According to the National Park Service, over 237 million people visited the U.S. National Parks in 2020. It is safe to say that you do not need to travel to another country to experience breathtaking scenery and adventure. With over 63 national parks to choose from, it can be difficult to decide where to begin so we have narrowed it down to five of our favorite parks!
The Great Smoky Mountains
It’s no surprise that this is one of the most-visited National Parks. Spreading through North Carolina and Tennessee, this park is filled with incredible hiking, biking, fishing, and camping opportunities, where you can cross paths with a wide range of wildlife and soak in stunning views. We recommend visiting in the Autumn when the mountains are painted with gorgeous red, yellow, and orange leaves.
Rocky Mountain National Park
With over 415 square miles of protected mountains with 355 miles of hiking trails, the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado is the perfect destination for wildlife lovers and photographers. With over 350 species of mammals, birds, fish, and insects, you will have no problem capturing amazing photos of these creatures in their natural habitat. If you are not a fan of hiking, you can also take the road system to travel to take in some incredible views from more than 12,000 feet in elevation.
Grand Canyon National Park
Known as one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon is a bucket-list destination for many families. You can spend days there walking the “Trail of Time” where you can learn more about the canyon’s geological history, hiking or biking one of their many trails, or taking a river raft adventure through the Colorado River – these can take anywhere from half a day on the smooth water trips to up to 21 days if you choose a whitewater trip.
Yellowstone National Park
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Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park was the world’s very first national park and spans over an incredible 2.2 million acres! There are so many ways to enjoy your trip to Yellowstone and there are activities for everyone. You can camp in one of more than 300 backcountry campsites, participate in a Ranger Program to learn more about this special park, ski or snowshoe in the winter, and check out a few of the park’s many geologic wonders like hot springs and geysers.
Olympic National Park
With one of the most diverse landscapes and ecosystems, the Olympic National Park in the Pacific Northwest attracts explorers from all over the country. Over a few days, you can go from dense rain forests to high mountain peaks – like Mount Olympus – and rocky coastlines. Outside of hiking, boating, fishing, and capturing some of the park’s wildlife, 95% of the park is designated as wilderness and there is no human-caused light pollution, it’s the perfect place to camp overnight and take in the spectacularly starry skies.
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