The United States National Park System is hailed as the "Open-Air Museum of the Earth." It boasts a stunning array of natural landscapes, including volcanoes, glaciers, canyons, and deserts. Whether it's the boiling geothermal wonders of Yellowstone National Park or the geological strata of the Grand Canyon that have taken hundreds of millions of years to form, each place bears the marks of the Earth's evolution. Today, we've handpicked eight "must-visit" national parks to take you on a journey to experience the wildness and romance of nature.
Yellowstone is home to over 10,000 geothermal features. Among them are the magical Grand Prismatic Spring and the Old Faithful Geyser, which erupts with remarkable punctuality. It is also one of the largest wildlife habitats in North America. Elk, bison, and gray wolves wander through the steaming mist of the hot springs, creating a scene reminiscent of a prehistoric landscape.
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The snow-capped peaks of the Teton Range are reflected in the mirror-like waters of Jenny Lake, making it an iconic filming location for Paramount Pictures. In summer, visitors can row a boat on the lake, while in winter, it transforms into a popular skiing destination. Oxbow Bend and Schwabacher's Landing within the park are havens for photography enthusiasts, offering breathtaking views.
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Carved over 6 million years by the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon's thousand-meter-deep gorge tells the story of geological changes through its layers of reddish, ochre, and iron-gray rocks. At Artist Point on the South Rim, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the canyon. Meanwhile, at the Brink of the Lower Falls on the North Rim, one can feel the thunderous power of the waterfall up close.
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Thousands of orange-red rock pillars stand tall, creating a natural amphitheater. At sunrise, the rock pillars display a gradient of colors, from pinkish gold to ochre and amber under the sunlight. It has been named one of the "Top Ten Sunrise Viewing Spots" by National Geographic.
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The narrow Virgin River Gorge requires wading through water, with 300-meter-high sheer cliffs on both sides that exude a strong sense of oppression. At the summit of the Angels Landing Trail, visitors can have a bird's-eye view of the red canyon. The park also features a desert wetland ecosystem in North America, where the coexistence of cacti and streams presents a remarkable sight.
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With more than 2,000 natural stone arches, the Delicate Arch is particularly renowned. At sunset, the golden light gilds it, making it seem like a gateway to another world. On the Devil's Garden Trail within the park, visitors can also see the remnants of collapsed arches, witnessing the brutality and romance of geological evolution. Three hundred million years ago, this area was an ocean, and the compression and weathering of salt beds have shaped these "stone rainbows."
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Divided into three major regions - Island in the Sky, The Needles, and The Maze, the Mesa Arch in Canyonlands offers a classic sunrise scene: the rising sun bursts through the arch, seemingly setting the entire canyon ablaze. It is a paradise for off-road enthusiasts. Driving a four-wheel drive vehicle along the White Rim Road requires prior permission.
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The Bridalveil Fall cascades down like a delicate veil, and the vertical rock face of El Capitan attracts rock climbers from around the world to challenge their limits. The park also has a millennial sequoia forest, among which the Grizzly Giant has a diameter of over 10 meters and requires 20 people to encircle it. The majestic granite, the powerful waterfalls, and the tranquil valleys make Yosemite look like a fairyland from any angle. Yosemite is a U-shaped valley carved by ancient glaciers, with steep mountains and unique rock formations. The precious sequoia trees tower into the clouds, and it was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1985.
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El Capitan, one of the famous attractions in Yosemite, draws climbers from all over the world. Opposite El Capitan, visitors can admire the Bridalveil Fall. The fine stream of water is lifted by the wind and floats in the air, giving it the appearance of a bride's veil, hence its name. Yosemite Valley is dotted with waterfalls, and the Yosemite Falls is especially famous. With a total drop of 702 meters, it is divided into upper, middle, and lower sections and is the tallest waterfall in the United States, allowing visitors to truly experience the awe-inspiring scene of "waterfalls plunging down from thousands of feet." Looking around, the blue sky, white clouds, lakes, rivers, rocks, and waterfalls all showcase the shining face of nature with all their passion and vitality.
One of the seven great geological photography wonders, Antelope Canyon is a famous slot canyon. Over millions of years, the narrowing of the river channel, floods, strong winds, and the rushing water have eroded the rock walls, and together with natural weathering, they have formed this fantastical canyon landscape.
Formed by the Colorado River's 270-degree turn, Horseshoe Bend is a U-shaped river channel that resembles a horseshoe. There are no guardrails or staff here. The ever-changing scenery, combined with the red canyon illuminated by the sun, creates a breathtaking view that should not be missed.
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The salinity of the Great Salt Lake is more than six times that of the ocean, earning it the nickname "the Dead Sea of the United States." The Bonneville Salt Flats, known as the "Mirror of the Sky" in the United States, is part of the dried-up Great Salt Lake. The vast salt flats blend with the blue sky and white clouds, making visitors feel as if they are in a fairyland close to the sky.
From the boiling geothermal vents of Yellowstone to the cascading waterfalls of Yosemite, the national parks of the United States tell the story of the Earth in their most primitive way. Whether you are an explorer in search of the wild or a city dweller looking for spiritual healing, there is always a piece of land here that can touch your innermost being.
