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a day ago
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13 stunning natural wonders in the American West you have to see to believe
From mountain ranges to lakes to national parks, the western United States has an abundance of staggering natural beauty. This is part of a new USA TODAY network project showcasing breathtaking – and perhaps, underappreciated – views throughout the United States. These are some of the most beautiful landmarks, scenic vistas and hidden gems you can truly treasure throughout the nation. Here are a few of our favorites from the West: Glacier Bay National Park, in southeast Alaska, is a jaw-dropping wilderness where massive tidewater glaciers calve into icy waters and humpback whales surface with breathtaking grace. The park is accessible primarily by boat or plane. Most visitors arrive via cruise ship or guided excursion from Juneau, which is reachable by air from Seattle. Once in the park, expect a surreal landscape of snow-capped mountains, deep fjords, and glacial ice in hues of aquamarine. — USA TODAY staff One of Arizona's most photographed and Instagrammed sites, Horseshoe Bend is near the Arizona-Utah state line where the Colorado River flows. It's part of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and is adjacent to the Navajo Nation. Horseshoe Bend gets its name from the sinuous river meander around a sandstone formation. It has a lot in common with the Grand Canyon: Horseshoe Bend was carved out by the Colorado River over millions of years and is one of Arizona's most visited natural landmarks. It costs $10 to park a car or $5 to park a motorcycle at Horseshoe Bend. The closest town is Page, about 5 miles north. More info at: — Michael Salerno, Arizona Republic MORE DETAILS Presented by Arizona Republic Joshua Tree National Park treats visitors to a glimpse of how two deserts, the Mojave and the Colorado, can make for extraordinary sights with its impressive rock formations and the curiously shaped Joshua trees. Springtime wildflowers, cactus, and other shrubs dot a landscape that is at times flat and in some other cases elevated, and a perfect lookout. Thousands of acres comprise Joshua Tree National Park, and all that undeveloped land makes for a noticeable quietness and serenity, making it easy to get great views of the sky. — Palm Springs Desert Sun MORE DETAILS Presented by Palm Springs Desert Sun Found in southern Colorado, Great Sand Dunes National Park is home to the tallest dunes in North America. The dunes themselves are an incredible sight to behold during the day. Still, the park is also an International Dark Sky Park at night that features some of the best stargazing opportunities in the nation. In a state with thousands of breathtaking views, the combination of daytime and nighttime sightseeing is unmatched at Great Sand Dunes National Park. — David Dishman, The Coloradoan Rising 10,023 feet above sea level, Haleakalā is a dormant volcano whose summit often sits above the clouds – especially at sunrise, when the sky erupts in color and reveals the island of Maui below. Most visitors drive up from Kahului (about a two-hour trip), with many booking sunrise reservations months in advance. But beyond the iconic sunrise, Haleakalā offers hiking trails through surreal volcanic landscapes, rare native species, and stargazing unrivaled by anywhere else in Hawaii. — USA TODAY staff The Sawtooth Mountains are a stunning mountain range in central Idaho that author Ernest Hemingway loved. Sawtooth National Recreation Area has more than 700 miles of trails, 300 mountain lakes and 40 major peaks. Come for the scenic views and stay for the hiking, fishing, boating, rafting and cycling opportunities. — Shelby Slade, USA TODAY Network Located in scenic Glacier National Park in Montana, Swiftcurrent Lake features beautiful views and opportunities for hiking and tour boating. Swiftcurrent Lake is located in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park, north of the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road and many hiking trails originate in the area. Swiftcurrent Lake is also home to the largest hotel in Glacier Park, the Many Glacier Hotel. Boat tours of Swiftcurrent Lake are available as well as shuttles for the many hiking opportunities in the area starting on July 1. — Grady Higgins, Great Falls Tribune A few miles to the west of Las Vegas is Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, affording breathtaking views of big blue skies, abundant wildlife and the eponymous red rocks. It's a popular spot for cycling, hiking, horseback riding and cooling off from the desert heat (its elevation is nearly 2,000 feet higher than the Strip); more than 1.2 million visitors make the trek each year. — Brett McGinness, Reno Gazette Journal MORE DETAILS Presented by Reno Gazette Journal Towering above the landscape in northern