. Its crown jewel is the colossal Fort Jefferson, one of the largest 19th-century brick structures in the Americas that once housed Civil War prisoners.
Top Views to Experience:
Snorkeling around Garden Key: The crystal-clear water offers some of the best snorkeling in Florida. Swim alongside vibrant coral, sea turtles, and countless tropical fish right off the beach.
Moat-Wall Walk: Take a walk along the top of the fort's moat wall for a unique perspective of this massive structure and the surrounding turquoise sea.
Bush Key: When open (it closes seasonally for nesting birds), this adjacent island is a cacophony of life, home to thousands of sooty terns and brown noddies.
23. Virgin Islands National Park
Covering over 60% of the island of St. John, this park protects lush forests, rolling hills, ancient Taino petroglyphs, and some of the most celebrated beaches and snorkeling reefs in the entire National Park system.
Top Views to Experience:
Trunk Bay Underwater Trail: Grab your snorkel gear and follow the underwater signs that identify coral species and marine life in the bath-warm, brilliantly blue water of this world-famous bay.
Cinnamon Bay Beach: A stunningly long and beautiful stretch of white sand perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying the quintessential Caribbean vibe.
Reef Bay Trail: This more strenuous hike takes you downhill through forests, past the ruins of sugar plantations, and ends at ancient Taino petroglyphs—a true journey through history.
Love these remote island escapes? Check out our dedicated post on Hidden National Parks: 10 Island & Coastal Gems to Explore!
22. Everglades National Park, FL
The largest tropical wilderness in the continental U.S., the Everglades is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This vital wetland is the only place on Earth where American alligators and crocodiles coexist, best explored by tram, kayak, or airboat.
Top Views to Experience:
Shark Valley Observation Tower: Take the open-air tram or bike the 15-mile loop to this 65-foot observation tower, offering a 360-degree view of the "River of Grass."
Anhinga Trail Boardwalk: This is wildlife-viewing made easy. The short, accessible boardwalk guarantees close-up (but safe) encounters with alligators, turtles, and countless wading birds.
Flamingo Marina at Sunset: Head to the southernmost point of the park to watch the sun dip below the horizon, often casting a fiery glow over the water as manatees and crocodiles drift by.
21. Saguaro National Park, AZ
Split into two districts around the city of Tucson, this park is a living monument to the American West. It’s famous for its majestic saguaros—Arizona’s living skyscrapers that can reach 40 feet tall and live for over 200 years.
Top Views to Experience:
Cactus Forest Scenic Drive (East): This paved loop takes you through a dense forest of towering saguaros, offering incredible photo opportunities right from your car.
Signal Hill Petroglyphs (West): A short trail leads to a rocky hill covered with hundreds of petroglyphs created by the Hohokam people over 800 years ago.
Tanque Verde Ridge Trail (East): For a more challenging hike, this trail provides spectacular views as it climbs high above the desert floor, giving you a top-down perspective of the cactus kingdom.
20. Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Where the Mojave and Colorado Deserts meet, a surreal landscape unfolds. Named for its unique and bizarre yucca "trees," this park boasts over 8,000 rock-climbing routes and is certified as an International Dark Sky Park for truly epic stargazing.
Top Views to Experience:
Keys View for Sunset: This is the highest viewpoint in the park, offering breathtaking panoramic views over the Coachella Valley. Watching the sunset paint the sky here is a must-do.
Hidden Valley Loop: A popular and easy one-mile loop trail that winds through a stunning rock-enclosed valley, showcasing the park's iconic blend of jumbled boulders and Joshua trees.
Cholla Cactus Garden: A boardwalk meanders through a dense concentration of "teddy bear" cholla cactus. They look cuddly, but don't touch! It's especially beautiful at sunrise when the spines glow.
19. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN/NC
Wrapped in a blue, smoke-like mist that gives them their name, the Smokies are a world of ancient, rolling mountains. It's America’s most-visited park, a living tapestry of biodiversity, boasting over 19,000 species and the title of “Wildflower Capital of the World.”
Top Views to Experience:
Clingmans Dome Observation Tower: A sleek, spiral ramp leads you to the highest point in the park (and on the Appalachian Trail). It provides stunning 360-degree views, and on a clear day, you can see up to 100 miles across seven states.
