Comprised of a cluster of islands along the jagged Maine coast and a section of mainland on the Schoodic Peninsula, Acadia National Park has a variety of landscapes including granite-domed mountains, woodlands, lakes, and ocean shoreline. More than two dozen mountains rise above the rocky shore, including Cadillac Mountain, which at 1,530 feet is the highest point on the U.S. Atlantic coast. Popular activities include hiking, biking, camping, and taking in views of the coastlines and lakes.

Arches National Park in Moab offers the largest density of natural sandstone arches in the world – over 2,000! A great destination for families, the astounding views will delight adventurers of all ages. There are a wide variety of trails as well as scenic driving routes for viewing some of the park’s largest arches, including a drive to one of the most iconic rock formations in the world, the Delicate Arch Viewpoint.

The Badlands provide some of the most mysterious sights to see in the National Park System. Located on the edge of our country’s Great Plains in southwestern South Dakota, Badlands National Park consists of 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blended with the largest, protected mixed-grass prairie in the United States.

A remote destination in the southwest of Texas along the Mexican border, Big Bend National Park is a great spot to seek solitude and relaxation. The park itself is larger than the state of Rhode Island, and features 150 miles of hiking trails, unparalleled dark night skies perfect for stargazing, a stretch of the Rio Grande, paved driving trails, and more. When planning your trip to Big Bend, make sure to set aside time to get to and from this expansive park!

“Water world” is an apt description of this south Florida park, as 95 percent of it is underwater. Slip beneath the surface, though, while snorkeling and you’ll discover a realm of rainbow-hued coral reefs swarming with fish. Beginning snorkelers can sign up to explore coral ledges, while those who don’t like to get wet can take a glass-bottom boat tour to peer into the park’s marine life. Families can also hop into a canoe or kayak and drift through mangrove swamps and lagoons.

What it lacks in width, the Black Canyon makes up for in depth. Great cliffs plunge to the Gunnison River, at points more than 2,700 feet down, creating some of the best and most advanced rock-climbing opportunities in the National Park System.

Creamsicle-hued ranks of stone soldiers -- stubby hoodoos -- show off nature’s whimsical personality. Carved by wind, rain, and freeze-thaw cycles, these peculiar formations rise over you as you explore the trails that weave through the colorful underbelly of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Try one of the park’s many hiking trails or camp out in the park’s North and Sunset campgrounds, not far from the short hikes that dip down into the canyon’s geologic wonders.

In the heart of the high desert, Canyonlands National Park is a rugged landscape that offers visitors hiking, stargazing, camping, and technical rock climbing. When visiting Canyonlands, you’ll have a clear view of the night sky in its full splendor thanks to low light pollution and excellent air quality.

Capitol Reef National Park, one of the many national parks in Utah, contains nearly a quarter million acres in 'slickrock country'. Capitol Reef is a hidden treasure filled with cliffs, canyons, domes, and bridges in the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline (a wrinkle on the earth) extending almost 100 miles.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico contains some of the largest caves in North America—a must-visit for vacationers in New Mexico. As you pass through the Chihuahuan Desert and Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico and west Texas, filled with prickly pear, chollas, sotols, and agaves, you might never guess there are more than 300 known caves beneath the surface.

Just off the coast of Los Angeles, Channel Islands National Park is made up of five islands: San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara. Rich in history, this park offers unique opportunities for everyone. Seafaring fans can enjoy stunning beaches, unparalleled diving experiences, and boating between the islands. Land-lovers can find spectacular hiking and campgrounds. History buffs can get their fix learning about the park’s almost 13,000 years of human history.

This 27,000-acre park is tucked along the mystical Congaree River near Columbia, South Carolina, just a short drive from Atlanta, Charleston, or Charlotte. The park includes more than 25 miles of hiking trails and 2.4 miles of boardwalk loop trail, but many visitors also choose to explore Congaree on the water via kayak or canoe.

Standing lakeside at Crater Lake is like nothing else—the deepest water in the country, filling a sleeping, dormant volcano, can only be described as a blue enigma. Because the lake is filled almost entirely by snowfall, it is one of the clearest lakes in the world. The ranging elevations throughout the park provide diverse habitats for an array of wildlife and make for an outstanding outdoor adventure.

