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13 National Parks You Have to See to Believe

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The United States is home to 58 national parks, each with its own unique beauty and landscape. From Alaska to Florida and Maine to California, you'll find thousands of acres of untouched and picture-perfect land scattered across the country. Swamps, mountains, prairies, beaches, waterfalls, rivers, rocks and canyons make up these wild and natural spots. But they're not all created equally. Here are 13 of the most majestic national parks that you'll have to see to believe:

Everglades National Park in Florida

Experience swampland and mangroves unlike any other in the country when you visit Everglades National Park in the Sunshine State. Just be on the lookout for alligators, crocodiles, snakes, frogs and other scaly creatures when you tour the park by airboat, canoe or even on foot. You may even spot a manatee or two in the water.

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Denali National Park in Alaska

Alaska's Denali National Park is the third-largest national park, and it's home to the country's tallest elevation, Mount McKinley. It's a popular spot for skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and other winter sports. Even if you just come to see the snow-covered mountains, you'll fall in love with the big open spaces. Keep an eye out for bears, caribou, elk and moose.

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina

More people visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year than any of the other 57 on the list. One trip there and you'll soon understand why. It's home to some of the most beautiful mountain views in the country, and you can see them on foot via the 800 miles of hiking trails or via car when you take the scenic highway that runs through the area.

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Badlands National Park in South Dakota

The word "rugged" is often used to describe Badlands National Park in South Dakota, and it's probably the most fitting thing to say about this place that's made up of prairie, buttes and pinnacle formations. Those interested in archaeology often visit the park to look for fossils and other signs of its prehistoric past. If you prefer modern wildlife, you'll see plenty of that too, including one of the most endangered species in the world, the black-footed ferret.

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Zion National Park in Utah

It's the vertical structures, like canyons, rock formations and cliffs that attract millions to Zion National Park each year. You can explore caves, wade through brooks and streams and spot wildlife, like bats, elk, wild cats and bighorn sheep. Because of its unique scenery, it's one of the top spots for hikers in the nation.

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Olympic National Park in Washington

Olympic National Park in Washington is almost like visiting four parks in one. Start along the edges at the Pacific coastline, where you can explore the beaches and rock formations and catch a glimpse of marine life. From there, you may choose to explore the temperate rainforest and alpine forest before checking out the wildflower meadows. Even though it's one of the most-visited national parks, Olympic has no roads within its borders.

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Glacier National Park in Montana

The first thing you'll notice about Glacier National Park in Montana is that its million acres look like something from a movie. Explore the meadows, mountains, plains and forests via 700 miles of hiking trails. The park is also known for its lakes, which were formed when glaciers melted. No matter which trails you hike, keep an eye out for wildlife, like bears, eagles and wolves.

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Yosemite National Park in California

Yosemite National Park takes up almost 1,200 square miles, though most people come to view the seven-mile Yosemite Valley. Other attractions are the park's giant sequoia trees and cascading waterfalls. Find peace and quiet at one of the many campsites here, and keep your camera ready for wildlife sightings, like black bears, bighorn sheep, bats, mountain lions and deer.

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Crater Lake National Park in Oregon

Crater Lake isn't just the deepest lake in the country — it's also considered to be the cleanest water source in the world. Part of what was once a volcano that eventually collapsed in on itself, you can gaze past the lake's stunning blue waters and spot volcanic features like Wizard Island. Beyond the lake, the park is made up of forests that contain several species of protected pine trees. These forests are also home to creatures like bears, mountain lions and elk.

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Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho

At over 2.2 million acres, Yellowstone National Park is one of the largest parks in the United States. It was also the first national park on record. Visitors come to see geysers, lakes and forests, but it's a hot spot for anyone looking to see wildlife in its natural habitat. On any given day, you may see wolves, bears, bison or moose.

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1Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming

If you've ever wanted to see where the buffalo roam, Grand Teton National Park is the place to do it. You may also spot a few different species of bears among the mountains and prairies here. Combine that with 200 miles of trails, prehistoric plants and rock formations that have been here for billions of years, and you'll definitely want to add Grand Teton to your bucket list.

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1Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona

You can't have a list of unbelievable national parks without listing the Grand Canyon. Named one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the canyon is the second-most visited park in the United States, and President Theodore Roosevelt once deemed it the one place every American should visit. The canyon is up to a mile deep in some spots — a measurement that's difficult to even imagine.

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1Acadia National Park in Maine

Located along the coast of Maine, Acadia National Park offers visitors a blend of peaks that are 1,000 feet high and gorgeous coastline. As you explore the over 158 miles of hiking trails, you'll breathe in some of the freshest and cleanest air in the country and experience true peace and quiet. Acadia is especially popular during the fall when the foliates in its forests turn beautiful shades of red, orange and gold.

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