Six Iconic North American National Parks: Locations and Highlights

Six of North America's most celebrated national parks span the U.S. and Canadian Rockies, showcasing geysers, granite cliffs, giant sequoias, and glacial valleys.

United States

1. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)

World's first national park (1872). 8,991 km². Half the planet's geysers (Old Faithful), Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone Lake, wolf/bison/elk herds. Sits atop a supervolcano.

2. Yosemite National Park (California)

3,027 km² in Sierra Nevada. Iconic cliffs (El Capitan, Half Dome), waterfalls (Yosemite Falls), giant sequoia groves (Mariposa Grove), high country (Tuolumne Meadows). UNESCO site.

3. Sequoia National Park (California)

1,635 km², adjacent to Kings Canyon. Home of General Sherman Tree (largest by volume), Mount Whitney (highest in contiguous US), Crystal Cave, Giant Forest.

4. Kings Canyon National Park (California)

1,869 km². Deep glacial valley (Kings Canyon), Grant Grove (General Grant Tree), high Sierra wilderness. Jointly managed with Sequoia.

Canada

5. Banff National Park (Alberta)

Canada's first park (1885). 6,641 km² in Canadian Rockies. Turquoise lakes (Louise, Moraine), Columbia Icefield, Banff townsite, Icefields Parkway, abundant wildlife.

6. Jasper National Park (Alberta)

11,000 km²—largest in Canadian Rockies. Maligne Lake, Athabasca Glacier, Dark Sky Preserve, Miette Hot Springs, less crowded than Banff. Connected by Icefields Parkway.

Planning a Multi-Park Trip

• US Parks: Fly to Salt Lake City (Yellowstone) or Fresno (Sequoia/Kings Canyon/Yosemite). Allow 2–3 days each.
• Canadian Parks: Fly to Calgary, drive Icefields Parkway (3.5 hrs, one of world's most scenic). Allow 3–4 days each.
• Best seasons: July–September for full access; winter for skiing/wildlife.

These six parks protect some of Earth's most spectacular mountain landscapes—each distinct, together forming a continent-spanning wilderness legacy.