A short drive from Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, is Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This park offers not only natural treasures—forests, hills, open farmland, and the Cuyahoga River—but historical interest as well. The Cuyahoga Valley played a key role in American history as the site of the Ohio & Erie Canal, which opened Ohio up to settlement in the early-to-mid 1800s.

Once viewed as a wasteland, Death Valley is, in truth, a magical land. Dune fields ripple the park’s interior, geology shows its pastel hues at Artists Palette, and an oasis rises above a “furnace.” Hike the sandy hills on the dunes that slightly rise above this sweltering landscape or explore the salt pan that makes up the floor of Death Valley, 282 feet below sea level.

Denali National Park in Alaska contains Mt. Denali, North America's highest mountain, as well as countless other spectacular mountains and many large glaciers. Denali's more than 6 million acres also encompass a complete sub-arctic eco-system with large mammals such as grizzly bears, wolves, Dall sheep, and moose. The park provides a wide variety of visitor experiences including wildlife viewing, mountaineering, cycling, and even dog sledding!

Made up of the seven farthest flung of the Florida Keys (70 miles west of Key West), Dry Tortugas is managed alongside its mainland sister park, Everglades. The park plays an important role in American history, protecting the valuable shipping channel at the confluence of the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea and securing the coastline for the U.S. Today, visitors value these clear azure waters more for swimming, sailing, snorkeling, and site seeing.

Traveling in Florida isn’t complete without stopping at the Everglades—a swampland just one -hour outside of Miami. With 1.5 million acres of tropical and subtropical habitat, this park is one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems. Step into a haven amongst the mangroves, immerse yourself in the sense of wonder that surrounds you, and sink deep into the slow, languid pace of life in a swamp.

Lying north of the Arctic Circle, this remote park and preserve is the northernmost national park in the U.S. and the second largest national park. There are no roads in or out of Gates of the Arctic, so visitors must schedule flights or be intrepid hikers to visit this remote Alaskan wilderness. Views offered here are some of the most breathtaking in the U.S. This is truly a must-visit for the most adventurous of park lovers.

Situated in downtown St. Louis, Gateway Arch National Park reflects St. Louis’ role in the Westward Expansion of the United States during the nineteenth century. The park is a memorial to Thomas Jefferson's role in opening the West, to the pioneers who helped shape its history, and to Dred Scott who sued for his freedom in the Old Courthouse.

Covering 3.3 million acres of mountains, glaciers, wild coastlines, and fjords, Glacier Bay is one of the world's largest international protected areas. Glacier Bay offers spectacular views, breathtaking moments, and true solitude often lost in today's busy society. Located in Alaska, this popular destination for cruises offers a glimpse of the ever-changing nature of glacier areas, as they recede and expand with the changing seasons.

A hiker’s paradise, Glacier National Park provides an exceptional backcountry experience, the perfect vacation for families and adventurers. There are a number of beloved areas and hiking trails in this park, including Going-to-the-Sun Road, the North Fork, Goat Hunt, Two Medicine, and Triple Divide Peak.

Offering rim to rim hiking, donkey rides, and whitewater rafting, Grand Canyon National Park is a hugely popular destination. There are two public areas of Grand Canyon National Park, the North and South Rims. The South Rim is the most accessible section of the park, with numerous places where visitors can pull over to admire the views. The North Rim isn't as visited because it is slightly harder to get to, especially when harsh winter weather closes access roads.

Just 10 miles south of Yellowstone is a smaller, but no less magnificent, national park that preserves some of the most majestic mountains in the country. This truly picturesque location, Grand Teton National Park, boasts a diverse ecosystem with terrain ranging from summertime wildflower meadows to rushing whitewater streams. There are also numerous serene lakes with deep blue pools, echoing the stillness and color of the glaciers that shaped them.

This national park icon, Great Basin is unusual in that you can stand atop its 13,063-foot summit and then travel underground to marvel and its artfully carved caverns. Descend into the park’s Lehman Caves to find an underworld of marble and limestone, where budding geologists and spelunkers can work on telling their stalactites from stalagmites.

