The 25 Best National Parks in the US, From Acadia to Yellowstone
These days, most of us are on a mission to visit the best national parks in the US. The past few years have heightened Americans' interest in spending time outdoors—and travelers continue to flock to these protected areas in record numbers. In fact, the National Park Service’s annual visitation numbers in 2022 exceeded those of 2021 by 5 million, indicating a continuation of the steady increase experienced since the park service’s inception.
For travelers, this means popular parks will be busier than ever, so it’s a good idea to visit during quieter seasons like late fall, winter, and early spring—and try to avoid weekends. For those who are willing to take a trip to the most popular parks outside of the peak season, there’s a good chance you’ll find fewer people and especially serene landscapes (possibly blanketed in snow).
But with 63 national parks nationwide, there are plenty of opportunities to explore the country's diverse landscapes without having to compete with the crowds of headlining acts like the Grand Canyon, regardless of when you visit.
Below, we round up 25 of the very best national parks in the US, focusing on a combination of deservedly iconic classics like Yellowstone and some of the most seldom-visited, like The Gates of the Arctic, for those in search of solitude.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date. All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
When President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act into law on March 1, 1872, he put the wheels in motion to establish the entire park system. Today, America’s first national park, known for herds of bison and elk, glacier-carved valleys, and steaming geysers and hot springs, continues to be one of the most visited.
While the Old Faithful geyser is a rite of passage for all first-time visitors, Yellowstone has over 10,000 hydrothermal features—approximately half of the world’s active geysers—spread across 2.2 million acres, so it’s possible to skip the crowds. Lone Star Geyser is one of the many features that require visitors to leave the worn boardwalks and paved parking areas, but solitude and hot water spouting 45 feet into the air are the reward.
Although the hot springs and geysers are what Yellowstone is best known for, they barely scratch the surface of what the park has to offer. Shaped over the last 150 million years by various geological activities, Yellowstone is home to alpine tundras, canyons, mountains, and one of the largest barely-touched temperate-zone ecosystems in the world. These unique landscapes can be explored via the park’s network of over 900 miles of hiking trails.
Spend the night at the Canyon Lodge, a classic hotel in the park that was renovated in 2016. Another option, just 18 miles from the northwest border of the park in Big Sky, Montana, is the Lone Mountain Ranch, which offers several guided wilderness experiences and has 30 unique cabins to choose from.
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Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska
For remote wilderness experiences and mountain-based adventure, it's hard to match Denali National Park and Preserve. Home to the tallest summit in North America, from which the park got its name, this 6 million-acre park has only one road traversing it.
In the spring and early summer, wildflower-filled valleys frame the high alpine, glacier-capped skyline, uninhibited by man for miles. In the winter, the park becomes a snow-covered playground for serious skiers and mountaineers, though it’s also the perfect time for travelers who want to catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis.
While many who visit the park are in search of a remote wilderness adventure, you don’t have to spend days hunting your food and whittling spears out of sticks to enjoy the park. There are several worthy day hikes in Denali, like the eight-mile round trip Savage Alpine Trail, and there is even a luxury lodge within the park boundaries. Hiking off-trail is also encouraged, since there are only 35 miles of trail in the entire park—just make sure you’re prepared with the proper gear, knowledge, and a plan, before embarking.
Like in many national parks, those with the skills necessary to head into the backcountry will be immersed in the most serene, spectacular scenery in the world. Backpackers confident enough to travel through remote landscapes will be able to take full advantage of the park’s main purpose, which, according to their website is “to provide visitors with the means of self-reliance and self-discovery; to encourage hikers to find what appeals to them rather than following specific routes.”
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Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
It often comes as a surprise to many that Colorado, largely known for its tall alpine peaks and ski slopes, is also home to vast sand dunes, including two of the tallest in North America. As you approach the Great Sand Dunes National Park, the golden orange dunes rise in front of a backdrop of snow-capped alpine summits—the former more reminiscent of the Moroccan desert than North America. While the dunes are the main draw, there are a number of diverse ecosystems within the park's boundaries, including alpine tundra, subalpine forests, and meadows, to name a few. This spot is perfect for sandboarding—similar to snowboarding, but on sand—with board and sled rentals available at the Great Sand Dunes Oasis just outside the park. Visit in July or August to see the park’s wildflowers in bloom.
