In this article we will travel to 10 Best National Parks to Visit in the US , knowing when it is best to visit them and what is the easiest way to access them.
The parks of the United States capture millions of travelers and nature lovers year after year. The immensity and beauty that these national parks possess make it possible for human beings to connect with their most conscious and primitive part, with their roots and gratitude towards the environment.
Although the United States is very famous for being a hyper-consumerist country, it is also important to highlight the importance they give to preserving and respecting the nature of national ecosystems.
If you like contact with nature, you do not necessarily have to be an expert in hiking or practicing some extreme sport to enjoy it, because it is enough to give yourself the opportunity to visit one of these parks at your own pace.
Many of these national parks in the United States even have low-intensity trails and paths, and also some viewpoints that you can visit from the window of your car.
Are you ready to discover 10 Best National Parks to Visit in the US? Remember, this is just a small selection of parks, as the United States currently has more than 60 national parks. You can add in the comments which one you liked the most, and which one you would add to the list.
Top 10 Best National Parks to Visit in the US
1.Be amazed by the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon of Colorado is an incredible place… its immensity is impossible to describe with words.
Located in the northern part of the State of Arizona, the Grand Canyon is one of the most popular parks in the country and also one of the most well-known internationally.
This canyon was formed millions of years ago by the Colorado River, a river that continues to run through part of the canyon, and adds to its charms large waterfalls and cascades.
The huge rocks of red, orange, yellow and pink hues paint a landscape that seems straight out of a movie, ideal for enjoying an unforgettable sunset. The panoramic views and the trails surrounded by nature make this site a special place in the world.
During your visit you can ask at the information center about the trekking (difficulty and time), and find out more about the park. If you want, you can also rent a bicycle to tour the park on two wheels.
You can access the Grand Canyon on your own in your car, on an excursion, or by bus (which is the simplest way to visit it, so you don’t have to look for parking).
I recommend that you visit during the months of March, April and May, as there are not so many people and the weather allows you to fully enjoy the place.
2. Enjoy the first National Park in the country: Yellowstone
Yellowstone is one of the most emblematic natural parks on the planet. It was founded in 1872, being recognized as the first national park in the United States.
In addition to the historical fact that it brings respect and care to wildlife, Yellowstone would later be the home of the most famous bear on American television: Yogi Bear and his companion on adventures, Bubu Bear.
Yellowstone National Park extends across the territory of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Inside it preserves striking geysers, a type of hot spring that expels its vapors with great force towards the outside. The most acclaimed by the public within the park is Old Faithful, one of the oldest geysers on the planet.
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In Yellowstone you can observe wildlife, so remember to respect the animals that live there. Pay attention to the signs on the trails. You may come across elk, and if you are lucky, wolves, bison and brown bears.
You will need more than three days to tour the entire park. I recommend that you plan your arrival at the park a little to enjoy it to the fullest. You can also hire the tourist service offered by the park rangers.
The ideal time to visit Yellowstone is during the spring months, when temperatures hover around 20°C.
3.Explore the vastness of Yosemite
Yosemite is one of the most talked about parks in the United States, especially by travelers visiting the West Coast, as this national park is located 300 kilometers from San Francisco in the State of California.
Its wealth of biodiversity has led to the park being named a World Heritage Site in 1984.
Its waterfalls, glaciers and sequoia forests invite nature lovers to fall in love during their visit. Especially when contemplating “El Capitan”, the largest granite rock in the world, with a height of 900 meters.
Yosemite is home to biodiversity, possibly if you are lucky during your visit you may encounter owls, wolves, and even bears.
Yosemite can be visited at any time of the year, but find out beforehand if you plan to visit during the winter months, as sometimes some of the roads and entrances to the park are closed due to storms.
4.Marvel at the oldest trees in the world at Sequoia National Park
Giant tree species give life to this forest of red bark and enormous trunks, located in the Sierra Nevada in the State of California.
Sequoia National Park is dressed with majestic sequoias, a species of trees that has been in the world for more than a thousand years… hence its great size.
The most symbolic and special thing on this trip is the “General Sherman”, the largest and oldest tree in the forest. It is estimated to be between 2,200 and 2,700 years old!
Sequoia has several activities and trails to explore, which change depending on the time of year. I recommend that you visit the National Park Service website to have all the information you need to know at your fingertips (nps.gov).
5.Discover the Great Smokey Mountains
The most visited park in the United States annually is the Great Smokey Mountains. The natural park extends between the borders of the states of Tennessee and North Carolina.
Great Smokey Mountains or, as they are called in Spanish, “Las Grandes Montañas Humeantes” is a park recognized internationally for its landscape and biodiversity, but above all for its mountain views belonging to the Appalachian Mountain Range.
In this national park you can relax with the vegetation of the Cades Cove Valley and be amazed by the historic buildings of the place: farms, mills and even churches. On the trails you can feel that special connection with nature, its streams, Laurel Falls and Hen Wallow Falls.
The park is usually most visited during the summer months, but the maximum spectacle occurs when the change of season begins, the passage to autumn gives the vegetation a palette of many colors.
6.Relax in the desert at Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park was added to the list of national parks in 1994.
It is located east of the city of Los Angeles in the State of California. The natural park is defined by its extensive desert, although the most captivating and striking feature are the abundant Joshua trees.
Another feature of this park are the enormous rocks, which give the feeling of being in a Jurassic Park.
In this park you can go hiking, climb the enormous rocks, and if you are lucky you can find some desert animals.
7.Visit Zion National Park
Zion National Park is located in the State of Utah. Although it is not a super large park, it is one of the most visited parks in the United States.
Its main treasure is Zion Canyon, although other natural attractions such as Horse Ranch Mountain and Twin Brothers Peaks are also present.
It is usually visited from Las Vegas, but it can also be done from Salt Lake City, which is one of the cheapest cities in the United States.
8.Enjoy the views of Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park has one of the largest forests in the country. It is located in the west of Washington State, and has four regions: the Pacific coast, the western temperate rainforest, the alpine regions and the eastern forests.
In this park you will find an exquisite coast, as well as the most acclaimed places: Mount Olympus and Mount Deception.
In this park you can camp, although if you are only staying for a short time you can enjoy a full day of hiking and other attractions that this tourist site offers.
9.Relax in Hot Springs National Park
Hot Springs is a very unique park, as it breaks with the expected prototype of a national park. It is located adjacent to a city: Hot Springs, with a main street and buildings around it.
The national park is known for its wealth of thermal water. Its charm is enhanced by very attractive trails that run through the mountains of Hot Springs.
10.Visit the famous Death Valley
Death Valley National Park is located in the westernmost part of the State of California. Its landscape is not lacking, and not everything is dead as its name suggests, as it has salt flats, desert, sand dunes, and canyons.
This is the ideal place for a one or two day getaway (and if you can, more)… the important thing is that you can spend a night in the middle of the desert to contemplate the magic of the starry sky, without light pollution the sky really looks as it is.
Besides camping, you can go hiking and mountain biking… sounds good, right?
Some tips for visiting the parks of the United States
Although each natural park is unique with its landscape, they all share one general characteristic: they are very large (obviously some larger than others). What I mean by this is that during your visit to a park, evaluate how many days you will be there, and plan which trail you will take.
Keep in mind that to save money during your visit to the parks, buy the “annual pass.” This ticket will allow you to enter all the national parks you want for a whole year, as many times as you want. Its current value is $80, and it is really worth it. This way you will save on paying an entrance fee at each park you visit.
And finally, remember to bring with you enough water to stay hydrated and also some snacks to recharge your energy. Sometimes with so much beauty around, one forgets these basic needs.
