The Best National Parks in The US

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The US is full of stunning national parks that are packed with wildlife and amazing sights, all different from one another in their own way. If you want to take a step into nature, then a trip to one of the nation’s many parks should be on the agenda for you. 

Each national park has its own individual attractions and features that will entice you to come visit them. It can be difficult to pick which ones you want to take the time to visit when they all sound so appealing; so, to make this easier, here is a compiled list of the best national parks that the US has to offer: 

 

• Glacier National Park

 

 

Lovingly known as the Crown of the Continent, this national park sits on the border between Canada and the US, which makes it one of the coldest and snowy parks on this list. At its name suggests, this park is known for its glaciers which are remnants of the ice age. 

Glacier National Park has hiking trails for people of all skill levels; if you’re a well-seasoned hiker, you can take the challenging Grinnell Trail, but if this is one of your first hikes, you should probably opt for the scenic Trail of the Cedars that will be significantly easier on your hiking boots.

Unlike most national parks, this one boasts stunning glacial lakes because of its icy climate. This park has over 700 lakes for you to explore, some existing as a unique phenomenon known as glacial tarns, in which, sometimes, they will form with a special type of waterfall which isolates them from fish migration. These tarns are now home to different kinds of plants and animals, unique to other kinds of lakes and well worth a visit. 

 

• Arches National Park 

 

 

If you are looking for something a little different to the usual snow-topped peaks and greenery that covers most national parks in the US, then the Arches National Park is worth a visit. There isn’t a patch of green in sight. 

This park is home to thousands of natural-forming arches—this is where it gets its name—made from sandstone that are a gorgeous orange-red color when the sun hits them. It is also home to brilliant red rocks that make for a great change of pace from the greenery you can get used to seeing in other parks. The landscape is rocky and gives you an exceptional experience different to what most national parks have to offer.

Most of the arches have their own unique names, from the Delicate Arch to the Fiery Furnace. Bring along your camera to this stunningly unique national park and take some photographs to remember, especially when the shadows move. 

 

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park 

 

 

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a gorgeous destination if you enjoy relaxing drives among a breathtaking landscape. Take a look into renting an RV from Cruise America and enjoy a trip down the Roaring Fork Motor Trail, spotting mountainous peaks and stopping off to view the region’s beautiful waterfalls: Rainbow Falls and Grotto Falls. This trail is also a great chance to look for the local wildlife. From birds to bears, you and your family will have something to stare in awe at along this trail. 

This national park is full of natural and human history from its old mountain villages that were settled in by Europeans more than a hundred years ago, to the peaks themselves that are older than we could ever imagine. The combination of natural and human history offers you a well-rounded view of the history of this national park. 

 

• Shenandoah National Park 

 

 

Situated in the state of Virginia, this national park runs along the Blue Ridge Mountains and is just 75 miles from Washington, D.C. 

For a true experience with nature, this park offers four campsites across its grounds that will give you the chance to sleep under the stars if you choose, or in the comfort of your RV, knowing that the wonders of the park are just outside your door. 

Most famous for its Skyline Drive, Shenandoah is also home to the longer Appalachian Trail for more experienced hikers who want to challenge their stamina. The park is filled out with the craggy peaks of the Old Rag and Hawksbill mountains and has acres of forested land for you to explore. Among the forests, you can be on the look-out for the park’s deer species and you may even be lucky enough to spot the rare black bear. 

 

• Olympic National Park

 

 

Expanding over a whopping one million acres, there is something waiting for you to discover it at the Olympic National Park. 

This park’s main attraction is the marvel of the Hoh Rain Forest. Free to enter, you can experience the forest of moss-covered trees to your heart’s content. The rainforest has two trails for you to choose from, the Spruce Nature Trail or the Hall of Mosses Trail: each one has gorgeous scenery for you to explore. At the start of the trails, there is also a visitor center which features an exhibition area and a bookstore, so you can stock up on the park’s vivid history and nature facts before you go exploring it for yourself. 

Just under an hour’s drive from Forks, Washington, this national park is full of nature’s wonders, acre to acre. 

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All of these national parks are wonderfully unique, and each have something individual to offer that you simply couldn’t find anywhere else. The right national park for you depends on what you want to see and experience. With a range of ecosystems and environments across each and every one of these parks, there will certainly be something that catches your eye and makes you want to take a trip to discover more about these marvellous parks full of nature’s wonders. Whether you are fascinated by glacial lakes, or are desperate to learn more about the history of mountain villages, there is a national park out there that you will adore.