Will Hide selects some of the most stunning scenery in the US
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Stretching from the arctic tundra of Alaska to the lush tropics of Hawaii, the US offers an incredibly diverse range of landscapes. Vast tracts of this – more than 84 million acres of land – is protected by the US National Park Service.
These include many of America’s most enduring icons, from the Grand Canyon and Old Faithful geyser to the Washington Monument.
But with 401 national parks on offer, how do you choose? We select 10 of the best.
Rocky Mountain, Colorado
Nearly three million visitors a year flock to see the monumental landscapes of this mountainous park, but at 415 square miles there’s always a corner to avoid the crowds. In summer, visitors hit the hiking trails or go horse riding on backcountry paths, while in winter they can go snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
There are campsites in the park, or they could stay about an hour’s drive away in Boulder, which is often voted one of the most liveable places in America.
Colorado’s central position means clients can fly into Denver and fit this park into a circular self-drive, visiting Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone and Arches national parks too.
Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee / North Carolina
The early-morning mist that clings to the rolling hills gives this park its name. It’s America’s most visited, but apart from some busy roads in summer and school holidays, you can still easily get off the beaten track to escape the crowds.
There’s great hiking and fishing, and also the chance to spot bears ambling along in a meadow.
On the North Carolina side, the town of Ashville makes a great base, while in Tennessee many people stay in Pigeon Forge for a fun day out at Dolly Parton’s Dollywood theme park, which is especially popular around the annual Homecoming Parade in spring.
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Looking for really ancient history? Look no further. Rocks found at the bottom have been dated at about two billion years old. But given the Grand Canyon’s proximity to Las Vegas, it’s easily paired with the US at its most modern.
Clients can drive to the rim, fly over it in a light aircraft or helicopter, raft through it, hike down 6,000ft to the valley floor or descend on a mule, passing Havasupai American Indians who have lived there for at least 800 years.
There are campsites at the north and south rims, but these need to be booked well in advance.
Yosemite, California
Yosemite, which covers an area about the size of Samoa and sits on the western flank of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, is best known for its spectacular waterfalls, giant sequoia trees and climbing opportunities on sheer granite cliffs, as well as great hiking.
It was named as the country’s first public reserve by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864. Visitors can take interpretive walks led by rangers, or there are bus tours for the less energetic.
Camping is popular, but book ahead, or suggest hiring an RV (motorhome). Clients could easily tack on a trip here from San Francisco, which is a three-and-a-half-hour drive away.
Yellowstone, Wyoming
Although primarily in Wyoming, Yellowstone butts into Montana and Idaho too, making it ideal for clients who want to tick a few states off their list in the northwest of the country.
It’s best known for its spouting geyser called Old Faithful, so called because of the regularity of the displays, when water shoots 106ft into the air on average every 91 minutes.
There is an abundance of wildlife, and among the vast grasslands and forests there are grizzly bears, wolves, bison and elk among other animals. There are nine lodges, 12 campgrounds and plenty of dining options that run the range from cafeterias to fine dining.
National Mall, Washington DC
Not many people know that a strip of land in the capital is actually a national park, but the grassy mall that connects the Capitol Building to the Lincoln Memorial certainly is one.
Washington DC may be overlooked by some as a long weekend destination from the UK, but there is heaps to do, with the free museums of the Smithsonian Institute – many of which line the National Mall – leading the way.
On the Mall itself you can climb the recently-reopened Washington Monument, as well as visit memorials to Martin Luther King Jr, Thomas Jefferson and Franklin D Roosevelt, as well as to those who fell in the Second World War, and Korea and Vietnam wars.
Zion, Utah
It’s the breathtaking landscapes of Zion, especially Zion Canyon, that draw thousands of visitors to this park every year for hiking, climbing and camping.
At sunset the huge sandstone cliffs seem to glow and change from cream to red, making it a photographer’s paradise. It’s about two and a half hours from Las Vegas, and certainly makes for a contrasting two-centre holiday – and you can easily add on Bryce Canyon National Park, some 50 miles away, too.
Being so far from light pollution, Zion is an excellent spot for stargazing and in the summer there are popular ranger-led astronomy sessions.
Acadia, Maine
Created just after the First World War, this is the oldest national park east of the Mississippi River and sits on the rugged coast of Maine, not far from the border with Canada. (Boston is the nearest US gateway city, about a five-hour drive south, or fly into the local airport of Bar Harbor.)
Visitors come to simply enjoy the maritime scenery, hike, go kayaking, cycle along old carriage roads or enjoy the wildlife – they might spot beavers, porcupines, moose, black bears and coyotes.
There are no lodges within the park, but two campsites, one of which is open year-round.
Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
Visitors who want to do more than just lie on a beach won’t be disappointed with this national park – how could they be when it contains not one but two active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa?
The former is one of the liveliest on the planet, spewing ash and red-hot lava into the sea. There are plenty of hiking trails here, but it’s a good idea to watch the safety videos at the visitor centre first.
There are two campsites within the park at Namakanipaio and Kulanaokuaiki, although it’s only 45 minutes from the town of Hilo, which has direct flights to Los Angeles, for a wider range of accommodation options.
Denali , Alaska
If clients want to get away from the neighbours this is the one for them: six million acres bisected by a single road, several hundred miles north of Anchorage. Dramatic landscapes change from pine and larch forests to high alpine tundra and glaciers, culminating in breathtaking views of North America’s highest mountain, the 20,000ft-plus Mt McKinley.
Wildlife spotting is a priority for most and you’d have a good chance if you were out hiking of sighting black and grizzly bears, moose, wolves and reindeer. In winter, clients could try dog-sledding as well as cross-country skiing.
There are several lodges within the park, as well as camp sites, but many visitors arrive in an RV.
Sample product
Funway Holidays offers an 11-day fly-drive with flights into Los Angeles and departing San Francisco with car hire and accommodation that includes, among other places, Death Valley and Yosemite, from £1,159.
Gold Medal offers a seven-night fly-drive that takes in Las Vegas, Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, as well as Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon, from £1,769 including American Airlines flights from Heathrow.
Virgin Holidays offers a four-night long weekend in Washington DC with flights and room-only accommodation at the Doubletree Hotel Crystal City, from £889.
Trek America’s Alaskan Denali tour visits the national park with activities such as glacier hikes and canoeing, and starts from £2,088 including flights and camping accommodation,departing August 3.
