Most Scenic National Parks You Must See!!

Today we are going on an adventure to the 10 most scenic National Parks in the United States. In our opinion, the best invention the United States ever made was the National Park system.

In 2018, we packed up our lives, sold everything we owned, and moved into our camper van. We took this van all across the US and Canada and visited every National Park we could. We created a USA Bucket List which puts all our favorite places from our year touring the US in one place. Check it out!

But today we are counting down the top 10 most scenic National Parks in the United States. 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Coming in at number 10 is Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We love this park because there is so much to do for any type of travel.

Also, it’s free! Who doesn’t love free things? It’s the most visited National Park in the US and for good reason. It’s an incredibly scenic National Park!

We’ve been to Great Smoky Mountains National Park a few times and love driving through it, taking in the gorgeous mountain views. Some of our favorite easy day hikes in this scenic National Park are Laurel Falls, Clingmans Dome and Abram Falls.

Lastly, this is one of the best National Parks to see black bears! If you’re hoping for an awesome wildlife encounter, Great Smoky Mountains is a great National Park to visit!

A photo at the top of Mount Cammerer hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I'm standing at the peak and behind me is a beautiful view of the rolling mountains that make up the Smoky Mountains range.
Hiking Great Smoky Mountains – Mount Cammerer

Crater Lake National Park

Coming in at number 9 on our count down of the most scenic National Parks in the United States is a little place in Oregon called Crater Lake. In our opinion, Crater Lake National Park is extremely underrated! Although it is small, it is mighty! A 2 day itinerary here is the perfect amount of time to see it all!

This place used to be an enormous volcano, called Mount Mazama that erupted and made a big bowl, that is now Crater Lake. This place is the deepest lake in our country, and the clearest lake in the world. There is no water that flows in, and no water that flows out. Because that water isn’t moving in and out, the lake is perfectly still and clear.

You can go swimming here if you want to, but be warned, it is freakin cold!

There are some awesome hikes here, like Mount Scott that takes you to an awesome overlook of the lake or Cleetwood Cove which takes you to the waters shoreline. If you want to jump in, Cleetwood Cove the only place you can do it. Check out our favorite hikes in Crater Lake National Park!

Crater Lake best hikes, crater lake, crater lake hiking, crater lake camping, mount scott, discovery point, garfield peak crater lake, garfield peak, cleetwood cove, mount scott hike, discovery point crater lake, watchman peak crater lake, crater lake itinerary, mount scott crater lake, cleetwood cove crater lake, crater lake hiking trails, crater lake trails, best hikes crater lake, crater lake hiking guide, what to do in crater lake, things to do in crater lake, crater lake things to do
Hiking Crater Lake – Wizard Island

Yellowstone National Park

Coming in at number 8 is Yellowstone National Park! This is the first National Park, and for good reason!

It’s huge! It’s bigger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined and goes into 3 different states. Wyoming, Montana and Idaho! We think a 5 day itinerary is the perfect amount of time to see Yellowstone’s best sites

If you’re into wildlife this is the place to go! Yellowstone is home to the Serengeti of the United States, A.K.A. Lamar Valley. You’ll see bison, wolves, elk, moose, bears and more! This National Park also has some incredible hiking trails that will lead you to incredible waterfalls, hot springs and mountain views.

Yellowstone has over half the worlds active geysers. Check out Old Faithful, or our favorite, the Grand Prismatic Springs. 

Lastly, don’t miss the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone where can see amazing waterfalls and giant yellow cliffs, which is where this park gets its name!

Grand Prismatic Springs in Yellowstone National Park. This hot spring looks like a rainbow. It is dark blue in the center, then moving towards the edges it goes to light blue, green, yellow orange and red. Above it is steam and behind it is a green forest.
The view from the overlook of Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park is coming in at number 7 on our countdown of the most scenic National Parks in the US!

