Top 20 Most Scenic National Parks

This park in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho is America's first national park, established in 1872. Its geothermal features, including Old Faithful, attract millions of visitors each year. Over 10,000 geysers and hot springs are found within the park, with approximately 600 of these geysers erupting daily. Yellowstone National Park also has more than 1,000 species of plants and animals that can be found nowhere else in the world. Established by an act of Congress signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant, Yellowstone's unique features were a major factor in its establishment as a national park. Yellowstone is often considered the "First National Park" due to it being the world's first.

This park in Arizona is one of the most iconic natural wonders in the United States, with an area that spans approximately 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide. Its vast expanse can be seen from many parts of the country, attracting over six million visitors annually. The Colorado River played a significant role in carving the canyon, which is estimated to have taken millions of years to form. According to Native American legend, the Grand Canyon was formed by a powerful spirit that carved it out with his spear, known as the "Dragon's Tail". Established in 1919, the park now has over one million acres preserved.

This park in Utah is known for its unique sandstone formations and narrow valleys. A popular destination for hikers and rock climbers, Zion is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in the United States, attracting approximately four million visitors per year. The Virgin River has played a significant role in carving out the canyon's landscape over millions of years. According to local legend, a 19th-century Mormon pioneer named Jonas Miller carved a trail through the narrowest part of the canyon known as "The Narrows". Established in 1919, the park now features more than one million acres.

This California park is famous for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, and giant sequoia groves, attracting over four million visitors annually. The Mariposa Grove is home to a group of massive ancient trees known as the "Grizzly Giant". Over 75% of the land within Yosemite is comprised of wilderness areas, ensuring that many natural features remain untouched by human development. A historic train once offered scenic tours through the park, but was discontinued in 1937 due to financial issues. The park's unique geology resulted from the last ice age when glaciers carved out the valley.

This Tennessee/North Carolina park is famous for its diverse flora and fauna, attracting over eleven million visitors each year. Home to over six hundred species of flowering plants, the park offers breathtaking mountain scenery from its 800 miles of trails. Established in 1934 as a national park, it was previously part of Cherokee lands before being purchased by the US government. The highest point within the park is Clingmans Dome, at approximately 6,643 feet above sea level. Many local Native American tribes claimed the mountains were their ancestral home.

Located in Maine, this park boasts rugged coastline and diverse marine life, attracting over three million visitors annually. The park features a number of islands that can be reached only by boat or hiking, adding to its natural beauty. It was established as a national monument in 1916 before becoming the 48th U.S. National Park in 1983. Acadia is home to many historic lighthouses along the coast. Its unique geological makeup features an area of land known as "The Precambrian Shield".

Situated on the Pacific coast of Washington State, this park features glacier-capped mountains and over 70 miles of coastline. Home to five major ecosystems including temperate rainforest, alpine, and marine environments. Established in 1938, it was created as a national monument before becoming a national park. The park's unique blend of geography attracts visitors from around the world.

Located near Colorado Springs, this park features mountain peaks and alpine lakes that can be reached by hiking or taking part in scenic driving tours through its over 60 miles of roads. With over five million acres within its boundaries, it was established as a national park in 1915. Home to abundant wildlife such as elk and moose, the park offers breathtaking views from its peaks.

This Montana park features stunning mountain scenery with thousands of glaciers still remaining today, attracting over four million visitors each year. The Going-to-the-Sun Road is a key feature within the park that traverses the Continental Divide, known for its natural beauty and engineering feat. Established in 1910 as part of Yellowstone National Park, Glacier was divided into two separate national parks by Congress. Visitors can take scenic boat rides on Lake McDonald or St. Mary.

Located in Utah, this park features more than 2,000 naturally occurring rock formations and stands out for its delicate sandstone arches. The highest concentration of these structures is within the "Devils Garden" area. Arches was designated as a national monument before becoming part of the larger U.S. National Parks system in 1997. Visitors can explore over ten miles of trails through the park.

Also located in Wyoming, this park features towering mountain peaks and pristine lakes that attract millions of visitors annually. Established in 1929 as part of Yellowstone National Park, it was divided into a separate national park in 1950 due to its uniqueness. Visitors can take scenic drives through the Teton Range or enjoy boat tours on Jackson Lake.

Located in Alaska, this park is home to North America's highest mountain peak at approximately 20,310 feet above sea level. Established as Mount McKinley National Park in 1917, it was later renamed in 1975 after the Alaskan Athabascan people named "Denali" for this peak. Visitors can experience breathtaking views of wildlife and vast tundras within the park's boundaries.

Situated in southern Utah, this park features stunning natural formations known as hoodoos that tower over 5,000 feet above sea level. Established as a national monument in 1928 before becoming a full-fledged national park in 1978, it attracts millions of visitors each year due to its beauty. The park has an estimated eight million years of history.

Located on the California-Oregon border, this unique park is home to some of the tallest trees in the world, known as coastal redwoods, with heights reaching over 380 feet above ground level. Established in 1968 as part of Seau National Monument before becoming national parks. The old-growth forests here can stretch for centuries and provide a serene atmosphere for hiking.

Part of the larger U.S. National Parks system, this is situated near North Carolina's borders with Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina, however more properly falls under the definition as it’s not an original national park but rather has been designated as a part of the existing "Great Smoky Mountains National Park". It attracts visitors for its diverse ecosystems including pine forests.

Situated in South Dakota, this park is famous for its unique badlands terrain that stretches across 244,000 acres and features fossils from ancient creatures over sixty million years old. The scenic drive through the Badlands passes close to a vast array of red rock layers exposed by erosion. It was established as part of the National Park system in 1978 after initially being designated as the "Badlands" area in 1925.

Situated in southern Florida, this park is recognized for its diverse ecosystems including mangroves, cypress swamps and sawgrass prairies along a 1,508 square-mile area. Established as an official U.S. national park in 1947 due to the increasing concerns over human impact on the environment. Visitors can explore numerous hiking trails or experience air boat tours through the unique wildlife habitats of this park.

Located off the coast of Maine, it features unique rock formations carved out by glacial movements millions of years ago and includes a range of coastal geology along over 47 miles of shoreline. Established in 1916 as part of the national monument system before becoming America's first UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.

Situated on three islands off the coast of Hawaii, this park is unique due to the presence of volcanoes and lava flows that are both geologically and visually breathtaking. It was designated as a national park in 1916 while preserving its areas untouched by human development since ancient times. Visitors can explore volcanic landscapes shaped over thousands of years.

Situated off the coast of California, this unique national park features five main islands that are home to diverse wildlife and natural ecosystems found nowhere else. It was established in 1980 as part of an ongoing effort to protect marine environments through conservation efforts in the U.S.