About 245 miles north of Albuquerque or 167 miles south from Colorado Springs, the central figure at this park is, of course, the sand dunes — the tallest in North America. While special (but easy-to get) sand sledding and sand boarding equipment is needed during warm months, regular snow sleds and snow boards will work when the dunes are covered in snow. So bring the kids and get ready to ride.

Appalachian lore and beauty are woven like a tapestry through this veiled playground. Streams that cascade and rest in pools are perfect for fending off summer’s dog days, while hikes show off this park’s diverse and beautiful vegetation. Spot deer, and occasionally black bears, along Cades Cove, or take the time to head out to Cataloochee to peer out on the park’s elk herds.

In western Texas near the Texas-New Mexico border, Guadalupe Mountains National Park features the highest point in the state. Below Guadalupe Peak lies a national park of striking natural beauty, with winding trails that meander through serene forests, spots of captivating local history, and the world’s most extensive Permian fossil reef. Campers, hikers, and thrill-seekers will love exploring the park’s deserts, dunes, canyons, mountains, and much more.

Haleakalā National Park, on the Hawai'ian island of Maui, is a superb example of the Hawai'ian Islands' native ecosystems. This park preserves the outstanding volcanic landscape of the upper slopes of Haleakalā and protects the unique and fragile ecosystems of Kipahulu Valley, the scenic pools along Oheo Gulch, and many rare and endangered species. Visitors to the park can enjoy hikes with spectacular views, including a popular sunrise hike – just be sure to get your reservations in advance.

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park shows the sheer power of volcanoes ability to shape and re-shape our land. Coupled with the special human history and rare ecosystems found here, this park is a special place in America to be sure. Over half of the park is designated wilderness and provides unusual hiking and camping opportunities.

Nicknamed “The American Spa,” Hot Springs National Park has cultivated quite a reputation as a destination for those seeking healing and relaxation. Enjoy over 40 hot springs, a wilderness area with 20+ miles of trails, and historic Bathhouse Row—a stunning showcase of Gilded Age architecture.

About 50 miles outside of Chicago on the southern shore of Lake Michigan, Indiana Dunes National Park offers rugged dunes, mysterious wetlands, sunny prairies, meandering rivers, and peaceful forests perfect for a break from the bustling city. In the summer, enjoy a picnic along the sandy shores of Lake Michigan or bike along the park’s trails. In the winter months, break out your snowshoes or go cross-country skis to explore the Glenwood or Tolleston Dunes Trails.

Surrounded by Lake Superior, Isle Royale National Park encompasses 850 square miles, including submerged lands which extend over four miles out into Lake Superior. Featuring 165 miles of scenic hiking trails, excellent fishing, historic lighthouses, and 36 campgrounds for backpackers, paddlers, and recreational boaters, the park is accessible only by boat or float plane.

Visitors to Joshua Tree National Park can explore 800,000 acres of beautiful terrain, where wildlife thrives in temperatures over 100 degrees. Take a picnic, plan a camping trip to one of the nine campgrounds, join rangers for a campfire talk, or explore the many museums and wayside exhibits throughout the park.

Home to spectacular and unique volcanoes and wildlife including fish, flowers, and brown bears, Katmai National Park & Preserve features pristine waterways with abundant fish, remote wilderness, and a rugged coastline. This Alaskan park preserves over 9,000 years of human history and is almost exclusively accessed by plane or boat.

Home to spectacular and unique volcanoes and wildlife including fish, flowers, and brown bears, Katmai National Park & Preserve features pristine waterways with abundant fish, remote wilderness, and a rugged coastline. This Alaskan park preserves over 9,000 years of human history and is almost exclusively accessed by plane or boat.

America’s third national park, established in 1940, Kings Canyon National Park is jointly administered with nearby Sequoia National Park. The park is home to one of the world’s largest living trees – the General Grant Tree – and visitors can enjoy a range of recreational opportunities, from camping and hiking to horseback riding and caving.

Follow the tracks of nearly a half-million caribou that migrate through the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes twice a year along the Kobuk River. While there are no developed facilities in the park, over 1.7 million acres of remote backcountry provides plenty of room for outdoor adventures. In summer months, go boating, camping, hiking, wildlife watching, or fishing. Any winter trip to this remote Alaskan park requires advanced knowledge of cold weather survival.