It’s possible to explore the dunes by foot, although it can be extremely easy to get turned around since there are no trails. It’s also important to consider that thunderstorms are common during the afternoons in summer, and when you’re in the dunes, there are no places to take shelter. The Park Service recommends using closed-toe shoes to hike the dunes, especially during the summer months, when the sand can get extremely hot.
Great Sand Dunes is relatively undeveloped and doesn’t have any lodging (aside from campsites) inside the park. The Great Sand Dunes Lodge, which lies against a backdrop of the dunes and the 14,000-foot peaks just beyond them, is the hotel closest to the park entrance.
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North Cascades National Park, Washington
North Cascades National Park is a veritable alpine wonderland, with rugged and remote peaks capped by more than 300 glaciers—all that, and it's just over a two-hour drive from the city of Seattle. The park is divided into two separate ecosystems: a temperate rainforest on the western side and a dryer ponderosa pine ecosystem on the eastern side.
While there are plenty of day hikes off of the North Cascades Scenic Highway, consider a backpacking trip on the nearly 400 miles of trails, easily the best way to experience this pristine landscape. The 34.2-mile Beaver Loop is one of the easier routes, as it avoids higher elevations and mid-summer snow crossings. At 33.5 miles, the Copper Ridge Loop is slightly shorter, but requires an extra day or two due to its arduous nature. The ascent to the top of the ridge is extremely steep on both sides and often requires the use of a mountaineering axe until July, so it’s best to do it during late summer and have a backup plan in case conditions are poor (or all of the tent sites are full).
If soaking in the jacuzzi tub or sipping a cocktail by the fireplace is more your speed after a day in the mountains, stay at the luxurious Sun Mountain Lodge, located in the foothills of the North Cascade Mountains.
The best time to visit the park is between July and September, after much of the lower-elevation snow has melted and rainy days are less frequent.
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Yosemite National Park, California
For decades, rock climbers have made the migration to Yosemite National Park, undeniably the most iconic of the nine national parks in California, to test their skills and push the boundaries of the sport. And with the skyscraper-like granite monoliths that dominate the landscape—the tallest being El Capitan at over 3,000 vertical feet—it only makes sense that Yosemite continues to be a premiere destination for climbers worldwide. Hiking one of the most iconic features in the park, Half Dome, is an adventure for experienced hikers that requires a 4,800 foot ascent over the course of a 14-mile round trip hike. The strenuous and exposed nature of the trek, which requires the use of cables near the summit, make this one of the most difficult hikes in any national park. To curb crowds, daily visits are limited to 300 through a permitting system.
But the spectacular rock faces and the valleys they rise from can be appreciated by non-climbers, too. With over 94 percent of the park’s 1,200 square miles being designated wilderness, there is plenty to explore. Shorter day hikes like the half-mile Bridalveil Fall Trail or the five-mile Mirror Lake Loop are easier alternatives. Stay a couple of days, minimum, and spend the night at the Evergreen Lodge, which has 88 cabins on its 20-acre property, or consider some of the park’s other nearby options, like spending the night glamping in an airstream camper or relaxing in a luxurious private estate.
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Zion National Park, Utah
Zion National Park in southern Utah is best known for its unique landscape of pink Navajo sandstone cliffs and orange slot canyons. Within the park’s 230 square miles, rivers as narrow as 20 feet meander between thousand-foot-tall sandstone cliffs, and juniper trees dot the desert hillsides.
With elevations ranging from 3,700 to 8,700 feet, the park is also home to diverse fauna, the most common being bighorn sheep, mule deer, and gray fox. This range in elevation also lends itself to diverse ecosystems, like desert, riparian, and conifer woodlands.
