Top 7 Iconic National Parks You Must Explore

National parks serve to protect the Earth’s diverse ecosystems and wildlife. Many are open to visitors, offering opportunities for family outings and adventure. You can explore these natural wonders through activities like hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and kayaking. With numerous parks available, selecting the right one can be daunting. To help, we've highlighted seven must-visit national parks.

Yosemite National Park is famed for its stunning vistas and landmarks like Tunnel View and Valley View. Notable features include Half Dome and El Capitan, with Yosemite Falls towering as the highest waterfall at 2,425 feet. Glacier National Park, known as the Crown of the Continent, offers expansive mountain scenery across a million acres, accessible via Going-to-the-Sun Road and Logan Pass. The Grand Canyon amazes with its layered rock formations, vast depth, and vibrant colors, with helicopter tours offering unique perspectives. In Canada, Jasper National Park provides outdoor adventures year-round, including hiking, biking, and skiing, with Maligne Lake being a highlight. Arches National Park showcases remarkable sandstone arches perfect for hiking and photography, with La Sal Mountains Viewpoint providing stunning panoramic views. Zion National Park attracts adventure lovers with hikes like Zion Narrows and Angels Landing. Hot Springs National Park boasts 4,000-year-old thermal springs and the panoramic Hot Springs Mountain Tower, along with historic bathhouses. Planning your visit with digital maps simplifies navigation, allowing you to set routes and stops easily. The National Park Service, established in 1916, manages hundreds of parks and sites dedicated to conserving natural beauty and cultural heritage for future generations.