See the spectacular scenery of mountains, glaciers, and volcanoes that stretch from the shores of Cook Inlet to the tundra-covered hills at Lake Clark National Park & Preserve. The park preserves the ancestral homelands of the Dena'ina people, an intact ecosystem at the headwaters of the largest sockeye salmon fishery in the world, and rich cultural wilderness. Visitors can enjoy a range of activities, from hiking and birdwatching to canoeing and climbing.

Known for its remarkable hydrothermal features, Lassen Volcanic National Park offers visitors a glimpse of plopping mud pots, bubbling pools, and roaring steam vents, as well as Lassen Peak – the largest plug dome volcano in the world. Spring and summer visits are perfect for touring the park’s mud pots and boiling pools (just keep your feet on the walkways!), and winter is great for snowshoeing through the park.

The world’s longest known cave system, with more than 400 miles explored, Mammoth Cave National Park is one of the oldest tour attractions in North America. Part of the Green River Valley and rolling hills of south-central Kentucky, this park is renowned for its cave tours. Visitors can also enjoy the beautiful wilderness area outside the caves, where you can go hiking, camping, fishing, kayaking, and more.

Located in southwestern Colorado, Mesa Verde National Park offers an unparalleled opportunity to see and experience a unique cultural and physical landscape. Including more than 4,000 known archeological sites dating back to A.D. 500, this park protects the cliff dwellings and mesa top sites of pit houses, pueblos, masonry towers, and farming structures of the Ancestral Pueblo people who lived here. Take a tour with a ranger to see the cliff dwellings up close.

One of the most visited national parks, Mount Rainier National Park is the most prominent peak in the Cascade Range. At 14,410 feet, Mount Rainier dominates the landscape of a large part of western Washington state. Established in 1899, this national park welcomes nearly two million visitors a year for hiking, climbing, backpacking and more.

Offering rugged cliffs, glistening beaches, biologically rich coral reefs, and tropical rainforests, National Park of American Samoa consists of 9,100 acres of land – across three separate islands – and ocean. This unique park is the only U.S. national park located in the southern hemisphere, and the park leases the land from seven villages to create a unique partnership of preservation and protection.

The New River is one of the oldest rivers in the Americas, and New River Gorge National Park & Preserve conserves over 70,000 acres of land along the river in West Virginia. Rock climbing, kayaking, and camping are popular activities, but there is an abundance of scenic and recreational opportunities in this park. Enjoy a nature program, take a guided historic walk, or take to the river itself for kayaking or canoeing adventures.

Just three hours from Seattle, North Cascades National Park’s rugged beauty is characterized by jagged peaks, deep forested valleys, cascading waterfalls, and over 300 glaciers. Visitors can explore a range of outdoor activities, scenic vistas, and educational opportunities – from a scenic drive and a picnic to miles of trails ready for hiking or biking.

Covering nearly one million acres, Olympic National Park provides three distinct ecosystems – glaciated mountains, rugged Pacific coastline, and lush temperate forests – and their distinct flora and fauna for nature-lovers to explore. Over 95% of the park is designated wilderness, and visitors can enjoy a range of activities, including camping, kayaking, fishing, climbing, boating, and more.

Petrified Forest National Park is a surprising land of scenic wonders and fascinating science. The park contains one of the world’s largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood, portions of the Painted Desert, historic structures, archeological sites, and displays of fossils. Drive or bike through the park, hit a maintained trail, take a hike, or enjoy a guided tour.

Pinnacles National Park preserves the spectacular remains of an ancient volcano. Renowned for a rich diversity of wildlife and variety of its spring wildflowers, this park features over 30 miles of hiking trails as well as birdwatching and camping opportunities. The Pinnacles’ rock formations are also popular for technical climbers looking for a challenge.

Some of the tallest and oldest trees on earth are in Redwood National and State Parks, managed jointly by NPS and California State Parks – some are as old as the Roman Empire! From viewing migrating whales to exploring historic World War II sites, there is a lot to see and do at Redwood National Park. There are four developed campgrounds and five visitor centers to help you get started.

Visit Rocky Mountain National Park to experience mountain climbing, hiking, camping, fishing, and breathtaking views of jagged peaks, glaciers, and high-mountain lakes. A great family vacation destination, this park has everything from easy nature hikes to daring rock scrambles up waterfalls and mountains. Wildflower lovers should plan a trip in June and July when meadows and hillsides are in full bloom.

