What Are The Best National Parks In The US?

The US has 63 official national parks, but which ones are the best and most breathtaking? Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park is a must-see, with its enormous crimson cliffs carved by the Colorado River. Visitors can take in the views from the Rim Trail or hike into the canyon for a closer look. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which spans Tennessee and North Carolina, is the country’s most biodiverse national park. Its Cades Cove Loop offers chances to spot wildlife like black bears, deer and elk. For a more remote adventure, Isle Royale National Park in Michigan sits on an island in Lake Superior and offers a peaceful backcountry experience. Backpackers can explore the 40-mile Greenstone Ridge Trail and may spot moose, loons and beavers along the way. Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park is home to the country’s deepest lake, while Maine’s Acadia National Park is known for spectacular sunrises and coastal scenery. In Texas, Big Bend National Park offers incredible dark-sky views, while Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park features lava tubes, craters, rainforests and active volcanic landscapes.