8 Of The Best National Parks To Visit This Summer

Looking for an ultimate National Parks escape this summer season?

The United States is home to some of the most breathtaking national parks in the world, some of which feature mountains, deserts, beaches, waterfalls, and other beautiful landscapes unique in the world.

Whether you are looking for a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or a backpacking adventure, you can head out to these parks this summer. Here are 8 of the best national parks you can visit in the USA during the summer season.

The Best National Parks to Visit in Summer

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

Crater Lake National Park in Oregon tops our list for the right reasons!

This park looks like a fairytale in the winter season and provides equally breathtaking scenery during the summer months.

The best time to visit this park is from July to September. In other months, it gets covered in about 40 feet of snow, making it hard to access.

The main highlight of this park is the lakes that were formed around 7,000 years ago due to the eruption of a volcano that left a caldera.

You can enjoy a scenic drive along the rim, hike to the top, witness the surreal views from a boat, or also swim only if you can tolerate the freezing cold waters.

Glacier National Park, Montana

The Glacier National Park used to be home to about 150 glaciers. Today, unfortunately, due to global warming, there are only six left, but scientists fear that they will also be gone in the next few years.

It’s a great opportunity to see those glaciers while you can, the best thing to do in the summer season.

To access the park, you’ll drive through one of the most beautiful routes that only open from mid-June to early October due to snowfall.

As you enter the park, you can hike to see the glacier up close.

Other noteworthy sights in the park include lakes, streams, wildlife, waterfalls, and wildflowers. Top activities to enjoy in summer are hiking, fishing, boating, kayaking, and helicopter tours.

Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

If you want to see a glacier in the summer season, head out to the Kenai Fjords National Park.

The main attraction of the park is the Exit Glacier, that is closed in the winter season due to snowfall. You can either drive the Exit Glacier Road or go for a short and easy trail that is one mile long.

It starts at the Glacier Nature Center and takes you to the best viewpoints.

You can also book a cruise and enjoy the nature and wildlife in their natural habitat.

The park is home to many animals like moose, black and brown bears, sea otters, and killer whales.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

We can never miss to mention Grand Canyon when talking about the National Parks.

Popular not only in the United States but all across the world, this park has a magnificent landscape like nowhere else.

During the summer season, the park gets very crowded with tourists, but it’s worth visiting as the North Rim is open this time of the year.

Hiking the park, rafting in the Colorado River, and ranger programs are some of the most popular activities to enjoy here.

Yosemite National Park, California

Yellowstone National Park is accessible all year round, but the most spectacular scenes can be witnessed in the summer season when the highest mountain pass, Tioga Road, is open.

The road connects the park to the mining towns of Sierra and takes you along the mountain lakes, Tuolumne Meadows, and trailheads.

As you drive past these unreal landscapes, you will be mesmerized as you enter the park. The best attractions here include the Yosemite Falls and breathtaking views of Half Dome and El Capitan.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Seeing Bryce Canyon National Park is once in a lifetime experience.

Even though the park is open all year round, summer is the best time to visit when the weather is pleasant – not too hot nor too cold.

The park offers spectacular views from the overlooks such as Natural Bridge, Rainbow Point, Bryce Point, and Yovimpa Point.

If you want an up-close experience with hoodoos (tent rocks – the main highlight of Bryce), you should hike from fun trails, some of which are Navajo Loop, Peek-A-Boo Loop, and Fairyland Loop.

No matter what you decide to do at the Bryce National Park, you’ll be surprised by its beauty in every corner.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho

The beauty of Yellowstone National Park can be seen in its full glory during the summer season.

The park encompasses an area of about 3,472 square miles, making it one of the largest in the United States, spawning across Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho.

The main attractions of Yellowstone are its geothermal sites, including bubble mud pots, geysers, fumaroles, and hot springs. Other activities that visitors can participate in include horseback riding, biking, boating, fishing, and hiking.

Denali National Park, Alaska

Located in Alaska, Denali is the second-largest park in the United States.

The park is popular for its breathtaking landscape, abundant wildlife, and wonderful hiking opportunities. When you visit the park, you can easily spot grizzly bears, deers, moose, and wolves.

The park has about 90 miles of driving, but only 16 miles can be covered through self-drive.

From there, you can take a guided tour. The best part of the park is that it doesn’t get dark early due to the proximity to the north pole.

That means you can spend all day exploring the park and enjoying as many activities as possible!

What are some other amazing national parks in the USA to visit during the summer?

If you have any other recommendations, feel free to list them in the comment section below!

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