If you've never made a bucket list of U.S. National Parks to explore, then the birthday of the National Parks is the perfect time to start one. The birthday of the National Park Service (NPS) is August 25, 1916. This date celebrates President Woodrow Wilson’s establishment of NPS and its role in managing and promoting the country’s national parks and monuments. Since its founding, the NPS has grown to include 431 units or parks, covering over 85 million acres in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.
Each year, on August 26, organizations and parks across the country come together to celebrate America's treasures, highlighting the rich history and culture of these landscapes. In honor of this, we're sharing some of our favorite National Parks that are worth exploring and celebrating. While it's never easy to choose, here are 10 U.S. National Parks that we feel a special connection to—and that you should definitely add to your bucket list!
Big Bend National Park
The Big Bend region of Texas is untouched, under-touristed, and just a little funky - just how we like it! At first glance, this desert region may seem lifeless, but it is full of hardy vegetation and many desert creatures. The Big Bend Region is a world set apart. As folks in the Big Bend region say, "West Texas is the Best Texas!"
Bryce Canyon National Park
We don't usually have to go into too much detail for you to recall which park holds the famed name of Bryce Canyon. The breathtaking views of hoodoos and pinnacles of weathered rock are what keep Bryce Canyon National Park one of the most sought-after parks in Utah. Our favorite trails to hit up at this park are Peekaboo Loop and the Queen's Garden & Navajo Loop combination.
Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park in Montana is truly one of the crown jewels of the National Park System. While our favorite experience is staying overnight in the only two remaining historically registered National Park Chalets, Sperry and Granite Peak, the abundant wildlife and flora paired with beautiful stargazing make this park perfect for backcountry adventures.
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park encompasses most of the Grand Canyon, highlighting its layered bands of red rock that reveal millions of years of geological history. The Grand Canyon alone is one of the top bucket list items within the U.S., so we never pass up on an opportunity to hike where we can pass through every ecosystem to be found between Canada and Mexico.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park sprawls its beauty across the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. The park is treasured for its ancient mountains, biodiversity, rushing waterfalls, and over 900 miles of excellent hiking trails. When traveling here, we make sure to hike to some of the park's most popular spots, like Clingmans Dome and Laurel Falls, and we love rafting a section of the Pigeon River.
Redwood National and State Parks
This park, located along the northern coast of California, offers serene beauty like no other. The forest is home to the largest contiguous old-growth redwood, some of which grow over 300 feet tall and live to be 2,000 years old! Beyond forest bathing among redwoods, this park also offers fern-filled canyons, starfish-studded tidepools, mighty rivers and streams, and miles of beachcombing. We love to bask in the peace when traveling here.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park, nestled in northern Colorado, is a breathtaking haven of rugged terrain and alpine splendor. This expansive park boasts awe-inspiring landscapes, from serene meadows and lush forests to glacial lakes and towering peaks. With over 350 miles of trails, it’s a paradise for nature enthusiasts and thrill-seekers. Our favorite time to visit is late August or early September when the weather is ideal and the high-altitude snow has mostly melted. Traveling with us to Rocky Mountain National Park means exploring the park’s most scenic trails.
Saguaro National Park
Nestled in southern Arizona, Saguaro National Park is named for the large saguaro cactus, native to its desert environment. Beautifully sandwiching the city of Tucson, the western side offers Signal Hill Trail, which leads to petroglyphs of the ancient Hohokam people, while the eastern side holds Cactus Forest Drive, a loop road with striking views of the desert landscape.
Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park straddles the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which run north and south for over 100 miles. The park embraces rolling hills, quiet hollows, abrupt hillsides, and verdant forests and contains over 450 miles of hiking trails. The Appalachian Trail is the best-known of these, and this section of the trail is absolutely gorgeous in all seasons. This National Park has been so popular with AGC that we offer several hiking trips yearly to Shenandoah.
Zion National Park
Another Utah favorite of ours is Zion National Park, distinguished by its steep red cliffs. With forest trails and rivers that flow to Emerald Pools, this cherished park holds more of Utah's most popular sites. From wading up the Narrows to conquering heights at Scout Lookout and Angel's Landing, the exploration truly sees no end in this gem of a National Park.
Ready to start crossing off that bucket list? Join AGC on one or a few of our famous National Park adventures!
While we'd be overjoyed to have you explore the National Parks with AGC, you don't have to wait on us to start your bucket list journey! Bookmark these six tips to help you make the most of your next National Park visit.
Already crossed these National Parks off your bucket list and looking to visit more? Consider visiting some of our favorite National Parks for sustainable travel!
