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Exploring the Hidden Treasures: A Complete Guide to the 63 National Parks in the USA

Writer's picture: Heidi Lagares-GreenblattHeidi Lagares-Greenblatt

America is gifted with a lot of natural beauty, and the National Park System highlights this stunning diversity. With 63 national parks scattered across the country, each park offers a distinctive glimpse into the nation's landscapes and ecosystems. Picture towering mountains, sprawling deserts, and lush forests, all preserved to allow for exploration and adventure. These parks protect the pristine beauty of the great outdoors while inviting you to discover their wonders. I am currently obsessed with them! How many have you visited?


In this post, you will find detailed information about all 63 national parks, complete with inspirations for your next great adventure.


The Majestic National Parks of the USA


Here is a comprehensive list of all 63 national parks in the USA, organized by state. I added photos to the ones I have visited... but my list is growing!

Note: We have 66 because a few of them are shared across multiple states


Alaska


  1. Denali National Park and Preserve

    Home to the highest peak in North America, Denali reaches an elevation of 20,310 feet. It is a prime spot for wildlife watching, where visitors can see grizzly bears, caribou, and moose in their natural habitat.


  2. Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve

    This park, nearly 8 million acres in size, is one of the most remote national parks in the USA. Its stark beauty and wild landscapes appeal to those seeking solitude.


  3. Katmai National Park

    Katmai National Park and Preserve is on a peninsula in southern Alaska. Its wild landscapes span tundra, forests, lakes and mountains. The park is known for the many brown bears that are drawn to the abundant salmon in Brooks Falls.


  4. Glacier Bay National Park

    Compromised of 3.3 million acres of incredible peaks, rainforests, glaciers and coastlines. It has a road that is close to 10 miles long even with the size of the whole park.


  5. Kenai Fjords National Park

    Famous for its glaciers, visitors can catch sight of the stunning tidewater glaciers and diverse marine wildlife, including seals and sea otters.


  6. Kobuk Valley National Park

    This park features massive sand dunes that reach heights of up to 100 feet, offering a unique ecosystem along the Kobuk River.


  7. Lake Clark National Park and Preserve

    A haven for outdoor enthusiasts, this park is perfect for fishing, hiking, and enjoying breathtaking views of volcanic landscapes.


  8. Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve

    As the largest national park in the USA, it encompasses over 13 million acres, showcasing glaciers and rugged mountains, like Mount St. Elias, which towers at 18,008 feet.


American Samoa


  1. National Park of American Samoa

    A true island escape, this park is a haven for coral reefs and diverse tropical ecosystems. You can snorkel with vibrant fish and explore lush rainforests.


Arizona


  1. Grand Canyon National Park

    One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon stretches over 277 miles and is over a mile deep. You can hike the rim trails or venture down into the canyon itself.

  2. Petrified Forest National Park

    Best known for their fossils represented in the incredible landscape of the Painter Desert.


  3. Saguaro National Park

    Home to the iconic saguaro cactus, this park contains thousands of these cacti and is a prime spot for hiking and observing desert wildlife.


Arkansas


13. Hot Springs National Park

Known for its natural hot springs, this park offers visitors a chance to relax in thermal waters, which have been a source of relaxation since the early 1800s.


California


  1. Channel Islands National Park

Made up of five islands, this park is known for its unique marine life and incredible hiking trails. Visitors can often see seals, dolphins, and diverse flora.


  1. Death Valley National Park

The hottest place on Earth, Death Valley reached temperatures of 134°F. Despite this extreme environment, it has stunning landscapes, including salt flats and rugged mountains.


  1. Joshua Tree National Park

Famous for its otherworldly Joshua trees, this park offers unique rock formations and is a must-see for rock climbers.


  1. Kings Canyon National Park

Home to some of the largest trees in the world, visitors can hike among the giant sequoias that can exceed 250 feet in height.


