12 Gorgeous National Parks on the West Coast

Throughout the United States, there are dozens of national parks and hundreds of national park sites. These parks offer breathtaking views, historical relevance, and untouched natural landscapes. In fact, the national parks on the West Coast are truly awe-inspiring.

After reading this post, you’ll want to add some of these parks to your USA bucket list! Each one of these parks offers unique terrains and you’re in for a real treat no matter which park you choose to visit.

Yosemite National Park, Crater Lake National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, and Yellowstone National Park are just a few of the gems found on the west side of the country.

If you’re looking for the best national parks on the West Coast, this guide has you covered! Oh — and if you’re interested in learning about some of the best national parks on the East Coast, read my guide here!

In This Post:

National Parks on the West Coast Map

12 Best National Parks on the West Coast

Yosemite National Park

Location: California
Best Time to Visit: May through September (fewer crowds)
How Long to Stay: 3 days (ideally a week if you plan on doing lots of hiking)
Highlights: Glacier Point, Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, Mariposa Grove, and Tunnel Viewpoint
Official Website

Since California spans so much of the coastline, it’s no surprise to find out that many of the best national parks on the West Coast are located in The Golden State. Yosemite National Park is the most popular national park in California, thanks to the striking mountains that are the highlight of this national park.

While at Yosemite National Park, you can take on the challenging Half Dome hike, test your rock climbing at El Capitan, make your way to the 617-foot Bridalveil Falls, and admire the beauty of the fire-like Horsetail Fall at sunset.

Sequoia National Park

Location: California
Best Time to Visit: June through August (weather is consistently decent)
How Long to Stay: 2 days (ideally a week or longer if you plan on doing lots of hiking)
Highlights: General Sherman Tree, Giant Forest, Mount Whitney, General’s Highway Scenic Drive, Crystal Cave, and Grizzly Falls
Official Website

As the name of Sequoia National Park implies, this national park is known for its giant sequoia trees. As a matter of fact, this West Coast national park is home to the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree on the entire planet (by volume)! And if that wasn’t enough to blow your mind and convince you to visit, Sequoia National Park is home to an entire Giant Forest, which has five of the ten largest trees on Earth.

While admiring the sequoia trees obviously tops the list of things to do at Sequoia National Park, there are a few different ways to do so. You can make your way through the Tunnel Log, hike the High Sierra Trail, and drive along the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway.

Death Valley National Park

Location: California and Nevada
Best Time to Visit: Mid-October through Mid-May (so you can avoid the blistering heat!)
How Long to Stay: 2-3 days
Highlights: Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Zabriskie Point, Dante’s View, Badwater Basin, Golden Canyon Trailhead, Devils Golf Course, Father Crowley Overlook, and Artists Palette
Official Website

Death Valley National Park holds the special title of being the hottest part of the U.S. It might even be the hottest place in the entire world, although that claim is often disputed. The hottest temperature ever recorded at Death Valley National Park was a whopping 134 degrees Fahrenheit!

When you visit Death Valley, you’ll definitely want to visit when the weather isn’t anywhere near 134 degrees Fahrenheit (in other words, basically any time of year, except summer). While the temperature is reasonable, you can admire the views from Zabriskie Point, hike the Golden Canyon Trail, and check out the Badwater Basin salt flats.

Joshua Tree National Park

Location: California
Best Time to Visit: March through May and October through November
How Long to Stay: 1-2 Days
Highlights: Cholla Cactus Garden, Keys View, Barker Dam, Jumbo Rocks Campground, Cottonwood Spring, Coachella Valley Preserve – Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, and Hidden Valley Nature Trail
Official Website

Within the past few years, the popularity of Joshua Tree National Park has increased exponentially. What’s behind all the hype, you ask? There are three main reasons that Joshua Tree is one of the best national parks on the West Coast: the trees, the desert, and the sky.

The most popular reason people head to Joshua Tree National Park is to see the trees. These unique, bushy trees – which are actually called Joshua trees and are the reason for the park’s name – are only found in the Mojave Desert. You’ll definitely want to go on a few hikes, such as the Ryan Mountain Trail or the Willow Hole Trail, to fully experience the beauty of these trees.

Then, there’s the desert aspect of this national park. Joshua Tree National Park is part of both the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert. It’s where these two dry, otherworldly landscapes come together.

Last but certainly not least, Joshua Tree National Park is a fantastic spot for stargazing. This national park is one of only a few places in Southern California far enough away from the light pollution and smog to be able to see the clear night sky. And if you get extra lucky, you might even see a handful of shooting stars as well!

