Exploring national parks is one of the most unforgettable ways to connect with nature, experience raw beauty, and create lifelong memories. From rugged mountain peaks and pristine lakes to desert canyons and wildlife-rich forests, national parks around the world offer something for everyone. Here’s a curated look at some of the best national park experiences that stand out for their natural wonders, adventure opportunities, and breathtaking serenity.
1. Yellowstone National Park, USA
Best For: Geothermal wonders and wildlife watching
As the world’s first national park, Yellowstone is a legendary destination for nature lovers. Spanning parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, this massive park is known for its geysers (including Old Faithful), hot springs, and diverse wildlife—bison, elk, bears, and wolves roam freely. A sunrise drive through Lamar Valley offers one of the best chances to see animals in their natural habitat.
Top Experience: Watching the sunrise over Grand Prismatic Spring and witnessing the surreal colors come to life.
2. Banff National Park, Canada
Best For: Alpine scenery and crystal-clear lakes
Nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, Banff is a paradise for hikers, photographers, and outdoor enthusiasts. Iconic turquoise lakes like Lake Louise and Moraine Lake attract millions of visitors annually. The surrounding peaks, glaciers, and alpine meadows make for postcard-perfect views in every direction.
Top Experience: Canoeing on Lake Louise with the Victoria Glacier as your backdrop.
3. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Best For: Epic wildlife safaris
The Serengeti is synonymous with the African safari experience. Vast savannas stretch endlessly under big skies, home to the Great Migration—millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles on the move. This park is a must-see for anyone seeking to witness nature’s grandeur and the circle of life.
Top Experience: Watching a lion hunt at dawn or witnessing the wildebeest river crossing.
4. Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Best For: Dramatic landscapes and remote adventures
Located in Patagonia, this park is known for its jagged granite peaks, turquoise lakes, and massive glaciers. Whether you’re trekking the famous W or O circuits or just soaking in the scenery, Torres del Paine offers one of the most dramatic backdrops on Earth.
Top Experience: Hiking to the base of the Torres at sunrise, when the spires glow orange and pink.
5. Kruger National Park, South Africa
Best For: Big Five game viewing
Kruger is one of Africa’s premier game reserves, where visitors can see lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo in their natural environment. With both self-drive and guided options, it’s accessible for a wide range of travelers.
Top Experience: A sunrise game drive followed by a bush breakfast under the acacia trees.
6. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
Best For: Waterfalls and lush greenery
This UNESCO World Heritage site is a magical place filled with cascading waterfalls and interconnected lakes. Wooden walkways wind through emerald forests and over shimmering turquoise waters, offering a fairy-tale experience for visitors.
Top Experience: Walking the trails early in the morning to catch the mist rising from the lakes.
7. Denali National Park, USA (Alaska)
Best For: Remote wilderness and North American wildlife
Home to North America’s tallest peak, Denali offers a rugged, untouched landscape that’s ideal for true wilderness explorers. Moose, caribou, bears, and wolves inhabit this vast tundra and taiga region.
Top Experience: Flightseeing around Denali’s summit or spotting grizzly bears along the Park Road.
Tips for the Best National Park Experience
- Plan Ahead: Many parks require reservations for entry, camping, or specific trails.
- Respect Nature: Stay on trails, don’t feed wildlife, and pack out what you bring in.
- Go Off-Season: Visiting during the shoulder months can help you avoid crowds and enjoy a more peaceful experience.
- Hire a Guide: Local guides can provide cultural context and help you spot things you’d likely miss on your own.
Unique Experiences in All 63 U.S. National Parks
The United States is home to 63 designated national parks, each offering something truly one-of-a-kind. From hiking volcanoes to kayaking through mangrove forests, these parks preserve the country’s most dramatic and diverse landscapes. Here’s a park-by-park guide to the most unique experiences you can have in each.
1. Acadia (Maine)
Watch the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain, one of the first places sunlight hits the U.S.
2. American Samoa (American Samoa)
Snorkel coral reefs and hike rainforests on a tropical island few mainlanders ever visit.
3. Arches (Utah)
Walk beneath over 2,000 natural stone arches, including the iconic Delicate Arch.
4. Badlands (South Dakota)
Stargaze under some of the darkest skies in the U.S., with striking rock formations as a backdrop.
5. Big Bend (Texas)
Float down the Rio Grande through towering canyons with Mexico on the other side.
6. Biscayne (Florida)
Snorkel or dive in an underwater world filled with coral reefs, shipwrecks, and marine life.
7. Black Canyon of the Gunnison (Colorado)
Stand on the rim of a steep, dark canyon carved by the Gunnison River over millions of years.
8. Bryce Canyon (Utah)
Hike among towering hoodoos—otherworldly rock spires found nowhere else at this scale.
9. Canyonlands (Utah)
Explore a remote desert landscape carved by the Colorado and Green Rivers.
10. Capitol Reef (Utah)
See ancient petroglyphs and orchards tucked within a colorful geologic fold called the Waterpocket Fold.
11. Carlsbad Caverns (New Mexico)
Descend into a vast underground cave system, and watch thousands of bats exit at dusk.
12. Channel Islands (California)
Kayak through sea caves and spot marine wildlife just off the Southern California coast.
13. Congaree (South Carolina)
Walk through the largest intact old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the U.S.
14. Crater Lake (Oregon)
Gaze into the deepest lake in the U.S., formed inside a collapsed volcano.
15. Cuyahoga Valley (Ohio)
Bike or hike along the historic Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail surrounded by forests and waterfalls.
