The Western United States has some of the most incredible National Parks to explore in the United States. From alpine lakes and peaks, petrified forest, granite cliffs, unbelievable trees, and historical sites, the west is rich in parks for a reason.
We situated this list for the Western Continental United States. Mostly parks from Western Colorado to California, this includes parts of Wyoming, New Mexico, Idaho, Washington, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Arizona.
For each of the parks, we list out the costs. However, all these parks also accept the annual America the Beautiful Pass which is the best deal for visiting multiple parks.
Arizona
Grand Canyon National Park
“One of the Great Sights Every American, if he can travel at all, should see”. And I don’t think I can sum up the Grand Canyon any better than Teddy Roosevelt there. It is one of the most iconic, well known American west sights. And one that will certainly put you in awe when you stare out into it.
The testament to time and nature, the Grand Canyon was carved over millions of years by the Colorado river. It is often considered one of the natural world wonders, and it’s easy to see why. It’s not the world’s biggest canyon, but the scale of it is hard to comprehend.
The best thing for most folks to do in the park is to just stare in awe from one of the two rims. Most visitors explore the south rim which is closer to most Arizonan cities. Traveling between rims is not drivable from within the park and requires a 5 hour drive, or several day hike. The south rim also has many of the classic views folks know. The north rim also closes seasonally as it receives snow in the winter.
For those looking for more adventure, there are several trails that go into the canyon. The most popular, Bright Angel, starts at the south rim and goes into the canyon below. Visitors can go as far as they want during the hike for different views. South Kaibab is also a popular south rim trail as well. There are also mule trips available, although they fill up quickly.
The north has other activities and hikes as well. The North Kaibab trail is the only maintained trail into the canyon from the north. There are also mule trips into the canyon and along the rim. A visitor center and lodge is available as well.
It is also possible to stay within the canyon at the Phantom ranch or campsites. However, overnighting inside the canyon requires difficult to get reservation and backcountry permits. So you’ll need to plan well ahead. It is possible to hike rim-to-rim in one day, although this requires nearly 24 miles of hiking. And then you’ll need transportation back to your vehicle.
There are also activities on tribal land such as Havasupai falls and the skywalk. These are outside the national park and require several hours of driving as well as separate reservations, tickets, and permits.
- Known For: Incredible river carved canyon
- Suggested Highlights: Vistas, Inner Canyon Hiking
- Stay: Bright Angel Lodge: Phantom Ranch: Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim
- Entrance Fee: Car: $35; Motorcycle: $30; Person (foot/bike): $20
Saguaro National Park
Named for the incredible human-like cacti, Saguaro National Park protects the largest cacti in the world in this area of Sonoran desert. These cacti can grow 40 or more feet in the world, with some growing upwards of 70ft. Amazingly, for this size, they grow slowly, with flowers starting at age 70, and the first arm often not until they reach 100 years old!
The park is actually divided into 2 units, the west and the east. The west is the most visited and has the most sites and saguaros as well. The east has lots to see, but much of it is backcountry terrain.
There’s much to see in Saguaro NP, and a lot of the park can be visited in a day. You’ll be best served by taking the time to explore the cacti, the desert landscape and canyons, and the incredible views in the area.
Saguaros are believed to have human qualities and legend is that people were turned into the first cacti. Regardless, getting to spend time with these gentle giants is a magical experience.
- Known For: Human-like Cacti
- Suggested Highlights: King Canyon Hike, Bajada Loop Drive, Cactus Forest Drive
- Stay: AC Marriott Downtown or Tucson Hotels
- Entrance Fee: Car $25; Motorcycle $20; Person (foot/bike) $15
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park has some of the largest deposits of petrified wood in the world. These fossilized trees dot the landscape and the park is here to protect these incredible natural treasures. Throughout the park you’ll find quite a few trails to explore with lots of fallen trees that have been fossilized.
The fossilization of the trees occurs through long periods of time the buried wood’s organic material is replaced by silica dissolved in groundwater. It produces the incredible stone/wood structures you see in the park.
Much of the park wood is actually from conifers. There are petrified forests in other parts of the country and world. One of my favorites, Florissant Fossil Beds contains fossilized redwood trees!
The overall park is generally a day-use only park and there’s one main road through the park. Visitors usually start at either the north or south end and make their way through the sites in the park. Highlights in the park include, Blue Mesa Trail, Puerco Pueblo, Giant Logs, Crystal Forest, and more. There’s quite a lot of things to do in Petrified Forest National Park in a day or several days.
There are no fixed lodging or campgrounds in the park. All camping is backcountry camping (by permit) in designated wilderness areas of the park. Visitors without permits will need to exit the park as it does close on a daily basis (unlike many other National Parks).
- Known for: Petrified wood
- Suggested Highlights: Petroglyphs, Giant forest,
- Stay: Best Western Holbrook
- Entrance Fee: Car: $25; Motorcycle: $20; Person (foot/bike): $15
California
Sequoia National Park
Home to the largest trees on earth (by volume), Sequoia National Park has some of the most impressive specimens of these trees. While all of the parks in this area, Yosemite, King’s Canyon, and Sequoia have these trees, the Sequoia is by far the highlight of the park. You truly feel small among these towering giants. Be sure to check out the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree in the world.
The Park is also home to the highest peak in the contiguous 48 states, Mount Whitney. However, this area requires a separate permit and a separate entrance from the eastern Sierra’s at Whitney Portal.
Within the park, there’s lots of trees, even a tree tunnel, incredible vistas, and a museum. Be sure to check out the Giant Forest Museum in the park as well.
