The United States is home to some of the most remarkable landscapes on Earth. From towering mountains and ancient forests to massive canyons and glowing night skies, these places draw millions of visitors every year. They’re also a big reason tourism thrives in many parts of the country, supporting local businesses through hiking, camping, wildlife watching, and sightseeing.
Even during 2020, when travel slowed around the world, America’s national parks still welcomed more than 237 million visitors. If you’re putting together a travel bucket list, these 13 natural wonders deserve a spot on it.
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Few places leave a first impression quite like the Grand Canyon. Carved by the Colorado River over millions of years, the canyon stretches 277 miles, reaches depths of more than a mile, and spans up to 18 miles across in some places. Its colorful layers of rock tell a geological story that goes back nearly 2 billion years.
There’s no shortage of ways to experience it. Some visitors hike part of the Rim Trail for sweeping views, while others tackle the challenging Bright Angel Trail into the canyon itself. Whitewater rafting on the Colorado River offers a completely different perspective. The park is also home to more than 1,500 plant species, hundreds of bird species, and a wide variety of wildlife.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone made history in 1872 as the world’s first national park, and it’s still one of America’s greatest outdoor destinations. Covering more than 3,400 square miles across Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, it’s famous for its geysers, hot springs, waterfalls, and abundant wildlife.
Old Faithful remains the park’s biggest attraction, erupting about every 90 minutes and sending water soaring high into the air. The colorful Grand Prismatic Spring is another unforgettable sight, with vivid rings of orange, yellow, and green created by heat-loving microorganisms. Visitors also have a good chance of spotting bison, elk, bears, and even gray wolves.
Northern Lights, Alaska
Watching the Northern Lights dance across Alaska’s night sky is something few people ever forget. Bands of green, purple, and pink light appear when charged particles from the sun interact with Earth’s atmosphere, creating one of nature’s greatest light shows.
Fairbanks is one of the best places to see the aurora, with clear viewing opportunities on many nights between September and April. Remote communities like Utqiaġvik also offer excellent conditions thanks to minimal light pollution.
Everglades, Florida
Covering roughly 1.5 million acres, the Everglades is unlike anywhere else in the United States. Often called the “River of Grass,” this vast wetland supports an incredible range of wildlife, including alligators, crocodiles, manatees, Florida panthers, and hundreds of bird species.
Visitors can explore the park by airboat, kayak, or on foot, winding through mangrove forests, marshes, and freshwater sloughs. Parts of the Everglades have earned recognition as both a World Heritage Site and a Wetland of International Importance.
Redwood Forests, California
Walking through California’s redwood forests feels almost unreal. Coast redwoods are the tallest trees on Earth, with some reaching well over 350 feet. Many have stood for more than 2,000 years.
The protected parks cover more than 139,000 acres and include forests, rivers, and rugged coastline. Wildlife such as northern spotted owls and marbled murrelets also call these forests home. Scenic drives like the Avenue of the Giants and trails through Tall Trees Grove let visitors experience these giants up close.
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls ranks among North America’s most famous natural attractions. Straddling the border between the United States and Canada, the falls send more than 85,000 cubic feet of water over the edge every second.
The constant roar, rising mist, and rainbow-filled views make every visit memorable. Niagara Falls State Park, established in 1885 as America’s first state park, offers hiking trails, observation areas, and boat tours that bring visitors close to the rushing water.
Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico
Hidden beneath the Guadalupe Mountains lies one of America’s most impressive cave systems. Carlsbad Caverns contains more than 100 limestone caves formed over millions of years.
The Big Room is the park’s best-known chamber, stretching roughly 4,000 feet long with towering ceilings. Visitors can admire countless stalactites, stalagmites, and other rock formations. During warmer months, thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats stream from the cave entrance at sunset in one of the park’s most popular events.
Rocky Mountains
Stretching more than 3,000 miles from New Mexico into Canada, the Rocky Mountains offer some of North America’s most spectacular scenery. Snowcapped peaks, alpine lakes, waterfalls, and forests create endless opportunities for outdoor adventures.
Rocky Mountain National Park features more than 350 miles of hiking trails, while nearby destinations like Aspen and Vail attract skiers every winter. Wildlife sightings often include elk, moose, bighorn sheep, and black bears.
Badlands, South Dakota
The Badlands look almost like another planet. Jagged rock formations, colorful cliffs, deep canyons, and open prairie create one of the country’s most unusual landscapes.
The park covers more than 244,000 acres and is also one of North America’s richest fossil sites. Ancient remains of mammals that lived millions of years ago have been uncovered here. Visitors often hike trails like Castle Trail while keeping an eye out for bighorn sheep, bison, and prairie dogs.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
On the Big Island of Hawaii, visitors can see the raw forces that continue to shape the islands. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park protects two of the world’s best-known volcanoes: Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.
The park covers more than 323,000 acres of lava fields, forests, craters, and volcanic landscapes. Popular stops include the Kīlauea Iki Trail, Chain of Craters Road, and scenic overlooks that reveal the island’s constantly changing terrain.
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail stretches about 2,190 miles from Georgia to Maine, passing through 14 states along the way. It’s one of the world’s most famous long-distance hiking trails, drawing millions of visitors every year.
Many hikers tackle shorter sections through Great Smoky Mountains National Park or Shenandoah National Park, where forests, mountain ridges, waterfalls, and wildlife create unforgettable scenery.
Mount Rainier, Washington
Rising 14,411 feet above Washington State, Mount Rainier dominates the surrounding landscape. This active volcano is surrounded by glaciers, wildflower-filled meadows, old-growth forests, and rushing rivers.
Mount Rainier National Park includes more than 260 miles of hiking trails, including the famous Wonderland Trail that circles the mountain. During winter, deep snowfall turns the area into a favorite destination for skiing and snowshoeing.
Mississippi River
Flowing more than 2,300 miles from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River is one of the longest and most important rivers in North America. Its watershed covers nearly 40 percent of the continental United States and supports hundreds of fish species along with countless migratory birds.
Visitors can enjoy river cruises, hiking trails, wildlife refuges, and historic towns that line its banks. Places like the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and Mark Twain’s hometown of Hannibal, Missouri, offer plenty to see beyond the water itself.
