USA Parks Travel Guide and Map

Among the wonders of America, the U.S. national parks are certainly a must-visit. If you’re in search of vast, mysterious, and astonishing natural landscapes, a tour of the American parks will amaze you with unique views. Most of the natural beauty in the United States is concentrated in the West, but in reality, the entire American territory offers fascinating scenery that stretches as far as the eye can see. Below you’ll find our insights dedicated to the parks that are worth a visit, and don’t overlook our specials on the most important parks: Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Death Valley, Niagara Falls, Monument Valley, Yosemite National Park and Zion National Park.

US Parks: Classifications and Designations

U.S. national parks are classified and designated by various categories based on the governing authority. Here are the main classifications:

• National Parks: These are part of the National Park System, covering nearly 35 million acres throughout the United States. This category includes not only National Parks but also National Monuments. While the distinction between the two designations is not always so clear-cut, it can be said that National Monuments can be named as such not only for reasons of natural interest but also historical interest. See the example and explanation of the Grand Staircase-Escalante for reference. Visitors can expect to find park rangers and can often access them with the America The Beautiful pass.
• State Parks: State parks in the U.S. are managed by individual states, such as Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada or Niagara Falls State Park in New York. In these parks, you won’t typically find the familiar park rangers, and the National Park pass is not usually accepted.
• Parks on Native American Reservations: These parks are not managed by the federal government or individual states but are located within Native American lands and are overseen by the respective tribal authorities, such as the Navajo or Hualapai tribes. Well-known examples include Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley. The Grand Canyon is a unique case, as it is partially managed by the federal National Park Service (South Rim and North Rim) and partially by the Hualapai Indians (West Rim). In the latter case, the National Park pass is not accepted.

Most Visited National Parks in US

Here’s the list of the most visited national parks (managed by the National Park Service. The list does not include Indian reserves and state parks). Data is updated to 2022.

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park (12,937,633 milion)
• Grand Canyon National Park (4,732,101 milion)
• Zion National Park (4,692,417 milion)
• Rocky Mountain National Park (4,300,424 milion)
• Acadia National Park (3,970,260 milion)
• Yosemite National Park (3,667,550 milion)
• Yellowstone National Park (3,290,242 milion)
• Joshua Tree National Park (3,058,294 milion)
• Cuyahoga Valley National Park (2,913,312 milion)
• Glacier National Park (2,908,458 milion)

With that said, we are ready to embark on our tour of American parks. Here are all our guides to visit them:

Most Beautiful National Parks in the US

There are thousands of American natural parks, and identifying the most beautiful ones is a bold and subjective task. The following ranking is, therefore, highly personal and has been compiled considering two criteria: the inherent beauty of the parks themselves and their popularity. The parks that follow are among the most visited during road trips (though they may not be the most visited overall, for that, see the section below).

Grand Canyon

Perhaps one of the most famous national park in the United States, it’s a virtually obligatory stop for anyone planning a road trip in the Southwest. To give you an idea of the vastness of this national park, consider that it’s larger than the state of Rhode Island!

This spectacular landscape has been formed over the course of 6 million years (although it’s still not precisely determined how old it is; some argue that this process began over 70 million years ago), through erosion caused by the Colorado River. There are still many questions about the origin of this area; that’s why we covered this topic in our article dedicated to the history of the Grand Canyon.

Five Native American tribes have inhabited, and in some forms, continue to inhabit this area: the Hopi, Navajo, Havasupai, Paiute, and Hualapai. Did you know that there’s still a village inhabited by Native Americans at the bottom of the Grand Canyon? It’s called Supai Village, with a population of just over 200 residents, and it’s the most remote outpost in the contiguous United States.

The first to advocate for legislation to protect the Grand Canyon was Theodore Roosevelt, who, in 1906, signed a law establishing the Grand Canyon Game Reserve, followed by its designation as a National Monument in 1908. His quote on this matter is famous: “Leave it as it is. You cannot improve on it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it.”

However, it wasn’t until February 26, 1919, when the new President Woodrow Wilson signed the decree officially establishing the Grand Canyon National Park, that the area came under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service.

Grand Canyon Visitor’s Guide

Monument Valley

Spectacular Monument Valley is part of the Navajo Nation, the largest and most visited Native American territory within the United States, spanning both Arizona and Utah.

The distinctive buttes that make the landscape in this area unparalleled were formed because, at one time, this section of the Colorado Plateau was actually a seabed. Once this area rose above sea level, thanks to tectonic forces, it was exposed to erosion caused by weather events, which, over time, removed the softer and lighter materials, leaving us with what we can observe today.

The popularity of Monument Valley is largely attributed to Hollywood and the works of director John Ford (a famous viewpoint is named after him), who, starting in the 1930s, used this location for numerous iconic western films.

However, the experiences within Monument Valley are not limited to a panoramic tour along Valley Drive. There are two other areas that can be visited, offering equally spectacular views. I’m talking about Hunts Mesa, a plateau with 360-degree views of the entire valley, and Mystery Valley, the area where you can find well-preserved evidence of the ancient populations that once inhabited this region.