Saguaro National Park protects our largest cacti species, the saguaro, and features campgrounds as well as hiking and backpacking trails for every level. Take a hike or a stroll through the park’s cactus garden with a ranger. Don’t miss the sunset in this park, best seen from the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail or Javelina Rocks pull out on the east side of the park, or Gates Pass on the west side.

America’s third national park, established in 1940, Kings Canyon National Park is jointly administered with nearby Sequoia National Park. The park is home to one of the world’s largest living trees – the General Grant Tree – and visitors can enjoy a range of recreational opportunities, from camping and hiking to horseback riding and caving.

Shenandoah National Park lies astride a beautiful section of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, just 75 from Washington D.C. The park’s scenic Skyline Drive takes you through the 105-mile-long park, providing more than 75 overlooks with spectacular vistas. 500 miles of trails within the park lead you to waterfalls, protected wilderness, and panoramic views in the scenic landscape.

To honor a presidency marked by leadership in conservation policy, Theodore Roosevelt National Park protects North Dakota’s beautiful badlands. A great place for hiking, camping, and sightseeing, the park’s landscape is home to thousands of years of legends, lore, and sacred places. Connect with the park’s rich cultural history through a ranger program or catch a glimpse of roaming bison.

Covering the majority of the island of St. John, Virgin Islands National Park features breathtaking beaches, tropical forests, and artifacts from the island’s history. Within its borders lie protected bays of crystal blue-green waters teeming with coral reef life, white sandy beaches, coconut palms, and tropical forests. Dive into 3,000 years of history and enjoy remarkable landscapes and wildlife in this tropical national park.

A mosaic of waterways that flow west and eventually as north as the Hudson Bay, Voyageurs National Park features aquatic ecosystems, forests, and wild landscapes. Named for the “voyageurs” – the French-Canadian canoe-men who traveled these waters from the Great Lakes to the interior of the U.S. and Canada – this park is water-based, so bring your own watercraft or to take a boat tour with a ranger!

Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin, White Sands National Park protects the world’s largest gypsum dune field. A piece of New Mexico’s unique geology, the dunes create a truly unique park experience. Visitors can hike a wide range of trails (from easy to extremely difficult), join a ranger-led program, or even sled down the face of a gypsum dune in a designated area.

Home to one of the world’s longest and most complex caves, South Dakota’s Wind Cave National Park also features a mixed-grass prairie and wildlife to be explored on the cave’s surface. This was the first cave designated as a national park, visitors can enjoy a guided tour through Wind Cave year-round (but bring an extra layer of clothing with you as the cave remains chilly). Cave tour reservations can be made in advance, so plan ahead when visiting this park!

The largest national park in the National Park System is Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve in Alaska. 13.2 million acres featuring glaciers, peaks, and breathtaking views provide all visitors something new to discover. Go hiking, mountaineering, or backpacking, take to the water and go boating, or just enjoy ranger programs and the glimpses of iconic park wildlife such as moose, mountain goats, and sheep.

America’s first national park, designated in 1872, Yellowstone National Park offers truly unique experiences like spectacular hiking trails, beautiful views, the chance to see Old Faithful, and geysers shooting water 100 feet in the air. Peppered with colorful hot springs, mudpots, and waterfalls, the park sits atop a dormant volcano and is home to more geysers and hot springs than anywhere else on earth.

Yosemite National Park boasts spectacular views, hiking trails, and family vacation opportunities. America’s first park land set aside and preserved for recreation and enjoyment, setting a precedent for all future American national parks, nearly 85% of the park is classified as wilderness. Don’t miss El Capitan, the world’s tallest granite monolith and one of the world’s top rock-climbing destinations, or Yosemite Falls - the largest waterfall in North America!

Utah’s first national park, Zion National Park offers visitors the opportunity for hiking, backpacking, climbing and more. The park’s highlights include its expansive canyon, averaging 2,000 feet deep. Visitors can hike along its floor in the 20-30-foot-wide area known as the Narrows. Also not to be missed are the park’s natural rock arches, including prominent Crawford and Kolob arches.