It’s hard to imagine the U.S. without its gorgeous National Parks and State Parks. Thanks to careful preservation and planning, these natural areas can be preserved for the enjoyment and education of future generations. Not only are these lands extremely important, they also happen to be downright beautiful. Take a look at the landscapes of the 5 most beautiful parks in America that will inspire you beyond belief:

  1. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)

Ken Lane/flickr

Diana Robinson/flickr Grand Teton National Park can be found in northwestern Wyoming and features over 300,000 of acres of pristine landscape. The most noteworthy attraction are the Tetons themselves, which appear seemingly out of nowhere and rise thousands of feet above the land.

  1. Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska)

SandyK29/flickr

CMy23/flickr There are few places in America to see real-live glaciers, and Kenai Fjords National Park is one of them. Featuring over 40 glaciers flowing from the Harding Icefield, this natural gem in Alaska is equally rare and beautiful. In addition to glaciers, visitors can also expect to see an impressive array of wildlife including whales, wolves, and harbor seals.

  1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina and Tennessee)

Steve Harwood/flickr

Matthew Paulson/flickr It’s no mystery how the Great Smoky Mountains were granted their nickname. Cloaked in fog, this range of the Appalachian Mountains is showcased by a National Park filled with hiking trails, overlooks, and out-of-this-world campsites. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this park is the most frequently-visited in the entire U.S.

  1. Acadia National Park (Maine)

Geoff Livingston/flickr

Paul Geffen/flickr Established in 1919 as the first National Park east of the Mississippi, this gorgeous natural landscape is a coastal wonderland. The park includes 47,000 acres of hiking trails, forests, and breathtaking scenery. This park is described as a photographer’s paradise, and it’s easy to see why.

  1. Arches National Park (Utah)

Don Graham/flickr

Jerry and Pat Donaho/flickr Arches National Park in Utah may be one of the most unique in the entire U.S. Evoking a Martian landscape, this natural area is comprised of eroding rock formations known as arches. It may be only a matter of time before some of these delicate statues erode completely.

Have you visited all five of these stunning National Parks? Be sure to share your experiences with us!

Ken Lane/flickr

Diana Robinson/flickr

Grand Teton National Park can be found in northwestern Wyoming and features over 300,000 of acres of pristine landscape. The most noteworthy attraction are the Tetons themselves, which appear seemingly out of nowhere and rise thousands of feet above the land.

SandyK29/flickr

CMy23/flickr

There are few places in America to see real-live glaciers, and Kenai Fjords National Park is one of them. Featuring over 40 glaciers flowing from the Harding Icefield, this natural gem in Alaska is equally rare and beautiful. In addition to glaciers, visitors can also expect to see an impressive array of wildlife including whales, wolves, and harbor seals.

Steve Harwood/flickr

Matthew Paulson/flickr

It’s no mystery how the Great Smoky Mountains were granted their nickname. Cloaked in fog, this range of the Appalachian Mountains is showcased by a National Park filled with hiking trails, overlooks, and out-of-this-world campsites. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this park is the most frequently-visited in the entire U.S.

Geoff Livingston/flickr

Paul Geffen/flickr

Established in 1919 as the first National Park east of the Mississippi, this gorgeous natural landscape is a coastal wonderland. The park includes 47,000 acres of hiking trails, forests, and breathtaking scenery. This park is described as a photographer’s paradise, and it’s easy to see why.

Don Graham/flickr

Jerry and Pat Donaho/flickr

Arches National Park in Utah may be one of the most unique in the entire U.S. Evoking a Martian landscape, this natural area is comprised of eroding rock formations known as arches. It may be only a matter of time before some of these delicate statues erode completely.

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