There are plenty of hiking trails for exploring the park, with The Narrows and Angels Landing being two of the more popular ones. But there are several lesser-traveled trails to consider as well, such as the Taylor Creek Trail, which is located in the Kolob Canyons Wilderness. For those comfortable spending time in the backcountry, setting off on a multi-day backpacking trip is a great way to experience the solitude of the desert, becoming immersed in a unique landscape, and falling asleep under a spectacularly dark night sky. The West Rim Trail, which is a point-to-point hike approximately 15 miles long (meaning you’ll have to arrange a shuttle at the end), is a popular overnight hikes in the park with sweeping views of the surrounding canyons and cliffs.
While the dated Zion Lodge is the only lodging within the park’s boundaries, comfier digs can be found at SpringHill Suites by Marriott, located just beyond the south entrance in Springdale. There are also a number of great Airbnbs, lodges, and glamping options, like the Zion Wildflower Resort, near the park.
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Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Located just south of Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park sees fewer visitors every year despite its dramatic mountainous skyline. The Tetons reach over 7,000 vertical feet into the air, a stark contrast against the surrounding flat plains. The 2.7-billion-year-old gneiss is some of the oldest rock in North America, drawing climbers and mountaineers from all around the world looking to scale one of many classic routes to the Grand Teton’s summit, from which the park got its name.
All that said, you don’t have to be a skilled mountaineer to enjoy the spectacular scenery, which is laced with over 250 miles of hiking trails within park bounds. Hikes like the Phelps Lake Overlook, Taggart Lake, and the Woodland Trail Loop are relatively easy and require a minimal time commitment, but still afford hikers a slice of the park outside of roadside pull-offs.
If hiking isn’t your thing, the Snake River, which flows through the park, is home to world-class trout fishing and paddling—visit during the spring for a float trip down the river, or in September to see bull elk rutting, and the first traces of snow on the higher peaks. The Cloudveil, a Marriott Autograph Collection property, is a convenient stay in Jackson’s historic town square. The central Mountain Modern—formerly known as The Jackson Hole Lodge—recently underwent a major expansion which was completed in fall of 2022.
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Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Known for its red sandstone cliffs, high alpine peaks, lush valleys, and unique geologic formations, Utah is home to five national parks—and Canyonlands may arguably be the most stunning of them all.
Each of Utah’s national parks has its own allure, but Canyonlands, at nearly 338,000 acres, is the state’s largest, making it easy to get away from the crowds and into the vast landscape. Split by the Colorado and Green Rivers into four distinct districts—Islands in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze, and the rivers themselves—the park is filled with vibrant mesas, arches, canyons, and other geologic formations prime for exploring.
There are a number of roadside hiking trails and attractions, like the park’s famed Mesa Arch, but to really get a sense of the expansiveness and remoteness of the desert, it’s worth packing a tent and heading into the backcountry for a night or two (just make sure you have the skills and know-how before doing so, or book a trip with a group). The Needles district is known to have well-traveled hiking trails, like the nearly nine-mile Lost Canyon Loop, which brings hikers through a narrow, vegetated canyon. Experienced backpackers should consider heading into the more remote Maze district, where you can spend days on end without seeing another person.
The nearby town of Moab is a great home base, with many restaurants, breweries, shops, and lodging to choose from. For glamping, consider spending a few nights at Under Canvas Moab, just north of the town.
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Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
Crater Lake, which is the deepest and clearest lake in the US, lies inside the collapsed summit of a volcano. Its dark blue waters reach an impressive depth of 1,943 feet and are fed only by run-off from melting snow, resulting in some of the purest water in the world.
Within the park’s 183,224 acres, mountainous terrain around the lake’s rim yields spectacular views of the steep hillsides that drop into the water, the result of the volcanic eruption and subsequent collapse just 7,700 years ago.
The lake is the focal point of the park, but there are 90 miles of hiking trails that meander through old-growth coniferous forests and over bare summits with panoramic views, and through dry, sub-alpine meadows.
