The Grand Canyon, the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, and Utah’s surreal rock formations are all familiar landmarks within the United States National Parks.
Whether you’re looking to avoid larger groups of people, or just want to experience something new, the following list of places is sure to add a bit of wonder to your next stateside vacation.
Utah
In the Needles District of the Canyonlands National Park, these rocky mountains called "needles" have been carved out from years of sandstorm and water erosion.
Photography: Earthtrekkers
The sun sets over an area of the Needles district called Chesler Park.
Photography: Jack Brauer
Maine
The Schoodic Peninsula provides serene secluded views of Mount Desert Island.
Photography: Acadia Magic
Another view of the rocky granite coastline of the Schoodic Peninsula.
Photography: Trail & Hitch
California
Wapama Falls, pictured here, is one of the tallest waterfalls in the United States at just under 1,100 feet.
Photography: John Holland
The Hetch Hetchy Valley reservoir delivers some of the cleanest municipal water in the United States to nearby San Francisco.
Photography: National Park Service
Florida
In Florida's Everglades National Park you can spend an evening camping on a Chickee, a shelter built on stilts to keep above the surface of the water.
Photography: miamiandbeaches.com
This could be the view from your tent on a Chickee. Hopefully, it's set up in a gator-free area.
Photography: nature.org
Utah
Cathedral Valley in Capitol Reed National Park is named after these massive rock formations that resemble towering cathedrals.
Photography: Ann Driggers
The sunset in Cathedral Valley casts shadows across the vast landscape.
Photography: Ann Driggers
Gove County, Kansas
The Monument Rocks in Kansas are actually formations made out of chalk. Archaeologists found the structures to be very rich in fossils.
Photography: Bonjour Becky
Kansas
This Historic Scenic Byway offers a showcase of Kansas' native wildflowers and grasses.
Photography: Kansas Department of Transportation
Hawaii
Tourists get reservations for the opportunity to watch the sunrise atop the Haleakala volcano.
Photography: Maui Hikes
Another scenic slice of the panoramic view atop the Sliding Sands Trail.
Photography: Maui Hikes
Utah
Deep in Zion National Park, you can take a hike through this sandstone tunnel called "The Subway."
Photography: Jonathan Irish
Here is another scintillating view of the Kolob Canyons in Zion National Park.
Photography: parkedinparadise.com