- Known For: Largest Trees in the World
- Suggested Highlights: Giant Forest Loop, Mount Whitney Hike, Moro Rock Trails
- Stay: Wuksachi Lodge
- Entrance Fee: Vehicle: $30; Person (foot/bike): $20 (administered with Kings Canyon NP)
Kings Canyon National Park
The adjacent and sister park of Sequoia, Kings Canyon is administered along with Sequoia. Actually, the largest Sequoia grove, the Redwood Mountain Grove, is actually located in Kings Canyon NP.
The park itself is massive, however, very little of the park is actually accessible by road. This is why most folks unfortunately skip over a lot of Kings Canyon. There’s actually so much to see in the park, it just requires more time and effort. Which is one of the best reasons to explore, you can often have areas to yourself or with few people around.
- Known For: Sequoias and Canyons
- Suggested Highlights: Grant Grove, Viola Falls, Panoramic Point, Kings Canyon Overlook
- Stay: Montecito Sequoia Lodge
- Entrance Fee: Vehicle: $30; Person (foot/bike): $20 (administered with Sequoia NP)
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite is one of the oldest National Parks, and my favorite of the parks in the United States. If you only have time to visit one park in the Sierras, make it this one. This park has it all, from incredible mountain peaks, waterfalls, sequoia trees, high alpine areas. It really does have it all!
The park protects the Yosemite Valley, which you’ll see as you drive into the park. When it comes into view, it also seems unreal, and as you get closer it becomes even more impressive with waterfalls falling off high peaks.
You can see some of the highlights in a day trip to the park, but to really explore, you need several days or more. There are even hotels in the park where you can stay, although they require lots of pre-planning to book.
The highlight of the park is the Yosemite Valley, and most visitors spend their time here. It’s definitely easy to see a lot of highlights in the area, from views of El Capitan, incredible waterfalls like Bridal Veil Falls, Yosemite Falls, Vernal Falls, Nevada falls, and more.
Beyond this there’s more to see if you are willing to drive and hike, the Mariposa Grove is an impressive grove of Sequoias, Tuolumne Meadows are beautiful fields, and Half dome, and other granite peaks to climb.
- Known For: Granite Cliffs, Waterfalls, Beautiful Wilderness
- Suggested Highlights: Half Dome, Mariposa Sequoia Grove, Vernal and Nevada Falls, Scenic Drives through Tioga Road and Yosemite Valley
- Stay: The Ahwahnee
- Entrance Fee: Car $35; Motorcycle $30; Person (foot/bike): $20
Redwood National Park
While Sequoias may be the largest by volume, Redwoods are the tallest trees in the world. And the coastal redwoods in Redwood National Park are particularly large. The world’s tallest tree, Hyperion, stands at 380 feet ( 115.92 m) tall. The 2nd and 3rd tallest trees, Helios and Icarus, are also within the park too.
Many of the world’s old-growth redwood forests are within the National and state parks in this area. There’s a lot to explore in the area, from walks along the coast, through the majestic trees, fern filled gullies. It’s a magical world indeed.
There’s several groves in the park to explore including Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Tall Trees Grove, and Stout Memorial Grove. There’s also some great scenic drives including the Coastal Drive and Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway.
- Known for: Incredible Coast Redwoods (world’s tallest trees)
- Suggested Highlights: Coastal Drive, Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Fern Canyon
- Stay: Roosevelt Base Camp
- Entrance Fee: Scenic Drives Free; Gold Bluffs Beach / Fern Canyon $12
Channel Islands National Park
Located off the coast of Los Angeles, Channel Islands, consists of 5 remarkable islands with incredible ecological diversity. Given the isolation of these islands, the environment has allowed unique plant and animal life to flourish on these lands.
There’s a lot to do on and around the islands. The area is popular for hiking, birding, snorkeling, camping, kayaking, and more. There’s also lighthouses that can be explored on the islands. Must visitors visit as part of a day or multi-day trip. You can visit by organized tour or private vessel. Some islands and areas require permits to visit.
The island and National Park are constantly working to preserve the environment here. Be sure to follow rules about plant and animal life on the island. Verify you are not bringing any foreign plants or animals to the island, clean shoes, equipment of soil, etc. before heading to the park.
- Known For: 5 Incredibly Diverse Islands
- Suggested Highlights: Snorkeling and Kayaking. Hiking on the Islands, Birdwatching
- Stay: Camping or boat liveaboard
- Entrance Fee: Free; however you’ll need to book transportation to the islands.
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Established in 1916, Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of the most volcanic rich areas in the United States. It’s most famous for containing all the different types of volcanoes within its park boundary. This makes it an important site for scientific study and great for visiting as you’ll get to experience so much within the park. As cool as the park is, it doesn’t get as many visitors as the other California National Parks.
Highlights in the park include, Bumpass Hell, the largest hydrothermal area in the park. The area is great to view mud pots along a boardwalk through the area. Exercise caution as the spurting mud is hot and dangerous.
Cinder Cone is a great example of a cinder cone volcano. Visitors can hike up the volcano’s side, although due to the sand-like cinders, it can be very challenging! You often slip back as much as you go forward.
You can hike up Lassen Peak which is one of the largest plug volcanoes in the world, although a challenging hike as well. Brokeoff mountain is an example of a stratovolcano and Raker Peak a shield volcano. There’s certainly a lot to explore in a day or several days in the park.
- Known for: Volcanic Park with all Volcano types
- Suggested Highlights: Geothermal features, Cinder cones, Stratovolcanoes
- Stay: Drakesbad Guest Ranch
- Entrance Fee: Car: $10 – 30; Motorcycle: $10 – 25; Person (foot/bike): $10 – 15
Joshua Tree National Park
Named for the famous desert plant, Joshua Tree National Park has some of the best examples of them and the environment they thrive in. The Joshua tree is not your typical “tree” as it’s an example of a Giant Yucca plant and related to many smaller yucca plants such as agave. You’ll find Joshua trees dotting the hills all around the Mojave.
