The world is a wide, wonderful place, full of places and experiences sure to fill your bucket and stoke your wanderlust. And while we adore man-made monoliths and architectural marvels, Mother Nature really is the most inspired designer. With precision and care, she's conjured and created some of the most beautiful natural wonders in the world -- right here in the U.S. These are phenomenal places that will provoke a sense of awe and wonder, and they all belong on your bucket list. Let's take a look at some of the best natural wonders in the U.S.
Mountains In The U.S.
The United States has an abundance of beautiful mountain ranges from the Appalachian Mountains in the East to the Rocky Mountains in the West. If you enjoy towering snow-capped mountains or even gently rolling hills these featured mountain ranges should be on your list of must-see natural wonders.
- Location: Moran, WY
- Known For: At first glance, you might mistake the Grand Tetons of Wyoming for Alaska's Denali; this range is just that resplendent. But upon further investigation, the grazing buffalo and golden prairies belie the Tetons and their Wyoming locale.
- Where To Stay Nearby: One of the best places to stay when visiting the Grand Teton National Park is the Crystal Springs Lodge. A two-bedroom condo has plenty of room for up to eight guests.
This beautiful national park is 310,000 acres of mountains and valleys dotted with beautiful alpine lakes that sit in the foothills, in the canyons, and on the valley floors. It's populated with some of the most wondrous wildlife in the country: elk and moose, bears, and bison. Grand Teton's scenic beauty has long caught the eye of artists and photographers; Oxbow Bend was made famous by the photographer Ansel Adams, who captured its pristine beauty on film. Today, photographers line up at sunset to recreate their own interpretation of the scene, which, if you ask us, is most definitely an adventure for your bucket list.
Watch the ultimate travel guide to the Grand Teton National Park in this video from Travel Eaz:
- Location: Healy, AK
- Known For: Denali is the highest mountain peak in North America at an astounding 20,310 feet. In comparison, Mount Everest considered the tallest mountain peak, sits at 29,029 feet. It is interesting to note that if we measure a mountain not by height above sea level but from base to tip, Mauna Kea in Hawaii is the tallest mountain in the world at 33,464 feet because the base is far below water. If we only measure the base above water to the tip, Denali is then the tallest mountain in the world.
- Where To Stay Nearby: With only a ten-minute drive to Denali National Park from this beautiful mountain home you'll be in prime position to enjoy a gorgeous Alaskan getaway. The Denali Sunset House has room for ten guests and has been featured in multiple publications.
Once we set aside the controversy around which mountain is the tallest in the world and simply focus on the natural beauty before us, Denali is certainly one of the greatest wonders of the world. It is also interesting to note that it was once called Mount McKinley. The native Alaskan people, the Koyukon, requested in 1975 that the name be changed to Denali because that had been the name they had given it long before the National Park Service had named it Mt. McKinley. Denali is based on the Koyukon name Deenaalee, meaning "the high one." It wasn't until 2016, the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, that the official name of the mountain was changed to Denali.
Canyons In The U.S.
Now that we have covered the highest peaks in the United States, let's travel deep down into the lowest canyons. Our stunning canyons definitely deserve a place on the list of top natural wonders in the USA.
- Location: Scenic, SD
- Known For: Renowned for their rich and vibrant fossil beds, the Badlands, named as such by the native Lakota tribe for its arid and extreme terrain, are unlike anywhere else in the U.S.
- Where To Stay Nearby: The only way to go when staying in the Badlands is by booking this secluded Badlands ranch. It's an old renovated farmhouse surrounded by 150 square miles of land ready for outdoor adventures.
Lauded as one of the most beautiful places on the planet, the Badlands of South Dakota are a true world wonder. Not only are the Badlands magnificent, but also historic, as they were formed by geologic forces of deposition and erosion 69 million years ago following the retreating of an ancient sea. In addition to their geological history, the Badlands also served as a vital spot for early Native Americans who used the landscape for hunting some 11,000+ years ago. History aside, there's an indefinable and irresistible je ne sais quoi about Badlands -- the colors and curves, gradients and geography -- that truly can only be appreciated in person.
- Location: Littlefield, AZ
- Known For: The Grand Canyon is one of the largest and longest canyons on Earth and one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World. A playground for outdoor enthusiasts, the Grand Canyon is also a beloved destination for waterfall chasers, as it's home to some of the country's finest falls.
- Where To Stay Nearby: The view from the back patio of this five-bedroom home in Page, AZ is absolutely picturesque. You are in a prime position to enjoy the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, and so much more.
The Grand Canyon can be explored in myriad ways: you can drive up to scenic viewpoints, explore on a helicopter tour, whitewater raft down the Colorado River, or even walk out onto a glass bridge. When a place is as ingrained in our national consciousness as the Grand Canyon, it's easy to lose sight of just how extraordinary a place Arizona's Grand Canyon is, so we recommend reacquainting yourself with this world wonder. Because no matter how you choose to experience the Grand Canyon, it will be a bucket-list-worthy adventure you'll never forget.
- Location: Kanab, UT
- Known For: In a state known for its striking canyons and gorges, Buckskin Gulch truly stands out as one of the most incredible and picturesque. This gulch is more than 12 miles long and anywhere from 100 to 200 feet deep.
