A World Heritage Site, Yosemite National Park is a bountiful reserve nestled in the heart of the Sierra Nevada, over 140 miles (225 km) to the east of San Francisco. Giant sequoias tower to dizzying heights at the Mariposa Grove, while the bare walls of the hulking Domes rise from the verdant depths of the valley. From the thunderous descent of the Yosemite Falls to the wildflower-laden Tuolumne Meadows, the Yosemite National Park is a tapestry of awe-inspiring spectacles, dappled with pristine lakes and etched with canyons; a maze of stark granite walls riddled with tumbling cascades that drench the scene in a cool mist. Amid the varied habitats of the Yosemite National Park thrive a fascinating variety of flora and fauna including the endemic Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. Visited by thousands each year, the Yosemite National Park continues to inspire awe in the hearts of all those who venture here. There are several permanent campgrounds and accommodations, dining options, a visitor center, and a myriad of hiking trails at the Yosemite National Park, weaving the perks of civilization through the heart of the wilderness.

Worn by the elements over millennia, the picturesque landscape of the Zion National Park is a masterpiece in shades of vermilion and cream; the rugged cliffs offset by the lush green of the valley, its depths carved by the Virgin River and sheltered by the magnanimous arch of the vivid blue sky. Frothy waterfalls tumble down the sheer drop like delicate tinsels of lace, while the weeping rocks feed hanging gardens of moss. The park's emerald pools are visions from a mystical world of wonder, their distinctive color a vibrant contrast to the warm hues of the undulating rocks. From the varied wildlife to the grottoes and monolithic towers of sandstone, Zion National Park is not only Utah's oldest but also its most popular nature reserve. Traversed by numerous trails of varying ardor, the park is a paradise for hiking enthusiasts and outdoors adventurers of every stripe.

Deep in the Shenandoah River valley, wild landscapes forged by the Blue Ridge mountains rise and fall in dramatic intervals, even as the crisp mountain air comes alive with dulcet birdsong. This is the untamed beauty of the Shenandoah National Park, a state treasure lanced by backcountry hiking trails, breathtaking driving paths, and a vibrant wildlife. The park centers around the soaring beauty of Hawksbill Mountain, which is its highest peak at 4,050 feet (1234.44 meters). Around the mountaintops, a captivating scenery unfolds as per nature's myriad whims, ranging from a billion-year-old rocky terrain, to waterfalls of various shapes, sizes, and cascades. Under a canopy of oak and chestnut trees thrives an incredible wildlife consisting of animals like the black bear and the white-tailed deer. Those who hike through the park's enchanting trails are guaranteed a sight of the undulating mountains in the distance as they stand encircled by a mystical shade of blue.

Dubbed the "Crown of the Continent Ecosystem" by famous explorer George Grinnell, Glacier National Park is a truly stunning slice of pristine American wilderness spread across more than one million acres. Over 1000 species of plants and hundreds of species of animals have made this park their home, occupying diverse ecosystems like crystal clear lakes and rough grassland. Once the site of massive glacial action, the park features towering mountains such as Going-to-the-Sun and Chief Mountain, impressive landmarks that rule over the untouched nature below. The region retains significant cultural ties to the Blackfeet Tribe, whose reservation lies to the East of the park's sweeping mountain range.

