Zion National Park
#5 in Best U.S. National Parks
This Utah national park is a paradise for thrill-seekers. Hike Angels Landing, which brings you up through a nearly 1,500-foot natural staircase, or trek The Narrows, a 10-mile hike through the thinnest section of Zion Canyon, which requires hikers to travel upstream through the Virgin River. For a less strenuous exploration of the park, hop in your car to traverse the nearly 60-mile Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, which takes you past many of the park’s most famous landmarks.
Grand Teton National Park
#6 in Best U.S. National Parks
Jackson Hole’s backcountry is a wild wonderland begging to be explored. Once home to ranchers and fur trappers, this Wyoming park now offers more than 200 miles of trails that weave through prairies, lakes and the park’s most remarkable attribute, the jagged, snow-capped peaks of the Grand Teton mountain range. The Cascade Canyon Trail shows off the best of the park’s stunning topography. Don’t forget to stop by the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center to stock up on maps, check out its informational exhibits and watch the interesting documentary film about the park.
