Currently, there are 63 national parks in the United States, and the National Park Service oversees a total of 433 different sites that include national parks, battlefields, seashores, and more. Some people have the time and opportunity to visit all 63 of the national parks, but most people don’t.
So, if you had to limit yourself to 15 must-sees, what would they be? Following are our best bets.
Denali, Alaska
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Even when clouds hide the mountaintops, as is often the case, this park is almost a guaranteed lock for seeing a lot of large mammals ranging from predators to prey. When Denali is visible, it’s staggeringly spectacular; at 20,310’ above sea level, it’s the highest peak in North America, and the vertical rise of 18,000’ from base to summit makes it the tallest land-based mountain in the world.
Glacier Bay, Alaska
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In this realm of ice and ocean, huge glaciers meet the sea, calving icebergs that float in the waters. Most people see this spectacle by cruise ship, but if you want to get closer, get into a sea kayak and start paddling.
Hawaii Volcanoes, Hawaii
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Here, you have a rare opportunity to safely watch active volcanic activity such as lava flows and a molten lake. When you’re not checking out the volcanism, view local flora and fauna, ancient rock art, and dramatic ocean vistas.
Mount Rainier, Washington
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Mount Rainier is the most heavily glaciated mountain in the Lower 48. The Pacific Northwest is known for its rain and clouds, but summer is the dry season, and if the mountain is “out,” you’ll gasp at the sight of it.
Crater Lake, Oregon
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Millions of years ago, Mount Mazama blew its top, leaving an empty caldera where the summit cone once was. Over time, the caldera filled with rain and snowmelt, eventually leaving this intensely blue lake as the deepest in the United States.
Yosemite, California
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Yosemite Valley, dubbed the “Incomparable Valley” by John Muir, has some of the world’s tallest cliffs and waterfalls. During a summer visit, though, make sure to spend some time up in the Tuolumne Meadows area, a spectacular area of high peaks, granite domes, lakes, and streams.
Death Valley, California
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Don’t let the name or the fact that this is the hottest place on Earth keep you away. It’s an otherworldly area of mountains, salt flats, saline pools and creeks, sand dunes, twisting canyons, and more.
Glacier, Montana
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When you ask people what they think the most beautiful national park they’ve been to is, Glacier comes up a lot. Jagged, colorful peaks take your breath away, especially at sunrise and sunset. Lakes and waterfalls seem to be everywhere. And you’ll probably see some if not all of the following marquee species here: grizzly and black bears, moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, elk, and eagles.
Yellowstone and Grand Teton, Wyoming
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These are two separate parks, but they’re so close to each other that people frequently visit them both on the same trip. Yellowstone is the world’s most active geothermal area, and it’s also known for its abundant wildlife, including herds of bison that can stop traffic for hours. Grand Teton preserves some of the world’s most beautiful, dramatic, and recognizable peaks.
Zion, Utah
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Sometimes called the Yosemite of Utah, Zion Canyon is narrow and surrounded by tall, sheer sandstone cliffs. Other parts of the park have an almost mountainous feel, the eastern side is great for just parking the car and exploring.
Arches, Utah
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Filled with cliffs and desert towers that rival what you see in Zion, Arches is a visual wonderland. The top draw, as you’d expect, is the huge number of natural arches here; it’s the world’s largest concentration of them.
Grand Canyon, Arizona
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Listed among the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon, no matter how many pictures of it you’ve seen, is something you actually have to see to believe. It can get really crowded here, but you can always find some quiet spots early or late in the day to admire the depth and breadth of this canyon and all its forms and colors.
Badlands, South Dakota
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Badlands form mainly when running water erodes away soft rock and clays beneath it. There are badlands scattered all about the American West, but there’s no better place than the national park named for them to discover and explore them. They’re at their most spectacular after a fresh dusting of snow or when brilliantly sunlit with dark, menacing storm clouds as a backdrop.
Acadia, Maine
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Most of the Atlantic coast is sandy or marshland, but Acadia is a major departure from that. While there are some sandy beaches, the most dramatic sights here are cliffs and rock outcrops where the rough Atlantic surf pounds away relentlessly.
Everglades, Florida
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Everglades is a pretty place for sure, but the natural scenery isn’t what draws most people or what makes it so special. Instead, it’s the wildlife, as the region is an important habitat for migrating birds and critically endangered species. And of course, the resident alligators are always a hit.
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