The Best National Parks to Enjoy this Summer: from Acadia to Zion
December 29, 20162 min read
With 59 pristine, protected landscapes to enjoy, there’s no better way to spend an all-American summer than in the National Parks. Don’t forget to pack some H2O and your trusty recreational oxygen canister to get the most out of these stunning destinations.
Yellowstone National Park – The reigning king of National Parkdom is hands-down Yellowstone. This 3,500-square-mile protected landscape is home to America’s most beautiful natural monuments, including Old Faithful Geyser and Silver Cord Cascade. Wanderers may get views of elk, bison, grizzly bears and wolves.
Denali National Park – With more than six million acres of wild and untamed wilderness to explore, Alaska’s Denali is a must-see for nature lovers. It’s the home of the 20,000-foot Mount McKinley, the highest mountain peak in North America, and offers great wildlife viewing of grizzly bears, caribou and moose.
Yosemite National Park – Boasting towering granite cliffs and waterfalls plus plenty of lush forest to explore, this California National Park is great for enjoying breathtaking views. It’s home to tall sequoia groves, the world-famous El Capitan vertical rock formation and Yosemite Falls, which is North America’s tallest waterfall.
Redwood National Park – Another California favorite, Redwood National Park is a destination for visitors who want to get up-close and personal with the towering Redwoods. This foggy 112,000-acre park is home to the tallest trees in the world, including the 379-foot tall Hyperion tree.
Zion National Park – If you want to get an unspoiled view of the red and gold West, Zion is for you. It meets at the junction of the Mojave Desert, the Colorado Plateau and the Great Basin, offering plenty of sandstone canyons, tall rock towers and high-rise mesas for breathtaking views.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park – As home to the world-famous Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, this 323,000-acre Hawaiian National Park is the best place to get an unencumbered view of one of the world’s most active volcanoes.
Acadia National Park – One of the East Coast’s most popular National Parks, Acadia is home to the tallest mountain on the Atlantic Coast – Cadillac Mountain. Its 47,000 acres are also rich with ocean shoreline trails and wooded forests to explore.