Rim Drive circumnavigates the rim around the lake and has plenty of viewpoints and pull-offs along the way. But to really experience the park, exploring by foot is a must. While it’s only 3.5 miles out and back, the Garfield Peak hike does ascend over 1,000 vertical feet, making it a fairly arduous climb. But the 360-degree views at the top are well worth the effort. Given the bang you get for your buck, it tends to get crowded, so hiking during the off-season or starting early in the morning is a good idea.
There are two places to stay within the park that aren’t camping—the Crater Lake Lodge and the Cabins at Mazama Village—but they tend to book up far in advance, especially during peak times. Luckily, there are plenty of additional options within 35 miles of the park’s entrance, like the Union Creek Resort, which is a rustic lodge just outside of the park’s boundaries.
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Acadia National Park, Maine
As the only national park in the Northeast, Acadia National Park perfectly embodies New England with craggy coastlines, bustling harbors, and picturesque fishing villages. The park itself is home to the tallest coastal mountains on the eastern seaboard, reminiscent of the seaside cliffs of Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. During the mid-19th century, Acadia drew renowned artists like Thomas Cole and Sanford Robinson, who would paint and sketch this majestic and largely unknown landscape. As people saw this area depicted through art, tourism began to grow, drawing wealthy vacationers like the Rockefellers, Fords, and Carnegies. When John D. Rockefeller arrived in Acadia in the early 20th century, he was so captivated by the park’s beauty that he envisioned and set in motion a network of car-free carriage roads—one of the park’s signifying features to this day.
Today, the popular Precipice and Beehive hiking trails, among others, ascend sheer granite rock faces with the help of iron rungs and rails, affording visitors unimpeded views of the Gulf of Maine. Those with a fear of heights may want to stick to flatter trails like the Bubbles or Jordan Pond (stop at the Jordan Pond House for a popover afterward), which still boast spectacular views.
Nearby Bar Harbor has plenty of lodging, like the Inn on Mount Desert, or The Salt Cottages, which were renovated during the summer of 2022 and began offering hotel rooms in 2023 that overlook Frenchman Bay and are located just minutes from Bar Harbor’s center. For a unique glamping experience just a half-hour from the park, check out Under Canvas Acadia.
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
Straddling the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, this 522,427-acre national park is the most visited in the United States. Known for the morning fog that engulfs miles of ridgelines, sometimes only revealing the peaks of the taller summits, Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses the south’s natural beauty and Southern Appalachian history.
The park is home to 850 miles of hiking trails that meander through one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, over and between peaks that have been shaped over 1.2 billion years. And with more than 19,000 documented species in the park (scientists believe this might be less than a quarter of what exists), it’s the most biodiverse park in the entire national park system. In fact, this biodiversity led it to be designated as both a United Nations World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve.
After hiking Clingmans Dome (it’s the highest point in the park, and rewards early risers with a spectacular sunrise), take an auto tour of more than 90 historic structures, many of which can be found at Cades Cove, Cataloochee, and along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Visit between mid-October and early November to see vibrant foliage transform the Appalachian Mountains. Spend the night at The Swag, which is a rustic, yet luxurious, mountain retreat perched nearly a mile above sea level, affording visitors sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
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Joshua Tree National Park, California
Like Nevada’s Great Basin National Park, one of Joshua Tree’s biggest attractions is the dark night sky. At night, the Milky Way puts on a show high above the twisted branches of the Joshua trees and rock formations, some of which resemble wax dripping down the side of a candle. The park, which straddles the Mojave and Colorado desert ecosystems, is a unique destination for hikers, campers, outdoor enthusiasts, and especially artists, who come to paint, photograph, and draw the featured landscape contained within the park’s boundaries. Rock climbers also flock to Joshua Tree to scale the boulders and rock formations scattered throughout the high desert (test your hand by booking a guide for a climbing excursion).
Wandering along stretches of the park’s 300 miles of hiking trails is a great way to experience the distinct landscape. Mastodon Peak is a 3-mile loop hike with an optional rock scramble that takes you to the granite summit, affording hikers with panoramic views of the surrounding desert.
Rest your head at campsites within the park, or nearby spots, like the Castle House Estate, an elevated camping experience just seven miles from the park entrance. If you are hoping to take advantage of the stargazing, plan to visit as close to a new moon as possible and stick to the east side of the park, which is less affected by light pollution than the west.