New Mexico, Shiprock (Tsé Bitʼaʼí ) stands over 7,000 feet in elevation on the Navajo Nation. The formation, a National Natural Landmark, is one of the most recognizable vistas in the state, having been featured in film, photography and postcards for decades. Before it gained popularity as a media darling, the Shiprock formation held a prominent place in Navajo history and culture. — Las Cruces Sun-News staff Somehow, Oregon is home to only one national park. But if we're forced to pick just one place, an exploded volcano filled with some of the world's purest water in the deepest lake in the United States makes a logical choice. Crater Lake National Park gets so much snow that it's only open to summer activities for a relatively short time. So if you want to drive the Rim Road, take a boat tour, hike mountaintops, or swim the lake's bone-chilling water, focus your trip between July and September. — Zach Urness, Salem Statesman Journal MORE DETAILS Presented by Salem Statesman Journal Utah is known for its national parks and the plethora of scenic views they offer visitors. However, North Arch in Arches National Park may contain the most treasured of those views. Once visitors pull into the trailhead, the red rock arch is immediately visible, looking almost like a window into the heavens or a perfect frame for the gorgeous scenery surrounding it. — Shelby Slade, USA TODAY Network Puget Sound, pronounced "Pew-jet," stretches from the Straight of Juan de Fuca, at the northernmost corner of the United States, down through Elliott Bay and the bays and intricate inlets to the south. The Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas border to the west and Western Washington's urban centers of Seattle and Tacoma are east of the body of water. — David Nelson, Kitsap Sun MORE DETAILS Presented by Kitsap Sun Though Grand Teton National Park is well-known for its majestic scenery, Jenny Lake may be the park's greatest gem. The cool, clear waters of the lake give visitors an awe-inspiring view of several mountains and valleys. The lake also offers many boating and hiking opportunities. — Shelby Slade, USA TODAY Network This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: From deserts to glaciers: 13 breathtaking views in the Western US
USA Today
2 days ago
- USA Today
Discover America's best hidden natural wonders: 12 breathtaking views to explore
Discover America's best hidden natural wonders: 12 breathtaking views to explore These are the Most Treasured Views in America The American landscape envies none. If you're looking for the kind of view that takes your breath away – without the crowds that come with more famous landmarks, we've got you covered. Across the United States, there are countless natural wonders that often fly under the radar, offering stunning landscapes, rich history and space to roam. This is part of a new USA TODAY network project showcasing breathtaking – and perhaps, underappreciated – views throughout the United States. These are some of the most beautiful landmarks, scenic vistas and hidden gems you can truly treasure throughout the nation. Here are 12 of our favorites: Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska Glacier Bay National Park, in southeast Alaska, is a jaw-dropping wilderness where massive tidewater glaciers calve into icy waters and humpback whales surface with breathtaking grace. The park is accessible primarily by boat or plane. Most visitors arrive via cruise ship or guided excursion from Juneau, which is reachable by air from Seattle. Once in the park, expect a surreal landscape of snow-capped mountains, deep fjords, and glacial ice in hues of aquamarine. — USA TODAY staff Horseshoe Bend, Arizona One of Arizona's most photographed and Instagrammed sites, Horseshoe Bend is near the Arizona-Utah state line where the Colorado River flows. It's part of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and is adjacent to the Navajo Nation. Horseshoe Bend's name comes from the sinuous river meander around a sandstone formation. It has a lot in common with the Grand Canyon: Horseshoe Bend was carved out by the Colorado River over millions of years and is one of Arizona's most visited natural landmarks. It costs $10 to park a car or $5 to park a motorcycle at Horseshoe Bend. The closest town is Page, about 5 miles north. More info at: — Michael Salerno, Arizona Republic Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado Found in southern Colorado, Great Sand Dunes National Park is home to the tallest dunes in North America. The dunes are an incredible sight to behold during the day, but the park is also an International Dark Sky Park at night that features some of the best stargazing opportunities in the nation. In a state with thousands of breathtaking views, the combination of daytime and nighttime sightseeing is unmatched at Great Sand Dunes National Park. — David Dishman, The Coloradoan