The best of the USA’s natural beauty

When it comes to the USA, it’s no surprise that people are keen to visit. After all, the nation offers some of the world’s most thrilling and unique cities.

From the romance of New Orleans’ French Quarter to New York’s iconic landmarks, there really is something for everyone. But for every urban attraction, there’s an impressive natural wonder that you can’t miss. 

To see some of this magnificent scenery firsthand, head to one of the US’s top destinations for nature.

Oakhurst is a small community just outside of Yosemite National Park. You can enter the park via the south entrance, where you’ll be greeted with the beautiful Mariposa Grove. 

This avenue of ancient Giant Sequoia trees includes the Grizzly Giant – a tree thought to be between 1,900–2,400 years old. From there, it’s about a 45-minute drive to Yosemite Valley, sure to make for one of the best road trip routes in the USA for nature lovers. Here, you’ll see sweeping views of enormous granite cliffs. 

Take a photo of the mighty El Capitan rock formation or the tall, thin Bridalveil Falls in the background. But don’t be disappointed if your camera can’t quite convey the unparalleled, real-life beauty of the landscape.

Marco Island’s white sand beaches are worth a visit in their own right, but the island also offers convenient access to the Everglades National Park and the Ten Thousand Islands. 

The Everglades is a maze of connected islets and twisted mangroves, making it a surreal place to canoe, explore leafy tunnels and maybe even catch a glimpse of an alligator. 

You can take guided tours on foot – or by an airboat if you so choose – to spot manatees, birds and other flora and fauna.

One of the US’s most treasured national parks, Joshua Tree, is just a short drive from the dusty, desert city of Twentynine Palms. 

The park straddles the Mojave and Colorado deserts and is named after its native Joshua trees. These types of trees are peculiar evergreens with spiky, cactus leaves reaching upwards. 

Follow the hiking trails that weave through the landscape and valleys, stopping at points like Keys View for views that really show off the best of the USA’s nature.

As an official International Dark Sky Park, Joshua Tree is an especially stunning spot to stargaze and admire clear views of the Milky Way, if the weather permits.

The tiny town of Gardiner has served as a gateway to Yellowstone National Park since before the park was officially founded in 1872. 

As Yellowstone is the US’s first national park, spanning three states and 2.2 million acres, you can expect vast landscapes and surreal views.

The nature reserve is home to elk, bison, moose, bears, deer and a host of other wildlife. People flock to see geothermal spectacles such as Old Faithful, a cone-shaped geyser that erupts almost every hour.

Flagstaff is the closest big city to the Grand Canyon, located around 80 miles from both the south and east entrance stations to the South Rim.

It takes about an hour and a half to drive from Flagstaff to this natural masterpiece of complex rock formations and dramatic landscapes that glow red in the Arizona sun. 

For the best views, explore one of the many hiking options, book a guided sunset tour or even take off on a helicopter ride if you’re feeling extra adventurous.

Utah is home to some staggering feats and views, meaning this is most definitely the spot to experience the best of the USA's natural beauty. 

Specifically, Bluff is the place to see many of these natural wonders. On the border of Utah and Arizona are the red rock formations known as Monument Valley, created over millions of years by wind and water erosion. 

You can’t hike towards some of the formations unless accompanied by a paid guide, but make sure to take a sunrise drive to see it at its most splendid. 

Then there’s Gooseneck State Park, a deep meander of the San Juan River with layers of rock-forming artistic curves in the canyon walls.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is home to some of the nation’s best natural wonders including two active volcanoes – Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, with the latter erupting last in 2022. 

Mauna Loa is actually considered the largest volcano in the world in terms of its volume and area. Standing over 13,000 feet above sea level, the views here are nothing short of breathtaking. 

Both of these volcanoes have been shaping the landscape for hundreds of thousands of years – giving a dramatic, jagged edge to the scenery.

If you so choose, you’ll even be able to go on a tour to explore the diverse volcanic environment and even see lava flows at this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Last up on our list of the best of the USA’s natural beauty has got to be Niagara Falls. Straddling the border between the USA and Canada, this waterfall is made up mainly of the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls on the US side. On the Canadian side of the falls, you’ll find Horseshoe Falls.

Processing hundreds of thousands of gallons of water per second, this natural spectacle is certainly not one to miss. 

Why not take a tour of the falls to experience the various vantage and lookout points along the way?

Exploring nature in the USA is sure to contrast with its urban cityscapes – but offers something profoundly unique. Each natural destination – from Yosemite's cliffs to Niagara Falls’ vastness – offers a glimpse into the USA’s awe-inspiring landscapes, all waiting to be explored.