Travel blog

When westward expansion threatened America’s wildlife and wilderness, a “nation’s park, containing man and beast in all the wild and freshness of their nature’s beauty” was proposed.

A century later, the National Parks System now encompasses nearly 400 parks and monuments. These natural wonders, which were set aside for the benefit and enjoyment of the people, are among America’s greatest treasures—bucket list National Parks you will not want to miss.

The United States boasts 62 national parks spread over 31 states and territories. These range from small parks to large, famous ones such as Yellowstone and its most popular attraction, Old Faithful.

The western part of the U.S. has the most national parks, including the acclaimed Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Arches, and Sequoia National Parks. That makes the west an ideal destination to easily explore a variety of parks. These are our top five western national parks for first-timers.

The Rocky Mountains span all the way from northern British Columbia in Canada to northern New Mexico in the United States. They offer breathtaking landscapes and vistas dotted with snow-capped mountain peaks, rivers and lakes, trails, and abundant wildlife.

Each year, millions of visitors flock to the Rockies to experience the majestic beauty of nature and explore the vast trails, rivers, alpine forests, and lakes.

The sheer size and overall breadth of our beautiful national parks make it nearly impossible to see and do everything, especially if you are on a tight schedule. It is easy to quickly become overwhelmed when trying to plan an itinerary, which is why a guided tour is one of the best ways to ensure you see the highlights.

If it is your first visit to the park, there are important attractions that you do not want to miss, whether that’s the Grand Prismatic Spring at Yellowstone or the Emerald Pools at Zion National Park.

The Southern Rockies of Colorado is one of the most scenic regions of America. Beautiful, colorful, and full of surprises, this area of Colorado is the perfect place to go to get away from it all.

Blessed with abundant sunshine and a highly varied landscape, the Southern Rockies beckon visitors outside. There are abundant activities to enjoy, but where are the best places? Where can you have the most fun? Well, we have a few pretty good answers.

Read on to learn more about the must-see sites near Colorado’s Southern Rockies!

The strikingly beautiful Death Valley National Park in the heart of the Mojave Desert is a land of extremes. It is the lowest, driest and hottest place in the nation with scorching temperatures that can soar above 120 degrees.

This eerie desert landscape is as varied as it is beautiful. Dramatic mountains give way to expansive salt flats, sand dunes and unique hillside landscapes. There is much to do experience and see in this stunning stretch of desert.

Here are some of the top things to do in Death Valley National Park:

Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah is most famous for its unique rock formations known as hoodoos. The park is home to the world’s largest concentration of hoodoos, which rise high up into the air like totem poles in vivid red, orange, and amber. The park also boasts spectacular natural amphitheaters and bowls, pine forests, high plateaus, and deep valleys. Anywhere youlook in Bryce Canyon is uniquely beautiful, and you can look forward a new jaw-dropping vista at every turn. People often spend just a day or two in Bryce Canyon as part of a trip to multiple national parks, if you plan out your stay—that’s plenty.

Deep in South Dakota’s Black Hills, surrounded by endless miles of nature, four great American leaders are carved into the broad granite side of a sun-baked mountain.

The four presidents on the striking Mount Rushmore National Monument are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. These massive, silent beacons are visited by over 2 million guests annually.

The monument took a team of over 400 workers more 14 years to build, and is considered “an accomplishment born, planned, and created in the minds and by the hands of Americans for Americans.”

There is so much to do in Denali National Park. The Alaskan preserve offers beautiful scenery, fascinating wildlife, and unbeatable views. While Denali is known for being home to North America’s highest mountain peak, that’s not all there is to discover in the country’s northernmost state.

Observing wildlife in national parks is a magical experience. Seeing how animals act and interact with each other in their own territory is an experience you will remember forever. The advantage of visiting a National Park is that you don’t need fancy equipment or gear to find wildlife. There are plenty of paths and guided tours where animals roam freely throughout the year.