  1. Lassen Volcanic

    Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to steaming fumaroles, meadows freckled with wildflowers, clear mountain lakes, and numerous volcanoes. Jagged peaks tell the story of its eruptive past while hot water continues to shape the land.


  2. Pinnacles National Park

    Around 23 million years ago, a series of volcanic eruptions shaped the landscape that is now Pinnacles National Park. The remnants of these ancient eruptions have formed a striking terrain of rocky spires and deep canyons. Visitors can explore diverse environments, from chaparral and oak woodlands to the cool, shaded depths of canyon floors.


  1. Sequoia National Park

Home to the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree by volume, this park offers stunning vistas and numerous trails.


  1. Yosemite National Park

Known for its breathtaking granite cliffs and iconic waterfalls, like Yosemite Falls, which is one of the tallest in North America at 2,425 feet.

Colorado


  1. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Featuring the steepest cliffs in North America, this park offers dramatic views of the canyon and unique rock formations.


  1. Great San Dunes National Park

    The tallest dunes in North America are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra.


  2. Mesa Verde National Park

    For over 700 years, the Ancestral Pueblo people built thriving communities on the mesas and in the cliffs of Mesa Verde. Today, the park protects the rich cultural heritage of 27 Pueblos and Tribes and offers visitors a spectacular window into the past. This World Heritage Site and International Dark Sky Park is home to over a thousand species, including several that live nowhere else on earth.


  3. Rocky Mountain National Park

With over 300 miles of hiking trails, this park is known for its stunning mountain views, wildflowers, and wildlife including elk and moose.


Florida


  1. Biscayne National Park

    Biscayne National Park encompasses coral reefs, islands and shoreline mangrove forest in the northern Florida Keys. Its reefs and islands are accessible only by boat. Dolphins, turtles and pelicans live in Biscayne Bay Lagoon


  2. Dry Tortugas National Park  

    Located southwest of Key West, this park is famous for its historic fort and pristine waters, great for snorkeling and diving.


  1. Everglades National Park

This UNESCO World Heritage site is the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S., home to endangered species like the manatee and the American crocodile.



Hawaii


  1. Haleakala National Park

    This park offers sunrise views from the summit, where the landscape resembles a moonscape, and is home to rare Hawaiian species.


  2. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

View the active Kilauea volcano and explore unique landscapes formed by lava flows and volcanic craters.


(I have been here, photo coming!)


Idaho


  1. Yellowstone National Park*  (Also shared with Montana and Wyoming)

    The first national park in the world, Yellowstone is famous for its geysers, like Old Faithful, and diverse wildlife, including bison and wolves.

Indiana


  1. Indiana Dunes National Park

Known for its sandy shores along Lake Michigan, this park is great for birdwatching and enjoying beach activities.


Kentucky


  1. Mammoth Cave National Park  

    The longest cave system in the world, Mammoth Cave features more than 400 miles of explored caves and unique geological formations.


Maine


  1. Acadia National Park

Known for its rugged coastline and diverse ecosystems, Acadia offers stunning ocean views and a network of biking and hiking trails.

Michigan


  1. Isle Royale National Park

A remote island park known for its rugged beauty and rich wildlife, including moose and wolves.


Minnesota


  1. Voyageurs National Park

A water-based park featuring interconnected lakes and waterways, perfect for canoeing and camping.


Missouri


  1. Gateway Arch National Park

The iconic arch commemorates the westward expansion of the United States and includes city parks and trails for visitors to explore.


Montana


  1. Glacier National Park

Home to over 700 miles of trails, this park features stunning mountain scenes and a diverse array of wildlife.


  1. Yellowstone National Park* (Also shared with Wyoming and Idaho)

Famous for its geothermal features, such as hot springs and mud pots, filling the park with unique landscapes.

Nevada


  1. Death Valley National Park

    Death Valley National Park straddles eastern California and Nevada. It’s known for Titus Canyon, with a ghost town and colorful rocks, and Badwater Basin’s salt flats, North America's lowest point. Above, Telescope Peak Trail weaves past pine trees. North of the spiky salt mounds known as the Devil’s Golf Course, rattlesnakes live in Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes.


