Brutally Honest Ranking of the 15 Most Scenic National Parks in America

Everyone has a favorite, but the most scenic national parks in America will leave you speechless, and this brutally honest ranking shows you why.

After visiting 30 national parks during my van life stretch, some absolutely lived up to the hype, others genuinely left me saying, that’s it? For the best of the best, ranking them by scenery is nearly impossible and incredibly subjective. Comparing volcanic coastlines to alpine lakes to red rock deserts is like judging oceans and mountains side by side.

That said, some parks stand out for their scale, drama, or just how often I pulled over to take another photo. This brutally honest list isn’t scientific or in any particular order, but they’re the national parks that rose to the top after thousands of miles, dozens of hikes, and many early mornings.

So, if you’re chasing the most scenic national parks in the country, these 15 genuinely made me stop and go, wow, more than once.

1. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming / Montana

• Highlights: Volcanic hotbed with geysers, canyons, and massive wildlife zones

Driving from Jackson Hole, I saw a herd of bison here and almost cried. Not out of fear, but because of the aww I felt seeing the calves prance around, causing traffic jams on the road.

Yellowstone sits atop a supervolcano, and the ground randomly hisses and spits with an ever-changing landscape. Old Faithful alone can shoot 8,400 gallons of water in the air like clockwork. The Biscuit Basin exploded recently. 

With 2.2 million acres, it’s bigger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined, and every corner has something weird or dramatic going on. Grand Prismatic Spring is a rainbow puddle that looks fake even when standing right in front of it. Closest to the Gardiner and Bozeman entrance, Lamar Valley is the best place for spotting wolves at dawn.

Out of all the parks, this one is the one I spent the most time in. I felt the need to drive the full figure 8 and see every stop on the map, and I still want to go back and bring my mom, too.

Read Also: Perfect One Day in Yellowstone Itinerary for First-Timers

2. Glacier National Park, Montana

• Highlights: Alpine meadows, icy lakes, and over two dozen glaciers still hanging on

Going-to-the-Sun Road is a dramatic-sounding name until you’re on it and realize it’s accurate. Glacier National Park is really impressive, and it makes me very excited for when I finally make it out to Banff.

The park has 734 miles of trails to waterfalls and wide mountain expanses. The hike to Grinnell Glacier goes to a lake that is a shade of teal I’ve never seen in nature, and I couldn’t stop photographing Avalanche Lake. There are still 25 glaciers left to see, even though there used to be over 100. Logan Pass is where you want to start early, and Many Glacier is the most rewarding section overall.

Read Also: 9 Scenic Drives through US National Parks Everyone Raves About

3. Zion National Park, Utah

• Highlights: Red rock canyon system with steep cliffs, slot canyons, and world-class hikes

Zion is where I realized hiking can actually be terrifying. Angels Landing was surprisingly not as death-scary as I thought. Still, it ended up being one of the best hikes I’ve done in the world, and I’ve hiked Kilimanjaro. However, it is one of the most dangerous hikes, and there’s no shame in turning around.

The Narrows involves hiking in a river with canyon walls towering hundreds of feet overhead. When I went to Zion in January, I hiked The Narrows in a dry suit, which turned out to be way more fun than expected. 

Don’t miss Observation Point for the best overhead view of the canyon, while the Emerald Pools, Court of the Patriarchs, and off-road jeeping across Checkerboard Mesa add variety. 

Read Also: One Day in Zion National Park Itinerary for Adventurers

4. Yosemite National Park, California

• Highlights: Granite cliffs, waterfalls, and giant sequoias in the Sierra Nevada

Yosemite is undeniably dramatic but its season is too short and always under threat of wildfires, snow, or way too many people. The valley views are iconic but it’s not always easy to catch it at its best, but when you do, it’s unforgettable.

That moment when Tunnel View opens up, and the valley hits you is worth the hype. El Capitan and Half Dome look photoshopped in real life. Yosemite Falls is 2,425 feet tall; you’ll hear it before you see it. In February, you might catch the sun setting just right on Horsetail Fall to get the Firefall illusion. Mariposa Grove has giant sequoias that genuinely make you feel tiny.