The park has a distinction of having two different desert ecosystems, the Mojave and Colorado. The meeting of these environments brings about unique plant and natural systems to the area as well. The Mojave is characterized by higher elevation and tends to be drier than the Colorado desert.
Established in 1994, the park is newer than some of the other California National Parks and covers nearly 800,000 acres. The park has some beautiful landscapes visitors can explore through a variety of hiking, camping, biking, rock climbing, and more.
Among the best hikes include, Barker Dam, Lost Horse Mine, Boy Scout Trail, and Black Rock Canyon. Summers in the park are extremely hot and caution and lots of water are necessary for exploring the park at this time.
- Known For: Joshua Trees and Desert Landscapes
- Suggested Highlights: Exploring Joshua Trees, Rock Climbing, Hiking
- Stay: Mojave Sands Hotel
- Entrance Fee: Car: $30; Motorcycle: $25; Person (walk/bike): $15
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley conjures up images of American progress, harsh environments and desert landscapes. The park is that and so much more as well. As the largest park in the continental United States, the park is huge with so much to explore both by roads and backcountry.
Visitors can visit the lowest point in North America, Badwater basin at 282 feet (86 meters) below sea level.
The park is hot too, with some of the highest recorded in the world and certainly in the United States. In the summer temperatures can be brutal and even in the spring you can regularly see temperatures above 100 F (38C).
Spring though is the best time to explore Death Valley, in particular after a snowy winter. Spring can bring lots of wildflowers that carpet the desert landscape.
Among amazing things to see in the park are the Borax works, which was an important industry in the area, Zabriskie Point for incredible vistas, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Ubehebe Crater, and the racetrack (for moving rocks). These are just some of the incredible things to explore in the park.
- Known For: Lowest Point in US and Harsh Desert Environments
- Suggested Highlights: Badwater Basin, Seasonal Wildflowers, Vistas. Borax works
- Stay: Oasis at Death Valley
- Entrance Fee: Car: $30; Motorcycle $25; Person (bike/foot): $15
Nevada
Great Basin National Park
Did you know there is a Glacier in Nevada? It is something that seems out of place in a generally desert state. However, Great Basin National Park has some of the most incredible high-alpine areas in the state.
The state also has bristlecone pines, the old-age pine trees that seem to cling to the most inhospitable environments. These trees are known as the oldest in the world, and they only grow in high alpine environments in Nevada and California. Some of them look dead, yet are shockingly still alive!
There’s also the incredible Lehman caves, with some of the best cave structures you’ll find around. These are worth the visit alone to the park. Beyond this, you can hike high alpine peaks, see arches, experience some of the best star-gazing in the lower 48 states, and more.
You can experience quite a lot in a day in the park, but given its location and size you’ll need several to really experience the place. Important note, the park is in Pacific Time while some areas around it are in Mountain Time, so set your clocks accordingly.
- Known For: Bristlecone Pines and Remote Wilderness
- Suggested Highlights: Lehman Caves, Bristlecone Pines, Stargazing
- Stay: La Quinta or other Ely Nevada
- Entrance Fee: Free; but fees required for Lehman Cave tours.
Utah
Arches National Park
Arches is one of the most famous and unique parks in the National Park System. Arches protects over 2,000 named arches within its boundary, and while you won’t see them all you’ll get the opportunity to see some of the best examples.
The park is pretty compact in size for most of your visit. You’ll be able to see a lot of the highlights within a day or two. If you have time, there are backcountry opportunities to explore many of the lesser seen arches in the park.
Most of the highlights of the park can be seen along Arches scenic drive. However, for those wanting to visit Tower Arch, a 4WD high-clearance vehicle is required for the road to the trailhead.
The most famous of the arches is the delicate arch, the one that dons the Utah license plate. Visiting here requires 3 hours of hiking and the best and most magical times to visit are sunrise or sunset. Arguably the best hike in the park is Devil’s Garden, which affords visitors the ability to see several arches along the hike. Beyond that, Windows trail, balanced rock, park avenue are among other highlights in the park. Be sure to check out our post on the best hikes in Arches National Park.
- Known for: Concentration of Sandstone Arches
- Suggested Highlights: Delicate Arch, Devil’s Garden, Windows Trail
- Stay: Best Western Canyonlands or Moab Hotels
- Entrance Fee: Car: $30; Motorcycle: $25; Person (foot/bike): $15
- Timed Entry: April 1 – October 31: 7am – 4pm: Fee $2
Canyonlands National Park
While most people pile into Arches NP, our favorite park near Moab is actually Canyonlands NP. The park is the largest national park in Utah and one that most people only get a chance to explore a bit of.
The park is divided into several different sections, Island in the Sky, the Maze, The Needles, and Horseshoe Canyon. There’s also the Colorado and Green River that run through the park and offer rafting and other adventures in the park.
The first stop for most visitors is and should be Island in the Sky. This flat top mesa has some of the best hikes and views in the park. Highlights include Mesa Arch (best at sunrise), Elephant Rock, Upheaval Dome, and more. There’s also the Shafer Trail, which is a 4WD track that has some amazing views and harrowing turns. For mountain bikers, White Rim Road is one of the best tracks to ride through the park.
Horseshoe Canyon has examples of petroglyphs that visitors can explore in this part of the park. Some of the best preserved rock art in North America can be found in this canyon including several life-sized figures and depictions. The canyon is further away from some other sections of the park and is best done en route to other places.
The Needles has some 2WD but mostly 4WD sections to explore. You’ll be able to get further away into some of the most iconic formations in Canyonlands if you have the right vehicle and known-how. But even with a non-high clearance vehicle there’s several trails to explore in the area. For the maze however, you’ll need a good high-clearance vehicle, supplies, and know-how to get where you want to go.
