The United States National Parks stand as the natural wonders of the North American continent. They are also a monument of the commitment of the preceding generations of Americans to preserve the environments of these parks as part of the heritage of the future children of the country.

Yellowstone is the first national park having been declared by President Ulysses Grant in 1872. Over a hundred years later since that time, there are now 58 national parks in total, each with their special features and natural formations.

Since there are a lot of national parks to cover, we’ve picked out 11 with the most stunning views.

Acadia National Park: Cadillac Mountain


Acadia National Park holds a symbolic place because its mountain peaks are the first places to taste sunlight every single day in the United States. In order to enjoy this spectacle, hikers are led to walk of two miles leading the top of the Cadillac Mountain. Once reaching this height, people get to see the views around the Atlantic coast. Bar Harbor appears in the distance along with the beaches in the area. When you arrive early enough, you might get the honor of watching the ceremony of the Wabanaki honoring the sun. This particular ceremony is symbolic of the Native American tribe’s efforts to reclaim and strengthen their heritage.

Arches National Park: Park Avenue

Anyone who encounters Park Avenue will be given a lesson in geology. These natural sandstone arches and towers make one feel like they were formed to resemble Park Avenue in New York, hence the site’s name. Looking closely at the walls of the sandstones, people can see geological layers. These layers sometimes contain the imprint of several hundreds of years of earth formation. The hike yields sights of rock pools, animal footprints and some sagebrush. The Park Avenue Hike is considered an easy one by the rangers but visitors are still advised to bring hats, water and supplies. With the right pace, hikers can finish walking around Park Avenue in one hour.

Click on the video below to know about the must-sees at this national park.

Badlands National Park: Sheep Mountain Table


The Badlands National Park has seen its share of history. Prior to the colonization of the modern day Americans, tribes of the Lakota and the Sioux Nation have used the Badlands as hunting grounds for bison and other herd animals. During the period of American expansion, the Badlands played the setting for the very last of the ghost dances of the Native Americans. The Battle of Wounded Knee which resulted in the massacre of over 200 Native Americans was the last conflict of such kind and is an even currently remembered to this day for the lessons it imparts. To enjoy the Badlands, travel southwards to the Sheep Mountain Table and keep going until you reach its end where you will witness the various other rock formations in the area like Brule and Sharps.

Channel Islands National Park: Inspiration Point


For an experience in the rich biological diversity of the North American continent, a trip to the Channel Islands National Park is a must. These pristine and untouched islands compose the Channel Island group and each of them hosts an ecology of 150 animal species which can only be found there. The harbor fox makes these islands its home and the waters surrounding them are the roaming grounds of the blue whales. The point is called as such because of its inspiring beauty so much so that a group of poets meet there to discuss their works every month. To get to the islands, you will need to take an hour’s boat ride by the company Island Packers which uses Ventura as its harbor. Unfortunately, camping or overnight stays are not allowed. The boat will wait for you until you’ve gotten your fill of nature.

Crater Lake National Park: Watchman Peak

The Crater Lake National Park is a large caldera on the tip of the Cascade range in southern Oregon. According  to experts the cataclysm that caused this formation was the eruption around of a large volcano called Mount Mazama some 7,700 years back. Measuring 12,000 feet in height, the mountain’s eruption was so violent that its walls collapsed thus paving way for the cration of the crater that holds the national park. Hike up the mountain and into Watchman’s Peak where a lookout tower has been monitoring volcanic activity since the 1930s. In the middle of the lake, there is another island called Wizard Island that looks like a wizard’s hat.

Trace how the Crater Lake came to be by clicking the video below.

Denali National Park: Sable Pass

One of Alaska’s natural best kept secrets,  Denali national park hosts one of the more interesting hikes in the North American continent in the Sable Pass. Since the sun does not set in the area until midnight, there is a significant amount of walking that can be done in order to quickly advance on the trail. The sights in this particular walk include grassy terrain containing willow brush. Once the party crosses the Igloo Creek, the Cathedral Mountain comes into view. Hiking through the pass is never a solitary experience even when undertaken alone as there are animals within the area you will be walking in. Prepare to share space with some moose, sheep, wolf, caribou and grizzly bear. To make your hike easier, wait for a shuttle bus at the center and ride up to within 38 miles away from Sable Pass.

Appreciate the beauty of the Sable Pass by clicking on the video below.

Glacier National Park: Hidden Lake

Experts predict that the glaciers responsible for the beauty of Glacier National Park are melting away.  By 2010 not a trace of these glaciers will be left by 2010 which is earlier by 10 years than predicted. It is best to take advantage of the park’s views now while it is still there. Travelers recommend a hike to the park’s Hidden Lake. The trail will lead hikers through interesting flora and fauna like monkey flowers and bear grass and the occasional mountain goat. This walk is relatively short, around 1.5 miles with a few challenging paths. Speak with the ranger before going on the trail as grizzly bears are known to cross them once in a while.

Grand Teton National Park: Leigh Lake

Grand Teton National Park is another experience of the Great American Outdoors. The park’s treasure is the Teton Range with eight peaks going over three thousand miles and the highest, the Grand Teton, reaching over 4,000 miles. The foot of the mountains hosts lakes with several more at the back country. One of the recommended spots to visit is the Leigh Lake where visitors can get a view of Mount Moran and the Paintbrush Canyon. Aside from the earth and water formations, you will see the bald eagle, the elk, moose, bison and pronghorn as well as some black and grizzly bears.

Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve: Mount Herard


The sand dunes of this national park have been built after a lengthy process of wind erosion that spanned 12,000 years. Now they form  the terrain surrounding the area around Mount Herard. The mountain itself is a host to a variety of environments from the sandy area at the foot to exquisite flower beds blooming on the mountain’s shoulders. People also encounter a variety of wildlife from bighorn sheep and pikas munching on the vegetation on the cliff faces along the mountain trail. When hikers reach the mountain peak, they are astounded by the view of the state of Colorado unraveling beneath their feet. The sand dunes below become visible as does the spine of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. Park visitors go ahead and park up at the Medano Lake Trailhead and enjoy the free campsites on the grounds. Hiking starts from there and continues five and a half miles ahead to the top of the mountain.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park:Clingmans Dome

Home of the 70 mile Appalachian Trail, the Great Smoky Mountains is one of the largest national parks in the US. The mountains and the remains of the Appalachian culture are the major draws of the park. Rangers recommend that the park be visited around autumn when the mountains drape themselves in hues of brown, brick red, orange and gold. There are plenty of waterfalls in the area and wildlife as well. For a short visit, try going up Clingmans Dome. The dome provides views of the national park and its verdant hills. Climbing up the tower on top of Clingmans Dome provides an added effect.

Yosemite National Park: Sentinel Dome

President Abraham Lincoln drafted a resolution that Yosemite Valley is to be preserved for the public in 1864. Thanks to him the rapids, geological stone formations and the sequoia towering over the area have been saved. Today, people meet around Glacier Point, easily the most famous spot to enjoy the view in the park. However, for a less traveled destination that offers a 360 view of the features of Yosemite, the Sentinel Dome is a viable alternative. From the overlook of the hill, people will be able to see the Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and El Capitan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGxGpib-yHw

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