Cades Cove Historic Loop: This 11-mile, one-way scenic drive takes you back in time through a preserved 19th-century settlement with historic cabins and churches. It's also one of the best spots in the park for spotting wildlife like deer and black bears.
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail: This narrow, winding road follows the path of a rushing mountain stream and features historic buildings, old-growth forests, and access to the trailhead for the beautiful Grotto Falls.
18. Redwood National & State Parks, CA
Intro: Walk among ancient giants—redwoods that exceed 350 ft tall—on trails where Jurassic Park once filmed. This collection of parks protects nearly half of the world’s remaining old-growth coastal redwoods.
Top Views to Experience:
Lady Bird Johnson Grove: An easy, family-friendly loop on a high ridge that immerses you in a lush, foggy world of giant redwoods, ferns, and rhododendrons.
Fern Canyon: A truly prehistoric scene. Hike through a narrow canyon whose 50-foot walls are draped in a dense, dripping tapestry of five different kinds of ferns.
Tall Trees Grove: To stand in this protected grove is to feel truly humbled. Home to some of the tallest trees on Earth, accessing it requires a permit, but the experience of solitude among these titans is unforgettable.
17. Kenai Fjords National Park, AK
Intro: Where ice meets the ocean, Kenai Fjords is a dynamic world shaped by glaciers. It's home to the 700-square-mile Harding Icefield, where you can witness calving glaciers crash into the sea and spot orcas, puffins, and sea lions along the rugged coast.
Top Views to Experience:
Exit Glacier Hike: This is one of the most accessible valley glaciers in Alaska. A network of short trails allows you to get impressively close to the glacier's massive, blue face.
Harding Icefield Trail: A strenuous, world-class day hike for the adventurous. The trail climbs steeply alongside Exit Glacier, rewarding you with jaw-dropping views over the seemingly endless expanse of the Harding Icefield.
Aialik Bay Boat Tour: A must-do. Boat tours take you deep into the park's fjords to see massive tidewater glaciers like Aialik Glacier, where you can watch (and hear) bus-sized chunks of ice calve into the ocean.
16. Canyonlands National Park, UT
Intro: This vast park is split by rivers into four distinct districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the rivers themselves. Each offers Mars-like vistas of immense canyons and intricate rock formations that feel otherworldly.
Top Views to Experience:
Mesa Arch at Sunrise: This is the iconic Canyonlands photo. A short walk leads to a stone arch perched perfectly on the cliff edge, framing the stunning canyon below. At sunrise, the underside of the arch glows with a fiery, unforgettable light.
Grand View Point: The southernmost point of the "Island in the Sky" district. This overlook offers a breathtaking 180-degree panorama of the monumental landscape, with canyons carved by the Green and Colorado rivers.
Needles District: For those seeking adventure, the Needles offers a completely different perspective. Hike among towering, red-and-white striped rock spires that rise from the desert floor like a stone forest.
15. Haleakalā National Park, HI
Intro: At over 10,000 ft in elevation, the summit of Haleakalā is like being on another planet. You can watch clouds roll beneath you at the “House of the Sun,” where rare, otherworldly silversword plants cling to the volcanic slopes.
Top Views to Experience:
Summit Visitor Center Sunrise: This is a world-famous, life-list experience. You'll need reservations, but watching the sun rise above a sea of clouds from the frigid, alpine air of the summit is truly magical.
Sliding Sands Trail: Hike down into the crater itself on a trail of volcanic cinder. The silence, colors, and scale of the landscape are immense, making you feel like an astronaut exploring a martian landscape.
Kīpahulu Coast (Pīpīwai Trail): In the park's coastal district, this lush trail takes you through a dense bamboo forest to the stunning, 400-foot Waimoku Falls, showcasing the park's incredible diversity.
14. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, HI
Intro: Witness the raw power of island-building in real time. Home to two of the world's most active volcanoes, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, this park is a dynamic landscape of steaming craters, vast lava fields, and ancient Polynesian cultural sites.
Top Views to Experience:
Chain of Craters Road: This dramatic road descends 3,700 feet to the coast, taking you past massive craters and across vast, historic lava flows. The overlooks provide a stunning sense of scale.
Thurston Lava Tube (Nāhuku): Walk through a massive, 500-year-old cave that was once a river of molten lava. The lush rainforest at the entrance makes the dark, cavernous tube even more dramatic.