- Known For: Iconic Utah Rock Formations
- Suggested Highlights: Island in the Sky, 4WD Adventures
- Stay: Best Western Canyonlands or Moab Hotels
- Entrance Fee: Car: $30; Motorcycle: $25; Person (foot/bike): $15
Bryce Canyon National Park
Established in 1923, Bryce Canyon National Park protects the world’s largest concentration of Hoodoos. Hoodoos are irregular shaped columns formed by erosion and while they exist on every continent of the world, there’s no place like Bryce Canyon.
Among highlights in the park are a scenic drive through the park. Visitors can stop at overlooks for the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater (the most famous “shot” of the park), natural bridge, Agua Canyon, Rainbow Point, and others.
There’s also opportunities to hike in and around the hoodoos in the park. Some of the most popular hikes include Queen’s Garden/Navajo Loop, Mossy Cave, Rim Trail, and Fairyland Loop. There are also bristlecone pines in the park and Bristlecone Loop is a popular way to see them. There’s really so much to see no matter how many days you have available for the park.
Stargazing is also popular in this park (and neighboring parks) with some of the darkest skies in the country here in Bryce Canyon. There are also some ranger led programs during the summer.
- Known For: Hoodoos
- Suggested Highlights: Bryce Canyon Amphitheater,
- Stay: Bryce Canyon Lodge or Bryce Canyon City Hotels
- Entrance Fee: Car: $35; Motorcycle $30; Person (foot/bike): $20
Zion National Park
The first and probably the most famous of the National Parks in Utah, Zion really is one of those wonders. It’s not a surprise it’s so popular from beautiful canyons, vistas, and rivers, there’s so much to see and explore in the park.
The distinctive red canyon of Zion is one that lots of folks have seen from photos. The park is also very large with various different sections to explore and spend time.
The most famous area is the Zion canyon with trails such as Angel’s Landing, observation point, and the narrows. There’s a lot to do in this area. These days unfortunately due to popularity, permits are required for hiking Angel’s Landing and for hikes through the Narrows. Also the scenic drive through the park is great, although for much of the year, you are required to use the Zion shuttle.
For those looking for a bit more seclusion, Kolob Canyon may be the option. The park is further away from the crowds and top attractions of Zion canyon and therefore sees far fewer visitors. There’s a great scenic drive through this part of Zion as well as fantastic hikes as well.
There are also lots of hikes and places to explore on the Kolob Terrace (accessed via the Kolob Terrace road). Trails on the Kolob Plateau include Wildcat Canyon, Northgate Peaks, Hop Valley, among others. There’s also some great trails at lower elevation in the Southwest desert portion of the park including some washes (seasonal creeks) like Coalpit wash.
- Known For: Slot Canyons, Expansive Views
- Suggested Highlights: Angel’s Landing, Slot Canyons, Kolob Canyon
- Stay: Zion NP Lodge or Springdale Hotels
- Entrance Fee: Car: $35; Motorcycle $30; Person (foot/bike): $20; Snowmobile: $20
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef is the least visited park in Utah and one most folks don’t even know about. However this park, established in 1971 protects beautiful desert landscapes with one of the most unique geological formations, the Waterford fold. The fold is actually a long “wrinkle” in the earth or a geologic monocline, where the rock strata are uplifted that otherwise is horizontal.
Regardless of what it is, it’s really fascinating to see, and it extends 100 miles along the spine of the park. This makes the park generally long and narrow. The various rocks within the fold make a very prominent structure of rock colors and buttresses that need to be seen.
Within the park there’s a lot of places to explore. There’s several scenic drives both on paved and unpaved roads. There are slot canyons, including my favorite for the grand wash trail through the narrows. Several natural arches like Hickman Bridge and Cassidy Arch. There’s also a Mormon registry that visitors can hike out to. And lots of overlooks and desert views.
Be sure to check out the Fruita historic district, with its fruit trees and settlement history. It’s even possible to buy locally made pies (highly recommended) at the Gifford House!
Beyond that there’s lots of adventures, many of which require 4WD – high clearance vehicles. Many visitors explore the north section of the park with the Cathedral Valley loop and the rock formations here. Or you can go south on Notom-Bullfrog road towards Glen-Canyon or even “loop the fold” which is an adventure that involves planning and lots of driving.
- Known For: Distinctive Geological “Fold”
- Suggested Highlights: Natural bridges, desert washes, scenic drives
- Stay: Torrey Utah Hotels
- Entrance Fee: Car: $20; Motorcycle: $15; Person (foot/bike): $10
Oregon
Crater Lake National Park
The first thing you notice about Crater Lake is how blue the water is. Oh and of course that really interesting island (Wizard Island) within the blue waters. Crater lake is so blue from its purity (snow / ice melt) and the depth of the waters 1,949 feet (594 m) .
The lake was formed through the eruption of Mount Mazama, a massive volcano that existed in the area. The volcano was destroyed which left the massive crater that we now know as crater lake.
Much of the park centers around the lake, which is expected. You can drive the scenic drive around the lake, exploring it from different angles.
It is also possible in the summer to take a boat tour of the lake and out to wizard island, this does require a steep hike down to Cleetwood Cove on the lake’s shore. Swimming and wading are also available in this area of the park as well.
Beyond the lake there is hiking and camping in the surrounding parkland. There’s nearby peaks to explore, also areas of interesting rock formations like the pinnacles, waterfalls, and forests. There’s camping available as well as a lodge and cabins. There’s also restaurants and snack bars available at the facilities in the park.
