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Top 10 National Parks in United States, United States
Spanning 2,800 miles (4,506 kilometers) from east to west, the US is a vast patchwork of landscapes and metropolises. From Arizona’s red-rocked canyons and California’s coastal beaches to New York’s big city and Virginia’s storied past, it covers any topic any traveler could want or need.
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1. The Narrows
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,489 reviews
Zion's most popular hiking trail is also its most dangerous due to occasional flash floods.
Reviewed By erinmarina - Sioux Falls, United States
Awesome hike!!! Definitely spend the extra $25 to rent the wooden hiking stick and water shoes/neoprene socks from Zion Outfitters (located right outside the pedestrian entrance to the park). The stick actually provided a lot of stability when hiking through the water and the water shoes were NOT waterproof by any means, but helped support my ankles and give me better grip than my hiking shoes or tennis shoes would have. We went on October 1st, VERY EARLY in the day and we didn't encounter many people until our way back around 11. We hiked through Wall Street and then returned, Definitely recommend this hike!!
2. White Sands National Monument
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4,059 reviews
Visitors to this endless waterless sea can enjoy driving, hiking, visiting a museum and sledding down the huge dunes.
Reviewed By waynefromcali - Yucaipa, United States
Like an ocean wave of rare white crystal gypsum sand-White Sands National Monument in the desert of New Mexico is known for dramatic landscapes of rare white gypsum sand dunes.In 2019 White Sands National Monument was redesignated White Sands National Park by The United States Department of the Interior Office of National Parks. . . . . . #whitesands #newmexico #desert #nationalparks #usdeptoftheinterior #hiking #natgeoyourshot #natgeomyshot #whitesandsnationalpark #dunes #sanddunes #ilovesanddunes #route66 #alamagordo #albuquerque #deserthighway #ilovenewmexico #leicacameras #hasslebladcameras #canon #nikon #sonycameras #film
3. Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,050 reviews
Uncrowded wildlife refuge managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Reviewed By LouPerti81662
Rode our bikes through the park enjoy the loop through the wildlife area once the lighthouse got some nice pictures of the lighthouse Road bikes back towards the beach and really enjoyed the cleanliness of the beach area. Highly recommend
4. New River Gorge
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 194 reviews
A 53-mile stretch on the river that is set aside as a national park.
Reviewed By WiseWomanWanderer - Mount Orab, United States
New River Gorge and area should be on everyone's bucket list! I went for the hiking and the views for 3 nights accompanied by my dog. I could only manage easy-moderate trails. And I love water features. So, here is our itinerary>>> Sunday 1. stop at Canyon Rim Visitor Center, get trail maps, walk the boardwalk trail 2. hike Long Point Trail Monday 1. wake early to get parking place and then hike Endless Wall Trail (small parking lot, they will tow if on main road). 2. travel to Sandstone Falls and experience the boardwalk, island trail and overlooks 3. head to Thurmond area to hike the Rend Trail along the Dunloup Creek. Drove a little further to check out the New River. Driving back I pulled over to venture down to the falls (no sign so keep your eyes on the look out!). Tuesday 1. travel to Babcock State Park to experience the Grist Mill. Then hiked the Island in the Sky Trail which was nothing spectacular because the views were overgrown. Then, hiked around Lake Boley 2. drive to Summersville Dam and check out the two overlooks. Then, drive down the Gauley River access road and walk down the two steep entries to the Gauley River. 3. drive to Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park and hike the portion of the Patteron Trail with the 3 overlooks. 4. drive the Fayette Station Road Tour and get up close and personal with the New River. 5. hike the Timber Ridge Trail just because I was in the car a lot and needed more hiking! Wednesday 1. stop at Hawks Nest Overlook, Cathedral Falls, Confluence at Gauley Bridge (a city), and Kanawha Falls on SR 60 on my way back home I reviewed most of these trails on separate Tripadvisor entries. I just posted highlights of the trip. I gave each a 5 rating! I would have given 10 ratings if I could!
5. White Mountain National Forest
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 236 reviews
Great outdoors activities all year long.
Reviewed By WaitForIttttt - Hazlet, United States
My husband and I visited White Mountain National Forest this week for some pandemic-safe hiking because we heard it was forecasted to be peak foliage. We were so glad we did because the scenery was breathtaking, featuring all the gorgeous colors of autumn. There were tons of beautiful overlooks to stop at and a diverse selection of trails. We decided to hike the Champney Falls Trail and it was a lovely trail that followed the brook through the leaves to the waterfall. This Forest is definitely a must-see in Autumn!
6. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,081 reviews
Park located on the shoreline of Lake Superior encompassing cliffs, dunes, waterfalls and lakes.
Reviewed By 211charissek - Troy, United States
To actually see the pictured rocks you must either rent kayaks to get close up and personal, or take the boat tour.The double tiered boat gives you sensational views of the magnificent turquoise, orange, brown, copper, pink colors within the stones sculpted and worn by the seas of Lake Superior. The backdrop of the turquoise water is reminiscent of the pacific ocean and is a sight to behold.
7. Crater Lake National Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,026 reviews
Beautiful lake which is the centerpiece of Crater Lake National Park.
Reviewed By mgschmidt2019 - Dorsten, Germany
Blue, blue pure and intense colour allover with Wizard Island on one side! The deepest lake in the US, rised by a volcanic eruption, is a visitor´s resp. photographer´s dream. Surrounded by the Cascade Mountain Range it offers unbelievable and beautiful views along the various trails and alongside the West and East Rim drive with more than 30 pullouts to inhale the dramatic scenery. Take your sandwiches, fruit and coffee with you to enjoy a great picnic near the Rim Village. The park´s entrance feeis $25 per vehicle, good for 7 days.
8. Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 387 reviews
This massive national monument holds endless sights within thousands of acres.
Reviewed By gwenh465
All I can say is WOW. Jaw dropping views. Beautiful sunset views. Watch for road conditions in winter.
9. San Juan National Forest
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 566 reviews
Wilderness area consisting of forested mountains, 14,000-foot peaks, scenic roads, geological formations, prehistoric communities and a narrow-gauge railroad.
Reviewed By 321MarkA - Larkspur, United States
The San Juan National Forest, alone or when combined with the Rio Grand National Forest (to the northeast) and the Uncompahgre (to the northwest), cover a lot of the San Juan Mountain range: very high, very rugged, very old mountains. If you like hiking (Ice Lake, Island Lake, Columbine, Piedra Falls, and more), camping (formal and dispersed), jeeping/ATVing (Alpine Loop, Black Bear, Red Mountain Pass, Ophir Pass, Engineer Pass, Corkscrew Gulch plus many many more) , skiing (Purgatory/Durango Mountain, Telluride, Wolf Creek) , hot springs (Pagosa Springs, Ouray, Ridgeway), native American history (Mesa Verde National Park, canyon of the Ancients) , steam trains (Durango Silverton RR), ghost towns (mining ruins, Animas Forks, Read Mountain mining district, Ironton, Eureka, Mineral Point and many many more), endless vistas and views, lively towns (especially Durango and Pagosa Springs), Old and active mining towns (Silverton and Creed), tubing/ float trips (Durango) and much much more. You can spend weeks in this area and only see a small portion of it. Highly highly recommended vacation spot.
10. Haleakala National Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,460 reviews
Reviewed By robertdX4400QY - Oahu, United States
Towering over the island of Maui and visible from just about any point, Haleakala Crater is a force of nature in every sense. At 10,023 feet above sea level, this dormant volcano is the stage for a breathtaking range of landscapes—and skyscapes. Haleakala means "house of the sun" in Hawaiian, and legend goes that the demigod Maui lassoed the sun from its journey across the sky as he stood on the volcano’s summit, slowing its descent to make the day last longer. Many visitors wake up early to drive to the Haleakala Visitor Center, the best spot to watch what may be the most spectacular sunrise on earth. As the sun peeks over the horizon, an ever-changing swirl of color and light dance across the vast sea of clouds—a sight described by Mark Twain as “the most sublime spectacle I have ever witnessed.” Perhaps just as impressive are Haleakala’s sunsets and the bright, starry skies revealed at night. Remember, the National Park Service now requires a reservation for personal and rental vehicles to view the sunrise from the summit district. Your reservation is for parking at the summit and doesn’t include the required national Park entry fee. Drive times from Kaanapali and Wailea to reach the summit average 2 hours. Sunrises and sunsets are only two of the many reasons to pay Haleakala National Park a visit on your trip to Maui. Spanning more than 30,000 acres of public land, the stunning landscapes range from Mars-like red deserts and rock gardens near the summit to lush waterfalls and streams in the park’s coastal Kipahulu section, near Hana. There are numerous hiking trails that offer solitude and scenic vistas, while guided hikes and horseback rides provide an expert's insight in addition to the natural beauty. There are more endangered species here than any other park in the National Park Service, like blooming ahinahina (silversword) and nene (Hawaiian goose), the state bird. Visitors can also camp here, with separate campgrounds and cabins available.