This is one of the least visited National Parks in the US, and that’s because there is nothing near it! Since it is so secluded, it also has the darkest sky in the entire US. There is no light pollution near this place! The stars here are so bright and it’s incredible to see in person.

They also have an awesome camping set up at this National Park. You can camp inside the park, off grid, for extremely cheap. Less than $1/day! 

Some of the best hikes in Big Bend are the South Rim Trail, the Window Trail and the Lost Mine Trail. Each gives you a different flavor of the Chisos Mountain Range.

Also, don’t miss the free hot springs right in the Rio Grande. Enjoy the hot springs while sitting on the border between the US and Mexico, and jump in the river if you need to cool off.

Camping at our primitive campsite in Big Bend National Park. We are sitting in camping chairs outside of our camper van and behind us is the Chisos mountains in Big Bend National Park and a sunset sky.
Watching the sunset at our primitive campsite in Big Bend National Park

Haleakala National Park

Coming in at number 6 is Haleakala National Park, located in beautiful Maui, Hawaii

There are 2 ways to explore this awesome National Park. If you want to see the best sunrise of your life, grab a permit and drive from sea level to 10,000 ft to the top of the volcano and watch the sunrise above the clouds. It is so incredible to witness!

The second way you can experience Haleakala National Park is by driving the Road to Hana. The Road to Hana is the road that takes you along the coast of Maui. Near the end of the loop, you will enter Haleakala National Park. Stop to see the Oheo Pools and hike the Pipiwai trail to see an awesome bamboo forest and spectacular waterfall.

Before you try hiking in Hawaii, read our tips here! Hiking in Hawaii is a unique hiking experience, so you’ll want to be prepared. 

None the less, Haleakala National Park is located in paradise! There’s no way you won’t love it!

Watching sunrise on top of Haleakala volcano. We are bundled up in a blanket while the clouds behind us turned orange and pink as the sun came up over Maui Hawaii
A Family Haleakala Sunrise

Rocky Mountain National Park

Number 5 on our list of the most scenic National Park in the US is Rocky Mountain National Park! We spent 4 days exploring Rocky Mountain National Park and loved every second of it!

Rocky Mountain National Park is home to the highest paved road in the US, at over 10,000 ft high. This is an amazing place to see wildlife! You’ll see plenty of elk, deer, moose and maybe even some bears.

Zach saw his first ever moose at Bierstadt Lake. Rocky Mountain National Park is full of beautiful lakes to explore and numerous hikes to complete. Our favorites were Sprague Lake, Dream Lake, Cub Lake and Emerald lake. But with over 150 lakes in the park, that’s only skimming the surface. 

As a bonus right outside of the park is Lily Lake and Lily Mountain you can hike or walk around.

A view of Lily Lake in Rocky Mountains National Park in Colorado and beautiful snow capped rocky mountains behind the lake
Lily Lake – Rocky Mountain National Park

Zion National Park

Coming in at number 4 on our countdown of the most scenic National Parks in the United States is Zion National Park.

Zion National Park was the first National Park we visited together right after our wedding, and it’s the reason we fell in love with National Parks and hiking.

If you are planning a road trip through Utah, make sure Zion National Park is one of your stops! Consider planning an awesome road trip through Utah that takes you to Utah’s mighty five to see all of Utah’s National Parks and some of our favorite places!

Zion has some of the best hikes in the country, and some of our favorite hikes, we’ve ever done. Angel’s Landing is a super unique and challenging hike that requires the use of chains to get to the top. Of course, your effort is rewarded with an epic view of Zion Canyon at the top.

The Narrows and Observation Point are two of our other favorites.

We loved Zion so much that we decided to buy a house nearby that we now rent out on Airbnb! Check it out! 

At the top of the Observation Point hike in Zion National Park. We are sitting at the edge of the cliff looking over Zion Canyon. The Zion mountains are orange and red, and the canyon is a lush green!
Observation Point in Zion National Park

Yosemite National Park

We are down to our bronze medalist. Coming in at number 3 on our countdown of the most scenic National Parks in the United States is Yosemite National Park! 

