I’ve made it my life’s mission to visit and photograph as many of the American National Parks as I can. So far, I’ve visited 33 of the 63 National Parks. Below are my photo essays and guides by state.
Great places to start out for exploring the National Parks in America
Join My National Park’s Facebook Group
National Parks Articles Writ Large
The best National parks to visit in October and November
Least crowded National Parks to visit in the fall
The 13 Best National Parks to Visit in the United States (From my experience)
Favorite National Park photos I’ve taken
Most and least visited National Parks in 2024
Arizona National Parks
National Parks to visit near Phoenix
Dangers of hiking in the Grand Canyon
Three-Day Grand Canyon National Park Itinerary (South Rim)
Don’t miss these 9 best hikes in Grand Canyon National Park South Rim
Rim to River Guide: Hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon in one day
Guide on Hiking the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim in one day
Alaska National Parks
Your Guide to Kenai Fjords National Park
Hiking the Root Glacier in Wrangell St Elias
Flightseeing over Denali National Park
Flightseeing Over Amerca’s Largest National Park
Photos of the Alaskan National Parks
Spend Three Days in McCarthy (Wrangell St. Elias)
See Photos of Wrangell St. Elias
Top Things to do in Wrangell St. Elias National Park
Should you do the Kenai Fjords Cruise?
Washington National Parks
Olympic National Park Itinerary and Guide
Itinerary to Mount Rainier National Park
Mt. Rainer National Parks Hiking Guide
North Cascades National Parks Guide
North Cascades Backpacking Ideas
Is Mt. Rainier Worth Visiting?
California National Parks
Ranking the California National Parks
Yosemite National Park Hiking Guide
Mariposa and Yosemite Itinerary
Death Valley National Park Guide
Sequoia National Park Visitor Guide
Top Instagram spots in Yosemite
The best hike in Pinnacles National Park
Best hikes in Redwood National Park
Your Guide to Channel Islands National Park
Favorite photos from Death Valley
Photographing Sunset in Yosemite
5-day Redwood National Park itinerary
Utah National Parks
Top National Parks to visit in the winter
Guide to Hiking Angels Landing
5-day Zion and Bryce Canyon Itinerary
Hiking guide to Observation Point
15 Things to Do in Arches National Park
Montana National Parks
Top hikes in Glacier National Park
Colorado National Parks
Exploring Rocky Mountain National Park in April
Wyoming National Parks
Photos of Grand Teton National Park
Virginia National Parks
Fall Foliage in Shenandoah National Park
Nevada National Parks
Great Basin National Park Guide
National Parks to Visit Near Las Vegas
North Dakota
Theodore Roosevelt National Park Guide
Oregon
Visiting Crater Lake National Park
Visiting national parks in the United States is less about checking places off a list and more about learning how to slow down and pay attention. With over 60 parks spread across wildly different landscapes, the range is staggering. One trip might take you from desert canyons and red rock arches to alpine lakes, glaciers, and dense forests, all connected by long drives and open roads.
The most famous parks tend to draw the biggest crowds, especially in peak season, but even those places reward a little extra effort. Early mornings, shoulder seasons, and short hikes beyond the main viewpoints can completely change the experience. Step a mile down the trail or wait for the light to shift, and suddenly a place that felt busy opens up and feels personal. National parks are often at their best when you give them time rather than trying to see everything at once.
Road trips are at the heart of exploring the parks. The drives between them are often just as memorable as the destinations themselves, cutting through small towns, wide-open public lands, and landscapes that don’t always make the guidebooks. Camping, whether in developed campgrounds or nearby public land, adds another layer to the experience, letting you wake up inside the landscape rather than driving in and out each day.
Each park has its own rhythm and character. Some invite long, challenging hikes or multi-day backpacking trips, while others are best experienced through scenic drives, short walks, and quiet overlooks. Weather plays a huge role, shaping both access and mood, and part of the experience is learning to adapt plans as conditions change.
This page brings together my national park guides, itineraries, hikes, road trips, and photography from across the U.S. Each article focuses on a specific park or experience, but together they’re meant to help you explore these places more thoughtfully. The goal isn’t to see them all, but to connect with the landscapes, respect the land, and leave each park with a deeper appreciation for why these places are protected in the first place.