National Parks In USA – Top 10 Parks To Visit

The national parks in USA are famous worldwide. These national parks are literally huge and have numerous architectural structures. Most of these national parks are made on thousands of years ancient sites. Also, there are many archeological sites to explore here.

1. 10 Famous National Parks in USA

The United States of America has a number of national parks. Meanwhile, the top ten famous national parks in USA are listed below:

1.1. Glacier National Park

The Glacier National Park is situated on the northwest side of Montana. It is located at the Canada and US border. This American National Park is one of the top-most famous national parks in the USA. However, it surrounds an area of 4,000 square kilometers. It is a huge area itself of a national park.

It consists of the segments of two mountain ranges. Further, the park is comprised of over 130 named lakes. Also, it has over a thousand species of plants, including hundreds of animal species. Its ecosystem is the centerpiece of the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem. It is an area of conserved land that encircles about 41,000 square kilometers.

Initially, the Native Americans located the area that has now become Glacier National Park. Afterward, the park was dominated by the Flathead region to the west and the Blackfeet region to the east. It happened after the arrival of European explorers. The park was established here when the Blackfeet surrendered their sections of land to the federal government.

On May 11, 1910, numerous chalets and hotels were built towards the Great Northern Railway. 350 spots are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. These chalets and hotels are also included as the National Historic Landmarks. Later, the Going-to-the-Sun-Road’s work was completed in 1932. It became the National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

1.1.1.  Popular Things to Do in the Glacier National Park

Following is the list of things to do in the Glacier National Park:

• Going-to-the-Sun-Road
• Hiking or take a walk at the Trail of the Cedars
• Calm yourself at Lake McDonalds
• Explore the Hidden Lake
• Visit the entrance to the east, Mary
• Hiking at the renowned Highline Trail
• Camping in the Glacier National Park
• Explore along Avalanche Lake Trail
• Take a tour with Glacier Park Boat Company

1.2. Zion National Park

The Zion National Park is situated in the southwest in the state of Utah, USA. This is an American National Park that resides closer to Springdale town. It facilitates many different life zones with unique geographical regions. There are many species of plants, with 289 bird species.

It also has 75 mammal species and 32 species of reptiles. Further, it abides by the 4 life zones of this park. These life zones include coniferous forest, riparian, desert, and woodland. This national park is comprised of slot canyons, mountains, monoliths, natural arches, mesas, canyons, rivers, and buttes.

However, the park’s highest peak is located at Horse Ranch Mountain. Meanwhile, the lowest point of the park is located at Coalpits Wash. In order to conserve the canyon, William Howard Taft named this park in 1909. He was a president who gave the name Mukuntuweap National Monument. In 1918, Horace Albright changed the park’s name to Zion National Monument.

The Congress redirected the name of the monument to Zion National Park on November 19, 1919. Zion National Park is surrounded by the city of Springdale from the south and Orderville to the east. It occupied an area of 593.26 square kilometers.

1.2.1.  Popular Things to Do in the Zion National Park

Following are the popular things to do in the Zion National Park:

• Hiking at the Canyon Overlook Trail
• Visit the slimmest part of the park, The Narrows
• Travel the Kolob Canyons
• Observation Point is among the widest section of this park
• You can spend half of your day at Angels Landing
• Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is the most popular driveway here
• Take a sidewalk at the Pa’rus Trail
• Inspect the architecture of Canyon Junction Bridge
• Riverside Walk is an alternative spot to appreciate the Virgin River
• Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel is one of the must-visit spots
• Explore the great grid of Checkerboard Mesa

1.3. Arches National Park

The Arches National Park resides in the state of eastern Utah, USA. It is adjacently located to the Colorado River and bounded by the city of Moab to the North. However, the park is best known for its sandstone arches. There are over two thousand natural sandstone arches in the park.

The Delicate Arch is the most renowned arch in the park. You will see a wide range of geological formations and resources here. It has the highest number of natural arches in the world. Further, it has a high desert area of 310.31 square kilometers on the Colorado Plateau.

