It’s been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but as someone who’s visited all 50 states and every US national park, I’d argue that there are some places where beauty simply can’t be denied.
Whether from towering mountains, cerulean-blue lakes, impressive wildlife, or surreal otherworldly landscapes, some parks just stand out more than others.
Here are my picks for the seven most beautiful US national parks.
Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park has beautiful lakes and jagged mountains.
Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming always tops my list of the most beautiful landscapes in the country.
The towering, jagged mountains are just one aspect of the incredible beauty in this park, with large lakes visitors can swim, kayak, and boat on.
There are also challenging hiking trails and some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets I’ve ever encountered.
There’s no place quite like Yosemite National Park in California.
In my opinion, there’s truly no place like Yosemite National Park, where the famed towering granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome rise thousands of feet from the valley floor.
The park also features some of the tallest waterfalls in the country. To top things off, the giant Sequoia groves and large stretches of wilderness in the park create a striking contrast unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced.
Maine’s Acadia National Park features stunning coastal, mountain, and forest landscapes.
As one of the most-visited US national parks, Acadia is obviously no hidden gem.
But, in my opinion, the sometimes-crowded Maine park is also one of the most breathtakingly beautiful spots in the US. The clashing of coastal, mountain, and forest landscapes is simply spectacular.
I recommend spending a day watching the waves crash on the rugged Ocean Path Trail, or relaxing at the beach before going on a strenuous hike.
There’s a reason Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park is on so many bucket lists.
The Grand Canyon is a bucket list park for a reason. I challenge anyone to visit for the first (or sixth time) and not be in awe when looking at the vastness of the canyon.
The scale makes it a special place you must truly see to believe. Stretching 277 miles, the canyon brings a perspective I haven’t found anywhere else.
Washington’s North Cascades National Park is home to stunning turquoise waters.
Although North Cascades National Park is less than three hours from Seattle, this park is still slightly under-the-radar. At over 500,000 acres, the landscape is stunning and rugged, with an untamed beauty that’s rare to find in the lower 48 states.
Plus, North Cascades is home to lakes that are so turquoise in color that they look like they’re straight out of the Caribbean.
The beauty of Glacier National Park in Montana makes me emotional.
I’ve driven on Going-to-the-sun Road in Glacier National Park nearly a dozen times now, and each time, I have to pull over at least once because I become overwhelmed with emotion.
The massive and dramatic glacier-carved landscape has towering mountains on every side. The park is home to clear glacial lakes, gorgeous wildflowers, challenging hikes, and plenty of wildlife.
One can spend a lifetime exploring Glacier National Park and never lose the awe of that first view.
Olympic National Park features a stunning mix of coastal beaches, rainforests, and mountain ranges.
Olympic National Park is incredibly diverse, with a mix of coastal beaches, rainforests, and imposing mountain ranges.
There’s plenty to do in this park, from summiting a snow-capped mountain to exploring the mystical Hoh Rainforest — which is said to be one of the quietest places in the US.
I recommend taking the time to hike through the old-growth forests before watching an epic sunset on one of the park’s rugged coastlines.
This story was originally published on March 24, 2024, and most recently updated on January 30, 2026.
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