16 Incredible US National Parks Pictures

Deep canyons, towering mountains, impossible-seeming arches, and more… these US National Parks pictures are going to blow your mind!

This past week was National Parks Week – one of my favorite celebratory weeks out there! Although we’re all stuck at home right now, that doesn’t mean that we can’t do a bit of armchair traveling to #FindYourVirtualPark, so that’s exactly what I wanted to do with this post!

I reached out to a few fellow travel bloggers to compile some of the most incredibly national parks pictures from around the US. Here they are!

Arches National Park

By James Ian of Travel Collecting

Double O Arch is at the farthest point on the Devil’s Garden Trail, which is in turn at the far end of Arches National Park.  It is worth the drive and the hike to get there.

The park is home to dozens of arches, and other spectacular rock formations.  The Devil’s Garden Trail is a challenging but stunning hike that goes past over a dozen of the arches.

To get the shot in this photo, you actually have to climb through the small lower arch and climb up a short hill to get to the vantage point.  It’s the perfect spot for lunch before taking the primitive trail through Fin Canyon to loop back to the trailhead.

Bryce Canyon National Park

By Whitney of Designs For Travel

This incredible national parks picture is of Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. This reserve is known for its orange-colored, spire-shaped rock formations, called “hoodoos.”

This is the view in the middle of the amazing Navajo Loop hike through this famous national park.  From the Sunset Point parking lot, take this hike through Wall Street then through the Silent City — a rock metropolis of hoodoos and spires.  It’s breathtaking and like nothing, you have ever seen before.  Bryce National Canyon is a place where you can take countless incredible photos of unique and beautiful scenery.

Virgin Islands National Park

By Theresa of Fueled by Wanderlust

The Maho Bay overlook in Virgin Islands National Park is one of the most stunning spots to stop and take a photo or simply to take in the view.  Maho is just one of many idyllic beaches that line the North Shore of Virgin Islands National Park.

Located on the Caribbean island of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, thousands of visitors are drawn here every year for a tropical beach vacation in gorgeous natural surroundings.

Lacking the resort atmosphere of more developed islands, Virgin Islands National Park is the perfect place to relax and unwind.

Rocky Mountain National Park

By Me!

If you’re looking for the classic mountain experience, you truly can’t go wrong with Rocky Mountain National Park. Spanning the continental divide and home to more than 100 peaks of over 11,000 feet, there’s barely a single inch of the park that isn’t breathtaking.

While spending 5 days in Colorado, I hiked the Emerald Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park and captured this photo at the top. Even in the summer snow topped the peaks and ice was on the lakes.

It’s definitely one of my personal favorite national parks pictures!

Death Valley National Park

By Anna of My Travel Scrapbook

Taking photos is a now a vital part of travelling. I have always enjoyed taking photos for memories and photo albums. When we went on our South West American Road trip, we took thousands of photos of America’s national parks. One photo we were particularly proud of was the sunset at Zabriskie point in Death Valley.

We had planned to just drive through Death Valley on our way to Las Vegas but were captivated by the beauty of this national park that we ended up staying for the sunset in Death Valley!

We went to Zabriskie Point to watch the sunset and my boyfriend took this photo of me looking at the desert landscape. I am so pleased we took this photo as I will always remember the magical end to this wonderful day in Death Valley. 

Zion National Park

By Kenny of Knycx Journeying

We drove to the Zion National Park from Las Vegas and I was blown away by the beautiful scenery and dramatic landscapes.

There is a lot to see and do in the National Park apart from the famous scenic drive along the Zion-Mt Carmel highway – take a hike in the Overlook Trail, take pictures of the Arch, explore the unique flora and fauna, have a picnic, or go rock climbing.

Our magical moment happened by the end of our visit as we were looking at the Great White Throne viewpoint, the giant rock changed colors from orange to white, and then purple as the sunset and the sky began to darken. It was here we took one of the most incredible national parks pictures!

Grand Canyon National Park

By Me!

Visiting the Grand Canyon was one of the first proper national parks experiences I ever had, and to say that I #FoundMyPark that day would be an understatement.

From the first moment I laid eyes on this immense hole in the earth, carved over millions of years, to hiking the Grand Canyon in my Converse, every moment of the visit was awe-worthy.

Surprisingly, this stunning photo was actually snapped at the main overlook point on the South Rim, just past the visitor’s centre. Although crowded, it had amazing views!

So pro tip: for great national parks pictures, don’t pass up the visitors centre viewpoints 😉

Yellowstone National Park

By Adriana of Czech the World

The Morning Glory is one of the 10,000 geothermal features in Yellowstone National Park located in Upper Geyser Basin nearby Old Faithful village.

Yellowstone is definitely one of the most fascinating national parks in the USA. There are over 60 % of all the world’s geysers in the park – you will be amazed to see all these colorful hot springs, erupting geysers, bubbling mud pots, fumaroles, and steam coming out of the earth. It’s a true geothermal wonderland.

There are plenty of beautiful things to see in Yellowstone National Park. Moreover, Yellowstone is home to bison herds, bears, coyotes, wolfs, deers, elks, and other wildlife.

