Travelers Rank the USA’s Most Beautiful National Parks

As most people know, the National Parks of America are stunningly beautiful and diverse. If someone says there is something for everyone in the parks, this is no exaggeration. From stunning mountains to desert scenes and lush forests, each park has its own attractions. While many travelers head to international lands for scenic beauty, there is more than enough here at home. However, there is one challenge when it comes to the parks and that is which one to visit to make the trip worthwhile. For this reason, Travel Lens decided to find out which national parks were the most pleasing to visitors.

Which are the best national parks in the USA?

That’s why Travel Lens set out to find which national parks in North America were the most aesthetically pleasing to visitors.  Researchers working for the company tracked down the number of traveler reviews with certain keywords for each attraction. Those keywords were, “beautiful,” “breathtaking,” “gorgeous,” and “stunning.” They then tallied the numbers to find out which are the most popular parks according to visitors. Read on to find out the top three parks that visitors raved about the most.

1. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

In the number one spot on Travel Lens’ list is Crater Lake National Park and for a good reason. Travelers have raved about the beauty of the park and when they say it’s stunning, gorgeous or breathtaking, they aren’t exaggerating a bit.

Nestling in the southern part of the Cascade Range in Oregon, the sapphire-blue lake is likely most famous for its caldera. This was formed more than 7,700 years ago after the collapse of Mount Mazama and nestles right in the heart of the national park. Meanwhile, this is the deepest lake in the US and the intense blue color of the water can only really be experienced in person, as not even the best cameras can do justice to it.

Meanwhile, the lake features several natural wonders like Wizard Island, a volcanic cinder cone rising from the waters. Moreover, a rock formation has been dubbed the Phantom Ship for its uncanny resemblance to a ghostly vessel. Even better, visitors to Crater Lake National Park can take a boat ride to visit all these wonders.

2. Acadia National Park, Maine

Second in line is Acadia National Park, which nestles on the coast of Maine and brings together ocean views with forests and mountains. One of the best places to view the sunrise is from the summit of Cadillac Mountain in the park, which sends golden shades across the sky as the sun rises over the Atlantic Ocean. Meanwhile, the park’s coastline boasts the famous Thunder Hole, where the crashing waves make a roar that is always exciting to experience.

For those visitors who are less adventurous, the park also features an intricate network of carriage roads. Designed by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., the roads offer a beautiful way to traverse the park and take in the views from a horse-drawn carriage. For those who prefer to move at speed, the Acadia offers an excellent shuttle system to allow visitors to explore without needing a car. This gives the whole family a chance to enjoy the views, even the designated driver!

3. Glacier National Park, Montana

Glacier National Park nestles in the wilderness of Montana alongside the Canadian border and is renowned for its picturesque lakes, towering peaks and glacial valleys. Its reason for coming up so high in the list is that almost 44.3 percent of reviewers made a note of its rugged beauty, especially Grinnell Glacier and the stunning Going-to-the-Sun Road.

While driving through the park, the road is surrounded by some of the most incredible vistas in the world. When not driving, visitors can enjoy an amazing hike past the turquoise lakes and through the alpine valleys all the way to the glacier and its surrounding craggy peaks. Animal lovers also get a treat as this vast wilderness hosts plenty of wildlife including grizzly bears, the elusive gray wolves and the mountain goats.

Treat yourself to a visit to one of these three national parks in the USA for your next adventure.