7 of America's best national parks to travel to

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America’s renowned National Park Service celebrates its 102nd birthday this year; over a century of protecting the many places of awe-inspiring natural beauty that the country has to offer. The 59 national parks saw over 331 million people visit last year, and if you’re one of the millions to visit in the future, here’s where you should start.

1. Yellowstone National Park - Wyoming, Montana & Idaho

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You have to begin with the world’s first ever national park. Marvel at Old Faithful, the legendary geyser that erupts every 35 - 120 minutes, the colourful hot springs, the mountains, forests, wolves, bears and bison. And you’ll see exactly why those clever guys back in 1916 decided to conserve this national, and international, treasure.

2. Glacier National Park, Montana

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We repost content with a conservation, Leave No Trace, or safety message! Tag #ProtectGlacier for a chance be featured. - If you're planning on camping in the park next summer now is the time to brush up on the Leave No Trace Seven Principles. Especially principle #1: Plan Ahead and Prepare. 🏕 Choose realistic goals, bring proper gear, learn backcountry skills, know the terrain, and make contingency plans. It's not only important for your safety; good planning makes it easier to leave no trace in the backcountry. Anyone have other preparation tips? #LNT @leavenotracecenter Image: Hikers walk down a mountain trail, a lake in the background.

This place is just… wow, really. It’s a hiker’s heaven with well over 1000 kilometres of trails through pristine forests, alpine meadows, rugged mountains, clear lakes and glacial carved valleys.

3. Zion National Park, Utah

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The jaw-dropping Zion Canyon is the centrepiece of this spectacular park that protects a landscape of high plateaus, colourful sandstone cliffs and narrow, winding ravines.

4. Yosemite National Park, California

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Air quality in Yosemite Valley and throughout the park has been good to moderate over the past several days and we're excited for everyone to be out and enjoying the park! Remember, it's always a good idea to check the current conditions and weather forecast before heading out on your adventure. ☀️⛈ Wawona Road is tentatively set to reopen at 8 am on Friday, August 24. You can find current road status information on our website: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm. 🚐 The Ferguson Fire is now at 100% containment! Thank you to all of the firefighters for their hard work and dedication. As some places continue to burn within the contained area, smoke may still be present and firefighters are still working; please use caution when driving on park roads. #Yosemite #NationalPark #FergusonFire

Standing at Glacier Point overlooking Yosemite Valley, Half Dome and Yosemite Falls will give you the kind of perspective that everyone needs once in a while - reminding you that you’re merely a speck on the face of this impressive planet. Explore some of the famous trails like El Capitan, take an expletive-inducing visit to the towering sequoia tree and attempt to keep your eyes on the road as you drive through the park’s stunning wilderness.

5. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

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Hermit Road is a scenic road west of Grand Canyon Village which follows the canyon rim for approximately 7 miles (11 km) out to Hermits Rest. For 9 months of the year, this extremely popular road is accessed by free shuttle bus, foot, bicycle, or commercial tour bus. Private vehicles are only allowed during winter months. (December, January and February) . There are 9 designated scenic viewpoints served by the Hermit Road shuttle bus (Red Route) A footpath also follows the rim of the canyon out to Hermits Rest. Shuttle buses are great - when you use them in conjunction with the rim trail. You can get off at one stop, enjoy a scenic walk along the rim, then get back on the bus at the next stop and continue your exploration. . [Image description: diffused sunset light illuminates a massive limestone cliff on the right. Below the cliff, a ridgeline meanders out into a desert landscape of colorful mesas and peaks.] The location of this photo is just west of Hopi Point. NPS/M.Quinn

Likely the most famous of the national parks in America, the Grand Canyon is an unmissable attraction. Its immense size is a thing to behold from above and just as impressive from the many hiking trails and river voyages below.

6. Olympic National Park, Washington

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. On this busy holiday weekend I'd like to challenge all those of you visiting to leave ONP a better place than you found it. . Stay on the trail, pick up garbage, take the dog poo you bagged off the beach and put it in the trash. . Visit busy places like Hurricane Ridge, Hoh Rainforest or Ruby Beach at off-peak times (earlier in the morning or later in the day). . Carpool. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. . Travel safe and remember you can't see or do it all so just enjoy being in the moment in this special place. . Ranger Megan . 📷 @nateinthewild 📷 . [Photo-The sun filtering through the trees in the coastal forest on the trail to Second Beach] . #secondbeach #coastalforest #onp #nps #doi #olympicnationalpark #usinterior #optoutside

Olympic National Park has it all - snow capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests, rugged coastline and… a bevy of Twilight fanatics. This beautiful area of the country is famous for more than its scenery thanks to the book series set there.

7. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

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Take a look at these amazing before and after photos of Halema'uma'u Crater. Earthquakes and explosions at the summit of Kīlauea over the past few weeks have dramatically reshaped the crater. In the first picture, you can see what it looked like on April 26, 2018, the last day we saw lava. In the second photo, you can see the flat surface of the former crater floor, which has subsided at least 100 meters (about 300 feet) during the past couple weeks. The deepest part of Halema'uma'u (foreground) is now about 300 meters (1,000 feet) below the crater rim. The crater rim and walls continue to slump inward and downward. Photo 1: NPS Volunteer Janice Wei, and Photo 2: USGS. #KilaueaErupts #KilaueaEruption #Kilauea #FindYourParkOutsidethePark

While possibly the least Insta-friendly landscape, a chance to see a volcano up close and scarily personal is one not to be missed. This national park on Big Island is home to two active volcanoes and it’s often possible to watch the lava flow into the ocean dependant on local conditions. There’s also plenty of hiking trails through old lava tubes, recently formed lava flows and over the still smoking crater floors.

Lauren Williamson

Lauren Williamson is a digital writer, editor and social media fiend who's a huge fan of tackling new wellness trends, eating her way through foreign countries and getting worked up over politics.