8 American National Parks That Keep Showing Up in Your Favorite Films

Ever watched a movie and thought, “Wow, that place looks amazing!”? Chances are, you’ve seen some of America’s stunning national parks on the big screen without even realizing it. From drone shot intros to B-roll backdrops, these parks have become Hollywood’s go-to locations for filming nature scenes.

Even on my road trips, sometimes I would feel like I was getting déjà vu. It wasn’t until I started researching for this article that I realized just how many movies have been filmed in these national parks. So, for your movie trivia, here are the top 10 national parks that keep making cameo appearances in your favorite films. You might recognize a few of them from your own favorite flicks!

1. Yosemite National Park, California

Notable Films: Free Solo (2018), The Last of the Mohicans (1920), Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989), Maverick (1994)

Yosemite National Park is a dazzling expanse in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. Spanning over 1,100 square miles, its natural landmarks include the strange-shaped granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome and the plunging waters of Yosemite Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in the world.

Filmmakers gravitate towards Yosemite for its unparalleled beauty and iconic landscapes. The park’s dramatic cliffs, serene meadows, and roaring waterfalls provide a dynamic and visual grandeur to films. Notable scenes shot here include the ordeal of scaling El Capitan in Free Solo and Captain Kirk’s rock climb in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.

 📖 Read Also: The Top 8 Hardest Hikes in US National Parks and Why They’re Worth It

2. Death Valley National Park, California/Nevada

Notable Films: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), Dante’s Peak (1997), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

Straddling the California-Nevada border, Death Valley covers over 3.3 million acres. It holds the title of the hottest and driest national park in the United States and is home to the country’s lowest point, Badwater Basin. Despite the harsh conditions, Death Valley’s striking sand dunes, salt flats, and colorful mountains and badlands are a visual marvel.

With a name like Death Valley, you might not expect this park to be a popular filming location. However, its distinctive and alien terrain can convincingly stand in for otherworldly planets and post-apocalyptic settings.

Legendary scenes have been shot here. Some of the most iconic scenes filmed here include Luke Skywalker’s home planet of Tatooine in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope and the final showdown between Indiana Jones and his father in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

 📖 Read Also: Perfect One Day in Death Valley Itinerary Before Peak Heat Hits

3. Arches National Park, Utah

Notable Films: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), Thelma & Louise (1991), 127 Hours (2010), The Lone Ranger (2013), Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)

Located in eastern Utah, Arches National Park has the largest collection of sandstone arches, over 2,000 of them. The Delicate Arch may be the most iconic, but the massive Landscape Arch is the longest natural arch in North America. This park’s 76,518 acres are filled with a bunch of red rock formations, balanced rocks, and picturesque sunsets that paint the sky with fiery hues.

One of the most famous scenes shot here is when Indiana Jones rides horseback through a towering stone archway in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. This park has also been featured in other iconic films such as Thelma & Louise, where the characters drive off a cliff into the canyons below, and 127 Hours, which follows the true story of a hiker trapped by a boulder in one of Arches’ remote canyons.

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

4. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Notable Films: The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), Forrest Gump (1994), National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983), Into the Wild (2007), Transformers (2007), Thelma & Louise (1991)

Stretching over 1.2 million acres, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Carved by the Colorado River, this gigantic chasm is about 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and attains a depth of over a mile. You can see the colorful rock layers that date back millions of years, from places like Mather Point or hiking down the Bright Angel Trail.

Its sheer size and layers of colorful rock formations make it a popular filming location for both large-scale blockbusters and intimate dramas.

Some notable films shot here include the memorable moment in Forrest Gump when Forrest decides to stop running. The park has also appeared in comedies like “National Lampoon’s Vacation” and more serious films like “Into the Wild,” based on the true story of a man living off the land in the wilderness.

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

5. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Notable Films: Shane (1953), Rocky IV (1985), Any Which Way You Can (1980)

Located just south of Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park is famous for its dramatic mountain peaks, pristine lakes, and abundant wildlife. The park spans over 310,000 acres and is named after Grand Teton, the tallest mountain in the Teton Range, which towers at an impressive 13,775 feet. Outdoor enthusiasts flock here to see herds of bison, moose, and bald eagles while kayaking or hiking around glacial lakes.

The rugged, snow-capped peaks and serene valleys make Grand Teton an ideal setting for Westerns and modern dramas. Recognizable scenes filmed in Grand Teton include Western classics like Shane and Any Which Way You Can. In Rocky IV, the park’s landscapes serve as a stand-in for Siberia, highlighting Rocky’s intense training montages.

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

6. North Cascades National Park, Washington

Notable Films: The Postman (1997), The Ring (2002), Captain Fantastic (2016), The Deer Hunter (1978), WarGames (1983), Snow Falling on Cedars (1999)

Tucked away in the mountains of Washington state, North Cascades National Park is a hidden gem national park with over 300 glaciers and countless waterfalls. With jagged peaks, wild forests, and turquoise blue lakes, this park is a haven for wild experiences.

While not as well-known for its filming locations compared to other national parks on this list, North Cascades has still been featured in some notable films such as The Deer Hunter and WarGames. Its gorgeous scenery also served as a backdrop for key scenes in Snow Falling on Cedars and The Postman. And horror fans might recognize parts of the park from the horror film The Ring.

 📖 Read Also: The Best Way To Spend One Day In North Cascades

7. Denali National Park, Alaska

Notable Films: Into the Wild (2007), The Edge (1997), Grizzly Man (2005), The Fourth Kind (2009)

Covering over 6 million acres, Denali National Park is one of the most remote and wild national parks on this list. This vast wilderness is dominated by the towering peak of Denali, also known as Mount McKinley, which stands at 20,310 feet tall and is the highest mountain in North America. The park is home to diverse wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, and caribou.

The park’s untouched and rugged wilderness can convincingly portray terrestrial and extraterrestrial settings or showcase stories of adventure or survival. The park has been featured in several notable films, with the most well-known being Into the Wild, which tells the true story of Christopher McCandless’s journey into the wilderness. It’s on my bucket list to see the bus one day (which has since been removed to another location).

8. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Notable Films: Dumb and Dumber (1994), The Shining (1980) (exterior shots for the Overlook Hotel), Continental Divide (1981), Catch and Release (2006)

Rocky Mountain National Park features over 415 square miles of the northern Colorado mountains. The park is home to the renowned Trail Ridge Road, which crests at over 12,000 feet and has over 300 miles of hiking trails and alpine lakes.

The Overlook Hotel from Stanley Kubrick’s horror classic The Shining was actually filmed at the Timberline Lodge in Oregon, but exterior shots were taken in Rocky Mountain National Park. The setting is actually based on the Stanley Hotel, located just outside the park in Estes Park. And who can forget the famous “So you’re saying there’s a chance?” line from Dumb and Dumber, filmed on the park’s scenic roadways.

 📖 Read Also: The Unbeatable Way to Spend One Day in Rocky Mountain for First-timers

Final Thoughts: Movies Filmed in National Parks

From Westerns to horror films, these national parks have provided the perfect backdrop for countless iconic scenes and continue to attract filmmakers from all over the world. So next time you visit one of these beautiful national parks, keep an eye out—you might recognize a landscape from a famous film.

Before you Close That Tab…Looking for More Inspiration?

• The Top 8 Hardest Hikes in US National Parks and Why They’re Worth It
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• 9 Overrated Tourist Traps in the US to Steer Clear of During Your Next Road Trip

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