The 25 Best National Parks in the US, From Acadia to Yosemite
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These days, most of us are on a mission to visit the best national parks in the US—they're not just havens for outdoor adventure, but a portal to a long, storied history.
When John Colter stumbled upon steaming geysers and boiling mud pools during the winter of 1807 after leaving the Lewis and Clark expedition, he became the first European-American to set foot in what would eventually become the first national park. He returned with seldom-believed tales of water spewing from the ground and heat he likened to hell itself. Three-quarters of a century later, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act into law, setting the wheels in motion to establish the National Park Service.
The National Park Service was formed in 1916 by an act signed by President Woodrow Wilson to conserve the natural ecosystems, landscapes, wildlife, and history deemed special enough for generations to come.
But the successes and triumphs of US land conservation can’t be acknowledged without also acknowledging the removal of Indigenous peoples from the land they called home for thousands of years. Many parks do their best to shed light on this less-glorious history, providing opportunities to learn and reflect while exploring the parks—and connect with those who can trace their relationship to these landscapes to times well before the creation of the United States.
Today, over 300 million people flock to the nation’s 63 national parks annually, to appreciate the natural and human history in spaces that those before us thought were valuable enough to preserve. While classics like Yellowstone and Great Smoky Mountain National Parks can’t be missed, there are plenty of parks that often go overlooked. They have earned the same level of protection for a reason, be it flora, fauna, history, or all of the above, and promise adventure with far fewer crowds. Below, we round up 25 of the best national parks in the US, focusing on a combination of these overlooked icons, with a few must-see classics.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
- Matt Anderson Photography
Grand Teton National Park
Located just south of Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park sees fewer visitors every year despite its dramatic mountainous skyline. The Tetons reach over 7,000 vertical feet into the air, a stark contrast against the surrounding flat plains. The 2.7-billion-year-old gneiss is some of the oldest rock in North America, drawing climbers and mountaineers from all around the world looking to scale one of many classic routes to the Grand Teton’s summit, from which the park got its name.
All that said, you don’t have to be a skilled mountaineer to enjoy the spectacular scenery, which is laced with over 250 miles of hiking trails within park bounds. Hikes like the Phelps Lake Overlook, Taggart Lake, and the Woodland Trail Loop are relatively easy and require a minimal time commitment, but still afford hikers a slice of the park outside of roadside pull-offs.
If hiking isn’t your thing, the Snake River, which flows through the park, is home to world-class trout fishing and paddling—visit during the spring for a float trip down the river, or in September to see bull elk rutting, and the first traces of snow on the higher peaks. The Cloudveil, a Marriott Autograph Collection property, is a convenient stay in Jackson’s historic town square. The central Mountain Modern—formerly known as The Jackson Hole Lodge—recently underwent a major expansion which was completed in fall of 2022. And for the kid-free traveler, Hotel Yellowstone at Jackson Hole, an adults-only luxurious boutique hotel, debuted in August of 2024.
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Yosemite National Park, California
For decades, rock climbers have made the migration to Yosemite National Park, undeniably the most iconic of the nine national parks in California, to test their skills and push the boundaries of the sport. And with the skyscraper-like granite monoliths that dominate the landscape—the tallest being El Capitan at over 3,000 vertical feet—it only makes sense that Yosemite continues to be a premiere destination for climbers worldwide. Hiking one of the most iconic features in the park, Half Dome, is an adventure for experienced hikers that requires a 4,800 foot ascent over the course of a 14-mile round trip hike. The strenuous and exposed nature of the trek, which requires the use of cables near the summit, make this one of the most difficult hikes in any national park. To curb crowds, daily visits are limited to 300 through a permitting system.
But the spectacular rock faces and the valleys they rise from can be appreciated by non-climbers, too. With over 94% of the park’s 1,200 square miles being designated wilderness, there is plenty to explore. Shorter day hikes like the half-mile Bridalveil Fall Trail or the five-mile Mirror Lake Loop are easier alternatives. Stay a couple of days, minimum, and spend the night at the Evergreen Lodge, which has 88 cabins on its 20-acre property, or consider some of the park’s other nearby options, like spending the night glamping in an airstream camper or relaxing in a luxurious private estate. There are also plans in the works for Under Canvas, an upscale “glamping” brand, to open a location just minutes from the park’s west entrance in the spring of 2025.
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Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
Lassen Volcanic National Park’s location in northern California, nearly four hours north of San Francisco, feels like a secret among those who come to see its geothermal features, alpine meadows, and vast coniferous forests. Less than 420,000 people visited in 2023, compared to the 3.9 million who visited Yosemite and 4.5 million who visited Yellowstone that year.
The park, which was officially established in 1916, is one of the few places in the world where all four major types of volcanoes—plug dome, shield, cinder cone, and stratovolcano—can be found. Lassen Peak, one of the largest plug dome volcanoes in the world, looms over Lake Helen while steam billows from pools of water heated by molten rock below.
Of the park’s 106,000 acres, nearly 80,000 are designated wilderness area, making it easier to find untouched beauty and solitude than in some of the more crowded parks.
Over 150 miles of hiking trails await Lassen Volcanic National Park’s visitors. The 4-mile Cinder Cone Trail is a must-do hike, ascending to the rim of the Cinder Cone volcano and affording hikers views of the solidified basalt lava flows and into the cone itself. For the avid hiker, the strenuous five-mile round-trip Lassen Peak Trail climbs to the summit of Lassen Peak, passing through coniferous forests before emerging onto a rocky, treeless ridge.
