Acadia ✪ Top Rated
4.9 (13,035 reviews)
Covering most of Mount Desert Island and other coastal islands, Acadia features the tallest mountain on the Atlantic coast of the United States, granite peaks, ocean shoreline, woodlands, and lakes. There are freshwater, estuary, forest, and intertidal habitats.
biking birding boating camping climbing cross country fishing + 11 others
Maine, United States - East
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Big Bend Great
4.8 (3,518 reviews)
Named for the prominent bend in the Rio Grande along the U.S.–Mexico border, this park encompasses a large and remote part of the Chihuahuan Desert. Its main attraction is backcountry recreation in the arid Chisos Mountains and in canyons along the river. A wide variety of Cretaceous and Tertiary fossils as well as cultural artifacts of Native Americans also exist within its borders.
biking birdwatching camping fishing hiking kayaking tours + 1 other
Texas, United States - Central
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Biscayne Good
4.7 (1,743 reviews)
Located in Biscayne Bay, this park at the north end of the Florida Keys has four interrelated marine ecosystems: mangrove forest, the Bay, the Keys, and coral reefs. Threatened animals include the West Indian manatee, American crocodile, various sea turtles, and peregrine falcon.
birding boating camping fishing museum theatre tours + 1 other
Florida, United States - East
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Black Canyon of the Gunnison Great
4.8 (3,226 reviews)
The park protects a quarter of the Gunnison River, which slices sheer canyon walls from dark Precambrian-era rock. The canyon features some of the steepest cliffs and oldest rock in North America, and is a popular site for river rafting and rock climbing. The deep, narrow canyon is composed of gneiss and schist which appears black when in shadow.
camping climbing cross country fishing hiking horseback riding kayaking + 3 others
Colorado, United States - West
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Capitol Reef Great
4.8 (3,301 reviews)
The park's Waterpocket Fold is a 100-mile (160 km) monocline that exhibits the earth's diverse geologic layers. Other natural features include monoliths, cliffs, and sandstone domes shaped like the United States Capitol.
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Utah, United States - West
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Channel Islands Good
4.7 (1,428 reviews)
Five of the eight Channel Islands are protected, with half of the park's area underwater. The islands have a unique Mediterranean ecosystem originally settled by the Chumash people. They are home to over 2,000 species of land plants and animals, 145 endemic to them, including the island fox. Ferry services offer transportation to the islands from the mainland.
birding boating camping fishing flying hiking kayaking + 7 others
California, United States - West
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Congaree Good
4.7 (1,759 reviews)
On the Congaree River, this park is the largest portion of old-growth floodplain forest left in North America. Some of the trees are the tallest in the eastern United States. An elevated walkway called the Boardwalk Loop guides visitors through the swamp.
camping fishing hiking kayaking museum picnicking tours
South Carolina, United States - East
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Crater Lake Great
4.8 (10,470 reviews)
Crater Lake lies in the caldera of an ancient volcano called Mount Mazama that collapsed 7,700 years ago. The lake is the deepest in the United States and is noted for its vivid blue color and water clarity. Wizard Island and the Phantom Ship are more recent volcanic formations within the caldera. As the lake has no inlets or outlets, the lake is replenished only by precipitation.
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Oregon, United States - West
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Cuyahoga Valley Great
4.8 (10,410 reviews)
This park along the Cuyahoga River has waterfalls, hills, trails, and exhibits on early rural living. The Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail follows the Ohio and Erie Canal, where mules towed canal boats. The park has numerous historic homes, bridges, and structures,[33] and also offers a scenic train ride.
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Ohio, United States - Central
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Dry Tortugas Great
4.8 (1,194 reviews)
The islands of the Dry Tortugas, at the westernmost end of the Florida Keys, are the site of Fort Jefferson, a Civil War-era fort that is the largest masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere. The park is home to undisturbed coral reefs and shipwrecks, and is only accessible by plane or boat.
birding boating camping fishing scuba diving swimming tours + 1 other
Florida, United States - East
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