6 UNESCO-Listed National Parks You Have To See In The USA
With an impressive 23 natural wonders and historic sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list and more world natural heritage sites than any other country, you’ll need more than one trip in the United States to work through UNESCO’s stateside treasures. Thankfully, TripAdvisor has all the top destinations covered. And to help you choose where to go, we’ve narrowed it down to six of North America’s most awe-inspiring national parks, each selected by UNESCO as an “area of universal value.” Whether you want to hike into the wilderness, walk in the footsteps of America’s ancestors, or just fill up your Instagram feed with travel eye candy; here are our top picks.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
With its mile-high cliffs and cascades of red rock punctuated by the blue swirl of the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon features the kind of landscape that demands your full attention. This natural wonder has been photographed, filmed, and painted from every imaginable angle, but there’s still no comparison with a first-hand viewing. While traveler favorites include the Grand Canyon Skywalk, white water rafting along the Colorado River, and swooping over the layer-cake rocks and craggy peaks on a helicopter tour, locals escape the crowds to hike the South Kaibab and Bright Angel trails, or wake early to watch the sunrise from the less-visited North Rim.
Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
An archaeological wonderland built by the ancestral Pueblo people and home to over 5,000 ancient sites, Mesa Verde National Park offers a journey through the history of the American Southwest. Explore the fascinating ruins, which date from AD 600 to 1300, and include the remarkably preserved Spruce Tree House, the Balcony House, and the Cliff Palace. Learn more about Pueblo life and culture as you peek into long-abandoned farmhouses and walk beneath dramatic overhanging cliffs.
Yosemite National Park, California
Harboring more than 750,000 acres (303,000 hectares) of gravity-defying granite cliffs, ancient woodlands, glacial valleys, and glittering lakes, Yosemite National Park should be on the bucket list of every hiker and climber. Part of the magic is escaping the beaten path, but don’t miss out on the top attractions—visiting the 2,424-foot (738-meter) Yosemite Falls (the tallest in the States), tackling the Half Dome cable climb, and taking in views of El Capitan, Mirror Lake, and Glacier Point are popular for good reason. The best time for hiking and climbing is during the summer, but off-season visitors can benefit from fewer crowds or take part in winter activities such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park welcomes over 3 million annual visitors, but with over 1,442 square miles (3,700 square kilometers) to discover, there’s still plenty of scope for finding your own path. Stretching along the Olympic Peninsula in Western Washington state, the park is renowned for its extraordinary diversity. Think wildflower meadows, glacial lakes, and temperate rainforests, hemmed in by the snow-dusted peaks of the Olympic Mountains to the south and the windswept beaches and tidepools of the Pacific Ocean to the west. Highlights include the Hoh Rain Forest, one of only four temperate rain forests in the world; the red sands of Ruby Beach; and whale watching at Kalaloch and Rialto.
Yellowstone National Park
The USA’s oldest national park, Yellowstone National Park is also one of the largest, sprawling over 3,470 square miles (9,000 square kilometers) and crossing three state lines (Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho). This is one destination where you won’t want to forget your camera—the startling landscapes include geothermal valleys dotted with thousands of geysers (the most famous of which is Old Faithful) and natural wonders such as the Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone Lake, and the Grand Prismatic Spring. You’ll also find miles of mountains, forests, and riverlands, where you can fish, hike, camp, and escape from it all…and perhaps spot the odd grizzly bear.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
With annual visitor numbers topping 10 million, Great Smoky Mountains National Park ranks as the most visited national park in the United States, and it’s not hard to imagine why. Straddling the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, it’s a vast wilderness dotted with pre-Columbian ruins, traditional log cabins, and fishing lakes. Head here in autumn when the maple and oak forests shed a flurry of red, orange, and gold leaves. Travelers can also enjoy the ultimate view on a helicopter tour, journey back to the 19th century in Cades Cove, or take a road trip to Clingmans Dome along Newfound Gap.