- Known For: Blue waters and deepest US Lake
- Suggested Highlights: Scenic rim drive, boat tours, hiking
- Stay: Crater Lake Lodge
- Entrance Fees: Car: $20-$30; Motorcycle: $15-$25; Person (foot/bike): $15; Snowmobile: $15
Washington
Mount Rainier National Park
Established in 1899, the park protects the tallest peak in the Cascades as well as the pristine alpine region that surrounds it. The peak is an iconic symbol of Washington and the area, it’s the most glaciated peak in the lower 48 states, with an incredibly important and fragile ecosystem that spans across several rivers, lakes, alpine meadows, and more.
At an elevation of 14,111 feet, the peak is really distinctive with its glaciated summit and one of the most important volcanoes in the area. While many people forget, it is still an active volcano and has potential to erupt sometime in the future.
Visiting the park requires planning as the center of the park is the volcano so many of the areas require driving long distances to reach. The park is divided into five areas, Sunrise, Paradise, Ohanapecosh, Longmire, and Carbon River, each with a ranger station or visitor center. There’s plenty of trails and areas to explore in each section and based on elevation and terrain they are certainly distinct in appearance. Note that several areas such as Sunrise and Paradise experience road closures in the winter.
The best thing to do in the National Park is hiking. There are lots of incredible hikes within Mount Rainier National Park including Skyline Trail to Panorama Point, Camp Muir, Mount Fremont Lookout, Wonderland trail, and more. My favorite is the Burroughs trail in the Sunrise area of the park. There is also opportunity to climb Mount Rainier, however this requires a permit, specialized gear, and training. There are several outfits in the area that plan ascents.
- Known For: Stunning Volcanic Mountain
- Suggested Highlights: Views of Mount Rainier, Incredible Hikes, Scenic Drives
- Stay: Paradise Inn
- Entrance Fee: Car: $30; Motorcycle: $25; Person (foot/bike): $15
North Cascades National Park
North Cascades NP is one of those hidden gems of the National Park Service. Most people don’t even know it exists! But if you want epic mountains, glacial lakes, and stunning views, you can’t go wrong at this park.
The park is often rainy as are a lot of areas in this part of Washington state. The Northern part of the cascades are beautiful, with often snow covered peaks, waterfalls, and beautiful blue-green lakes.
Much of the park is backcountry so a lot of the hiking will require days to really get into the park. However, many epic views are available from the overlooks. In my opinion many of the overlooks have better views than a lot of the day hikes!
Among favorites to visit are Diablo Lake with its incredible blue-green water. Hikes to Thunderknob provide a nice view of the lake as well.
Ross Dam is a nice hike with views of the dam and sometimes you can even cross-over the dam. There’s a hydroelectric plant to visit which does take up a decent amount of the park area. You can visit some of these areas although from a distance.
Unlike some of the other parks in the region, North Cascades doesn’t require a vehicle timed-entry, and there is no entrance fee! Hard to beat that.
- Known For:
- Suggested Highlights: Diablo Lake,
- Stay: Ross Lake Resort: North Cascades Inn
- Entrance Fee: Free!
Olympic National Park
The park is something that needs to be seen to be believed. It straddles several different ecosystems, from the glacier clad peaks of Mount Olympus, to the old-growth rainforests, to the beautiful wild beaches of the Pacific, there’s so much diversity here.
The park is also huge, with a large backcountry interior, so you’ll need to do some serious driving to visit all the sites. For that we recommend staying several days to really get to know the park. If you have time you should spend some time hiking in the interior to really experience the park’s wonder.
For those visiting on shorter trips, we recommend driving and hiking around Hurricane ridge. It’ll give a good view of the mountainous areas of the park. Also be sure to visit the waterfalls in the area too.
No trip to the park would be complete without a visit to the temperate rainforests. The most famous, Hoh Rainforest, has beautiful old-growth forests. Trails like Hall of Mosses give a fantastic, easy hike to view the forest.
Beyond these places, there are several wild beaches to explore in the area. These are great to view as they are never cleared, so the natural debris exists as it always has. Be sure to check out Cape Alava, the western most point in the continental US that is also an incredible wild beach.
- Known For: Alpine Peaks and Temperate Rainforests
- Suggested Highlights: Hoh Rainforest, Hurricane Ridge, Wild Beaches
- Stay: Red Lion or Other Port Angeles Hotels
- Entrance Fee: Car: $30; Motorcycle: $25; Person (foot/bike): $15
San Juan Islands National Historical Park
The year is 1859, both the United States and Great Britain have expanded across the North American continent. Several years earlier, the Oregon act had divided the area in the northwest between these two powers. The land was divided by a “strait” in the Salish Sea, however, there was more than one strait, so the border was still under question.
Both sides had been using the land, with American farmers on the south and members of the Hudson Bay Company (who were already on Victoria Island) in the north. There was a tenuous peace between the groups and certainly mistrust.
Then on June 15, a pig found its way to James Cutler’s potato patch and met his untimely demise. The gunshot was heard round the world as both sides started calling upon their government for troops as the peace started to fray.
Both sides headed the call and sent troops, but neither side wanted war. Britain had many more things to worry about in their empire than the pacific northwest and didn’t want war with the US. The US had concerns on the south talking of succession and felt a war with the UK would accelerate that, and then they’d have two fronts. So both sides instead talked of arbitration.
And for 8 years as arbitration loomed the troops lived, worked, socialized, and otherwise were friendly with one another from each of their camps on opposite sides of the island.
These days the park has sites visitors can visit for both the Americans and British. The better built and situated British base in the bay with gardens and trails. Or the more harsh American base with poorer weather and less sound design. You can learn the history of the near-battle, the sites, the islands, and even see rangers often in period clothing.
Beyond this visitors can wander trails, visit beaches, and even spend time on the island and explore and eat in places in Friday Harbor. The park is a great visit for a day or overnight on the island.
