LAST UPDATED: 2/3/24 – Top National Park Viewpoints

Not only that, but its location in the Mojave Desert makes it an ideal location to star gaze and camp. Americans have always valued the wide-open expanses of their wilderness. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the concept of national parklands started in America.

That’s right, it all started when Yellowstone was designated as a national park back in 1872. It became the world’s first protected parkland, and the United States hasn’t looked back. Since then, the network of parks has grown to include 63 national parks and 130 national monuments.

Within these parks and monuments are some of the most beautiful landscapes on the planet. They include towering mountains, stunning deserts, vast prairies, enormous wetlands, breathtaking seashores, and even active volcanoes.

Altogether, it is a stunning array of beautiful scenery for you to explore. However, out of all the views in America’s public lands, some stand out as more beautiful than others.

I have put together a list of the Top 20 most beautiful viewpoints in America’s national parks. These are viewpoints that take my breath away and keep me wanting to come back to see them again and again.

However, that isn’t to say there aren’t other viewpoints worthy of being on this list. There are so many to choose from, so let me know if I missed one that you find especially beautiful. Not only do I want to hear about it, but I am sure other readers do as well.

Inspiration Point

Bryce Canyon National Park

Not surprisingly, one of my favorite viewpoints in America’s national parks is also in one of my favorite national parks.  Bryce Canyon National Park has a lot of great viewpoints that allow you to see the beautiful hoodoo-filled canyon, but Inspiration Point is by far my favorite.  In my opinion, this viewpoint gives you the best perspective of the gorgeous canyon below.

Angel’s Landing

Zion National Park

Few other viewpoints in America’s national park system evoke as strong of emotions as Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park.  Making the roughly 1-mile out-and-back hike to this viewpoint elicits emotions of fear, relief, amazement, wonder, and awe. 

It is one of the most dangerous hikes in the United States, but also one of the most popular and highly rated hikes in the national parks because the payoff at the end is so great.  The views from Angel’s Landing will literally leave you speechless.

Delicate Arch Viewpoint

Arches National Park

It can be argued that few other rock formations in the United States are as recognizable as the Delicate Arch in Arches National Park.  This arch is so iconic that it is actually featured on the license plate for the state of Utah.  One of the best hikes in the national park system, the hike up to Delicate Arch also allows you to get up close and personal with this amazing Arch.  This makes it one of the best viewpoints in America’s national park system.

Grand Prismatic Viewpoint

Yellowstone National Park

The world’s first national park also has one of America’s most impressive, and colorful, viewpoints.  The Grand Prismatic Hot Spring in Yellowstone National Park is one of the world’s largest hot springs.  This beautiful hot spring has different layers of color that are created by the different types of algae that grow in the different temperature regions of the hot spring. 

If you want the best view of this amazing work of Mother Nature, hike up behind the hot spring and get a view down onto the hot spring from the hill behind it.

Mesa Arch Viewpoint

Canyonlands National Park

One of the best vista viewpoints in America’s national parks has to be the Mesa Arch viewpoint in Canyonlands National Park.  If you can beat the crowds and get a spot at this viewpoint before sunrise, you will get some of the best sunrise pictures you have ever taken at this viewpoint.  Not only are you able to see great expanses of the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park, but you can use the beautiful Mesa Arch to frame your pictures.

Tunnel View

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is such a beautiful park that it has many viewpoints that could be classified among America’s best, but the Tunnel View is arguably the most famous viewpoint in the park because it is absolutely stunning.  This viewpoint gives viewers a look down the entirety of Yosemite Valley, with the iconic Half Dome and El Capitan guarding both sides of the breathtaking valley.

Keys View

Joshua Tree National Park

While Joshua Tree National Park is most famous for its iconic Joshua Trees and rock-climbing scrambles, there is a viewpoint within the park that is amongst the most beautiful in America’s national parks.  Keys View is one of the highest points within the park and gives visitors some absolutely amazing views of this stunning landscape.

Logan Pass Viewpoint

Glacier National Park

You really can’t go wrong with any viewpoint on the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park, but my favorite viewpoint on this amazing alpine road is the viewpoint for Logan’s Pass.  You really get a great sense of just how massive this landscape is from this viewpoint.  Not to mention, the views are absolutely incredible, especially at sunrise.

Hoh Rainforest

Olympic National Park

When you think about the continental United States, I am guessing your first thoughts aren’t of rainforests.  In fact, many people who are unfamiliar with the Pacific Northwest are completely unaware that America has forests that are classified as rainforests.  These forests aren’t the tropical type that you would find in Central and South America, Asia, and parts of Africa, but they do get quite a bit of rain.

These forests, with their moss-covered trees and abundance of wildlife, are so beautiful that the most famous of these rainforests has made my list of the most iconic viewpoints in America’s national parks.  The Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park is absolutely breathtaking and should be near the top of the list of visits for any national park enthusiast.

Rio Grande Overlook

Big Bend National Park

There are plenty of incredible viewpoints in the beautiful Big Bend National Park. However, my favorite spot in this Texas park is undoubtedly the Rio Grande Overlook. The views of the iconic river are simply breathtaking. If you are lucky enough to be there at sunset to see the colorful sky paint the desert and the river, you will be in awe.

