Tripadvisor’s 7 top national parks
The United States’ national parks offer such varied and vibrant treasures, why would anyone rank them? They’re all magnificent.
But when Tripadvisor asked its users to choose their favorites, they were quick to comply, handing out Travelers Choice 2021 bragging honors to 10 national parks from coast to coast. Here are the top seven. (Find all the Travelers Choice honorees, along with details, at www.tripadvisor.com/travelerschoice.) 1 GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK
Wyoming’s spectacular, 310,000-acre Grand Teton National Park lies south of Yellowstone and north of the charming town of Jackson. The National Park Service calls the park’s peaks “mountains of the imagination.” Those craggy peaks, lush valleys, alpine meadows and surging Snake River offer plenty of recreational possibilities, making it a favorite of hikers, rafters, campers and outdoors lovers. Learn more at www.nps.gov/grte.
2 GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Arizona’s immense national park includes 277 miles of stunning landscape, including the Colorado River and, of course, the Grand Canyon itself, which is a mile deep and, at its widest point, 18 miles wide. You can raft the river, hike the trails or simply gawk from the top at the colorful rock layers that represent millions of years of geologic activity. Learn more at www.nps.gov/grca.
3 ZION NATIONAL PARK
Utah is home to five national parks, including Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Arches and Zion, a favorite among Tripadvisor users. The park is known for its rugged red rocks, incredible geologic formations and canyons carved by river water. Read more at www. nps.gov/zion.
4 DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE
The showpiece of this national park in Alaska is Denali — “The Great One” — or Mount Mckinley, which at 20,320 feet is the highest peak in North America. The park and preserve encompass a stunning 6 million acres of wilderness — and one road. Find more information at www.nps.gov/dena.
5 YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
Old Faithful, the otherworldly Grand Prismatic Spring, boiling mud pots, roaming bison and stunning landscapes make this Wyoming park, which straddles the Montana and Idaho borders, one of the most popular in the world. Read more at www.nps.gov/yell.
6 GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
Alpine meadows, lakes, forests and the iconic Going-to-the-sun Road draw visitors to this rugged Montana wilderness, which runs all the way to the Canadian border. The park offers more than 700 miles of trails, plus camping, hiking and cross-country skiing. Learn more at www.nps.gov/glac.
7 HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
The Big Island’s heady mix of rainforests, lava flows, simmering volcanoes and spectacular hiking trails have long been a tourist draw. The park is at the southern end of the everincreasing island, whose land creation is fueled by the Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes. Read more at www.nps.gov/havo.
Wait, no Yosemite? That one came in at No. 10.