Many people visit this beautiful park from one of three places — San Diego, Las Vegas, or Los Angeles. If you plan on doing the same, this guide on how to have the perfect day trip to Joshua Tree will help you plan your adventure.

Point Reyes National Seashore

Location: California
Best Time to Visit: January through May
How Long to Stay: 1-2 days
Highlights: Tomales Bay, Drakes Beach, Palomarin Trailhead, Point Reyes, Alamere Falls, Cypress Tree Tunnel, and McClure’s Beach
Official Website

The most famous national seashores in the country, including Canaveral National Seashore and Cape Cod National Seashore, are located on the East Coast. But the West Coast has a couple of noteworthy national seashores to boast about too.

Situated just an hour and a half north of San Francisco, Point Reyes National Park is a surprisingly hidden oasis. It’s the perfect place for a getaway outside of the big city.

There are a shocking number of things to do at Point Reyes National Seashore. If you want to embrace nature, you can hike the Bear Valley to Coastal Trail Loop or relax on McClures Beach. If you want to learn a little bit of history, you can visit the Kule Loklo in Miwok Village or stop by the Point Reyes Lighthouse. And if you’d like to say hello to the wildlife, you can check out the elk roaming Tomales Point or find the seals and sea lions near Chimney Rock.

Crater Lake National Park

Location: Oregon
Best Time to Visit: July through September
How Long to Stay: 2-3 days
Highlights: Mount Thielsen, Cleetwood Cove Trail, Mount Scott, Wizard Island, Phantom Ship, and Garfield Peak
Official Website

Considering Oregon’s reputation as one of the most naturally beautiful places in the U.S., it’s surprising that there are only a handful of national parks, trails, and historic sites within its borders. As a matter of fact, Crater Lake National Park is technically the only national park in all of Oregon – and it’s absolutely stunning.

Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, this national park revolves around the brilliant blue Crater Lake. While you’re first thought is likely to enjoy the water, that’s not a very easy thing to do. To reach the waters of Crater Lake, you’ll have to hike the steep, strenuous Cleetwood Cove Trail. And even when you reach the lake, odds are, you won’t even want to go in, because the water is just so cold!

Instead, most people typically just enjoy the views of Crater Lake from afar. You can take in the beautiful scenery while on the boat to Wizard Island, hiking one of the many noteworthy trails, or staying at one of the amazing campsites.

Mount Rainier National Park

Location: Washington
Best Time to Visit: May through September
How Long to Stay: 2-3 days
Highlights: Narada Falls, Mount Rainier, Tipsoo Lake, Chinook Pass, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Christine Falls, Naches Peak Loop Trailhead, Skyline Loop Trail, Myrtle Falls, and more
Official Website

The 14,411-foot Mount Rainier may be one of the most recognizable mountains in the country – and it’s located in Mount Rainier National Park! This snowcapped mountain peak is technically an active volcano, which adds another level of excitement to the mix.

As the name of the park implies, Mount Rainier is the highlight of Mount Rainier National Park, and just about everything you can do revolves around gazing at an amazing view of this mountain. A few of the best places to see Mount Rainier include Fremont Fire Lookout, Reflection Lake, and Sunrise Trail.

There are a couple of other hidden gems in this West Coast national park that don’t focus on Mount Rainier. You can hike through the thriving greenery of the Grove of the Patriarchs Trail, admire the cascading silver falls, or catch the jaw-dropping views from Panorama Point that include Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and even Mt. Hood!

Olympic National Park

Location: Washington
Best Time to Visit: April through September
How Long to Stay: 4-5 days
Highlights: Lake Crescent, Ruby Beach, Hurricane Ridge, Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center, Mount Olympus, Olympic National Forest, Marymere Falls, Lake Quinalt, Hall of Mosses, and much more
Official Website

Like Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park’s central feature is also a towering mountain peak: Mount Olympus. Named after Greece’s famous Mount Olympus, this 7,980-foot Washington counterpart is definitely a breathtaking sight to see. To get the best views of Mount Olympus, you can drive to Hurricane Ridge, hike to the Grand Ridge, or you can even climb the entire towering mountain!

But unlike Mount Rainier National Park, there are many things to do in Olympic National Park that don’t revolve around Mount Olympus. You can wander through the moss-covered Hoh Rain Forest, spend the day at the gorgeous Shi Shi Beach, make your way to the beautiful Sol Duc Falls, or kayak on Lake Crescent. In the winter, you can even test your skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing skills!