The park’s geothermal features are also worth a visit, some of which are accessible by car or a short walk. Sulphur Works is a roadside attraction where mud pools bubble and springs boil, inviting visitors to watch the last bit of thermal activity fueled by an ancient volcano. Other similar features, like Bumpass Hell—the largest hydrothermal area in the park—are spread throughout the park, but require a walk.
There are seven campgrounds in Lassen Volcanic National Park, three of which (Southwest Walk-in, Juniper Lake, and Warner Valley) remain closed as of the summer of 2024 due to the devastating Dixie Fire of 2021. And while sleeping under the stars is one of the best ways to experience our national parks, there are cabins available at the Manzanita Lake Campground, just inside the park’s northern entrance. The secluded Drakesbad Guest Ranch is a lodge within park boundaries, but it remains closed for continued repairs during the 2024 summer season.
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Redwood National and State Parks, California
Situated on the coast of northern California, the Redwood National and State Parks are home to the tallest trees in the world, growing up to 370 feet tall and 22 feet across at their bases. Some are said to be several thousand years old, having survived the logging industry that was quickly decimating the forests during the 19th century.
During the mid-19th century, as European-Americans began migrating west, they were met with a seemingly infinite source of lumber for building and trade, eventually becoming the main economic driver of the region. As immigrants continued to chase gold and logging methods became more advanced into the early 20th century, the ancient trees quickly disappeared. By the 1960’s, all but 10% of the Redwoods were gone. Redwood National Park wasn’t born until 1968, solidifying the protection of these invaluable trees for future generations. Today, management and operations of the national and state (Jedediah Smith, Del Norte, and Prairie Creek Redwoods) parks that surround it are shared, creating a unique partnership between the state and federal governments.
As soon as you walk among these giants, you'll understand visitors from around the world travel for the redwoods. But there are also two major rivers here, vast prairies, and 37 miles of coastline along which seastacks rise from the ocean floor, and rocky cliffs descend to meet the Pacific’s crashing waves.
If you don’t have much time, hiking the 1.5-mile loop through the Lady Bird Johnson Grove, which sits near the top of a ridge and is comprised of ancient Redwood and Douglas Fir trees, is a great option. The Boy Scout Tree Trail, which is technically in the Jebediah Smith Redwoods State Park, is a 5.3-mile trail through a mossy lowland redwood grove.
Of the 200 miles of hiking trails that weave through the national and state parks, 70 are part of the Coastal Trail, which traverses along the sand beaches, tide pools, and sea cliffs of northern California. There are several sections that can be done as day hikes, so visitors can explore the coast without having to commit to a multi-day trek.
In addition to four basic campgrounds across the national and state parks, there are eight cabins available at the Elk Praire Campground in the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, but they are typically booked months in advance. There are several towns in the region that offer plenty of spots to rest your head, like the luxurious oceanfront property Lost Whale Inn, located in Trinidad, just south of the parks.
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Virgin Islands National Park, Saint John
The Virgin Islands National Park makes up two-thirds of the smallest US Virgin Island of Saint John. Instead of mega-resorts and multi-deck cruise ships typical of other Caribbean destinations, visitors to the island will find undeveloped sand beaches, forested hills, and a craggy coastline.
Saint John was inhabited by the Arawakan-speaking Taino people for nearly 1,300 years, until the mid-15th century. The Danish took control of the island during the early 18th century, utilizing slave labor to operate plantations that grew tobacco, cotton, and sugar cane. It wasn’t long after the United States purchased the island in 1917 that Laurance Rockefeller discovered it, eventually buying a large swath of land that would become the Virgin Islands National Park.
Remnants of the island’s history can still be seen around the park. The 6-mile out-and-back Reef Bay Trail is one of the more popular and diverse hikes in the park, descending 900 vertical feet past Danish sugar plantation ruins, Taino petroglyphs, and a waterfall, before arriving at an undeveloped sand beach. There is also a small trail network meandering through the once-thriving Cinnamon Bay Sugar Plantation. In addition to a half-mile nature walk and accessible boardwalk in this trail network, the one-mile Cinnamon Bay Trail boasts views of Maho and Francis Bays and passes several ruins.
Over 40% of the park is underwater, offering plenty of opportunities to dive, snorkel, and paddle. Maho Bay, which is famous for its sea turtles, is worth checking off your list while in the park.
While there isn’t a shortage of places to stay, there aren’t many hotel chains or luxury resorts around. The Cinnamon Bay Campground is the only lodging in the park and is close to attractions like Maho Bay. Travelers can rent snorkeling gear, kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards at the campground, so you don’t have to travel far to start your adventures. In addition to standard “bare” tent sites, Cinnamon Bay offers eco-tents and cottages. Gallows Point Resort, located in the downtown area of Cruz Bay, is one of the only resorts on the island. There are also plenty of villas and rentals that can be booked on platforms like AirBnb and VRBO.
There aren’t any flights to Saint John, but most major US hubs have flights to Saint Thomas. From there, a short taxi ride to Red Hook and a 20-minute ferry will get you to the island.
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Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Mount Rainier, which is located just 60 miles from Seattle, is a defining icon of the Pacific Northwest.
