Lonely PlanetJul 15
12 of the newest national parks in the US
You might already know the most popular US national parks, but maybe not the newer ones. Here
Beginner-friendly trail to hundreds of examples of rock art.
19 things in this story
- SaguaroSightHome to towering Arizona cacti, some tallest in the world.
- Signal Hill Petroglyph TrailTrailBeginner-friendly trail to hundreds of examples of rock art.
- Elsewhere
- YellowstoneSightYellowstone National Park, United StatesIt was established by the 42nd U.S.
- Grand CanyonSightGrand Canyon Village, United StatesThe Grand Canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide and attains a depth of over a mile.
- Great Smoky MountainsPlaceGatlinburg, United StatesThey are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains and form part of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province.
- White SandsAirportAlamogordo, United StatesSled New Mexico's gypsum dunes, otherworldly hues at sunrise/sunset.
- New River Gorge National Park and PreserveNature reserveOak Hill, United StatesWest Virginia's first national park, great for white water rafting.
- CongareeSightGaston, United StatesSouthern swamp with strange root sculptures from giant cypress trees.
- YosemiteSightYosemite Valley, United StatesIt is bordered on the southeast by the Sierra National Forest and on the northwest by Stanislaus National Forest.
- Indiana DunesNature reservePorter, United StatesUrban park with incredible biodiversity, rivals Hawaiʻi.
- Gateway ArchParkSt. Louis, United StatesUtterly moving monument honoring westward migration.
- PinnaclesSightSoledad, United StatesKnown for eroded spires, extinct volcano, and talus caves.
- Great Sand DunesSightMosca, United StatesTallest dunes in North America, great for sandboarding.
- Cuyahoga ValleyNature reserveBrecksville, United StatesPeaceful and waterfall-filled urban oasis.
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National ParkNature reserveMontrose, United StatesNamesake rock walls drop a dizzying 2600ft below.
- IntegratronSightJoshua Tree, United StatesCuriosity built by a UFOlogist, used for sound baths.
- Crochet MuseumMuseumJoshua Tree, United StatesA teeny tiny museum.
- Noah Purifoy outdoor museum and sculpture parkMuseumJoshua Tree, United StatesOutdoor museum and sculpture park.
- Krblin Jihn KabinSightJoshua Tree, United StatesArt installation dedicated to an alternate reality.