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Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Located in western Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, the 192,000-acre Shenandoah National Park showcases some of the most spectacular scenery on the eastern seaboard of the United States. The park’s famed Skyline Drive traverses 105 miles along a ridge through the park, boasting many vistas and access to 500 miles of hiking trails along the way.
Of all the hikes in the park, Old Rag Mountain may be one of the most popular, and rightfully so. This 9.4-mile loop leads hikers over (and through) semi-technical rock scrambles and past rocky outcroppings with panoramic views to the nearly 3,300-foot summit, which overlooks the valley below. The hike is fairly challenging and gets crowded, so going during the week and allowing extra time, especially during summer, is recommended. Although the road that traverses the park makes much of it accessible, it also makes it slightly more difficult to get away from it all. But there are still plenty of trails, like the Big Run Loop, that descend from the ridge into the valley, affording hikers excellent fishing opportunities and plenty of solitude.
While there are a number of inns and hotels throughout the Shenandoah Valley, few are as luxurious as the Hotel Laurance, located in the small town of Luray. The town’s location, just minutes from the park—plus several shops, cafes, and restaurants nearby—makes it the perfect jumping-off point for exploring the park.
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Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
Located in northern Minnesota just south of the Canadian border, over a third of Voyageurs National Park is made up of water. Of the park’s 218,000 acres, 84,000 are waterways that provide access to 655 miles of pristine, undeveloped shoreline and over 500 islands. Because of its inaccessibility, Voyageurs is one of the least-visited national parks in the lower 48. In 2019, the park saw only 233,000 visits; a modest number compared to the 12.5 million people who visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during the same year.
The fact that Voyageurs is inaccessible and largely untouched when compared to parks like Yellowstone is what makes it special. While there are plenty of hiking trails that can be reached by car, there are just as many, like the Locator Lake and Mukooda Trails, that can only be reached by boat, making the journey there just as special as the hike. Not everyone can tow their own boat to the park. But luckily, there are several guide companies and water taxi services, like Border Guide Service, that can help get you there.
Visit during the winter to explore by cross-country skis or snowmobile and have a chance at seeing the northern lights. Visitors during the warmer months can rent a canoe and camp at one of the boat-access tent sites on the Lake Kabetogama peninsula. For a unique lodging experience, stay at the Kettle Falls Hotel, accessible only by a 13-mile boat ride offered almost daily during the summer months.
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Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Due to its location in eastern Nevada far from any major cities, one of Great Basin National Park’s biggest attractions can only be seen at night: the sky. As one of the 27 national parks designated as an International Dark Sky Park, spending a night sleeping under the stars can be a monumental experience. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to see before the sun goes down.
This 77,000-acre park is home to diverse landscapes ranging from desert valleys to high alpine snow-covered peaks. The 12-mile Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is a great way to see the park with minimal effort, but for those willing and able to lace up their hiking boots, exploring by foot is always one of the best ways to truly experience a national park.
During the day, head for a walk on the Glacier Trail, admiring the Bristlecone pines (which are thought to be the oldest trees not just in the country, but on the planet) before reaching Nevada’s only glacier, just below Wheeler Peak. After your hike, take a tour of Lehman Caves, which, at two miles, is the longest of the 40 caves in the park. The Stargazer Inn in Baker is a great option for your home base due to its convenient location just outside of the park entrance. There are also five developed campgrounds, with Lower Lehman Creek Campground the only one that’s open year-round.
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New River Gorge National Park, West Virginia
Established as the United States’s newest national park in 2020, West Virginia’s New River Gorge is by no means a new destination. Kayakers and climbers have been making the journey to “The New” for decades, paddling world-class rapids along the 53-mile stretch of river that cuts through the gorge, and pushing their limits on climbing routes in the deepest canyon east of the Mississippi. The re-designation of the park may help further an ongoing local shift from a coal- to adventure-based economy.
