The West's Best National Parks

Stunning Sunsets at Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

The 11 Most Instagrammed National Parks Aren’t That Surprising, but They Sure Are Stunning

We love all the West's national parks, but these take the cake when it comes to Instagram fame. High visitor numbers and famous attractions aside, the following posts are all the proof we need that these parks are worthy of their Insta-popularity

January 27, 2020

May 27, 2020

National Parks

Sand Sledding, Desert Flowers, and Perseid Showers: All the Beautifully Surreal Things to Do in White Sands National Park

Our newest national park, White Sands, is known for its powdery white gypsum dunes, and its activities are wonderfully surreal

February 3, 2020

February 11, 2020

National Parks

National Parks Will Be Free These Five Days in 2020–Here’s Where to Go When

The free national park days apply to all 111 fee-charging parks in the United States, which means you have a plethora of options. We're here to help narrow things down

January 8, 2020

January 17, 2020

Outdoor Adventure

Keep It Clean: How Not to Get Sick in a National Park

National parks are germier than you might think. Here’s how to stay healthy whether you’re hitting the high points on a day trip or camping in the backcountry

January 22, 2020

January 31, 2020

The Latest From Sunset

The hoodoos at Bryce Canyon National Park off Highway 89

National Parks

Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Capitol Reef National Parks Are Now Open—with Limitations

Utah’s national parks and recreational areas have begun phased reopenings that will continue throughout the year

May 13, 2020

June 1, 2020

National Parks

10 All-Time Best National Park Experiences

Since our first issue in 1898, Sunset has loved the American West’s national parks. Here, in no particular order, are our favorite ways to experience them

October 4, 2018

May 27, 2020

SoCal Desert Stunners at Joshua Tree National Park, CA

National Parks

Waterfalls, Wildflowers, and Waves of Sand: 10 National Parks That Shine in Spring

Don't miss these Western landscapes come bursting to life in spring

April 19, 2019

May 27, 2020

Travel

Sunset Cinemas: The Best Western-Themed Documentaries

A delicious documentary, free-climbing thrills, Western tunes, and more to watch this weekend

March 20, 2020

May 27, 2020

Bison in Lamar Valley, one of the things to do at Yellowstone

Rockies

Top Wow Spots of Yellowstone National Park

There are more things to see in Yellowstone National Park than you can count, but these 13 places—from giant geysers to valleys stocked with wildlife—can't be missed

July 1, 2009

September 30, 2019

Rockies

Top Wow Spots of Grand Teton

High in Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park shows you the West in a new and beautiful light

June 8, 2009

April 30, 2018

Rockies

Glacier National Park’s Top Wow Spots

Fall in love with the park’s unforgettable scenery―sapphire lakes, knife-edge ridges, hanging valleys, and towering peaks

July 7, 2009

November 5, 2019

Rockies

Top Wow Spots of Zion

Experience the majestic beauty of Zion National Park and explore its countless hidden canyons and passages

June 8, 2009

April 30, 2018

Outdoor Adventure

Top Wow Spots of Arches National Park

The spots you can’t go to Arches without seeing

April 29, 2016

April 30, 2018

Outdoor Adventure

Top Wow Spots of Bryce Canyon National Park

From Sunrise Point to the night sky, Bryce Canyon National Park doesn’t disappoint in views

May 3, 2016

April 30, 2018

California

10 Crazy Beautiful Places You Have to See in Joshua Tree

The top sites to see in the park, including other-worldly plant life and more stunning natural features

April 27, 2016

September 14, 2019

Southwest

Top Wow Spots of Grand Canyon

These are the some of the world's most unforgettable views—from the Colorado River to the soaring Point Imperial overlook

July 7, 2009

September 21, 2018