However, the park’s highest elevation is at Elephant Butte. Meanwhile, the lowest elevation of the park is at the visitor center. Furthermore, the park is governed by the National Park Service. Initially, this region was named as a national monument. Afterward, it was redirected as a national park on November 12, 1971.

The park has numerous remarkable features to watch. The most prominent features are Devils Garden, Balanced Rock, Wall Arch, Fiery Furnace, Courthouse Towers, and Landscape Arch. Moreover, Double Arch, Delicate Arch, The Phallus, Dark Angel, and Petrified Dunes are also included.

1.3.1.  Popular Things to Do in the Arches National Park

Following are the popular things to do in the Arches National Park:

• Visit the longest arch in North America, Landscape Arch
• Spend about two hours at the Arches Visitor Center museum
• Either sightseeing or hiking at the Balanced Rock
• Fiery Furnace is an adventurous place to explore
• Capture the flawless Windows Section location
• Traverse the Wolfe Ranch, which takes less than an hour to explore
• Sightseeing at Delicate Arch, the most famous arch in the world
• Hiking at the scenic Park Avenue and Courthouse Towers
• Another sightseeing location is the Double Arch
• You can spend your half or full-day hiking at Devils Garden

1.4.  Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon National Park is an American national park. It is situated in northwest Arizona, USA. This is the fifteenth designated national park in the USA. However, the Grand Canyon is the central feature of this national park. It is a Colorado River gorge. Usually, it is considered among the Wonders of the World.

In 1979 the Grand Canyon was approved as UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. It is located by the Mohave and Coconino counties in Arizona, USA. However, it is among the famous national parks in USA. The nearest city to the park is Fredonia to the North Rim and Tusayan to the South Rim.

Furthermore, the park occupies an area of 4926.08 square kilometers. The park was officially established on February 26, 1919. However, it is administered under the National Park Service. This park has many natural picturesque features that are amazing to explore.

You can indulge in many popular activities on the North Rim and South Rim of the park.

1.4.1.  Popular Things to Do in the Grand Canyon National Park

Following are the classic popular things to do in the Grand Canyon National Park:

• Take a half or full-day visit to the Grand Canyon Village
• Take a view of the great spectacle at Mather Point
• Walk along the South Kaibab Trail
• Explore the site of natural wonder, the Horseshoe Bend
• Enjoy the adventurous water sports in the Colorado River Rafting
• Visit the historic memorial Navajo Bridge
• Tour around the historic Grand Canyon Railway
• Visiting South Rim early in the morning offers you great natural views
• Hiking at the Bright Angel Trail
• Take a scenic view of Desert View Drive.

1.5. Grand Teton National Park

The Grand Teton National Park lies in western Wyoming, USA. However, it is located in Teton County, Wyoming, USA. Also, the nearest city to the park is the city of Jackson. This national park is spread over about 1,300 square kilometers area. National Park Service is the governing body of the park that manages it.

Primarily, it was established on February 26, 1929. It is a fantastic renowned destination park for mountaineering. Also, fishing, hiking, and many other recreational activities are also popular here. The park is among the most famous national parks in USA. It facilitates over a thousand drive-in campsites around the park.

Also, it has about 320 kilometers of hiking trails. This park is among the 10 most-visited national parks in the USA. It is comprised of glaciers, Teton Range, Jackson Hole, Rivers, and Lakes geographical regions. It has several ancient rocks that can be found in any National Parks of America.

Moreover, you are allowed to do many exciting activities here. These activities include fishing, mountaineering, hiking, boating, camping, and many other winter activities. Snowshoe, cross-country skiing, snowmobiles, and ice fishing are a few winter activities.