  2. Great Basin National Park

Home to ancient bristlecone pines and stunning mountain ranges, this park offers unique hiking and stargazing opportunities.


New Mexico


  1. Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Marvel at the stunning underground landscapes and the famous bat flight shows held during the summer months.

  1. White Sands National Park

A unique landscape of gypsum dunes, visitors can hike or sled on the glowing white sand.

North Carolina


  1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park * (Also shared with Tennessee)

Known for its rich biodiversity, this park offers stunning views and numerous hiking trails.

North Dakota


  1. Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Experience unique badlands and diverse wildlife, including bison and wild horses.


Ohio


  1. Cuyahoga Valley National Park

A green oasis near Cleveland, this park features scenic waterfalls and trails along a historic canal.


Oregon


  1. Crater Lake National Park

Known for its deep blue lake formed in a dormant volcano, it offers breathtaking views and opportunities for hiking.


South Carolina


  1. Congaree National Park

A vast swamp area that is home to the tallest trees in the eastern U.S., this park features excellent hiking opportunities.


South Dakota


  1. Badlands National Park

Known for its unique geological formations, the Badlands offer stunning views and wildlife watching.

  1. Wind Cave National Park

Home to one of the longest caves in the world, it features fascinating formations and a diverse grassland ecosystem.


Tennessee


  1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park *(Also shared with North Carolina)

Offers stunning vistas, abundant wildlife, and a variety of hiking trails.

Texas


  1. Big Bend National Park

Known for its dramatic canyons and the Rio Grande, this park offers rugged hiking and expansive desert landscapes.


  1. Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Home to Texas’ highest peak, this park showcases stunning mountains with ample hiking opportunities.

Utah


  1. Arches National Park  

    The park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive rock fins, and giant balanced rocks.


  2. Bryce Canyon National Park 

    A sprawling reserve in southern Utah, is known for crimson-colored hoodoos, which are spire-shaped rock formations

     

  3. Canyonlands National Park  

    Known for its dramatic desert landscape carved by the Colorado River.


  4. Capitol Reef National Park  

    Capitol Reef National Park is a hidden treasure filled with cliffs, canyons, domes, and bridges in the Water-pocket Fold, a geologic monocline (a wrinkle on the earth) extending almost 100 miles.


  5. Zion National Park  

    Massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red.

Virgin Islands


  1. Virgin National Park  

    Indigenous Taino's ancient petroglyphs, coral reefs and plenty of hidden marine life.


Virginia


  1. Shenandoah National Park  

    Shenandoah National Park extends along the Blue Ridge Mountains in the U.S. state of Virginia. The Skyline Drive runs its length, and a vast network of trails includes a section of the long-distance Appalachian Trail.


Washington


  1. Mount Rainier National Park  

    A 369-sq.-mile Washington state reserve southeast of Seattle, surrounds glacier-capped, 14,410-ft. Mount Rainier.


  2. North Cascades National Park  

    Less than three hours from Seattle, you will find jagged peaks crowned by more than 300 glaciers.


  3. Olympic National Park  

    Olympic National Park is on Washington's Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest. The park sprawls across several different ecosystems, from the dramatic peaks of the Olympic Mountains to old-growth forests. T


West Virginia


  1. New River National Park  

    Assigned as a National Park to protect and maintain the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia in the Appalachian Mountains.


Wyoming


  1. Grand Teton National Park  

    It encompasses the Teton mountain range, the 4,000-meter Grand Teton peak, and the valley known as Jackson Hole


  2. Yellowstone National Park  (Also shared with Idaho & Montana)

        Famous for its geothermal features, such as hot springs and mud pots, filling the park with unique landscapes.

Note: We have 66 because a few of them are shared across multiple states and we posted them under each state.



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