The Rocky Mountain National Park in the state of Colorado is a sublime sweep of ravishing granite cliffs, pine forests and retreating icefields fringed by starbursts of wildflowers in spring. Spanning 265,461 acres, the park is geologically diverse, with towering mountains descending into dense forests, punctuated by glimmering lakes. The region has been inhabited for over 11,000 years, with the Ute and the Arapaho Tribes being the first to settle around the area. Today, the park features several hiking, biking and winter sports trails, picnic spots, and campsites.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the United States' most-visited national park. Sprawled across a luxuriant expanse of 522,419 acres (211,416 hectares), the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is split down the middle by the State Line that demarcates the territories of North Carolina and Tennessee. The park is renowned the world over for its remarkably diverse flora and fauna, sheltered by a series of ridges drenched in the cool spray of cascading waterfalls. Dressed in a blanket of dense forests and wildflower-laden meadows stitched together by babbling streams and gushing rivers, spellbinding vistas lay around every corner amid the ancient Appalachian mountains. The scenery transitions with the seasons from the vivid green of summer and the riotous colors of spring to the warm cast of fall and the white shroud of winter. Amid this vibrant and varied landscape, close to 80 historic buildings preserve the southern Appalachian mountain culture, of which the pioneer homestead at Cades Cove is just one. With ample opportunity for activities like hiking, biking, fishing and more, the ethereal allure of the Great Smoky Mountains is impossible to ignore.

An International Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site, the Olympic National Park is essentially a synchronized succession of distinctive terrains. The park is a scenic escape defined by undulating alpine meadows and a stunning Pacific coastline. Its eastern fringe is an arid expanse that gently translates into a verdant rainforest towards the west. This park's diverse topography encompasses the snow-clad Mount Olympus, the emerald expanses of the Hoh Rainforest, and the Hurricane Ridge which is an unparalleled vantage point to soak in the celebrated park's scenic allure. Its environs are home to inhabitants ranging from the Hammond's flycatcher and Canadian lynx to snowshoe hares and Wilson's warblers.

Closely interwoven bands of layered rock skirt a sea of gigantic ancient boulders, coming together to form a surreal panorama that melts into Arizona's vast landscape. From high above the topmost point of the canyon, the mighty Colorado River appears as a muddy sliver, belying the tumultuous nature of its waters that carved through ancient layers of rock and birthed the steep canyons surrounding it. Over several millennia, the river snaked its way through the rugged landscape, constantly deepening and pushing the edges of the canyon, oblivious that its aggressive course unraveled years of geological history. For years, the canyon was home to indigenous Native American tribes, before Spanish explorers and American trappers settled into the river basin. Today, the Grand Canyon continues to instill a deep sense of wonder and mystique in whoever visits it, an eternal ocean of auburn rock that spreads majestically under deep blue skies.

The ethereal beauty of the Yellowstone National Park unfolds one panorama at a time - sometimes in visions of raw, rugged alpine features, at other times, in softer landscapes clouded with billowing smoke that emanates from hot springs and geysers. Whatever the sight, there is little that will not mesmerize anyone who traverses the bounds of this park. Deemed to be the first national park in the world, the depths of Yellowstone were home to early Native Americans for a staggering 11,000 years, before mountain men and trappers ambled up its sheer cliffs and conducted organized explorations. It stretches from the state of Wyoming and spills over the boundaries of both Montana and Idaho, a geographic testament to its profound sprawl. The Old Faithful, a cone geyser, is one of the park's main attractions, while the Yellowstone Lake stretches over a supervolcanic caldera. Speckled with gushing waterfalls, geothermal spots, majestically arched cliffs that cast arresting silhouettes, and an array of nature's vivid colors, the park is an unspoiled terrestrial spectacle.

Situated in the naturally blessed state of Maine, the Acadia National Park is a teeming mosaic of beauty and biodiversity. A jewel embedded on the Atlantic coast, this national park bears a landscape dominated by jagged headlands, lakes and verdant woodlands among other features. The park is lovingly fringed by a tapestry of peaks, including the Cadillac Mountain. An array of trails weave through the diversified terrains of this park which cradle a wealth of wildlife including beavers, coyotes, minks, raccoons, chipmunks, and porcupines. In addition, the park also shelters ponds and swathes of pristine pine forests. The mountain summits of this park offer panoramic views of its entrancing topography. The park also shelters an assemblage of plant life including algae and fungi. Acadia National Park is especially ethereal-looking come dusk when the sun pleasantly lunges into the horizon.