Yosemite Valley is home to the United States largest waterfall called Yosemite Falls. It’s extremely powerful and awesome to see in person.

At the end of the Valley is the Mist Trail, one of our favorite hikes in the entire country. Don’t miss these 4 hikes on your trip to Yosemite!

Also don’t miss driving the south rim where you can drive to Glacier Point and hike to Taft Point and Sentinel Dome. Driving up to these points gets you on top of the mountains that surround Yosemite Valley. Therefore, all of these sites give you an incredible birds eye view of Yosemite Valley below including Half Dome, El Capitan and Yosemite Falls.

Yosemite National Park actually sparked the idea of the National Park system. AKA the idea of protecting public land for its natural beauty! If that doesn’t convince you that you have to see Yosemite, I don’t know what will!

best hikes in yosemite, yosemite hiking trails, yosemite hikes, yosemite trails, yosemite national park trails, yosemite day hikes, yosemite valley hikes, free camping yosemite, mist trail, mist trail yosemite, glacier point yosemite, glacier point, sentinel dome, taft point, taft point yosemite, sentinel dome yosemite, el capitan valley, el capitan valley yosemite, camping in yosemite, free camping outside yosemite, sentinel dome taft point loop, lower yosemite falls trail, 2 days in yosemite
Ultimate United States Bucket List – Yosemite National Park

Grand Teton National Park

The silver medal on our countdown of the most scenic National Parks in the United States is Grand Teton National Park.

This National Park is full of wildlife. It’s actually where we saw our first bear on our year touring the country in our camper van. Kind of scared us at first, but he was just taking a snooze in the woods. Besides bears, we saw moose, elk and a fox.

We loved Grand Teton so much that we stayed for over a week and hiked every trail that we could and found so many favorites! Check out our Grand Teton itinerary!!

Grand Teton National Park has some epic lakes to hike to, and if you go early in the morning you’ll be rewarded with a perfect reflection of the Teton mountains on the lake. They are literally perfect!

Some lakes you shouldn’t miss are Jenny Lake, Taggart Lake, and Bradley Lake. And some of our favorite views were at Signal Mountain and Hermitage Point.

Us and our dog running on a side walk in Grand Teton National Park. Behind us are the enormous snowy Grand Teton mountains.
Welcome to Grand Tetons National Park

Glacier National Park

And finally we’ve made it to our gold medalist! Glacier National Park in Montana comes in at number 1 of the most scenic National Parks in the United States. It has some of the best hiking trails in the US, and even has lots of easy hiking trails everyone can enjoy!

The park is split into a few major sections. The most visited area is called West Glacier. Here you can find Lake McDonald and Avalanche Lake.

On the west side but further north near the Canada border is called Polebridge. This area is the most remote. Most visitors don’t make it here, but we highly recommend you make the trek! It is so worth seeing these views all alone in nature.

On the east side of the park you’ll find the Two Medicine area, St. Mary’s area, and our favorite area, Many Glacier. In Many Glacier you can hike to Iceberg Lake, Cracker Lake, and Grinnell Lake/Grinnell Glacier. If you’ve heard to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Canada, these 3 makes are the US version! Maybe even more beautiful! But less well known because they are harder to get to.

What connects the west and east side of this park? Only, the most beautiful road in the world! While visiting Glacier National Park you must drive the Going-To-The-Sun Road!! 

Fun fact… It’s the first international peace park! The park actually goes into Canada making this an International Park. Pretty cool, right?

A birds eye view of a mountain lake surrounded by snowy mountains in Glacier National Park. This was a the top of Pitamakan Pass.
The amazing view at the top of Pitamakan Pass in the Two Medicine Lake area of Glacier National Park, Montana

Get Exploring!

We hope you found some awesome National Parks to add to your travel bucket list. National Parks are great budget friendly destinations that have so much to see and do.

