The United States is home to some of the most beautiful and diverse natural landscapes in the world, and these treasures are protected and preserved within the country’s national park system.
From the rugged mountains of the West to the lush rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, the national parks of the U.S. offer a wide range of recreational opportunities and natural wonders for visitors to explore.
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In this list, we go through the names of the most iconic and popular national parks in the United States, along with their location and brief overview.
Acadia National Park
Located in the state of Maine, Acadia National Park is known for its rugged coastal landscapes, hiking trails, and historic sites. Visitors can explore the park’s many peaks, including Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the east coast.
Arches National Park
Located in the state of Utah, Arches National Park is known for its more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, as well as other unique rock formations such as pinnacles, fins and balanced rocks.
Badlands National Park
Located in South Dakota, Badlands National Park is known for its rugged, otherworldly landscapes of layered rock formations, deep canyons, and prairie grasslands.
Big Bend National Park
Located in the state of Texas, Big Bend National Park is known for its rugged and remote wilderness, as well as its diverse landscape of mountains, desert, and river canyons.
Biscayne National Park
Located in the state of Florida, Biscayne National Park is known for its coral reefs, mangrove forests, and diverse marine life. Visitors can explore the park by boat or kayak to see a wide variety of fish, coral, and other sea creatures.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Located in Colorado, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is known for its steep, dark, and narrow gorge carved by the Gunnison River.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Located in Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park is known for its unique rock formations called hoodoos, which are shaped by erosion.
Canyonlands National Park
Located in Utah, Canyonlands National Park is known for its colorful desert landscapes, deep canyons, and towering mesas.
Capitol Reef National Park
Located in Utah, Capitol Reef National Park is known for its sandstone cliffs, rock formations, and rugged landscapes.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Located in New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns National Park is known for its limestone caves and underground chambers, including the famous “Big Room” chamber.
Channel Islands National Park
Located off the coast of California, Channel Islands National Park is known for its diverse marine life, rugged cliffs, and hiking trails.
Congaree National Park
Located in South Carolina, Congaree National Park is known for its old-growth bottomland hardwood forest and diverse plant and animal life.
Crater Lake National Park
Located in Oregon, Crater Lake National Park is known for its stunning blue lake, created by the collapsed volcano Mount Mazama.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Located in Ohio, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is known for its scenic river, waterfalls, and hiking trails.
Death Valley National Park
Located in California and Nevada, Death Valley National Park is known for its extreme heat, arid landscape, and unique rock formations.
Denali National Park and Preserve
Located in Alaska, Denali National Park is known for its towering mountain peak, Mount Denali, and its diverse wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, and caribou.
Dry Tortugas National Park
Located in Florida, Dry Tortugas National Park is known for its coral reefs, shipwrecks, and historic Fort Jefferson.
Everglades National Park
Located in Florida, Everglades National Park is known for its vast wetlands, diverse plant and animal life, and hiking trails.
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve
Located in Alaska, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve is known for its remote wilderness, vast expanses of untouched tundra, and opportunities for backcountry hiking and camping.
Glacier National Park
Located in Montana, Glacier National Park is known for its glaciers, alpine meadows, and rugged peaks.
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Located in Alaska, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is known for its glaciers, fjords, and diverse marine life.
Grand Canyon National Park
Located in Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park is known for its awe-inspiring and iconic landscape, carved by the Colorado River.
Grand Teton National Park
Located in Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park is known for its majestic mountain peaks, alpine lakes, and opportunities for backcountry hiking and camping.
Great Basin National Park
Located in Nevada, Great Basin National Park is known for its ancient bristlecone pine trees, limestone caves, and Wheeler Peak, the highest point in the park.
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Located in Colorado, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is known for its towering sand dunes, as well as opportunities for hiking, sand sledding and star gazing.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Located in Tennessee and North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known for its scenic views, hiking trails, and rich cultural and historical heritage.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Located in Texas, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is known for its rugged peaks, including Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas, and opportunities for hiking and backpacking.
Haleakala National Park
Located in Hawaii, Haleakala National Park is known for its volcanic landscapes and the summit of Haleakala, a dormant volcano.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Located in Hawaii, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is known for its active volcanoes, including Kilauea and Mauna Loa, as well as its diverse plant and animal life.
Hot Springs National Park
Located in Arkansas, Hot Springs National Park is known for its hot springs, hiking trails, and historic bathhouses.
Isle Royale National Park
Located in Michigan. It is an island national park in Lake Superior, known for its hiking trails and opportunities to see wildlife such as wolves and moose.
Joshua Tree National Park
Located in California. It is known for its unique Joshua tree forests, as well as its rock climbing and hiking opportunities.
Katmai National Park and Preserve
Located in Alaska. It is known for its large brown bears, as well as its volcanoes and remote wilderness.
Kenai Fjords National Park
Located in Alaska. It is known for its glaciers, fjords, and marine wildlife such as sea otters and orcas.
Kings Canyon National Park
Located in California. It is known for its deep canyons and Sequoia groves, as well as its hiking and backpacking opportunities.
Kobuk Valley National Park
Located in Alaska. It is known for its remote wilderness and opportunities to see caribou and grizzly bears.
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve
Located in Alaska. It is known for its remote wilderness, glaciers, and opportunities to see bears and wolves.
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Located in California. It is known for its volcanic features such as steaming fumaroles and volcanic peaks, as well as its hiking and camping opportunities.
Mammoth Cave National Park
Located in Kentucky. It is known for the longest known cave system in the world, with over 400 miles of explored passageways.
Mesa Verde National Park
Located in Colorado. It is known for its well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings ruins, as well as its hiking and backpacking opportunities.
Mount Rainier National Park
Located in Washington. It is known for its 14,410-foot active volcano, and also known for its hiking and backpacking opportunities.
North Cascades National Park
Located in Washington. It is known for its rugged mountains, glaciers, and remote wilderness.
Olympic National Park
Located in Washington. It is known for its diverse ecosystems, including rainforests, beaches, and glaciers, as well as its hiking and backpacking opportunities.
Petrified Forest National Park
Located in Arizona. It is known for its large deposits of petrified wood, as well as its hiking and backpacking opportunities.
Pinnacles National Park
Located in California. It is known for its unusual rock formations, as well as its hiking and rock climbing opportunities.
Redwood National and State Parks
Located in California. It is known for its towering redwood trees, as well as its hiking and backpacking opportunities.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Located in Colorado. It is known for its rugged mountains, alpine lakes, and hiking and backpacking opportunities.
Saguaro National Park
Located in Arizona. It is known for its large saguaro cacti, as well as its hiking and backpacking opportunities.
Sequoia National Park
Located in California. It is known for its large sequoia trees, as well as its hiking and backpacking opportunities.
Shenandoah National Park
Located in Virginia. It is known for its scenic Skyline Drive, as well as its hiking and backpacking opportunities.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Located in North Dakota. It is known for its rugged badlands, as well as its hiking and backpacking opportunities.
Voyageurs National Park
Located in Minnesota. It is known for its waterways, as well as its opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing.
Wind Cave National Park
Located in South Dakota. It is known for its intricate cave system, as well as its hiking and backpacking opportunities.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Located in Alaska. It is known for its remote wilderness, glaciers, and opportunities to see bears and wolves.
Yellowstone National Park
Located in Wyoming. It is known for its geysers, including Old Faithful, as well as its hiking and backpacking opportunities.
Yosemite National Park
Located in California. It is known for its granite cliffs, including El Capitan and Half Dome, as well as its hiking and backpacking opportunities.
Zion National Park
Located in Utah. It is known for its red rock canyons, as well as its hiking and backpacking opportunities.