The volcano’s summit is perched 14,410 feet above sea level in the middle of Mount Rainier National Park, making it the tallest in the Cascade Range. Twenty eight glaciers crawl down the flanks of the mountain, creating a rugged landscape that contrasts the wildflower-filled valleys and coniferous forests surrounding it.
Of the 1.5 million people who visit Mount Rainier National Park annually, thousands head straight to the volcano to make an attempt at its summit, with only about half finding success. And while the bucket-list climb is a worthy feat in itself, over 275 miles of maintained hiking trails and 228,400 acres (97% of the park) of designated wilderness area will keep less ambitious adventurers busy for a lifetime.
Mount Rainier National Park tends to get busy during the summer, so visiting during shoulder seasons and midweek will increase your odds of finding solitude. Of course, throwing on a backpack and heading into the wilderness is also a great way to escape the crowds.
There are an infinite number of ways to link trails for a multi-day backpacking trip, but one of the best is by hiking the Carbon Glacier and Moraine Park Trails to create a 21-mile out-and-back trip, offering close-up views of the lowest-elevation glacier in the lower 48. If you have three or four days to spend in the backcountry, consider the 40-mile Northern Loop Trail, which ascends 8,500 feet over rivers, through alpine meadows, and past glaciers and alpine lakes. It’s important to stop by a ranger station ahead of a backpacking trip, not only to get a backcountry permit, but for help with planning, logisitics, and a conditions report.
For a shorter day hike, the 4.6-mile Rampart Ridge Trail meanders through an old-growth forest before reaching a ridge with several viewpoints. The 3.5-mile Naches Peak Loop Trail is one of the more popular hikes in the park, and traverses sub-alpine meadows with views of Rainier.
In addition to three car-camping sites and plenty of backcountry sites, the National Park Inn and Paradise Inn are two lodging options within park boundaries. There are also several gateway towns with plenty of lodging outside the park, depending on which area you plan on visiting. Ashford is just minutes from the Nisqually Entrance of the park’s Paradise region, which is one of the park’s more popular areas. Crystal Mountain, also a ski area, is typically used as the jumping-off point for the Sunrise section of the park. Packwood is just an hour from both areas, and even has a brewery perfect for winding down after a long day of adventure.
In response to a 40% increase in visitation over the last decade, Mount Rainier National Park has implemented a pilot timed entry reservation system for two of the park’s popular areas—the Paradise and Sunrise Corridors—for the 2024 summer season.
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Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Northern Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park offers visitors a glimpse 200 million years into the past, with Triassic-era fossils scattered throughout a desert landscape. The park is one of the only places people can get a up-close glimpse of fossilized remnants of ancient trees and animals that pre-date dinosaurs, with the hardened tree trunks serving as the park’s main attraction.
And while most people come for the fossils, the painted deserts, vast badlands, and towering buttes make Petrified Forest National Park a worthy destination.
There's a rich human history here, dating back over 13,000 years, with the Pueblo being the most recent people to inhabit the area prior to the arrival of European explorers. Ancient petroglyphs and carvings can be found throughout the park, and remnants of the Puerco Pueblo village (one of several archaeological sites), which is said to have been home to 200 people nearly 1,000 years ago, can be accessed via a .3-mile loop trail. Visitors can also experience the culture and history of those who inhabit the region today, with cultural demonstrations taking place between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at the Painted Desert Inn.
There are many hikes in the park that follow hard-to-see or non-existent trails, requiring some route-finding skills and knowledge of backcountry travel. But speaking with rangers at one of the visitor centers can be helpful, and most of these routes have guides that help hikers navigate using landmarks. One is the 3-mile Blue Forest Trail, which was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1934 and 1937 and winds through the park’s colorful badlands, passing petrified wood along the way. The 8.5-mile Red Basin Clam Beds hike is unique and diverse, offering not only views of petrified wood, but also petroglyphs, fossilized clam beds, badlands, and tall rock spires formed by thousands of years of erosion.
Unlike many of the other national parks, the only way to spend a night under the stars is by primitive camping in the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area, which requires getting a free permit from one of the visitor centers. There are no front-country campgrounds in the park. Holbrook is the closest town to the park, and has plenty of lodging and restaurants to choose from. There aren’t any spectacular luxury accomodations around town, but places like the Green Tree Inn are great options if camping isn’t your thing.
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Badlands National Park, South Dakota
While South Dakota isn’t typically front of mind when thinking about our national lands, the rock formations and untouched prairies of the Badlands National Park compose a landscape unlike any other.
Situated near the Black Hills, the Badland’s buttes, mesas, and canyons were formed during millions of years of deposition and erosion, leaving behind geologic features surrounded by one of the largest mixed-grass prairie ecosystems in the country. But arguably more important than the natural landscape is the area’s history, which is steeped in broken promises and the westward expansion of a growing country.
For thousands of years, Indigenous American tribes, including the Lakota (referred to as the Sioux by their enemies) saw the “mako sica,” or Badlands, as a sacred place to be used for hunting, ceremonies, and rituals. As the United States expanded west during the late 19th century, the land was promised to the Lakota forever—a vow broken just 21 years later.
Today, visitors can explore this history at the park’s museum exhibits in the Ben Reifel and White River Visitor Centers before connecting with nature on the park’s network of hiking trails. The 10-mile Castle Trail is the longest in the park, meandering through open prairie and past towering buttes to the Fossil Exhibit Trail, which is an accessible boardwalk with fossil replicas and exhibits of the extinct animals that once inhabited the area.