Desert View Watchtower

Grand Canyon National Park

When most people think of America’s national parks, the Grand Canyon is typically at the top of their lists.  This is no surprise because the Grand Canyon is one of the most extreme and beautiful landscapes in the United States, if not the world. 

The Grand Canyon National Park has more than its share of beautiful viewpoints, but my favorite is undoubtedly the Desert View viewpoint.  Not only do you get some of the most beautiful views of the canyon, but you also get to enjoy views of architect Mary Colter’s stunning Desert View Watchtower as well.

High Peaks Trail Viewpoint

Pinnacles National Park

With all of the renowned national parklands in California, I feel like Pinnacles National Park is sometimes overlooked. It’s a shame because this beautiful park has some stunning viewpoints. One of my favorite spots to enjoy the beauty of the park is from the top of the High Peaks Trail.

Not only are the views of the mountains and the jagged rocks breathtaking, but you might even spot a condor. These highly endangered birds are found in numbers within the park and the High Peaks area is one of their favorite spots.

Alstrom Point

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

While Glen Canyon National Recreation Area isn’t technically in a national park, this viewpoint is too incredible not to include. Besides, the Glen Canyon area is managed by the National Park Service, so I’m counting it. If you are a fan of breathtaking viewpoints, you haven’t seen anything until you see Alstrom Point.

While it is a bit of a challenge to get to, the views are worth it. You can see straight across Lake Powell, with its sweeping canyons and gorgeous hoodoo rock formations emerging from the water.

Reflection Canyon

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

If I am going to count viewpoints in Glen Canyon, I would be remiss if I didn’t include the most beautiful of them all. Seriously, Reflection Canyon may be the most stunning viewpoint in North America. Sure, it has competition, but this viewpoint can hold its own.

The most stunning thing is, that very few people even knew about this canyon until a picture was published of it in National Geographic in 2006. That tells you how remote Reflection Canyon is. If you want to get there, it will take a lot of effort, but I doubt you will ever see a more beautiful view than this. Words just don’t do it justice. Neither do pictures. You really have to see it for yourself to fully appreciate its beauty.

Longs Peak

Rocky Mountain National Park

As one of the highest national parks in America, it should come as no surprise that Rocky Mountain National Park would put a viewpoint in the top viewpoints list.  This amazing alpine park has many beautiful viewpoints, but the Longs Peak viewpoint has to be one of the prettiest.  Not only is the view of Longs Peak absolutely stunning, but you also have a great chance of spotting some amazing wildlife from this perch.

Watchman Lookout

Crater Lake National Park

If you are a fan of beautiful lakes, then you will absolutely love Crater Lake National Park in Oregon.  As one of the deepest lakes in the world with some of the clearest waters that I have seen in a lake, Crater Lake National Park is awe-inspiring.  One of the best viewpoints in Crater Lake National Park and one of the prettiest viewpoints in America’s national parks has to be the Watchman Lookout.  From this perch, you get a bird’s eye view of the lake and the stunning Wizard Island below.

Snake River Overlook

Grand Teton National Park

Often referred to as the Alps of the United States, the Grand Teton range is one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the North American Rocky Mountains.  The jagged peaks in this range remind me a lot of the jagged peak of the Matterhorn in Switzerland.  One of the prettier viewpoints in the Grand Teton National Park and one of the most beautiful in America’s national parks is the Snake River Overlook.

Not only does this viewpoint give you a great view of the jagged peaks of the Tetons, but you also get a great view of the Snake River.  The views of the meandering river with the beautiful mountains as a backdrop are absolutely stunning.

Wonder Lake Viewpoint

Denali National Park

Some of the wildest and most beautiful of America’s national parks lie within the state of Alaska, and one of the most beautiful parks in the state is undoubtedly Denali National Park.  Named after the highest mountain peak in North America, the word Denali roughly translates to mean “the Great One”.  And great it is, as the mountain can be seen from over a hundred miles away.

The prettiest viewpoint within Denali National Park is the Wonder Lake Viewpoint.  This beautiful Alaskan lake is mesmerizingly beautiful on its own but is even more stunning with Denali and the other mountains of the park as a backdrop.

Halema’uma’u Crater

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

While they can be extremely dangerous if you aren’t careful around them, active volcanoes can also be extremely beautiful.  People often make the mistake of thinking that the only active volcanoes in America’s national parks are in Hawaii.  While it is true that the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii has two of America’s most active volcanoes, the parks in the United States actually have over a dozen active volcanoes.  The largest of which is the super volcano of Yellowstone Valley.

Of all the places to view the volcanic activity within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, the Halema’uma’u Crater viewpoint is arguably the most beautiful.  This crater is part of the larger summit caldera of Kīlauea and one of the best places to view the lava.

Cadillac Mountain

Acadia National Park

The final viewpoint on my top viewpoints in America’s national parks list is the Cadillac Mountain Viewpoint in Acadia National Park.  And boy-oh-boy does the Cadillac Mountain viewpoint deserve its place on this list.

As the highest point along the North Atlantic seaboard, the summit of Cadillac Mountain is a great place to get a view of Bar Harbor and the rocky coast of Acadia National Park below.  The astounding views from the top of Cadillac Mountain will make you instantly fall in love with this beautiful park.

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