Volcano House Viewpoint: From the Kīlauea Overlook near the historic Volcano House hotel, you can peer into the immense Halemaʻumaʻu crater. At night, you can often see the mesmerizing glow of the lava lake within.
13. Acadia National Park, ME
Intro: This is where the mountains meet the sea. Clad in spruce forests, Acadia's granite peaks sweep down to the rocky, wave-battered Atlantic coast. It features the first place to see the sunrise in the U.S. and a network of historic, Rockefeller-built carriage roads.
Top Views to Experience:
Cadillac Summit Loop: Drive or hike to the top of the highest peak on the U.S. Atlantic coast. In the fall and winter, you'll be the first person in the country to see the sunrise. The 360-degree views are spectacular any time of day.
Jordan Pond Path: An easy, 3.3-mile loop trail that follows the pristine shoreline of Jordan Pond, offering iconic views of the two rounded mountains known as the "Bubbles" across the crystal-clear water.
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse: A quintessential New England scene. This historic lighthouse is perched perfectly on a rugged, pink-rock cliff, making it one of the most photographed spots in the park, especially at sunset.
12. Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
Intro: Not truly a canyon, but a series of natural amphitheaters filled with glowing, spire-like rock formations called hoodoos. Paiute legend says these spires are ancient people turned to stone. The park has the largest concentration of these bizarre and beautiful formations on Earth.
Top Views to Experience:
Sunrise Point & Sunset Point: These two classic overlooks on the rim of the Bryce Amphitheater provide the most breathtaking views. Sunrise Point is best for watching the first light ignite the hoodoos, while Sunset Point offers incredible shadows late in the day.
Navajo-Queens Garden Loop: The most popular hike in the park for a reason. This trail takes you down from the rim and lets you walk among the giant hoodoos, giving you an incredible sense of their scale and intricate beauty.
Bryce Point Overlook: This viewpoint gives you perhaps the most expansive and dramatic view of the entire main amphitheater. From here, the sheer number and density of the hoodoos are simply staggering.
11. Mount Rainier National Park, WA
Intro: Dominating the Washington landscape, this 14,411-foot active volcano is draped in over 25 major glaciers. This mantle of snow and ice feeds vast, vibrant wildflower meadows each summer, creating a stunning contrast of fire and ice.
Top Views to Experience:
Paradise Wildflower Hikes: The name says it all. In July and August, the meadows of Paradise explode into a riot of color, with winding trails offering jaw-dropping views of Mount Rainier towering directly above you.
Sunrise Viewpoint: This aptly named area on the mountain's east side offers some of the most dramatic, up-close views of the volcano and the immense Emmons Glacier. It's the highest point you can drive to in the park.
Grove of the Patriarchs: An easy, peaceful walk takes you to an island of ancient, giant Douglas-firs and Western Red Cedars, some over 1,000 years old. Walking among these giants feels like stepping back in time.
10. Arches National Park, UT
Here you can step into a surreal Red Rock Wonderland sculpted by time. Arches is packed with over 2,000 natural sandstone fins and gravity-defying arches, including the world-famous Delicate Arch. This whole landscape was pushed up from an ancient salt bed, creating a truly alien and awe-inspiring world.
Top Views to Experience:
Delicate Arch at Sunrise: Seeing Utah's state symbol is a must. Catching it at sunrise allows you to watch the first light hit the arch, turning it a fiery orange, and you'll beat the worst of the crowds and the desert heat.
Windows Section Loop: This is one of the easiest, most rewarding trails in the park. The short one-mile loop takes you right up to three massive features—North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch—giving you an incredible sense of their scale.
Devil's Garden Trail: For the more adventurous, this is one of the longest and most challenging maintained trails in the park. It leads you past numerous arches, including the incredible Landscape Arch, which is so thin it looks like it could crumble at any moment.
9. Olympic National Park, WA
Intro: A park of three distinct magical worlds. This UNESCO Biosphere Reserve spans glacier-capped peaks, a mossy temperate rainforest that receives over 12 feet of rain yearly, and a rugged, wild Pacific coast teeming with tide pools and sea stacks.
Top Views to Experience:
Hurricane Ridge: Drive up to this breathtaking viewpoint for a sweeping panorama of the snow-capped Olympic Mountains. It feels like you're on top of the world, looking out over a sea of peaks.
