Please protect these places and preserve their beauty when visiting them. Permitted areas are noted throughout. Use caution when entering slot canyons and beware of flash floods.
15 the Queen’s Garden - Bryce Canyon National Park
The Queen’s Garden is home to many of Bryce Canyon’s tallest hoodoos. A great hiking path starts above at Sunrise Point and descends amongst the spires to the canyon floor. Hike down at sunrise to leave the crowds behind!
14 Delicate Arch - Arches National Park
Delicate Arch is iconic. It’s taller than you’d expect and takes your breath away upon first sight. This is a must-see at Arches National Park, and it can get crowded. The hike is a fun but tiring ascent of slickrock sandstone.
13 Monument Valley - Navajo Tribal Park
A landscape of immense, tranquil beauty. The rock formations in Monument Valley cover many square miles, but my personal favorite area is near the famous “Mitten Buttes”. Visitors can see more hidden gems in Monument Valley on official Navajo Guided tours.
12 Glacier Point - Yosemite National Park
Glacier Point offers simultaneous views of Yosemite Falls, Nevada Falls, Vernal Falls, and Half Dome. The sight of Half Dome across the valley is one of the best in the park.
11 Hidden Lake - Glacier National Park
A stunning lake surrounded by pyramid peaks. Hidden Lake can be enjoyed from above with a scenic walk, and on its shores with a longer hike. Mountain goat sightings are common in this area.
10 Horseshoe Bend - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Horseshoe Bend has become very popular, and with good reason. The crowds are rough, but it’s absolutely worth seeing, and quiet areas still exist off to the sides. If you’re a photographer, bring a wide-angle lens!
9 Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone - Yellowstone National Park
You might not expect it, but Yellowstone is packed with waterfalls. The largest, Yellowstone Falls, roars into the canyon with incredible power. The viewpoint at the brink of Lower Yellowstone Falls is a highlight of the park.
8 the Giant Forest - Sequoia National Park
The ancient Sequoia Trees are a real treasure. The Giant Forrest is home to thousands of them, including some of the largest trees on Earth. Black bears roam the area at dawn and dusk.
7 Coyote Gulch - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
A remote but increasingly popular canyon, famous for the massive Jacob Hamblin Arch. Coyote Gulch is a special place that needs to be protected by visitors (trash and human waste must be packed out). It’s best seen with at least one night of backcountry camping. (Permit Required)
6 the Wave - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
Another famous attraction that lives up to its reputation. The Wave is awesome, but permits are very hard to come by. I don’t recommend trying for day-of permits, but the online lottery is worth continually attempting. Permit info here.
5 Crater Lake - Crater Lake National Park
A contender for the world’s prettiest lake. Crater Lake formed just 7,000 years ago when a volcano erupted and collapsed in on itself, creating a giant punchbowl. The lake’s intensely blue water redefines the color itself.
4 Chesler Park & the Joint Trail - Canyonlands National Park
The Needles of Canyonlands are off the beaten path in Utah, and hiking here is some of the best in the country. The path across Chesler Park descends into the Joint Trail, a network of slot canyons that are unlike anything else.
3 the Narrows - Zion National Park
The crown-jewel of Zion. Visitors must hike up the Virgin River to see the Narrows, but its worth the effort and waterproof gear can be rented at the park. Hiking the Narrows during fall/winter is ideal for beating the crowds.
2 Mooney Falls - Supai
The tallest of Supai’s waterfalls... Mooney Falls is towering and intimidating. Hikers can descend a treacherous trail to reach the base of Mooney and beyond. Supai is tribal land and advanced permits are required to visit. Learn more here.
1 Paria Canyon & Buckskin Gulch - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
Some of the deepest and longest slot canyons on Earth… The confluence of Paria and Buckskin and the surrounding miles of canyon are the most impressive natural wonder in the Western U.S. Seeing these canyons requires long hikes through mud and water. Trash and human waste must be packed out. Overnight permits can be obtained here.
Thank you for reading this post! These rankings are just for fun and are based on my own experiences. I chose to focus on smaller “wonders”, so big landscapes like the Grand Canyon or the Tetons or the Oregon Coast are not considered.