The New River Gorge has been shaped over 500 million years, the river cutting into the weathered Appalachian Mountains as deep as 1,500 feet in some places. A network of hiking trails traverses the ridges overlooking the gorge, with some leading hikers down to the river and through two old-growth forests, untouched during the industrialization of the late 19th century.
If you’re not an experienced whitewater paddler but want to get off the trails and experience the river itself, book an outfitter for a rafting trip on the most rugged water in the East. Those looking for a slower-paced adventure may want to consider a float fishing trip, chasing one of the many species of warm-water fish that call this area home.
There are several lodging options around the park, like The Greenbrier—an iconic resort and National Historic Landmark that's less than 45 minutes from the park entrance.
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Gates of the Arctic, Alaska
With no roads to disturb the glacier-carved valleys and pristine rivers, Alaska’s Gates of the Arctic National Park remains one of the few places in the world largely unchanged by humans. Because of its inaccessibility (only reachable by air taxi from Bettles or Coldfoot; or by foot from the Dalton Highway or village of Anaktuvuk Pass), it’s no wonder Gates of the Arctic is one of the least visited national parks, seeing just 10,518 visitors in 2019.
Unsurprisingly, this isn’t exactly an intro-to-the-outdoors type of park; visitors should be comfortable navigating rugged, trail-less terrain, and spending time in extreme conditions. But those who visit will be rewarded with solitude in its truest form, enjoying an intimate experience with nature as the native Inupiaq and Athabascan people have for thousands of years. June through August is the best time to visit when the days are the longest, but travelers should still be prepared for the sub-freezing temperatures that can occur year-round in the Arctic Circle. For those who want to visit the park but aren’t prepared to embark on a self-guided expedition, consider hiring a local outfitter.
Due to its remote nature, there aren’t many lodging options near the park—most people embrace the full wilderness experience that the park offers, opting for cool nights under the stars. However, there are a few options to consider if roughing it isn’t your thing, like the Iniakuk Lake Wilderness Lodge, which is a fly-in luxury wilderness lodge on the park’s northern edge.
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Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The Grand Canyon, at a dizzying 6,000 feet at its deepest and 600 feet at its narrowest, is one of the most impressive geological features in the world. Its yellow and orange walls descend sharply towards the banks of the raging Colorado River, its exposed layers telling a story nearly two billion years old.
The land encompassing the Grand Canyon has significant importance to 11 Native American tribes from the region, having influenced their cultures through the years. In fact, in 2023, the Biden administration even designated one million acres of the greater Grand Canyon Landscape as the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, ensuring the protection of this sacred ancestral land for generations to come. The park hosts frequent Desert View Cultural Demonstration Programs, perfect for learning more about the vibrant native cultures of the region.
While Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most visited parks in North America, few of its visitors leave the roads, viewpoints, and short walking trails along the rims, which means hitting one of the park’s hiking trails will get you away from the crowds. The 14.5-mile Rim-to-Rim hike is a grueling hike that many choose to do in two days, allowing visitors to descend into the canyon from one side and out the other. This requires staging a car, so it might be worth hiring a local guide service like OARS, who can help with logistics and obtaining permits.
There are seven lodges within the park’s boundaries—six along the south rim and one on the north rim. The El Tovar Hotel is one of the more high-end accommodations and offers sweeping views of the canyon below.
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Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
With 60 summits exceeding 12,000 feet, Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the highest parks in the country, and is home to some of the most impressive alpine landscapes in the lower 48.
Carved by millions of years of glacial activity, the park’s diverse ecosystems can resemble the remote mountains of Alaska at times, or the plains surrounding Denver at others. Alpine lakes are perched high above meadows, surrounded by craggy mountain peaks and ridges. At just an hour-and-a-half from the state’s urban center, it’s also extremely accessible. The park’s 355 miles of hiking trails range from easy strolls along the banks of serene lakes to rugged, multi-day hikes that traverse alpine peaks. The 6.2-mile round trip hike to Loch Lake, which is an alpine lake surrounded by glacier-capped peaks on the Continental Divide, is a great option for a day hike while in the park. At 45 rugged miles, the Continental Divide Loop traverses 20 miles of the Continental Divide, crossing alpine meadows and yielding panoramic views along the way. Of course, self-sufficiency is mandatory before embarking on a backcountry adventure, but for those with the know-how, it can be extremely rewarding.