- Known For: Interesting bit of US/UK History
- Suggested Highlights: American and British Camps
- Stay: Friday Harbor Hotels
- Entrance Fee: Free!
Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park
Named for the striking mountains of the range, Grand Teton National Park is an impressive mountain park full of great hikes, beautiful landscapes, and wildlife. Much of the park is mountainous and there are certainly adventures you can take in the mountains. However, even just gazing at the mountains at different times of the day is one of the best parts of the park.
The area around the park has lots of ranches as you’ll notice during your trip through the park. Ranchers originally opposed the National Park and there was a lot of push back on the park’s formation. The park has thankfully protected this magical place, and even more so the park has become an important identity to Jackson as well as its economy.
Among the highlights are views from Schwabacher landing, which have great views of the mountains and often moose in the snake river in this area. Mormon Row has an iconic view of the peaks with old Mormon buildings and barns in the area. It’s a perfect place for sunrise or sunset.
There’s a lot of overlooks along highway 191 and it’s also outside of the fee area of the park if you are only there for a short time. Within areas of the park, visitors can stop at several of the lakes in the park such as Jackson Lake or Jenny Lake. Boat rides over Jenny lake give access to some of the best trailheads such as hikes to inspiration point.
Winters in Grand Tetons allow visitors to explore parts of the park with few visitors and snowy peaks and trails. There’s lots of opportunity for solitude this time of year, and while most services in the park are closed, there’s a lot available within nearby Jackson.
- Known For: Distinctive Mountain Peaks
- Suggested Highlights: Jenny Lake, Hikes in the Mountains, Views of the peaks
- Stay: Jackson Lake Lodge or a Hotel in Jackson WY
- Entrance Fee: Car: $35; Motorcycle: $30; Person (foot/bike): $20
Yellowstone National Park
The oldest national park in the country, it’s no surprise that Yellowstone is such an incredible place to explore. The park protects the geothermal features such as geysers, springs, mud pots that make up the landscape. The area is incredibly volcanic, which is why it is so active. Underneath yellowstone is what is known as the yellowstone caldera, which makes up a “super-volcano” that covers the area even beyond the size of the massive park.
The park is massive, with lots to explore over the 3,472 square miles (bigger than Delaware & Rhode Island combined). You’ll need several days to a week or more to really get to know the park. It’s recommended to split up the park into several areas to concentrate and reduce the need for long drives between areas.
Among areas to explore, the geyser basins with Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Pond, mud pots, steamboat geyser, beehive geyser, and more. There’s the northern area near Mammoth Hot springs with trails and terraces to explore in the area. For wildlife viewing Lamar and Hayden valleys are abundant in big game viewing. The grand canyon of yellowstone has impressive waterfalls and vistas.
Wildlife in the park is something that needs to be experienced. There’s a large herd of bison (the last remaining of the nearly extinct bison were discovered in Yellowstone) which roams the park and certainly has the right away. Additionally, you have the opportunity to witness wolves and grizzly bears in their natural habitat as well. Wildlife safaris are available or just keep an eye out for scopes as they’ll be a tell-tale sign something is nearby.
- Known for: Geothermal Features
- Suggested Highlights: Geysers, Wildlife, Grand Canyon Yellowstone
- Stay: Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel
- Entrance Fee: Car: $35; Motorcycle: $30; Person (bike/foot): $20; Snowmobile $20
Montana
Glacier National Park
If there’s one National Park that has iconic vistas, hikes, and wildlife, it would be Glacier National Park. It is so far my second favorite park (after Yosemite), and has some of the greatest hikes I’ve done in the National Park system.
The park is also part of an international peace park with neighboring Waterton Lake NP in Canada. It is actually possible to hike between the parks (you’ll need your passport). The park is known for its incredible mountains, glacial lakes, alpine meadows, and wildlife. There are glaciers in the park however with climate change some have disappeared and the remainder have shrunk considerably.
For visitors of the park, the main attraction is the going-to-the-sun road. This road takes visitors through some of the best views of the park, with some tricky turns and expansive views. However, the best parts of the park require you to get off the road.
There’s lots of hikes in the park from day to multi-day hikes. Some of the best day hikes include Highline (for great views and wildlife), Grinnell Glacier, Ptarmigan Tunnel, and Iceberg Lake.
Wildlife is a big draw in the park with lots of opportunity to see Grizzly Bears, Moose, Bighorn Sheep, and Mountain Goats, among others. Just be sure to be aware and keep your distance.
The winters in Glacier are quiet and while much of the park is difficult to access there is opportunity for snowshoeing and cross country skiing in the park. You’ll be able to get some serene experiences in the park without the summer crowds.
- Known For: Glacial carved peaks and valleys
- Suggested Highlights: Going-to-the-Sun Road; Incredible Hikes, Wildlife
- Stay: Many Glaciers Hotel; Lake MacDonald Lodge; Rising Sun Motor Inn
- Entrance Fee: Car: $35; Motorcycle: $30; Person (foot/bike): $20
- Timed Entry: Going-to-the-Sun Road:North Fork: Many Glacier: Two Medicine: Reservations: $2
Grant Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site
While it’s not one of the major national park sites, Grant-Kohrs Ranch is one of the most unique in the National Park Service. Did you know that the National Park runs a working cattle ranch? Yes, and it does employ cowboys and send cattle to market. That is something that is unexpected in the National Park Service system.
This park allows visitors to explore an important aspect of American culture, history, and industry. Most folks will never get to see how a cattle ranch operates even if they consume products from ranches.
The park showcases the various buildings, history of the ranch (before it was donated to NPS), how ranches operate, animals, history of the open range (and things like chuck wagons), and more. It even talks about the work of the National Park Service in preserving the environment such as cleanup of the river and area from copper mining in Butte.
