What Are the Natural Wonders of the United States?

Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

• Denali, first established as Mt. McKinley National Park, contains 6 million acres and only one road. See the sights from concessionaire buses as private vehicles are prohibited.

  Denali National Park and Preserve
  P.O. Box 9
  Denali Park, AK 99755-0009
  907-683-2294
  nps.gov/dena/index.htm

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

• Float down the Colorado River and camp overnight on the floor of the canyon, or ride a mule down cliff hanging trails and stay overnight at Phantom Ranch. The best way to experience the canyon is to go down inside it.

  Grand Canyon National Park
  P.O. Box 129
  Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
  928-638-7888
  nps.gov/grca/index.htm

Death Valley National Park, California, Nevada

• Incredible vistas abound among 3 million wilderness acres of the hottest, driest, lowest land in the nation.

  Death Valley National Park
  P.O. Box 579
  Death Valley, CA 92328
  760-786-3200
  nps.gov/deva/index.htm

Muir Woods National Monument, California

• The tallest living things in the world are the coastal redwoods. This small park offers 6 miles of trails through the thick 295-acre forest.

  Muir Woods National Monument
  Mill Valley, CA 94941-2696
  415-388-2595
  nps.gov/muwo/index.htm

Yosemite National Park, California

• Intriguing Yosemite invites you to explore Yosemite Falls, Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, El Capitan, Half Dome, Cathedral Rocks, Bridalveil Falls and thick flower populated meadows.

  Yosemite National Park
  P.O. Box 577
  Yosemite, CA 95389
  209-372-0200
  nps.gov/yose/index.htm

Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

• Nestled between the plains and Sangre de Cristo Mountains lies an ocean of sand and dunes at an elevation of 8,200 feet. After hiking the dunes, cool off in the refreshing waters of Zapata Falls.

  Great Sand Dunes National Park
  11999 Hwy. 150
  
Mosca, CO 81146
  719-378-6300
  nps.gov/grsa/index.htm

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

• A short walk through a tree fern forest brings you to Thurston Lava Tube, tall enough to walk through it. The park boasts the two most active volcanoes in the world, Kilauea and Mauna Loa. The best time to see Kilauea's current lava flow is at dusk or after dark.

  Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

  P.O. Box 52

  Hawaii National Park, HI 96718-0052
  808-985-6000
  nps.gov/havo/index.htm

Mammoth Cave National Park, Mammoth Cave, KY

• Mammoth Cave, at 365 miles long, is the longest known cave system in the world. Choose from 15 tours.

  Mammoth Cave National Park
  1 Mammoth Cave Parkway

  Mammoth Cave, KY 42259
  270-758-2180
  nps.gov/maca/index.htm

Niagara Falls State Park, New York

• America's oldest state park is home to one of our most unique natural wonders. Some 100 feet high on the American side, it is not the tallest waterfall in the world, but its beauty is attributed to a combination of height and large flow of water.

  Niagara Falls State Park
  Prospect Street
  Niagara Falls, NY 14303
  716-278-1796
  niagarafallsstatepark.com/
  niagarafallsusa.org/
  niagara-usa.com/

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

• Muted colors stripe the buttes, pinnacles and spires. Bison roam the mixed grass prairie of this scenic park.

  
Badlands National Park
  25216 Ben Reifel Road
  Interior, South Dakota 57750
  605-433-5361
  nps.gov/badl/index.htm

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho

• America's first national park, established in 1872, is home to grizzly bears, elk, bison, wolves, Old Faithful Geyser, Mammoth Hot Springs and Yellowstone Lake.

  Yellowstone National Park
  P.O. Box 168

  Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190-0168
  307-344-7381
  nps.gov/yell/index.htm