For relaxed evenings, book a room at the Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort and Spa, a year-round retreat just 40 minutes from the park’s entrance. There are also five campsites in the park.
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Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
Nearly 70 miles west of Key West on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico, Dry Tortugas is accessible only by boat or seaplane.
The Tortugas, which comprise seven keys, have been strategically important to the U.S. over the years due to their location along a busy shipping route between the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. In 1846, construction on Fort Jefferson—one of the park's major highlights—began in an attempt to protect this position. While it was never finished, visitors today can tour the fort to learn about its historical and architectural significance.
Considered the southernmost part of the Florida Keys, Dry Tortugas National Park doesn’t offer much for hiking. Instead, visitors spend their time exploring the fort, kayaking and paddleboarding, watching wildlife, and fishing.
Much of the park’s wildlife is found underwater here, with rich sea life living among 30 different species of coral. Make sure to spend a day exploring these vibrant ecosystems with fins and a snorkel. There are also a few places in the park where fishing is allowed, and several Key West-based companies offer day trips to fish around the park. Heads up: There are no hotels or restaurants on any of the keys, so make sure you bring all of the food and supplies you’ll need during your stay. There is also no cell service, so make sure to send out all of your work-related emails ahead of time. Primitive tent sites are available on Garden Key.
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Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison, located in western Colorado, is often overshadowed by the state’s more popular Rocky Mountain National Park. But at over 2,700 feet at its deepest point and 40 feet wide at its narrowest, the canyon is an overwhelmingly impressive feature, making this hands down one of the best national parks in the US.
When compared to the geological formations in the Appalachians, the Black Canyon is quite new, which results in it being one of the most dramatic canyons in the country. Craggy spires dot the landscape, cut by the raging Gunnison River below.
Home to some of the steepest rock in North America, it’s a popular spot for rock climbers, though only the most adventurous climbers dare scale its towering, nearly two million-year-old cliffs. If hiking down the Gunnison Route to the depths of the canyon is still too intimidating (it is for most), the Rim Rock Nature Trail is a less demanding alternative with spectacular views of the crevice and raging Gunnison River below. There are also several hiking trails leading into the canyon, but those adventurous enough to venture into its depths should be comfortable on exposed, technical terrain and with backcountry travel.
At the South Rim, which is open year-round, the best accommodations are about 30 minutes away in Montrose. The quaint Canyon Creek Bed and Breakfast is located within walking distance of many of the town’s restaurants and shops, making it a great place to relax after a long day in the park.
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Glacier National Park, Montana
Like the name suggests, Glacier National Park’s glacier-capped peaks soar above shimmering alpine lakes and sub-alpine valleys, making it one of the only places in the lower 48 to see some of the planet’s rapidly receding glaciers. Over 700 miles of hiking trails in Glacier serve as a gateway into the park’s depths, allowing visitors to seek solitude.
Upon arrival at the park, take a drive across Going-to-the-Sun Road, which connects the park’s eastern and western ends, providing access to a number of trailheads and viewpoints along the way. Lacing up your hiking boots and leaving the car behind is one of the best ways to experience the park, with Avalanche Lake and the Hidden Lake Overlook being two hikes with a big reward for minimal effort. Visit between early July and mid-October for the best chances of the road being fully open—and don’t forget to stop at Park Café for anything made with huckleberry.
The sleepy ski town of Whitefish, Montana, which is located about 40 minutes from the western park entrance, is a great homebase for those who want to explore streets lined with shops, cafes, breweries, and restaurants after a day in the park. The Lodge at Whitefish Lake offers luxury vacation rentals in addition to traditional hotel rooms. (Get more tips on where to stay in Glacier National Park in our complete guide, or read up on camping in Glacier.)