- Where To Stay Nearby: This lovely three-bedroom home in Kanab, The Garden House, is ready for your adventure to the Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness and Buckskin Gulch.
Did you know Utah was home to the world's largest slot canyon? (Or even that there was such a thing?) It is, and there is, and this natural wonder is known as Buckskin Gulch, located in the Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness along the Utah and Arizona border. There are many trailheads that will take you to Buckskin Gulch, but one of the best and most accessible is the Wire Pass Trail. This 3.7-mile round-trip trail has a few challenging areas, but overall, it's a family-friendly trek in Utah that is unforgettable -- no technical gear required! Just be warned: the trail gets rather narrow in parts; so if you're claustrophobic, take a deep breath and focus on your surroundings. Because they truly are spectacular.
- Location: Sunset, SC
- Known For: Nestled along the Blue Ridge Escarpment, the Jocassee Gorges tract includes 50,000 acres that extend from the upstate of South Carolina and into North Carolina.
- Where To Stay Nearby: This secluded waterfall cabin in Transylvania County (don't worry we checked for vampires) is right near North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains.
Some places in the world are simply too beautiful for words. There isn't language to accurately convey the breadth and depth of their beauty; these are wondrous places that simply must be experienced. Jocassee Gorges is one of these places. Hailed as the "Grand Canyon of South Carolina," in 2012, National Geographic called Jocassee Gorges the "destination of a lifetime," including it as one of "50 Of The World’s Last Great Places." Over a decade later, this divine destination continues to attract lovers of nature and art alike, because this landmark is -- and will always be -- truly, breathtakingly, beautiful. It truly is one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders in the U.S.
Caves In The U.S.
The world below the earth is an incredible and mysterious place filled with undiscovered life and epic mineral formations. Let's take a look at our national best and most awe-inspiring caves and caverns.
- Location: Eddy County, NM
- Known For: Located 20 miles outside the city of Carlsbad, New Mexico, this extraordinary natural wonder is a limestone cave that was once part of an underwater reef in an inland sea.
- Where To Stay Nearby: This mighty nice home in Carlsbad is set up nicely to host your family on your vacation to New Mexico. It even has an old-school Pac-Man arcade machine - no doubt the true origins of Carlsbad Caverns - you never know.
While the U.S. is home to some of the world's most marvelous, mammoth caves, Carlsbad Caverns is on a whole other level... or planet. Put in perspective, the body of water that formed the cavern was on Earth 250 to 280 million years ago. Our planet certainly looked very different back then. Today, visitors can explore this otherworldly expanse on two trails: The Big Room and Natural Entrance. We're partial to the former; it's the largest single cave chamber in the United States and features stunning formations such as the fabled Sword of Damocles.
- Location: Chattanooga, TN
- Known For: Ruby Falls is the tallest publicly accessible underground waterfall in the United States. In 1928 this 145-foot waterfall was discovered somewhat by accident. Leo Lambert, a chemist and cave enthusiast, was drilling an elevator shaft into Lookout Mountain so he could open up the cave system to tourists. He discovered the giant beautiful waterfall and named it after his wife, Ruby.
- Where To Stay Nearby: Stay at the incredible Cabin at the Ledge high above the stunning Tennessee Valley with a crystal clear infinity pool that will blow you away.
Can you imagine exploring a deep cave system with strange and unusual rock formations creeping up from the ground and dangling dangerously above your head, when suddenly you step into a gigantic cavern with a roaring 145-foot waterfall plunging into a dark pool? That's what it was like when this amazing natural wonder was first discovered in 1929. Today, Ruby Falls still mesmerizes guests with its strange beauty - even more so with the guided lantern tour and light show that turns this already amazing feature into a thing of mystical beauty.
Waterfront Natural Wonders
A list of natural landmarks in the USA wouldn't be complete without some of our most beautiful water features. From waterfalls to legendary whirlpools, we have some very interesting things to show you.
- Location: McCreary County & Whitley County, KY
- Known For: In the middle of the beautiful Bluegrass State, there is a natural phenomenon that's so rare, it's only experienced in a few places in the world. Known as a "moonbow," Cumberland Falls is one of the few places on the planet that regularly produces this prismatic phenomenon, created when light is refracted in the waterfall's spraying water droplets.
- Where To Stay Nearby: This incredible mountain cabin surrounded by gorgeous scenery is the perfect getaway to enjoy Cumberland Falls.
At Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, you'll find the eponymous Cumberland Falls - Kentucky's "Niagara of the South" - a majestic 68-foot waterfall on the Cumberland River. Not only is Cumberland Falls an awe-inspiring force, but when you get the chance to experience the rare moonbow it is an enchanting moment few have ever seen. One of the most spectacular and accessible waterfall trails in the country, the Moonbow Trail is a Kentucky bucket list must - especially at night. The moonbow lingers above the falls for up to two days as long as the sky is clear, on either end of the full moon, and it's one of the best natural wonders you'll ever see.