In addition to two front-country campgrounds in the park, visitors can spend the night at the Cedar Pass Lodge, which offers cabins and is the only lodging within park boundaries. Backcountry camping is allowed in the park’s North Unit, which is just south of I-90 and tends to be less crowded than the South Unit, which is located on the Oglala Lakota Pine Ridge Reservation.
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Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska
For remote wilderness experiences and mountain-based adventure, it's hard to match Denali National Park and Preserve. Home to the tallest summit in North America, from which the park got its name, this 6 million-acre park has only one road traversing it.
In the spring and early summer, wildflower-filled valleys frame the high alpine, glacier-capped skyline, uninhibited by man for miles. In the winter, the park becomes a snow-covered playground for serious skiers and mountaineers, though it’s also the perfect time for travelers who want to catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis.
While many who visit the park are in search of a remote wilderness adventure, you don’t have to spend days hunting your food and whittling spears out of sticks to enjoy the park. There are several worthy day hikes in Denali, like the eight-mile round trip Savage Alpine Trail, and there is even a luxury lodge within the park boundaries. Hiking off-trail is also encouraged, since there are only 35 miles of trail in the entire park—just make sure you’re prepared with the proper gear, knowledge, and a plan, before embarking.
Like in many national parks, those with the skills necessary to head into the backcountry will be immersed in the most serene, spectacular scenery in the world. Backpackers confident enough to travel through remote landscapes will be able to take full advantage of the park’s main purpose, which, according to their website is “to provide visitors with the means of self-reliance and self-discovery; to encourage hikers to find what appeals to them rather than following specific routes.”
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Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
It often comes as a surprise to many that Colorado, largely known for its tall alpine peaks and ski slopes, is also home to vast sand dunes, including two of the tallest in North America. As you approach the Great Sand Dunes National Park, the golden orange dunes rise in front of a backdrop of snow-capped alpine summits—the former more reminiscent of the Moroccan desert than North America. While the dunes are the main draw, there are a number of diverse ecosystems within the park's boundaries, including alpine tundra, subalpine forests, and meadows, to name a few. This spot is perfect for sandboarding—similar to snowboarding, but on sand—with board and sled rentals available at the Great Sand Dunes Oasis just outside the park. Visit in July or August to see the park’s wildflowers in bloom.
It’s possible to explore the dunes by foot, although it can be extremely easy to get turned around since there are no trails. It’s also important to consider that thunderstorms are common during the afternoons in summer, and when you’re in the dunes, there are no places to take shelter. The Park Service recommends using closed-toe shoes to hike the dunes, especially during the summer months, when the sand can get extremely hot.
Great Sand Dunes is relatively undeveloped and doesn’t have any lodging (aside from campsites) inside the park. The Great Sand Dunes Lodge, which lies against a backdrop of the dunes and the 14,000-foot peaks just beyond them, is the hotel closest to the park entrance.
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North Cascades National Park, Washington
North Cascades National Park is a veritable alpine wonderland, with rugged and remote peaks capped by more than 300 glaciers—all that, and it's just over a two-hour drive from the city of Seattle. The park is divided into two separate ecosystems: a temperate rainforest on the western side and a dryer ponderosa pine ecosystem on the eastern side.
While there are plenty of day hikes off of the North Cascades Scenic Highway, consider a backpacking trip on the nearly 400 miles of trails, easily the best way to experience this pristine landscape. The 34.2-mile Beaver Loop is one of the easier routes, as it avoids higher elevations and mid-summer snow crossings. At 33.5 miles, the Copper Ridge Loop is slightly shorter, but requires an extra day or two due to its arduous nature. The ascent to the top of the ridge is extremely steep on both sides and often requires the use of a mountaineering axe until July, so it’s best to do it during late summer and have a backup plan in case conditions are poor (or all of the tent sites are full).
If soaking in the jacuzzi tub or sipping a cocktail by the fireplace is more your speed after a day in the mountains, stay at the luxurious Sun Mountain Lodge, located in the foothills of the North Cascade Mountains.
The best time to visit the park is between July and September, after much of the lower-elevation snow has melted and rainy days are less frequent.
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Yosemite National Park, California
For decades, rock climbers have made the migration to Yosemite National Park, undeniably the most iconic of the nine national parks in California, to test their skills and push the boundaries of the sport. And with the skyscraper-like granite monoliths that dominate the landscape—the tallest being El Capitan at over 3,000 vertical feet—it only makes sense that Yosemite continues to be a premiere destination for climbers worldwide. Hiking one of the most iconic features in the park, Half Dome, is an adventure for experienced hikers that requires a 4,800 foot ascent over the course of a 14-mile round trip hike. The strenuous and exposed nature of the trek, which requires the use of cables near the summit, make this one of the most difficult hikes in any national park. To curb crowds, daily visits are limited to 300 through a permitting system.
But the spectacular rock faces and the valleys they rise from can be appreciated by non-climbers, too. With over 94% of the park’s 1,200 square miles being designated wilderness, there is plenty to explore. Shorter day hikes like the half-mile Bridalveil Fall Trail or the five-mile Mirror Lake Loop are easier alternatives. Stay a couple of days, minimum, and spend the night at the Evergreen Lodge, which has 88 cabins on its 20-acre property, or consider some of the park’s other nearby options, like spending the night glamping in an airstream camper or relaxing in a luxurious private estate.
