U.S. national parks are outdoor havens where adventure meets the wild heart of nature. From the jagged peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the vast deserts of Joshua Tree National Park, these parks offer endless opportunities to hike, camp, and explore. Whether you’re gazing into the vastness of the Grand Canyon, soaking in the geothermal wonders of Yellowstone, or paddling through the swamps of the Everglades, each park feels like stepping into a different world – a raw, untamed paradise just waiting to be discovered.
National Parks are vital refuges for wildlife and critical to preserving the natural heritage. They also serve as outdoor labs where scientists track the pulse of nature, studying everything from species migration to climate change. Visiting a National Park is not only an escape from the everyday hustle and bustle, but also a chance to connect with the wild and help protect the beautiful land.
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Location: Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina.
Entrance Fee: No entry fee, but parking tags are required.
Size: Covers about 522,000 acres, making it the largest national park in the eastern U.S.
Highest Elevation: Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) is the highest peak at 6,643 feet (2,025 meters).
Popular Hikes: Alum Cave Trail, Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome), and Abrams Falls Trail.
Popular Waterfall Hikes: Laurel Falls, Rainbow Falls, and Grotto Falls.
Scenic Drives: Newfound Gap Road, Cades Cove Loop Road, and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
Nearby Towns/Cities: Gatlinburg (TN), Pigeon Forge (TN), Cherokee (NC), Bryson City (NC), Townsend (TN)
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Yosemite National Park
Location: Central California within the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Entrance Fee: $35 per vehicle (valid for 7 days). America the Beautiful Pass grants entry.
Size: The park spans 750,000 acres (approximately 1,187 square miles).
Highest Elevation: Mount Lyell is the highest point at 13,114 feet (3,997 m).
Famous Landmarks: Half Dome, El Capitan, California Tunnel Tree, Yosemite Falls, Tuolumne Meadows.
Popular Hikes: Half Dome, John Muir Trail, Mist Trail (Vernal Fall), Panorama Trail, Sentinel Dome, Taft Point, Four Mile Trail, Clouds Rest, Upper Yosemite Falls, Mirror Lake
Popular Waterfall Hikes: Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Fall, Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, and Wapama Falls.
Scenic Drives: Glacier Point Road and Tioga Road.
Nearby Towns/Cities: El Portal, Bass Lake, Oakhurst, Mammoth Lakes, Lee Vining, Mariposa, Fish Camp.
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Grand Canyon National Park
Location: Northern Arizona spanning across the Colorado Plateau.
Entrance Fee: $35 per vehicle (valid for 7 days). America the Beautiful Pass grants entry.
Size: The park covers over 1.2 million acres (around 1,900 square miles).
Highest Elevation: The highest points are found at Point Imperial on the North Rim (8,803 feet) and Navajo Point on the South Rim (7,498 feet).
Famous Viewpoints: South Rim – Mather Point, Yavapai Point, Yaki Point, Grandview Point, Hopi Point, Ooh Ah Point, Plateau Point. North Rim – Redwall Bridge, Angel’s Window, Bright Angel Point, Point Imperial
Popular Hikes: Rim Trail, Bright Angel Trail, South Kaibab Trail, and North Kaibab Trail.
Scenic Drives: Desert View Drive (East Rim Drive), Hermit’s Road, Kaibab Plateau-North Rim Parkway.
Nearby Towns/Cities: Tusayan, Williams, Kingman, Flagstaff, Page.
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Joshua Tree National Park
Location: Southeastern California spanning parts of both the Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert.
Entrance Fee: $30 per vehicle (valid for 7 days). America the Beautiful Pass grants entry.
Size: The park covers 795,000 acres (approximately 1,240 square miles).
Highest elevation: Quail Mountain is the highest peak at 5,816 feet (1,773 m).
Popular Hikes: Hidden Valley Trail, Ryan Mountain Trail, Barker Dam Trail, Cholla Cactus Garden, Split Rock Trail, Arch Rock Trail, Wallstreet Mill.
Famous Rock Formations: Arch Rock, Heart Rock, Skull Rock, Split Rock, Face Rock, Jumbo Rocks, Wonderland of Rocks.
Scenic Drives: Park Boulevard, Joshua Tree’s North Entrance Road, Cottonwood Spring Road.
Nearby Towns/Cities: Twentynine Palms, Yucca Valley, Palm Springs, Joshua Tree.
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Sequoia National Park
Location: Central California within the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Entrance Fee: $35 per vehicle (valid for 7 days). America the Beautiful Pass grants entry.
Size: Covers approximately 404,000 acres (631 square miles).
Highest Elevation: 14,500 feet (4,420 meters) at the summit of Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States.
Famous Landmarks: General Sherman Tree, Moro Rock, Mount Whitney, Crystal Cave, Tunnel Log.
Popular Hikes: Big Trees Trail, Congress Trail, General Sherman Tree Trail, Tokopah Falls, Moro Rock, Lakes Trail, Marble Falls.
Scenic Drives: Generals Highway
Nearby Towns/Cities: Three Rivers, Visalia, Tulare, Exeter, Woodlake, Porterville.
Popular Hikes
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Shenandoah National Park
Location: The park stretches along the eastern side of the Shenandoah Valley within the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.
Entrance Fee: $30 per vehicle (valid for 7 days). America the Beautiful Pass grants entry.
Size: Approximately 200,000 acres (311 square miles).
Highest Elevation: Hawksbill Summit is the highest point at 4,050 feet.
Popular Hikes: Old Rag Mountain, Hawksbill Summit, Stony Man, Mary’s Rock, Bearfence Mountain, Blackrock Summit.
Popular Waterfall Hikes: Dark Hollow Falls, Rose River Falls, Cedar Run Falls, Whiteoak Canyon Falls, South River Falls.
Scenic Drives: Skyline Drive
Nearby Towns/Cities: Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, Waynesboro, Staunton, Crozet, Luray, Front Royal.
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