The U.S. National Parks are plentiful and so incredible! Whether you want a desert red rock hike, a trip to see wildlife, or to find as many waterfalls as you can, there is a national park trip waiting for you! I have had the privilege of traveling to several U.S. National Parks and am still planning trips to visit more. Here are my top five that I have visited so far!
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park has to be on my list because of Delta Lake hike! This is my all-time favorite hike so far. I will have a blog out specifically on this hike soon if you are interested, but the views here are incredible! Grand Teton National Park is actually quite small when compared to other U.S. National Parks, but it does not disappoint! If anything, the map is easier to follow and you have better chances at not getting lost. The Grand Tetons are an incredible landscape. Although I was unlucky when searching for a moose, there are spots where people see moose frequently. These spots are near Oxbow Bend and at Willow Flats. While visiting the Tetons, I stayed in a nice campground called Colter Bay Campground. I recommend it if you plan on booking a trip here in the future. Besides the Delta Lake hike, Jenny Lake Overlook, Taggart Lake, and Leigh Lake are some other greats trails. If you are looking for some activities to do outside of the national park, I recommend visiting Jackson Hole, Teton Village, or finding a hot springs. Some hot springs destinations nearby include Astoria Hot Springs and Granite Hot Springs.
Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is an expansive park that has an incredible array of hikes. I enjoyed the Hidden Lake Overlook trail and Avalanche Lake hike. There are several long hikes that you should investigate if you have time. When you need a break from hiking, you can hop in the car and go on a scenic drive along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Also, you can drive to Lake McDonald to go for a swim or relax while seeing the beautiful mountainous landscape and all the colorful rocks. You can rent small boats to get on the water as well. There is a cute little diner restaurant near Lake McDonald that I recommend called Eddie’s Cafe. There are plenty of exciting activities to do around the national park during your trip too. I went to a rodeo and visited a popular shop called Huckleberry Patch. This is a gift shop and bakery that offers countless unique huckleberry items. I recommend trying the huckleberry shake. If you haven’t visited Glacier National Park, it should be on your list, because the views are amazing and you will never run out of activities to keep you busy here.
Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon National Park has to make the list, because the views are unbelievable. You feel so small when you visit Grand Canyon, and the pictures just don’t do it justice. Around the national park, I recommend visiting Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend, and Antelope Canyon. I stuck to hiking on this trip, but horseback riding or a helicopter ride above the Grand Canyon are two popular excursions. North Kaibab trail, Grandview trail, and Bright Angel trail are popular hikes.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is a great destination for a memorable trip as well. This national park is known for its steep red cliffs, waterfalls, and the famous hikes, The Narrows and Angels Landing. The Narrows hike is not always open due to water levels, so if you are looking for a similar canyon hike that is a hidden gem and much less crowded, check out my blog, An Alternative Hike to the Narrows at Zion National Park. Canyon Overlook Trail and the Emerald Pools are some other great hikes. When you need a break from hiking, hop on the shuttle buses that take you along Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Zion National Park has a lovely little town right before you enter the park, so you have several coffee shops, restaurants, boutiques, and hiking gear rental spots to keep you happy. There is nothing quite like waking up with the sunrise, bundling up, getting a coffee, and driving up to the first trailhead of the day. Lastly, if you like to find free camping spots like I do, there are several great spots just outside of the park. Check out Campnado’s blog that I used as a resource when looking for free camping spots.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is home to so much wildlife that you’ll be sure to see some animals during your visit! During my quick visit, I saw a mama grizzly bear with her cubs, wolves, antelope, and several bison that passed right beside my car window. Be sure to see Old Faithful, the famous geyser, erupt while you are here. Old Faithful erupts every 60-100 minutes. North Rim Trail, Midway Geyser Basin Trail, and Observation Point Trail are three popular hikes in Yellowstone. If you are looking for a family excursion to book, consider going ziplining, white water rafting, fishing, or horseback riding.
Conclusion
The U.S. National Parks are nothing short of spectacular! Tell me your favorite national park that you have visited in the comments! Next, I hope to travel to Oregon, Washington, and Maine to explore their national parks.
Thanks for stopping by! To see the rest of my travel blogs, check out the destinations tab on my website. Cheers to getting in nature and making connections around the world!