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Zion National Park, Utah
Zion National Park in southern Utah is best known for its unique landscape of pink Navajo sandstone cliffs and orange slot canyons. Within the park’s 230 square miles, rivers as narrow as 20 feet meander between thousand-foot-tall sandstone cliffs, and juniper trees dot the desert hillsides.
With elevations ranging from 3,700 to 8,700 feet, the park is also home to diverse fauna, the most common being bighorn sheep, mule deer, and gray fox. This range in elevation also lends itself to diverse ecosystems, like desert, riparian, and conifer woodlands.
There are plenty of hiking trails for exploring the park, with The Narrows and Angels Landing being two of the more popular ones. But there are several lesser-traveled trails to consider as well, such as the Taylor Creek Trail, which is located in the Kolob Canyons Wilderness. For those comfortable spending time in the backcountry, setting off on a multi-day backpacking trip is a great way to experience the solitude of the desert, becoming immersed in a unique landscape, and falling asleep under a spectacularly dark night sky. The West Rim Trail, which is a point-to-point hike approximately 15 miles long (meaning you’ll have to arrange a shuttle at the end), is a popular overnight hikes in the park with sweeping views of the surrounding canyons and cliffs.
While the dated Zion Lodge is the only lodging within the park’s boundaries, comfier digs can be found at SpringHill Suites by Marriott, located just beyond the south entrance in Springdale. There are also a number of great Airbnbs, lodges, and glamping options, like the Zion Wildflower Resort, near the park.
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Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Located just south of Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park sees fewer visitors every year despite its dramatic mountainous skyline. The Tetons reach over 7,000 vertical feet into the air, a stark contrast against the surrounding flat plains. The 2.7-billion-year-old gneiss is some of the oldest rock in North America, drawing climbers and mountaineers from all around the world looking to scale one of many classic routes to the Grand Teton’s summit, from which the park got its name.
All that said, you don’t have to be a skilled mountaineer to enjoy the spectacular scenery, which is laced with over 250 miles of hiking trails within park bounds. Hikes like the Phelps Lake Overlook, Taggart Lake, and the Woodland Trail Loop are relatively easy and require a minimal time commitment, but still afford hikers a slice of the park outside of roadside pull-offs.
If hiking isn’t your thing, the Snake River, which flows through the park, is home to world-class trout fishing and paddling—visit during the spring for a float trip down the river, or in September to see bull elk rutting, and the first traces of snow on the higher peaks. The Cloudveil, a Marriott Autograph Collection property, is a convenient stay in Jackson’s historic town square. The central Mountain Modern—formerly known as The Jackson Hole Lodge—recently underwent a major expansion which was completed in fall of 2022.
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Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Known for its red sandstone cliffs, high alpine peaks, lush valleys, and unique geologic formations, Utah is home to five national parks—and Canyonlands may arguably be the most stunning of them all.
Each of Utah’s national parks has its own allure, but Canyonlands, at nearly 338,000 acres, is the state’s largest, making it easy to get away from the crowds and into the vast landscape. Split by the Colorado and Green Rivers into four distinct districts—Islands in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze, and the rivers themselves—the park is filled with vibrant mesas, arches, canyons, and other geologic formations prime for exploring.
There are a number of roadside hiking trails and attractions, like the park’s famed Mesa Arch, but to really get a sense of the expansiveness and remoteness of the desert, it’s worth packing a tent and heading into the backcountry for a night or two (just make sure you have the skills and know-how before doing so, or book a trip with a group). The Needles district is known to have well-traveled hiking trails, like the nearly nine-mile Lost Canyon Loop, which brings hikers through a narrow, vegetated canyon. Experienced backpackers should consider heading into the more remote Maze district, where you can spend days on end without seeing another person.
The nearby town of Moab is a great home base, with many restaurants, breweries, shops, and lodging to choose from. For glamping, consider spending a few nights at Under Canvas Moab, just north of the town.
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Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
Crater Lake, which is the deepest and clearest lake in the US, lies inside the collapsed summit of a volcano. Its dark blue waters reach an impressive depth of 1,943 feet and are fed only by run-off from melting snow, resulting in some of the purest water in the world.
Within the park’s 183,224 acres, mountainous terrain around the lake’s rim yields spectacular views of the steep hillsides that drop into the water, the result of the volcanic eruption and subsequent collapse just 7,700 years ago.
The lake is the focal point of the park, but there are 90 miles of hiking trails that meander through old-growth coniferous forests and over bare summits with panoramic views, and through dry, sub-alpine meadows.
Rim Drive circumnavigates the rim around the lake and has plenty of viewpoints and pull-offs along the way. But to really experience the park, exploring by foot is a must. While it’s only 3.5 miles out and back, the Garfield Peak hike does ascend over 1,000 vertical feet, making it a fairly arduous climb. But the 360-degree views at the top are well worth the effort. Given the bang you get for your buck, it tends to get crowded, so hiking during the off-season or starting early in the morning is a good idea.
There are two places to stay within the park that aren’t camping—the Crater Lake Lodge and the Cabins at Mazama Village—but they tend to book up far in advance, especially during peak times. Luckily, there are plenty of additional options within 35 miles of the park’s entrance, like the Union Creek Resort, which is a rustic lodge just outside of the park’s boundaries.