Read Also: Perfect One Day in Yosemite for First-Timers

5. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

• Highlights: A mile-deep geological maze carved by the Colorado River

You don’t get the scale of the Grand Canyon until you’re standing on the edge, and your brain refuses to process it. Nothing compares to that first view. It’s 277 miles long and has layers that go back 2 billion years.

A ranger even let me crash in his cabin so I could stargaze without leaving the park and wake up for sunrise right in his backyard. Hiking down to Havasupai, doing the full Rim-to-Rim hike, and rafting the Colorado River are still on my bucket list. 

Mather Point and Desert View Watchtower give unbeatable views if you don’t want to hike. The Bright Angel Trail and South Kaibab Trail are the two classic hiking routes.

Read Also: 7 Heart-Stopping Canyons in the US, And Why They Beat the Grand Canyon

6. North Cascades National Park, Washington

• Highlights: Rugged wilderness with alpine lakes and the most glaciers in the lower 48

North Cascades gets fewer visitors in a year than Yellowstone gets in a week, which is insane, considering it has over 300 glaciers. The lakes are turquoise, the peaks are jagged, and the hiking feels more like mountaineering.

The lake colors are absurd. Diablo Lake on a sunny day is hands down the most impressive color I’ve ever seen. I keep saying I’ll come back for a self-supported kayak trip into the backcountry, and I actually mean it. 

Maple Pass Loop, Cascade Pass, and the area around Ross Lake are solid adventure zones. There’s not much infrastructure, and it’s quite remote, which makes this one of the least visited national parks in the country.

Read Also: 20 Things to Do in the Pacific Northwest That Locals Don’t Want You to Ruin

7. Canyonlands National Park, Utah

• Highlights: Massive desert with canyons, mesas, and endless space

Canyonlands is split into sections: Island in the Sky, The Needles, and The Maze. I spent two days here and barely scratched the surface. My favorite was the Island in the Sky section for the classic Mesa Arch sunrise, but I want to return and lose myself in The Maze next time.

White Rim Road is a beast of an off-road drive. In The Needles, the Chesler Park Loop was the most Martian hike I’ve done. Grand View Point and Green River Overlook give you that iconic alien landscape shot.

Read Also: Perfect One Day in Canyonlands Itinerary for First-Timers

8. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

• Highlights: Jagged mountain range rising straight from the valley floor

The Tetons are 40 miles of mountain skyline that look straight-up fake, especially when they reflect off Jenny Lake. On my way into Yellowstone, I kayaked across Jenny Lake in my own kayak to reach the trailhead for Inspiration Point. I felt wildly accomplished before I even started hiking. 

I camped near the Ansel Adams sunrise spot and waited there twice. I may not have gotten the best photo, but that’s on me, not the view. Other incredible photo spots include Oxbow Bend, Schwabacher Landing, and Mormon Row Historic District.

The wildlife encounters are some of the best I’ve seen, with bison herds in front of a mountain backdrop and elk by the Snake River.

Read Also: Perfect One Day in Grand Teton Itinerary for First-Timers

9. Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

• Highlights: Tallest sand dunes in North America surrounded by mountains

Sandboarding here is as ridiculous as it sounds, and you will wipe out at least once. These dunes rise up to 750 feet tall, all backed by snowcapped mountains. 

Medano Creek runs like a seasonal beach, and families bring inflatable tubes. It’s the only place you can camp in sand, snow, and rain within a single night. Hike to the top of High Dune for panoramic views. Zapata Falls is nearby and a cool add-on. If you have a 4WD vehicle, the Medano Pass Primitive Road is a wild ride.

Read Also: Perfect One Day in Great Sand Dunes National Park Itinerary

10. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

• Highlights: High-altitude park with tundra, lakes, and alpine trails

I lost my breath here in more ways than one. Trail Ridge Road climbs to 12,183 feet, and I’m not convinced my van ever recovered. Walking on the alpine tundra feels like walking on another planet, and I saw a herd of elk just standing in the road, grazing without care.