Monument Valley Visitor’s Guide

Death Valley National Park

If you’ve ever wondered why Death Valley bears this name, the answer is not found in the temperatures recorded in this region, as one might think, but in a historical event that truly occurred in this area.

In the winter of 1849, during the California Gold Rush, a group of pioneers became lost in this region, and all of them were certain they were facing certain death. However, fate had something else in store for them, as they were rescued by William Lewis Manly and John Rogers.

Once they found a way out of the valley, one of the men in the group turned back and said with relief, “Goodbye, Death Valley.” From that moment on, the adventures of this group of adventurers became part of the history of the American West and the United States itself.

Death Valley became a National Monument on February 11, 1933, thanks to a proclamation by President Herbert Hoover, and it was later designated a National Park in 1994. Today, it is the largest national park in the contiguous United States.

The park is, of course, famous for the record temperatures that have been recorded in the area over the years. In 2018, for example, Death Valley became the hottest place on Earth, with an average daily temperature of 108 °F in July and a maximum temperature of 127 °F for four consecutive days.

Death Valley Visitor’s Guide

Yellowstone National Park

Perhaps not everyone knows that beneath the surface of the Yellowstone Caldera lies one of the world’s largest active volcanoes. In fact, it’s more precisely a supervolcano, a term coined to classify volcanoes with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 8 (the highest on the scale).

As mentioned earlier, Yellowstone was the first national park to be established on March 1, 1872. It boasts over 10,000 hydrothermal features, 500 active geysers (including the famous Old Faithful), which represent more than half of all the world’s geysers, and nearly 300 waterfalls. Among these, the most spectacular are undoubtedly the Upper and Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

The park spans three states: Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. It’s no wonder, given its size, that Yellowstone offers five different entrances for visitors to choose from.

Bison dominate the park’s prairies, as this is the only place in the United States where these mighty animals have continuously lived since prehistoric times. But Yellowstone’s wildlife extends beyond bison, with over 300 bird species, 16 fish species, and 67 mammal species residing here. To grasp the significance of these numbers, consider that the park is home to the highest number of mammal species in the contiguous United States.

Yellowstone Visitor’s Guide

Yosemite National Park

Even though Yosemite was the third national park to be created in chronological order, it was the beauty of these places that sparked the idea of preserving American nature. It all began on June 30, 1864, when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Land Grant, establishing that the areas of Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Valley would be protected by the government of California. This marked the first institutional commitment by the United States government to protect the beauty of its land.

Within the park, you’ll find some of the world’s tallest waterfalls, which are not only appreciated for their beauty but also for another unique reason. During clear, full-moon nights in spring and summer, you can witness nocturnal rainbows here. This phenomenon is known as Moonbows and forms at the base of the park’s largest waterfalls.

Speaking of waterfalls and captivating visual effects, it’s important to note that Yosemite also experiences another remarkable phenomenon that attracts hundreds of curious visitors each year. From mid-February until the end of the month, the setting sun’s light reflecting on the waters of Horsetail Falls gives the water a very vivid and intense orange color, creating a visually stunning “firefall.”

Yosemite National Park Visitor’s Guide

Niagara Falls

When people mention Niagara Falls, they often imagine only the largest one, known as Horseshoe Falls. However, not everyone may be aware that there are two other falls in the area, although not as massive as the most famous one, they are certainly spectacular. We’re talking about the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, both located on the American side.

How were Niagara Falls formed? Their origin is traced back to the end of the last ice age, around 12,000 years ago when the melting of glaciers created the Great Lakes.

Niagara Falls isn’t a national park but a state park, yet it holds the distinction of being the first state park in the United States, created by the state of New York on April 30, 1885.

Over the years, many individuals have attempted in various ways to survive a plunge over Niagara Falls, often using makeshift contraptions. Some have succeeded, while others have lost their lives in the attempt (which is why such stunts are now illegal). Perhaps the most famous incident dates back to 1901 when a woman named Annie Edson Taylor became the first person to survive a plunge, enclosed inside a barrel.

However, these falls aren’t the highest ones you can find in the United States, as that record belongs to Yosemite Falls.

Niagara Falls Visitor’s Guide

Zion National Park

This national park owes its name to the early Mormon pioneers who explored this part of the United States in the late 1800s. Impressed by the beauty of the area, they decided to use the Hebrew term “Zion,” which meant sanctuary or refuge.

However, the name “Zion” wasn’t the first to be used to describe this protected area. In 1909, it was designated as the Mukuntuweap National Monument, using the ancient Paiute word, which meant “straight canyon.” It took another ten years for it to become a national park and be renamed Zion National Park, as there was concern that the previous name was too complex and might discourage tourism.

