Are national parks in the USA with the most superlatives worth the visit?
A national park is not a playground. It’s a sanctuary for nature and for humans who will accept nature on nature’s own terms.
Michael Frome, a guardian of natural parks, once said and what better way to start this article? According to the National Park Foundation, there are 423 national parks in the US, although 63 are congressionally designated protected areas.
Hiking, mountaineering, sighing at the stunning views, witnessing the world’s highest temperatures, tallest trees, and deepest lakes, what is there more to ask for?
Wrangell-St. Elias — The largest national park in the US
Location: Southcentral Alaska — Chugach Census, Copper River Census, Southeast Fairbanks Census Areas, Yakutat City, and Borough
Size: 13,175,799 acres
How long does it take to tour: At least 3–4 days
Best time to visit: For Aurora Borealis watching season, head out to this park any day from September to April
Entrance fees: There are no fees for this park
Our first stop is Alaska, home to one of the most impressive national parks the US has to offer. Named by the mountain ranges it is hugged by Wrangell-St. Elias is considered the largest national park in the US.
And how big is it, actually? Well, it’s larger than Switzerland, by a whopping 25%, and not one but six Yellowstones can fit in it. If you have friends that like to walk anywhere because everything is close, maybe reconsider bringing them.
If you don’t have at least five days at your disposal for exploration, don’t even bother going, trust us. Wrangell-St. Elias is also known as North America’s glacier hotspot, alongside its many volcanoes. Even though those sights are undoubtedly prettier during winter, it becomes almost completely isolated in those months.
The most visited national park in the USA — Great Smoky Mountains
Location: The southeastern part of the United States; On the Swain and Haywood counties in North Carolina, and Sevier, Blount, and Cocke counties in Tennessee, where it has entrances
Size: 522,427 acres
How long does it take to tour: At least 4 days for sightseeing, with 2 days set aside for activities
Best time to visit: Visitors rush to these areas during summer, especially in June and July, and in early fall. For more of a sense of privacy, go during winter.
Entrance fees: There is no entry fee
Following the border of Tennesse and North Carolina, the Great Smoky Mountains enrich around 522 acres of land and are one of the most beloved tourist spots for Americans and foreign tourists alike.
Is it even surprising that over 14 million people visited this park in 2021 alone? And we get it. From stunning nature to diverse fauna, these mountains have managed to preserve the beauty of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, which makes it perfect for recreational hikers.
Even Disney used it as a filming ground in the 50s! What makes this national park so great is also the rich wildlife, which includes 200 species of birds, 39 different types of reptiles, and 50 species of fish, to name a few — a true heaven for animal lovers.
Crater lake National Park — Home of the deepest lake in the USA
Location: Southern Oregon, Klamath County; Highway 62 can be followed to most entrances to the park, as well as Highway 138 to the North Entrance
Size: 183,224 acres
How long does it take to tour: A full day; Take at least 2 hours for a hike and enjoy a 30-minute boat ride
Best time to visit: The biggest crowds gather in July, August, and September, although May is the most peaceful
Entrance fees: Fees depend on the season and the vehicle and go from $15 to $200. Learn more about them — Crater lake National Park entrance fees
If you’ve ever wanted to walk into your Pinterest feed, this is the place to be. We have to thank massive volcanic events that took place on this land over 7,700 years ago for the beauty that is the fifth-oldest national park in the USA and only in this state.
Due to its climate, the snow season can last from November all the way to June, so you know where to go if you’re not a summer person. You may even get lucky and see the Mazama newt. Not a Harry Potter world creature, but a type of rough-skinned newt that can only be found in this part of the world.
But, the park’s most impressive feature has to be the Crater Lake itself — reaching the depths of 1,943 feet, it is considered the deepest lake in all of the USA! The lake’s water levels are maintained by the melting snow plus the rain, and it has a fascinating blue color. Even though it is almost freezing, there are designated areas for swimming. We say go for it!
Redwood National Park — A visit to the tallest trees in the world
Location: Northernmost coastal California, Humboldt and Del Norte County; Easiest way to reach it is Highway 101 on Crescent City and Orick corridor
Size: 131,983 acres
How long does it take to tour: Full day for a slow-paced experience, or at least 6 hours
Best time to visit: The best hiking months are May-September, but if you’re a pluviophile, head there during winter
Entrance fees: Park is free to visit, although California state parks have day-use fees covered by California state park passes
Located in California, this is actually a complex consisting of a national park and three state parks. In 1980 it was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO due to its rich ecosystem and cultural significance.
It is widely known for the tree giants it guards — California redwood or more commonly referred to as sequoias. But, did you know these are the tallest trees in the world? And boy, are they impressive, reaching over 370 feet in height. Yes, they are taller than Lady Liberty herself.
Even though more than five scenic roads take you to beaches, meadows, and narrow roads, we think it’s best to explore this one on foot or go horseback riding. This is the perfect time to go tree-hugging, even though you won’t be able to wrap your hands around them. Also, don’t forget to go all the way to the coast to try and spot whales, seals, and colorful flowers unique to this area of America.
After Redwood, go exploring other heritage sites with the help of our blog — Top 20 World Heritage Sites.
Death Valley National Park — Ready to face the Earth’s highest temperatures?
Location: California-Nevada border, including sections of Panamint, Eureka, and most of Saline Valley; It has five official entrances
Size: 3,373,063 acres
How long does it take to tour: 2 full days to see all the best spots
Best time to visit: avoid.summer.at.all.costs. / Busiest periods are November-March
Entrance fees: Depending on the vehicle and season, they go from $15 to $30. See them all here — Death Valley National Park entrance fees
If you’ve always wanted to see tumbleweed and live out your best western fantasies, Death Valley is the place to go. Even though it sounds like Hell on Earth, we still love it.
This is due to excruciatingly high temperatures that haunt these areas. It’s no surprise that Death Valley is the place with the highest registered air temperature on Earth. Immense 134F (56.7c) was breaking the thermometers way back in 1913.
If you decide to visit it today, it is best to go later in the day. From May to September, even the lowest temperatures don’t go under 75F, so good luck. The park is gorgeous nonetheless.
Numerous sand dunes transport you to Arrakis, there’s an area called The Racetrack, which you can explore in a vehicle, and colorful hard-packed ridges called Zabriskie Point at the end of the 7.8-mile hiking trail.
Well, you’ve learned how many national parks are in the US, where to find some of them, and what to expect. Even if you’re not an outdoorsy person, you will love them, we are sure of it. Are you already off on your first adventure? Cause we sure are!
Originally published at https://bookaweb.com.