- Known For: Only Working Ranch that is a National Park
- Suggested Highlights: Livestock, How Ranches Work
- Stay: Western Big Sky Inn
- Entrance Fee: Free!
Western Colorado
Mesa Verde National Park
Established in 1906 (oldest in Colorado), Mesa Verde protects an incredible array of ancient Puebloan structures within the park. This UNESCO World Heritage site protects these 26 pueblos, some of which are the best examples of their kind.
The park protects these incredible structures, history, archaeological finds, and plant and animal species. Some of these species are endemic to this area as well.
The highlight of the parks are the cliff dwellings that were built by the local tribes in the 12th and 13th centuries. These were however abandoned years later, many believing to be due to drought that struck the area. Among the dwellings, cliff palace, balcony house, and long house are the most famous ones to visit. To visit these you’ll need to schedule a ranger led tour of the cliff houses.
Beyond this, visitors can explore various cliff, pit, and mesa top housing structures in the park. There is also a museum to explore in the area, as well as great hiking throughout the park in places like Weatherill mesa, soda canyon, spruce canyons, and more. There’s also lots of incredible examples of petroglyphs to view through the park.
While the park is open year-round, the cliff dwelling tours, museums, lodging, and food are seasonal.
- Known for: Unesco World Heritage Puebloan Cultural Sites
- Suggested Highlights: Touring Cliff Dwellings
- Stay: Far View Lodge
- Entrance Fee: Car: $20 – 30; Motorcycle: $15 – 25; Person (foot/bike): $15
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Established in 1999, Black Canyon of the Gunnison may be lesser known but it has some of the most incredible scenery in Colorado. The park is one of the steepest canyons in North America, and its steepness is the main reason for its name. While the canyon walls may appear black, the actual name of the parks comes from the fact that many areas of the park see little to no light. Some areas only see up to 6 minutes in a day!
The park is divided into two sections for each of the rims of the park. The south rim is the more developed section with the main visitor center, campground and several hiking trails and overlooks. For most visitors, this is where they’ll find themselves during their visit and our recommendation if time is limited.
The north rim is smaller in terms of roads, with a ranger station, primitive campsite, and gravel/dirt roads. This gets far fewer visitors and has some great overlooks as well as our favorite hike, the north vista trail to exclamation point.
Travel between the rims is not available within the park and requires a 2 hour drive. Hiking between the rims is not advised or generally possible. Even inter-canyon hiking can be difficult and dangerous, requiring a backcountry permit to attempt. Note: Rescue from within the canyon can be difficult and/or require multi-days.
The best activities in the park include the north vista hike, warner point trail, catching the sunrise and sunset at various views of the canyon, and stargazing. Check out our post on Black Canyon of the Gunnison for more information.
- Known For: Steep Rugged Canyon
- Suggested Highlights: Views over the Canyon. Hikes Along the Canyon
- Stay: Montrose CO Hotels
- Entrance Fee: Car: $30; Motorcycle: $25; Person (foot/bike): $15
Dinosaur National Monument
Located on the Northern border of Colorado and Utah, Dinosaur National Monument is a massive expanse of land of both fossils, canyons, and rivers. The park covers over 210,000 acres, and has so much more than Dinosaur fossils to explore (although these are a highlight).
For first-time visitors the Dinosaur Quarry section of the park is a must. This is also the area that is a fee-visit area and has the dinosaur bones. This is the only area of the park where you can visit and explore dinosaur fossils. The Quarry Exhibit Hall is a must with a section that still has embedded fossils. The quarry is a short drive, walk, or shuttle from the visitor center. There is a short fossil discovery hike where you can see some small snail fossils, but really not much in terms of fossils overall.
Beyond that there’s the cub creek area accessible from the same part of the park. Visitors can view some historic buildings and more importantly petroglyphs. There are several petroglyph stops along the drive, including the lizard, which is the most famous and the symbol of the park. There’s also a few canyon hikes to explore in this area too.
Beyond this the park goes into a larger wilderness area. There’s access to a few roads for the canyons area of the park. There is a main scenic drive that is accessible by any vehicle and a few other roads off here such as Echo Park that require 4WD. There are some primitive campsites and river access in this area too.
There’s additional entrances to the park such as the Gates of Lodore in the North, Deer Creek (for river access), Island Park. There’s a lot more to explore in the park than listed here. So be sure to check out our Guide to Dinosaur National Monument.
- Known For: Dinosaur Fossils & Canyons
- Suggested Highlights: Dinosaur Quarry, Cub Creek, Canyons
- Stay: Vernal UT Hotels
- Entrance Fee: Car: $25; Motorcycle: $25; Person (foot/bike): $15
New Mexico
White Sands National Park
Established in 2019 (as a National Park, it was a National Monument prior), White Sands protects the blindingly white dunefields of the Chihuahuan desert. The white sand is due to the gypsum which is a common material in the area. Water, wind and other forces break it down which and then with the nearby mountains tend to settle in this area. The park covers 145,762 acres and contains one of the largest fields of gypsum in the world.
Shockingly, while much of the surrounding desert land is millions of years old, the white sand dunes are believed to be much younger. The dunefields are believed to be only several thousand years old, which makes them relatively young. Even more so is the shock of how animals in the area have adapted well in that time to the area with lizards, moths, and other animals developing lighter characteristics to blend into the sand.
Within the park there are several main areas to explore. It’s a pretty linear park with a road that drives the length of the park. Along the way are several hikes, picnic areas, and overlooks. The park is mostly a day use area with camping limited to backcountry camping. There are also occasional ranger-led sunset walks which are the latest activities in the park.