- Location: Pennsylvania and New Jersey
- Known For: With its tranquil landscapes and gently curving swaths of water along 40 miles of lush terrain, the Delaware Water Gap is the longest free-flowing river east of the Mississippi.
- Where To Stay Nearby: When planning your vacation to the Delaware Water Gap this beautiful rustic cabin in Pennsylvania is a wonderful place to rest your weary head at night.
Mother Nature really is the best artist; for proof of this, simply visit the Delaware Water Gap, where the Delaware River cuts through the Appalachian Mountains in a perfect, sinewy "S" shape, feeding a 67,000-acre recreation area with lakes, streams, and waterfalls. It's not just us who admire this natural wonder, either; the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area has been a favorite destination for decades, earning numerous accolades over the years. Lauded as the most beautiful place in Pennsylvania, once you stand atop Arrow Island Overlook and gaze out at the expanse below, you'll be filled with awe and wonder at this beautiful country of ours.
Take a look at this video of the Delaware Water Gap and other stunning scenery in PA by @OnlyInYourState:
Unique Natural Wonders
Some of our most incredible natural features do not fit into just one class. The following natural wonders are as unique as they are beautiful.
- Location: Redcrest, CA
- Known For: The giant redwood once stood 362 feet tall and was considered the tallest tree in the park before its fall in 1991. The redwood’s crash to the ground moved the earth so much that it registered on a nearby seismograph, and one local, who heard the impact from half a mile away, thought a train had crashed.
- Where To Stay Nearby: The Grayland Getaway is a wonderful three-bedroom home on the cliffs of the Eel River on the Redwood Coast.
As some of the greatest icons of Northern California, visiting the redwood trees always makes for a bucket-list-worthy adventure. With multiple forests and groves waiting to be explored, you could spend an entire lifetime seeing them all. However, if there’s one you definitely should experience at least once, it’s Founders’ Grove. Located along the popular Avenue of Giants, it’s here where you can walk among some of the tallest trees in the world, including the magnificent Dyerville Giant. On the Founders Grove Loop, you can walk the whole length of the tree and stand in awe of its massive, marvelous root system.
- Location: Volcano, HI
- Known For: Some say the tallest mountain in the world can be found in the park. Mauna Loa, when measured from the base of the mountain below the ocean to the tallest peak measures an astounding 33,500 feet (give or take a few feet). The most active volcano in the world is also located in the park, Kilauea.
- Where To Stay Nearby: This beautiful treehouse rental is a little slice of paradise located minutes from Volcanoes National Park.
A place where fire and water meet in a violent, earth-shaking spectacle, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is an otherworldly natural wonder. This earth-shattering event is responsible for creating the Hawaiian Islands, and it's on full display at this national park, which has 523 square miles of jaw-dropping scenery. The park contains some of the world’s most awe-inspiring wonders, not to mention two active volcanoes, offering visitors the once-in-a-lifetime experience to be up close and personal with these fantastic, fire-breathing wonders.
Little-Known Natural Wonders
Everyone has heard about the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls, but there are plenty of little-known natural wonders that deserve some attention. Here are a few you may not have heard about, but should definitely put on your bucket list.
- Location: Alamogordo, NM
- Known For: White Sands is an extensive desert of gypsum crystals that give this national park its name. It almost looks like a snow-covered landscape than a desert, and that's part of its appeal. The white against the bright blue New Mexico sky makes it an attractive place for photographers and nature lovers alike.
- Where To Stay Nearby: A mere 10 miles from White Sands National Monument, this Pueblo-style home is a magical getaway perfect for a family vacation to the Land of Enchantment. This vacation rental is also close to Organ National Monument.
With its striking pure white sand dunes made of gypsum crystals, there's no other place in the U.S. like White Sands National Monument. There are opportunities aplenty for enjoying these unique sands. You can certainly hike through the landscape, take photos, go back-country camping, go on a dunes drive, and even feel like a kid again as you sled down the dunes. This national park is a wondrous, bucket-list-worthy experience in New Mexico!
- Location: Townsend, TN
- Known For: Cades Cove is a valley that can be found on the Tennessee side of the Smoky Mountain National Park, and the natural beauty of the valley is absolutely stunning. As a result, Cades Cove is a highly sought-after destination that's one of the park's most popular. More than 2 million folks visit every year.
- Where To Stay Nearby: Right in the heart of Pigeon Forge you'll find Mystic View, a beautiful mountain cabin in the woods.
The country's most-visited national park, the Great Smoky Mountains span half a million acres across eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, offering a near-endless list of bucket-list-worthy adventures, from hiking and camping to paddling and climbing. But the thing is, you don't need to partake in any of those activities to have a bucket-list-worthy experience in the Smokies; you simply have to stop and look around. Because the scenery here is nothing short of spectacular, especially at Cades Cove. These golden fields, verdant forests, and fog-kissed, deep blue mountains make for the ultimate nature postcard.
Take a look at this video footage of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by @OnlyInYourState:
The most marvelous natural wonders in the world are right here in the U.S., just waiting to be discovered, enjoyed, and appreciated by all of us. So what are you waiting for? What would you add to this list of the best natural wonders in the U.S.? Share a few ideas in the comments section.
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