At the fork, head either southwest toward Laguna Meadows or southeast toward the Pinnacles (the steeper pick). The southern tip of this 12.9-mile loop is where the viewpoint lies, with a vista of sprawling arid hilltops that spill into northern Mexico.īest Way to Reach This View: Start at the Chisos Basin Visitor Center. ![]() Big Bend National Park, Texasīig Bend is a park that defies Texas landscape conventions, encompassing the verdant Chisos Mountains as they rise over 7,000 feet from the Chihuahuan Desert below, and the South Rim Trail is the best way to experience the majestic scenery. The overlook is located just past the northeast entrance station. Geology enthusiasts will marvel at the clay-colored stripes of the Oligocene-era Brule Formation and the charcoal gray of the Eocene-era Chadron Formation.īest Way to Reach This View: From the town of Wall, take Highway 90 southeast for 20 miles, then turn south on Route 240 and continue for another five miles. Badlands National Park, South Dakotaīig Badlands Overlook Big Badlands Overlook (Photo: Emily Pennington)Take a morning to enjoy a drive on Badlands Loop Road via the park’s northeast entrance and pull off at the first signed viewpoint, Big Badlands Overlook, for a sweeping panorama of the eastern portion of the park’s Wall Formation. For a hiking route of the Fiery Furnace Loop-a valuable resource, as the Park Service warns visitors of the dangers of getting lost in the landscape-check out this map from Gaia. Serious hikers who want to get up close and personal with this vermillion jumble of rock need to nab a day-hiking permit ($10), or vie for the very popular ranger-guided tour ($16), bookable a week in advance.īest Way to Reach This View: Motor the 14 miles north from the entrance station and follow the signs to the viewpoint. ![]() ![]() The next time you’re in Arches National Park, skip the masses at Delicate Arch and instead drive west to the labyrinth of striated red-rock pinnacles at Fiery Furnace, a scenic pullout that overlooks Utah’s La Sal Mountains. Arches National Park, Utahįiery Furnace Overlook The Fiery Furnace Overlook (Photo: Emily Pennington) For a hiking route up the North Ridge Trail, check out this map from Outside’ s sister brand, Gaia. Or hike the 2.2-mile (one-way) Cadillac North Ridge Trail, with an elevation gain of approximately 1,100 feet. From October through early March, this granite dome receives the first rays of sun in the continental U.S., and view-seeking visitors can gaze out at a smattering of wooded islets dotting Frenchman Bay as the sky lights up in hues of rose and coral.īest Way to Reach This View: Don a headlamp for the predawn pedal 3.5 miles up to the 1,530-foot summit. Not so with Acadia’s famed Cadillac Mountain, which can get quite crowded. When a national park institutes a vehicle-reservation system, it can feel like a giant red flag to head elsewhere in search of solitude. Acadia National Park, MaineĬadillac Mountain Summit Sunrise atop Cadillac Mountain (Photo: Getty Images/Ultima_Gaina) ![]() Of course, I threw in a couple of leg-busting treks and arm-churning paddles for those among us who like to sweat to earn their views, too. So I’ve selected a list of my favorite vistas in all 63 parks, with a keen eye for easy access and geological diversity. I’ve visited every national park in America, and some the most awe-inspiring experiences in each are the stunning overlooks. The following views, of high-desert mesas, moss-cloaked redwoods, vast mountain ranges, and more, have something to stoke the inner wonder of just about everyone. There’s nothing better than rolling up to an incredible panorama in one of our storied national parks.
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