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Acadia National Park, Maine
As the only national park in the Northeast, Acadia National Park perfectly embodies New England with craggy coastlines, bustling harbors, and picturesque fishing villages. The park itself is home to the tallest coastal mountains on the eastern seaboard, reminiscent of the seaside cliffs of Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. During the mid-19th century, Acadia drew renowned artists like Thomas Cole and Sanford Robinson, who would paint and sketch this majestic and largely unknown landscape. As people saw this area depicted through art, tourism began to grow, drawing wealthy vacationers like the Rockefellers, Fords, and Carnegies. When John D. Rockefeller arrived in Acadia in the early 20th century, he was so captivated by the park’s beauty that he envisioned and set in motion a network of car-free carriage roads—one of the park’s signifying features to this day.
Today, the popular Precipice and Beehive hiking trails, among others, ascend sheer granite rock faces with the help of iron rungs and rails, affording visitors unimpeded views of the Gulf of Maine. Those with a fear of heights may want to stick to flatter trails like the Bubbles or Jordan Pond (stop at the Jordan Pond House for a popover afterward), which still boast spectacular views.
Nearby Bar Harbor has plenty of lodging, like the Inn on Mount Desert, or The Salt Cottages, which were renovated during the summer of 2022 and began offering hotel rooms in 2023 that overlook Frenchman Bay and are located just minutes from Bar Harbor’s center. For a unique glamping experience just a half-hour from the park, check out Under Canvas Acadia.
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
Straddling the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, this 522,427-acre national park is the most visited in the United States. Known for the morning fog that engulfs miles of ridgelines, sometimes only revealing the peaks of the taller summits, Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses the south’s natural beauty and Southern Appalachian history.
The park is home to 850 miles of hiking trails that meander through one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, over and between peaks that have been shaped over 1.2 billion years. And with more than 19,000 documented species in the park (scientists believe this might be less than a quarter of what exists), it’s the most biodiverse park in the entire national park system. In fact, this biodiversity led it to be designated as both a United Nations World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve.
After hiking Clingmans Dome (it’s the highest point in the park, and rewards early risers with a spectacular sunrise), take an auto tour of more than 90 historic structures, many of which can be found at Cades Cove, Cataloochee, and along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Visit between mid-October and early November to see vibrant foliage transform the Appalachian Mountains. Spend the night at The Swag, which is a rustic, yet luxurious, mountain retreat perched nearly a mile above sea level, affording visitors sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
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Joshua Tree National Park, California
Like Nevada’s Great Basin National Park, one of Joshua Tree’s biggest attractions is the dark night sky. At night, the Milky Way puts on a show high above the twisted branches of the Joshua trees and rock formations, some of which resemble wax dripping down the side of a candle. The park, which straddles the Mojave and Colorado desert ecosystems, is a unique destination for hikers, campers, outdoor enthusiasts, and especially artists, who come to paint, photograph, and draw the featured landscape contained within the park’s boundaries. Rock climbers also flock to Joshua Tree to scale the boulders and rock formations scattered throughout the high desert (test your hand by booking a guide for a climbing excursion).
Wandering along stretches of the park’s 300 miles of hiking trails is a great way to experience the distinct landscape. Mastodon Peak is a 3-mile loop hike with an optional rock scramble that takes you to the granite summit, affording hikers with panoramic views of the surrounding desert.
Rest your head at campsites within the park, or nearby spots, like the Castle House Estate, an elevated camping experience just seven miles from the park entrance. If you are hoping to take advantage of the stargazing, plan to visit as close to a new moon as possible and stick to the east side of the park, which is less affected by light pollution than the west. There is also a new hotel property, Reset Joshua Tree, slated to open in the spring of 2025. The 65-room boutique hotel will utilize shipping containers set on 180 acres just minutes from the park’s north entrance.
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Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Located in western Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, the 192,000-acre Shenandoah National Park showcases some of the most spectacular scenery on the eastern seaboard of the United States. The park’s famed Skyline Drive traverses 105 miles along a ridge through the park, boasting many vistas and access to 500 miles of hiking trails along the way.
Of all the hikes in the park, Old Rag Mountain may be one of the most popular, and rightfully so. This 9.4-mile loop leads hikers over (and through) semi-technical rock scrambles and past rocky outcroppings with panoramic views to the nearly 3,300-foot summit, which overlooks the valley below. The hike is fairly challenging and gets crowded, so going during the week and allowing extra time, especially during summer, is recommended. Although the road that traverses the park makes much of it accessible, it also makes it slightly more difficult to get away from it all. But there are still plenty of trails, like the Big Run Loop, that descend from the ridge into the valley, affording hikers excellent fishing opportunities and plenty of solitude.
While there are a number of inns and hotels throughout the Shenandoah Valley, few are as luxurious as the Hotel Laurance, located in the small town of Luray. The town’s location, just minutes from the park—plus several shops, cafes, and restaurants nearby—makes it the perfect jumping-off point for exploring the park.
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Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
Located in northern Minnesota just south of the Canadian border, over a third of Voyageurs National Park is made up of water. Of the park’s 218,000 acres, 84,000 are waterways that provide access to 655 miles of pristine, undeveloped shoreline and over 500 islands. Because of its inaccessibility, Voyageurs is one of the least-visited national parks in the lower 48. In 2019, the park saw only 233,000 visits; a modest number compared to the 12.5 million people who visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during the same year.