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Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
Due to its location on an isolated island in Lake Superior, Isle Royale is another hard-to-reach—and thus seldom-visited—national park. Only accessible by water or air, the park features a 206-acre main island surrounded by over 450 smaller islands.
While it might not have the rugged peaks of the Tetons or the golden sandstone canyons of Zion, the solitude that can be found in Isle Royale is something many never get the chance to experience. In fact, in 2023, only 29,000 people visited the park—a far cry from the millions that visit the likes of Great Smoky Mountain and Yellowstone. Home to the largest freshwater lake in the world, it is also known for its gray wolf population, believed by scientists to have descended from a single female in the 1940s. While your chances of seeing one are small, hiking along lakeshores and open areas may allow visitors to spot one.
There are multiple ferries that transport visitors to the island from ports around Michigan and Minnesota between May and September. To get a real grasp on the destination, spend a few days on the main island. Consider a backpacking trip along the 43-mile Greenstone Ridge Trail, which traverses a crest running the entire length of the island. Or, if paddling around the rugged coast is more your speed, canoe and kayak rentals are available on the island at Windigo and Rock Harbor Lodge. (The latter is also the best-located stay for making the most out of your time in the park.)
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Haleakalā National Park, Hawai’i
The Haleakalā crater, perched high above the surrounding landscape, is the park’s crown jewel and has been a place of cultural and spiritual significance to native Hawaiians for over a thousand years. Known to natives as the “House of the Sun,” the crater from which the park got its name towers over 10,000 feet above sea level in southeast Maui. Ancient priests, or Kahuna Po‘o, have practiced meditation on the summit and searched for spiritual wisdom there for over ten centuries. Today, visitors to the park search for their own spiritual journeys and experiences, driving to the summit to watch the sunrise over the rugged landscape below (although an advance reservation is required).
The park is separated into two distinct districts: the Summit and Kīpahulu Districts. The Summit District boasts spectacular views and even has several trails into the crater, like the 11-mile Keonehe‘ehe‘e (Sliding Sands) hike, which traverses from one side to the other. This is a point-to-point journey and there are no shuttles offered by the park, but there is a “hiker pick up” area. The park service recommends parking your vehicle at Halemau'u and hitchhiking up to Keonehe'ehe'e to start the hike, but this is easiest to do during the busy season. The Kīpahulu District is at a lower elevation along the coast, and has plenty of trails along the craggy coastline and past spectacular waterfalls. The Pīpīwai Trail is one of the most popular in this part of the park, and leads to the 400-foot Waimoku Falls during the 3.5-mile round-trip hike.
There are no hotels or lodges within the park boundaries, but there are several drive-up camping options. There are also upscale lodging options, like the North Shore Lookout, which is just a 45 minute drive from the summit.
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Olympic National Forest, Washington
Located just west of Seattle between the Puget Sound and Washington’s coast, Olympic National Park is one of the most diverse in the country. With three different ecosystems—glacier-capped mountains, Pacific coast, and old-growth temperate rainforest—visitors to the park can walk along dramatic, remote shorelines one day, and ascend through a rainforest to the top of alpine peaks the next.
There are several spectacular viewpoints and short day hikes, like Lake Crescent and Rialto Beach, that are located near park roads, but Olympic National Park is so vast and undeveloped that it’s best explored by foot. The Grand Ridge Trail, which is 7.5 miles point-to-point or 15 miles out-and-back, affords hikers 360-degree views of the highest peaks, the Cascades, and even into Canada. The hike traverses an alpine ridge connecting Deer Park and Obstruction Point, so a car can be shuttled or it can be done as an out-and-back overnight hike.
For something more accessible, head to Hole in the Wall during low tide, which is located 1.5 miles north of the Rialto beach trailhead, to explore some of the park’s tide pools; or, pop up to Hurricane Ridge for sweeping views of the surrounding peaks. In-park lodging is limited to rustic spots like the Kalaloch Lodge and the 91-room Lake Quinault Lodge, which is located on the shores of Lake Quinault on the park’s southern side. If you’re willing to drive a couple hours, there are many fantastic rentals in the greater Seattle area—the park is a manageable day trip.