16. Death Valley (California/Nevada)
Visit the hottest, driest, and lowest point in North America at Badwater Basin.
17. Denali (Alaska)
Take a bus into the wild tundra to see North America’s tallest peak and abundant wildlife.
18. Dry Tortugas (Florida)
Explore a remote 19th-century fort surrounded by crystal-clear waters and coral reefs.
19. Everglades (Florida)
Glide through mangroves and sawgrass marshes on an airboat or kayak.
20. Gates of the Arctic (Alaska)
Experience total wilderness—no roads, no trails—just untouched Alaskan backcountry.
21. Gateway Arch (Missouri)
Ride to the top of a 630-foot monument, symbolizing westward expansion.
22. Glacier (Montana)
Drive the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road and hike to glacial lakes with alpine views.
23. Glacier Bay (Alaska)
Witness glaciers calving into icy waters from a cruise or kayak.
24. Grand Canyon (Arizona)
Hike or mule ride to the bottom of one of the world’s most famous canyons.
25. Grand Teton (Wyoming)
Climb or photograph jagged mountain peaks reflected in alpine lakes.
26. Great Basin (Nevada)
Stargaze under one of the darkest night skies and explore ancient bristlecone pine forests.
27. Great Sand Dunes (Colorado)
Sandboard down the tallest dunes in North America.
28. Great Smoky Mountains (Tennessee/North Carolina)
Experience misty ridges and historic cabins, and watch synchronous fireflies in June.
29. Guadalupe Mountains (Texas)
Climb the highest peak in Texas for panoramic desert views.
30. Haleakalā (Hawai‘i)
Watch the sunrise from a 10,000-foot volcano crater, often above the clouds.
31. Hawai‘i Volcanoes (Hawai‘i)
See active lava flows (when conditions allow) and walk through a lava tube.
32. Hot Springs (Arkansas)
Bathe in historic spa houses using naturally heated thermal spring water.
33. Indiana Dunes (Indiana)
Explore sand dunes and swim in Lake Michigan, just an hour from Chicago.
34. Isle Royale (Michigan)
Backpack or kayak in a remote island wilderness, accessible only by boat or seaplane.
35. Joshua Tree (California)
Stargaze and rock climb among surreal boulders and twisted desert trees.
36. Katmai (Alaska)
Watch brown bears catch salmon at Brooks Falls from a viewing platform.
37. Kenai Fjords (Alaska)
Cruise past glaciers and marine wildlife, including whales and puffins.
38. Kings Canyon (California)
Hike in deep canyons and high alpine meadows, next to towering sequoias.
39. Kobuk Valley (Alaska)
Walk among massive Arctic sand dunes, where caribou migrate each year.
40. Lake Clark (Alaska)
Fish, raft, or fly into rugged wilderness, where volcanoes meet salmon streams.
41. Lassen Volcanic (California)
Explore bubbling hydrothermal features, mud pots, and a recently active volcano.
42. Mammoth Cave (Kentucky)
Tour the longest cave system in the world, with over 400 miles explored.
43. Mesa Verde (Colorado)
See ancient cliff dwellings built by the Ancestral Puebloans.
44. Mount Rainier (Washington)
Trek through wildflower meadows and glaciers beneath a towering volcano.
45. New River Gorge (West Virginia)
Raft one of the oldest rivers in the world, surrounded by lush Appalachian forests.
46. North Cascades (Washington)
Explore rugged peaks and glacier-fed lakes, with few crowds.
47. Olympic (Washington)
Experience mountains, rainforest, and coastline in one incredible park.
48. Petrified Forest (Arizona)
Walk among colorful fossilized trees over 200 million years old.
49. Pinnacles (California)
Hike through talus caves and spot endangered California condors soaring overhead.
50. Redwood (California)
Stand beneath the tallest trees on Earth, some over 350 feet high.
51. Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
Drive Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in the U.S.
52. Saguaro (Arizona)
Wander among giant saguaro cacti that define the American Southwest.
53. Sequoia (California)
Stand at the base of the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree by volume on Earth.
54. Shenandoah (Virginia)
Drive Skyline Drive in the fall, when leaves explode in color.
55. Theodore Roosevelt (North Dakota)
Spot bison and wild horses in scenic badlands landscapes.
56. Virgin Islands (U.S. Virgin Islands)
Snorkel among coral reefs and relax on pristine Caribbean beaches.
57. Voyageurs (Minnesota)
Canoe or boat between islands and campsites in a vast water-based park.
58. White Sands (New Mexico)
Walk or sled on pure white gypsum dunes, unlike anywhere else on Earth.
59. Wind Cave (South Dakota)
Explore a maze-like cave system with rare boxwork formations.
60. Wrangell–St. Elias (Alaska)
Explore the largest U.S. national park, with glaciers larger than some states.
61. Yellowstone (Wyoming/Montana/Idaho)
See geysers, hot springs, and abundant wildlife in the world’s first national park.
62. Yosemite (California)
Hike to Half Dome or view Yosemite Falls, among granite cliffs and giant sequoias.
63. Zion (Utah)
Wade through the Narrows, a slot canyon hike in the Virgin River
Conclusion
The best national park experiences aren’t just about scenic views—they’re about immersion, wonder, and connection. Whether you’re scaling peaks, paddling lakes, or quietly watching wildlife, each park offers a chance to slow down and marvel at the planet’s natural splendor. Start with one and you’ll soon find yourself planning your next wild escape.