The fact that Voyageurs is inaccessible and largely untouched when compared to parks like Yellowstone is what makes it special. While there are plenty of hiking trails that can be reached by car, there are just as many, like the Locator Lake and Mukooda Trails, that can only be reached by boat, making the journey there just as special as the hike. Not everyone can tow their own boat to the park. But luckily, there are several guide companies and water taxi services, like Border Guide Service, that can help get you there.
Visit during the winter to explore by cross-country skis or snowmobile and have a chance at seeing the northern lights. Visitors during the warmer months can rent a canoe and camp at one of the boat-access tent sites on the Lake Kabetogama peninsula. For a unique lodging experience, stay at the Kettle Falls Hotel, accessible only by a 13-mile boat ride offered almost daily during the summer months.
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Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Due to its location in eastern Nevada far from any major cities, one of Great Basin National Park’s biggest attractions can only be seen at night: the sky. As one of the 27 national parks designated as an International Dark Sky Park, spending a night sleeping under the stars can be a monumental experience. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to see before the sun goes down.
This 77,000-acre park is home to diverse landscapes ranging from desert valleys to high alpine snow-covered peaks. The 12-mile Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is a great way to see the park with minimal effort, but for those willing and able to lace up their hiking boots, exploring by foot is always one of the best ways to truly experience a national park.
During the day, head for a walk on the Glacier Trail, admiring the Bristlecone pines (which are thought to be the oldest trees not just in the country, but on the planet) before reaching Nevada’s only glacier, just below Wheeler Peak. After your hike, take a tour of Lehman Caves, which, at two miles, is the longest of the 40 caves in the park. The Stargazer Inn in Baker is a great option for your home base due to its convenient location just outside of the park entrance. There are also five developed campgrounds, with Lower Lehman Creek Campground the only one that’s open year-round.
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New River Gorge National Park, West Virginia
Established as the United States’s newest national park in 2020, West Virginia’s New River Gorge is by no means a new destination. Kayakers and climbers have been making the journey to “The New” for decades, paddling world-class rapids along the 53-mile stretch of river that cuts through the gorge, and pushing their limits on climbing routes in the deepest canyon east of the Mississippi. The re-designation of the park may help further an ongoing local shift from a coal- to adventure-based economy.
The New River Gorge has been shaped over 500 million years, the river cutting into the weathered Appalachian Mountains as deep as 1,500 feet in some places. A network of hiking trails traverses the ridges overlooking the gorge, with some leading hikers down to the river and through two old-growth forests, untouched during the industrialization of the late 19th century.
If you’re not an experienced whitewater paddler but want to get off the trails and experience the river itself, book an outfitter for a rafting trip on the most rugged water in the East. Those looking for a slower-paced adventure may want to consider a float fishing trip, chasing one of the many species of warm-water fish that call this area home.
There are several lodging options around the park, like The Greenbrier—an iconic resort and National Historic Landmark that's less than 45 minutes from the park entrance.
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Gates of the Arctic, Alaska
With no roads to disturb the glacier-carved valleys and pristine rivers, Alaska’s Gates of the Arctic National Park remains one of the few places in the world largely unchanged by humans. Because of its inaccessibility (only reachable by air taxi from Bettles or Coldfoot; or by foot from the Dalton Highway or village of Anaktuvuk Pass), it’s no wonder Gates of the Arctic is one of the least visited national parks, seeing just 11,000 visitors in 2023.
Unsurprisingly, this isn’t exactly an intro-to-the-outdoors type of park; visitors should be comfortable navigating rugged, trail-less terrain, and spending time in extreme conditions. But those who visit will be rewarded with solitude in its truest form, enjoying an intimate experience with nature as the native Inupiaq and Athabascan people have for thousands of years. June through August is the best time to visit when the days are the longest, but travelers should still be prepared for the sub-freezing temperatures that can occur year-round in the Arctic Circle. For those who want to visit the park but aren’t prepared to embark on a self-guided expedition, consider hiring a local outfitter.
Due to its remote nature, there aren’t many lodging options near the park—most people embrace the full wilderness experience that the park offers, opting for cool nights under the stars. However, there are a few options to consider if roughing it isn’t your thing, like the Iniakuk Lake Wilderness Lodge, which is a fly-in luxury wilderness lodge on the park’s northern edge.
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Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
Nearly 70 miles west of Key West on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico, Dry Tortugas is accessible only by boat or seaplane.
The Tortugas, which comprise seven keys, have been strategically important to the US over the years due to their location along a busy shipping route between the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. In 1846, construction on Fort Jefferson—one of the park's major highlights—began in an attempt to protect this position. While it was never finished, visitors today can tour the fort to learn about its historical and architectural significance.
Considered the southernmost part of the Florida Keys, Dry Tortugas National Park doesn’t offer much for hiking. Instead, visitors spend their time exploring the fort, kayaking and paddleboarding, watching wildlife, and fishing.
Much of the park’s wildlife is found underwater here, with rich sea life living among 30 different species of coral. Make sure to spend a day exploring these vibrant ecosystems with fins and a snorkel. There are also a few places in the park where fishing is allowed, and several Key West-based companies offer day trips to fish around the park. Heads up: There are no hotels or restaurants on any of the keys, so make sure you bring all of the food and supplies you’ll need during your stay. There is also no cell service, so make sure to send out all of your work-related emails ahead of time. Primitive tent sites are available on Garden Key.
