The 13 natural wonders of the U.S. that are seriously stunning

Mount Rainier National Park is a 236,381-acre park in Washington state that happens to encompass an active volcano. Since it last erupted in the 19th century, chances are nothing will happen if you go—nothing, that is, except experiencing breathtaking views of Mt. Rainier itself, along with glaciers, waterfalls, and meadows filled with wildflowers.

Best time to visit: July through August, when wildflowers transform the park's subalpine meadows and the dry, warm weather provides optimal hiking conditions.

How to get there: Paradise and Sunrise, both main visitor center areas, both boast impressive wildflowers.

This sand at White Sands is white alright, owing to the fact that it’s made of gypsum, the same material that comprises plaster, blackboard chalk and drywall. There are 4.5 billion tons of the stuff covering 145,762 acres near Alamogordo, New Mexico. In some places, the dunes can reach up to 60 feet high.

Best time to visit: The many yuccas in White Sands bloom in April, but watch out for windy days. Otherwise, try October to early November when cottonwoods are in bloom. 

How to get there: The visitor center is located on Highway US-70 between the cities of Alamogordo and Las Cruces. Check for directions depending on which way you are driving in.

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You’ll think you’re in Norway when you see the magnificent fjord and majestic mountains at Glacier Bay National Park. There are 1,045 glaciers in the 3,226,800-acre park, which also houses a 57,700-acre wildlife preserve. Ten miles of trails, plus 700 miles of shoreline, offer ample opportunities for kayaking, camping and hiking.

Best time to visit: The high in Alaska is 70 degrees during June and July, making it the perfect time to go.

How to get there: There are no roads that lead directly to Glacier Bay. May through September, you can go by charter air services, Alaska Marine Highway ferries, cruise ships, tour boats, and charter boats. 

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Located north of Moab Utah, Arches National Park is so named for the 2,000 wind-sculpted sandstone arches gracing the area—the largest such concentration in the world. The most famous of these is the iconic 52-foot-tall Delicate Arch, whose image can be seen on Utah license plates.

Best time to visit: April through May and September through October, when daytime temperatures average about 60 to 80 degrees.

How to get there: The farther you drive north away from Moab, the better the stargazing. The Balanced Rock Picnic Area tends to be an optimal spot.

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This protected string of old-growth forests represents what’s left of the massive redwood trees that once covered Northern California and served as home to the Indigenous populations. Trees can reach up to 379 feet in height and nearly 29 feet in diameter and can live 1,800 years or more, making them among the oldest living things on Earth.

Best time to visit: July marks peak tourist time, so to avoid the crowds, consider going anytime during the spring or fall.

How to get there: The Tall Trees Grove is one of the best hikes in Redwood National Park, and it allows you to see some of the park's largest trees. 

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You could say that the entirety of Hawaii is a natural wonder, and you would be right. But if we have to choose just one place on the island to highlight, it's Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, which is home to two major volcanoes: Mauna Loa and Kīlauea. Kīlauea is the most active volcano in the world and the most visited. The park is open 24 hours, year-round. Visitors can view lava and scenery from overlooks or go deeper into the park with a mix of short and long hiking trails. 

Best time to go: Lava is not always visible; check the local news or national park website before you go. A trip in the early morning or evening is best to avoid the crows.

How to get there: You'll have the possibility of viewing lava from the official viewpoints surrounding the Halemaʻumaʻu crater, including the Kilauea overlook.

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Death Valley is one of the country's most expansive national parks, but the Badwater Basin is one of the most stunning. These 200-odd acres of mostly dried-up salt beds mark the lowest point in North America (282 ft below sea level) and are home to a unique ecosystem, including an endemic snail species.

Best time to visit: Death Valley can get extremely hot in the summer (people are known to fry eggs here in the sunlight), so fall and winter tend to offer the best temperatures, generally staying between 50 and 75 degrees. 

How to get there: From the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, head south on Badwater Road for 17 miles where you’ll find a parking lot and the trailhead along Badwater Road.

Straddling the border between New York state and Ontario, Canada, Niagara Falls is actually three waterfalls named Horseshoe, American and Bridal Veil, respectively. Combined, they send six million cubic feet of water a minute, plunging 160 feet into the Niagara Gorge below.

Best time to visit: Highs in the low 80s, and cooling sprays from the falls make June to August a great time to visit.

How to get there: You can view the Falls from around the rim for free any day of the year. For the best views, head to the top of The Skylon Tower or up close on the famous Maid of the Mist. 

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The world's most famous geyser, Old Faithful in Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park, lives up to its name, erupting more than 1 million times since its discovery in 1870, at an average of 20 times a day. Each blast spews some 3,700 to 8,400 gallons of water to heights of 100 to 180 feet.

Best time to visit: Early morning or in the evening from April to May and between September and October.

How to get there: You’ll need to park at a designated area near the Upper Geyser Basin. Once near the Old Faithful Visitor Center, it’s just a short walk to the geyser. 

Back in 1864, Yosemite became the first land officially protected for conservation purposes by the federal government. And now we all get to reap the rewards. With its jaw-dropping landscapes—granite cliffs, sequoia groves, flowing rivers, peaceful meadows and stunning waterfalls—Yosemite is one of the most celebrated national parks for a reason and attracts huge crowds every year. 

Best time to visit: Roughly 75 percent of visitors arrive May-October, with the summer being the most popular. April and November are lovely as they are less crowded.

How to get there: Wapama Falls Trail is one of the best known hikes—the 5.5-mile round-trip hike leads you to one of the tallest waterfalls in Yosemite.

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Arizona’s Grand Canyon needs no introduction, except to say that it took the Colorado River two billion years to carve its impressive dimensions (277 miles long, by 18 miles wide by 1 mile deep). The sedimentary layers exposed by erosion vividly change color with the light. 

Best time to visit: March through May and September through November when daytime temperatures are cool and the crowds are thin.

How to get there: Dusk views are beautiful anywhere around the rim of the Grand Canyon—all you have to do is pick your observation spot and take it all in. 

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Even if you’ve never heard of Monument Valley, you’d recognize it thanks to how Hollywood has used it as a backdrop for countless Westerns. Located on the Arizona–Utah state line, the site is known for its striking sandstone buttes, the largest of which reaches 1,000 feet high. 

Best time to visit: Anytime between April and October; Temps remain relatively cooler, even during the summer months, because of Monument Valley's 5200-foot elevation.

How to get there: Monument Valley is quite remote—so fly into a major city in Arizona or Utah and get ready for a road trip.

Besides playing a role in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Devil’s Tower in Wyoming was dedicated as the first national monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. Rising 867 feet into the air, this butte made of volcanic rock is a sacred site to several First Nation people, including the Lakota, Cheyenne and Kiowa.

Best time to visit: May to June and September to October are best.

How to get there: Devils Tower is accessible by Wyoming Highway 24, which intersects with US Highway 14 at Devils Tower Junction, six miles south of the tower.