Hoh River Trail: Walk into the heart of one of the quietest places in the United States. This trail is an immersive experience, surrounded by giant, moss-draped Sitka spruce and Bigleaf maples in a quintessential temperate rainforest.
Rialto Beach & Sea Stacks: This is the wild Pacific coast at its best. Hike along the rocky beach to see massive sea stacks looming out of the surf and explore the vibrant marine life in the tide pools at low tide.
8. Denali National Park & Preserve, AK
Our number one spot is a land of superlatives, ruled by a single, colossal monarch. Denali, “The Great One,” is North America’s tallest peak, so massive it creates its own weather. A single 92-mile road is your only ticket into this six-million-acre wilderness, where grizzly bears, caribou, and moose dwarf the human presence.
Top Views to Experience:
Denali Viewpoint South (at Denali State Park): Even if you don't enter the park, this viewpoint on the main highway offers one of the best and most awe-inspiring views of the mountain itself on a clear day.
Wonder Lake Reflections: Immortalized by photographer Ansel Adams, this view is the ultimate prize for visitors who travel to the end of the Park Road. On a calm day, the still waters of Wonder Lake create a perfect, postcard reflection of Denali.
Eielson Visitor Center Panoramas: Located at Mile 66, the visitor center offers what is arguably one of the best head-on views of Denali from inside the park. The massive windows and outdoor terrace provide a breathtaking panorama of glaciers, tundra, and the colossal mountain.
7. Grand Teton National Park, WY
There are mountains, and then there are the Tetons. Known as the "American Alps," these jagged, aggressive peaks explode straight from the valley floor with no foothills to soften their ascent. The result? Perfect, mirror-like reflections in the pristine glacial lakes below.
Top Views to Experience:
Oxbow Bend Reflection: This is one of the most famous photo spots in the park, where the slow-moving curve of the Snake River creates a flawless reflection of Mount Moran. Dawn is the best time, when the water is calmest and wildlife is most active.
Jenny Lake + Cascade Canyon: A perfect two-for-one. Take the shuttle boat across the crystal-clear Jenny Lake to the base of Cascade Canyon. From there, a classic Teton hike leads you deep into the heart of the mountains, with jagged peaks soaring on either side.
Signal Mountain Summit: One of the best panoramic views you can get from your car. The drive to the top offers an incredible overlook of the entire Teton Range and the vast, flat expanse of the Jackson Hole valley.
6. Yosemite National Park, CA
This is John Muir’s cathedral of nature. A valley guarded by the sheer granite faces of El Capitan and Half Dome, where North America’s tallest waterfall thunders from the cliffs, and ancient giants—the Mariposa Grove sequoias—stand silent watch.
Top Views to Experience:
Tunnel View at Sunrise: This is the most iconic view in Yosemite, offering an amazing panorama of the entire valley the moment you exit the Wawona Tunnel. You can see El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall all in one perfect postcard shot.
Glacier Point: Perched high above the valley floor, Glacier Point gives a breathtaking bird's-eye perspective of the park's landmarks, including a phenomenal view of Half Dome. Note that the road is typically closed from November to May.
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias: Walking through Mariposa Grove is a truly humbling experience. Here you're surrounded by hundreds of monarch sequoias that are thousands of years old, including famous trees like the 2,700-year-old Grizzly Giant.
5. Yellowstone National Park, WY/MT/ID
Welcome to the world's first national park, a land that literally bubbles with primordial power. Yellowstone sits atop a massive supervolcano, and you can feel its heartbeat everywhere: in the clockwork eruption of Old Faithful, the psychedelic colors of its hot springs, and across the vast plains where bison still roam free.
Top Views to Experience:
Old Faithful Eruption: The park's most famous attraction isn't the biggest geyser, but it is the most predictable, erupting like clockwork about every 90 minutes. It's a classic and essential Yellowstone experience.
Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook: Seeing this massive hot spring from the boardwalk is impressive, but the view from the Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail is essential. From here, you can truly appreciate its massive size and vibrant, rainbow-like colors.
Lamar Valley Wildlife Safari: Known as the "Serengeti of North America," this vast valley is the absolute best place in the park to see wildlife. Go at dawn or dusk to watch huge herds of bison, plus pronghorn, elk, and maybe even a grizzly bear or a wolf pack.
4. Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
No photo or video can ever prepare you for the sheer, humbling scale of the Grand Canyon. This is not just a canyon; it's a mile-deep, 277-mile-long testament to two billion years of Earth’s history, laid bare for all to see. It’s a place that simply demands silent awe.
Top Views to Experience:
Mather Point at Sunrise: Located by the main South Rim visitor center, this is often the first view people get of the canyon, and it never disappoints. Watching the first rays of sun spill into the canyon and ignite the cliffs is unforgettable.
Desert View Watchtower: This 70-foot stone tower, designed by the legendary Mary Colter, is a don't-miss. Climb to the top for stunning 360-degree views, including a beautiful shot of the Colorado River snaking through the canyon's depths.
A Glimpse of the Bright Angel Trail: You don't have to hike to the bottom to appreciate the canyon's scale. Just hiking a mile or so down the famous Bright Angel Trail will give you a profound sense of the canyon's immensity and its colorful rock layers.
3. Zion National Park, UT
Zion is a park of two powerful personalities. One is serene, where towering cliffs glow with a sacred light. The other is pure adrenaline, daring you to conquer the heart-pounding chains of Angels Landing or wade between the thousand-foot walls of The Narrows.
Top Views to Experience:
Canyon Overlook Trail: This short, one-mile trail offers a massive payoff, delivering a spectacular high-elevation view looking down into the main Zion Canyon. It's the perfect alternative for those who want an epic photo without the terror of Angels Landing.
Angels Landing Summit: This world-famous hike is a serious challenge. The final section is a steep climb up a narrow rock spine using chains bolted into the cliffside. It now requires winning a lottery permit, but the view from the top is one of the greatest in all the national parks.
The Narrows (Riverside Walk): You can experience the famous Narrows by simply walking along the paved, accessible Riverside Walk. Or, get your feet wet and continue hiking upstream, where the canyon walls grow taller and the views become more dramatic with every step.
2. North Cascades National Park, WA
If the Tetons are the American Alps, the North Cascades are their wild, untamed sibling. This is Washington’s hidden jewel, a raw wilderness of over 300 jagged glaciers and Gatorade-blue lakes. Its greatest feature? With almost no roads, profound solitude is your reward.
Top Views to Experience:
Cascade Pass Trail: Often considered the best all-around day hike in the park, this trail delivers everything the North Cascades are known for. As you climb, you are rewarded with unbelievable 360-degree views of jagged peaks, hanging glaciers, and deep U-shaped valleys.
Diablo Lake Overlook: Found right on the main highway (SR 20), this is the park's most famous and easily accessible viewpoint. The unreal turquoise color of the water comes from fine rock dust, or "glacial flour," suspended in the water.
Ross Lake Shoreline: This massive 23-mile reservoir, which stretches into Canada, is a paradise for boaters and kayakers seeking solitude. You can rent a canoe or stay at the remote Ross Lake Resort, where cabins actually float on the lake itself.
1. Glacier National Park, MT
Aptly named the “Crown of the Continent,” this is a realm of staggering peaks, U-shaped valleys, and water so turquoise it looks unreal. But it's a beauty with a sense of urgency—its namesake glaciers have shrunk from over 150 to fewer than 30, making every drive on the jaw-dropping Going-to-the-Sun Road a precious, unforgettable experience.
Top Views to Experience:
Logan Pass & Hidden Lake Overlook: The highest point on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, Logan Pass is on the Continental Divide and home to stunning alpine meadows. The boardwalk trail to the Hidden Lake Overlook is one of the best places in the world to see mountain goats up close.
Iceberg Lake Hike: This incredible 10-mile hike rewards you with one of the most unique sights in the lower 48: a freezing, deep-blue lake where actual icebergs float all summer long.
Wild Goose Island on St. Mary Lake: This is the truly iconic National Park view, instantly recognizable from the opening shot of the film The Shining. The tiny, lone island in the vast, glacier-carved lake creates a scene of perfect, wild beauty.
National Park Adventures
Explore the breathtaking beauty of America's National Parks! Find park guides, hiking trails, camping tips, and more.
Copyright © 2024 American Travel Fun. All rights reserved.
Dream destinations for your inbox
Subscribe to our newsletter and don't miss out on the best American destinations, travel tips, reviews, and more.
We care about your data in our privacy policy.
