Whether you’re a travel enthusiast or enjoy the outdoors, you probably know that there are some best National Parks in the USA to visit. But what are the best?
Yellowstone
In the western United States, Yellowstone National Park spans 2.2 million acres in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. It is known for its geothermal features and abundance of wildlife. It is home to elk, grizzly bears, bison, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn.
The area has been volcanically active for millions of years. The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is a classic V-shaped valley formed by ancient lava flows. Its walls are painted with vivid yellow, red, and lavender hues.
The area has seen three significant volcanic eruptions in the past 2.2 million years. The last three eruptions occurred around 600,000 to 900,000 years ago. These eruptions caused drastic climate change. They ejected 600 cubic miles of rock and ash. They also created a massive caldera that measured 43 by 18 miles.
The area has experienced several earthquakes of magnitude six or higher during historical times. These have caused damage to buildings, sparked forest fires, and threatened human life.
Great Smoky Mountains
Located in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of America’s most visited national parks. It is also one of North America’s largest refuges of temperate zone flora and fauna.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s history is as rich and deep as its mountains. From the time of prehistoric times, humans have occupied the area. During the Woodland Period, permanent communities developed. European-American settlers arrived in the 1700s. Then, logging boom towns sprang up at sites in the mountains.
When the logging industry arrived in the early 1900s, the agricultural pattern of the region changed. The people became dependent on store-bought food and manufactured goods. They were also forced to leave their family homesteads to build logging towns.
During the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was created. The group worked in the park from 1933 to 1942. The CCC built infrastructure improvements and worked on historic buildings.
Yosemite
Yosemite stands out among the many national parks in the USA for its unique geologic features and spectacular waterfalls. This national park is a world-class tourist attraction, attracting millions of visitors annually.
Yosemite is located near the Nevada border and is 3.5 hours north of San Francisco. The park is home to giant sequoia trees, mountain lakes, and waterfalls. It is also a popular destination for mountain climbers.
The Sierra National Forest and Stanislaus National Forest surround the park. The park covers 759,620 acres. The National Park Service manages it. The park includes campgrounds, lodges, hiking trails, and dining facilities.
Yosemite is home to the largest granite monolith in the world, El Capitan. The towering monolith reaches 3,600 feet above the valley.
The park has many waterfalls, including Bridalveil Falls, Vernal Falls, Nevada Falls, and Ribbon Falls. Many hiking trails lead to these waterfalls.
Arches
In the southwestern United States, Arches National Park in Utah is a high desert biosphere with over 2,000 natural sandstone arches. This park also offers a variety of hiking trails for visitors. Some courses are short, while others take several hours to complete.
Arches National Park is best visited during the spring and fall. This is the time of year when the temperatures are moderate, and the crowds are less. However, the summer months can be scorching and uncomfortable. The temperatures can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit, so visitors should pack plenty of water and sunscreen.
Arches National Park is one of the most popular parks in the national park system. It is located on the Colorado River, just north of Moab, Utah. There are several hotels, gas stations, and restaurants in the nearby town of Moab.
Bryce Canyon
Whether you’re traveling by car, bus, or train, Bryce Canyon is a scenic and educational site that’s sure to impress. This national park offers visitors various activities and sights, including spectacular hiking trails and unusual geologic formations. Whether you’re looking for a scenic drive or a challenging hike, there’s something for everyone.
One of the most impressive things about Bryce Canyon is the hoodoos. These are pillar-like structures made of sandstone. They’re shaped by erosion and weathering and vary in height and thickness throughout their size.
The hoodoos are made of OK-grained sedimentary rock deposited millions of years ago. Depending on the size of the sediment, you can find out what kind of environment the rock was deposited in.
One of the most popular hiking trails is the Fairyland Loop Trail. This is an eight-mile trail that winds through spires and fins.
Isle Royale
Located in northwest Lake Superior, Isle Royale National Park is one of the few national parks in the United States that shut down for the winter. Its unique ecosystem is home to several local species of wolves and moose.
Isle Royale is a wilderness archipelago of nearly 190,000 acres of land. It was formed by the Greenstone lava flow, the planet’s most significant known lava flow. This flow is also responsible for creating the backbone of Isle Royale.
The island was first visited by Native Americans about four millennia ago. They tapped maple trees for sugar and used the land for fishing and fishing ponds. The land was eventually occupied by the Ojibwa, who considered the island their territory. However, the area was under British control until the War of 1812.
After the War of 1812, the Ojibwa people ceded the island to the United States under the Treaty of La Pointe. The area was then declared a national park in 1940.
Glacier
Located in Montana, Glacier National Park is known as the crown of North America. It is situated in the northern Rocky Mountains, near Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada. This scenic wilderness area features sharp mountain peaks, glacier-carved valleys, alpine meadows, and many types of wildlife.
The area around Glacier National Park is known as the Continental Divide, a mountain range that marks the boundary between eastward and westward drainage systems. This region is interspersed with mixed pine and spruce and features several glaciers.
There are many hiking trails and cycling options to explore. There are also numerous lakes, including the largest lake in Glacier, Lake McDonald. High peaks surround this 10-mile-long lake. It is covered in colorful rocks.
Glacier National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It features a wealth of wildlife, including moose, eagles, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, whitetail deer, and more.
Acadia
Located on the eastern coast of Maine, Acadia National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the United States. It boasts stunning coastal views, a rich cultural history, and incredible hikes and drives.
Acadia National Park is home to a large amount of wildlife. It has more than 330 species of birds and over 40 species of mammals. The park is also home to wetlands, streams, forests, and cobble beaches.
Acadia National Park also includes some of the tallest coastal mountains on the eastern seaboard. Cadillac Mountain is the first point in the United States to see the sunrise. The summit is open during the spring, summer, and fall months. It can get crowded in the early morning hours.
The park is also home to one of the world’s largest concentrations of sandstone arches. Some of these formations took millions of years to form. There are over 2,000 of these formations.
Badlands
Located in southwest South Dakota, Badlands National Park preserves the world’s largest expanse of protected mixed-grass prairie. The region is home to prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, and regal bison.
The Badlands are places of extreme weather, including hot, dry summers and heavy rainfall. The area is also home to the world’s richest fossil beds.
There are several things to do while visiting Badlands National Park. You can explore fossils, check out the Fossil Preparation Lab, and watch paleontologists at work. You can also learn about the region’s history through ranger-led programs.
Check out the park’s website for updates and emergency alerts if you plan a visit. You can also follow Badlands National Park on Facebook or Twitter.
There are several hiking trails in the area. You can start at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. The Castle Trail is one of the park’s most popular trails. It is a point-to-point trail that passes through prairie grass and dramatic badlands formations. The Fossil Exhibit Trail is another popular hike that includes fossils.
Capitol Reef
Capitol Reef National Park is a scenic oasis filled with towers, cliffs, and canyons in Utah’s south-central region. It was established as a national monument in 1937 and was reclassified as a national park in 1971. It is open year-round and offers a variety of trails.
Capitol Reef National Park is known for its towers, canyons, and colorful sandstone cliffs. It is an oasis for hiking and wildlife and is an incredible landscape to see at night.
The park is home to mule deer, black bears, and coyotes. It has extensive hiking trails that rival those in Zion National Park. It has several campgrounds, teepees, historic buildings, and more.
Capitol Gorge Road and State Route 24 are the only two roads in the park that are wilderness. This makes it easy to explore the park. The road follows the Fremont River and passes through Fremont Canyon.