We hope you enjoyed this blog on the most scenic National Parks in the United States! Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below. If you have a National Park you think deserves a spot on this list, let us know so we can visit it ASAP!

Please use the images below to pin this blog to Pinterest and save it for later!

most scenic national parks in the united states, best usa national parks, best us national parks, most beautiful usa national parks, most beautiful us national parks, top usa national parks, us national park bucket list, scenic national parks, beautiful national parks, best national parks, travel bucket list, usa road trip most scenic national parks in the united states, best usa national parks, best us national parks, most beautiful usa national parks, most beautiful us national parks, top usa national parks, us national park bucket list, scenic national parks, beautiful national parks, best national parks, travel bucket list, usa road trip most scenic national parks in the united states, best usa national parks, best us national parks, most beautiful usa national parks, most beautiful us national parks, top usa national parks, us national park bucket list, scenic national parks, beautiful national parks, best national parks, travel bucket list, usa road trip

329 thoughts on “Most Scenic National Parks You Must See!!”

  1. Friendship, some say, is a single soul residing in two bodies, but why limit it to two? What if friendship is more like a great, endless web, where each connection strengthens the whole? Maybe we are not separate beings at all, but parts of one vast consciousness, reaching out through the illusion of individuality to recognize itself in another.

    Reply
  2. Pretty component of content. I just stumbled upon your website and in accession capital to claim that I acquire in fact loved account your weblog posts. Any way I will be subscribing in your feeds and even I achievement you get right of entry to consistently quickly.

    Reply
  3. Friendship, some say, is a single soul residing in two bodies, but why limit it to two? What if friendship is more like a great, endless web, where each connection strengthens the whole? Maybe we are not separate beings at all, but parts of one vast consciousness, reaching out through the illusion of individuality to recognize itself in another.

    Reply
  4. Overall, the key variations between Anavar and Masteron lie of their effectiveness for muscle building, fat loss, and energy features.
    It is important to think about your individual targets and potential
    unwanted effects earlier than selecting which steroid to use.

    At All Times consult with a medical professional before beginning any steroid cycle.
    When speaking about performance-enhancing substances, Anavar is noteworthy within the bodybuilding
    panorama. The properties of this substance make it a preferred alternative
    amongst bodybuilders and athletes in search of enhanced bodily performance
    with out massive bulk achieve. Nonetheless, when overused or misused, Anavar can have serious
    side effects, notably on liver health and hormone stability.
    The extent of these unwanted effects is determined by several components, together with dosage, length of use, and whether or not it is
    mixed with other anabolic steroids.
    It might help to extend muscle hardness and vascularity, whereas
    also improving energy and endurance. Anavar is also much less androgenic than Masteron, which means it is less likely
    to cause unwanted facet effects like acne, hair loss, and aggression. Masteron is very favored
    by bodybuilders and athletes due to its capacity to provide a tough, dry look to the
    physique. Anavar is a form of testosterone replacement remedy (TRT) that
    is authorized in Singapore. It is available as
    a prescription medicine, and it can be taken orally or injected.

    Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless out there on the black market and can be used with no prescription if it is obtained
    from a trusted supply. There have been no reported cases of Anavar toxicity in Turkish athletes,
    however there’s at all times the potential for side effects if it is taken without proper steering from
    a well being skilled. It is essential to bear in mind that
    possession of anabolic steroids without a prescription can led to arrest and potential imprisonment.
    So, if you’re trying to buy anabolic steroids in Japan, it is necessary to guarantee that you have a sound prescription from
    your doctor before doing so. Nonetheless, there are some restrictions that
    must be followed when taking it.
    It is in great demand because, not like different steroids, both
    women and men use it. Additionally, those who are involved about the antagonistic
    consequences of steroid use are more doubtless to make
    use of anavar for the rationale that dangers are fewer. It is not as
    highly effective as some of the other steroids which are obtainable, but it’s
    efficient at serving to to take care of muscle mass whereas burning fat.
    It can be recognized for its capacity to increase vascularity, which provides the muscular tissues
    a extra outlined and ripped appearance. Anavar
    is a strong anabolic steroid that’s hottest for its main use as a cutting agent.