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Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison, located in western Colorado, is often overshadowed by the state’s more popular Rocky Mountain National Park. But at over 2,700 feet at its deepest point and 40 feet wide at its narrowest, the canyon is an overwhelmingly impressive feature, making this hands down one of the best national parks in the US.
When compared to the geological formations in the Appalachians, the Black Canyon is quite new, which results in it being one of the most dramatic canyons in the country. Craggy spires dot the landscape, cut by the raging Gunnison River below.
Home to some of the steepest rock in North America, it’s a popular spot for rock climbers, though only the most adventurous climbers dare scale its towering, nearly two million-year-old cliffs. If hiking down the Gunnison Route to the depths of the canyon is still too intimidating (it is for most), the Rim Rock Nature Trail is a less demanding alternative with spectacular views of the crevice and raging Gunnison River below. There are also several hiking trails leading into the canyon, but those adventurous enough to venture into its depths should be comfortable on exposed, technical terrain and with backcountry travel.
At the South Rim, which is open year-round, the best accommodations are about 30 minutes away in Montrose. The quaint Canyon Creek Bed and Breakfast is located within walking distance of many of the town’s restaurants and shops, making it a great place to relax after a long day in the park.
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Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
Due to its location on an isolated island in Lake Superior, Isle Royale is another hard-to-reach—and thus seldom-visited—national park. Only accessible by water or air, the park features a 206-acre main island surrounded by over 450 smaller islands.
While it might not have the rugged peaks of the Tetons or the golden sandstone canyons of Zion, the solitude that can be found in Isle Royale is something many never get the chance to experience. In fact, in 2023, only 29,000 people visited the park—a far cry from the millions that visit the likes of Great Smoky Mountain and Yellowstone. Home to the largest freshwater lake in the world, it is also known for its gray wolf population, believed by scientists to have descended from a single female in the 1940s. While your chances of seeing one are small, hiking along lakeshores and open areas may allow visitors to spot one.
There are multiple ferries that transport visitors to the island from ports around Michigan and Minnesota between May and September. To get a real grasp on the destination, spend a few days on the main island. Consider a backpacking trip along the 43-mile Greenstone Ridge Trail, which traverses a crest running the entire length of the island. Or, if paddling around the rugged coast is more your speed, canoe and kayak rentals are available on the island at Windigo and Rock Harbor Lodge. (The latter is also the best-located stay for making the most out of your time in the park.)
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Haleakalā National Park, Hawai’i
The Haleakalā crater, perched high above the surrounding landscape, is the park’s crown jewel and has been a place of cultural and spiritual significance to native Hawaiians for over a thousand years. Known to natives as the “House of the Sun,” the crater from which the park got its name towers over 10,000 feet above sea level in southeast Maui. Ancient priests, or Kahuna Po‘o, have practiced meditation on the summit and searched for spiritual wisdom there for over ten centuries. Today, visitors to the park search for their own spiritual journeys and experiences, driving to the summit to watch the sunrise over the rugged landscape below (although an advance reservation is required).
The park is separated into two distinct districts: the Summit and Kīpahulu Districts. The Summit District boasts spectacular views and even has several trails into the crater, like the 11-mile Keonehe‘ehe‘e (Sliding Sands) hike, which traverses from one side to the other. This is a point-to-point journey and there are no shuttles offered by the park, but there is a “hiker pick up” area. The park service recommends parking your vehicle at Halemau'u and hitchhiking up to Keonehe'ehe'e to start the hike, but this is easiest to do during the busy season. The Kīpahulu District is at a lower elevation along the coast, and has plenty of trails along the craggy coastline and past spectacular waterfalls. The Pīpīwai Trail is one of the most popular in this part of the park, and leads to the 400-foot Waimoku Falls during the 3.5-mile round-trip hike.
There are no hotels or lodges within the park boundaries, but there are several drive-up camping options. There are also upscale lodging options, like the North Shore Lookout, which is just a 45 minute drive from the summit.
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Olympic National Park, Washington
Located just west of Seattle between the Puget Sound and Washington’s coast, Olympic National Park is one of the most diverse in the country. With three different ecosystems—glacier-capped mountains, Pacific coast, and old-growth temperate rainforest—visitors to the park can walk along dramatic, remote shorelines one day, and ascend through a rainforest to the top of alpine peaks the next.
There are several spectacular viewpoints and short day hikes, like Lake Crescent and Rialto Beach, that are located near park roads, but Olympic National Park is so vast and undeveloped that it’s best explored by foot. The Grand Ridge Trail, which is 7.5 miles point-to-point or 15 miles out-and-back, affords hikers 360-degree views of the highest peaks, the Cascades, and even into Canada. The hike traverses an alpine ridge connecting Deer Park and Obstruction Point, so a car can be shuttled or it can be done as an out-and-back overnight hike.
For something more accessible, head to Hole in the Wall during low tide, which is located 1.5 miles north of the Rialto beach trailhead, to explore some of the park’s tide pools; or, pop up to Hurricane Ridge for sweeping views of the surrounding peaks. In-park lodging is limited to rustic spots like the Kalaloch Lodge and the 91-room Lake Quinault Lodge, which is located on the shores of Lake Quinault on the park’s southern side. If you’re willing to drive a couple hours, there are many fantastic rentals in the greater Seattle area—the park is a manageable day trip.