Mesa Verde National Park

By Oksana & Max of Drink Tea & Travel  

One our Colorado road trip we snapped this picture of the ancient dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park.

Carved right into the rock this collection of houses were crafted by the ancient Pueblo people from 600 to 1300 AD. They are of extreme historical and cultural significance to the area and are part of the reason Mesa Verde National Park has been listed as a UNESCO site.

There are a number of lookouts which are located just off of the main road in the park which offer great perspectives of the ancient dwellings. They were a great way for us to see the park’s most famous attraction and take national parks pictures at a time when I couldn’t hike because I was recovering from a broken leg.

Crater Lake National Park

By Sophie of We Dream of Travel

If you’re looking to take some incredible US national parks pictures, Crater Lake should absolutely be on your list. Located in the Cascade Mountains, Crater Lake National Park is one of the best Southern Oregon photography locations.  It is home to the deepest lake in the US and possibly the most beautiful.

This photo of Crater Lake was taken just after sunset during winter near Crater Lake Lodge on the southern side of the lake.

No matter what season you visit, Crater Lake feels like magic.  From May-October you will likely be able to drive the Rim Road to see the park in its entirety.  However, during winter months, only the south entrance is open.  Despite this, winter is still an incredible time to visit as the impossibly white snow encompassing the blue lake creates a spectacular winter wonderland.

Canyonlands National Park

By Jenifer of The Evolista

Sunrise at Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park is something everyone should experience at least once in a lifetime and is the perfect USA trip idea. As the sun comes up, the underside of Mesa Arch turns a fiery orange reflecting the light. It’s surreal and incredibly beautiful.

Canyonlands National Park is the bigger, less popular neighbor of Arches National Park. What it lacks in numbers of arches, it makes up for in stunning canyons, hence the name.

Mesa Arch is in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands showcasing the best of both worlds – an arch, perched on a 500 foot cliff, framing the expansive canyon below.

You can stay in Moab, Utah to easily visit both parks.

Yosemite National Park

By Laura of Live Adventure Travel

Yosemite National Park is one of the world’s most famous natural attractions with over 5 million people visiting each year to catch a glimpse of some of Yosemite’s most iconic backdrops. The park is known for its famous natural wonders such as El Capitan, Yosemite Valley and the Half Dome.

Yosemite is the perfect place for hiking enthusiasts and those who love exploring the great outdoors. No Yosemite itinerary is complete without a visit to the famous Tunnel Vision (pictured above). The view point allows visitors to see Yosemite Valley from above, while admiring the park’s most noted features. It is the perfect place to end the day and catch the sunset over the valley.

Petrified Forest National Park

By Me!

Petrified Forest National Park definitely isn’t your typical national park. But what it lacks in jaw-dropping mountains or other scenery, it makes up for in the unique sense of other-worldliness you get when you go.

The fossilised trees that the park is best known for will, quite honestly, blow your mind. Seeing dinosaur fossils is one thing, but to see how these trees were petrified and are still around, just hanging out in the middle of the desert, is actually crazy!

In addition to the petrified wood, Petrified Forest National Park is also home to moon-scape like scenery which you can hike through or check out from drive-up lookout points.

Dry Tortugas National Park

By Halef of The Round the World Guys

At the southernmost tip of the state, even beyond where the road ends, lies one of the most pristine areas of the United States.

Dry Tortugas National Park is a group of islets that are located about 70 miles southwest of Key West.

Dry Tortugas is a great place to do some snorkeling, to sunbathe on its white sand beach, and swim in its clear and refreshing waters. At nearby Fort Jefferson, you can join a guided tour by the National Park Service to learn more about the history of the Dry Tortugas.

To get to Dry Tortugas National Park, you can start your journey in Key West with either the Yankee Freedom III ferry or via a seaplane for a day trip.

Grand Teton National Park

By Laura of Live Adventure Travel

Grand Teton is one of the lesser known US National Parks, yet, that does not take away from the park’s beauty. The Teton Range is located in the state of Wyoming and is home to wonderful hiking trails, adventure sports and breathtaking view points. People typically spend anywhere from 2 to 7 days exploring the national park.

Grand Teton is only a short distance from it’s famous sibling, Yellowstone National Park. It is common for visitors to combine both Yellowstone and Grand Teton into the one itinerary.

There are many full and half day hikes for visitors to enjoy, like a hike around String Lake trailhead (pictured above). This hike takes about 2 hours to complete and offers stunning views of the Teton Range. If you visit the lake early in the morning, you may even have the opportunity to see the mountains reflect against the water.

Haleakala National Park

By Constance of The Adventures of Panda Bear

Haleakala National Park is one of the most unique landscapes on the island of Maui in Hawaii. The national park covers an area of 33,265 acres including the Haleakala volcano crater, a few pools and hiking trails in the ‘Ohe’o Gulch area, and the Kipahulu Valley Biological Reserve, a fragile rainforest area that is not accessible to the public.

A couple of the most popular things to do in Haleakala National Park are seeing the sunrise from the top of Haleakala crater and hiking the Sliding Sands Trail into the crater.  

I hope you enjoyed these incredible national parks pictures! What national parks have you visited?

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