1.5.1.  Popular Things to Do in the Grand Teton National Park

Following are the popular things to do in the Grand Teton National Park:

• Appreciate the peaceful climate at Jenny Lake
• Take a sightseeing tour with the Grand Teton National Park Boat Tours
• Drive or walk along the Teton Park Road
• Sightseeing at the high peaks of Signal Mountain
• The easiest trail here is the Taggart Lake Trail
• Take a tour of the Menors Ferry Historic District
• Grand Teton is a magical mountainous point to spend your entire day
• Tour around the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center
• Do not miss out on the historical Mormon Row Historic District
• Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls is another hiking trail to traverse

1.6. Yellowstone National Park

The Yellowstone National Park is situated majorly in northwestern Wyoming, USA. It expands to the state of Idaho and Montana, USA. This American National Park was established on March 1, 1872. Under the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act by the forty-second United States Congress.

The park is better renowned for its numerous geothermal features and its wildlife. One of its most famous features is Old Faithful Geyser. Meanwhile, it showcases a variety of biomes. But, the most abundant is the subalpine. Its geological features include earthquakes, the hydrothermal and geyser system, and volcanism.

Furthermore, the climate of the park is majorly influenced by its altitude. The Yellowstone region was the home to the Native Americans for about eleven thousand years. Initially, the authority and management of the park came under the U.S. Department of the Interior’s jurisdiction.

However, in the year 1917, the authority of the park was given to the National Park Service. Since then, hundreds of architectural sites have been constructed here. Also, these are conserved for their historical and architectural significance. Meanwhile, the researchers have analyzed over one thousand archaeological sites.

1.6.1.  Popular Things to Do in the Yellowstone National Park

Following are the popular things to do in the Yellowstone National Park:

• Visit the ancient site Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
• Refresh yourself in the largest hot spring, the Grand Prismatic Spring
• Explore the beauty of Yellowstone Lake
• Visit over nine hundred miles of spectacular trail, Mystic Falls Trail
• Visit the neighborhood area of Firehole Canyon Drive
• Inspect the great wildlife in the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center
• Exquisite sightseeing at Mount Washburn
• Take a glance at Norris Geyser Basin
• Hiking for one to two hours at Trout Lake Trail
• Exploring Lamar Valley with your family
• Phenomenal sightseeing at Mammoth Hot Spring

1.7. Olympic National Park

The Olympic National Park is one of the famous national parks in the USA. It is situated in the Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Clallam, and Mason counties, and lies in Washington, USA. However, the nearest city to the park is Port Angeles. This park is spread over an area of 3,733.8 square kilometers.

Further, the Olympic National Park was established on June 29, 1938. The park is governed under the administration of the National Park Service. Mainly, the location of the park is in Washington State, on the Olympic Peninsula. This national park is primarily composed of four regions.

These regions are Alpine areas, the west-side temperate rain forest, the drier eastern-side forests, and the Pacific coastline. You will find the three different ecosystems inside the park. It includes the rugged Pacific coast, wildflower meadows & subalpine forest, and the temperate forest.

Originally, the park was directed as the Mount Olympus National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt. It was designated to this name on March 2, 1909. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Congress redirected this location as a park on June 29, 1938. UNESCO approved this park as an International Biosphere Reserve in 1976.

1.7.1.  Popular Things to Do in the Olympic National Park

Following are the popular things to do in the Olympic National Park:

• Appreciate the beauty of lush green Hoh Rain Forest
• Inspect Mora and Rialto Beach for one to two hours
• Take a tour of the mountainous region the Hurricane Ridge
• Sol Duc Valley provides several trails to explore
• Visit the most visited spot of the park, Kalaloch and Ruby Beach
• Tour around the Olympic National Park Main Visitor Center and Wilderness Information Center
• Take a view of the calm beauty of Lake Crescent
• Hiking at the Staircase Rapids Loop Trail

1.8.  Bryce Canyon National Park

The Bryce Canyon National Park is situated in southwest Utah, USA. It resides in Kane County and Garfield County in the state of Utah, USA. Bryce Canyon is the primary feature of the park. Besides the name Bryce Canyon, it is not really a canyon. Actually, it is a collection of giant natural open-air venues.

It is located at the east of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. This is a unique place because of its geological structures like hoodoos. However, it is forged by the river’s stream erosion and frost weathering. You can get splendid views of white, red, and orange color rocks. During the 1850s, the Mormon Pioneers settled in the area of Bryce Canyon.

