A nation as large as the United States has an abundance of wildlife in both species and numbers. Every state has its key species that draw the attention of tourists and scientists, so it fortunately isn’t hard to see and appreciate wildlife in this country.
That said, there are certain places that are hotspots for wildlife viewing and diversity, and now we’re going to see what some of them are.
Denali National Park, Alaska
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Denali is one of the most accessible places in the Arctic region (though it’s not actually in the Arctic) for seeing big wildlife. Perennial favorites include grizzly bears, wolves, moose, musk oxen, caribou, and Dall sheep.
Katmai National Park, Alaska
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The brown bears are the stars here. Every summer, when salmon return from the ocean to spawn and die in the rivers where they were born, the bears gather in great numbers. From safe viewing platforms, visitors get to marvel as the bears feast on the salmon, sometimes catching the leaping fish with their jaws.
Hawaii
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The entire state is awesome for seeing wildlife, especially colorful and rare birds. Off the shores, look for sea turtles and whales. Many species living in Hawaii live nowhere else in the world, which is why the state takes great steps to prevent the introduction and spread of non-native species.
Olympic National Park, Washington
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The mountains and forests of this park have all the large species typical of the Pacific Northwest. However, the real place not to miss is the coast. At low tide, you can explore tidal pools and discover sea stars, urchins, anemones, and more.
Channel Islands National Park, California
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Just off the coast from Los Angeles, this park is a prized respite from the traffic and noise of the nation’s second-largest city. It’s also a haven for wildlife, including some species that live only here.
Glacier National Park, Montana
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Spectacular Going-to-the-Sun Road is an awesome place to see bighorn sheep, mountain goats, elk, deer, and bears. Trails lead to lakes where you can watch moose dine on underwater plants. Glacier is prime grizzly country. Consider yourself lucky to see one, but always keep a safe distance from these powerful, unpredictable animals.
Yellowstone National Park, Idaho-Montana-Wyoming
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Nearly all of Yellowstone is a wildlife hotspot, and the roads are infamous for their “wildlife jams” that occur when someone spots a large animal and traffic stops because there aren’t enough roadside pulloffs. Sometimes it’s not the people at fault, though, as herds of elk and bison are known to completely block roads, sometimes for hours at a time. The Lamar Valley, known as the American Serengeti, is one of the best places in the country to see wolves in the wild.
National Elk Refuge, Wyoming
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South of Yellowstone and just outside Jackson, this refuge is a major wintering ground for thousands of elk. It gets even more exciting when wolves show up to see which elk they can separate from the herd for a meal.
Great Divide Basin, Wyoming
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It’s all dirt roads through this vast desert region in central Wyoming. Wildlife lovers gas up and pack a good spare tire so they can view pronghorns, the fastest land animals in North America, and the region’s herds of wild horses.
Custer State Park, South Dakota
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Elk, deer, and free-roaming bison are the top wildlife draws here. One of the best ways to see them is to drive the park’s Wildlife Loop. Then take the spectacular Needles Highway to arrive at the foot of Mount Rushmore.
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
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This “island in the sky” is an important refuge for deer and many other animals, including an endangered salamander. Most people visiting hope to see a black bear, and since the park has the highest concentration of them in the East, there’s a pretty good chance of doing so.
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia
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Chincoteague Island’s marshes and coast provide critical habitat for many wildlife species, especially migrating birds. The island is also famous for its herd of semi-wild ponies that inspired the classic children’s novel Misty of Chincoteague.
Everglades National Park, Florida
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The Everglades are a paradise for birds and the last remaining habitat for some endangered species. For people who aren’t bird watchers, though, probably the most exciting animal to see is the American alligator, which are in no shortage here. Everglades National Park is also the only place in the U.S. where you can see American crocodiles.
Gulf Coast, Texas
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The Texas Gulf Coast is known as a major migratory destination for birds. There’s something to see in every season here, and there are several wildlife refuges and other locations that serve as protected habitat. In the marshy areas where it’s all freshwater, keep an eye out for alligators.
The 30 Most Beautiful Places in the World That Everyone Must See
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There’s no way you could ever come up with a definitive list of the world’s most beautiful places. However, if you ask around, some places come up a lot more frequently than others do.
The following are some of the places that people mention over and over again, not in any particular order.
30 Breathtaking Places You Must See Before You Die
The Two Best Scenic Wonders in Each of the Mountain States
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The Mountain States– Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico– have some of the wildest and most rugged landscapes in the United States. Because they’re so big, it can take a lot of time to visit them, so it helps to be able to plan for some specific destinations.
Following are our choices for the top two must-see outdoor locations in each of these seven states.
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