In 1923, the park received a visit from the sitting U.S. President, Warren G. Harding, who was so impressed by these lands that he said, “I am the first President of the United States to visit here… but I am sure that all future Presidents will come to visit this place of beauty when I tell them about it.”

While the park isn’t particularly known for natural arches (unlike Arches National Park), you can find one of the world’s largest natural arches here: Kolob Arch.

Zion National Park Visitor’s Guide

Bryce Canyon

In this case, as with Zion National Park, the park’s name has its origins in the Mormon history. Specifically, it’s named after Ebenezer Bryce, who settled in the area in 1874. During his life, he built a church and the first road that led to Bryce Amphitheater.

However, the name might be somewhat misleading because Bryce Canyon isn’t technically a canyon! In this area, you’ll find about a dozen natural amphitheaters overlooking a valley on the Paunsaugunt Plateau, dominated by the characteristic red rock hoodoos.

What are hoodoos? They are tall, thin rock columns eroded by weather events over time, taking on unique and fascinating shapes. Bryce Canyon is where you can find the most hoodoos in the world.

But for the Native Americans who inhabited this area, hoodoos represented something different. According to a Paiute legend, these rock formations were actually people who had angered the god coyote. To punish their actions, the god transformed them into rock for eternity. This belief was reinforced by the fact that some of these hoodoos had shapes that could resemble human faces. That’s why the area was called “Angka-ku-wass-a-wits,” which can be translated as “red-painted faces.”

Bryce Canyon Visitor’s Guide

Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon located within the Navajo Nation in Arizona. This particular type of canyon has formed over the years due to flash floods, which occur when the amount of water produced by a storm cannot be absorbed by the dry ground and creates a sudden flood.

Rainwater seeps into the rock cavities, forming narrow and tall canyons with undulating and distinctive shapes, revealing various layers of rock with their different shades of colors.

This is also reflected in the name the Navajo used to refer to this place, which is Tsé bighánílíní, meaning “the place where water runs through the rocks.”

Antelope Canyon Visitor’s Guide

Sequoia National Park

This was the first park in the United States established to preserve living organisms: the giant sequoias that grow concentrated in this area of California. The decision was made on September 25, 1890, making it the second national park, after Yellowstone, entrusted to the care of the NPS.

These trees are known for being the largest and oldest in the world, capable of living up to 3,000 years. The most famous tree within Sequoia National Park is undoubtedly General Sherman, standing at over 272 feet tall with a diameter exceeding 36 feet, making it the world’s largest tree by volume.

In addition to the sequoias, the park is also home to the highest mountain in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney (14,505 feet). Interestingly, Mount Whitney is only 84.5 miles away from the lowest point in the contiguous United States, Badwater Basin in Death Valley

 Sequoia National Park Visitor’s Guide

Arches National Park

This park is home to the world’s largest concentration of natural arches, with an estimated count of over 2,000, though this number frequently changes as new arches form and old ones erode due to natural forces. You can find the longest natural arch in the United States (and the fourth-longest in the world) here: Landscape Arch, which spans over 305 feet.

In 1929, President Hoover initiated the idea of preserving this area with the creation of Arches National Monument, which eventually became a national park in 1971 during the Nixon administration.

Not all arches are the same, as they are classified into four different categories: Cliff Wall Arch, Free-Standing Arch, Pothole Arch, and Natural Bridge.

Eleven films have been shot within the park, with the most famous being “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” in 1989.

Arches National Park Visitor’s Guide

Other Parks

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National Parks by State

California’s Top National Parks: Unveiling Nature’s Wonders

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National Park Pass

Visiting parks in the Winter

National Parks Requiring Reservations

American Parks Map

This map does not include the lesser-known natural wonders or those not usually categorized as “parks.”

Curiosities about American Parks

• The combined area of all American national parks is approximately 3.5% of the entire United States’ landmass.
• The most visited National Park is Great Smoky Mountains, with nearly 13 million visitors, while the Grand Canyon comes second with 4,730,000 visitors. These figures are as of 2022.
• The three least-visited national parks are all in Alaska: Lake Clark National Park (18,187 visitors), Kobuk Valley National Park (16,925 visitors), and Gates of the Arctic National Park (9,457 visitors). These figures are as of 2022.
• Yellowstone National Park is the oldest national park, established in 1872, while the most “modern” is the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, established in 2020.
• The second national park ever established was later downgraded to a state park, the Mackinac National Park in Michigan. The largest national park is in Alaska, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, while the largest park in the contiguous United States is Death Valley National Park.
• The smallest national park is Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis.
• The lowest point in the entire Western Hemisphere is Badwater Basin in Death Valley, which is 282 feet below sea level.
• California and Alaska have the most national parks within their borders, with 8 each. Delaware is the only U.S. state that does not host either a national park or a national monument within its borders.
  Dry Tortugas National Park, Isle Royale National Park, and Voyageurs National Park are the only national parks that can’t be reached by car, only by boat or seaplane.
• More than 20,000 people work within the National Park Service, while there are over 279,000 volunteers.