Ebenezer Bryce inspires the park’s name. She homesteaded in this region in the year 1874. Further, the park was directed as a national monument in 1923. However, it was designated by President Warren G. Harding. Moreover, the park was officially established on February 25, 1928. It occupies an area of 145.02 square kilometers.

1.8.1.  Popular Things to Do in Bryce Canyon National Park

Following are the popular things to do in the Bryce Canyon National Park:

• Take a glance at nature’s beauty at the Inspiration Point
• Sunrise Point is a wonderful scenic point to visit in the early morning
• Rim Trail is a natural wonder for hiking
• Take a glimpse of the spectacle at Sunset Point
• Stargazing at night in the Bryce Canyon National Park
• Go for a long drive, known as Bryce Canyon National Park Scenic Drive
• Another hiking spot here is Bryce Point
• Explore the Yovimpa Point and Rainbow Point
• Inspect the Queens Garden & Navajo Loop Trails
• Traverse the Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail

1.9. Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is an American National Park that is located in the state of California, USA. However, the park is bordered by the Stanislaus National Forest to the northwest. Also, it is bordered by the Sierra National Forest from the southeast.

The National Park Service has the authority to maintain this park. It lies in the Mono, Tuolumne, Madera, and Mariposa counties in California, United States. This is one of the most famous national parks in the USA. However, the nearest city to the park is Mariposa City. Further, the park is spread over an area of 3,074.1 square kilometers.

The Yosemite National Park was officially established on October 1, 1890. Its geology includes uplift and erosion with volcanic and tectonic activity, including glacier sculpting.

1.9.1.  Popular Things to Do in the Yosemite National Park

Following are the popular things to do in the Yosemite National Park:

• Get a glimpse of Yosemite Valley
• Walking and Hiking along the Mist Trail
• Take an outlook at Tunnel View
• Have an adventurous drive, the Tioga Road Drive
• Sightseeing at Glacier Point, one of the best lookout points
• Visit an extended grove Mariposa Grove, occupied by sequoia trees
• Visit the Half Dome, one of the beautiful natural wonders here
• Traverse the natural and calm spectacle of Tenaya Lake
• Explore the high-elevation meadows, Tuolumne Meadows
• Visit the Yosemite Museum of 1925
• Clouds Rest is a peaceful and splendid hiking point

1.10.  Sequoia National Park

The Sequoia National Park resides in the southern part of the Sierra Nevada. Further, it lies in the east of Visalia, California, USA. It is located in Tulare County, which lies in the state of California. However, the nearest city to the park is Visalia.

The park covers an area of 1,635.19 square kilometers. Further, the park was officially established on September 25, 1890. It is administered under the National Park Service. Besides, this park is best recognized for its giant sequoia trees.

The park has numerous attractions to explore. Some of its attractions include Tunnel Log, Moro Rock, Sherman Tree, and Campgrounds. Moreover, the Tokopah Falls, Crescent Meadow, and Giant Forest Museum are also on the list of famous attractions.

1.10.1. Popular Things to Do in the Sequoia National Park

Following are the popular things to do in the Sequoia National Park:

• Visit the Giant Forest
• Take a visit to the Grant Grove Village
• Take a glimpse of General Sherman Tree
• Another visitors point here is the Tunnel Log
• Visit the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway
• Camping at the Sequoia National Park
• Sequoia National Park Hiking is another thing to do
• Explore the Tokopah Falls
• Hiking at the peaceful sight of Crescent Meadow
• Sightseeing from the Moro Rock

2. National Parks in USA-The Conclusion

The United States of America has many different national parks around the country. These national parks are famous for their speechless and unique features. However, the natural beauty and landscape around these parks are flawless.

The National Park Service has managed numerous national parks for over 150 years. Nowadays, a total of 63 national parks attract visitors from all over the world. Most of the authority and managing administration of the parks is under the National Park Service management.

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Last Updated on August 1, 2023 by SushmitaBiswas