Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, deep valleys, giant sequoias, meadows, glaciers, mountains, and lakes. Nearly 95 percent of the park is a vast wilderness area. There are many different viewpoints in Yosemite: Tunnel View, Olmsted Point, Glacier Point. The park is also filled with historical museums and buildings. Yosemite Valley is world famous for its waterfalls, meadows, cliffs, and rock formations.
The first national park of U.S., Yellowstone National Park is known for its wildlife. The park is home to hot springs and geysers. Yellowstone National Park covers canyons, rivers, and mountain ranges. Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest high-elevation lakes. Half of the world's geysers and hydrothermal features are in Yellowstone, fueled by ongoing volcanism. During the winter, visitors can experience snow-covered landscapes.
Located in Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park covers 277 miles (446 km). The Grand Canyon is a mile-deep canyon (1.6 km) carved by the Colorado River. 90% of travelers Visit Grand Canyon National Park's South Rim as it is easily accessible than the North Rim. The North Rim has a short season, and is harder to get to.
Located in southwestern Utah, Zion National Park is a deep and narrow Zion Canyon. Nearly the entire canyon is located within the western half of the park. Reddish canyon walls and tan-colored Navajo Sandstone are the main attractions of the park. Zion National Park includes canyons, mountains, rivers, and arches.
Located in eastern Utah, Arches National Park includes more than 2,000 natural stone arches. The park is home to hundreds of arches, spires, balanced rocks, and sandstone fins. Arches National Park is a popular tourist attraction because of its unique landscape, land forms and textures.
Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park; both parks are known together as the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Mount Whitney located in the park is the tallest mountain in the United States with an elevation of 14,505 feet. The park is also known for its giant sequoia trees. Sequoia National Park is popular in tourist for its beauty, mountains, canyons, caverns, and the world's largest trees.
Glacier National Park is located in northwestern Montana on the Canada-United States border. The park features rugged mountains, forests, alpine meadows, and over hundred lakes. There are 3 main visitor centers in the park: St. Mary Visitor Center located east side of the park, Apgar Visitor Center located west side of the park, and Logan Pass Visitor Center in the middle of the park at the hight point. Going-to-the-Sun Road is a scenic mountain road popular in visitors visiting Glacier National Park. Logan Pass is the highest elevation of the park reachable by car. Popular recreation activities include hiking, biking, fishing, boating, photography, and camping. Winter activities of the park include Cross-country skiing.
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most visited national parks. The park is known for tall mountains, alpine lakes and wildlife. Rocky Mountain National Park can be accessed through the eastern entrances near Estes Park or via the western entrance at Grand Lake. The park has a total of five visitor centers. The 14,259 ft Longs Peak is the highest peak in the park. Bear Lake at an elevation of 9,450 feet is a one of scenic trailhead and destination in Rocky Mountain National Park. Trail Ridge Road that traverses Rocky Mountain National Park from Estes Park in the east to Grand Lake in the west is the most visited and famous Scenic Byway.
Bryce Canyon National Park is known for series of natural amphitheaters carved into the edge of a high plateau. The park unique attraction is Hoodoos (irregular columns of rock) that provide spectacular views. Main viewpoints of the park are: Bryce Point, Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Sunrise Point.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park located in Tennessee and North Carolina is the most visited national park in the United States. Mountain range of the park are part of the Blue Ridge Mountains and subrange of the Appalachian Mountains. The national park features highest mountains in eastern North America including Clingmans Dome, Mount Guyot, and Mount Le Conte. Great Smoky Mountains National Park has over 90 hitoric structures that include houses, barns, outbuilding, churches, schools, and grist mills. Popular places to see include Cataloochee, Deep Creek, Newfound Gap, Moutain Farm Museum and Mingus Mill, and Cades Cove. The park is home to several waterfalls including Grotto, Laurel, Abrams, Rainbow, and other popular waterfalls . Recreation activities in the park includes hiking, biking, camping, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, and picnicking.