Nestled in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, Hot Springs National Park seamlessly blends natural beauty with its rich cultural heritage. The park protects ancient thermal springs, historic bathhouses, stunning mountain views, forested hiking trails, and crystal-clear creeks. People have journeyed here for centuries to bathe in the steamy waters and find respite in the scenic hillsides.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park protects a dynamic landscape where the earth is constantly remade. From sea level to 13,680 feet, it encompasses the summits of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, two of the world's most active volcanoes. Lush rainforests, lava tubes, and cooled lava fields coexist with sacred Hawaiian cultural sites in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Guadalupe Mountains National Park are home to an ancient fossil reef that gives rise to the highest peaks in Texas, a landscape of mountains, canyons, dunes, and dark skies that invite hikers to climb to the top of West Texas.

Few sights in the world rival the first glimpse of the Grand Canyon National Park, a mile-deep chasm carved by the Colorado River. This UNESCO World Heritage Site preserves 278 miles of river corridor and the ancestral homelands of at least eleven tribes. Layers of red and gold rock record two billion years of Earth's geologic history, while viewpoints on the North and South rims offer vistas beyond imagination.

Dominating the St. Louis skyline, the Gateway Arch National Park rises 630 feet above the Mississippi River. This sleek stainless steel curve commemorates President Thomas Jefferson's vision of a continental nation and St. Louis's pivotal role in the westward expansion of the United States. Today, the arch and its surrounding park invite visitors to explore history and enjoy sweeping river views.

Seventy miles west of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park emerges from the Gulf of Mexico like a mirage. This remote park is mostly open water with seven tiny islands, home to massive Fort Jefferson, vibrant coral reefs, and rookeries of sooty terns and frigatebirds. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, it invites adventurers to snorkel shipwrecks, camp under starry skies, and experience frontier solitude.

Between the urban hubs of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers a refuge for plants and wildlife along the winding Cuyahoga River. Deep forests, rolling hills, and farmlands recall the region's agricultural past, while the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail invites hikers and cyclists to retrace history. Waterfalls like Brandywine and Blue Hen cascade through sandstone gorges, creating a patchwork of natural beauty and heritage.

Just off the coast of Southern California lie five rugged islands known as the Channel Islands National Park. Though close to the mainland, they feel worlds apart: isolation has fostered unique animals, plants, and archaeological resources not found anywhere else. Dubbed the "Galápagos of North America," this park features kelp forests, sea caves, seabird rookeries, and tranquil trails where you can spot island foxes and ancient Chumash sites.