Bear Lake is the crowd favorite, but I like Sky Pond better. The Emerald Lake Trail and Chasm Lake are iconic; just do it early to beat the crowds.

Read Also: Here’s The Best Way to Spend One Day in Rocky Mountain This Season

11. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

• Highlights: Distinctive rock spires called hoodoos clustered in natural amphitheaters

Bryce looks like someone dropped a coral reef in the middle of beautiful desert of Utah. It’s weird, colorful, and unlike anything else. The best time to hike is sunrise when the hoodoos light up like neon and the trails are empty enough to hear your own boots. 

The Queen’s Garden to Navajo Loop felt like walking through a giant’s rock collection. Inspiration Point, Sunrise Point, and Bryce Point are musts. The Fairyland Loop is underrated and fantastic.

Even though it’s not a huge park, it’s one of the most photogenically surreal places.

Read Also: Perfect One Day in Bryce Canyon Itinerary For First-Timers

12. Arches National Park, Utah

• Highlights: Red rock formations with over 2,000 documented natural arches

Arches is the place where I officially fell in love with red rock. Delicate Arch gets all the fame, and it deserves it, but the Windows section at sunset was incredible. From the North and South Window Arches, you can perfectly frame the Turret Arch through the opening.

Double Arch is an underrated favorite. Don’t miss the Fiery Furnace; just get a permit first. The Devil’s Garden Loop hits several arches in one go and is one of the best hikes in the park.

Read Also: Perfect One Day in Arches National Park Itinerary for First-Timers

13. Death Valley National Park, California / Nevada

• Highlights: Harsh desert landscape with extremes in heat, elevation, and terrain

Scorching hot Death Valley reached over 100 degrees when I was there in October, so I would only return between November and March thereafter. Zabriskie Point at sunset might be my favorite viewpoint in any park, but the Mesquite Sand Dunes are also a perfect spot for a Golden Hour photo shoot.

Badwater Basin sits 282 feet below sea level, which makes it the lowest point in North America. Artist’s Drive, Golden Canyon to Red Cathedral, and Dante’s View are all wild in their own way.

I bring everyone I know here because Highway 395 has some of the coolest desert stuff in the country, and this is right en route.

Read Also: First-Timers Can’t Miss These 12 Photogenic Things to Do in Death Valley

14. Joshua Tree National Park, California

• Highlights: Desert park known for its namesake trees, giant boulders, and night skies

The trees at Joshua Tree look like something from Dr. Seuss, and the landscapes are featured in many music videos. The boulder piles remind me of Alabama Hills, my favorite place in California. Hidden Valley is a great intro loop, and Skull Rock is weird enough to stop for a selfie.

At night, the sky is so clear that even amateurs can take shots of the Milky Way.

Read Also: 7 US National Parks with Jaw-Dropping Night Skies Perfect for This Summer

15. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

• Highlights: Deep volcanic lake formed by a collapsed volcano, famous for its intense blue color

Crater Lake is almost aggressively blue. At 1,943 feet deep, it’s the deepest lake in the U.S. and looks like someone turned up the saturation. The first time I saw that color, I actually gasped. There’s literally one road that loops around it, yet I spent a full day pulling over every ten minutes to stare. The water is so clean that you can see down over 100 feet in places. 

The hike up Watchman Peak is short, but the views are unbeatable. If you’re here in the summer, the boat ride to Wizard Island will be running.

Read Also: 11 Unbelievably Beautiful Lakes in the US That Feel Like Paradise

Cat Xu

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Catherine, a seasoned travel writer, has lived in 4 different states and explored 36 states and 28 national parks. After spending two years embracing van life, she's now dedicated to sharing her vast knowledge of day trips across America. Catherine's other works has been referenced in major publications like MSN, Self, and TripSavvy.

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