The United States of America boasts 63 spectacular National Parks that feature on the bucket list of most travellers. These national treasures are filled with scenic drives, miles of hiking trails, wildlife, historic sites and endless opportunities for adventure. Here’s a quick guide to the best National Parks in the USA to help make your visit a memorable one.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon is home to the most extensive collection of hoodoos in the world. Located in southwestern Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park occupies an otherworldly landscape composed of a dozen amphitheaters, or horseshoe-shaped canyons, on an eroded escarpment. The roughly 35,835-acre park gives a range of hiking opportunities. No matter which trails you choose to walk all offer a glimpse of the impressive red rock formations. For those with limited time, the Bryce Canyon National Park can be best combined with Capitol Reef or Zion National Parks. Read more here.
Location: Utah
Best Time to Visit: May through September due to the pleasant warm weather offering plenty of ranger activities.
Highlights: Inspiration Point, Point Rim Trail
Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands is both Utah’s largest and least visited national park. For an unforgettable experience, journey below the rim of the Island in the Sky Mesa. Explore The Needles, where zebra-striped rocks form one of the most unique hiking destinations in the USA. For adventure seekers, venture The Maze in a thrilling 4x4 or go rafting in Cataract Canyon. A drive through the winding Shafer Canyon switchbacks onto the White Rim is also worth the adventure. Read more for the ultimate visit to Utah’s Arches & Canyonlands Walk.
Location: Utah
Best Time to Visit: Spring and Fall are the best times to visit Canyonlands when the weather is pleasant and crowds are low.
Highlights: The Needles, Sky Mesa, The Maze
Grand Teton National Park
Jackson Hole's backcountry is a wild wonderland waiting to be discovered. Boasting more than 200 miles of trails that traverse prairies, lakes and the jagged snow-capped peaks of the Grand Teton Mountain range. To see the best of the park’s spectacular topography, hike the Cascade Canyon Trail. Take a splash at Snake River ideal for kayakers, rafters and those who simply want to float in its serenity. The park also boasts short, easy, scenic hiking trails, a boat ride across Jenny Lake, plus the possibility to see elk, grizzly bears, moose and bison. Walk the best of Yellowstone and combine it with the magnificent Grand Tetons National Park here.
Location: Wyoming
Best Time to Visit: mid-May to late September when all the visitor centers, hiking trails and other park activities, including kayaking and fishing, are open and accessible.
Highlights: Grand Teton peaks, Jackson Lake, trail to Inspiration Point & Hidden Falls, and wildlife viewing.
Yellowstone National Park
This 2.2-million-acre park stretches across three states: Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Iconic for its wildlife and natural wonders; marvel at multicoloured pools that swirl around hot springs; verdant forests, expansive meadows and volatile geysers shooting up into the sky. Besides thermal features, Yellowstone’s vast wilderness includes mountain ranges, lakes, waterfalls and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. While bison, elk, grizzly bear, bighorn and moose frequently roam the valleys.
Location: Wyoming, Montana and Idaho
Best Time to Visit: April-May and September-October. These shoulder months offer mild weather, fewer crowds and little to no road closures.
Highlights: Old Faithful geyser and other thermal features, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs, and wildlife viewing in the Lamaar Valley.
Yosemite National Park
One of California’s most famous national parks is Yosemite, located within the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Yosemite covers 1,200 square miles and is known for its impressive waterfalls such as Vernal fall and Bridalveil Falls, giant sequoia trees and unique granite rock formations like Half Dome and El Capitan. A hiker’s paradise, be spoiled hiking some of the 750 miles of trails and its camping opportunities. Read more on the Best Hikes in Yosemite National Park. But you don’t have to be a big hiker to have a great experience here. Take a stroll through Yosemite Valley, drive to the popular viewpoints like Glacier Point and Tunnel View, and go for a scenic drive on Tioga Road. Walk the best of Yosemite on a 6 day adventure here.
Location: California
Best Time to Visit: May and September when the park is accessible, but not too crowded.
Highlights: granite monoliths of Half Dome and El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, giant sequoias, Tioga Pass, John Muir day hike.
Zion National Park
Situated in Southern Utah, Zion National Park is one of the USA’s most stunning parks to visit. There are a range of ways to best experience Zion depending on your preferences and amount of time you have. You can drive through the park and marvel at its beauty, or there are a range of hikes and trails to get stunning views of the park. Hike the iconic 5.5-mile Angels Landing, which brings you up through a nearly 1,500-foot natural staircase. Alternatively, trek The Narrows, a 10-mile hike through the thinnest section of Zion Canyon. For those after a more relaxing pace, traverse the nearly 60-mile Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, where you can still get a great overview of the park taking you past many of the park's most famous landmarks.
Location: Utah
Best Time to Visit: April and November when the park's free shuttles are running and the weather is comfortable
Highlights: Angel’s Landing day hike, The Great White Throne monolith, Narrows Slot Canyon.
Discover USA Walking Holidays Here