Gordon's Pond Trail, Delaware What makes Gordon's Pond Trail special? These trails offer a coastal vibe that can linger from the summer into autumn. They are known for coastal views and bird watching. These trails are primarily flat. The surface of the Gordon's Pond Trail is a mix of crushed stone and boardwalk, so it's a great option for walkers and anyone on wheels, too. Great blue herons, green herons, great egrets, snowy egrets, dunlins, sanderlings and other sorts of shorebirds abound, making for great photography, too. — Delaware News Journal Jekyll Island's Driftwood Beach, Georgia A short hike through scrubby marsh and undulating dunes leads to one of Georgia's most breathtaking sites: a sculpture garden handcrafted over centuries by wind, salt and water. Jekyll Island's Driftwood Beach is the final resting place of live oaks and other trees that were around when Gilded Age families with names like Vanderbilt and Rockefeller 'wintered' at the exclusive Jekyll Island Club. Once tethered to the uplands, beach erosion and storms have liberated them from their sentinels, tossing them in gnarled heaps along the north end of the island where tides both soften and harden their resolve. — Savannah Morning News Haleakalā National Park, Hawaii Rising 10,023 feet above sea level, Haleakalā is a dormant volcano whose summit often sits above the clouds – especially at sunrise, when the sky erupts in color and reveals the island of Maui below. Most visitors drive up from Kahului (about a two-hour trip), with many booking sunrise reservations months in advance. But beyond the iconic sunrise, Haleakalā offers hiking trails through surreal volcanic landscapes, rare native species, and stargazing unrivaled by anywhere else in Hawaii. — USA TODAY staff Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho The Sawtooth Mountains is a stunning mountain range in central Idaho that was a favorite of author Ernest Hemingway. Sawtooth National Recreation Area has more than 700 miles of trails, 300 mountain lakes and 40 major peaks. Come for the scenic views and stay for the hiking, fishing, boating, rafting and cycling opportunities. Flint Hills, Kansas Imagine more than 14,500 square miles of tallgrass prairie that almost dissects Kansas from north to south. Flint Hills' windblown grasses range from vibrant green to burnt gold depending on the time of year. Much of the land still resembles how it looked when settlers first crossed over 200 years ago. Each year, the burning season lights up the evening and night sky with brilliant orange as fires snake across the land, burning the old and dead grasses, renewing them in the spring. — Time Hrenchir, Topeka Capital-Journal Annapolis Rock, Maryland Annapolis Rock, a popular hiking destination along the Appalachian Trail in southern Washington County, offers stunning views. The overlook near the eastern county line is featured on the Maryland stamp in the U.S. Postal Service's Appalachian Trail collection. "It's an iconic view. It's such a popular destination for tourists and locals. To have it on a national stamp, I think, is amazing," said Dan Spedden, president of Washington County's tourism bureau, Visit Hagerstown. — Hagerstown Herald-Mail staff Shiprock, New Mexico Towering above the landscape in northern New Mexico, Shiprock (Tsé Bitʼaʼí ) stands over 7,000 feet in elevation on the Navajo Nation. The formation, a National Natural Landmark, is one of the most recognizable vistas in the state, having been featured in film, photography, and postcards for decades. Before becoming a media darling, the Shiprock formation was prominent in Navajo history and culture. — Las Cruces Sun-News staff Crater Lake National Park, Oregon Somehow, Oregon is home to only one national park. But if we're forced to pick just one place, an exploded volcano filled with some of the world's purest water in the deepest lake in the United States makes a logical choice. Crater Lake National Park gets so much snow that it's only open to summer activities for a relatively short time. So if you want to drive the Rim Road, take a boat tour, hike mountaintops or swim the lake's bone-chilling water, focus your trip between July and September. — Zach Urness, Salem Statesman Journal Badlands National Park, South Dakota With both the haunting vastness of fictional planet Arrakis in the 'Dune' films and the fiery, jagged landscape of real planet Mars, Badlands National Park is indeed transcendental. Visitors are intimidated by the chaotic, 244,000-acre crater-like vistas, but the national park is very family-friendly and a grandiose memory for all. The must-do Badlands Loop State Scenic Highway is a nice and slow two-hour tour of an earth that seems to have frozen mid-eruption millions of years ago. The rust-orange layers of ancient rock and soil look just as hot to the touch. Visit for details. — Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus-Leader