Sand Sledding is also popular within the park and the gift-shop connected to the park sells new and used sleds (they’ll buy your used sled back for a nominal fee). However, sledding on the gypsum is a lot harder than other sand dunes and it feels more like slushy snow than sand.
For more information, Check out our Guide to White Sands National Park.
- Known For: Blindingly White Sand
- Suggested Highlights: Sand Sledding, Hiking
- Stay: Las Cruces or Alamogordo Hotels
- Entrance Fee: Car: $25; Motorcycle: $20; Person (foot/bike): $15
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Situated in the northern Chihuahuan Desert, Carlsbad Caverns National Park features over 100 caves within the park boundaries. The namesake park, Carlsbad Caverns is the main one that most visitors see and the highlight of the park. Of the more than 100 caves, 3 are open to the public, Carlsbad, Slaughter Canyon, and Spider.
Carlsbad Cavern is huge and more of the cave is still being discovered. One of the rooms, the big room, is the largest cave chamber in North America. The cave has several rooms to explore and there is generally a regular path to self guided tours of the cavern.
Most of the hikers go through the natural cave entrance by the visitor center. This is recommended if you are physically able to. Otherwise, there is an elevator that will take you down to a main intersection in the cave. From there you can visit the big room as well as the other main attractions in the cave. There’s also a lunchroom within the cave that is seasonally open or food available in the visitor center.
If you are there in the evening and at the right time of year. Be sure to watch the bat flight program. Cameras and other electronics are not allowed to protect the bats (we thought we had to leave them in our car, but apparently you just need to turn off/not use). Please do follow the instructions even if you don’t agree with them. Your photos will likely be terrible anyway.
Beyond the cave, there are the other two caves and also hiking trails in the park. These tend to be infrequently visited since Carlsbad Cavern is the main attraction. The other caves require tours and often require many more hours to explore and are less frequently scheduled. The hikes are a lovely way to explore the desert landscape. However, if you want more interesting hikes, consider visiting Guadalupe Mountains NP nearby.
- Known For: Expansive Cave System
- Suggested Highlights: Big Room, Bat Flight
- Stay: Hotels in Whites City or Carlsbad NM
- Entrance Fee: $15 per person
- Reservations: Timed Entry Self Guided Tours: $1
Western Texas
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Situated in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert of Texas, Guadalupe Mountains National Parks preserves an incredible desert landscape, historical sites, and mountainous terrain. The park also contains the highest point in Texas, Guadalupe Peak, at 8,751 feet (2,667 m). The distinctive peaks of the area were important for travelers too. Especially El Capitan which was a known landmark for travelers, mail carriers, and others along the trail through here.
There’s a lot to explore in the park and most of it is accessible from Texas although a few northern points have entrances from New Mexico. For most visitors hiking in the various areas of the park are the highlight.
There’s the area around pine springs which has many of the most popular trails. These include my favorite, the Devil’s Hall Hike as well as trailheads to visit Guadalupe Peak, El Capitan, and Hunter Peak. You can also access the area of the salt basin dunes from this area (or better down the road a bit towards El Paso).
Other areas to explore are the Smith Springs, with several trails around the area. McKittrick Canyon is the other main area of the park with a visitor center and several of the best trails. Visitors can explore the Permian Reef with its views of geological formations in the area. There’s also the popular McKittrick Canyon trail to Pratt Canyon which is a nice place to take a break.
Beyond this there is also Dog Canyon in the north, which is accessible by hiking or by road from New Mexico. These have several easy trails as well as connection to other parts of the park.
Within the park are a few historical sites such as the Frijoles ranch and the Butterfield stagecoach station. These help showcase some of the more modern human involvement in the region.
There are several campgrounds in the park, but in terms of hotels you’ll need to stay either north in Carlsbad (1 hour away) or south in El Paso (2 hours away).
- Known For: Desert Landscapes and High Peaks
- Suggested Highlights: Devil’s Hall Hike,
- Stay: Hotels in El Paso TX or Carlsbad NM
- Entrance Fee: $10 per person
Idaho
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
Craters of the Moon is one of the most incredible National Monuments in the United States. If I had my choice for the next National Park, it would be this one. However, my fear would be that it would then become too popular!
Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve feels like you are on another planet. It seems NASA thought that way too, as they used Craters to train astronauts going to the moon! The park feels a world away from areas of Idaho, and its volcanic nature is something to see to believe.
Craters of the Moon is believed to be on the edge of the Yellowstone Caldera, the supervolcano that sits under Yellowstone National Park. This would explain the volcanic nature of the park. There’s lots of volcanos to see in the park, and you can even explore wild caves.
These caves are a highlight of the park and allow visitors to explore lava tubes and underground areas within the park. The caves require a permit (free), although visitors must attest they have not been underground with the same clothes in another park (to limit bat white-nose syndrome). Indian tunnel is the easiest one to access for most folks, others are much tighter and difficult to navigate.
Beyond this, visiting several of the volcano structures is a highlight of the park. Splatter cones are one of my favorite structures in the park. These are created during the dwindling stages of eruption causing lava to be thrown shorter distances and build up. There’s also inferno cone, a cinder cone that visitors can hike up as well as various other volcanic rock structures in “gardens” to explore.
Most of Craters of the Moon NM is considered wilderness and backcountry hiking and camping is permitted. However, due to the harsh environment, visitors must carry lots of water (no water is available in the park) and plan for heat and extreme conditions.
The park is also open in the winter time and is a popular local spot for hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Skiers can even hike up and ski down several of the volcanoes in the park. The park rents snow-shoes during the winter months for a nominal fee.
- Known For: Rugged Volcanic Landscape
- Suggested Highlights: Wild Caves, Volcanic Features
- Stay: Arco ID Hotels
- Entrance Fee: Car: $20; Motorcycle: $15; Person (foot/bike): $10
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