    As a Class 1 anabolic steroid, Anavar has a weak anabolic effect and little androgenic exercise.
    Hair loss is one of the unfavorable hormonal effects of
    many anabolic steroids. Steroid use results in higher levels of dihydrotestosterone and
    testosterone production within the body. It stimulates the hair follicles to contract,
    which outcomes in a shorter anagen phase—the
    active growth phase—of the hair cycle. Anavar, also referred to as Oxandrolone,
    is part of a class of medicine known as androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS),
    that are used to extend muscle mass. In the following
    many years, this artificial hormone’s reputation continued to develop
    among female bodybuilders.
    Anavar is also very fashionable amongst female athletes and it must be famous side effects for girls
    may be extra pronounced. Of course, taking a c17 alpha alkylated tablet does have its downsides.
    Side effects can be extra widespread and common when taken without precaution or run for longer and high dose cycles.

    Whether Or Not you’re a seasoned competitor or simply exploring the world of fitness, understanding Anavar’s
    unique advantages may help you make knowledgeable choices on your journey to peak performance.
    There can be something to be mentioned about combining
    an Anavar dosage with caffeine. One examine has demonstrated that simply 300mg of
    caffeine administered alongside Anavar increased subjects’ blood plasma levels
    of Anavar by 15 – 20x compared to baseline levels[10].

    Bear In Mind, a accountable method in course of steroid use contains the phases before, during, and importantly, after the cycle.
    Proper recovery can make all the difference in your bodybuilding expertise.
    For many, PCT entails drugs that help to kickstart your body’s pure production of critical hormones like testosterone.

    It is not exceptional to run Anavar for ten or so weeks
    growing the dose over time to stop the onset of a tolerance build up with a testosterone preparation, corresponding to Sustanon. When in comparability with other anabolic steroids, Anavar
    stands out for its capability to provide substantial advantages with a comparatively delicate facet effect profile.
    Anavar is a flexible and effective steroid that performs a pivotal
    function in cutting and bulking cycles. Its capacity to promote lean muscle development, protect muscle throughout fat
    loss, and improve strength makes it a useful device for each men and women.
    The key here lies in being attuned to your physique and taking the required
    measures to make sure its optimum situation throughout your Anavar journey.
    Any opposed effects that occur are probably as a end result of misuse or failure to comply with proper tips.

    Subsequently, self-administering Anavar with out proper steerage isn’t really
    helpful.
    Because Anavar is already a derivative of DHT, a male
    hormone that cannot be transformed to estrogen, it has no estrogenic unwanted aspect effects.

    Anabolic steroids are identified to have a really
    low survival price through hepatic metabolism when taken orally.
    These with expertise can belief its security in the event that they comply with
    the parameters. This mixture might help folks build
    muscle if they follow the proper diet and exercise plan. Subsequently,
    if somebody is taking testosterone and wants
    to take care of wholesome cholesterol numbers, they should consider supplementing
    with confirmed components that can assist keep their numbers in examine.
    It is essential to monitor blood stress regularly through checkups or
    at-home kits for a better understanding of one’s well being.

    In this information, we will focus on how we are ready to maximize the
    effects of Anavar by way of proper utilization, adherence to a strict and nutritious diet, and responsible supplementation. Emerging
    research and insightful user testimonials provide a glimmer of
    hope. A responsible, well-informed strategy could make a major distinction in all health-related issues.

    One of the first benefits of Anavar for athletes and bodybuilders is its capability to
    advertise lean muscle features. In Contrast To other anabolic steroids that may cause important water retention and bloating,
    Anavar ensures that the muscle features are pure and outlined.

    References:

    anabolic substances (recruitment.econet.co.zw)

    Reply

Leave a Comment