How distinctive and memorable are the park's natural features, landscapes, and overall character?

How extreme, challenging, and adventurous are the terrain, activities, and trails?

How visually stunning are the landscapes, vistas, and natural features?

How impressive and unique are the geological formations and features?

How diverse and unique is the plant life? Consider rare species and distinctive ecosystems.

How abundant and diverse is the wildlife? Consider rare species and unique animal ecosystems.

How peaceful and serene is the environment? Consider noise levels and opportunities for solitude.

How easy is it to reach and explore key features? Consider facilities and trail accessibility.

How safe is the park, region, and journey? Consider dangerous wildlife, plants, weather, crime, and political stability.

How significant are the historical and cultural features?

Coastal wilderness area with 44 km of undeveloped Bay of Fundy coastline featuring fossil-bearing cliffs, sheltered coves, beaches, saltmarshes, and coastal forest. Important habitat for endangered mainland moose and other sensitive species. The area encompasses fossil sites near the UNESCO World Heritage Joggins Fossil Cliffs.

Apple Head Access

Two Rivers Access

A network of sheltered coves and passageways near Terence Bay and Prospect, historically named for its role as a hideout for privateers. Features dramatic coastal barrens and nearly 18 km of rugged, indented coastline with coastal granite formations. Popular with yachters, kayakers, photographers, rock climbers, and anglers.

Two intact forest tracts along 10 km of Roseway River featuring mature black spruce, red maple, balsam fir, white pine, and old eastern hemlock forest with wetlands. Complements upstream conservation efforts in Tobeatic Wilderness Area. Supports canoeing, hunting, and fishing.

Kluane National Park contains Mount Logan, Canada's highest peak. The park features massive ice fields, diverse wildlife, and pristine wilderness. It's part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains one of the largest non-polar ice fields in the world.

Zhangjiajie is known for its towering sandstone pillars, deep ravines, and dense forests that inspired the floating mountains in the movie Avatar. The park features thousands of peaks and columns, many rising over 200 meters high, formed through physical erosion. The area also includes caves, streams, waterfalls, and supports diverse wildlife including macaques and salamanders.

Iguazú National Park is home to the spectacular Iguazu Falls, one of the world's largest waterfall systems. The park protects Atlantic rainforest ecosystem and numerous endemic species. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site for its exceptional natural beauty and biodiversity.

Los Glaciares National Park is home to some of the world's most famous glaciers, including the Perito Moreno Glacier. The park contains vast ice fields, dramatic mountain peaks including Mount Fitz Roy, and pristine lakes. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site for its exceptional natural beauty and geological significance.

BC's largest park protecting the Rainbow Range volcanic peaks, 260-meter Hunlen Falls, and diverse ecosystems from Kitimat Ranges to Pacific Ranges.

Along Alaska Highway in northern Rockies. Features stunning turquoise Muncho Lake.

Valhalla Ranges of Selkirk Mountains. 30 km of Slocan Lake shoreline. Protected after grassroots campaign.

Canada's oldest national park, Banff is located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. The park features dramatic mountain scenery, glaciers, ice fields, and dense coniferous forest. It's renowned for its turquoise lakes, including Lake Louise, and abundant wildlife such as elk, grizzly bears, and mountain goats.

The Réunion National Park covers the central area of Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean. It features active volcanoes, including Piton de la Fournaise, and dramatic mountain landscapes. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its unique biodiversity.

Three Parallel Rivers protected area features the upper reaches of three great rivers running parallel through steep gorges. The site contains spectacular landscapes and is one of the world's most diverse temperate regions. It is home to numerous endangered plant and animal species.

Northeastern Graham Island, Haida Gwaii. Over 100 km of sandy beaches and lush rainforest.

Haleakala National Park features the dormant Haleakala Volcano and unique volcanic landscapes. The park is known for its spectacular sunrises, rare silversword plants, and native Hawaiian ecosystems. It extends from the summit of Haleakala down to the Kipahulu coast, offering diverse experiences from mountain to sea.

Kings Canyon National Park features some of the most stunning glacial canyons in the United States. The park is home to multiple 14,000-foot peaks, the largest remaining grove of sequoia trees in the world, and some of the deepest canyons in North America. It shares many features with its neighbor, Sequoia National Park.

UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally 1 million hectares, reduced to current 24,518 hectares in 1960s.

Wilderness area in East Kootenay on Continental Divide. Originally Forest Service Wilderness Area (1987).

Expanded to 198,183 hectares in 1995. Encompasses six large drainages in the Purcell Mountains.

Massive volcanic park showcasing shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes, cinder cones, and the Spectrum Range in pristine alpine tundra wilderness.

Wilderness park 160 km southwest of Williams Lake centered on Chilko Lake and sacred Mount Tatlow (Ts'ilʔos), supporting California bighorn sheep and sockeye salmon.

Hart Ranges of Central Rocky Mountains. Features spectacular Kinuseo Falls. Expanded in 2001.

Features Niagara Falls (47.5m cascade), annual chum salmon spawning run, and 600-year-old Douglas fir trees with extensive trail system.

On BC-Alberta border adjoining Peter Lougheed Park. Sub-alpine landscapes with productive lakes.

Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. The park features glaciers, hot springs, lakes, waterfalls, and mountains. It's home to diverse wildlife including elk, bighorn sheep, bears, and wolves.

Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park protects a dramatic section of the Dolomites mountain range, known for its distinctive pale limestone peaks. The park features high-altitude meadows, dense forests, and deep valleys with rich biodiversity. It is home to numerous endemic plant species and alpine wildlife including chamois and golden eagles.

Patagonia National Park encompasses vast grasslands, mountains, and rivers in Chilean Patagonia. The park is a result of a historic conservation effort and land donation by Kristine Tompkins. It protects diverse ecosystems and provides habitat for numerous native species including guanacos and Andean condors.

Patagonia National Park protects unique grassland ecosystems and endangered species like the hooded grebe. The park features dramatic basalt plateaus, deep canyons, and numerous lakes. It serves as a crucial conservation area for native wildlife including guanacos and Andean condors.

Day-use park protecting portion of 40 km Stuart River Eskers Complex - long sinuous gravel ridges created by ancient glacial meltwater.

Northern Rocky Mountains wilderness. Part of Muskwa-Kechika Management Area.

Wrangell-St. Elias is America's largest national park, containing four major mountain ranges and numerous glaciers and volcanoes. The park includes 9 of the 16 highest peaks in the United States. This vast wilderness area features diverse ecosystems from coastal to alpine, and preserves significant cultural sites from Alaska's copper mining era.

Fiordland National Park is New Zealand's largest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It features dramatic fiords, including the famous Milford Sound, ancient rainforests, and stunning mountain landscapes. The park is home to numerous rare species and contains some of New Zealand's most famous walking tracks.

Tongariro is New Zealand's oldest national park and a dual World Heritage site. The park is centered around three active volcanoes: Tongariro, Ngauruhoe, and Ruapehu. It features the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing, one of New Zealand's best day hikes, and dramatic volcanic landscapes.

Nahuel Huapi is Argentina's oldest national park, featuring stunning Andean-Patagonian forest and glacial lakes. The park contains diverse landscapes including mountains, forests, and steppes, centered around the massive Lake Nahuel Huapi. It is home to unique wildlife including pudús, Andean condors, and huemul deer.

The National Park of American Samoa is spread across three islands in the South Pacific. It protects unique tropical rainforests, coral reefs, and Samoan culture. The park is home to unique flying foxes, tropical birds, and pristine coral reef ecosystems.

Sequoia National Park is home to some of the world's largest trees, including the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree on Earth by volume. The park features deep canyons, towering mountains, and extensive caverns. The diverse landscape ranges from deep valleys to mountain peaks, including Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States.

Yellowstone is America's first national park and home to the world's largest collection of geothermal features, including geysers, hot springs, and mud pots. The park hosts diverse wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Its most famous feature is Old Faithful geyser, which erupts approximately every 90 minutes.

Yosemite is known for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, and biological diversity. The park's iconic features include Half Dome and El Capitan, massive granite monoliths that attract rock climbers from around the world. Yosemite Valley is renowned for its stunning waterfalls, including Yosemite Falls, one of North America's tallest.

Denali features North America's highest peak and encompasses six million acres of wild land. The park is home to diverse wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, and caribou. The landscape ranges from low-elevation taiga forest to high-alpine tundra and snowy mountains.

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is a vast wilderness area featuring towering mountains, pristine fjords, and massive glaciers. The park is home to diverse wildlife including humpback whales, sea otters, and brown bears. Its dynamic glacial landscape showcases the effects of climate change and geological processes.

Features dramatic tidal rapids through narrow channel with up to 16-knot currents creating spectacular whirlpools and standing waves.

Gros Morne National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring dramatic fjords and mountains. The park showcases unique geological features including the Tablelands, which helped prove the theory of plate tectonics. Its diverse landscape includes coastal lowlands, alpine highlands, and boreal forests.

Tianshan encompasses a mountain range with spectacular snow-capped peaks and glaciers. The site features unique forest ecosystems and rare endangered species. It represents outstanding examples of ongoing ecological processes and biological evolution.

Sierra Nevada contains the highest peaks in mainland Spain, including Mulhacén. The park features unique alpine vegetation and is one of the most important botanical areas in Europe. Its high mountain landscape includes glacial lakes, deep valleys, and ancient Arabic waterways.

Huangshan is renowned for its granite peaks, hot springs, and iconic pine trees growing from rocky outcrops. The mountain often features a sea of clouds creating ethereal landscapes. It has inspired Chinese art and literature for centuries and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Huanglong is famous for its colorful pools formed by calcite deposits and travertine terraces. The valley contains snow-capped peaks, forests, and hot springs. Its unique geological features and biodiversity have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status.

Jiuzhaigou is famous for its turquoise lakes, multi-level waterfalls, and colorful forests. The valley contains numerous scenic spots including crystal-clear pools and snow-capped mountains. It is particularly spectacular in autumn when the forest displays vibrant colors.

Glacier National Park features pristine forests, alpine meadows, rugged mountains, and spectacular lakes. With over 700 miles of trails, it is a hiker's paradise offering solitude and wilderness. The park is home to over 70 species of mammals including grizzly bears, mountain goats, and wolverines.

Discover National Parks Worldwide

Featured Parks

American Samoa

Top 3 Metrics

Ts'ilʔos

Top 3 Metrics

Elk Lakes

Top 3 Metrics

Our Rating System

Uniqueness

Intensity

Beauty

Geology

Plant Life

Wildlife

Tranquility

Access

Safety

Heritage

Explore Our Features

Deep Dive Into Any Park

American Samoa

Join Our Community

Rate & Review Parks

Save Your Favorites

Suggest New Parks