Grand Canyon National Park

Location: Arizona
Best Time to Visit: March through May and September through November
How Long to Stay: 1-2 days
Highlights: Rim Trail, Desert View Watchtower, Rim Trail, Mather Point, Hermit’s Rest, Horseshoe Bend, Hopi Point, Historic Navajo Bridge, Bright Angel Point, and much more
Official Website

For this list of the best national parks on the West Coast, I’ve decided to stretch the term “West Coast” a little bit – but for good reason! After all, the famous Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona certainly deserves a spot on this list!

The Grand Canyon is actually the second most-visited national park in the United States, just after the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, one of the best national parks on the East Coast. And its popularity is no surprise since the Grand Canyon is one of the most well-known things to see in the entire country.

Everyone goes to the Grand Canyon to admire this iconic natural landmark – but you can change up your trip depending on how you decide to see it. You can hike, ride a mule, take a train, fly in a helicopter, or even sail along on a raft. But the most popular way to see the Grand Canyon is also the easiest: by simply admiring the natural wonder from the Grand Canyon Skywalk.

If you’d like to spend a few days at Grand Canyon National Park, I highly recommend tackling the multi-day hike to the majestic Havasu Falls. Located at the heart of the Grand Canyon, this 100-foot waterfall includes sparkling turquoise pools. It looks like a stunning, magical oasis!

Zion National Park

Location: Utah
Best Time to Visit: April through June and September through November
How Long to Stay: 5-7 days
Highlights: Angels Landing, the Narrows, Temple of Sinawava, Zion Canyon, Court of the Patriarchs, Kolob Canyons, Kanarraville Falls, and Grafton Ghost Town
Official Website

Zion National Park is certainly one of the best national parks on the West Coast. As a matter of fact, it’s one of the most popular national parks in the entire country!

Between the striking red rocks and the bright green plants, the landscape at Zion National Park paints quite an amazing picture. It’s also quite different from the beachy shorelines, towering mountains, and unique trees that pervade the rest of this list. A few of the highlights of Zion National Park include hiking through the Narrows, soaking in the views from the Canyon Overlook Trail, and tackling the difficult Angels Landing.

Arches National Park

Location: Utah
Best Time to Visit: March through May and September through October
How Long to Stay: 1-2 days
Highlights: Fiery Furnace, Devils Garden, Double Arch, Delicate Arch, Devil’s Garden Trailhead, and Garden of Eden
Official Website

Known for its thousands of natural sandstone arches, the name of Arches National Park is surprisingly self-explanatory. The most famous arch in this national park is by far the Delicate Arch. This picture-perfect natural wonder is the best scene at either sunrise or sunset.

But the Delicate Arch is far from the only natural wonder worth your time at Arches National Park. There is also the Landscape Arch, the Double Arch, and the Window Arches. As an added bonus, most of the hikes needed to see these sites are relatively short and easy.

But if you’d like to add a challenging adventure to your itinerary, you’ll definitely want to hike through the Fiery Furnace. To hike through this confusing maze of red rock spires, you’re actually required to either take a guided hike with a ranger or get a special permit after watching a required orientation video. That said, the majority of those who have come out of the Fiery Furnace have described the experience as being absolutely amazing.

Yellowstone National Park

Location: Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana
Best Time to Visit: March through May and September through mid-November
How Long to Stay: 4-7 days
Highlights: Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Mammoth Hot Springs, Old Faithful Inn, Artist Point, Gibbon Falls, Tower Fall, and Mystic Falls
Official Website

Yellowstone National Park holds the special title of being the first-ever designated U.S. national park. Signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872, Yellowstone National Park has been a national park for nearly 150 years!

Yellowstone National Park is also one of only a few national parks that crosses multiple state borders. In this case, it covers parts of Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana.

And while all of these fun facts are definitely interesting, it’s all of the breathtaking nature that initially made Yellowstone National Park worthy of becoming the first national park. While there, you can watch the famous Old Faithful geyser erupt, admire the colors of the otherworldly Grand Prismatic Hot Spring, and admire the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

And while those three things are the most popular things to see in this West Coast national park, there are also quite a few under-the-radar gems for you to enjoy. You can check out the quiet yet breathtaking views of Point Sublime, avoid the crowds at the Lone Star Geyser, and find the basalt columns of Sheepeater Cliff.

What’s your favorite national park on the West Coast? Let me know in the comments below!

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Disha Smith

Disha Smith is the founder of Disha Discovers. She quit her job in 2017 to travel the world to explore new cultures and experience new adventures. She has since been to 95+ countries and counting and has lived in South Africa, Thailand, Croatia, and Australia. She has done all kinds of travel ranging from luxury to budget backpacking, and her mission is to inspire others to discover their own sense of adventure and to help them plan a life full of meaningful experiences through travel.