Designated in 1872, Yellowstone National Park was the very first park in the US and from then on, people decided that there were even more places that needed protection. It got to a point where a National Park System was created just to oversee that the national parks are well preserved and taken care of. For you to know how good of a job they have been doing since then and how much of a good idea it was, you need to visit some of the most spectacular national parks listed below.
1. The Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The Grand Canyon is simply one of the most amazing places to visit and not just in the US but the whole world as well. It actually ranks as the second most visited national park receiving about five million visitors each year, especially along the south rim. The Arizona famous gorge measures up to 18 miles wide and a whole mile deep but it’s the vastness and the intense beauty that brings people to their knees.
The Colorado River, responsible for carving Grand Canyons many layers is a spectacle of its own you truly want to witness. You can either hike by foot or take a mule and the flat, paved rim trail is usually the easiest. Of course, you have to consider the awing 9.3 mile Bright Angel Trail, which even though is the hardest, will be completely worth it. You could also take a raft and choose to admire the beauty of the park from the bottom up. Whichever you choose, the Yavapai Point is a must go because it offers the best view with little effort.
2. Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite National Park tends to offer more beauty and natural wonders packed in one place that you simply cannot see anywhere else. The Yosemite Falls, North America’s highest waterfall is a wonder of its own and El Capitan, the world’s tallest and uninterrupted granite is a magnificent monolith you don’t want to miss. Yosemite also some has some incomparable mountains making it one of the best National Parks in the US. You can rock climb, fish, raft, hike or camp here then lodge at the Ahwahnee Hotel, an amazing valley floor main stay.
3. Pinnacles National Park, California
This is the newest park in the US after being turned from a monument to a national park in 2003. Very few people know about it and hence it received very few visitors, which is a good reason for you to do it. It preserves ancient volcanic remnants and the fact that it is small in size means you can get to experience all of it in a day. It has beautiful trails that range from easy to treacherous, awing balanced boulders, bat inhabited caves and past serrated spires. If you go between March and May, then the experience will be intensified by the poppies and purple bush lupine than burst into bloom.
4. Channel Islands, California
Lying 11 miles from the Southern California coast, Channel Islands is an undeveloped eight island chain that very few people go to. Five of the islands comprise of the national park and they are a magnificent beauty of spindly spires, grassy hills and craggy arches. The things that make this park stand out from the rest are the unique and endemic animal and plant species because it is the only place in the whole world you will get to see the island fox, the island deer mouse or the yellow-blooming coreopsis. For this reason, the Channel Islands earned the nickname North America Galapagos. There are also over 30 species of sea animals here including sea lions, whales and elephant seals. Actually, the largest aggregation of blue whales convenes in this park every summer. You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to activities because you can kayak through the sea caves, hike, camp, dive etc.
5. Acadia National Park, Maine
This is where you can experience the very first rays of sunrise in the whole country. As a matter of fact, a crowd gathers at the Cadillac Mountain in the predawn darkness just to witness this and when they do, they cheer. The Acadia National Park is a true beauty with its ragged shoreline, off shore rocky isles, sheltered caves, serrated mountains, marshy meadows and the swaths of pine that look amazing.
6. Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada
Death Valley is a completely dry and a completely hot national park that barely receives any rainfall at all. It has been recorded to get as hot as 120° F and due to these reasons, not many people go there. However, they are all missing out because it offers an amazing experience one can simply never forget. There are canyons here, craters and sand dunes and the Race track is incredible.
7. Olympic National Park, Washington
The Olympic combines three very distinct environments comprising of the mountains, the temperature rainforests and the coast usually laced with sea stacks. The mountains are heavily glaciated and the rainforests are fully covered with growth. The park has remains constant for many years and Mount Olympus remains just as magnificent.
8. Arches National Park, Utah
There is simply no other places in the world with as large an array of natural arches. Of course, there is a lot more than arches here and you will find thin fins, balanced rocks, bridges, towers and the beautiful spindly needles.
9. Glacier National Park, Montana
You might be expecting glaciers at this park but you will find instead plunging waterfalls, grizzly bears, mountain goats, tiptop peaks rising from the plains and turquoise alpine lakes. The white-knuckle Going-to-the-sun world famous road is the only one that leads deep in the park and offers 52 miles of wonders and awes. You can take a red jammer, the famous roll top buses or bike either in the morning or evening.
10. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
This park offers the most amazing thermal features in the world. It has more than 10, 000 of them that include hot springs, mud pots, geysers and fumaroles. The most famous landmark, the Iconic Old Faithful geyser spouts about every 35 to 120 minutes. This park has a lot more to offer than just the volcanic wonder like spectacular V-shaped canyon, the grandiose peaks, vast forest and the Yellowstone Lake that has the highest altitude in North America. The wildlife in this park is, which had the park names the American Serengeti, is simply amazing.
11. Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
To begin with, there are no roads leading to this park and one has to go through a boat or a sea plane. Not even bicycles are allowed. Then, the Rock Harbor Lodge is the only available place to stay but camping is allowed and you can backpack and have loads of fun here. One of the best sights here are the ships littered at the bottom of the lake visible through the clear waters. The Isle Royale is a haven for scuba divers and the quiet bays offer kayakers a great time.
12. Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
The end of this cave has not even been found yet, which makes it mammoth, right? It is a five-level labyrinth that has quite the geological triumphs. Over 5,000 years ago, there were Indians here who used mussel shells to shave gypsums off the wall. In addition to the underground, the entire above ground offer trails that wander beneath great oaks. The green River flows on top while the River Styx Spring Trail sprouts from the cave entering the Green River.