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Granite cliffs and a waterfall above the autumn forest of Yosemite Valley

United States · Sierra Nevada · Rockies

United States

Granite cliffs and giant waterfalls in Yosemite, and the jagged Teton Range rising straight from the valley floor in Wyoming: two national parks, two very different mountain landscapes.

Best months
Jun–Sep · Dec–Mar
Signature peak
Denali, 6,190 m
Fly into
San Francisco (SFO)
Destinations
12
Explore United States Best time to visit

Destinations in United States

Where to go in United States

12 of 12 destinations · Main season Jun–Sep · Dec–Mar

Granite cliffs and a waterfall above the autumn forest of Yosemite Valley Best May–Jun · Sep–Oct

Sierra Nevada, California

Yosemite Valley

Granite cliffs, giant waterfalls and ancient sequoias in one of America's best-known national parks.

1,220 m · May–Jun · Sep–Oct · Moderate

Good for: Scenic views · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
The Teton Range glowing orange and reflected in a still pond Best Jun–Sep

Wyoming, Teton Range

Grand Teton National Park

A jagged range that rises straight from the valley floor, with clear lakes, meadows and wildlife.

4,199 m · Jun–Sep · Moderate

Good for: Trekking · Lakes

Stays Flights Tours
Lake McDonald at dawn with mountains reflected in still water Best Jul–Sep

Montana

Glacier National Park

Rugged peaks, glacier-carved valleys and a famous road across the Continental Divide, at the Canadian border.

2,026 m · Jul–Sep · Moderate

Good for: Scenic views · Lakes · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
Bear Lake with forested shores and mountains beyond in Rocky Mountain National Park Best Jun–Sep

Colorado

Rocky Mountain National Park

Alpine lakes, elk meadows and one of the highest paved roads in the United States, within day-trip range of Denver.

4,346 m · Jun–Sep · Moderate

Good for: Scenic views · Lakes · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
Grand Prismatic Spring ringed with orange and yellow microbial mats in Yellowstone Best May–Oct

Wyoming, Montana and Idaho

Yellowstone

The world's first national park: geysers, colourful hot springs, canyons and herds of bison on a volcanic plateau.

2,240 m · May–Oct · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Lakes

Stays Flights Tours
Sandstone cliffs rising above the trees in Zion Canyon Best Mar–Nov

Utah

Zion National Park

A deep red-rock canyon of sheer cliffs, with river hikes and cliff-edge trails in southern Utah.

1,234 m · Mar–Nov · Moderate

Good for: Scenic views · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
Layered canyon walls and a rainbow seen from Hopi Point at the Grand Canyon Best Mar–Nov

Arizona

Grand Canyon

A vast, layered canyon more than a mile deep, carved by the Colorado River across northern Arizona.

2,134 m · Mar–Nov · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
A road through yellow autumn forest in the Great Smoky Mountains Best Apr–Oct

Tennessee and North Carolina

Great Smoky Mountains

Ridge after ridge of forested, mist-covered Appalachian peaks, the most-visited national park in the United States.

2,025 m · Apr–Oct · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
Denali and its snow-covered ridges above the Alaskan tundra Best late May–mid Sep

Alaska

Denali

North America's highest peak rising above vast tundra, with grizzly bears, caribou and a single long park road.

6,190 m · late May–mid Sep · Moderate

Good for: Scenic views · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
Mount Rainier rising above conifer forest in Washington Best Jul–Sep

Washington

Mount Rainier

A glacier-covered volcano rising above wildflower meadows and old-growth forest, within two hours of Seattle.

4,392 m · Jul–Sep · Moderate

Good for: Scenic views · Trekking · Snow & ski

Stays Flights Tours
Maroon Bells above an autumn meadow and Maroon Lake near Aspen Best Jun–Oct

Colorado

Maroon Bells and Aspen

Two red-tinged peaks above a lake and aspen groves, one of the most photographed views in Colorado.

2,920 m · Jun–Oct · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Lakes · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
Giant sequoia trunks and crowns seen from below in Sequoia National Park Best May–Oct

California

Sequoia and Kings Canyon

Groves of the largest trees on Earth, high granite domes and deep canyons in the southern Sierra Nevada.

2,050 m · May–Oct · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours

About United States

United States at a glance

The United States has some of the world's best-known mountain landscapes, many protected as national parks. This guide starts with two: Yosemite in California's Sierra Nevada, known for granite cliffs and waterfalls, and Grand Teton in Wyoming, where a jagged range rises straight from a valley.

Distances are large, and most visitors rent a car. Parks charge entrance fees (an annual pass can pay for itself on a longer trip), and popular parks may use reservation systems on busy dates, so check each park's official page.

Summer is the main season for high-country hiking, with spring best for Yosemite's waterfalls and autumn for colour. Winter is for skiing at resorts such as Jackson Hole, and many park roads close. Book lodging and campsites well in advance for summer.

Getting there

San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX) and Las Vegas (LAS) are the main international airports for the Sierra Nevada, with Fresno (FAT) the closest for Yosemite. Salt Lake City (SLC) and Denver (DEN) serve the Rockies, and Jackson Hole (JAC), inside Grand Teton National Park, has regional flights.

Getting around

A rental car is the easiest way to reach most national parks. Some parks run free shuttles in busy areas, and seasonal buses serve a few gateway towns, but these are limited, so check before you rely on them.

Entry and safety

Entry rules depend on your nationality. Many visitors need a visa or an approved travel authorisation (ESTA) before flying, so check the official US government information well in advance.

Wildlife, weather and altitude are the main risks. Keep your distance from animals, store food as the park requires, carry bear spray where recommended, and check the park's official page for fires, road closures and trail conditions. Call 911 in an emergency.

Official sources

Last reviewed October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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